58.) Is New York the Greatest City on Earth? + HOV and The Roots (3/18/26)

Summary

---

The Ebro, Laura, Rosenberg Show – Episode 58

Is New York the Greatest City on Earth? + HOV and The Roots
Release Date: March 18, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ebro, Laura, and Rosenberg bring their signature mix of cultural commentary and humor to questions both serious and silly, asking whether New York City still deserves the crown as the "Greatest City on Earth." They riff on the current state of NYC (with a surprising focus on dog poop and parking), debate global cities, and react to headlines from politics and pop culture. Special attention is given to Jay-Z’s headlining Roots Picnic announcement, viral controversy around rapper LaRussell, TSA troubles amid the government shutdown, and a compelling Afroman legal saga. Throughout, the trio balances raw honesty, nostalgia, and their usual wisecracks.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. [00:28] New York’s Modern Mess: Dog Poop & Courtesy

• Opening Rant: Ebro, Laura, and Rosenberg jump straight into one of New York’s less glamorous traits: a noted uptick in dog poop on city sidewalks.

  • Ads and city council actions are underway, including possible distribution of doggy bags at corner garbage cans (which Laura thinks is “gonna be a fail” due to theft & litter).
  • The hosts lament a decline in neighborhood courtesy among pet owners.
    • Rosenberg (02:17): “It has been a steady uptick of people just leaving big ass piles of dog ish on the street. And that is definitely up… You used to not see it at all.”
  • Etiquette confessionals: the group details creative methods for disposing of dog waste when caught short.

• Parking Etiquette Gripe: The team shifts to another quintessential NYC struggle: hunting for parking, observational etiquette, and pet peeves about cars occupying spaces while idling.

  • Laura (10:21): “When you take an actual parking space from someone … to sit in your car and let it idle, I think you deserve to be punched in the future.”

---

2. [04:37] Is NY the Greatest City in the World? Global City Showdown

• The hosts take Gary Vee’s recent “NYC is the greatest city in the world” claim to task.
  • Rosenberg shares: “There are mad places where people are significantly more courteous and there’s still tons of people around.”
• City Comparison Rapid-Fire: “This one or this one?” with global cities:
  • Rio de Janeiro vs NY: Rosenberg picks NY for practical livability, despite Rio’s beauty.
  • LA vs NY: LA is “underrated,” but NY wins.
  • Tokyo vs NY: Tokyo beats NY on cleanliness, safety, and services, but lacks NY’s diversity—something Laura values most.
    • Laura (07:22): “I don’t know if Tokyo’s diverse enough for me. I’m not seeing me enough. There’s not enough of the world there.”
    • Ebro (08:01): Shares a story of a partner feeling isolated in Tokyo due to a lack of diversity and language barriers.
• The team admits NYC’s diversity is nearly unmatched, but question whether that’s enough to claim global supremacy.

---

3. [14:34] Notable News, Culture, and Remembrance

• Rest in Peace Kiki Shepard:
  • The hosts pay tribute to late Apollo Theatre legend, reflecting on the cultural significance of Showtime at the Apollo.
    • (16:17) Laura’s heartfelt outro: “Tonight’s show is dedicated to the tree of hope and Apollo legend … rest in peace Kiki Shepard.”

---

4. [17:28] World Headlines & Politics: “Proof of Life” & Foreign Policy Satire

• Netanyahu "Proof of Life" Videos:

  • Rosenberg cracks up at viral memes and the surreal spectacle of leaders making bizarre public videos.
  • The team expresses concern at how world leaders openly joke about violence:
    • Laura (18:23): “How are these people just walking around joking about killing people... like, all of this is a joke.”

• US Foreign Policy & Cuba:

  • Ebro details the US pressuring Caribbean and Central American countries to oust Cuban doctors, emphasizing how this impacts the poorest communities.
  • Discussion of Trump’s “isolationism” vs. reality, and critiques of the US government’s “scripted” narratives regarding other nations and baseball wins.

---

5. [24:03] Afroman on Trial: When Pop Culture, Police, and Social Media Collide

• The Afroman Lawsuit: Producer Griff summarizes the bizarre court case:
  • Afroman is being sued by police officers after they raided his house (2022), and he used the raid footage in his art and merch.
  • The officers allege defamation; Afroman claims they stole from him.
  • Laura (25:46): “He took the videos, made merch and made money off of it. And now they’re suing Afroman. … Afroman deserves his celebrity birthday shout outs.”
  • Jokes abound about Afroman's persona and "standing on business" in court.

---

6. [27:56] Jay-Z Headlines Roots Picnic: VIP Debate

• Jay-Z at Roots Picnic: Ebro announces HOV’s major appearance prompting a major festival “splurge” debate:
  • Rosenberg: Surprised at the $1,300 VIP Gold package: “For $1,300, it can’t just be like more than two drink tickets. Yo, alcohol is where they get their money.”
  • Group muses about the need for actual seating (“I want a seat and I want a platform…” – Laura), citing memorable, more accessible Hip-Hop 50th concerts.

---

7. [34:52] LaRussell’s "Heaven Sent" Backlash: Hip-Hop, Art, and Outrage Cycles

• LaRussell’s Song Controversy:
  • Viral backlash erupts after LaRussell drops a song naming figures like Trump, Epstein, Adolf as “heaven sent.”
  • Original intent: To illustrate the range of good/evil in humanity, as “all made by God.”
    • LaRussell’s explanation video (37:28): “The same God who created Martin Luther King and Malcolm X … is the same God that created Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein … It’s crazy, the range of what a human life is capable of.”
  • Panel Analysis:
    • Rosenberg (38:38): “It’s the wording choice, right? … It should be, ‘we’re all from the same place,’ … But the fact that he says heaven sent—just not the right word choice.”
    • The group reflects on hip-hop’s historic provocations, and how media amplifies outrage by clipping only the most inflammatory lines.
    • Laura (41:22): “You’re allowed not to like it. It’s fine. But if you’re bent out of shape about that … you’re bugging.”

---

8. [47:16] TSA, Government Shutdown & ICE Policy Stalemate

• TSA Crisis Explained:
  • 50,000 TSA workers are working without pay due to the ongoing partial government shutdown.
  • Long lines, especially at Houston, ATL, JFK, and other major airports. Some PreCheck/Global Entry access canceled or restricted.
  • The shutdown is due to a standoff between Democrats (who are demanding ICE reforms like body cams, name badges, etc.) and Republicans (who won’t sign off).
    • Laura (49:52): “The Democrats want ICE agents … to be more accountable … Republicans won’t agree, thus they can’t come to terms.”
    • Ebro (52:29): “Now you’re just holding travelers, TSA workers, other government workers hostage because you want to continue to operate outside the law.”
  • The hosts urge listeners not to fall for partisan blame games in the media.

---

9. [55:45] Super Chat & Listener Engagement

• Viewer shoutouts spark conversations on everything from dog poop solutions to weekend bounce businesses and St. Patty’s birthdays.
• Tips for viewers: pet health responsibility—don’t ignore your dog’s health if their poop is perpetually watery, and creative strategies to keep the streets clean.
• Reflections on the weirdness of YouTube’s algorithm prioritizing other shows over theirs.

---

10. [61:00] “Gurus” Segment: Interracial Adoption Dilemma

• Listener writes in, asking if she’s “racist” for feeling upset at seeing a Black/white couple adopt a white and a Filipino child, questioning why they wouldn’t adopt a Black child.
• Panel Response:
  • “Race is the wrong word,” says Rosenberg—more of a race-obsessed reaction, but also, simply “mind your business.”
  • Laura & Ebro provide context on adoption statistics: Black children are adopted less often, but individual circumstances are complex and not for others to judge.
  • Empathy for being disturbed by structural racism, but a reminder: Don’t judge individuals when you don’t know their story.
  • Broader point: Colorism in adoption, even for pets—a black dog is less likely to be adopted.

---

11. [67:00] The Roots Picnic, HOV, and Nostalgia

• Jay-Z’s Roots Picnic set: Speculation it could be a full “Reasonable Doubt” set, with the logo reference.
• Nostalgic recall of Jay-Z’s MTV Unplugged with The Roots.
• May 30 | Roots Picnic date sparks the usual family trip planning banter, and the “standing vs. seated” debate for festival comfort.

---

12. [68:21] “MAGA Gwen Stefani?” – Examining Cultural Assumptions

• Laura jokes about Gwen Stefani possibly going “MAGA” after marriage to Blake Shelton; Ebro says there’s no public evidence.
• Rosenberg and Laura muse on the challenges of holding onto hope for public figures’ true political leanings.

