New Rory & MAL – Best of Rory & Mal: Week of 9/1

Podcast by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Aired: September 7, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode features a lively roundup of new stories, debates, and signature unfiltered banter among hosts Rory, Mal, and their rotating crew. Conversational highlights include an in-depth breakdown of a recent rap battle frenzy—centered around Joey (presumably Joey Bada$$), Daylyt, Loaded Lux, and others—and spirited discussions on the culture of musical interviews, leaks, and authenticity in the social media era. The crew also dives into the Young Thug case and the complexities of "street rules," all while examining what it means to commentate honestly in today’s media landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rap Battles, Beef, and Joey’s Perspective

(02:40–21:38)

• Fallout from "Rulers Back":

  • Joey discusses not anticipating the drama sparked by his Jay-Z-referencing track "Rulers Back." He insists the reference wasn’t a calculated diss but acknowledges his friend Sam warned it could spark controversy (03:04).
  • Quote:
    “I don’t think it’s gonna be that big of a deal. It’s the whole line. It ain’t like I said, yo, he fucked the West Coast.” — Joey (G), (04:12)
  • He recounts speaking with Ab-Soul (AB) after the track dropped, confirming no personal offense was taken.
  • The Internet’s role in escalating the situation is debated, with Joey noting:
    “The Internet nowadays fuels shit…stand culture and all of that shit.” — Joey (05:17)

• The "Sorry Not Sorry" Response & Jabs at Cole:

  • Joey admits that the song, particularly the line with “bunch of n****s with attitudes,” directly addressed West Coast critics and the digital fallout (06:07).
  • Deliberate intention is discussed:
    “I did think about that one though. Cause I’m like, all right, now it’s a little bit more intention, you know what I’m saying?” — Joey (07:10)

• Rap as Sport:

  • The group reminisces about an era when lyrical competitiveness was expected, not taken personally.
  • Quote:
    “It was the epitome of what this whole thing is, what hip hop is.” — F (07:27)
  • The consensus: the real offense was taken by the Internet, not other rappers or battle peers like Daylyt.
    • “Internet was fueling it for the- no, no, Daylyt wasn’t offended.” — Joey (08:05)

• Daylyt’s Approach and Battle Rap Formats:

  • Discussion on whether Daylyt’s response on tracks matched his usual ferocity in live battles. Joey points out a beat-based competition was a new arena for Daylyt (11:38).
  • Quote:
    “He was in a different arena. This was a different stage for Daylyt Battle…We’re not on the stage.” — Joey (11:22)
  • The Red Bull Cypher logistics are dissected—Joey knew his bars would likely reach opponents early, impacting battle strategies and public perception (09:29–10:30).

• Loaded Lux Collaboration and the "My Town" Record:

  • Joey details the organic formation of his team-up with Loaded Lux:
    “Me and Lux go way back…we always just had that rapport.” (14:05)
  • On where “My Town” stands in rap diss history, Elliot suggests it’s top-tier material (16:13).

• Joey’s Willingness to Engage:

  • Initially, Joey didn’t see the value in engaging, but recognized a new generation of hip-hop fans eager to (re)discover his lyrical skills, especially facing multiple opponents (17:19–19:44).
  • “Every five years is a bunch of new hip hop fans…A bunch of opinions, think pieces.” — Joey (17:51)

2. Young Thug, Street Rules & Government Tactics

(21:41–31:56)

• On Leaks of Young Thug’s Conversations:

  • The crew analyzes recent “leaks” of jail calls and interrogation footage involving Young Thug, suggesting these aren’t true leaks, but intentional moves by authorities to damage Thug’s public persona.
  • Quote:
    “We may not have you in prison…But we’re gonna get you. And I think this is exactly what’s happening here.” — F (22:43)
  • Elliot notes phone call leaks may come via lower-level prison staff, while interrogations are purely government-held (25:13, 26:10).

• Evolving Street Rules & Snitching:

  • The group debates the reality and history of “street rules.”
  • Quote:
    “The rules are cold. That shit is only upheld by a very select few…You go through every era from the biggest gangsters…I could point out somebody that ratted.” — F (28:22)
  • Mal’s candid take: standing solid is rare—most fold when pressured.
  • “Come home, concert sold out, merch sold out. I’m saying, views going crazy on YouTube. The support is still there. And they just put some good dudes behind bars.” — F (31:39)

3. Hip-Hop Journalism, Interviews, and Industry Critique

(36:23–56:10)

• Controversy Over Who Gets the Big Interview:

  • The team discusses the backlash around Drake’s interviews with newer personalities (e.g., Bobby Althoff) instead of traditional hip-hop journalists.
  • Memorable Moment:
    “If all three of them…want to sit with me in my white face, I’d be happy to.” — Elliot jokes about interview dynamics. (37:11)
  • They debate whether Drake owes fans or journalists any explanations or interviews—Mal and Host argue artists don’t owe media or fans everything (44:24–45:07).

