New Rory & MAL

Episode 405 | NRM Youngboys – September 12, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Featuring: Rory, Mal, Josh, Damaris, Peach

Episode Overview

This episode brings classic New Rory & MAL energy: heartfelt cultural reflection, rapid-fire pop commentary, and the signature blend of irreverence and insight. The crew talks about 9/11 remembrance, UFOs and masculinity, the culture of big boxing matches, a hilarious search for fight party guests, the current state of hip-hop rollouts (including Drake’s Iceman series and NBA YoungBoy’s unstoppable rise), the nuances of cancel culture around legends like Ice Cube, and the eternal debate of artists' legacies and cross-medium brilliance. Listeners also get a pulse-check on upcoming Cardi B (and Ice Cube!) music, and a candid voicemail about Conor McGregor’s wild presidential run in Ireland.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

9/11: Remembering, Reflecting, and New Normals

• Remembrance & Personal Reflection:
  • Mal shares poignant visits to firehouses on the anniversary:

    “Never forget, I stopped by two firehouses today. The one around the corner, and the one in Hell's Kitchen... a lot of the firefighters that did pass on 9/11... they open their doors so everyone could pay respects." (03:37)

  • Rory and Mal discuss how life after 9/11 established a “new normal” of chaos and insensitivity (05:13).
• Changing Sensitivities:
  • Commentary about desensitization in society:

    Rory: "They released a video of us shooting a missile at a UFO... and nobody is even talking about it." (05:27)

UFOs, Masculinity, & The Lost Art of Doing Stuff

• Masculinity & Pop Culture:
  • The guys riff off “Independence Day” and juxtapose how everyday men used to have “a trade” and now, humorously, wouldn’t know how to fly a plane in a crisis.

    Mall: “I don't even have the knowledge of how to fly one of the Wright brothers' planes…” (07:07)

• AI Conspiracy:
  • Mal introduces a wild theory: “Are you under the impression that AI is actually an alien from Saturn?... it is a being.” (08:56)

The State of Boxing: Canelo vs. Crawford and Fight Party Culture

• Fight Anticipation & Analysis:
  • Huge anticipation for Canelo vs. Crawford; debate on whether it's the “biggest fight in 20 years” (09:35-10:30).

    Rory: "This is on that same course of one of the most legendary boxing fights that we will ever see." (10:15) Mall: "I'm going Canelo. As much as I do love my ginger brother, I think he's going to win." (15:08)

  • Discussion on the future of the sport against the backdrop of influencer bouts and legends fighting far past their prime (“Mayweather vs. Tyson,” Jake Paul, etc. 16:05–18:04)
• Fight Parties: Social Rituals & Food Struggles:
  • Comedic planning of a fight party.

    “Fight party to me, is 10 people. Not a club. Because at that point, you could just go outside.” (14:02)

  • Arguments over whether women attend these parties for the boxing or the “vibes”:

    Mall: “I can provide a venue... cable... buy the food. I can't provide the other libations, the ones people care most about.” (13:14)

• DIY Pizza Tangent:
  • Laughs about making pizza from pre-made dough, with Mall admitting he often messes it up – relatable, lighthearted tangent. (12:00–12:35)

Hip-Hop Rollouts: Drake’s “Iceman” Series & Producer Gossip

• Dissecting Iceman Episode 3:
  • General disappointment with the latest Drake “Iceman” installment.

    Mall: "I thought the songs that he previewed were underwhelming… I'm getting a little tired of just, like, all the Easter egg stuff… It's just getting, like, exhausting." (35:16) Rory: "This could be his Wire Season 2." (38:54)

  • Debate about rollout fatigue, expectations around content, and “the art” of withholding versus overexposure.
• Producer Dynamics – 40 vs. Boi-1da:
  • The segment pivots to rumors (from Stat Quo) that Drake’s longtime producers 40 and Boi-1da don’t get along.

