Podcast Summary: New Rory & MAL – Episode 323 | Fragile Opp

Introduction

In Episode 323 titled "Fragile Opp" of the "New Rory & MAL" podcast, hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, the hosts delve into a variety of pressing topics within the music industry, personal anecdotes from recent live shows, and engaging banter among themselves. Released on November 26, 2024, this episode offers listeners a comprehensive look at the current state of hip-hop, artist dynamics, and the evolving landscape of live podcast events.

1. Kendrick Lamar's New Album: GNX

The primary focus of this episode revolves around Kendrick Lamar's highly anticipated album, "GNX." The hosts discuss its reception, comparing it to Lamar's previous works such as "Mr. Morale," "Good Kid, M.A.A.D City," and "To Pimp a Butterfly."

• Album Reception and Replay Value

  • Rory expresses enthusiasm for the album, stating, "I think it's better than Mr. Morale. I think it has more replay value than Mr. Morale" ([03:00]).
  • Mal offers a more critical perspective, mentioning, "Some of the music, I don't like GNX... It sounds like it's haunting." ([12:48]).

• Production and Features

  • The hosts commend the album's production quality, noting that Rory believes the production is "light years ahead of Mr. Morale" ([03:16]).
  • Mal praises Kendrick's collaboration choices, saying, "I loved all the features on this." ([31:03]).

• Hyphy Influence and Musical Style

  • Discussions highlight the album's hyphy influences, with Rory stating, "Hyphy things are offbeat, like... it's more of a Detroit thing than a West coast thing." ([13:24]).
  • Damaris notes, "The beats are offbeat, which is respectable, but... not everything has to have replay value." ([14:25]).

2. Drake's Lawsuit Against UMG and Spotify

A significant portion of the conversation centers around Drake's legal actions against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify, alleging conspiracy to artificially inflate Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us."

• Details of the Lawsuit

  • Rory summarizes the lawsuit, mentioning, "Drake's company accuses UMG and Spotify of serious wrongdoing... alleging they conspired to artificially inflate 'Not Like Us.'" ([56:25]).
  • Julian adds, "UMG launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves with the song 'Not Like Us'... including bots and payola." ([67:40]).

• Implications for the Music Industry

  • Rory speculates on the legal ramifications, stating, "This could open the fucking floodgates when it comes to streaming farms, fake streams, how they marketed, how they manipulate the stream." ([65:03]).
  • Damaris emphasizes the broader impact, saying, "It affects every artist that's on Spotify." ([69:48]).

• Hosts' Reactions and Analysis

  • Mal considers the lawsuits as part of a larger industry issue, noting, "This is just their way of calling attention to things that's going on behind the scenes." ([66:34]).
  • Julian expresses skepticism, "Isn't Drake's deal with UMG as well?" ([63:54]).

3. Live Show Experiences and Fan Interactions

The episode recounts memorable moments from recent live podcast recordings, particularly the meet-and-greet in Atlanta.

• Judah's Proposal

  • Rory shares, "Judah came on stage and proposed to his girlfriend... we thought, how did he get that line off to you?" ([06:51]).
  • Mal concurs, "She opened the phone and subscribed to the Patreon on stage." ([07:37]).

• Group Dynamics and Show Planning

  • Julian recounts the hosts' initial apprehensions about the live show's format, "We considered just doing a song by song listening session of that album." ([08:14]).
  • Damaris reflects on audience reactions, "A lot of people that came... were kind of on his side." ([08:37]).

4. Podcast Banter and Host Dynamics

Beyond the primary topics, the hosts engage in spirited discussions about personal experiences, relationships, and the nature of their podcast interactions.

• Mean vs. Nice Interactions

  • The hosts debate the nature of their on-air demeanor, with Damaris pushing for apologies, saying, "I think you're giving Drake a little bit too much." ([37:09]).
  • Rory defends his stance, "You were bullying him. You're a pedophile." ([49:47]).

• Social Anxiety and Personal Struggles

  • Julian shares a voicemail about dealing with social anxiety, prompting a supportive discussion on handling personal challenges, "I've been sweating profusely in social settings." ([112:30]).
  • Mal offers advice, "Go to the doctor and just tell them what you're telling us." ([117:43]).

• Humorous Exchanges and Light-Hearted Moments

  • The conversation includes light-hearted moments, such as discussing favorite skincare routines and mocking each other's old clothing styles.

5. Concluding Remarks and Future Plans

As the episode wraps up, the hosts reflect on their live shows, upcoming events, and Thanksgiving plans.

• End-of-Year Live Shows

  • Mal announces, "December 14th, we are home. We will be at the Gramercy Theater in New York City to end our year of live shows." ([126:53]).
  • Rory expresses excitement about potentially extending their tour, "Maybe we should just keep going because the last two shows have been incredible." ([126:26]).

• Thanksgiving Reflections

  • Rory addresses the Thanksgiving holiday, emphasizing family and gratitude, "We don't sit at the table and, like, celebrate genocide. First of all, let's celebrate being around family." ([01:29]).
  • Damaris and Julian share personal Thanksgiving plans and reflections on the holiday's significance.

Notable Quotes

• Rory on Kendrick's Album:

  "I think it's better than Mr. Morale. I think it has more replay value than Mr. Morale." ([03:00])

• Mal on Production Quality:

  "I think he changed his tone from the documentary to Dr. Dre's voice." ([15:48])

• Julian on Drake's Lawsuit:

  "UMG launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves with the song 'Not Like Us'... including bots and payola." ([67:40])

• Rory on Stream Manipulation:

  "This could open the fucking floodgates when it comes to streaming farms, fake streams, how they marketed, how they manipulate the stream." ([65:03])

• Damaris on Social Anxiety:

  "I've been sweating profusely in social settings." ([112:30])

Conclusion

Episode 323 of "New Rory & MAL" offers a multifaceted discussion rich with industry insights, personal stories, and dynamic host interactions. From dissecting Kendrick Lamar's latest musical endeavor and scrutinizing legal battles within hip-hop to sharing heartfelt moments from live events and personal challenges, the episode caters to listeners seeking both depth and relatability. As the hosts prepare to conclude their live show tour and embrace the holiday season, they leave audiences anticipating future episodes filled with more engaging content and candid conversations.