Transcript

Pete (0:00)

This is an iHeart podcast.

Ginger (0:02)

Guaranteed Human.

DJ Hester Prynne (0:04)

Did you know Tide has been upgraded to provide an even better clean in cold water? Tide is specifically designed to fight any stain you throw at it, even in cold butter. Yep. Chocolate ice cream.

Ginger (0:17)

Sure thing.

DJ Hester Prynne (0:18)

Barbecue sauce. Tide's got you covered. You don't need to use warm water. Additionally, Tide pods let you confidently fight tough stains with new coldzyme technology. Just remember, if it's gotta be clean, it's gotta be tied. When you feel uncomfortable, what do you put on?

Ginger (0:35)

Biggie?

DJ Hester Prynne (0:36)

You put on Biggie when you feel uncomfortable.

Pete (0:37)

Cause I wanna get confident.

DJ Hester Prynne (0:38)

This is DJ Hester Prynne's Music is Therapy, a new podcast from me, a DJ and licensed therapist. 12 months, 12 areas of your life. Money, love, career, confidence. This isn't just a podcast. It's unconventional therapy for your entire year. Listen to DJ Hester Prynne's Music is Therapy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple, PODC, or wherever you get your podcasts. This show is brought to you by.

Pete (1:05)

Corruption Uncovered, a new podcast from Roc.

DJ Hester Prynne (1:08)

Nation and its philanthropic injustice division. Team Rock.

Pete (1:12)

For more than 30 years, there was.

DJ Hester Prynne (1:14)

An open secret in Kansas City, Kansas.

Pete (1:16)

About a man who allegedly raped dozens of black women and terrorized them into silence.

DJ Hester Prynne (1:22)

A detective named Roger Golubski.

Ginger (1:25)

He told me to keep my mouth closed. If I did say anything, I would come up missing like so many others.

Pete (1:33)

But then, right before trial, he was found dead, leaving countless questions behind.

Summary

New Rory & Mal – Episode 439 | "Underrated"

Date: January 8, 2026
Hosts: Pete & Ginger
Episode Summary by Theme and Timestamps

Overview

Main Theme:
This episode dives deep into hip-hop's most underrated (and occasionally overrated) rappers. Pete and Ginger debate legacy, criteria for GOAT status, city-by-city MC rankings, and the effect of career choices on legacy—sprinkling personal anecdotes and barbershop-style banter throughout. The conversation weaves in and out of rankings, hot takes on Andre 3000, Fab, Banks, Snoop, Luda, and more—with big-picture questions about what makes someone “underrated” or a “legend.”

Segment Breakdown

1. Tabloid Scandals and NBA Players

(02:04–07:48)

Rumor talk kicks off with Zion Williamson’s baby drama, and the comedic absurdity of celebrity OnlyFans DM leaks.
Pete theorizes on whether NBA players’ patterns with sex workers suggest an underlying “addiction,” asking:

“If you just directly are obsessed with sex workers specifically...maybe there’s something tied to this that could be an addiction problem.” (03:01, Pete)
Ginger counters with nuance about youth and wealth, noting the real issue is starting families without intention:

“Maybe he doesn't want a serious relationship. Maybe he just wants to, you know, have fun with different beautiful women...But I think being young, rich, and wanting to have sex with beautiful women, I don't think that that's calls for rehab.” (03:33, Ginger)
They riff on public vs. private choices and how generational access has changed cultural expectations.

2. Jadakiss vs. Fabolous: Who’s More “Underrated”?

(07:54–16:19)

Revisiting a viral debate from the previous episode: is Jada better than Fab, and why doesn’t Fab get “legend” status?
Pete marvels at the staying power:

“I still think Jada may be a better rapper, but I don’t know.” (08:29, Pete)
Ginger insists Fab is criminally underrated:

“We don’t speak about Fab...the way we should. We don’t champion Fab the way I think it deserves.” (08:45, Ginger)
They praise Fab’s 25+ year career, mixtape classics, and continued demand, comparing him to legends of other genres who enjoy sustained relevance.

Memorable Quote

“I don't think I've ever heard anybody call Fab a legend...I think that’s what bothers me.” (11:14, Ginger)

3. NYC Rappers: Top Fives and Regional Bias

(16:19–24:18)

Discussion shifts to how artist “mystique” and accessibility affect legend status.
Queens and Brooklyn top-five debates unfold—highlighting the difficulty of narrowing down the all-time greats:
- “Queens is a tough one to put together, though.” (23:34, Pete)
Pete personally ranks Lloyd Banks top three from Queens, stirring friendly controversy:

“Banks is top three in Queens. To me personally.” (20:37, Pete)
The back-and-forth examines how generational tastes, streaming data, and neighborhood pride color "best ever" lists.