    Rory: “I don’t know if anybody could hate 40... maybe just competitive.” (43:21)
    Mall: “Drake is two people: it’s Drake and 40. I’ve always felt that way.” (44:07)

• Toronto Men Stereotypes:
  • Mall stirs with observations about Toronto men being “more emotional” over women, sparking spirited debate.

    Mall: "Toronto men love, love their hoes. Sometimes somebody feels away." (47:07)
    Rory: "That's ego pie right there. That's not a Toronto thing, that's a man thing." (48:10)

NBA YoungBoy: The New Arena King

• Insane Live Energy & Cultural Divide:
  • The crew marvels at NBA YoungBoy’s crowds, noting generational gaps and fan devotion:

    Rory: “Seeing NBA YoungBoy shows is definitely like confirmation that I’m just old. I don’t know one NBA YoungBoy song.” (53:55)

  • Comparison to classic acts:

    Josh: “That sounds fire to me... I want to feel that ‘bitch, I’m a boss’ feeling again!” (58:23)

• Show Experience Anxiety:
  • They riff (hilariously) on being too old or out of place at a YoungBoy concert:

    Mall: “You gotta punch somebody in their face for entrance. It’s like a jello shot.” (62:21) Rory: “If I go... I don’t even know these songs like that… I gotta know the music.” (59:34)

• Dangers at Shows:
  • Discussion about the most dangerous concerts they've attended—Irving Plaza, Hot 97’s “Who's Next” New Jersey show, wild DJ sets—highlighting moments when things nearly went left. (68:15–73:07)

Fashion Week, Modeling, and Brand Loyalty

• Fashion Week FOMO:
  • The crew jokes about being too “washed” to get invited, and whether they’d walk the runway for popular brands or their own merch.

    Josh: “Would you rip...”
    Rory: “Don't do that. I'm telling you, I would never walk the runway... If Jerry asks [Fear of God], only because I fuck with Jerry.” (22:26–22:43)

• Ame Brand “Love Bombing”:
  • Mall describes his rocky-yet-fond relationship with the brand Ame, making a hilarious analogy to dating:

    “I love Ame, but I think I'm in an abusive relationship with them. Every time I start to feel like I'm getting into the place... this is a whole new brand... I get a friends and family discount anytime I'm about to leave… love bomb every single time.” (24:42–25:30)

• Reflections on Not Taking Modeling Gigs:
  • Mall confesses regret for passing on Kanye’s iconic fashion show extras call back in 2016:

    "I would have said yes to that, now, in retrospect." (28:21)

Legendary Artists, Legacy, and Cancel Culture

• The Ice Cube & Jamie Foxx Comparison:
  • In-depth praise for Ice Cube’s multi-hyphenate creative role:

    Mall: “I don’t think it’s crazy to say that Cube is not close to that [Jamie Foxx] status as well of every box that he’s checked when it comes to creativity...” (92:13) Josh: “He tends to kind of, I don’t want to say play the same role, but… because Ice Cube has that angry ass face… He’s hilarious naturally, but the character... tends to be a typecast angry, more serious character.” (96:02)

• Cancel Culture & Political Activism:
  • The crew critique’s culture’s tendency to “cancel” based on shallow knowledge, referencing reactions to Ice Cube’s perceived political moves:

    Mall: “When people tried to [cancel Cube]… That lets you know they don't know Ice Cube. They just got introduced to him a few years ago.” (88:33) Josh: “It's just everything is so black and white or red and blue, and people don't know what the fuck they're talking about.” (89:22)

• Highlighting Forgotten Legacies:
  • Emphasizes how younger listeners miss the full scope of Cube or LL's impact as Hollywood erases music feats. (87:40–88:19)

    Mall: “Everyone younger than me, the first record they probably heard from Ice Cube was 'I Could Do It Put Your Back Into It.' Like, that's… nuts.” (87:21)

Anticipation, Empathy, and Anxiety over Cardi B’s Album

• Mixed Feelings About Cardi B’s Next Project:
  • Josh expresses “conflicted” feelings reviewing music as a “job,” while Mall shares nervous but empathetic support for Cardi given the stakes.

