Legends of the Hidden Messages: Motherf*ckin Mini Episode (RE-RELEASE)

Summary

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Podcast Summary: My Momma Told Me – "Legends of the Hidden Messages: Motherf*ckin Mini Episode (RE-RELEASE)"

Episode Date: October 16, 2025
Hosts: Langston Kerman & David Gborie (as David Boyd)
Network: Big Money Players Network & iHeartPodcasts

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Main Theme

In this “motherf*ckin mini episode,” comedians Langston Kerman and David Gborie field a listener-submitted Black conspiracy theory about the prevalence of hidden messages in popular music. The duo dig into the legitimacy, history, and sometimes absurdity of claims that artists slip coded meanings or products into songs—ranging from narcotic references to slick brand ads. True to form, Langston and David keep it lively, irreverent, and thoughtful.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Conspiracy Theory: Hidden Messages in Songs

[11:41] – [12:20]

• Listener Jerry emails, suggesting songs like “Candy” by Cameo are secretly about cocaine and that artists smuggle subtle messages into their music—not to brainwash listeners, but as hidden notes.
• "My mama told me that music and artists put hidden messages in their music. Not to brainwash folks, but just subtle messages that would not be easily picked up if we weren't paying attention." – Langston Kerman reading Jerry’s email ([11:41])

2. Evaluating the Evidence: Are These Messages Really Hidden?

[12:20] – [13:18]

• Langston and David agree that “Candy” being about cocaine seems obvious—not much of a hidden message.
• They joke about how some metaphors are extremely thin and easy to spot, poking fun at Jerry’s examples.
  • "You can hear that dude grind his teeth between takes on that song." – Langston Kerman ([12:36])
  • “It takes over me. That was. That was very apparent.” – David Boyd ([12:49])

3. Metaphor and Interpretation in Music

[25:22] – [27:13]

• The hosts discuss the tradition of metaphor in songwriting, referencing artists like Frank Ocean, whose lyrics are often indirectly structured, and how layered writing deepens the art form.
• David brings in literature: “That’s a regular trick… that people use like disguised messages and stuff.” ([26:56])
• They compare story-driven albums (like Kendrick Lamar’s "good kid, m.A.A.d city") vs. more abstract narrative albums.

4. History & Consequences of Hidden Messaging

[27:13] – [31:00]

• They discuss possible intentions behind hidden messages, ranging from personal storytelling to more sinister forces, like product placement and brand sponsorships embedded in lyrics for profit.
• “Music videos are 100% paid for by the artists… part of the way that artists recoup… is by adding branding into the music videos and… that makes me feel like it’s very likely that is also true for music that you’re writing.” – Langston Kerman ([31:00])
• David laments the growing presence of materialism and vanity over intentional messaging: “I think that’s most of it. I don’t think Blood Seago [Balenciaga] is giving out that many checks.” ([30:53])

5. Blatant vs. Subtle Product Placement

[32:01] – [33:12]

• Product placement in videos and music is getting less subtle and more commercialized, with movies like “Coming 2 America” called out as straight-up commercials for products.

6. Enjoyment Factor: When Hidden Messages Are Fun

[33:12] – [34:01]

• Sometimes, discovering “hidden” references can be exciting, like when movies allegorically adapt literature (e.g., “The Legend of Bagger Vance” is actually a retelling of the “Bhagavad Gita”).

7. Sidetrack: Teacher-Student Relationships

[34:08] – [37:54]

• The conversation waxes personal as they reminisce about high school antics, segueing into how boundaries with students can go wrong—bringing humor, empathy, and a “real talk” moment about predatory situations in schools.

8. Do These Messages Matter?

[38:23] – [41:03]

• Ultimately, both hosts agree hidden messages do exist in music, with varying degrees of consequence—from innocuous in-jokes to manipulative branding.
• “I think there are secret messages, some more harmful than others. And the best thing we can do is just listen to the messages from people we like, you know?” – Langston Kerman ([38:29])
• David: “Hug your loved ones while Future sings to you about why Gucci is the best of all the brands.” ([38:46])

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Instagram Explore Page:
  “There was a really sweet spot... strictly, like, bad bitches and whale videos. That was all I had.” – Langston Kerman ([05:09])
• On Comedy and “Nice Guy” Acts:
  “Any comedian who seems to have no conflict… don’t trust him. I don’t give a fuck who say what.” – David Boyd ([11:03])
• On Dave Matthews Band:
  “Come to find out, you know there’s more black people than white people in the Dave Matthews Band.” – David Boyd ([19:22])
• On music’s evolution with branding:
  “Balenciaga specifically is sponsoring some of that fly shit. So, yeah, I’m gonna say Balenciaga instead of just like leaving it at… Gucci or Fenty.” – Langston Kerman ([33:12])
• On generational differences in music relatability:
  “I’ve never related to Jay Z more than 4:44, where I was like, oh, this is just a man who goes to work and is trying to do better.” – Langston Kerman ([40:00])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [11:41] – Listener email: Hidden messages in music
• [12:20] – Joking about “Candy” by Cameo and obvious musical references
• [25:22] – Metaphor, narrative, and interpretation in songwriting
• [31:00] – Product placement and artists’ commercial motives
• [38:29] – Summing up: Yes, there are hidden messages—sometimes dangerous, sometimes harmless

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Tone & Final Thoughts

Langston and David keep their trademark blend of sharp-witted banter, playful roasting (especially of listeners like Jerry), and unexpected depth. They deliver honest insights into Black culture’s conspiracy lore, the music industry’s underbelly, and society’s love of searching for meaning—real or imagined—in pop culture, always with a rowdy, off-the-cuff energy.

