Podcast Summary: Something Wrong With The Podcast

Episode #43 – Kanye, The Return of Verzuz, & Zohran's W (feat. Jordan From Complex)

Host: Julian Delgado
Guest: Jordan from Complex
Release Date: November 11, 2025

Overview

In this lively and insightful episode, Julian Delgado reunites with recurring guest Jordan from Complex. Together, they dive deep into the state of hip hop culture, pop culture comebacks, the modern political climate post-2025 New York elections, and personal reflections on aging. Chock full of humor and sharp takes, the discussion covers Kanye West’s latest controversies and possible redemption arc, the revival of the iconic ‘Verzuz’ music series, Zohran Mamdani’s surprising mayoral victory, and wider musings on legacy—both in music and politics. Packed with sharp banter, nostalgia, and cultural critique, this episode is a rich snapshot of where the culture and its icons currently stand.

Key Discussion Points

1. Kanye's Recent Actions and Attempted Redemption

• Kanye’s Comeback: Kanye releases new music and a public video with a rabbi, seemingly attempting to make amends with the Jewish community after his previous anti-Semitic remarks.
  • Jordan: “He never lost his ability to make beats.” (01:17)
  • Julian: “What is a better rollout than caping for the Jewish community?” (01:35)
• Complicated Apologies: Both hosts express skepticism and discuss whether this "apology" is genuine or just another manipulative rollout.
  • Julian: “The world kinda came around … not to the extreme that you were saying, but like, they’re not as hot as they used to be, like, public perception wise, and now you’re bending the knee, kissing this dude’s head.” (04:02)
• Mental Health and Empathy: The two reflect on Young Lean’s comments about being empathetic towards Kanye due to shared experiences with manic episodes.
  • Jordan: “That’s what we need is more empathy—absolving him of what he said or done.” (02:13)

Notable Quote:

“To get from [the Alex Jones interview]... to him holding hands with a rabbi, that's progress.” (03:33, Jordan)

2. The Immortality of Kanye's Cultural Influence

• Irredeemable vs. Unredeemable: They debate if Kanye’s contributions to music and culture make him “redeemable” regardless of recent controversies.
  • Jordan: “With Yay it’s so funny because you always think he’s past the point of no return… but he’s done so much for the culture. I can’t say he’s redeemable, but I also don’t think he’s unredeemable in the craziest of ways.” (06:56)
• Influence Across Industries: From music to fashion, Kanye’s impact remains, often being imitated even during his cancellation.

3. The Return of Verzuz & Debating Hip Hop Legends

• Verzuz Revival: Complex has ownership/partnership in the new era of Verzuz, which is once again sparking debates about hip hop’s best.
  • Jordan: “Versus is back. Complex has bought Versus with ownership… so we’re going to be putting out the future Versus.” (08:38)
• Who Can Beat Jay-Z in Verzuz? The conversation heats up over whether Jay-Z is truly “unbeatable” in Verzuz—or if only Kanye could take him down.
  • Jordan: “The only [artist] who would actually, like, probably compete and maybe beat him is Kanye. Ain’t no... When you put in his production bag, it’s different.” (10:42)
  • Julian: “Jay’s not a good performer. Not like Kanye.” (12:12)
• Performance Matters: After the Lox/Dipset battle, they note how live performance can outweigh catalog alone.

Notable Quote:

“The only thing who would actually like, probably compete and maybe beat [Jay-Z] is Kanye… he produced for hov.” (10:42, Jordan)

4. Legacy Hip Hop: Celebrating “Unks” and the Old Heads

• Giving Flowers: Both stress the importance of platforms like Verzuz and Tiny Desk for ensuring OGs in hip hop get their recognition.
  • Julian: “We should really give the flowers and love to these legacy acts.” (20:00)
  • Jordan: “They call it the Versus effect… the older rappers after Versus, they get that second wave, some revenue, some streams.” (19:37)
• Hip Hop History Awareness: There’s joy in seeing younger generations discover artists through such platforms.
  • Julian: “Nothing…makes me happier than younger kids having a reason to explore Juvenile’s catalog because of Tiny Desk.” (20:49)
• The “Unk” vs. “Veteran” Debate: They unpack how “Unk” culture in rap signifies someone still relevant and active, versus the often-dismissive “veteran” label. (21:03–22:10)

5. Zohran Mamdani’s Mayoral Victory: New York Politics Shift

• A Stunning Upset: The hosts passionately celebrate Zohran Mamdani’s surprise win over Andrew Cuomo, sharply criticizing Cuomo’s campaign and Trump’s last-minute endorsement.
  • Jordan: “Anyone who voted for Cuomo in big 2025 is a bootleg!… That’s wild dick-sucking activity.” (30:34)
  • Julian: “You don’t want the pierce-nipple sex offender, bro.” (31:03)
• The Impact of Authenticity: Zohran’s popularity comes from authentic engagement with local nightlife, minority communities, and youth culture.
  • Jordan: “It’s cool to see someone who really came out the mud, 34 years old, bro. That’s crazy.” (33:33)
• Cynicism about Change: Celebratory but realistic, Julian notes the coming political resistance Zohran will face and that symbolic power may outweigh actual change.
  • Julian: “The symbol of him winning is really the big win for what the people want… but not much is going to happen.” (38:13)
• Solidarity & Small Wins: Hope that even small concrete policy wins (free buses, affordable groceries) will be enough to mark progress.

