The Breakfast Club "Best Of" – G Herbo, Kehlani, Papoose & Claressa Shields Interview

Date: January 7, 2026
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Guests: G Herbo, Kehlani, Papoose, Claressa Shields

Episode Overview

This "Best Of" edition features in-depth conversations with rapper G Herbo, chart-topping artist Kehlani, veteran MC Papoose, and boxing champion Claressa Shields. The hosts explore each guest’s recent successes, personal growth, industry challenges, and reflections on community and culture. Discussions range from mental health, creative milestones, and the Black family experience to the impact of AI on music, social activism, and the nuances of fame and public relationships.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Call-In Segment: Community Feedback and Political Talk

(01:11–11:41)

Community Call-In – Charlamagne’s "Donkey of the Day"

• Callers react passionately to previous "Donkey of the Day" commentary involving a family member.
• Charlamagne emphasizes the importance of measured responses and gathering all facts before judgment:

  "You can't go down to the—whether he said it or not, whatever he said caused people to call the police...there's other ways to handle the situation."
  — Charlamagne Tha God (06:02)

• Discussion of racial tensions in specific neighborhoods and the pressures on Black men navigating these environments.

Political Call-In: Trump, Biden, and Black Voters

• Caller ("Trevor") defends the "MAGA" (Make America Great Again) movement and claims there's no division within it (07:54).
• Debates over Joe Biden's comments about Black voters ("If you don't vote for me, you ain't Black"), with Charlamagne reflecting:

  "As I told him in that moment...it's not about me being Black. It's about me wanting something for my people."
  — Charlamagne Tha God (09:14)

• The persistent influence of cultural icons (Trump, Jesse Jackson) and how media narratives shape community attitudes.

2. G Herbo: Music, Growth, and Survival

(11:43–38:44)

On His Number One Record

• G Herbo shares the organic, unplanned success behind his latest hit, describing a creative process rooted in fun and experimentation.
• On releasing through his own app:

  "As artists, you gotta really just bet on yourself, for real, for real." (13:06)

• The financial impact: radio airplay changed “the bag” dramatically compared to streaming.

Independence & Self-Reflection

• Herbo talks about returning to his "Lil Herb" roots, seeking inspiration by revisiting his early work.
• Letting go of old baggage:

  "Just letting go. For real, for real. Therapy helped me...A lot of [things] you hold on to—you just, like, just let it go." (18:07)

• Transitioning to being 100% independent, without a label or production company.

Influence of Meek Mill

• Meek Mill served as a tangible role model demonstrating it's possible to come from the streets and find major industry success.
• “Meek...gave you the real blueprint. You get on, you take care, you do what you supposed to do.” (19:49)

Surviving Chicago

• Herbo and Charlamagne discuss the survival mentality shaped by Chicago’s environment:

  "Surviving in Chicago, just making it out of the streets alone is a blessing." — G Herbo (26:27)

• Emphasizes calculated decision-making, understanding both sides of the street, and the weight of carrying past trauma.

Processing Grief and Mental Health

• Copes with loss through music; therapy and staying busy help maintain stability.
• Addresses his struggles after the death of his brother and father, expressing vulnerability around grief:

  "When my little brother died, I lost myself. I became an alcoholic." (31:51)

• The day his father passed, he still tried to work, highlighting the difficulty of processing pain amidst professional demands (34:05).

3. Kehlani: Pronunciation, Success, Vulnerability, and AI

(39:01–66:44)

Setting the Record Straight

• Kehlani emphasizes the correct pronunciation of her name: "Kay-lani" (39:16).

"Folded" and Musical Evolution

• "Folded" reaches number one, representing both a sonic and personal transformation:

  "It feels really good. It's been a long time coming...You're always one song away." (40:24)

• Creation of "Folded" was accidental but reflected her matured emotional intelligence.

Mental Health & Turning 30

• Open discussion on living with bipolar disorder, the importance of therapy, and how medication enables self-processing:

  "Medicine...gave me the opportunity to have thought applied to my mood." (44:24)

• Emphasizes the value—and difficulty—of creative vulnerability:

  "I've always been messily vulnerable, but I grew up in front of the world." (45:58)

• Recognizes growth and self-awareness over time:

  "Even a year ago, I'm like, okay, like, growth. I'm different now." (46:32)

Activism and Public Backlash

• Spoke out about Palestine, experiencing professional consequences and personal threats:

  "It put me into a really bad paranoia...Every time I left the house, was everybody out to get me? Did I need security to sit in front of my house?" (49:01)

• Advocates for more artists to use their platforms, noting collective action brings protection.

