New Rory & Mal: Episode 432 | "Underrated"

Released December 11, 2025 | iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Rory, Mal, and Damaris dig into underrated years and albums in hip hop and R&B, celebrate the overlooked gems in pop culture, and drop hot takes about generational differences, viral moments, and the evolution of music. They also touch on parenting, ADHD, legendary TV shows, and the importance of stories that sometimes get left out of "best of" lists.

Tone: Hilariously candid, nostalgic, sometimes chaotic, and always rich with pop culture references.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Childhood Cartoons and Parenting Fails (03:06–06:44)

• Mal gets roasted for his "new teeth" look, sparking playful banter about "Fairly Odd Parents" and the nostalgia of classic cartoons.
  • Rory claims, “Fairly Odd Parents is my favorite cartoon of all time.” (03:34)
  • Discourse: generational differences in cartoon favorites—Rugrats vs. Fairly Odd Parents, Rocco’s Modern Life, and Peppa Pig’s hypnotic hold on today’s kids.
• Parenting insight: Mal shares a story about his daughter being pre-diagnosed with ADHD in daycare, reflecting on over-diagnosis and unsolicited advice.
  • Damaris says, "I have a theory that we all have ADHD." (06:33)

2. ADHD, Technology, & Modern Attention Spans (06:44–08:12)

• Spirited debate about how tech impacts attention, with Rory cautioning not to downplay real ADHD while others muse that everyone is ‘a little ADHD’ today.
• Damaris and Mal break down what kinds of TV shows and moments actually capture attention in the age of distraction.

3. Streaming TV Obsessions: “All Her Fault” and Pandemic TV Golden Years (08:12–13:38)

• The crew swaps thoughts on current and recent hit TV miniseries.
  • Rory: “It’s one of the best shows I’ve seen in quite some time.” (08:54)
  • Damaris: “It belongs in that same Covid year with the Undoing and your Honor…all those great shows.” (08:58)
• Amusing sidebar: objectifying “Shiv” from Succession and dissecting casting and typecasting in prestige TV.
• Frustration over amazing limited series cut short (“Messiah,” “Lovecraft Country”), and the pain of unresolved plotlines.

4. Diddy Doc, Manipulated Narratives & The Power of Documentaries (14:46–17:14)

• Damaris marvels at the Diddy documentary’s global reach: “That shit is, like, rivaling Stranger Things numbers.” (14:52)
• Mal critiques documentary editing, particularly the manipulation of footage to steer narrative: “That doc has so much factual shit, but how they manipulated a lot of that… should be studied.” (15:46)
• Concern over misinformation spreading globally as new generations are introduced to hip hop legends for the first time through documentaries.

5. Power, Families & Politics: Kennedys, Kardashians & Criminal Justice (17:21–21:13)

• Playful back-and-forth about the true American dynasties—the Kardashians versus the Kennedys/Rothschilds—and their oddly tangled legacies.
• Congratulating long-time activist Mysonne on a new city advisory role, with a spirited defense against headlines labeling him as “ex-con rapper.”
  • “Who would understand criminal justice more than an ex con?” (19:11 – Mal)

6. Viral Moments & Podcasting Advice: You Can't Predict Success (27:11–28:02)

• The group is surprised by what content goes viral—an offhand Pepsi smack talk ends up as their top clip.
  • Mall: “I used to give people answers. Nigga, I have no idea what’s going to work!” (27:39)
  • Damaris: “The ball hating Pepsi is… the reason why people tune into our podcast, apparently.” (27:50)

7. Deep-Dive: Most Underrated Years in Hip Hop & R&B

Major Theme of the Episode

A. Defending 2005 as an Underrated Year (28:02–31:37)

• Debate: Is 2005 trash or secretly legendary?
  • Listing classics: Kanye’s “Late Registration,” Game’s “The Documentary,” Common’s “Be,” Young Jeezy, Carter II, Little Brother’s Minstrel Show.
  • “Despite the radio sounding insane, this was an incredible year for hip hop.” (30:23 - Mall)
• The importance and influence of “snap music” and ringtone rap—love it or hate it, it shifted hip hop’s business model.

B. 90s vs. 2000s Debate: Which Decade Reigns Supreme? (31:37–40:54)

• Damaris stands firm: “The 90s is the greatest era of music ever” (31:20). Mall and Rory champion the 2000s and highlight the evolution from classic hip hop to R&B’s dominance.
• Comparing albums: from Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, DMX, Brandy in ’98, to Jay-Z’s “Black Album,” T.I. and Outkast in ’03.
  • “03, again, is just probably more...I was 13 and that was huge for me.” (37:49 - Rory)
• The personal nature of musical nostalgia: “I was 8 in 98…I had to really go back to appreciate it.” (33:54 – Rory)

C. Birth Year Faceoff & The Greatest Years in Music (46:21–50:38)

• The crew compares the legendary albums from their birth years—1994 wins with Illmatic, Ready to Die, CrazySexyCool, My Life by Mary J. Blige, and more.
  • “The fact that Illmatic, Ready to Die, Crazy Sexy Cool…those are three iconic albums.” (50:05 – Damaris)

D. The 2016 Renaissance (51:10–53:23)

• Why 2016 is crowned the last truly iconic year in music: every A-lister dropped a top-tier album (Drake, Beyonce, Solange, Chance, Rihanna…).
  • “2016 is probably the best year in music in the 2000s.” (52:50 – Rory)
• The group reflects on Lemonade as Beyonce’s most important (and possibly best) album, dissecting its sequencing and cultural impact.

