New Rory & MAL – Episode 470 | Label Madness (March 20, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of the New Rory & MAL podcast features hosts Rory, Mal, Damaris, and Amber Grimes engaging in their trademark blend of humorous banter, music industry insights, and cultural commentary. The main focus is on creating a March Madness-style bracket ranking the greatest rap labels of all time, but the episode also touches on Jay-Z’s upcoming celebratory concerts, March Madness predictions, musical releases, rapid-fire takes on pop culture, personal anecdotes, and trending TV shows.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Banter & Icebreakers (03:12–12:00)

• Schoolyard Memories: The crew jokes about physical stances, fighting stereotypes, and reminisces over playground pranks and “challenges,” such as the saltine challenge and “Chubby Bunny” with marshmallows.
• Random Debates & Quips:
  • Damaris: “I missed that. That was always, like, got us going when Peach was like, yo, ready positions. This is my ready pod position.” (03:35)
  • Discussions range from body posture revealing fighting ability to the supposed origin of the F-word in gay culture (09:56).

2. St. Patrick’s Day Recap & Local Politics (10:30–13:08)

• Damaris shares St. Patrick’s Day family moments, raising a “walking stereotype” redheaded daughter and being stopped for photos. (11:08)
• Light discussion about city budgets (NYC vs New Jersey vs. Dubai), state IDs, and social benefits for creative workers globally—bemoaning America’s lack of support for artists. (12:46)

3. March Madness & College Basketball (14:09–26:05)

• The team dives into their brackets, favorites, and predictions:
  • Rick Pitino’s impact at St. John’s, speculation on Carmelo Anthony coaching at Syracuse, and discussion on the cultural pull of former players as coaches. (15:34–16:46)
  • Picks for Sweet 16 and bracket busters, including Hofstra vs. Alabama and implications of Alabama’s star player Aiden Holloway being suspended for weed possession. (21:26–25:53)
  • Humorous takes on players preparing for tournaments—"If Aiden has a Costco membership, y’ all gotta let him go. Cause all he knows is bulk." (23:14)

4. Label Madness: Building the Ultimate Rap Label Bracket (26:05–47:06)

• Detailed, passionate group debate about seeding top rap labels using criteria like artist roster, cultural/business impact, longevity, musical quality, star power, classic albums, hits, and chart dominance.
• Criteria Recap: “Artist roster, cultural impact, business impact, longevity, quality of music, star power, classic albums, hit sales and chart dominance.” (27:13)
• Initial List Includes: Death Row, Bad Boy, No Limit, Cash Money, Aftermath, Shady, Roc-A-Fella, Rough Riders, Murder Inc., So So Def, QC, TDE, OVO, CMG, MMG, Good Music, YSL, and many more (30:06–30:49).
• Debate Highlights:
  • Def Jam excluded for being too much of a parent label (29:03).
  • Consensus on top #1 seeds: Death Row, Bad Boy, Cash Money (w/Young Money), Roc-A-Fella.
  • Heated back-and-forth over which labels deserve #2 seeds: Aftermath/Shady, Loud, TDE, So So Def; honorable mentions to No Limit, QC, and Rough Riders.
  • Damaris: “I think Cash Money is the greatest label of all time.” (34:35)
  • Ongoing jokes about regional bias and a need for transparency with fans.

5. Jay-Z Shows, Ticket FOMO & NYC Summer Hype (55:03–68:35)

• Jay-Z’s announcement of major shows at Yankee Stadium (Reasonable Doubt 30th anniversary, Blueprint 25th anniversary) and at Roots Picnic (“Jay Z could do spoken word in right field and it would sell out.” (56:14))
• Anticipation and stress over scoring tickets, from hiding in stadium bathrooms to tracking resale prices.
• Group speculation on possible guests (Nas, Eminem, Sauce Money, Mary J. Blige) and setlists, plus wistfulness about Kanye’s absence.
• On the inevitable ticket scramble:
  • Mall: "All the people that are not true J fans that are gonna get tickets and try to resell it, it's like, that's all the guys that always get the sneakers..." (63:56)
• Amber: “Maybe we just move the whole pod [to Houston]. I'm leaving. Not leaving. I'll be in the lobby.” (110:46)

6. Kanye West & Cancel Culture (71:49–75:40)

• The massive queue for Kanye’s LA show tickets (over one million), and reflections on how public outrage rarely affects dedicated fan demand.
• “Nobody cares about that. The people… supporting somebody… are never trying to cancel them.” – Mall (72:39)
• Kanye’s perpetual creativity and his children’s likely musical/fame inheritance discussed.

