New Rory & MAL – Episode 448 | "Birthday Blizzard"

Release Date: January 29, 2026
Podcast Hosts: Rory, Ma(l), Damaris
Special Guest: Simba

Episode Overview

This episode—titled "Birthday Blizzard"—dives into hip-hop's current events, centering on J. Cole’s surprise four-song "mixtape" and its context in the ongoing, much-publicized feuds and dialogues among rap’s elite. The crew dissects not just the music itself but also issues of authenticity, rivalry, media engagement, industry manipulation, and the ever-evolving business of rap. They’re joined by Simba, a rising lyricist who is named in Cole’s tracks, for an honest, playful phone-in, and the hosts debate the nuances of rap “shots,” respect, and competitive culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. J. Cole’s "Birthday Blizzard" Mixtape & The Art of Rap "Shots"

Starts ~03:00

• The hosts immediately delve into J. Cole’s new four-track mixtape, which dropped unexpectedly, fueling buzz about whom he’s referencing, the mixtape’s intent, and the return of “real hip-hop.”
  • Iconic Beats: Cole raps over sacrosanct instrumentals ("Victory," "Money, Power, Respect," "Black Rob," "Can I Live," "Who Shot Ya?"), prompting debate about the culture of freestyling over classic beats.
    • “These are the four. These have been the four for quite some time...I enjoy. Because you’re saying something.” – Damaris (04:02)
• The crew debates whether Cole's criticisms and shots are directed at content creators, streamers, other rappers, or the whole media ecosystem.
  • “He’s talking to people who be dick riding or hating for engagement, period. Doesn’t matter what you do.” – Rory (08:00)

2. Simba Joins the Conversation – Respect or Diss?

Simba calls in at 12:12

• Simba clarifies that his track referencing Cole wasn't a diss, but his expression of disappointment in Cole stepping back from the Kendrick/Drake beef. As a product of battle rap, Simba sees call-and-response lyricism as the genre’s lifeblood.
  • “We all look at Cole like one of the God MCs and we wanted to see him engage in that battle...I went in this booth and rapped about it.” – Simba (13:09)
• The podcast treats Cole referencing Simba as both a play on “Young Simba” (Cole’s old moniker) and a subtle jab—yet Simba sees it as a badge of respect:
  • “For him to mention me, for him to take the time to address—that is all we kind of ask for in hip hop.” – Simba (14:20)
• Lighthearted banter follows about escalating the back-and-forth with shiny-suit references and paying homage to classic rap visuals.

3. Rap Music, Content Creation, & Engagement—Where’s the Line?

Main theme from ~18:00–30:00

• Damaris and Rory examine whether Cole’s criticism of media, “Dick riding or hating,” applies even to themselves as podcasters. They reflect on whether engaging in debate and coverage is part of today’s artist-fan ecosystem or if it crosses into toxic commentary for clicks.
  • “We pod for the moment. Why can’t rappers rap for the moment?...To me, that’s more honorable than yapping.” – Damaris (20:32)
• All agree that, historically, the most respected artists addressed conflicts on record rather than in interviews or on social media—a tradition that’s being tested by contemporary content creation.

4. Cole, Drake, and Kendrick—The Falloff of the “Big Three”?

Heated debate starts ~37:30

• Mall relentlessly pushes for Cole to explain his behavior—why he distanced himself from Drake after their collaboration and Kendrick phone call, and whether Cole’s lyrics now ring hollow after publicly “bowing out” of the beef.
  • “If you back down out of a fade—a battle—you can’t start talking like ns don’t want issues with you. The n** that said something to you wanted an issue, you shot back and then apologized. What is that?” – Mall (41:06)
• Rory and Damaris push back, maintaining that rappers can and should address their lives and controversies in their music—so long as it’s genuine.
  • “I want Drake to address it. I want Cole to address it. And I want Kendrick to even address coming out of everything that happened.” – Damaris (40:17)
• The group candidly discusses “friendship vs. business” among top artists and how betrayals/alliances play into public perception and lyricism.