Final Message:
Hidden messages are everywhere—sometimes secret, sometimes obvious, sometimes just a marketing ploy. Stay curious, but don’t overthink the candy metaphors.

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End of Summary

Transcript

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[Langston Kerman]

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[David Boyd]

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[Mini Episode Announcer]

Mini episode. Mini episode. Motherfucking mini episode.

[David Boyd]

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another episode of My Mama Told Me, the podcast where.

[Langston Kerman]

We dive deep, deep into the pockets of black conspiracy theories, and we work.

[David Boyd]

To prove the theories of you, the listener.

[Langston Kerman]

Stupid, stupid ass.

[David Boyd]

Dumbass.

[Langston Kerman]

You dumb motherfucker. You thought we wasn't gonna make fun of your bitch ass?

[David Boyd]

So I didn't notice that you're wearing Team Jordans and not threes. I saw. I told everybody the group chat's going.

[Langston Kerman]

Up and it don't matter which Team Jordan it is. You know, you did the wrong thing.

[David Boyd]

It's Team Kill Yourself. Is.

[Langston Kerman]

Are those the Blake Griffins? Cut it out.

[David Boyd]

What is wrong with you?

[Langston Kerman]

What are you thinking?

[David Boyd]

Yuck. My name is David Boyd.

[Langston Kerman]

I'm Langston Kerman. And we're so happy you're here. We're so excited that you're here because we're. We're going to. We're going to do another dive into your conspiracy theories, the ones you send us to the. To the email, which has been doing really well. We want to say, I think we should thank you for everyone who's been contacting us. We love hearing from you. We would love to hear from you more often. So if you've been sending, send more. And if you've never sent that. And also, hey, leave me the fuck alone in my. In my DMs. I don't. I don't want conspiracy theories in my DMs. Just send it to the email that I'm constantly repeating every time. Sometimes motherfuckers will send me a whole voice memo in my DMs, and it's like, bro, I came here to reflect on my.

[David Boyd]

Do it on Instagram.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. All my problems.

[David Boyd]

Oh, I go in there to look at butts I would never see on the street.

[Langston Kerman]

I. Like, there was a point, there was this magic moment in my history. Now a lot of my Explorer page has turned into, like, titties and anime. It's a lot of that. But there was a really sweet spot about, like, a year and a half, two years ago on Instagram where I would go on my Explorer page, and it was strictly, like, bad bitches and whale videos.

[David Boyd]

Oh, wow.

[Langston Kerman]

That was all I had.

[David Boyd]

I know what you mean. Sometimes. Like, sometimes, yeah, the Explore page will hit a righteous level of you. Like, sometimes the Explore page will be the you that you want to be.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. It was so at peace. And it was a very. It was mostly whale videos and then a very occasional bad bitch. It was like the exact right curation of, like, you know. You know, I just want to be watching a fucking. A fucking humpback, like, breach the water and then every once in a while, titties. Yeah, that's tight.

[David Boyd]

My Explore page now is so scary. Yeah, it's just like butts and then, like, lil Boosie and then, like, basketball, and then, like, somebody popping a pimple on a back, and then a fight of, like, a kid versus an adult. Like, it's, like, a problem.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, you got a lot of violence. You're probably not a lot.

[David Boyd]

It's some violence. It's one of the.

[Langston Kerman]

No, I don't mean physical violence. I mean, there's an emotional violence sort of, like, transpiring in your Explorer page at all times.

[David Boyd]

Well, you know what I figured out because of Instagram recently? I, like. The only word I can use is smut. Like, I like very visceral.

[Langston Kerman]

I thought it'd be a softer word, if I'm being honest.

[David Boyd]

No, no, I like watching shit that's, like, graphic.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. I thought when you looked up at the sky and were, like, the only word I can use, you were sort of finding the softest way to articulate what you're talking about, but you were like, nah. What's the root word for.

[David Boyd]

No, I'm giving you. I'm telling you the real. It's gross.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, it's not even gross.

[David Boyd]

It's just raw. I just like graphic shit. I blame the Internet. I don't know. Maybe. I don't know. Can you. You just saw my mom. She's sweet. I don't know where this came from.

[Langston Kerman]

She ain't. She ain't looking that smut.

[David Boyd]

No, no, no. I bet her Instagram is like. I bet you it's like, a lot of, like, Monique and, like, smart outfits and. Oh, man, I can't imagine what else. Her Instagram.

[Langston Kerman]

Monique and smart outfits.

[David Boyd]

My mom loves Monique. She. When we. When I was a kid, we used to watch the Parkers, and I don't know what it is, but she would just be like, I think Monique is so beautiful. She just loves Monique.

[Langston Kerman]

I will say that Monique is very beautiful, and Monique, especially young, I think was, like, a very cute lady. And now, ooh, she's a bit of a grumpy Gus. But that's okay. She had a thriving career, and she.

[David Boyd]

But in revert t.

[Langston Kerman]

She's a bit of a grumpy Gus. And she's got. She's got a few problems that always seem to follow her way. It's hard to know whose fault it is.

[David Boyd]

She's only got one problem.

[Langston Kerman]

How did all of this trouble begin?

[David Boyd]

Living in America.

[Langston Kerman]

Either way, still very pretty. Still very pretty woman.