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Rosenberg (02:17): “It has been a steady uptick of people just leaving big ass piles of dog ish on the street …”
• Laura (07:22): “I couldn’t … live there long term. I’m not seeing me enough. There’s not enough of the world there.”
• Ebro (08:01): “He said the reason he left [Tokyo] is because he was lonely … there wasn’t enough diversity.”
• Laura (10:21): “When you take an actual parking space from someone … to sit in your car and let it idle, I think you deserve to be punched in the future.”
• Laura (16:17): “Tonight’s show is dedicated to the tree of hope and Apollo legend … rest in peace Kiki Shepard.”
• Rosenberg (38:38): “It’s the wording choice, right … But the fact that he says ‘heaven sent’—just not the right word choice.”
• Laura (41:22): “You’re allowed not to like it. It’s fine. But if you’re bent out of shape about that … you’re bugging.”
• Ebro (52:29): “Now you’re just holding travelers, … TSA workers, other government workers hostage because you want to continue to operate outside the law.”
• Laura (49:52): “The Democrats want ICE … to be more accountable … Republicans won’t agree…”
• Rosenberg (62:59): “It’s the wrong word. But bigotry, whatever it is, race-obsessed.”

---

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Dog Poop & City Decay: 00:28 - 04:37
• Global City Showdown: 04:37 - 08:25
• Rest in Peace Kiki Shepard: 14:34 - 16:41
• Netanyahu & Proof of Life Satire: 17:28 - 19:20
• Afroman’s Lawsuit: 24:03 - 26:16
• Jay-Z/Roots Picnic Announcement & VIP Debate: 27:56 - 34:52
• LaRussell "Heaven Sent" Controversy: 34:52 - 44:15
• TSA/Government Shutdown/Ice Policy: 47:16 - 55:20
• Super Chat & Listener Q&A: 55:45 - 61:00
• “Gurus” Segment (Adoption Dilemma): 61:00 - 66:29
• Roots Picnic Setlist Nostalgia: 67:00 - 68:21
• Celebrity “MAGA” Banter/Gwen Stefani: 68:21 - 69:26

---

Tone & Style

The episode remains authentic to The E.L.R. Show’s tone: irreverent, honest, and engaged with both street-level realities and big-picture debates. The hosts mix serious critique (on city policy, policing, and international affairs) with pettiness about parking, festival amenities, and pop culture, never staying too self-serious, but always ready to push listeners to re-examine their assumptions.

---

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode is a quintessential slice of modern New York commentary laced with nostalgia, unflinching takes on systemic issues, and plenty of laughs about the city’s daily grind. You’ll find candid debates, inside jokes, and sharp pop culture insight—whether you care most about Jay-Z, government policy, or the persistent mystery of who leaves all that dog poop on the sidewalk.

---

Transcript

[Ebro Darden]

This episode is brought to you by Redfin. You're listening to a podcast, which means you're probably multitasking, maybe even scrolling home listings on Redfin, saving homes without expecting to get them. But Redfin isn't just built for endless browsing. It's built to help you find and own a home with agents who close twice as many deals. When you find the one, you've got a real shot at getting it.

[Producer Griff]

Get [e-mail].

[Ebro Darden]

own the dream.

[Laura Styles]

Just don't call it a podcast, Okay? Okay. It's a Wednesday. Okay. Hey, ladies and gentlemen, off top, we go to Rosenberg at the poo poo desk.

[Rosenberg]

But wait, why?

[Laura Styles]

It's a hot topic in New York City. It is still doo doo on the streets.

[Ebro Darden]

When did you become the official poo poo dad?

[Laura Styles]

Well, when he started complaining about the amount of poo poo on his pocket.

[Ebro Darden]

I hear you, though, because I. I see it too. Rosenberg. Well, and we're responsible dog owners.

[Rosenberg]

That's right. There is a lot of. There's a poo poo problem in this country.

[Laura Styles]

Not in the country.

[Rosenberg]

Owners is loose in this country.

[Laura Styles]

It's not the country.

[Rosenberg]

Well, it's just New York.

[Laura Styles]

It seems like it's just New York City. And it's after the winter storms. We were. And it's. It's Mom, Donna, Stan, I'm telling you, you were onto something. When you said. You said. When you said that conservatives were gonna start letting doo doo, I said maybe

[Rosenberg]

that was a possibility. But I also. I gotta be honest, though. I also saw it near your spot.

[Laura Styles]

Really?

[Rosenberg]

When I left your house.

[Laura Styles]

Really?

[Rosenberg]

Yep. It was right after a storm also.

[Ebro Darden]

Yeah, I saw it. I saw it. And I saw it in my area, too. It's everywhere.

[Laura Styles]

Well, no. So I think the storm thing. Yes, but it's still a topic today in New York City where they're talking. There's new ads rolling out in New York City around, like, picking up dog poo. There's like, a woman who's like, yo. At city council, who's cursing at people like, yo, pick up your dog. Is that's happening? They have police on the street trying to give summonses.

[Ebro Darden]

Now, I'm not mad at you.

[Laura Styles]

They're threatening.

[Rosenberg]

You know how I say jail?

[Laura Styles]

They're threatening building owners. And they're basically like, look, it's tough to chase people down and give them a summons after they don't pick up dog poopy. They haven't been able to chase people down.

[Rosenberg]

I have no patience for it. I Will say the block I'm currently on has been slightly better since the snow went away. But like, I will tell you, like, over the many 14 years, 15 years I've had Bear, I would tell people I don't really see that at all. And over the last couple of years, it has been a steady uptick of people just leaving big ass piles of dog ish on the street. And that is definitely up and Manhattan is definitely up. Now. I can't say I see it like every block all the time, but you used to not see it at all

[Laura Styles]

for people were proud about it.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. Because so many people have dogs. And to see no poop is like, that's. That's dope.

[Ebro Darden]

It's what you're supposed to do. Like, come on, man.

[Laura Styles]

If you're in the chat right now, I doubt you'll admit it, but maybe there's somebody brave enough. Do you not pick up your dog poop?

[Rosenberg]

Are you?

[Laura Styles]

Who are you?

[Rosenberg]

Who are you?

[Laura Styles]

That's. I just really want to know who you are.

[Rosenberg]

Yo. If I've. I've had a couple of situations in my tenure with Bear and Rocky where it happened, and I'm like, oh, man, I have no bags. And I look around and I'm like, there's no one here. What do I do? I have never once settled on just leave it in the middle of the sidewalk.

[Laura Styles]

Go find a piece of paper, something, cardboard, stick, where I bring it to

[Rosenberg]

the gutter and then I push it into the gutter and, like, I get it out of the way. I'm not gonna let it just sit in the middle of the sidewalk. That's not an option.

[Ebro Darden]

And I will say, when I had my peewee, anytime I would tease somebody else. Everybody was so courteous. Oh, yeah, I got you. I got you.

[Rosenberg]

We'll take every time.

[Ebro Darden]

We'll take care of it. So it's a thing that you look at other dog owners because you want to make sure that your neighborhood is clean. And it's important. You don't want that on you either. You know what I mean?

[Rosenberg]

It's crazy. Guys, I. People, like I said, this is jail. I. I don't know what's wrong with people.

[Laura Styles]

Well, there's talk that they're gonna add the doggy poopy bags to the. To the garbage cans on the corners. That's gonna be a fail. I just want to let you guys know why. People gonna steal them, they're gonna knock. People are gonna snatch them. They're gonna snatch all the bags out. Bags are Gonna be all over the street, and that's gonna be the complaint. People are just not.

[Rosenberg]

We're not civilized, bro.

[Ebro Darden]

I hate this.

[Laura Styles]

Well, it's.

[Ebro Darden]

And a lot of times I think they should try.

[Laura Styles]

I try. I'm just letting you know it's gonna be a failing like this.

[Rosenberg]

I saw a random clip in the algorithm the other day of Gary Vee rambling about the lie that New York is the greatest city in the world and everything's perfect.

[Laura Styles]

Bring him up. Schedule him up. That'.

[Rosenberg]

Let me tell you about all the constant acts of kindness I see. Everyone talks about the bad, but do you realize how many millions of acts of kindness and courtesy and that are happening constantly? And I'm like, yes, there are a lot of acts of kindness and courtesy. The fact that this city functions with this many people, so many of which are absolute psychotics, is cool.

[Laura Styles]

Including yourself, by the way.

[Rosenberg]

That's awesome.

[Laura Styles]

But you're not a New Yorker.

[Rosenberg]

Am a psychotic, not a New Yorker. Yes, you're right. But like, my man Gary, have you ever been to Asia? Have you ever been to parts of Europe? Have you ever been to Canada? There are mad places where people are significantly more courteous and there's still tons of people around. Like, you got into a little bit with Nori, and then we moved on.

[Laura Styles]

Well, that'll be on today's Patreon.

[Rosenberg]

But when he's like, not greatest city in the world, you're like, yeah, but that's a lie, too. Let's talk about it. Is it really the greatest city in the world? Like, it's.

