Podcast Summary: New Rory & MAL Episode 376 | California Love | Released June 3, 2025
1. Personal Updates and Weekend Recap (00:53 – 04:09)
The episode kicks off with Rory, Maal, and Damaris sharing personal anecdotes and updates. Rory humorously reflects on how time seems to fly when celebrating his birthday, stating, "Time's flying when you're celebrating my birthday" ([00:53]). The hosts discuss family dynamics and past birthday traditions, with Rory reminiscing about growing up in a crowded grandparent's house.
The conversation shifts to weekend activities, where Rory recounts a trip to Florida. He shares his experience at a thrift store near Fort Myers, highlighting the unique encounters with locals who were surprised to see him there: "Like an hour outside of Fort Myers, like the middle of nowhere. So, you know, did that. Baked." ([03:44]). The trio also touches on family time, including a visit to the beach with toddlers, emphasizing the challenges and joys of parenting.
2. Sports Segment: Knicks vs. Pacers Analysis (07:42 – 16:49)
The hosts dive deep into the recent NBA playoffs, focusing on the New York Knicks' performance against the Indiana Pacers. Maal shares his optimistic view of the Knicks' season, praising their ability to exceed expectations: "I think overall it was a great year for the Knicks. I think they definitely achieved more than most." ([07:55]).
Rory echoes this sentiment, expressing pride in the team's efforts despite their loss: "But I am happy. But they teased us because, again, I'm with you on game one. I think that was really the dagger from the beginning that took the air." ([08:07]). The discussion covers key players like Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle, analyzing their performances and the team's need for additional firepower and perimeter scoring.
Damaris becomes emotional recounting the collective experience of Knicks fans during the series finale, sharing personal feelings about witnessing the city come together: "We all cried together." ([06:33]).
3. Music Segment: Critique of Complex's LA Rappers List (16:50 – 43:00)
Shifting gears, Rory and Maal critique Complex’s recently released list of the top 50 LA rappers. They express frustration over perceived inaccuracies and regional biases in the selection. Maal questions the inclusion criteria: "A lot of these rappers are not from LA. They're from California, but they're not from Los Angeles." ([20:07]).
Rory challenges the ranking, particularly the placement of renowned artists like Game and Nipsey Hussle: "Game not in the top 10 is crazy." ([26:13]). The hosts debate the merits of various artists on the list, discussing their skill, commercial impact, and lasting influence. Damaris adds depth by outlining Complex’s stated criteria: "They stuck to three core principles when sorting our ranking. This is coming from complex skill as a hip hop artist, strength of a catalog, commercial impact, and lasting influence." ([24:54]).
The conversation includes a spirited exchange about iconic figures like Tupac Shakur, Snoop Dogg, and Ice-T, highlighting disagreements with their placement and the overall methodology of the list.
4. Album and Artist Discussions: The Clips and Upcoming Projects (43:00 – 85:00)
The hosts turn their attention to upcoming music releases, notably discussing "The Clips" album. They anticipate features from prominent artists like Stove God Cooks and Kendrick Lamar, analyzing the potential impact of these collaborations. Rory shares insights into the production challenges and label dynamics: "Push said fuck that. They got into some legality shit. Which led to the clips getting off Def Jam as well as Pusha T getting off Def Jam." ([69:08]).
Maal and Damaris discuss the artistry and lyrical prowess of established rappers versus newer artists, emphasizing the importance of skill and authentic storytelling in hip hop. They commend Pusha T, Malice, and Push for their lyrical abilities and dedication to the craft.
5. Relationship Talk: Cardi B and Offset (85:00 – 112:10)
In the latter part of the episode, Rory, Maal, and Damaris delve into the tumultuous relationship between Cardi B and Offset. They discuss recent public incidents, including Cardi's explosive outburst on Twitter Spaces following Offset's statements about alimony and child support: "She says she's been working Corey. I think she's..." ([98:48]).
The hosts speculate on the future of Cardi and Offset's relationship, balancing their support for Cardi with observations about Offset's behavior: "I think he's gonna do what Stephon does. He's gonna find somebody that he really likes, and he's gonna keep it away from Cardi." ([108:12]).
Damaris shares her personal experience of hearing Cardi's rant and the emotional impact it had, while Maal expresses concern over the public portrayal and its implications on their personal lives.
Notable Quotes:
- Rory on Time Flying: "Time's flying when you're celebrating my birthday." ([00:53])
- Maal on Knicks' Achievement: "I think overall it was a great year for the Knicks." ([07:55])
- Rory on Game's Ranking: "Game not in the top 10 is crazy." ([26:13])
- Damaris on Complex’s Criteria: "They stuck to three core principles... skill as a hip hop artist, strength of a catalog, commercial impact, and lasting influence." ([24:54])
- Rory on Album Delays: "Push said fuck that. They got into some legality shit." ([69:08])
- Damaris on Cardi and Offset: "She was screaming in my ear. I sat and listened to the whole thing." ([98:48])
Conclusion:
Episode 376 of New Rory & MAL offers a blend of personal stories, in-depth sports analysis, passionate music critiques, and candid discussions on pop culture relationships. The hosts engage in lively debates, providing listeners with insightful perspectives and memorable quotes throughout the episode.
Note: This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections, focusing solely on the substantive discussions and interactions between the hosts.