8. On Beyonce’s Catalog & “Lemonade” Therapy (54:03–57:48)

• Damaris: “It might not be her best album, but it’s her most important.” (57:10)
• Mal analyzes the emotional, narrative arc of Lemonade: “It’s a legitimate breakup therapy session in one album.” (57:13)
• The layering between breakups, forgiveness, and Black Lives Matter themes; how Beyonce’s growth as an artist is reflected across her discography.

9. Studio Stories: When You Know You Have a Hit (68:11–73:13)

• The group wonders what it feels like to know, in the recording studio, you’ve made a classic (Beyoncé’s “Love On Top,” Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Jay-Z’s “PSA”).
  • Mall: “I would love to know what it was like, the day, like, she walks out the booth after cutting Love on Top…what that feeling has to be like?” (67:51)
  • Damaris: “Jay’s PSA—when I heard that, I knew the city was going to flip upside down when that shit dropped.” (71:14)
• Sharing stories of “leaking” future hits to friends and love interests for the clout (and the pillow talk).

10. Shoutouts, Artist Breakthroughs, & Giving Flowers (75:57–78:46)

• The show reflects on how underrated artists like Griselda, Black, and Daniel Caesar got early boosts from Rory & Mal’s platform.
  • “Black and Daniel Caesar both have personally thanked me…first person in media to ever say their name.” (76:11 – Mall)
• Celebrating the underground, upcoming Nas & DJ Premier album, and the importance of OGs paying attention to young talent.

11. The Money Rabbit Hole & World Debt (81:00–83:00)

• The trio spiral into a hilariously existential tangent: how much money is in the world, who sets its value, and who “the world” is even in debt to.
  • “Who are we in debt to?” (82:11 – Mall)
  • “We should just start at zero.” (82:51 – Mall)
• Damaris jokes about the Illuminati cutting them off, as the conversation reaches increasingly real territory about power and economics.

12. Closing Banter: Nostalgia, Queens, and Parsley (84:20–85:00)

• Playful neighborhood jabs about Queens, local streets, and who’s really known in the boroughs (“parsley” vs. “Parsons”).
• Signing off: “Be safe, be blessed. I’m that nigga, he’s just ginger.” (85:03 – Damaris & Rory)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Fairly Odd Parents is my favorite cartoon. All time.” — Rory (03:34)
• “I have a theory that we all have ADHD.” — Damaris (06:33)
• “That doc has so much factual shit, but how they manipulated a lot of that… should be studied.” — Mall on the Diddy documentary (15:46)
• “Who would understand criminal justice more than an ex con?” — Mall (19:11)
• “I have no idea what’s going to work.” — Mall on viral podcasting moments (27:39)
• “Despite the radio sounding insane, this was an incredible year for hip hop.” — Mall on 2005 (30:23)
• “The 90s is the greatest era of music ever.” — Damaris (31:20)
• “2016 is probably the best year in music in the 2000s.” — Rory (52:50)
• “Lemonade is a legitimate breakup therapy session in one album.” — Mall (57:13)
• “I would love to know what it was like, the day, like, she walks out the booth after cutting Love on Top.” — Mall (67:51)
• “Who are we in debt to?” — Mall (82:11)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Cartoons & Parenting — 03:06–06:44
• ADHD & Tech — 06:44–08:12
• TV Obsessions ("All Her Fault," Pandemic Series) — 08:12–13:38
• Diddy Documentary & Media Narratives — 14:46–17:14
• Politics: Dynasties & Activism — 17:21–21:13
• Podcasting & Viral Moments — 27:11–28:02
• Underrated Hip Hop Years (2005, 1998, 2003, 2016) — 28:02–53:23
• Beyoncé’s Catalog & the Power of “Lemonade” — 54:03–57:48
• Studio Stories: Making Hits — 68:11–73:13
• Artist Shoutouts & Breakthroughs — 75:57–78:46
• World Debt Rabbit Hole — 81:00–83:00
• Sign Off/Nostalgic Banter — 84:20–85:00

Episode Theme

Underrated unpacks how greatness in music, TV, and even social movements can be overlooked or misunderstood—reminding us not to sleep on the moments, years, or artists that shape culture, even if they don’t top the obvious lists.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a treasure trove for music nerds, 2000s babies, and anyone who loves hearing the real stories behind the culture’s most iconic moments—delivered with sharp takes, jokes, and the uniquely unfiltered energy of Rory, Mal, and Damaris.