• On Journalism, Integrity, and Coverage:

  • Mal pushes back on being forced to critique music not meant for him, specifically Cardi B:
    “I don’t feel comfortable talking about Cardi B’s music because she don’t…I’m not her audience, her target audience.” — F (39:07)
  • Elliot argues full-spectrum coverage is part of journalism, but Mal counters that honesty is more important (40:10–40:21).
  • Host and F reiterate the line between media figure, journalist, podcaster, and cultural commentator is blurry in 2025 (38:46).

• Changing Nature of Artist Interviews:

  • The group analyzes how artists—especially A-listers like Drake, Kendrick, and Cole—now steer clear of traditional journalism, choosing lighter or less “cultural” interviewers.
  • Notable Discussion:
    “There’s also so many different types of creators who have a different interview type platforms…who would also ask him certain questions that I just don’t think that he’s prepared to answer.” — Host (46:28)
  • They admit artists are under no obligation to address beefs or deep issues, as fans will criticize no matter what (47:21–47:36).

• Historical Comparisons & Expectations:

  • Mal recalls fans in earlier hip-hop eras never clamored for interviews post-beef—just the music. Elliot challenges this, citing the famous Jay-Z with Angie Martinez interview after “Ether” as proof fans did care (52:16–53:09).
  • Host points out times have changed, and so have fan/industry/media expectations (54:11).

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “I probably made Rulers Back…two days before I put it out…we just put it out…my man Sam…was the only person that was like, yo, I don't know that line.”
  — Joey (G), 03:04

• “One thing I’m not gonna do is get on Twitter and be walking it back…Like yo, I ain’t mean it like that. I felt secure in what I meant.”
  — Joey, 06:23

• “The Internet nowadays fuels shit…the stand culture and all of that shit.”
  — Joey, 05:17

• “This is what they supposed to be doing is rapping.”
  — F, 07:47

• “I don’t think Gunner’s lawyers did. Thug’s lawyers I think can get those, you know…but that lets you know when you make a call, this call is being recorded.”
  — F, 27:27

• “The rules are cold…that shit is only upheld by a very select few.”
  — F, 28:22

• “A journalist should be honest. If integrity…journalists should have integrity. And don’t none of you got more integrity than me.”
  — F, 40:21

• “I don’t feel comfortable sitting here talking about Cardi B’s music. Cause I know she doesn’t make music for me. What’s wrong with that?”
  — F, 39:11

• “The reason why I never understood why people get upset about shit like this is because, number one, he sat down with people. Plenty of people before.”
  — F, 43:01

• “Times have changed, and we consume more media and we expect more out of our celebrities.”
  — Host, 53:48

• “He doesn’t want to be a culture vulture anymore. So he’s sitting down with a white girl.”
  — F, 55:54

Memorable Moments

• Joey detailing the behind-the-scenes logistics of beef tracks, especially how opponents likely heard tracks in advance thanks to label or social connections (10:30).
• Mal’s frank account of why he left street life, seeing “snitching” as inevitable and refusing to participate in that cycle (31:39).
• The tongue-in-cheek debate about whether being a podcaster, journalist, or “media man” matters anymore—or if, as Elliot says, “We’re all the same gang, motherfucker.” (38:28).
• The nuanced debate about artists’ right to control their narrative, and the perpetual dissatisfaction of fans and media with the accessibility of A-listers (44:24–47:36).

Conclusion

This episode showcases Rory & Mal’s blend of humor, candor, and insight on rap beefs old and new. The crew lays bare the shifting power dynamics in media coverage, the evolving “rules” of hip-hop beef and authenticity, and unpacks what it means to engage with cultural moments as both fans and commentators. Whether parsing Joey’s rap chess moves, dissecting the blurred lines between journalist and podcaster, or pondering if Drake owes anything to anyone, it’s a fast-paced, witty, and thought-provoking mixtape of contemporary hip-hop media life.