7. New Music Releases (79:26–87:12)

• Black (6lack) is releasing new music (“Bird Flu”), with speculation about stylistic influences between him and JID.
• Debate about Georgia Smith, Naomi Sharon, and how their activity might “summon” a Drake release (85:40).
• Shout-outs to Coco Jones and the evolving narratives/content in R&B.

8. TV/Streaming & Social Recommendations (101:13–110:39)

• Rave review of “Paradise” (Netflix series), noted as “one of the best shows in TV history,” with Sterling Brown’s exceptional work highlighted. (107:21)
• Strategies for managing airport travel post-party weekends, especially from Houston.

9. Pop Culture Hot Takes, Anecdotes, & Humor (96:02–99:04, 113:02–116:44)

• Running gags about “flow state” driving music (Tears for Fears, Frank Ocean, Mariah Carey); parental decompression in driveways before entering the family chaos.
• Game’s infamous “templated” DM flirting exposed—and the crew’s take on pickup lines.
• Discussion on vending machine snack favorites and joking about the latest Jack Harlow album’s slow debut.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “If a man won that [Chubby Bunny] over a woman, that's kind of crazy.” – Damaris (08:14)
• “That might be the origin of the word. I think we just found—so it’s actually anti homophobia.” – Mall (10:02)
• “You can get a golden visa [in Dubai]. I know a couple content creators who have, like, moved over there.” – Amber Grimes (13:27)
• “He is a good young player. So, yeah, wish the best for him. But he will be missing this tournament. That is a fact. So Hofstra over Alabama I think is the favorite.” – Mall (25:53)
• “We just said Shady Aftermath with 50 and Eminem; Kendrick and SZA, like, yeah.” – Damaris (38:31)
• “Putting Rough Riders there, we are going to get killed. I want to make that clear because somebody would argue... Rap A Lot could compete with Rough Riders.” – Damaris (44:28)
• “All the people that are not true J fans that are gonna get tickets and try to resell it, it's like... how do you get in all the sneakers? And you just reselling them.” – Mall (63:56)
• “Kanye will never retire…he’s always in creative mode.” – Mall (75:41)
• “That’s how road rage is birthed—people are in flow state and then traffic happens; it’s like, ‘Why is everybody on the road? I thought it was just me!’” – Mall (96:06)
• “If you’re in Houston for a weekend and don’t change your flight, you are lame.” – Damaris (110:59)
• “Maybe we just move the whole pod.” – Amber Grimes (110:46)

Important Timestamps

• [03:12]—Throwback Pranks/Fighting Ready Position
• [10:30]—St. Patrick’s Day Recap
• [14:09]—March Madness Launch & Bracket Talk
• [26:05]—Rap Label Madness: Bracket Seeds & Selection
• [34:35]—Cash Money as GOAT Label
• [55:03]—Jay-Z Announcements & Ticket Anxiety
• [63:56]—Jay-Z Concert Resale/True Fans Rant
• [71:49]—Kanye’s Tour Demand & Cancel Culture
• [79:26]—6lack’s New Release and Influence Debate
• [101:13]—Paradise TV Show Praise
• [110:46]—Houston Party Jokes & Pod Travel Plans

Podcast Tone & Flavor

True to form, the New Rory & MAL podcast mixes thoughtful debate, music industry expertise, irreverent humor, regional bias admissions, and riffing on pop culture minutiae. The conversation meanders, but key topics return: March Madness both in sports and in hip-hop, the mythology of Jay Z and hip-hop legends, and the entertainment realities for fans in 2026, from streaming to ticketing struggles.

How to Engage

• Vote in the Rap Label Madness Bracket (link to be posted on their socials; [54:10])
• Watch for Jay-Z Ticket Drops—prepare for inevitable resale/hustle.
• Stream new music from Black, Georgia Smith, Coco Jones, and check out the highly recommended TV show “Paradise.”

This comprehensive episode blends nostalgia, rap history, March Madness fever, and New York City pride—anchored by quick-witted banter and a deep love for hip-hop culture. If you missed it, this summary gives you the play-by-play, the punchlines, the hot takes, and the bracket drama you crave.