[Laura Styles]

There's great things.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, it's. It's one of.

[Laura Styles]

And I'll give New York City this. Of all the places I've been, it's more diverse than most of the greatest cities other than.

[Rosenberg]

Or diverse than most.

[Laura Styles]

Most. London's also very diverse.

[Rosenberg]

Yes. Right.

[Laura Styles]

You know what I'm saying? But I like New York better than New York's better.

[Rosenberg]

Let's play the game. Ibrah.

[Laura Styles]

Throw.

[Rosenberg]

Throw cities at me. Yeah. Preferably ones that you think I've been to.

[Laura Styles]

Okay.

[Rosenberg]

You know my travel history.

[Laura Styles]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

And I will tell. You know the game where you say this one or this one. This one. And then we keep going. I'll see how far New York makes it.

[Laura Styles]

All right, here we go. Rio de Janeiro or New York. Yeah. Or New York. Great. And we're going greater. Greater city.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Laura Styles]

Well, Rio de Janeiro or New York.

[Rosenberg]

Rio is so much more beautiful. It's not even in the conversation. But in terms of. I Think overall function.

[Ebro Darden]

Talking about living.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. Overall function of the city. I'm going, New York.

[Laura Styles]

New York being livability, New York wins. That's LA or New York.

[Rosenberg]

I love la. I think LA is an underrated town with a lot of upside that people sleep on. But New York,

[Laura Styles]

Tokyo or New York?

[Ebro Darden]

Come on. I was trying to save that for last.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. Well, why is that last? Because Tokyo, keep going. No, listen, it's been a good run for New York for the first two, but cleanliness, safety, livability, access to all the things you need. My guess would be, I'm guessing here, poverty, violent, crime, you name it, Tokyo beats New York.

[Laura Styles]

See, and I. And I think about this a lot. And the reason I jumped right to it, because I wasn't going to spend a half an hour doing it, you know, he can't. He can't do it. I'm already over the segment. It's over. It's because I don't know if Tokyo's diverse enough for me.

[Producer Griff]

No, that's right.

[Ebro Darden]

I feel you on that.

[Laura Styles]

I couldn't. I don't think I could live there long term. I'm not seeing me enough. I'm not. There's not enough of the world there.

[Rosenberg]

But that's all. But, like, is that the. That's different live.

[Laura Styles]

But that's still livability.

[Rosenberg]

Own live. Your personal livability based on that.

[Laura Styles]

But as far as everything else. Literally everything else.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Laura Styles]

Tokyo.

[Rosenberg]

Well, how do you feel?

[Laura Styles]

The treatment is lambasting New York.

[Ebro Darden]

So Ricardo, my. My partner for the audience lived there for a year.

[Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Ebro Darden]

And he said the reason he left is because he was lonely. Because again, to Ebro's point, there wasn't enough diversity. And he could. He said that it was cool at the beginning, and then afterwards you're like, oh, there's nobody to relate to. Well, the language barriers.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. And we don't. And if we don't speak the language.

[Ebro Darden]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Then it's super isolating in that way.

[Laura Styles]

Well, then I think there's probably a cultural disconnect too. Like just the way people are, right?

[Rosenberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Laura Styles]

Japanese cultures, polite, nice, respectful. It's like, oh, wake up, ain't nobody cussing today.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. Why? No one screaming out their window. Yeah. I asked you a question, guys. Why when you're going around and asking people if they have a parking spot, you know, I'm saying, like, you're pulling up and you go, oh, is this a spot? Why. Why wouldn't people say no? Do they have to do this?

[Producer Griff]

Why?

[Rosenberg]

They have to put their Lip up. Why you gotta just, you know, just say, nah, man.

[Laura Styles]

Sorry.

[Rosenberg]

Sorry. It's tough. I understand. They do that. Why you got. Why you gotta do that? Why you act like you're punishing me. You bask him. I know. You know, and you do it to people. Yo. Baskin hits him with the Trinity nom.

[Laura Styles]

Yo, you kiss your teeth.

[Ebro Darden]

Kiss his sky.

[Rosenberg]

And then yesterday, when I finally found a spot, I was like, are you leaving the person? Rather than. I admit, it's hard to know what to say of I'm staying, right? So they do that. Cause it's hard to know what else to do. I'm staying. Looks weird. Wavings, so I get that.

[Laura Styles]

And you definitely don't want to start a convo. I'm not rolling my window down. We're not talking, right.

[Rosenberg]

Unless you're gonna say, hey, I'm leaving in five minutes. Hang tight. You know, something like that. Otherwise, I don't wanna have a conversation.

[Ebro Darden]

How do you say no?

[Rosenberg]

I don't know. That one's tough. I'll give. Even though I'm making fun of it, I do get it. But here's the one that gets me mad. Yesterday, after a brief struggle, I pull up and I'm like, oh, did I get one? And I pull up and ask. And when I asked the guy, he looked, like, annoyed that he. That it was a spot. He was like, I'm like, yo, can you celebrate me? I just found a spot. My guy, you're leaving. Like, you. You can't hold this spot. You're out of here. If someone tells, ask me, and I'm leaving. I'm happy for them.

[Laura Styles]

I want to fight, yo, by the way, I want to fight people. I was waiting. I was really waiting for you to finish, but I can't take it.

[Rosenberg]

No, go ahead, please.

[Laura Styles]

Uber drivers, taxi drivers, people just pulling over for. I don't know. You tired of driving? When you take an actual parking space from someone that. A usable parking space to sit in your car and let it idle, I think you deserve to be punched in the future.

[Rosenberg]

I thought you'd say jail too, with, like, the. Like the dog.

[Laura Styles]

No, I want. I want to be able to punch you in the face.

[Ebro Darden]

Oh, my God.

[Rosenberg]

Your lights are on, the brake lights.

[Laura Styles]

You know people.

[Rosenberg]

And don't get annoyed that people are asking you.

[Laura Styles]

Well, not only you're in a parking

[Rosenberg]

spot with your lights on, but not

[Laura Styles]

only that, everybody double parks in front while you're sitting in your car in front of a hydrant or in front of an area the polite thing to do is you hit the hydrant place because you're going to stay in your car. They're not going to give you a ticket.

[Rosenberg]

That's how it works.

[Laura Styles]

Make sure somebody else gets the spot. And if I pull up like, yo, you. And there's a. You can pull up and give me that. And you're not gonna.

[Rosenberg]

Now why are we.

[Laura Styles]

That's fighting work. There needs to be a law for that.

[Ebro Darden]

That's so funny.

[Laura Styles]

Like this get. We just get like. It's almost like a hockey match where they throw their things. We should just be able to get out, throw our stuff down, and knuckle up.

[Rosenberg]

Now, the parking etiquette's a problem. The poop etiquette's a problem. The parking etiquette's a problem.

[Ebro Darden]

And we need one more pee and.

[Rosenberg]

Exactly. And now. And soon, maybe we won't have parking, you know? We'll see.

[Laura Styles]

Ladies and gentlemen, hit that hype button. If you're watching this after it's live.

[Rosenberg]

Okay. And not after it's live. After the live is done.

[Laura Styles]

Well, I'm saying it wrong. Well, you're saying it wrong.

[Rosenberg]

We got to get to that. Because when you say after it's live, it's like, after the show starts, it's

[Laura Styles]

really after the live is over.

[Rosenberg]

Correct.

[Laura Styles]

See, I'm. I'm saying it wrong. I'm like, LaRusso, I've been hyping.

[Rosenberg]

I've been hyping the videos.

[Laura Styles]

Really?

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. I don't even know how it works. Really. It's. I says hyping it, but 400 hype points. I'm like, sure. Sounds great, right? Hype it up, my guy.

[Ebro Darden]

I hyped.

[Laura Styles]

What if that's hitting your credit cards,

[Rosenberg]

yo, I hope it's not. It's not. Cost.

[Laura Styles]

What? Oh, extra.

[Rosenberg]

It costs. Okay, okay.

[Laura Styles]

Wait, and you spent 400.

[Rosenberg]

No, no, no. Like, you get. That's how many points it has. But, like, I think I've done it twice.

[Laura Styles]

All right. And then they start charging for the hype button.

[Rosenberg]

Damn. B and H commercial popping up in the middle of our show again. Skip. We got to start going to the commercials ourselves, guys. Wow.

[Laura Styles]

You hear that? Wait, say it again.

[Rosenberg]

What did lose last week? He said our Fart Friday episode of Fought Friday.

[Laura Styles]

Yes.

[Rosenberg]

Was 14 on the top 15 on the hype Now.

[Laura Styles]

Did that for. Wait, all of YouTube for whatever. Hype. Listen, did it translate.

[Rosenberg]

Did it translate to more views for the video? No.

[Laura Styles]

No.

[Rosenberg]

So Louie.

