The People's Donkey

Summary

The Breakfast Club – "The People's Donkey" (April 3, 2026)

Podcast: The Breakfast Club (The Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeartPodcasts)
Hosts: Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious
Episode Theme:
This lively call-in segment of The Breakfast Club centers on “The People’s Donkey,” a riff on the show’s iconic “Donkey of the Day” feature. Listeners are invited to call in and nominate individuals or groups who they believe are deserving of the dubious honor. This particular morning, much of the conversation focuses on rapper Pooh Shiesty’s recent highly publicized legal trouble, accountability in hip hop, and a few offbeat Donkey nominations, all delivered in the classic blend of unfiltered, sometimes humorous, and often sharply insightful commentary.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

Pooh Shiesty and Accountability in Hip-Hop

• Caller Nick kicks off the segment, nominating rapper Pooh Shiesty for Donkey of the Day, pointing out the absurdity of his actions while on house arrest with an ankle monitor:
  • “Homie was already on house arrest, previous gun charges. You had an ankle monitor, bro. How you thought this was gonna turn out?... He wanted out of his contract, but instead he get out of his freedom.” (02:53)
• Charlamagne Tha God and Nick dig into how the situation spiraled, questioning the expectations and motives behind Pooh Shiesty’s actions:
  • “How did you want this to end, right? ...He’s the money maker… the kids love him... How is this supposed to end, you know?” (03:07)
• The recurring theme is the “self-sabotage” among successful young artists, risking their futures and affecting everyone who depends on them:
  • “Now you put yourself in a situation…and his team, too…where the breadwinner…is locked up or having to fight a case. It just doesn’t make any sense.” (06:25)
• The hosts lament the waste of talent and opportunity:
  • “He just messed up every blessing that he got... He got a second chance, and he blew it by doing something stupid like that.” (07:13, caller)

Condolences, Shout-Outs & Support

• Janine, another caller, shifts gears to express frustration with people who pretend to show support but don’t mean it. She also offers public congratulations to her brother Mike for coming out of jail, and calls out the hosts for not sending condolences to rapper Safaree Samuels after his mother's passing:
  • “Y’ all love to talk about him when it’s bad, but when he be saying good... Y’ all don’t even talk about that. Y’ all don’t send a compulsory [condolence].” (04:51)
• Charlamagne accepts responsibility:
  • “That would be on me.” (05:03)

More Listener Donkey Nominations

• Another caller (The “Incredible Hulk”) again nominates Pooh Shiesty, referencing hip-hop history:
  • “How are you gonna go into a studio like Eazy-E, thinking you with Suge Knight to try to get Gucci to release you from a contract...like people not gonna go to jail today?... That’s insane to me, my man.” (05:30)
• Arsenio from Buffalo delivers rapid-fire donkey nominations:
  1. Pooh Shiesty’s crew for their part in the debacle.
  2. “Anybody…that thinks that Gucci is wrong for saying something," emphasizing misplaced street loyalty over safety and family.
  3. Podcast editors, for their ad placements:
  • “Please stop putting the ads in between Envy segments, Jesse segments, Charlemagne segments, and Lauren segments. Stop putting the ads in between those. When Envy drops the phone number and he’s going on to the next segment, drop the ad.” (09:03)
• Charlamagne acknowledges the constructive criticism about ad placement:
  • “You gotta pay the bills, though… But got you. Don’t put it in between me talking… Got you.” (09:14-09:28)

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Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• Caller Nick: “Homie was already on house arrest, previous gun charges. You had an ankle monitor, bro. How you thought this was gonna turn out?” (02:53)
• Charlamagne Tha God: “How did you want this to end, right?... He’s the money maker… Kids love him. How is this supposed to end, you know?” (03:07)
• Caller Janine: “Y’ all love to talk about him when it’s bad, but when he be saying good. Y’ all don’t even talk about that. Y’ all don’t send a compulsory.” (04:51)
• Incredible Hulk (Caller): “How are you gonna go into a studio like Eazy-E, thinking you with Suge Knight to try to get Gucci to release you from a contract... That’s insane to me, my man.” (05:30)
• Charlamagne Tha God: “The thing is, he was on probation, and it’s like, you know, these kids follow him. He’s doing well. He’s not a struggling artist. He’s making six figures… So now you put yourself…where the person…is locked up or having to fight a case. It just doesn’t make any sense.” (06:25)
• Caller Nick: “He just messed up everything for his family. He literally just messed up every blessing that he got.” (07:02)
• Arsenio (Caller): “Anybody…that thinks that Gucci is wrong for saying something. Obviously, they don’t care about their life…they put the streets before their lives…” (07:50)
• Charlamagne Tha God: “Regardless, it’s just stupid. It’s just so damn stupid… and I hate to see it because Pooh Shiesty is a very talented rapper.” (08:31)
• Arsenio (Caller): “Please stop putting the ads in between Envy segments... Drop the ads when Envy drops the phone number and he’s going on to the next segment. It’s perfect editing.” (09:03)
• Charlamagne Tha God: “I got you. Thank you, brother.” (09:44)