AI & Creativity

• Strongly challenges the rise of AI in music and culture:

  "Music is such a God-given thing...For it to be generated in that way...feels wrong to me." (55:29)

• Warns of deeper issues: environmental impacts, job loss, and the danger of artificial "authenticity."
• Emphasizes that music’s unique value is spiritual, not algorithmic:

  “What does authentic music have that AI-generated music could never have? God. Yeah, that’s the answer.” (60:03)

• On parenting in the age of AI and tech, stresses community, honesty, and human connection (63:38).

Personal Influences

• Vocal “Mount Rushmore”: Brandy, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey (66:08).

4. Donkey of the Day: Florida Barber Shop Incident

(66:46–74:08)

• Charlamagne tells the story of a Florida man, Darius Davis, attacking his barber over a bad hairline.
• Commentary on the cultural centrality and pressures of barbershops in the Black community.
• Message on not resorting to violence over personal grievances, especially within community hubs.

Memorable Quote:

"Barbers are pillars in the Black community, my brothers. When you really put it in perspective, there aren't too many people more important..." - Charlamagne Tha God (69:49)

5. Papoose & Claressa Shields: Hip Hop, Black Love, and Public Scrutiny

(74:37–96:11)

Bars on Wheels & Hip Hop's Direction

• Papoose promotes his visual album "Bars on Wheels," aiming to "save hip hop" by staying true to lyricism.
• On industry changes:

  "Just be yourself, man. Nobody can do you better than you." (75:42)

• Discusses the negative influences of drugs and violence, but cautions against scapegoating hip hop for broader social issues.

Black Love and Public Relationships

• Open discussion about the pressures and fallout of his marriage to Remy Ma, and the scrutiny that followed their separation and new relationships.
• Papoose reflects on public expectations, online rumors, and maintaining dignity:

  "Who wants to be a part of the circus? ... I'm not problematic, man." (87:09, 94:57)

• Shields emphasizes that breakups and divorces are common, and that the public often struggles to let go more than those involved (90:11).
• Both stress moving forward, personal happiness, and handling private matters with maturity.

Positive Message

• Papoose and Charlamagne discuss the value of being open with your audience and standing by your character.

Memorable Moment:
A young London rapper gets to perform live for Papoose, earning encouragement for his vulnerability and talent (97:20–99:33).

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "Smart people learn from their own mistakes. Wise people learn from the mistakes of others." — Charlamagne Tha God (06:54)
• "Therapy helped me...A lot of that you hold on to, you just like, just let it go." — G Herbo (18:07)
• "It comes from here, it's given here. And to have that generated through a computer just feels...wrong." — Kehlani on AI Music (55:29)
• "You can't download [music] from a computer. It's a download from God." — Charlamagne Tha God (56:20)
• "Just be yourself, man. Nobody can do you better than you." — Papoose (75:42)
• "You never thought that they would be gone...One of y' all or two or maybe three of y' all not gonna make it. It might be you." — Papoose on street life (80:03)

Segment Timestamps

• [01:11–11:41] – Caller reactions: family defense, racial tension, and political takes
• [11:43–38:44] – G Herbo: creative process, mentorship, trauma, and triumph
• [39:01–66:44] – Kehlani: artistic evolution, mental health, activism, and AI debate
• [66:46–74:08] – Donkey of the Day: Florida barber story and barbershop culture
• [74:37–99:40] – Papoose & Claressa Shields: hip hop’s evolution, Black love in the spotlight, and handling rumors

Tone and Takeaways

The episode maintains The Breakfast Club’s signature mix of humor, honesty, and cultural commentary, leaning into authenticity and vulnerability. Guests are encouraged to reflect deeply on challenges and joys, from navigating grief to confronting AI’s impact on art. The hosts balance tough questions with empathy, creating a space where lessons—from industry wisdom to personal breakthroughs—resonate with listeners seeking substance and real talk.

For New Listeners

This "Best Of" episode is a powerful snapshot of where hip hop, R&B, and Black culture intersect with mental health, community responsibility, technology, and evolving definitions of success. The candidness of each guest offers insights for fans and newcomers alike, whether you’re seeking inspiration, a dose of realness, or a sense of collective growth.