[Laura Styles]

You know Louie, but we got on

[Rosenberg]

a letterboard you know, I just said Louie. Did it translate to more? Louie will do this.

[Laura Styles]

Yeah. Congratulations. You played yourself.

[Rosenberg]

No. Hit you with the Matumbo wag? Nah, didn't really do anything. They're just gassing us.

[Laura Styles]

They are. Well, anyway, when you're watching this, after it's live, hit the hype button. Please subscribe, please do all the things, share and all those things. Now the Super Chat, is it ringing off early?

[Rosenberg]

Oh, let's check this. The old Super Chat.

[Laura Styles]

And have we figured out this custom commercial solution that Rosenberg wants to figure out?

[Rosenberg]

I listen, I did my part, right? I suggested it and I sent the directions.

[Laura Styles]

Are you just working on Super Chat?

[Rosenberg]

We only have one super chat so far.

[Laura Styles]

Okay, shout them out.

[Rosenberg]

NWK Born says question for Ebro. My younger sister is getting into her second season of college flag football.

[Laura Styles]

All right?

[Rosenberg]

And her birthday is coming up. Gift recommendation.

[Laura Styles]

Gift recommendation. College flag.

[Rosenberg]

For a serious lady in college flag football, it's a different level.

[Ebro Darden]

No, I know.

[Laura Styles]

She have sunglasses that she wears during sunny games. I'm sure she had. Does she need new gloves?

[Rosenberg]

Could be gloves. Could be gloves, goggles, glasses, things.

[Ebro Darden]

What about like a gift certificate to like a recovery center?

[Rosenberg]

Oh, thoughtful styles.

[Laura Styles]

There you go. Some little massage, Maybe some cryotherapy.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, I like that.

[Laura Styles]

You know, I mean, maybe there's a. Maybe you could even. On that note, maybe there's a local kind of trainer in her area she likes to train with. Maybe you could buy her some sessions.

[Rosenberg]

That's also thoughtful. I like what you've done there. All right, There you go.

[Laura Styles]

There you go.

[Rosenberg]

And now jw, who always hits us, is back again. Thank you, jw.

[Laura Styles]

Jw, big up now. Laura, what are you working on for the rundown today? What should we be looking forward to?

[Ebro Darden]

There was a big announcement yesterday. A major artist is hitting the stage. Someone we haven't seen in a long time. All right, and then we got to talk about this. La la. Russell Gate. That's happening.

[Laura Styles]

Russell Gate, man.

[Ebro Darden]

People are out of control Set. People are over his comments.

[Laura Styles]

But I want to. I want to pay respects to a legend who passed. I believe it was yesterday or the day before. And I screwed up and didn't get to it yesterday, so I apologize. Day before rest in peace to an icon, an Apollo legend. Literally. Yeah, Kiki Shepherd. Do we got a. We got a little news clip that from the Internet Kiki show tonight from the village of Harlem in New York City, the world famous Apollo Theater, where

[Rosenberg]

dreams are born and legends are made,

[Laura Styles]

is proud to present it's Showtime at the Apollo. It's Showtime. Starring Steve Harvey at the Apollo with our guests, all for one. It's show time. Plus an all new Apollo kids compet. And amateur night with Kiki Shepard, Sandman Sims, Rachu and the Crew and the Apollo Dancers. It was a time, man.

[Ebro Darden]

It was a time.

[Rosenberg]

It really was.

[Laura Styles]

Tonight's show is dedicated to the tree of hope in Apollo legend. There it is. Recipes. Kiki Shepherd. I believe she was 72.

[Rosenberg]

That's what I said. It's a little. It was young. I think it was 70s. I think she was 74.

[Laura Styles]

74. Excuse me.

[Ebro Darden]

74. She had a heart attack.

[Laura Styles]

Massive heart attack in LA.

[Rosenberg]

74 is young. God. I got news for you. That's not cool.

[Laura Styles]

What are you looking at on your phone?

[Rosenberg]

I put us on live for a moment, okay. To promote.

[Laura Styles]

So we're on IG Rosenberg's IG Live, where we're also live on YouTube.

[Rosenberg]

Right?

[Laura Styles]

Okay.

[Rosenberg]

So. Because maybe there are people who forget and then they think, oh, why is Rosenberg live early? Oh, let me see. Oh, yeah, they do the show live.

[Guest or caller]

Oh, yes.

[Laura Styles]

That's a good reminder.

[Rosenberg]

Right?

[Laura Styles]

Why don't you give like, King Louie or somebody a login and then they could just jump right in your IG and from like another. Another phone or something.

[Rosenberg]

That's a good idea.

[Laura Styles]

Or mine.

[Rosenberg]

All of our. All of us. We should alternate.

[Laura Styles]

Yeah, we can alternate. So you could jump on different lives. Lloyd, would you be down for that? He gives a thumbs up shout to King Louie.

[Rosenberg]

Thanks for not giving us the lip up. And Dikembe Matumbo.

[Laura Styles]

Now, there were new proof of life videos yesterday. Rosenberg, when I came in today, you were really, really into the Netanyahu proof of life videos.

[Rosenberg]

Which one do you like better? The one that Sundays weekend at BB's. And it's a poster of him pretty good. A fake poster of Debt. Or the one that says, BB shows proof he's alive and he's holding his hands up, but he has two feet instead of hands.

[Ebro Darden]

That would make me laugh.

[Rosenberg]

But then I saw the Mike Huckabee video.

[Laura Styles]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

Them walking around some weird place talking about how alive I am. Yo, stop talking about it, man. If he's not dead, why does he keep talking about.

[Laura Styles]

That's what a lot of people were saying. Why do you have anything to prove if you're not?

[Rosenberg]

Every video is like, they keep. The people keep saying, I'm dead. I'm obviously not dead. Mike, you're a very good friend. I'm gonna show you the list of people I'm gonna kill. And you're not on here, Mike. Cause I like you. You're on the good guy list. The whole thing is so weird.

[Laura Styles]

No, I think. And even outside of that, how are you just. How are these people just walking around joking about killing people?

[Ebro Darden]

Right?

[Rosenberg]

Oh, it's loose.

[Laura Styles]

Where are we at? Where are you at? Where is your government at when you're just walking around joking about killing people when it's just all a joke? All of this is a joke.

[Rosenberg]

They're being very direct about their plans to burn everything to the ground and just kill, kill, kill. There's no. And then followed up with the lies of, well, we have to do that, otherwise Iran is going to destroy America after they destroy Israel. I'm like, but you've been saying that for 40 years. And there was no real indication that that's happening. And there was a. We had a deal in place that was working for everyone, but you guys wanted to rip it up, so it's just not true.

[Laura Styles]

Oh, so you're saying, damn it, you tried. I did.

[Rosenberg]

I just. I just can't believe how much. You can't believe how much they've lost the plot on. On. On. On the. The way the world views them.

[Laura Styles]

I just can't believe, like, they have no care for the way the. The entire world. By the way, the entire world. You know, right now, Trump is, like, pissed at Germany. Pissed at this. Is it Germany. You know, definitely the uk, Spain, these other countries. I'm gonna remember because, you know, after saying, hey, not talking to any of them before he started this whole thing.

[Ebro Darden]

Mm.

[Laura Styles]

Now he went out and asked for help, and they're like, yeah, nah, we

[Ebro Darden]

never signed up for this.

[Laura Styles]

We never signed up for this. We disagree with it. And he's like, I'm gonna remember. And they're like, okay, write it down. Take a picture.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, this is your thing. And you, by the way, you've already dissed us in a million. Have you done anything to want to keep us being your allies?

[Laura Styles]

But this is not only tariffs, trying

[Rosenberg]

to break up NATO, signing us, like, just talking ish. For no reason. While we're at it, by the way, hit the button on Team USA for losing to Venezuela.

[Laura Styles]

You gotta look, congratulations. You played yourself. I mean, listen, man, that's the script, man.

[Rosenberg]

You know, Venezuela wins.

[Laura Styles]

Venezuela wins.

[Rosenberg]

So what's your angle? You're saying that, like, look, see how things are going to be better for Venezuela.

[Laura Styles]

Exactly.

[Rosenberg]

Now that we got Maduro.

[Laura Styles]

Yes. You guys can win baseball championships. You know, the world, singing your praises. Look, you're back on the world stage now just because you decided to align with the U.S. the way we need you to.

[Rosenberg]

Do we even play? Do we play the. Can we play? Or do we have the Trump Cuba stuff from this week?

[Laura Styles]

We didn't play it. We didn't play.

[Ebro Darden]

I haven't played it, but I have been paying attention. I was going to send it to you. You're like, I'm sick of you sending me these articles.

[Laura Styles]

No, I don't send it in the chat. Send a video so we can share it with.