5. Cole’s Authenticity, Manipulation & The Business of the Mixtape

In-depth at ~58:00–77:00

• Ma(l) accuses Cole and his management of being intentionally manipulative by leveraging nostalgia, classic beats, and exclusive merchandise to rally fan support post-controversy.
  • “He finds his way back in our hearts. He does that. He gave us a dollar in the dream…They do little sht like that.”* – Mall (60:09)
• The pod applauds Cole’s direct-to-fan vinyl sales and the trend of top-tier artists circumventing streaming for more control and profit—a potential industry-shifting move.
  • “We should start getting used to back to buying a CD…I’m giving J. Cole my $12. I’m not giving Spotify my $12 a month.” – Damaris (73:16)
• The hosts make fine distinctions between honest entrepreneurship and “number-fudging” (manipulating chart placement with bundles, etc.).

6. The Lucian Grainge / Universal Bar

Addressed at ~78:00

• The team unpacks Cole’s line about major labels (“for crumbs comes to Lucian”), seeing it as more self-reflective and a commentary on a broken industry than a direct diss at Drake’s ongoing legal saga.
  • “I think this is just a representation of everybody, including Cole himself, that has sold their soul and their music to a major label. We’ve all done it. We’ve all f**ed up.”* – Damaris (80:41)

7. Hip Hop Legacy; Aging Lyricists & ‘Big Three’ Fatigue

From ~56:40 onward

• The conversation touches on J. Cole’s formidable rapping at age 41, and how that compares to prior generations of elite MCs.
• Mall expresses that Cole’s appeal is “not the same” post-controversy, likening the disappointment to learning a lover has been unfaithful.
  • “You never look at her the same no more, no matter what. Even if she share her location…It’s just something about you.” – Mall (84:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Real Hip-Hop’s Resilience
  “Real hip hop is back. I’m saying, where’d it go? Looking shaky for a while. I don’t know. Shaky for a while. I don’t know.” – Rory (03:11)

• On the Culture of “Dissing”
  “It’s just rap. That’s what it’s called. It’s just rap.” – Mall (19:37)
  “I think it’s also great that Cole felt [Simba is] obviously worthy enough for somewhat a response to that. I’m curious why Freddie Gibbs didn’t get one yet, but we’ll get to that in a second.” – Damaris (18:43)

• On Transparency and Rap’s “Pick and Choose”
  “The picking and choosing got to stop, bro. That’s all I’m saying.” – Mall (27:51)

• On Public Persona vs. Private Moves
  “Don’t try to act like the soul righteous, ‘Nah, my brother’. Man, we shouldn’t be doing this, man…” – Mall on Cole (61:51)
  “He better explain why he had that conversation with Kendrick…And then you never spoke to Drake again. Now tell the world why you did that. I need to know why he did that.” – Mall (42:13)

• On the Rap Game’s Business Evolution
  “I love that he did that. That’s not manipulation. We need to encourage this type of.” – Damaris, on Cole’s direct-to-fan strategy (73:31)

Highlighted Timestamps

• 03:00 – First reactions to J. Cole’s tape
• 04:02–05:11 – Debate over classic freestyle beats and homage
• 11:34–16:27 – Simba’s call-in, Simba’s perspective on the Cole mention
• 18:41–25:59 – Simba discussion and the handling of “dissing vs. reporting”
• 41:06–45:00 – Mall demands clarity on Cole/Drake fallout, friendship vs. loyalty
• 54:55–56:40 – The difference between mixtape-era rapping and “mixtape for the moment” authenticity
• 56:40 – Comparing late-career elite MCs; Big Three fatigue
• 60:09–62:14 – Is Cole “manipulating” fans' nostalgia or just great at surprise drops?
• 73:16–77:44 – The case for artists owning their sales pipeline; “pay a dollar to the artist” advocacy
• 78:08–81:38 – Unpacking the “Lucian Grainge” bar and major label critiques
• 82:21–85:12 – Do Cole’s bars “land” after the apology/battle retreat?
• 88:09–89:00 – The value of heated, passionate debate among friends and podcasters

Tone & Takeaways

Lively, combative, humorous, and informative, the episode balances genuine fandom, critical analysis, and playful roasting. Rory and Damaris generally bring more measured takes, with Mall (often the provocateur) holding the line on artistic integrity and authenticity. Simba’s appearance provides unique context from hip-hop's next generation. The episode is ultimately an honest conversation about music's roles—art, sport, commerce—and where today's artists and fans fit within that continuum.

A must-listen episode for anyone following the J. Cole/Kendrick/Drake saga, fans interested in the evolution of artist-fan dynamics, or those simply looking for thoughtful, high-energy rap commentary.