New Rory & MAL – Episode 420 "Spa Day"

Release Date: November 4, 2025
Podcast Hosts: Rory, Mal, Baby D
Producer: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

In this episode, the crew welcomes Rory back from vacation, with Mal recounting his recent adventures on the Rock the Bells Cruise, which dominates the early show discussion. The group dives into cruise escapades, luxury spa storytelling, hip-hop cruise performances, music releases, and hot takes on music industry controversies (Grammys, Billboard, bots), relationship dynamics, and their trademark playful banter. The show is as much about storytelling and roasting each other as it is about dissecting the shifting landscape of hip-hop.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Mal’s Rock the Bells Cruise Recap

[03:21–15:18]

• Lighting Jokes and Mal's Return

  • Mal jokes about the improved podcast lighting while he was away, poking fun at his pigment and “blown out lack of melanin.”
  • “I've been saying that for five years now. It's so bright I look insane.” – Mal [03:34]

• ‘90s and Hip-Hop Heaven

  • Mal describes the Rock the Bells Cruise as a “hip-hop heaven” with a crowd of mostly ‘90s (and older) rap fans and legendary artists.
  • “I had a blast. It was the aunties and uncles for sure, but everybody danced at parties, nobody really had their phone out. Everybody was in the moment.” – Mal [07:31]

• Hanging with Legends

  • Emphasizes the rare proximity to artists: “You could just be in the cafeteria and you just see Jadakiss getting eggs.” [08:09]
  • Recounts run-ins with Twista and seeing legendary performances by Kool G Rap, The Lox, and the Dogg Pound.
  • Praises Lupe Fiasco as “one of the better rap performers” he’s ever seen.

• Behind-the-Scenes Cruise Moments

  • Shares tales about casual hangs with rappers: “You get off the elevator and you see Lil Cease playing Kurupt Ghostface's new album…” [08:36]
  • Humorously tells a story about his spa certificate and an awkward, but “phenomenal” massage from an Indian masseuse: “Really gentle hands. That Indian man had his way with me in the most gentle way.” [24:00–25:02]
  • The group has a playful debate over letting a man massage them, with Baby D adamant: “I'm cool. I'm cool.”

• Room Talk: Hotel vs. Cruise Cabins

  • Mal details the luxury of headline artist suites compared to his room, joking: “…you might as well have been in fucking Trump’s penthouse.” [14:08]
  • Baby D and Rory stress the importance of a good room on any vacation: “If I go on vacation and the room is trash, I'm pissed off.” – Baby D [18:57]

2. Music & Pop Culture Hot Takes

[37:08–76:32]

• New Music Reviews

  • The new Big L album (posthumously released) gets high praise: “It’s a no skip album from Mass Appeal.” – Mal [37:13]
  • The crew reflects on Big L as one of rap’s biggest “what ifs,” with Mal and Baby D discussing the impact of early deaths (Big, Pac, Mac Miller) on hip-hop’s evolution.
  • DJ Premier and Ransom’s new project: “What more do you need than Ransom in his highest form and DJ Premier beats?” – Mal [41:18]
  • Lloyd Banks’ Halloween Havoc series is called some of his best work to date.
  • Miguel and Kehlani both receive strong co-signs for their most recent projects.

• Grammy Category Controversy

  • The Grammys are splitting the “Best Country Album” into “Contemporary Country” (interpreted as Black-dominated) and “Traditional Country” (White-dominated), widely seen as a response to Beyoncé's win.
  • “Black country artists are smoking y’all... so we gotta split it up.” – Mal [55:00]
  • The group critiques the obvious attempt to dilute Black artists’ impact, but Mal grants that subcategories make sense for R&B and could work for rap too.

• Billboard Rules & Streaming Bots

  • Billboard implements new rules to remove long-charting songs after certain thresholds, aiming to prevent stagnation by legacy hits.
  • Rory and Mal debate whether this is “fairness” or a “participation trophy”; Rory: “Kick ‘em the fuck off and let somebody else come on.” [87:56]
  • The group also discusses accusations of major label artists (specifically Drake, via an RBX lawsuit) benefiting from bot streams—Mal stands by his stance that “everybody uses bots whether they know it or not.” [101:44]

3. Relationships, Gender Dynamics & Listener Voicemail

[103:31–115:23]

• Listener Voicemail: Low Libido in Relationships

  • A listener asks for advice about his partner’s waning sex drive after two years together.
  • Baby D (Damaris) gives a thoughtful answer, suggesting hormone checks and open, compassionate communication, noting, “Sex is extremely important in a relationship. It’s one of the indicators of the health of the relationship.” [104:12]
  • The group debates what constitutes “enough sex” in a relationship—Rory’s minimum: “six times a month” if you live together.
  • The importance of both emotional and physical compatibility is stressed: “If you’re not sexually satisfied, your relationship is going to slowly implode elsewhere.” – Mal [107:24]

• Petty Gender Observations

  • The group humorously dissects how men and women act around the opposite sex (voice shifts, blinking, subtle “dirty macking”).
  • “Why is your voice so high, bitch? You sound like Lola Brooke any other time.” – Rory [47:51]
  • The “pick-me girl” vs. “the homie” phenomenon is debated, with everyone roasting subtle social cues in mixed company.