[Ebro Darden]

Well, it's not a video, is an article, but. So Jamaica, the Bahamas, Honduras, Guatemala are now on the list of countries that are being pressured by the US to get rid of their Cuban doctors.

[Laura Styles]

Yep.

[Ebro Darden]

I gotta remind you guys, these Cuban doctors serve the poorest people, the poorest areas, where doctors from their own country don't want a service. So, yeah, that's what we're doing around the world.

[Laura Styles]

Yeah. Because America's put pressure on these nations and to stay in America's good graces, they've turned their backs on not only the poor people who could get health services from Cuba, but Cuba as well.

[Rosenberg]

But don't worry, because we're gonna have Cuba. What was the language he used to describe it?

[Laura Styles]

He could do whatever he wants with Cuba.

[Rosenberg]

I'm gonna be the one who gets to take it. And that's what he said. He said, it's quite an honor. It's quite an honor to get to be the one who takes Cuba. You know, it's a failed country. This is. This is the most. It's a failed country. They have no oil, they have no money, they have nothing. That's how he views places.

[Laura Styles]

Well, they don't because we cut them off.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Laura Styles]

We stopped them from being able to do business around the world.

[Rosenberg]

So we cut them off. Of all the financial. 50 years, all the financial possibilities they would have had, and as a result, we can say that they're a worthless country, basically.

[Ebro Darden]

I think as of yesterday. Didn't the whole power grid go down officially?

[Laura Styles]

Well, yeah, because they don't have any oil.

[Ebro Darden]

But yesterday was like the worst, though.

[Rosenberg]

That was the third time this year that the power's gone fully out, meaning the grid's. I mean, you guys remember last time I was there, I was telling you the power would go out at night. That was like pretty regular in certain neighborhoods. But yeah, the power grid completely has gone off three different times this year in Cuba. So what is that? So Real quick, what happened to isolationist Trump, by the way? Hit me with the button. Because the one thing I didn't think was when people would sort of panic about, like, Trump in terms of international conflict after his first term, going into his second term, I was like, well, of all the things I worry about with Trump ruining our country, the one thing I don't really worry about is him being, like, particularly violent overseas. It seems like he really just cares about money, not, like, having problems with people. Hit me with the button. So that's all I'm doing.

[Laura Styles]

Congratulations. You played yourself. That's what you get for thinking that

[Rosenberg]

there was something that could be consistent.

[Laura Styles]

Well, no, I told you earlier this week, you were like, it couldn't get any worse. And I was like, congratulations watching yourself. We're watching it get worse. Now, I only have included this story in the show because producer Griff loves to bring up Afroman.

[Rosenberg]

Y yo, your man loves Afro Man.

[Laura Styles]

I don't know why he likes Afroman so much. Griff, Griff, come to the mic and please explain us why.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, here we go.

[Laura Styles]

Why you always care about Afroman? You step, step in the room.

[Ebro Darden]

It cracks me out. Come here, Griffin.

[Laura Styles]

I just wanted you guys to know

[Rosenberg]

the man's birthday a couple times and

[Laura Styles]

then he started having some. So Griff would turn in celebrity birthdays, and Afro man would always be there and I'd be like, why? Why?

[Rosenberg]

And then there'd be like, the story of, like, Afroman punch someone on stage.

[Ebro Darden]

Yes.

[Laura Styles]

And it would be there. But here we are with another Afroman story. Is everybody ready? I just learned this today. I was. Today is old.

[Rosenberg]

Guys, what do we got?

[Laura Styles]

Let's hear it.

[Producer Griff]

Today was day one of the Afroman trial and child, it's insane. Let me give you the recap if you need the full backstory on this case. I already did a video breaking down the lawsuit, but the one line recap is that rapper Afroman, the man who used to sing Because I Got High, is being used by seven police officers after they raided his house back in August of 2022. And he later used the footage from that raid to make songs, music videos and merch about the officers. So let's get into day one. The opening statements were pretty quick. The plaintiff's lawyer started off by explaining, explaining that one of the main claims in this trial is for defamation. And because the officers are public officials, the standard to sue somebody for defamation is higher than it would be for regular people. In their case, they have to prove what's called Actual malice. And that just means they have to show that Afroman knew the statements he was making were false and he still made them anyway.

[Rosenberg]

If he knows they weren't true, that's actual malice for public officials.

[Laura Styles]

He can't do that.

[Rosenberg]

And he did. These deputies asked the defendant years ago to stop these posts, to take them down. He didn't. He ramped them up. None of them had any idea that by doing their duties that day their lives would be turned upside down.

[Producer Griff]

And as a reminder, the officers are saying that Afroman made several defamatory statements against them.

[Rosenberg]

Including Afroman in that picture, by the way.

[Producer Griff]

Calling one of them a and then making comments about the female officer officer's gender and orientation. And just so you're tracking.

[Laura Styles]

Yo, that is so good.

[Ebro Darden]

He claims that they stole money from him. And when they returned it, it was. There were. It was 400 were missing.

[Laura Styles]

They raided Afro Man's house.

[Ebro Darden]

They took money.

[Laura Styles]

He took the videos, made merch and made money off of it. And now they're suing Afroman. Afroman deserves his celebrity birthday shout outs.

[Rosenberg]

No, he earned it now.

[Laura Styles]

He earned it. Yo, give it up for Afro Man.

[Rosenberg]

That's great.

[Laura Styles]

We are back in the Afroman business.

[Rosenberg]

I didn't know we were ever in the Afroman business.

[Laura Styles]

Well, courtesy of him back down.

[Ebro Darden]

He's like. He's standing on business. He's like. Yep.

[Rosenberg]

I mean, we told him this is not a criminal trial.

[Laura Styles]

Well, it sounds. Well it sounds like a defamation trial.

[Rosenberg]

But they want money.

[Laura Styles]

I think they want money.

[Rosenberg]

Well, I got news for you about Afroman. He may not have it.

[Ebro Darden]

They took his 400 he wants.

[Rosenberg]

All he had was that 400. I'm not sure. Yo, Afroman's look though, between like the fro and the suit, he looks like a guy who's like running for a mayor in New York. Who's like a random lunatic, you know what I mean? Who's like the Godfather millions or something. The Godfather's pizza guy.

[Laura Styles]

You know what I mean?

[Rosenberg]

He looks like one of those politicians. Wow. Good for Afro Man.

[Laura Styles]

Shout this out f the police man. Go get him. Go get him, Afroman. Let's get into the rundown with Lord Stabs. This episode is brought to you by Athletic Brewing Company. No matter how you do game day, on the couch, in the crowd or

[Rosenberg]

manning the snack table, Athletic Brewing fits right in with a full lineup of

[Laura Styles]

non alcoholic beer styles. You can enjoy bold flavors all game long. No hangovers, no buzz, no subbing out for water. In the second half, stock the fridge for tip off with a variety of non alcoholic craft styles.

[Rosenberg]

Available at your local grocery store or

[Laura Styles]

online at athleticbrewing.com near Beer Fit for all times.

[Producer Griff]

You know what they say. Early bird gets the ultimate vacation home. Book early and save over $120 with Burbo because early gets you closer to the action, whether it's waves lapping at the shore or snoozing in a hammock that overlooks. Well, whatever you want it to. So you can all enjoy the payoff come summer with VRBO's early booking deals. Rise and shine. Average savings $141. Select homes only.

[Ebro Darden]

Guys, yesterday it was announced Jay Z is set to headline this year's roots picnic Hel to take place at a new venue in Philadelphia. I'm very excited. It's a. It's a big weekend. People were. It was so funny because some people were just. I guess the. The gold VIP packages are like $1300. I saw people being like, oh, I'm dying. My favorite artist. I can't be a regular. They want to spend money because it's a special occasion. You don't always get to see hov.

[Rosenberg]

So what do they give you for the thirteen hundred dollar package?

[Ebro Darden]

I don't know. Go. Whatever.

[Rosenberg]

The gold packages, I wonder. That includes. I probably get to stand in a different area vip. But do you get here? I guess the question for me is, is, do you get real vip? Is it fake vip?

[Ebro Darden]

I don't know.

[Laura Styles]

I would. Tell me what you mean.

[Rosenberg]

Like, I think I feel like at like. Like whatchamacallit. The one you. Coachella.

[Laura Styles]

Okay.

[Rosenberg]

I feel like at Coachella you can. You can buy a level that's like pretty high. Like where you really have your own area and your own. It's like a good situation where it could be worth it to absolutely splurge. If you're old and washed and don't want to be in the middle of the unwashed masses, if you will. That could be.

[Laura Styles]

I have to look at the venue to really tell you what I believe is real VIP versus fake vip.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. Vvi.

[Laura Styles]

Because there's vv, There's VI and then there's vvi, and then there's.

[Rosenberg]

There's usually artist passes.

[Laura Styles]

What you want. And then there's really. And you ain't buying.