4. Underrated Rapper Hall of Fame

(24:23–35:19)

The hosts and IG commenters mention overlooked names: AZ, Inspektah Deck, Chamillionaire, Beanie Sigel, Young Chris, Petey Crack, Sheek Louch, Cool G Rap, Cormega, Redman, ESG, Boosie Badazz, Obie Trice, Stat Quo, Nature, Ludacris.
Discussion of Luda’s run (“Back for the First Time”, “Word of Mouf”, and “Chicken & Beer”) (33:16):

“If you get into his first few albums, Ludacris's discography...might be underrated.” (33:23, Ginger)
Comparison of Luda and Fab’s career arc—both are “underrated” city legends who sometimes get left out of “best” lists.

5. The Andre 3000 Conundrum

(46:35–57:58)

Ginger boldly claims Andre 3000 is “overrated” for getting GOAT status without a solo rap album:

“The most overrated rapper to me… Andre 3000, only because he never put out a solo rap project, and he gets goat status.” (47:05, Ginger)
Pete and Ginger dissect the validity of rating rappers based on solo output, comparing to other genres and artists (Biggie, Prodigy, Lauryn Hill).
They stress three stacks’ influence—despite Ginger’s insistence:

“You have to have a solo project. We have to just see what you sound like, what you look like, what you do on your own.” (49:09, Ginger)
Pete pushes back with minutes-rapped and impact arguments, referencing specific OutKast and solo verses.

Notable Moment

“A Day in the Life of Andre Benjamin...that song is better than most y’all’s solo rap albums.” (58:42, Pete)

6. Solo Output, Legacy & Modern Rap Output

(59:02–61:41)

They debate whether high “output” enhances or diminishes an artist’s legacy.
Pete: “I give more stats to the artists...that have a very high output at the legend status that they are.”
They agree: more albums can risk diluting quality, but infrequent, perfect projects (e.g., Frank Ocean) earn respect.

7. Overrated/Underrated: Wayne, Em, and Snoop’s Unlimited Output

(65:54–74:12)

Wayne’s endless tapes get critiqued:

“Sometimes it can lead to what we thought was a classic discography…now we’re leaning into more bad albums than we are good ones.” (61:00, Pete)
Snoop Dogg’s discography size (45+ projects) leads to playful awe rather than critique:

“Snoop is a vampire...he’s 892 years old.” (72:58, Ginger)
Ginger notes Snoop’s mainstream crossover (Martha Stewart collabs, NBA commentary) as evidence of an unparalleled career arc.

Notable Quote

“Snoop Dogg is an incredible icon.” (74:53, Ginger)

8. Legacy, Posthumous Albums, and Morality

(62:29–65:49)

Debate over “should you participate in a posthumous album?” Ginger says it depends on personal connection:

“It would depend on my relationship and how close of proximity I was to the artist...” (64:16, Ginger)

9. Hip-Hop’s Most Untouchable Intros

(69:35–72:43)

Hilarious run-through rap’s most basic, but iconic, opening lines. Snoop’s “1, 2, 3 and to the 4” gets roasted:

“We would kill any other rapper if they started a verse like that.” (69:35, Ginger)
Ginger admits, “It’s basic but…incredible way to start a verse.” (70:41)

Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps & Attribution)

“I don't think I've ever heard anybody call Fab a legend...I think that's what bothers me.” — Ginger (11:14)
“Banks is top three in Queens. To me personally.” — Pete (20:37)
“The most overrated rapper to me… Andre 3000, only because he never put out a solo rap project, and he gets goat status.” — Ginger (47:05)
“A Day in the Life of Andre Benjamin...that song is better than most y’all’s solo rap albums.” — Pete (58:42)
“Snoop is a vampire...he's 892 years old.” — Ginger (72:58)
“Snoop Dogg is an incredible icon.” — Ginger (74:53)

Episode Highlights & Tone

Tone: Playful, knowledgeable, barbershop banter, opinionated but thoughtful.
The hosts push each other, often disagree but listen—peppering the episode with pop culture references and personal nostalgia.
“Underrated” isn’t just about technical skill—it’s about city pride, output, adaptability, and audience memory.
The “criteria” for both overrated and legendary are constantly shifting; the episode is as much about how we rank as who we rank.

Essential Takeaways

Legacy is complicated: Should artist output quantity matter more than sheer skill or impact? Can GOAT status exist without a solo album?
Regional bias is real: Generational and neighborhood differences hugely impact “top five” debates.
Hip-hop history is ongoing: The episode stresses that lists are living debates, shaped by culture, nostalgia, and Twitter more than anything absolute.
Snoop, Fab, Luda, Andre 3000: All “underrated” for different reasons—misunderstood, overlooked, overshadowed, or simply taken for granted.

wavePod

Episode 439 | Underrated