[David Boyd]

Yeah, still very pretty.

[Langston Kerman]

So we got an email. Yeah, we got an email from somebody named Jerry. Jerry sent us an email and it.

[David Boyd]

G or J J?

[Langston Kerman]

If it was G, I wouldn't read it. I think, I think I deleted and flag it as spam. You know what I mean? Yeah, I'll say this. If it's a girl and she's British, fine. I'll live with this. But if it's a man with G E R R Y contacting me.

[David Boyd]

No, I don't want.

[Langston Kerman]

Sir, we need not speak anymore.

[David Boyd]

We have nothing to talk about.

[Langston Kerman]

I don't wish. I don't wish any ill will on you.

[David Boyd]

I do. Who sent you, nigga? How'd you get this number?

[Langston Kerman]

How'd you get this goddamn email? Jerry? What are you. What are you contacting me for?

[David Boyd]

It's not good.

[Langston Kerman]

No, we ain't got nothing to talk about, Jerry. But a regular Jerry sent us an email where they said, hey, Langston and David, I sent a conspiracy theory in before and have have another one for you. Everybody's mad about their conspiracy theories not not being addressed. Maybe I did address Jerry and I'm just not remembering.

[David Boyd]

I mean, listen, you got. You saw the last one. I don't know. It's my own mother.

[Langston Kerman]

You think, you think I'm skipping my mom's phone calls so I can rush to your email?

[David Boyd]

Yeah, so I can talk to Jerry. Get out of here.

[Langston Kerman]

Right? You may not be a G, Jerry, but you're still a Jerry. Goddamn.

[David Boyd]

Yeah, yeah. Don't forget you're named after a cartoon.

[Langston Kerman]

Mouse or a pedophilic comedian. You name which one.

[David Boyd]

And she was 17. We all knew it. I don't know how he got away with that.

[Langston Kerman]

He got away with it scot free move. And then kept telling jokes about like how. How apples are weird or whatever it is that that comedy's about.

[David Boyd]

That's who you need to look at is these weirdos talking about apples on stage.

[Langston Kerman]

I will say there's a reason they.

[David Boyd]

Don'T want to discuss sex because they're doing it weird.

[Langston Kerman]

Look, dog, the people who are like the most like, innocuous. I ain't talking about nothing. Always end up pretty odd.

[David Boyd]

Uh huh. Out in 100%. They seem to have no, like, conflict. Any comedian who seems to have no conflict actually within their act. Like, no, like, existential crisis or nothing like that. Don't trust him. I don't give a fuck who say what.

[Langston Kerman]

Blood on crib. Yeah. Like, it truly. Like, it's. It's. It's. You don't even. It's not that. You have to be like, and that's when I did this and murdered that or whatever the fuck it is. But, like, you truly got to at least be like, hey, my dad was weird. You know, like, yeah.

[David Boyd]

Or I speak about this bad thing sometimes or something.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, you gotta. There's gotta be a little bite. Otherwise, you've. You do some biting elsewhere, and that's. That's not good. So Jerry said, hey, Langston and David, I sent a conspiracy and before. And I have another one for you. My mama told me that music and artists put hidden messages in their music. Not to brainwash folks, but just subtle messages that would not be easily picked up if we weren't paying attention. The song at the top of the list, Candy by Cameo, is supposed to be about doing cocaine. There are a few others, like Pretty Wings being about someone dying. Although that seems obvious.

[David Boyd]

I mean, so does Candy being about cocaine. Yeah. Have you heard that? Yes, I do. That doesn't sound like cocaine to you? You idiot. That whole song.

[Langston Kerman]

You can hear that dude grind his teeth between takes on that. On that song.

[David Boyd]

I will say, nice.

[Langston Kerman]

Crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch.

[David Boyd]

It takes over me. That was. That was very apparent.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. No, he's definitely talking about drugs and. Or. But. And. Yeah, and probably both at the same.

[David Boyd]

Time, I would like to think.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, it's like. It's like how 21 Savage mixes between murder and. And sex, like, between bars. Imagine that's what the Cameo song was doing, where it's like this. This line's about ass. But this line. That's cocaine.

[David Boyd]

Yeah, it's. But it's all. It's all. It's a similar compulsion.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, for sure. But to Jerry's question, is there a possibility. Let's expand it, because I do think that Jerry's examples might not be sort of the most, like, elusive ones. Right. They feel a little front, but do you want to.

[David Boyd]

The song was about Chicago.

[Langston Kerman]

When he's talking about Wendy, when Kanye's talking about Wendy, he's actually talking about the City of Wind, Chicago.

[David Boyd]

I was just with my friend Rayshawn, longtime listener, and she said she did not know that that was what that song was about.

[Langston Kerman]

Get the fuck out of here.

[David Boyd]

He says, I'm talking about Chi Time.

[Langston Kerman]

He says it at the end.

[David Boyd]

Also, nobody says no one's name is Wendy.

[Langston Kerman]

But wait, because when I listen to the song, one of the things that infuriates me the most about it is the moment when he goes. And just so you know, this whole song's about Chicago.

[David Boyd]

Yeah, as if you couldn't tell. I could tell from the first one.

[Langston Kerman]

It's literally in like the first couple lines. But like, then he's like. Just to be clear, I. The metaphor was Chicago.

[David Boyd]

This was the craziest part. She was like, I was so used to hearing that song when I was partying that I never caught that part. And I was like, you were partying to. I'm only saying this all out because she's going to listen to this and text me. But yeah, I was like, you were partying to Kanye west and Adam Levine?

