Something Wrong With The Podcast

Host: Julian Delgado
Episode: #34 – Iceman 3, Young Thug Apologizes, VMA's & More
Date: September 9, 2025

Overview

This episode centers on recent updates and hot topics in music and pop culture, with a special focus on Drake’s “Iceman 3” livestream, Young Thug’s controversial leaks and apology, the relevancy of the VMAs, and notable music releases. Julian Delgado delivers his signature candid commentary, sharing personal reflections on aging in the media landscape and celebrating milestones both personal and professional.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Drake’s “Iceman 3” Livestream – Review and Symbolism

Timestamps: 01:15-28:20

• Drake’s New Media Approach:

  • Drake experiments with live streaming as part of his album rollout, a divergence from simply guesting on other streams like younger artists (e.g., Kai Cenat, Latto, Ice Spice).
  • Julian notes the logistical feat of producing these streams with multiple set changes and celebrity cameos.

• Critique of the Stream’s Execution:

  • Pacing is “far too slow”; Julian is bored by long, uneventful transitions, like “25 minutes, 30 minutes of you walking down the street in the dark in Paris with this instrumental playing” [07:20].
  • While no technical mishaps occurred, the looping instrumental (“that beat looping over and over and over again” [05:30]) loses viewers’ attention.

• Cameos as Symbolic Power Plays:

  • Sofia Richie: Daughter of Lionel Richie, wife of Elliot Grange (Atlantic CEO, son of Lucian Grange of UMG). Julian interprets her appearance as Drake flexing his good standing with the future of industry dynasties—“a slap in the face to… UMG to be like, all right, like we see you, Drake, like Warner is a competitor” [14:00].
  • Kevin Durant: Makes a brief appearance in a club, reinforcing Drake’s cultural cachet.
  • Yeat & Zach Bia: Feature in high-energy club scene; Zach Bia seen DJing, Yeat rapping with Drake.

• Visual and Narrative Motifs:

  • Pinocchio Figures:
    • Symbolize something chasing Drake; in this episode, they finally catch up—“These Pinocchio things have caught up to Drake. And then that is the end of the story” [21:50].
  • Atmosphere: Scenes evoke surveillance, paranoia, and self-reflection, but Julian feels the message is muddled by the stream’s execution.

• Community and Peer Feedback:

  • Quoting Kai Cenat’s blunt review:
    • “Biggest waste of my fucking time.” [27:30]
  • Julian agrees, echoing peer sentiment that the rollout is underwhelming and the audience just wants the album.

2. Young Thug’s Apology and Public Image Crisis

Timestamps: 29:00-39:15

• Ongoing Leaks and Backlash:

  • Young Thug has been embroiled in controversy over leaked jailhouse calls, including insults toward Glorilla. Julian likens the leaks to Thug’s “Donald Sterling moment.”
    • “You’re down bad, you’re in jail. You don’t need to be behind bars kicking in a girl’s back for no reason.” [31:10]

• Apologies and Reconciliation:

  • Thug issues public apologies to Mariah the Scientist and Glorilla, making peace both publicly and behind the scenes.
  • Julian notes the damage to Young Thug’s image, but credits his attempt to make amends:
    • “It’s never a good look, especially in the hip hop community… But more often now… when you are talking shit, it’s not on camera or on audio. So good luck to Thug digging himself out of that hole.” [35:10]

3. The VMAs and Aging Out of Music Culture

Timestamps: 39:15-44:00

• General Indifference to the VMAs:
  • Julian doesn’t care for the VMAs anymore, questioning their continued relevance.
    • “Who fucking cares?... I don’t know… who needs to go to MTV to gather their opinion on how they should feel about music.” [39:40]
  • Reflects on personal growth and the feeling of “aging out,” distancing himself from chasing nightlife and clout.

4. Notable New Music Releases

Timestamps: 44:00-51:10

• Justin Bieber – Swag 2:

  • Praises Bieber’s renewed creativity and “flow state,” dropping 46 new songs in less than two months.
    • “He just dropped an amazing piece of music. Why wouldn’t he just drop again? …Guess what? No one’s stopping him.” [45:55]
  • Recommends cherry-picking standout tracks and skipping the skits.

• Sabrina Carpenter Album:

  • Intrigued by Carpenter’s explicit, sex-positive pop—recognizes the content is “clearly not for me” as an adult but sees the appeal for teens.
    • “If I was a 13-year-old girl, this album would go so hard.” [49:20]
  • Briefly spotlights Olivia Dean, whom Julian is more excited to hear from, citing her talent and “hella swag.”

5. Sports Highlights

Timestamps: 51:10-58:00

• US Open Recap:

  • Julian recaps tennis finals, highlighting Sabalenka’s dominant win and the ongoing “Sin Caraz” rivalry between Alcaraz and Sinner.
    • “We’ve officially entered the Sin Caraz era.” [53:02]
  • Reflects on missing attending live but hopes to go in person “maybe next year.”

• NFL Bills vs Ravens Game:

  • Praises the “playoff intensity” and unpredictable conclusion—“That game felt like… a real, you know, high stakes game.”_ [56:15]
  • Expresses appreciation for both the Bills and Ravens, resolving to watch more NFL.

6. Personal Reflections and Tributes

Timestamps: 58:00-1:04:10

• Family Milestone:

  • Shares pride in his father’s induction into another Hall of Fame.

• Tribute to Jeff Costello:

  • Pays respects to Jeff, who gave Julian his start at Hot 97:
    • “I don’t think I ever got to say how much that meant or at least gave me the confidence to do this, feel like my opinion matters in this space…” [1:01:30]
  • Expresses gratitude for community and mentors.

• On Fall and Renewal:

  • Ruminates on autumn as the true “new year,” appreciating the season's symbolism and reflecting on podcast milestones.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Drake’s Stream:

  • “The pacing of these things is far too slow… You can’t just loop a beat for 35 minutes in between scenes.” [22:40]
  • Kai Cenat: “Biggest waste of my fucking time.” [27:30]

• On Young Thug’s Scandal:

  • “This was his Donald Sterling moment, because the man is, you know, he’s the comfort of his own cell. He can’t even talk shit with his girl there. Not excusing anything that he said…” [33:45]
  • Glorilla’s response: “I know this ain’t a dude… talking about me when you ask me what color my eyes are.” [31:30]

• On Generational Shift in Music Consumption:

  • “Maybe I just aged out of this stuff and I no longer give a shit.” [39:20]
  • “How many bottles of Ace do you need to pop before you find somebody that you want to… spend a night in with?” [42:10]

• On Sabrina Carpenter:

  • “If I was in middle school, this would sound fucking crazy. But I’m not. And I have lived many of these experiences that she’s talking about…” [50:10]

• On Fall as the Real New Year:

  • “I always say fall is the time of year that should be our new year… you’re seeing the physical change. Things are shedding and dying. And in a lot of other cultures it really is the new year…” [1:02:20]

Conclusion

Episode #34 finds Julian Delgado at his candid best—critiquing the ambitions and missteps of major artists, taking cultural institutions to task, and reflecting on what it means to grow alongside the culture he comments on. With humor and vulnerability, he delivers not just music and media analysis, but personal insight and gratitude, closing the show in a thoughtful tribute to a mentor and to the cycles of renewal that shape both art and life.