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Important Timestamps and Segments

• 02:39 – 03:41: Caller Nick nominates Pooh Shiesty, triggering the main discussion about his case.
• 04:01 – 05:22: Janine comments on support within the community and calls for public condolences.
• 05:26 – 07:38: Multiple callers reiterate the tape’s main theme: personal accountability and the dangers of clinging to outdated street codes.
• 07:41 – 09:44: Arsenio delivers his multiple Donkey nominations, including an on-air critique of The Breakfast Club’s ad placements.
• 09:47: Charlamagne teases the upcoming interview with John Hope Bryant.

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Tone & Style

The conversation is true to The Breakfast Club’s fast-paced, everything-on-the-table style, blending humor, candid criticism, and concern for hip hop culture’s role models. Callers are direct and sometimes passionate, while Charlamagne offers both levity and pointed reflection (“It just doesn’t make any sense… I hate to see it because Pooh Shiesty is a very talented rapper.”). There’s shouting out, venting, and even a rare request for better podcast editing, highlighting the show’s intimate relationship with its listeners.

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Summary Takeaway

This episode of The Breakfast Club showcases its dynamic relationship with listeners as they nominate their “People’s Donkey” – with rapper Pooh Shiesty’s situation as a central cautionary tale on choices, influence, and personal responsibility in the hip hop world. The hosts and callers emphasize how one reckless move can dismantle success and legacy. The episode is also punctuated with calls for support, accountability, and a bit of behind-the-scenes podcast production critique.

For listeners seeking the latest on hip hop, candid culture talk, and community advice—this Breakfast Club segment delivers unfiltered reality and keeps its audience engaged and heard.

Transcript

[Charlamagne Tha God]

This is an I Heart podcast.

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[State Farm Advertiser]

It's your time to nominate a donkey of your own.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

Remember now, that's is how they choose.

[State Farm Advertiser]

Call in now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

800-585-1051. Hello? Who's this?

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

Yo, it's Nick.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Nick, what's up? Who you want to give donkey today to, man?

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

It's going to be an easy one. It's going to be pre sites.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why? Why you wanna give donkey? Yeah, break it down.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

Now. Listen, bro, Homie was already on house arrest, previous gun charges. You had an ankle monitor, bro. How you thought this was gonna turn out? You know what I'm saying? And he want. Look, so he wanted out of his contract, but instead he get out of his freedom.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, you're right. And I've been thinking about it too, and I'm like, well, how did you want this to end, right? Because it's not just like it was just you and Gucci, right? You. You had, I guess, the assistant, which is. Or the cameraman, which is the white individual where you see the scars on his neck and the scars on his hands, right? You had security guards there, and if they were law or off duty police officers, they have to report it. It's just like, how do you want this to end? And for Pooh Shiesty and his team, it's like, he's the money maker, right? He's the one that's out. He's doing well. The kids love him. The kids are following his trends. It's like, how is this supposed to end, you know?

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

Crazy work. Beyond diabolical.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, it's very, very sad, man. Thank you for calling, brother.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

Can I give a shout out real quick?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Go ahead, bro.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

Shout out to all my people in Boston. My Cape Verdean, Happy Friday.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right, brother. Have a good one. Salute to all the Cape Verdeans in Boston as well. Hello? Who's this?

[Caller Janine]

Janine.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Hey, Janine. Who you want to give donkey today too?

[Caller Janine]

Well, first, I want to say that. I want to say that my brother Mike has come out of jail. We just want to congratulate him on that, okay? And let him know that we support him. But I got first for those people that say they, you know, they wish good for you, but they really don't. And you try to do right by them and they still kind of do you wrong, but you never put out on them like that, okay? So that's the first thing. But also I want to give thank you to Charlamagne.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why?

[Caller Janine]

Because I don't know. I don't know if y'. All. If y' all had said it. Did y' all wish send condolences to Safari Samuel?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No, we didn't send. I seen that his mother passed. I seen that yesterday. No, I thought he posted another post, too.

[Caller Janine]

Yeah, okay.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

So. So.

[Caller Janine]

So, also, y' all love to talk about him when it's bad, but when he be saying good. Y'. All.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Y'.

[Caller Janine]

All. I mean, you know, saying that. That he's young, his family. Y' all don't even talk about that. Y' all don't send a compulsory.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That would be on me. That would be on me.

[Caller Janine]

Okay, so. So. He's not here today?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No, he's not here today.

[Caller Janine]

Okay, so tell him Janine Miramar said to send her friend Safari some condolences. His mother did pass away.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay, well, you just said it. Thank you so much, Mama. Hello? Who's this?