[Lenovo Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Langston Kerman]

No, it was Chris Martin. It was Chris Martin.

[David Boyd]

I don't know the difference between those two.

[Langston Kerman]

Fair enough. Chris Martin cheated on Gwyneth Paltrow. Adam Levine cheated on a much less famous Gwyneth Paltrow. I imagine.

[David Boyd]

What band is Chris Martin in?

[Langston Kerman]

Coldplay.

[David Boyd]

Oh, I don't like that.

[Langston Kerman]

Oh, that. He featured a British dude on his song about.

[David Boyd]

No, that band. I don't like it.

[Langston Kerman]

Oh, you don't like. You don't like nothing they do. Oh, that's not fair. The Scientists.

[David Boyd]

I like Colpei and I don't like Radiohead.

[Langston Kerman]

Damn.

[David Boyd]

I know. People get upset about me about the Radiohead. It sounds like nothing to me.

[Langston Kerman]

Whoa.

[David Boyd]

It sounds like nothing.

[Langston Kerman]

I can't explain it, but that's an insane comparison.

[David Boyd]

Well, these are just two things I don't like. I don't mean that they're related.

[Langston Kerman]

Okay.

[David Boyd]

There's just some things I don't like.

[Langston Kerman]

I just think in the future, let's put a little distance between Coldplay and Radiohead. I think whatever we feel about the bands, and I respect you not liking their music. They're. They're not.

[David Boyd]

You're.

[Langston Kerman]

You're mixing dark and light liquors in.

[David Boyd]

A way that I understand. You know what I mean? That was a rum whiskey or that was a. That was a coconut rum whiskey situation.

[Langston Kerman]

And I. Yeah, and in a way that, like one of those, you were talking about like a 15 year old Scotch and the other one, you're talking about fudgeing like those little highballs they sell at the front of the liquor.

[David Boyd]

Store, you know, which one is the scotch? Which one is the shooter?

[Langston Kerman]

Radiohead. Is amazing. Truly, like, one of the greatest bands to ever do band stuff, if that's what you're into. Yeah. Olivia gets it.

[David Boyd]

Do band stuff. Yeah.

[Langston Kerman]

I don't. I'm not a musician. I just.

[David Boyd]

And Maroon 5 is trash.

[Langston Kerman]

No.

[David Boyd]

You see, you don't even remember what.

[Langston Kerman]

Band you're talking about. It's Coldplay.

[David Boyd]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Sorry.

[Langston Kerman]

And Coldplay, I would say, has had a number of hits, but also is sometimes just making noise.

[David Boyd]

Okay.

[Langston Kerman]

And it's. It's hard to tell which one they're doing at which time.

[David Boyd]

All right.

[Langston Kerman]

But they've got some. They've got some jams, but I respect that you don't like either.

[David Boyd]

Yeah, for me. And this isn't to say I feel like people always often think I like white music. I just. I don't like those two bit. I like white people's music, I think.

[Lenovo Advertiser]

Sure.

[Langston Kerman]

What's your go to? White. White group or. Or. Or artist.

[David Boyd]

Like Dolly Parton.

[Langston Kerman]

Okay. You're a Dolly man.

[David Boyd]

Go to. I don't know. It just. It really depends because there's so much of it. It just really depends on the day. You know what I mean?

[Langston Kerman]

Sure. So you're not just a one, a one and done shooter. You're more like.

[David Boyd]

And I like.

[Langston Kerman]

You got some people you dabble in, like, I'll listen.

[David Boyd]

Yeah. I like punk rock music as well. It just really depends.

[Langston Kerman]

But I don't like Coldplay or Radiohead.

[David Boyd]

And I know that Radiohead is, like, very different on different albums, but it doesn't matter. It could be Kid A. It could be whatever. I just don't.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. So no Coldplay, no Radiohead, and clearly no Maroon 5.

[David Boyd]

Cause no Maroon 5 is kind of. Cause it's very rhythmic.

[Langston Kerman]

Oh, you like Maroon 5?

[David Boyd]

I don't hate it.

[Langston Kerman]

Whoa.

[David Boyd]

This very raised woods right here. You walking down the street. You know what I mean?

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, that's. That's. That's old Maroon 5. Maroon 5 has a black guy in it now. They've changed. They're not.

[David Boyd]

Is that for the better?

[Langston Kerman]

No. They have not gotten. They have not become a better band over.

[David Boyd]

You know what? I found out? I saw a picture. Come to find out, you know there's more black people than white people in the Dave Matthews Band.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. There always has been.

[David Boyd]

What are we gonna do about this?

[Langston Kerman]

When are we gonna stand up to this injustice?

[David Boyd]

I saw a picture. I was like, you all let him get away with scatting.

[Langston Kerman]

It's wild. And what's crazy is. And I'm Not a Dave Matthews fan, so I don't have the names to be able to pair this up, but everybody I've ever spoken to has almost, like, made it up. Even people who are fans of his shit are like, yeah, objectively, he's the worst member of the band. Like, it's not even close that, like, that's cold, man. The fucking fiddlest. And the guitar guy, or whoever, the F. All those black dudes with blonde dreads that he's been employing for years are insanely like, some of the most gifted musicians on the planet. And then he's just, okay, and he.

[David Boyd]

Put his name on it. Imagine if everybody hated Cool and loved the gang. Oh, that's upside down.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. No, it truly doesn't make sense. But that is, in fact, what he did, and clearly nobody's fighting it. Did you know that when bands sign to a record label, only the lead singer signs?