4. Hip-Hop Gossip & Culture Commentary

[62:43–76:32]

• Versus Debates / Jay Z’s Quote Goes Viral Again

  • Jay Z’s years-old comments resurface, sparking online debate about who could face him in a Verzuz battle.
  • Rory, Mal, and Baby D lament that most online fans don’t “live with the music” and that match-ups like Future vs. Jay Z aren’t even logical.
  • "We've seen that for the whole year of 2020 and 2021. Jay Z's not putting 'Empire State of Mind' in his verses 20. And that's his biggest record, according to Billboards." – Mal [65:10–65:20]
  • The crew trashes some of the worst matchups ever—Snoop & DMX, 112 & Jagged Edge—and discuss what makes a good Verzuz pairing.

• Standom and Internet Culture

  • Rory jokes about being stuck in “female rap Stan Twitter” and the hellishness of online music debates, especially around stats and “who did it first.”
  • Social media's power to revive old drama and foment stan wars is heavily critiqued, but mostly laughed off.

• Hip-Hop Couples Pressure

  • The group reflects on public pressure faced by hip-hop’s “goal couples” like Big Sean and Jhene Aiko amid rumors of their break-up. Baby D: “It is good to have examples of what we deem healthy relationships…” [75:36], but everyone agrees the public places unfair stress by projecting expectations.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Mal on the Cruise Experience:
  “I've never been on a cruise... you can't escape once you're on a boat. And I had a fucking blast.” [07:00]

• Mal on Legendary Performances:
  “The Coogee rap performance is one of the best performances I've ever seen... it was the most professional shit I'd ever seen. I've never seen two people get so sober so quickly and put on one of the greatest performances I've ever seen.” [08:01–09:23]

• Baby D on Spa Day:
  “There's no way I'm letting no man massage me, dog. It's not happening.” [25:03]

• Mal on Lighting:
  “Every single episode should be a Halloween episode. I would have strived in that lighting.” [03:43]

• Rory on Hotel Rooms:
  “If I go on vacation and the room is trash, I'm pissed off. Yeah, it ruins the whole vacation.” [18:57]

• Mal’s “Paul Wall” Moment:
  “I've been listening to Paul Wall since the 90s”—‘All of me deflated.’ [16:16–17:03]

• Grammys Category Split:
  “Black country artists are smoking y'all... so we gotta split it up.” – Mal [55:00]

• Rory on Billboard's Song Removal Rule:
  “Kick 'em the fuck off and let somebody else come on.” [87:56]
  “It's not like he's climbing... Let somebody else have a shot.” [90:34, paraphrased]

• Damaris on Sex in Relationships:
  “Sex is extremely important in a relationship... if y'all are not compatible sexually, the relationship will not last.” [104:12]

• Mal on Gender & Ego:
  “It's also uncomfortable for a man with our ego... to be like, hey, do you not like me?” [114:08]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Cruise Recap & Lighting Jokes: [03:21–07:00]
• Legendary Rap Stories: [07:00–15:18]
• Hotel Room Talk: [18:33–21:16]
• Massage Comedy / Spa Day: [24:00–27:00]
• Big L Album & Music Reviews: [37:08–44:47]
• Grammy & Billboard Rules: [53:37–92:59]
• Relationship Desk (Voicemail): [103:31–115:23]
• Jay Z/Versus Debate: [62:43–68:28]
• Internet Stan Culture: [69:13–70:12]
• Hip-Hop Couples Pressure: [74:43–76:32]

Episode Tone

Playful, sharp, and irreverent. The group roasts each other relentlessly while delivering honest, often insightful commentary on hip-hop, media, and relationships. “Spa Day” is both a recap of wild adventures and a dive into music industry debates, all tailored with New Rory & MAL’s signature blend of inside jokes, cultural awareness, and real talk.

Useful for Listeners Who Missed the Episode:

This episode offers a rich window into the behind-the-scenes hip-hop scene, thoughtful discussion on authenticity in music and relationships, and plenty of laughs rooted in the hosts’ own vulnerabilities and experiences. If you’re interested in hip-hop cruises, music culture, or the complex intersections of gender, fame, and industry politics, this is a must-listen for both insight and entertainment.