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

Yo. What's good, Envy? This is the Incredible Hulk.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What up, brother?

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

What up? What up? Listen, I have to give Donkey of the Day to Pooh Shiesty, bruh. How are you gonna go into a studio like Easy E, thinking you with Suge Knight to try to get Gucci to release you from a contract like this. The 90s, like, people not gonna go to jail today. That's insane to me, my man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, I just. I just think. Let's. Let's. Let's just say. Which keeps going through my mind. Let's say Gucci said, you know what? I ain't signing it. You would have shot. You would have killed Gucci there, most

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

likely, because he reckless. Just by him setting them up like that, it just proves that mentally, he wasn't even there. Like, that's. That whole situation. Knowing that there's cameras around, he don't have a mask on. People know you're meeting with him, and then you go in there with duffel bags with guns, and then you rob people. Yeah. This wasn't gonna end right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No matter what happened, I'm with you.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

And then I hope they lock him up for life. Yes. That gangster ish is, like, played out, bro.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No, the thing is, he was on probation, and it's like, you know, these kids follow him. He's doing well. He's not. Like, he's not a struggling artist. He's making six figures on his shows. You know what I mean? That FDO song that he dropped was, like, number one Apple music charts for, like, over. Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas for, like, months. Yeah. So now you put yourself in a situation and his team, too. Like, y' all all put yourselves in a situation where the breadwinner, where the. The. The. The person that's out there where you can be a Road manager, where you can be a stylist, promoter, where you can do all these things, be a producer is locked up or having to fight a case. It just doesn't make any sense.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

But, hey, don't make. He just messed up everything for his family. He. Now he's gonna go back, his father's gonna be up in there. Like, he literally just messed up every blessing that he got.

[State Farm Advertiser]

Yeah.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

He got a second chance, and he blew it by doing something stupid like that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And then, not only that, I mean, I think any lawyer would tell you, if you sign a contract under duress, nine times out of 10, they gonna avoid that contract. Right. They gonna void that contract. Yes.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

What?

[Caller Janine]

Why would you record a fine?

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

I don't understand people. Today I was just driving to work. I was like, this is stupid.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Thank you, brother.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

I don't know, man. Thank you.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Have a great weekend. Hello? Who's this?

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

What up, Envy? This Arsenio from Buffalo, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's up, Arsenio? Talk to us, brother. Who you giving donkey to today, man?

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

Man, I got three quick donkeys for you real quick.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Go ahead.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

All right, so first donkey is obviously them Pooh Shotsky boys that did that to Gucci. That's all right. Second one is anybody that did that thinks that Gucci is wrong for saying something. Obviously, they don't care about their life like he does. They don't care about his family like he does, and they don't care about his career like he does. The people that think Gucci is wrong are put in the streets before their lives, and that's. That's just not right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You know, Arsenal, you know, the crazy thing about it is just my gut, I don't think Gucci said anything. And I know in the. And I know in the paperwork, they said so and so identified this person. I don't think in the paperwork can be wrong. I don't think so. Because, be honest, you got the camera. The camera guy who's a white individual that's taping that.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

Have.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

They have pictures of his injuries. So that means he went to the police if they have pictures of his injuries. Right. Then you had Gucci security, and if they were off duty police officers, they had to report the crime. So I don't necessarily think Gucci spoke. But regardless, it's just stupid. It's just so damn stupid. It. It just so damn stupid. And I hate to see it because Pooh Shiesty is a very talented rapper.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

There's gonna be so many lives ruined over this.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yep.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

So many lives. And My third donkey is gonna go to the editors that make the podcast version of this show.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, wow.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

Please stop putting the ads in between Envy segments. Jesse segments, Charlemagne segments, and Lauren segments. Stop putting the ads in between those.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You gotta pay the bills, though. Yeah, you gotta pay the bills, brother.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

No, no, no, no, no. Put the ads where Envy drops the numbers and he's going on to the next segment. Drop the ad.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Got you. Don't. Don't put it in between me talking, you saying?

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

Because we're gonna forget about what Lauren is saying.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Got you. Gotcha.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

We gotta work our way back into the conversation.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And I be talking a lot, man.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

And she be talking, and we love to listen to everybody. But when Envy drops that phone number and he's going on to the next segment, drop the ads. It's perfect editing.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I got you. Thank you, brother.

[Caller Nick / Various Callers]

All right. Love y'. All.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

The people's donkey. 800-585-1051. Now, when we come back, John Hope Bryant will be joining us. He has a new book, Capitalism for All Inclusive Economics and the Future Proofing of America. We gonna talk to him, so don't go anywhere. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Donkey of the day is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull Lametsoft. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on. If you're ever injured, go to michaelthebull.com that's michaelthebull.com and when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

Guaranteed Human.