[David Boyd]

So, like, if so, let's say I go in to Island Def Jam, they're only going to sign two and not the Maytals.

[Langston Kerman]

That's right. That's exactly. That's. I think that is true. Which is why it's always the. The lead singer is, like, branching off to go. Do you know it's Justin Timberlake is. Lee is going to do a solo album within sync. Until he does, he has a deal. Yeah, the other guys just got to chill.

[David Boyd]

And I've said this a lot of times on this podcast. That's why Zapp and Roger were so smart.

[Langston Kerman]

Oh, right, they separated.

[David Boyd]

Yeah. Yeah. Also, I think one killed the other.

[Langston Kerman]

Is that true?

[David Boyd]

I'm pretty sure Zapp killed Roger. Maybe the other way around they were related. Oh, it's a dark story.

[Langston Kerman]

Was it an affair or was it like, I just don't fuck with you no more?

[David Boyd]

I can't remember. This is one of those times. I was just on Wikipedia while in. Whoa.

[Langston Kerman]

He was like, you stole my voice machine. I'mma murder you.

[David Boyd]

Yeah, it was something weird because I think they're brothers. They're Zapp and Roger Troutman, right? Fuck, I don't know. We have an email, I'm sure.

[Langston Kerman]

All right, Roger Troutman in an updated publicity photo, probably from the early 80s. Troutman, a musician and leader of the band Zap, was shot and killed by his brother, Larry Troutman.

[David Boyd]

Oh, so it wasn't Roger, it was Larry.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, Larry.

[David Boyd]

Apparently you put that nigga Roger in the band and now everybody knows he beats a man. Fuck, I'm the talent. Larry.

[Langston Kerman]

Roger was killed by Larry in 1999. April 25, 1999.

[David Boyd]

Yeah, I mean, I think Larry was short for his nickname was Zap.

[Langston Kerman]

I'll be was like I'm a Zap your ass.

[David Boyd]

And Larry Zapp Troutwear.

[Langston Kerman]

Larry Zap Troutman. God damn. Well, for all our Zap fans that have been listening, I'm sorry to break the news to you, but Roger's dead. Roger's been dead for. For almost longer than years now. Yeah.

[Andrea Gunning]

This is Andrea Gunning from Betrayal. I want to take a moment to talk about something that impacts how we feel every day or gut health. If you've been dealing with sluggish digestion, constant fatigue, brain fog, trouble losing weight, or poor sleep, your gut may need some extra care. Introducing Bioma, a novel supplement that contains everything you need for a healthy gut. Enjoy comfortable digestion, boundless energy, and even smoother weight management when following a healthy lifestyle, just take two Bioma capsules each morning before breakfast and start feeling your best. Visit Byoma Health and use Code betrayal to get 15% off your first order.

[Jacob Goldstein]

This is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? When you buy business software from lots of vendors, the costs add up and it gets complicated and confusing. Odoo solves this. It's a single company that sells a suite of enterprise apps that handles everything from accounting to inventory to sales. Odoo is all connected on a single platform in a simple and affordable way. You can save money without missing out on the features you need. Check out Odoo at O D O o dot com. That's O D O o dot com.

[Ed Helms]

Hey, everyone. Ed Helms here.

[David Boyd]

And hi, I'm Kal Penn, and we're the hosts of Irsay, The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club.

[Ed Helms]

This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with with Jenny Garth, host of the iHeart podcast. I choose me to discuss the new Audible adaptation of the timeless Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice. This is not a trick question. There's no wrong answer. What role would I play?

[David Boyd]

You know what?

[Andrea Gunning]

I can see you as Mr. Darcy. You got a little Colin Firth.

[Ed Helms]

Okay, that's really sweet. I appreciate that, but are you sure I'm not the dad? I'm not Mr. Bennett. Here, listen to Earsay the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Lenovo User]

Ah, come on. Why is this taking so long? This thing is ancient.

[Lenovo Advertiser]

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[Lenovo User]

Whoa, this thing moves.

[Lenovo Advertiser]

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[Langston Kerman]

I think at its core, there may be some hidden messages that are. That are often put into music. And I think maybe looking more towards some of the more elusive writers might help to ground some of the. Like, I think about like Frank Ocean, right? Like he has songs that feel like they're about something without ever really being about something.

[David Boyd]

If that's like themed albums and things. Right? Yeah.

[Langston Kerman]

Where like, if you listen enough throughout, you will gather a general story of what he's talking about, but you're not necessarily sitting and tracking like a start to finish narrative.

[David Boyd]

Not like good kid Mad City. Right?

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, no, it's nothing like that. It's closer to like to Pimple Butterfly, frankly.

[David Boyd]

Right, right, right.

[Langston Kerman]

Okay.

[David Boyd]

I need. Yeah, I think there's. I think there's merit to this. Like. Yeah, definitely. I think that's writing, right? That's why. That's why writing is so great. Like, I was just read, man, I don't want to sound like a nerd. After fucking Cassim ripped my face off. I was reading.

[Langston Kerman]

Are you still heartened from when Cassine.

[David Boyd]

Yeah, I had to go underwater for a little bit. I was reading J.D. salinger has this book or this. Like he has this book called Nine Stories and this one, Clownfish. Have you ever read that?

[Langston Kerman]

No, I've never read. The only J.D. salinger I've read is Catcher in the Rye.

