New Rory & MAL – Episode 449 "High School Prom"

Date: January 30, 2026
Platform: iHeartPodcasts & The Volume
Hosts: Rory, Mal, Damaris

Episode Overview

This episode continues the New Rory & Mal tradition of meandering through laughs, music debates, nostalgia, hot takes, and stories you didn’t ask for, all wrapped in the hosts' signature irreverence. The main topics include debates about hip hop legends, dry January confessions, high school rituals like prom and graduation songs, generational changes in music consumption, industry stories about music production, and navigating changes in culture and consent. They also take listener voicemails, address Southern radio vs. New York radio influence, and discuss upcoming shows they’re excited about attending.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recent Life & Running Gags ([01:06–05:02])

• Opening Banter: Damaris and Mal joke about dry January and the struggle of not drinking or having sex, with nods to dry humor and playful roasts.
  • "Damaris panties feel like a used dryer sheet." – Mal [02:15]
• Sponsorships & Swag: The crew jokes about sponsor swag—popcorn from The Volume, hats from Boost Mobile—and how Snapbacks should just be donated.
• Internet Frenzy: Mal addresses a viral moment regarding J. Cole:
  • “Through it all, we still love Cole. We just, you know, are disappointed... and a little heartbroken.” – Mal [08:50]

2. Barbershop Stories & J. Cole Talk ([06:01–10:15])

• Damaris recounts an awkward encounter with her barber (who also cuts J. Cole’s hair), highlighting both barbershop banter and fandom intricacies.
• The hosts reflect on how internet clips quickly go viral, sometimes before they finish recording.
• On J. Cole concerts, Damaris claims, “The loudest I've ever heard the Garden in my entire life was at a J. Cole show…” [09:48]
• Mal’s take: not making it to a full J. Cole concert, and how artists perceive their own performance hierarchy.

3. Banks vs. Fab – The Rap Debates ([12:36–20:07])

• The long-running debate: Who’s better, Lloyd Banks or Fabolous?
  • Referencing 50 Cent’s recent (and shady) Instagram post:
    "They both write better when it’s about girls… They both never put no work in themselves… It's a tie." – 50 Cent via Damaris [13:12]
• Yayo’s loyalty, the complexities of artist work ethic, and how rappers must believe they're the best, yet know privately when they're bested.
• The discussion on why Fabolous hasn't dropped new music—Mal suspects legal/contractual and business disputes, despite Fab being "still better than 90% of rappers today." [21:01]
• Damaris shares insight from being in-studio with Fabolous and vouches for new music in the vault.

4. Timeless Music & Generational Gaps ([23:44–32:05])

• Is the streaming era killing "timeless" music? Albums have a lifespan of “about six days.” [22:45]
• Debate over which songs from 2000-on are truly timeless (“Love on Top,” “Always On Time,” “Hey Ya!”) and whether new generations’ wedding songs will endure.
• Graduation and prom songs through the years:
  • Classics: "I Believe I Can Fly," "Greatest Love of All," "Tomorrow" by Tevin Campbell, “Time of Your Life” by Green Day.
  • Damaris and Rory share personal school dance memories, and Mal mourns losing his prom to a classmate who stole the computer with all the grades.

5. Prom, Alcohol Stories & Youthful Debauchery ([32:05–36:00])

• 99 Bananas, Mad Dog 2020, Four Loko, Everclear—stories of teenage drinking disasters.
• Rory and Damaris reminisce about concoctions like Jungle Juice and bad decisions at school dances.