[Rosenberg]

And you. I don't think you can buy an artist. That's what they should do is sell a limited amount of artist passes.

[Laura Styles]

Really? You think that's a good idea?

[Rosenberg]

For enough money that they want. Everyone wants to make money, bro. At WWE now, you could pay enough for your VIP experience. And before the show, they have these cats walking into the ring, around the ring and up through gorilla. The most holiest of places in the, in the background world of wrestling.

[Laura Styles]

They. They give people, you know, I think that's a different business.

[Ebro Darden]

All right, I got, I got what you get.

[Rosenberg]

Okay, here we go.

[Ebro Darden]

This is VIP gold, though, Goldie, bro. This is gold because I'm sure you can get general admission, guys. You get a dedicated entry lane, access to the gold hospitality line.

[Laura Styles]

Hospitality, all right.

[Ebro Darden]

Exclusive viewing platform.

[Laura Styles]

All right.

[Ebro Darden]

Main stage with a cash bar featuring high end products. Cash bar, good. Two daily drink tickets redeemable at the Gold JP Lounge. Daily complimentary food and light bites. Cater dinner.

[Laura Styles]

But this is for the whole Roots picnic thing.

[Ebro Darden]

Yeah, yeah, yes, yes.

[Laura Styles]

Not just for the Jay show.

[Ebro Darden]

This is the VIP gold, which is, you know, the highest you can get.

[Rosenberg]

The only thing I'm saying about that is though, two days for 1300. It can't just be like more than two drink tickets. Yo, alcohol is the.

[Laura Styles]

That's where they get their money.

[Rosenberg]

They gotta get their money.

[Laura Styles]

Food ain't where they get their money.

[Rosenberg]

1300 isn't enough of money.

[Ebro Darden]

No. The funniest thing that I was reading on threads was people saying, I'm old, I'm washed, my back hurts. Can I just buy one day pass just to see the person I want to see?

[Rosenberg]

That's it.

[Ebro Darden]

Please.

[Laura Styles]

So that's the real for me. I'm not doing your festival. If I buy a VIP and it doesn't say seating. Not buying it.

[Rosenberg]

There's no seating.

[Laura Styles]

I'm not standing, bro. Well, then you're not. I want a seat and I want a seat. I want a platform and I want all that other stuff that's.

[Rosenberg]

That doesn't exist. What you just said. There's no seat at a festival.

[Laura Styles]

I want a seat.

[Rosenberg]

Well, then you have to make up the, you know, Ebro con because there

[Laura Styles]

is no people want to sit down.

[Rosenberg]

I feel you standing. I don't get how they listen. We've had very privileged experiences at events like this. When I did used to go, I would usually be working or something. So you're hanging in someone's trailer, you're sitting down somewhere. I would go outside and just see people meandering for 12 hours. I don't know how you do it.

[Ebro Darden]

I mean, that's what made that concert the mass appeal. Hip hop, 50s so mage. Because stuff was everywhere. Remember Eber? The biggest, biggest response was when IBRA asked people if their back was hurting.

[Laura Styles]

I was like, yo, we celebrating the 50th anniversary of Hip hop. Who back hurt?

[Rosenberg]

Everybody's like, yeah, yo, that I forgot about. That was awesome, by the way. And in seats. And that was a great. That should have been an inspiration to people. That Hip Hop 50 was so underrated, like, for how dope it was.

[Ebro Darden]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

That they allowed you to have the festival experience, but they brought it to you rather than you got to walk to all kinds of different places.

[Ebro Darden]

It was so good.

[Rosenberg]

Like, you get a spot, you post up, you have your area, you know the times of people. So you can still walk around and come back if you want to. But in general, quick turnover. Next act, next act, next. And in fact, you could probably do it even bigger and better. Like at a football stadium with more space. You could probably still have multiple stages that are in front of everybody. And the transition times. Almost nothing if you wanted to. But that walk around thing you did.

[Laura Styles]

But you're a festival. Like, you're a festival guy. Like, you did a camp out thing. I've never done once.

[Rosenberg]

I did a campout thing once.

[Ebro Darden]

I could never do that.

[Rosenberg]

I did Bonnaroo, where you guys had

[Laura Styles]

to take a shower and all that. Right.

[Rosenberg]

That shower was the most rapug experience of my life.

[Ebro Darden]

Wait, Rosenberg, were you in a tent or was it a. Like a.

[Rosenberg]

No, we had a. This is me and my ex wife. This is 15 years ago. We had more. Maybe we had parking. So, like, you could. You could stay in your car.

[Laura Styles]

All right. So you could park and sleep in your car.

[Rosenberg]

So you could park and sleep in your car. Great experience. No, not a great experience.

[Ebro Darden]

My back hurts.

[Rosenberg]

No, it was, it was.

[Laura Styles]

But 15 years ago, you were still kind of spry.

[Ebro Darden]

I mean.

[Laura Styles]

Yes, not too bad.

[Rosenberg]

Not 15 years ago. I was in my early 30s.

[Laura Styles]

That's what I'm saying. Nah.

[Rosenberg]

And by the way, I did get to see some great. Saw a great Wu Tang show. Got to see Paul McCartney for the only time, which is neat.

[Laura Styles]

And you guys, it was a road trip. You guys drove out there, right? It wasn't like you flew in, rented a car. How'd it go down? No, I think. Or did you fly out and rent a car?

[Rosenberg]

I think I flew and rented a car.

[Ebro Darden]

I don't see him driving then sleeping in his own car.

[Rosenberg]

No. Yeah, that's it. I'm down for a long drive. I do enjoy a road trip in the car. Yeah, but not to do it and then sleep in the car. That's Nutty. And, yo, the putting the tent together business.

[Ebro Darden]

I can't. I can't.

[Rosenberg]

And as I was doing it, I was hearing red and meth on stage, and I was like, I'm missing Red and method. This is why I'm here. And I'm trying to, like, things are flying out, almost poking my eye out. It was. Nah, it was nasty. That's not for me. If you're gonna do something like that, you got to get a hotel.

[Ebro Darden]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Rosenberg]

But I'm not. I'm not. Shout to Bonnaroo. Man. The jam sessions they do at night Fire. Oh, that was when I saw Redacted perform Saturday night, and it was ill.

[Laura Styles]

Redacted is an actual thing.

[Rosenberg]

Or Redacted.

[Laura Styles]

Kelly got it Redacted.

[Rosenberg]

Kelly did his own.

[Laura Styles]

I thought it was like a crew called Redacted. I was like, ugh, that's Ill. Kelly,

[Rosenberg]

Kels Diddy, and Jeffrey Epstein.

[Laura Styles]

All redacted.

[Rosenberg]

All redacted. Doing a joint together. Speaking of which, perfect transition to LaRussell.

[Ebro Darden]

Oh, yes, let's hit the lie down. I mean, we're here. Duh.

[Rosenberg]

Right? We're here.

[Ebro Darden]

So this hopped on my algorithm, and they were all reaction videos because I was like, what is happening with larussa? Why is he trending? So he's getting a lot of backlash for a song in which he calls a couple of interesting people heaven sent. Check this out.

[Guest or caller]

I made this record, and I sent it off to my engineer, and he calls me. He said, man, you probably shouldn't put this out. I said, why? What the hell happened? He said, you know, you talking about Epstein. It's a lot of shit going on. And I said, thank you for calling me. I'm finna drop this. That's exactly why we need it. Because everybody sit and be silent. And the goal of an artist is to express the times and discuss, say all the things that nobody else want to say or know how to say. I'm not perfect. And neither is the President was guiltier than hiding evidence. You can't be mad that they heated if you don't let them vent. Even the devil was heaven sent. Even Malcolm was heaven sent. Even Martin was heaven sent. Even Kanye was heaven sent. We all Heaven sent. Donald, too. We all haven't sent. Epstein too. We all haven't sent. Adolph too. We all haven't sent. Even you. We all haven't sent.

[Laura Styles]

And so now there's outrage. And I wasn't triggered by this like everybody else. Me neither. I don't see what the big controversy Is now. Most of the stuff I saw was jokes, which was basically like, you should have listened to the engineer.

[Ebro Darden]

Yes. I saw a lot of that.

[Laura Styles]

And it was mostly because people didn't like the song, but I don't know if it was because they didn't like what he was saying. Now, the term heaven sent, can you

[Rosenberg]

explain that to me? I'm not.

[Laura Styles]

Well, no. Well, I think people just use it, like, when something's heaven sent, that means it's like a savior. It's like it's something that was sent from heaven to improve. That's what the term is. Right. What he's saying is God made. Like, God made us all. And I think that's what's not landing.

[Rosenberg]

I completely agree.

[Ebro Darden]

I have a video of him explaining himself.

[Guest or caller]

Do you?

[Laura Styles]

Oh, I'd love to see that, too.