[David Boyd]

Well, if you read Nine Stories, I think you'll like him maybe even more. But I read it and then I read it. I had read it again. Cause it's a short story and I had read it again and I was like, I don't think I know what's going on here. And I went online and looked it up and then I was like, oh, this is this whole guy who's like telling his war trauma to this child on the beach. I just mean it's like a regular trick that in literature and writing that people use like disguised messages and stuff like that. Yeah.

[Langston Kerman]

And I think to your point, it just is how you make writing more interesting. If we all are just explicitly stating the thing that happened to us. It gets a little bland after a while.

[David Boyd]

Exactly. That's. That's the. That's The. That's the fun of it. That's the flourish. Right. Double entrance and all that.

[Langston Kerman]

I think about that, that O.J. song. Brandy, I don't know if you. You ever heard this when you were younger, but. But there are some who believe that that song is about a woman. Obviously, it sounds like he's singing about a woman who left him, but there are a lot who argue that that song is about his dog who. Who ran away and.

[David Boyd]

Oh, really?

[Langston Kerman]

And it's just the whole thing either ran away or died. I can't remember if Brandi is dead or just not with us and, you know, not nearby. But either way, it's about the dog, not about a lady.

[David Boyd]

See, and I always thought that song was about how he has to quit drinking and J. So there's a lot of theories out there.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. This is just him with a massive hangover being like, I really miss you, Brandi.

[David Boyd]

I gotta let you go.

[Langston Kerman]

Well, if you know for sure, if you're in touch with. Whose daddy was that? That was from the ojs. Yeah, from the ojs. It was. Fuck. Gerald Lavert's daddy, I believe, is the lead singer of the ojs. But anyway, if you're in touch with Gerald Lavert's daddy, you contact him and you find out if that song is about the dog or about his unhealthy relationship with Ian J.

[David Boyd]

Or if you're in contact with Gerald Lavert or really any of the members of Lavert Sweat, Gill, let him know I'm thinking about him.

[Langston Kerman]

Well, unfortunately, Gerald Lavert is no longer with us. But is Gerald Lavert dead? Gerald Levert's been dead for quite a while.

[David Boyd]

I had no idea.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, no, he's gone.

[David Boyd]

After he got fat.

[Langston Kerman]

He was fat the whole time, but I think.

[David Boyd]

I don't think he was that fat. He was like. He was thick in the beginning.

[Langston Kerman]

I do think he had a pretty tragic, like a heart or a brain thing. I remember it was not. It was a big surprise kind of vibe that Gerald Evert suddenly was dead.

[David Boyd]

Okay. I didn't. I didn't know even. I had no idea.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, but Keith Sweat still out here.

[David Boyd]

Yo, Keith Sweat doesn't even age, bro. He's forever. I fucking. Man. You know. You know that's his real name, Keith Sweat. Yeah, it's a family name.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. What, he got to change his name for the industry? Change for him.

[David Boyd]

His mother's name is Juanita Sweat. Anyways.

[Langston Kerman]

That'S not a metaphor. That's just straight up.

[David Boyd]

That's what her name is.

[Langston Kerman]

You're telling people who the fuck you are when your name is Juanita Sweat. So, yes, I do think.

[David Boyd]

I also do think.

[Langston Kerman]

I think there are a lot of great examples of where a lot like metaphor sort of like, does exist. And obviously it is with the intention sometimes of. Of swaying us. I would say, like, I. And we didn't talk about this yet, but when I read this email, one of the things that I thought about is if this is dangerous. And I do think there are times where it does get dangerous, where the hidden messages, as they were, are not so much about a story, device, or a thing that you've experienced, but more about a brand that they want us to. To sort of be like, remembering or committing to or whatever. The. And I imagine now more than ever, people are rapping about that also. They are selling or being told to.

[David Boyd]

Sell or you Makes me sad is I don't think they even are actually selling it.

[Langston Kerman]

A lot of times.

[David Boyd]

I think they're just rapping. I don't want to get into this, but materialism is a whole thing.

[Langston Kerman]

Oh, you think it's just vanity, and then subsequently we become victims of their vanity.

[David Boyd]

I think that's most of it. I don't think Blood Seago is giving out that many checks.

[Langston Kerman]

Well, here's the thing.

[David Boyd]

Or whoever. You know what I mean?

[Langston Kerman]

This is what makes me think that it's a little more complicated than just their vanity is I learned that music videos are 100% paid for by the artists. Right. That, like, there's no version of, like, oh, the record label paying for this. What they do is they allot you a certain amount of money for, like, you know, promotions, media, whatever the fuck it is, and you can spend some of your money that they've allotted towards your music video. Whatever, whatever, whatever. But then I've also now learned that part of the way that artists recoup the bread that they've been spending is by adding branding into the music videos and, like, wearing specific shoes or driving a specific car or drinking a specific drink in order to do. Right. And so subsequently, that makes me feel like it's very likely that that is also true for music that you're writing, that you're performing. That's a possibility connecting to. You know what I mean?

[David Boyd]

It's also like, product placement in videos. The older we get has been. Has been more and more apparent.

[Langston Kerman]

Right. Yeah, I feel that way even with, like, sports, too. Like, I don't.

[David Boyd]

Yeah. Or coming to America. That whole movie was a criminal. Did you see the newest One.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, it was a fucking commercial.