Notable Moment:

Julian (recounting campaign chaos and authenticity): “He pulled up on Moma… did a video with the Aki Way, chopped cheeses… his family, his team, they’re all just genuinely good people.” (34:00-34:42)

6. Reflections on Maturity & Simple Joys

• Aging Gracefully: Both hosts share how getting older has reprioritized their wants—finding joy in new bookshelves, ice machines, and reliable suitcases over clout and nightlife.
  • Julian: “It is nice… finding joy in things like getting a bookshelf.” (24:08)
  • Jordan: “Doing little things that make your life slightly easier or slightly more convenient.” (24:30)
• Material Upgrades: Lighthearted banter about dream purchases (luxury luggage) and the silly economics of adult spending.

7. The NBA, Gambling & Cultural Critique

• Knicks vs. Bulls & NBA Futures: Rapid shift to the current NBA season, optimism for both New York and Chicago teams.
• Gambling Crisis: Both give sharp critique on legalized sports betting, comparing its ubiquity and harm to the opioid crisis; note how league and players are now mired in betting scandals.
  • Julian: “We are with, like, gamble now. Download now for $53. This is a proven addiction.” (44:26)
  • Jordan: “Vegas wins. They will always win.” (45:10)
• NBA's Integrity: Both agree the betting scandals are only at their beginning, drawing comparisons to historical gambling issues in sports (e.g., Michael Jordan), and speculate about potential links to organized crime.

Notable Quotes:

“You got Kenny and Charles mid-game doing bet commercials… and you didn’t think niggas was gonna get a cut in on it?” (43:55, Jordan)

“That’s how I… that’s how disgusted, like, how we look at [opioids] in hindsight. That’s how I feel right now with this, like, over… over in your face we are with, like, gamble now.” (44:26, Julian)

8. Ethics, Legacy, and Debate Club Nostalgia

• Ethics Bowl Anecdotes: Jordan recalls his high school “Ethics Bowl,” showcasing their nerdy sides: should you breed “grumpy cats” for sick children or is that morally wrong?
  • Interesting philosophical detour that underlines the duo’s lifelong penchant for in-depth debate and ethical ambiguity.
  • Jordan: “I don’t think that it’s… morally permissible to breed an animal for the sake of comfort when the animal will live longer than you.” (61:20)
• Conclusion & Love: They crack wise about work/life hustle but end on gratitude—for each other’s company, aging into their best selves, and for staying passionate about life and culture.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Kanye Controversy & Video with Rabbi: 01:14 – 05:41
• Kanye’s Influence & Redemption: 06:56 – 07:54
• Return of Verzuz & Jay-Z Debate: 08:31 – 13:05
• Tiny Desk, Legacy Acts, & Hip Hop Generations: 17:19 – 21:44
• Zohran Mamdani Mayoral Win/Cuomo Takedown: 30:24 – 38:44
• Aging, Joy in Maturity: 24:08 – 25:32
• NBA & Sports Gambling Critique: 41:19 – 46:50
• Ethics Bowl/Philosophical Dilemmas: 58:02 – 62:00

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “Anyone who voted for Cuomo in big 2025 is a bootleg! …that’s wild dick-sucking activity.” (30:34, Jordan)
• “That carries so much about winning… him breaking down, like, how… it matters so much.” (55:31, Jordan, on Michael Jordan’s mentality)
• “We should really give the flowers and love to these legacy acts.” (20:00, Julian)
• “The only who would actually like, probably compete and maybe beat [Jay-Z] is Kanye… he produced for hov.” (10:42, Jordan)

Tone & Language

The episode is conversational, witty, and unfiltered, with frequent use of slang, asides, and explicit language to punctuate strong opinions. The dynamic between Julian and Jordan balances heartfelt cultural critique with breezy humor and personal anecdotes—a blend that keeps the discussion highly relatable and punchy.

Final Thoughts

This episode delivers a dynamic tapestry of hip hop discourse, culture, politics, and real-life perspective. Whether you’re deeply familiar with today’s rap debates, New York’s intricate politics, or just want to hear sharp, funny commentary about the things shaping our world, this episode is a must-listen.