    Mall: “No matter what, Cardi will always be a superstar. She has her legacy. But this is a big fucking crossroads. I want this [album] to work so well for her because this is a crossroads.” (81:44) Rory: “Either way, Cardi will be fine… but it's the biggest moment for her.” (83:39)

Listener Voicemails: Conor McGregor for Irish President?

• Wild Possibility:
  • A listener asks if Conor McGregor could become Ireland’s president.

    Mall: “All he's been saying is I'm running for president. He hasn't given us a stance. I don't know his policy between Northern Ireland… The only things I've seen is I'm running for president and Azalea Banks, here's my dick." (98:12)

• Politics for Clout:
  • The show riffs on celebrity politicians from Trump to Schwarzenegger, and the real lack of political experience.

    Josh: "Does that mean I should run?" (97:19)

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On 9/11 Remembrance:

  “Never forget, I stopped by two firehouses today. One around the corner, and the one in Hell’s Kitchen… they open their doors so everyone could pay respects.” – Mall (03:37)

• On UFOs & Masclinity:

  "They released a video of us shooting a missile at a UFO... and nobody is even talking about it." – Rory (05:27)

• On Fight Parties:

  "Fight party to me, is 10 people. Not a club. Because at that point, you could just go outside." – Mall (14:02)

• On Toronto Men & Emotionality:

  "Toronto men love, love their hoes. Sometimes somebody feels away." – Mall (47:07)
  "That's ego pie right there. That's not a Toronto thing, that's a man thing." – Rory (48:10)

• On Gen Z Hip-Hop Gaps:

  "Seeing NBA YoungBoy shows is definitely like confirmation that I’m just old. I don’t know one NBA YoungBoy song." – Rory (53:55)

• On Producer Rumors:

  "Drake is two people: it’s Drake and 40. I’ve always felt that way." – Mall (44:07)

• On Artist Legacies:

  "I don’t think it’s crazy to say Cube is close to that [Jamie Foxx] status as well of every box that he’s checked when it comes to creativity..." – Mall (92:13)

• On Cancel Culture:

  "It's just everything is so black and white or red and blue, and people don't know what the fuck they're talking about." – Josh (89:22)

• On Cardi B Album Anxiety:

  "I want this to work so well for her because this is a crossroads." – Mall (81:44)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Remembrance & Impact of 9/11: -- [02:36]–[05:27]
• UFO Tangent & Masculinity: -- [05:27]–[08:54]
• Boxing, Fight Party Planning: -- [09:31]–[16:05]
• DIY Pizza Tangent: -- [12:00]–[12:43]
• Drake’s Iceman Episode 3 Review: -- [35:13]–[39:14]
• Producer (40 vs. Boi-1da) Rumors: -- [41:03]–[46:13]
• Toronto Men & Relationships: -- [47:07]–[50:08]
• NBA YoungBoy’s Live Show Phenomenon: -- [53:12]–[58:15]
• Dangerous Concert Stories: -- [68:15]–[73:07]
• Fashion Week & Modeling: -- [20:50]–[29:10]
• Ice Cube’s Legacy & Cancel Culture: -- [86:00]–[93:29]
• Cardi B’s Album Anticipation/Nerves: -- [79:28]–[85:06]
• Conor McGregor as Potential President: -- [97:43]–[100:11]

Tone and Style

The episode is full of quick wit, sarcasm, and humor, mixed with pockets of introspection and nostalgia. The language remains unpolished and conversational, laced with New York edge, friendly ribbing, and candid personal anecdotes. The room's rapport is tangible—banter flows naturally between segments, often segueing through hilarious sidebars but never straying too far from the culture's pulse.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode is a wide-ranging cultural ride: from solemn commemoration to pop culture theorizing, from inside-baseball hip-hop commentary to dead-serious conversations about artistry and legacy. If you care about where rap, sports, and city culture intersect—and you enjoy jokes about failing at cooking pizza or being too old for NBA YoungBoy—the NRM Youngboys episode showcases the New Rory & MAL crew at their bantering, relatable best.