The Breakfast Club Podcast Summary
Episode Title: HAPPY JUNETEENTH! (Lauren and DJ Envy Discuss the Holiday and the Community)
Host/Authors: DJ Envy, Lauren LaRosa
Guest: Honey Baby
Release Date: June 20, 2025
Introduction
In this special Juneteenth episode of The Breakfast Club, hosts DJ Envy and Lauren LaRosa delve into the significance of Juneteenth, celebrate community achievements, and highlight the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses. The episode features an engaging interview with Honey Baby, a rising music artist from Jersey, who shares her insights and experiences related to the holiday and her burgeoning career.
Juneteenth Significance
Lauren LaRosa opens the conversation by expressing her personal reflections on Juneteenth. She likens the holiday to "seasoning," emphasizing its role in bringing out the richness of Black culture and community spirit.
Lauren LaRosa [04:22]: "Juneteenth to me means seasoning... It feels like home, and I'm gonna feel community and love and a big hug."
Honey Baby expands on this by highlighting the importance of collaboration within the Black community, especially in celebrating freedom and fostering mutual support.
Honey Baby [04:32]: "Collaboration, in my opinion, is way better than competition. If we could collaborate with each other, there's so much that we can do."
Community Events and Support
Lauren discusses the Juneteenth events held at the American Dream Mall in New Jersey, which featured Black-owned small businesses, an expungement clinic, and realtors assisting community members in home-buying. These initiatives aim to provide tangible support and resources to everyday people.
Lauren LaRosa [05:25]: "I would love to see more things like this where you're bringing in these small businesses... it's right there at arm's reach."
Honey Baby underscores the necessity of providing opportunities and resources directly to the community, advocating for initiatives that offer alternatives and support to prevent youth from making detrimental choices.
Honey Baby [06:50]: "If we put different things in his hand and say, hey, I can still make money, but I ain't got to worry about going to jail... those are the things that these kids need to see."
Guest Interview: Honey Baby
The spotlight shifts to Honey Baby, who joins the hosts to discuss her music, her connection to Juneteenth, and her journey in the music industry. Lauren introduces Honey Baby, highlighting their shared background from Delaware State University and their collaborative efforts in managing and promoting her music career.
Lauren LaRosa [11:08]: "We gonna get into the things. But if y' all can't tell, I'm a huge fan of Honey Baby."
Music and Career Development
Honey Baby shares her passion for music and the challenges of navigating the industry. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity and building a strong support system.
DJ Envy [16:40]: "Being Black is beautiful. Period."
Discussing her upcoming EP, Raw Honey, DJ Envy reveals his desire to present a more vulnerable and fun side of himself, breaking away from previous slow, contemplative music.
DJ Envy [20:26]: "Raw Honey is the real raw, uncut version of me, like, bad or good, take it or leave it type vibe."
Lauren and Honey Baby commend DJ Envy’s ability to blend 90s vibes with contemporary East Coast music, creating generational bridges through his work.
Lauren LaRosa [21:10]: "Raw Honey, are we seeing any generational bridges on this project?"
Collaborations and Inspirations
When asked about dream collaborations, DJ Envy mentions iconic artists like Drake and Miley Cyrus, showcasing his diverse musical aspirations.
DJ Envy [17:25]: "Drake."
He also recounts his experience performing with Lil Kim at the BET Awards, describing it as an exhilarating and iconic moment in his career.
DJ Envy [18:00]: "It was really dope, especially being on stage with Kim and like, how iconic she is."
Community Advocacy
Both hosts emphasize the importance of giving back to the community. DJ Envy discusses his commitment to supporting educational initiatives and providing resources to underprivileged youth, drawing from his own experiences growing up in a small town.
DJ Envy [22:36]: "I want to start pushing more towards that and just helping the people who are less fortunate, especially from where I'm from."
Lauren adds that initiatives like the ones hosted at the mall not only provide resources but also inspire younger generations by showcasing successful role models who care about their community.
Lauren LaRosa [08:15]: "When you talk about these programs, we have to actually care about them. We got to talk about them. We got to show up and do things like this."
Audience Engagement: Q&A Session
The episode features an interactive Q&A segment where listeners submit questions for Honey Baby and DJ Envy. Among the notable questions:
-
Working with Lil Kim:
- Question [24:00]: "What was the process like working with Lil Kim?"
- DJ Envy [24:08]: "It was pretty smooth... just very, like, girly vibes."
-
Dream Directors:
- Question [25:05]: "Do you have any dream directors you’d like to work with?"
- DJ Envy [25:13]: "Hype Williams is a great vibe for you, right."
-
Artist Advice:
- Question [26:13]: "What advice would you give to young men and women wanting to enter the industry?"
- DJ Envy [26:22]: "Get a really good team and get people that you can trust... that set the tone for your career."
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Choosing the Name Honey Baby:
- Question [25:37]: "What made you choose the name Honey Baby?"
- Honey Baby [25:42]: "Because I'm sweet."
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Advice on Being Authentic:
- Question [26:13]: "What’s one thing you learned from the industry?"
- DJ Envy [27:13]: "Being myself gets me a lot farther than I thought it would."
Conclusion
The episode wraps up with Lauren encouraging listeners to support Honey Baby's new EP, Raw Honey, and to continue engaging with the community through events and initiatives that uplift and empower. The hosts reiterate the importance of unity, authenticity, and giving back, embodying the true spirit of Juneteenth.
Lauren LaRosa [27:48]: "At the end of the day, there is always a lot to talk about... I appreciate you guys, Lowriders. And I will see you in the next episode."
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
- Lauren LaRosa [04:22]: "Juneteenth to me means seasoning... It feels like home."
- Honey Baby [06:50]: "If we put different things in his hand... those are the things that these kids need to see."
- DJ Envy [16:40]: "Being Black is beautiful. Period."
- DJ Envy [20:26]: "Raw Honey is the real raw, uncut version of me."
- DJ Envy [17:25]: "Drake."
- DJ Envy [27:13]: "Being myself gets me a lot farther than I thought it would."
This episode of The Breakfast Club not only celebrates Juneteenth but also highlights the power of community support, the importance of authenticity in the music industry, and the ongoing efforts to uplift and empower Black communities. Whether you’re a regular listener or new to the show, this episode offers valuable insights and inspiring conversations that resonate beyond the airwaves.