[David Boyd]

It was like, oh, man, thank God I got this Barack or Sarak Obama to cool me off on this hot, hot day. And my Nike branded hat. You African. So crazy.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, it truly was a. It was a big ass commercial. It's really wild for Rick Ross's house. I think just everything Rick Ross was connected to. But. But I think at its core, we're talking about the same thing. We're saying that there's a possibility that, like, yeah, maybe you're rapping, you know, you're rapping about some fly shit, but Balenciaga specifically is sponsoring some of that fly shit. So, yeah, I'm gonna say Balenciaga instead of just like leaving it at, you know, Gucci or Fenty or whatever the fuck you're actually wearing or interested in. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

[David Boyd]

No, that's. Yeah, no, that's fair. I think it's like. I also don't think it's going anywhere. I think it's a tale as well as time, and it always will be. So oftentimes and oftentimes, and to be fair to this point, is like, sometimes I'll see some shit that's actually about some other shit and I'll get, like, excited. Like, have you ever seen that movie, the Legend of Bagger Vance?

[Langston Kerman]

I have never sat down and I.

[David Boyd]

Thought it was just a coon movie. And then it turns out it's the Bhagavad Gita, the Hindu text.

[Lenovo Advertiser]

Oh.

[David Boyd]

And that makes it far less Bakugan.

[Langston Kerman]

So wait, this is like a Hindu story that they're adapting with.

[David Boyd]

It's the story of the Warrior King or whatever. Yeah, somebody. They taught me that in high school.

[Langston Kerman]

But then they adapted into Matt Damon Plays Golf with Will Smith.

[David Boyd]

Yeah, that's why they have all these weird sounding names like Ranulph and Juna. That's a Indian name, dog.

[Langston Kerman]

Whoa. That's crazy.

[David Boyd]

But that's just what my high school teacher told me. It might be wrong. Shout out to Ms. Durkee. I remember somebody. We terrorized her. I remember this girl, Sasha. She asked that she was a virgin is the funniest thing I've ever seen in high school. She raised her hand and she was like, sasha. And she was like, Ms. Durkee, are you a virgin? Oof.

[Langston Kerman]

I've had a student do that to me. And I will say I've never wanted to fight a person more than the.

[David Boyd]

Funniest thing you could do to a teacher as a child.

[Langston Kerman]

And what made it so obnoxious? Was that he was sort of like this very meek, very sort of like not that wild ass kid that you would expect to be the one doing it. And so it made it more like he sincerely didn't know. But I feel like he was just fucking with me. You know what I mean? Like, it wasn't.

[David Boyd]

He thought you were the one to steal on. Yeah.

[Langston Kerman]

He just was like, this will fix my awkward high school experience if I air out this motherfucker in front of all my peers.

[David Boyd]

Yeah. Free smoke. And it. To be honest, it might have worked.

[Langston Kerman]

He got the wrong one.

[David Boyd]

What was the reaction?

[Langston Kerman]

Oh, I, I aired him. I aired. I shot back, baby, are you a virgin? What we doing? What's up? I was like, nah, are you. You know what I mean? Like, I'm. I ain't. Not for a second am I sitting in that feeling.

[David Boyd]

Not since the 90s, baby.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, come on, big dog. I made it through high school. You ain't about to get me.

[David Boyd]

I might be your daddy.

[Langston Kerman]

Right You. Because, because the fear that they're. They're hoping I'm gon play in is be like, well, I can't reply because this is sexualizing a teen or, or putting a, you know. Nah, look, hey, what's up? Who you fucking? Who you fucking? Who you be with? Cause nah, I'm not just gonna sit in that feeling. And if my job is on the line afterwards, so goddamn be it.

[David Boyd]

Then all the students were like, hey, Mr. Kerman is fucking. Yeah. Like, did you tell them to call you Mr. K? Or did you have like some cool.

[Langston Kerman]

Nah, I couldn't do it. I just had to.

[David Boyd]

Is Mr. Kerman?

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, in part because I was much younger than everybody on the side than the other teachers. Yeah. And so in that way, I think they were worried that like, if I became too familiar, it would sort of. It was already a challenge. Sort of like, not you, I'm not.

[David Boyd]

Saying you, but that's how people end up fucking students, I think.

[Langston Kerman]

So you become too like too much of a friend. And then it's like happened in my high school.

[David Boyd]

I've seen it.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. I never wanted to be their friends.

[David Boyd]

Oh man, they're teens. I didn't fuck a teacher.

[Langston Kerman]

No. Good for you.

[David Boyd]

I mean, I would have had the.

[Langston Kerman]

Opportunity arisen to fuck one of your teachers.

[David Boyd]

Yeah, I would have. But I don't think it would have got because here's what happened is like a student at my high school did it and it was the little brother of somebody that I was close to and it was a boy Girl. It wasn't a male teacher having sex. It was a female teacher having sex with a man. The one that you always think is cool, but then when it happened, when it happened, the way it shook out, I was like, oh, this is. Yeah, She's. That was abuse, and it ruined his life. It really fucked up that little boy's life.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. No, I don't think I. I don't think it's ever as cool as we imagined it would be. It truly is.

[David Boyd]

In high school, I was. I was wishing a would.

[Langston Kerman]

Oh, I would have happily done it in. In high school and. And never looked back. Blown my whole life up at my therapist.

[David Boyd]

Yeah. I would have had somebody.

[Langston Kerman]

I would have looked back at my therapist as I'm leaving, I would say, am I gonna be okay? And she'd have been like, I don't know.

[David Boyd]

It's gonna be a rough road.