[Ebro Darden]

Do you want to see it?

[Rosenberg]

Sure.

[Ebro Darden]

All right.

[Guest or caller]

The homies briefed me yesterday on all the outrage, and my first thought was, niggas ain't that slow. But I go and look, and niggas that slow just listen to the music like, it's no way. Niggas hear that clip, and they, like, you support Epstein. When the world be in despair, sometimes you need realization. And that realization, for me through this song was like, damn. The same God who created Martin Luther King and Malcolm X who did so many great things, is the same God that created Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein who did so many evil things. And it's crazy, the range of what a human life is capable of. It's capable of changing the world and detriment in the world. That's the purpose of the song. That's my realization of, like, damn, this is all from the same place. And look which way it can go. When somebody is misguided, when somebody doesn't have all the tools, when somebody just chooses to use their life in a negligent way.

[Rosenberg]

But that's you. That's why you nailed it. Ebro. To me, I actually a. I like the song. I think it's like. Like, from a song structure standpoint, like, it's just dope. Like, you didn't say the names, but it's kind of fire. However, the fact that he says heaven sent. It's the wording choice, right. That makes it. It should be, you know, we're all from the same place, or we all started as this. We all came from innocence. Whatever the thing was, it's true. We're all human beings. The only one, though, that really would be factually wrong. And I'm saying factually sarcastically. If you believe in all of this, the devil can't be heaven sent. You're confusing stories. Is the devil originally from God too?

[Laura Styles]

Devil was in a fallen angel.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, devil was God. Was from God. Yeah, I'm sorry, I missed. I don't know, I missed that. It's just the wrong. It's just not the right word choice.

[Laura Styles]

That's why. And I think that's what triggered people. And then I'm sure some of this algorithmic vitriol is clearly. He said Donald Trump's name in it. And multiple. Well, yeah, but. But the association of Donald Trump and Epstein in the algorithm is going to get pro maga individuals flamed up to go against him. Right. As well as the Epstein vitriol. And so you have this whirlwind of mess.

[Ebro Darden]

Right. Because he's going to get it from the progressives from left. Right.

[Laura Styles]

Well. And then his explanation right there for the magas is going to send. Is going to trigger them also because he put Martin and Malcolm at odds with Donald Trump and he put Epstein and Donald Trump on one side of the table and Adolf and Martin and Malcolm on another side and Kanye somewhere in the middle. And by the way, I, I agree with LaRussell, but that's going to get the. The Internet going crazy.

[Ebro Darden]

I did. I didn't see too many conservatives coming after him. It was mostly like people in our circles, like journalists in our circles. And. And their point was, get out of here. I don't need this.

[Rosenberg]

Well, that's. Can I tell you, though, that that is what annoys me with the people in our circles. Like we are annoying.

[Laura Styles]

Well, first of all, what do you mean, our circle? Okay. I wasn't sure if you meant hip hop.

[Ebro Darden]

And hip hop.

[Rosenberg]

And hip hop too.

[Ebro Darden]

Progressives in hip hop.

[Rosenberg]

How about that? Well, two things. The Russell kind of. I'm starting to sense the Russell has a good part of troll in him too.

[Laura Styles]

Yes.

[Rosenberg]

That he likes these conversations. He wants the conversations to be going around him. So I don't think that's completely an accident, though I believe he might have been surprised by the reaction. But, yeah, like, I just didn't see it as controversial. I completely knew what he was trying to say the second I saw it.

[Laura Styles]

Anybody outside of hip hop, I would expect you to get in a tizzy about this.

[Rosenberg]

Really? Outside of hip hop?

[Laura Styles]

Outside of anybody in hip hop that got in a tizzy about this because of the content. Congratulations, you played yourself.

[Ebro Darden]

You're allowed not to like it. It's fine.

[Laura Styles]

For sure. But In a tizzy. But if you're not a shape, if

[Rosenberg]

you're a religious person, though, in any way, don't. Isn't that kind of what your overall view of the world is?

[Laura Styles]

If you're in hip hop? All I'm saying, you could be a religious person. Whatever. We've had rappers kill their baby moms. We've had egregious B I. G lyrics about his friends and what they do to kids and throw them over bridges. We've had all types of things. And if they sent you into a bad place and you're a hip hop crazy. Shut the F up. You can say, yo, it's whack. I ain't like chivalry. You can crack jokes or whatever. But if you're been out of shape about that, yo, you're bugging.

[Rosenberg]

No. Or you don't know hip hop or you're a bozo. I mean, that was. It was. It was provocative. That was provocative. You don't have to like it for sure, man. We. We have to get so uptight about everything. We can't. You couldn't see that. You. The point of it was to be provocative and you actually got into a full tizzy about it. Come on.

[Ebro Darden]

Mission complete for him.

[Laura Styles]

Hey, yo, shout out to the Russell, man. You know what you do from. You had the Lil Wayne incident. You having this little moment right here. Whatever you do from this moment forward, you know what I'm saying? Well, you also got to just deliver on the bars and the music, which I know you're capable of. And keep going, bro.

[Rosenberg]

Because the door is open for him right now to really make an impact at this moment.

[Laura Styles]

Keep going.

[Rosenberg]

Shouts to Rachel Lindsay, by the way, because the clip, that of Van Lathan and Rachel watching the video was they were just sitting there silently and there was like silence at the end. And Rachel was just like, I don't think he knows what heaven sent me. I think that's kind of it.

[Laura Styles]

But I. But also I think he's playing with that. I think that was the point of the art was to play with that idea.

[Rosenberg]

He could have used a phrase that made it more obvious.

[Laura Styles]

Well, but that's why. But see.

[Rosenberg]

But he didn't want to. To your point.

[Laura Styles]

And that's why he also started with the devil, because the devil was a fallen angel. So if you look at how he lays out the people, he said, like when he says name by name, he starts with the devil. I think if. If doesn't he.

[Rosenberg]

I think, I think the devil's at the beginning.

[Laura Styles]

The Devil is the first kind of like, was heaven sent? That's the whole premise of evil. If you're a Christian, like, that's the right. The center of the whole thing is the Devil and Ran, Said and Muslims, too. It's the Devil. It's his fallen angel, Satan. And so then it's. It's He. Then he starts laying out names after that, Right?

[Ebro Darden]

Yeah. And that's why it's important for people to, like, look for original clips. I know it's a lot of work, but a lot of people were just playing just the part where he's naming Trump, Epstein and Adolph.

[Rosenberg]

People are. Are.

[Laura Styles]

Yeah. Well, that gets it. And that's algorithm hustle. Yeah.

[Ebro Darden]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

[Rosenberg]

You know, everyone's got to cut their clip and get the clip up of that part and.

[Ebro Darden]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

I hate the times.

[Laura Styles]

What's more egregious that happened this week? Jack Harlow's album or that La Russell moment?

[Rosenberg]

Egregious.

[Laura Styles]

Yeah. What's more offensive?

[Rosenberg]

That would really depend who you ask. I'm not offended. I'm more offended by Jack's thing, obviously, but offended is still. I'm offended. I don't know. Yeah, it wasn't a good idea. It wasn't what you want. I haven't spent much time with, though. You spend any more time with it?

[Laura Styles]

I spent more time. Went back to it again.

[Rosenberg]

Well, you just want to keep hating it.

[Laura Styles]

Well, because I'm. No, I'm looking for, like, listen, man, I'm not the A R. I don't work with Jack, so I'm. I'm just kind of like, in my brain, like, yo, how did. Because it could have been great like that. It could have been awesome. I think that's what's most frustrating, is that it just.

[Rosenberg]

With the right conversations and thought process,

[Laura Styles]

it could have been awesome. I think that's why I keep going back, like, damn.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, I feel you. Because I felt the same way. I was like. I was like, this is cool. Cause listen, it did cross my mind that I liked. I did like that he wasn't leaning the way you expect a lot of these white rappers to lean. Like, let me retreat into my whiteness. I dug that at first. I'm like, okay, that's cool. And then when it seemed like a gimmick around it, at least that's how it's presented.

[Laura Styles]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

But we have to be honest about one thing, too. We are all shaped somewhat by what the narrative becomes. So, like, it was hard by the time I even viewed it. To view it completely clearly. Clearly from whatever my thought process would have been because an entire worldwide narrative had already existed.

[Laura Styles]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

By that point. And I'm not saying that the narratives wrong. I'm just saying by 1pm or 2, I was like, well, everyone says he's music stole child. Let me listen. It was tough for me to see.

[Laura Styles]

For me, I wasn't. I took all that as jokes because of how he was dressed, because of the hat. The hat was turned to the side.

[Ebro Darden]

Yeah.

[Laura Styles]

The glasses, him lounging in the chair on the artwork. So I was just like, oh, they just cracking jokes on the white kid. Normal standard issue. Let me go listen to the music. It might be fire because they might just be cracking jokes because he's white. That doesn't mean it's not fire though.