6. Quaaludes, Consent & Changing Cultural Norms ([37:07–51:35])

• The crew discusses Bill Cosby's Quaalude controversy and the shifting public attitude toward drug use/consent.
  • “If you’re dead sober and dropping drugs without telling people, that's the definition of date rape.” – Damaris [39:24]
• Reflection on how language, casual attitudes, and lyrics (e.g., Rick Ross’s infamous “put molly in her drink” line) have shifted, with hindsight bringing accountability:
  • “Hindsight is 20/20 because that shit was fucking insane.” – Rory [45:25]
• Advice for young listeners:
  • “If you have not had sex with this person before, do not have sex with them for the first time drunk.” – Rory [50:15]
  • “Live to fight another day.” – Damaris [51:02]

7. Music Industry & Production Nerd-Out ([51:35–62:05])

• Excitement about Mass Appeal’s new “Imagine That”—a program letting fans submit their dream artist/producer collaborations for possible real albums.
  • “I feel sorry for whoever has to go through all these submissions…” – Mall [53:42]
• Deep dive into why so many writers/producers are credited on modern songs and how hip hop’s “single producer” concept is actually a rarity.
  • “Quincy Jones produced Thriller, there was 75 people on each song.” – Damaris [57:17]
  • “That’s very normal.” – Mall on five producers per beat [57:36]
• Disagreement over “purist” hip hop heads criticizing multiple producer credits, with a call for more collaboration and musicality in the studio.

8. Listener Voicemails & The New York vs. South Radio Debate ([78:00–84:38])

• Caller Pushback: A listener from Texas refutes claims that New York radio ever dominated Southern music scenes:
  • "New York ain't never ran the radio in Texas… We always play our artists out here." – Listener [78:08]
• Damaris agrees and clarifies her original point: while Southern radio has always been self-sufficient, industry power brokers and syndication in NYC mattered for national records in the 2000s, especially for pop crossover tracks. Never suggested that NY’s hip hop determined what plays in the South.

9. Upcoming Shows, Travel, and the Awkwardness of Guest Lists ([64:37–77:58])

• The hosts debate which Summer Walker tour stops they’ll attend (Toronto vs. Brooklyn, maybe London), navigating ticket requests and group plans.
  • “We've taken the same flight, same hotel, same Uber, same show, and I've still never seen you.” – Damaris [70:46]
• The etiquette and anxiety of bringing friends (or dates) to industry events and live shows.
• Embarrassing moments when guest list names aren't found and having to “stand on the side and start texting.”
  • “I'll go the fuck home pretending.” – Mall, on name not being on the list [76:24]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Damaris panties feel like a used dryer sheet.” – Mall [02:15]
• “The loudest I've ever heard the Garden in my entire life was at a J. Cole show…” – Damaris [09:48]
• “They both think they're better than everybody.” – 50 Cent, relayed by Damaris [13:12]
• “If you’re dead sober and dropping drugs without telling people, that's the definition of date rape.” – Damaris [39:24]
• “Live to fight another day.” – Damaris [51:02]
• “Quincy Jones produced Thriller, there was 75 people on each song.” – Damaris [57:17]
• “New York ain't never ran the radio in Texas… We always play our artists out here.” – Texas Listener [78:08]
• “We out or like, I'll meet you there?” – Damaris on traveling with Mall to shows [70:38]
• “I'll go the fuck home pretending [when not on the list].” – Mall [76:24]

Essential Timestamps

• [01:06–05:02]: Dry January banter, viral Cole comments
• [10:15–12:36]: On J. Cole shows, rap bravado
• [13:03–21:01]: Banks vs. Fab debate & 50’s IG post
• [23:44–32:05]: Timeless music, graduation/prom song nostalgia
• [32:05–36:00]: High school stories: booze & prom
• [37:07–51:35]: Drug culture old & new, Bill Cosby, changing norms of consent
• [51:35–62:05]: Mass Appeal’s collab project & the business of music production
• [78:00–84:38]: Texas listener sets the record straight on radio, Damaris clarifies
• [64:37–77:58]: Upcoming concerts, guest list pains, event etiquette

Tone & Style

Unfiltered, humorous, and conversational with moments of biting social and industry critique, peppered with self-awareness, inside jokes, and cultural references. The hosts mix earnestness-in-nostalgia and music obsession with a casual delivery, punctuated by friendly roasting.

For Newcomers

This episode showcases why New Rory & Mal is a staple for those who appreciate both hip hop culture and the absurdities of everyday life, blending barbershop banter, serious social reflections, and music industry deep-cuts. Whether you’re in it for the laughs, the culture war debates, or the heartfelt calls for better behavior, episode 449 hits a little bit of everything.