[Langston Kerman]

See you next week, big man. She calls me big man because there's a closeness now.

[David Boyd]

Yeah, No, I understand. Listen, we're all in too deep anyway. Secret messages of music. I believe it.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, I think that's 100% possible. I think there. In fact, it's more than likely that there are secret messages, some more harmful than others. And the best thing we can do is. Is just listen to the messages from people we like, you know?

[David Boyd]

Mm. Hug your loved ones.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. Hug your loved ones while Future sings to you about why Gucci is the best of all the brands.

[David Boyd]

If she catching cheating, catch me cheating, I will never tell her. Sorry.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. How is that not militarizing the population, bro?

[David Boyd]

He is an animal.

[Langston Kerman]

If that's not the secret message that makes you a fucking. The type of person that slits a puppy's throat.

[David Boyd]

I don't know.

[Langston Kerman]

God damn it.

[David Boyd]

He raps like he doesn't have a mom.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. It's like, bro, you have.

[David Boyd]

There are women in your family.

[Langston Kerman]

You have so many kids. There has to be a daughter in there somewhere.

[David Boyd]

Yeah.

[Langston Kerman]

You know what I mean?

[David Boyd]

It's really wild.

[Langston Kerman]

And not that it should require a daughter for you to be even remotely humane, but at the same time, God damn.

[David Boyd]

Yeah. Yeah. His music makes me feel like a prude sometimes, you know? Like, sometimes you listen to super gangster rap and you're like, oh, I'm not. I'm not like Benny the Butcher.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah.

[David Boyd]

That's how I feel. I listen to the future.

[Langston Kerman]

Yo.

[David Boyd]

My heart longs for love.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah. No, I know everybody is always judgmental of things, but I've never related to Jay z more than 444, where I was like, oh, this is just a man who goes to work and trying to do better.

[David Boyd]

I get that, man. That's the longevity I'm looking for.

[Langston Kerman]

When he was talking about cocaine, I didn't get that motherfucker at all.

[David Boyd]

I told my friends I did.

[Langston Kerman]

Yeah, no, I pretended to.

[David Boyd]

I tried. Tried as hard as I could, but.

[Langston Kerman]

And I enjoyed trying. I can't think of an artist I enjoyed trying with more, but did I get it? No, I didn't get it. But when he got to being like, hey, man, I just wanna. I just wanna learn to stretch in the morning and. And check, check stocks, it was like, yeah, Jay Z, I get it. I like this. Relatable.

[David Boyd]

I also eat grapefruit.

[Langston Kerman]

With a spoon.

[David Boyd]

Yeah.

[Langston Kerman]

Scoop out the little.

[David Boyd]

No, I eat it. I eat the wedges. Because I'm still. I'm still out here.

[Langston Kerman]

Here.

[David Boyd]

I peel it like an orange. I don't give a fuck.

[Langston Kerman]

I love that for you. Well, Jerry with a J, I believe this should have answered your question. There definitely are conspiracy theories. Next time you come to us, you come with something better than the very coked out band Cameo. Talking about candy as a reference to cocaine.

[David Boyd]

People call it nose candy. They just cut off one word.

[Langston Kerman]

Jesus Christ, Jerry, you've made a fool of yourself again.

[David Boyd]

Yet again. We let you in our house.

[Langston Kerman]

This is quite possibly your second time around the bend. And this is what the fuck you came back with, Jerry. You make us sick, you fucking idiot. Well, that's about it. Bye, bitch.

[Mini Episode Announcer]

Motherfucking mini episode. Mini episode. Mini episode. Mini episodes. Many episodes. Mini episodes.

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We use sunscreen. Papro tejer la piel. Verdad. So why not be proactive? Protegendo tu? Salut. Bucal cambien.

[Langston Kerman]

Hola.

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[Andrea Gunning]

This is Andrea Gunning from Betrayal. I want to take a moment to talk about something that impacts how we feel every day. Our gut health. If you've been dealing with sluggish digestion, constant fatigue, brain fog, trouble losing weight or poor sleep, your gut may need some extra care. Introducing Bioma, a novel supplement that contains everything you need for a healthy gut. Enjoy comfortable digestion, boundless energy, and even smoother weight management when following a healthy lifestyle. Just take two Bioma capsules each morning before breakfast and start feeling your best. Visit Byoma Health and use code BETRAYAL to get 15% off your first order.

[Jacob Goldstein]

This is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? Business software is expensive and when you buy software from lots of different companies, it's not only expensive, it gets confusing. Slow to use, hard to integrate. Odoo solves that because all Odoo software is connected on a single affordable platform. Save money without missing out on the features you need. Odoo has no hidden costs and no limit on features or data. Odoo has over 60 apps available for any needs your business might have, all at no additional charge. Everything from websites to sales to inventory to accounting. All linked and talking to each other. Check out Odoo at o d o o.com that's o d o o dot com.

[Lenovo User]

Ah, come on. Why is this taking so long? This thing is ancient.

[Lenovo Advertiser]

Still using yesterday's tech Upgrade to the ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultra Light Ultra powerful and built for serious productivity with Intel Core Ultra processors, blazing speed and AI powered performance that keeps up with your business, not the other way around.

[Lenovo User]

Whoa, this thing moves.

[Lenovo Advertiser]

Stop hitting snooze on new tech. Win the tech [e-mail] Lenovo Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 carbon powered by Intel Core Ultra processors so you can work, create and boost productivity all on one device.

[Andrea Gunning]

This is an iHeart podcast.