[Ebro Darden]

Okay, so let me ask you if he would have been on that interview, if he would have said like, yeah, you know, I was working with Robert Garrett Glassburn and I was so inspired and I. I really wanted to lean into it and learn more. And this is what came out of it would have been different.

[Laura Styles]

I would call Robert and say, why'd you let him do that? Yo, Glasper, you know better. Why'd you let him do that? You. What's going on here?

[Rosenberg]

I'm telling you, I think a lot of it would have been better if. If A, the interview wasn't at New York Times and B, his answer or those questions had been about the. The whole race part of it. If he had just been like, this is the music I love growing up. And I just wanted to try my hat at like doing this because I love this music. Not sort of the awareness of how it is versus what other white rappers do.

[Laura Styles]

The premeditated.

[Rosenberg]

It looked too pre. It was too premeditated. That was the problem. If it had been organic, even if it hadn't landed Ebro, but the heart had all been fully in it. Like I just wanted to give it a shot. Maybe it didn't land. Maybe was it did. I think it would have landed better than it the way it sounds too.

[Ebro Darden]

I think so too.

[Laura Styles]

What else you got before we rap?

[Ebro Darden]

Entertainment wise, we're rapping. But you guys want to talk about the disaster that is the tsa? Hold on to your speakers.

[Laura Styles]

It's dark out here. People.

[Ebro Darden]

Guys, guys, guys.

[Laura Styles]

If you're traveling, if you voted for Trump, if you didn't vote for Trump, if you live in the usa, if you work for tsa, hit the button, Nero, because congratulations.

[Ebro Darden]

As of yesterday, I checked the numbers. 50,000 TSA workers are currently working without pay because of the government shutdown on February 14th.

[Laura Styles]

And that's. And they're calling that a partial.

[Ebro Darden]

A partial one, yes.

[Laura Styles]

Government shutdown.

[Ebro Darden]

So they're saying that about 366 TSA officers have resigned since the shutdown. Now, mind you, you can't just replace these workers. They got to go through training.

[Laura Styles]

Right. So it's time.

[Ebro Darden]

So it.

[Laura Styles]

It.

[Ebro Darden]

It had. It's. It's a mess, bro. You know, they're asking people to, like, in certain airports to donate gift cards to the TSA workers. That's how low.

[Rosenberg]

Wow.

[Ebro Darden]

And yeah, they were like, here's a box. Drop in a little gift card for them because they're not being paid. The lines are insane. Houston, atl, New Orleans, jfk, dc, Philadelphia. Airports are affected the most, but it's affecting all airports. Now, remember, if you're asking, why is this happening? People are blaming the Dems. People are blaming the Republicans. Well, the Dems are demanding major changes in funding, including banning agents. We're talking about ICE here. They want to ban agents from wearing face masks.

[Rosenberg]

Okay.

[Ebro Darden]

That's what they want.

[Laura Styles]

They want clearly. And also body cameras and clearly displaying their names.

[Ebro Darden]

And they want stricter requirements for private property entry because, you know, people are just busting in. In private properties.

[Laura Styles]

So for the audience, Laura Styles, what you're saying is the reason the airports are jammed up and the reason TSA workers are quitting and not getting paid is because the Democrats refuse to fund Department of Homeland Security until there are significant changes to ice. Yes, and the Republicans won't agree to those significant changes, thus they can't come to terms. So you have to explain that. You can't just go, oh, it's the Dems fault.

[Rosenberg]

That's all they're saying.

[Ebro Darden]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I was gonna. I was gonna continue.

[Laura Styles]

No, and I'm not saying you were saying that. I'm saying that that's what people. It's the Dems fault. Well, no, it's the Republicans fault.

[Ebro Darden]

Yes.

[Laura Styles]

The Democrats want ICE agents to be more accountable and for them to actually have cameras on and have their name clearly displayed and to be more like real officers. Like real law enforcement.

[Rosenberg]

And the Republicans won't play ball on that.

[Ebro Darden]

No, they are saying that these demands are going to endanger the ICE officers.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, well, hey, listen, that's a dangerous job.

[Laura Styles]

No, I. See. I can't just. I can't just do that either, Rosenberg. Because before this moment, and I have to ask this, and I don't know the answer. Maybe y' all know in the chat ICE agents, at least here in New York City, I don't know what it was like around, around the country. But for the longest here in New York City, ICE agents were knocking on doors at 5am in neighborhoods in New York City.

[Ebro Darden]

Yes.

[Laura Styles]

Knocking on doors, arresting criminals who were, you know, here without papers. Like, this is not a new phenomenon.

[Ebro Darden]

No, but the way they're masks and

[Laura Styles]

with proper warrants, and so they had warrants and they didn't have masks. I don't know about the cameras and the name badges prior to this administration. I don't know the answer to that. So I'm asking because there's definitely people watching right now that have lived in a neighborhood in New York City or New Jersey where Department of Homeland Security has pulled up at 5, 6am in their building, looking for somebody and arresting people. So if that had already been happening, why now are the ICE agents, who they are improperly trained.

[Ebro Darden]

Yes.

[Laura Styles]

Right. Getting hired without all of the things, you know, that they need to do to get hired, why now has it become so egregious in such like a goon squad where they're pulling up, obviously killing American citizens? And it's a rhetorical question. We know the answer. Because they want to stoke fear and they want to placate to Trump's base, who wants to see people on the street who are immigrants, black and brown, running scared for their lives and like, you know, hiding in corners. They want that. It makes them feel good. But I'm a repeat it. Department of Homeland Security, ICE has been knocking on doors, at least here in New York City, and arresting people, criminals, suspected terrorists, whatever it is, since 9 11, bro. So now the Democrats are saying, hey, we need all of these agents to start following some code of conduct. And the Republicans are saying no. So I asked you, Republican supporters why no when they were doing it before,

[Rosenberg]

what's the problem with that?

[Laura Styles]

Why is the problem? And so now you're just holding the rest, travelers, people at airports, TSA workers, other government workers hostage because you want to continue to operate outside the law.

[Rosenberg]

And if anyone complains about this, you say, blame the Democrats. They refuse to just let it all happen.

[Laura Styles]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

They refuse to give up the democracy, essentially. They refuse to not allow us to just run roughshod and do whatever we want, wear masks in the street and run up on people.

[Laura Styles]

Right. But then because they control the media outlets like the Post and all cbs, and they got all the media outlets running scared, this conversation probably hasn't hitch algorithm.

[Rosenberg]

Right.

[Laura Styles]

Where it's like, yeah, the Democrats are holding the line, not signing the funding, continued funding until these changes are made. So now, by the way. So that means that this has been going on for a month. Meanwhile, we're distracted by a war in Iran. We're talking about what we're going to do to Cuba. The World Baseball Classic. They wrote the script so Venezuela can run around and wave the flag, and we do Venezuelan marketing for the next week. All of those things. When right here in the United States, they're not. There's people who aren't working, getting the money they need. Right. To run the airports. Right. So now as we get to spring break with kids, summer travel.

[Ebro Darden]

Yep.

[Laura Styles]

And the holidays, people can say it's the Democrats fault.

[Ebro Darden]

Yeah.

[Laura Styles]

Because they want changes in ice.

[Ebro Darden]

Yes.

[Laura Styles]

Meanwhile, it's also well documented. You guys had to get rid of Christy. No. You also had to get rid of the other guy who was running around dressed like the guy from the movie that Teyana Taylor was in. What's that guy? One day after another where he had the. The hot. The. The tight fade. Yeah, yeah.

[Rosenberg]

I mean, it was like Sean Penn's character.

[Laura Styles]

They fired. What was his name? Bordino Bonino Bogino. They got rid of that little leprechaun. And so, yeah, there's. It's well documented that the way y' all running this ice thing is fraudulent. But you're gonna act like it's the Democrats holding this up, when, truth be told, it's the Republicans holding it up. Because, you know, most citizens in America want this stuff changed.

[Rosenberg]

But they also know that if people get fed up enough with the travel concerns, as long as it doesn't affect them, their biggest thing will be ending it so we can get back to normal life.

[Laura Styles]

Exactly.

[Rosenberg]

Because no one wants to be inconvenienced. Spring breaks coming up, spring breaks on the way. Yeah. I'm going to Orlando tomorrow. Let's see how that goes. Orlando is one of the ones I think is not great. New Orleans, people are waiting on line in there. Literally, the TSA line is going to the parking lots.

[Ebro Darden]

Yeah. Wow. And if you have, like, pre check and all that, and a lot of these places, they're like, canceling those.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, prechecks, cancel. You got to all just get on the line.

[Ebro Darden]

It depends on the airport. They canceled some and Global Entry and all that. They've canceled it. They brought it back. But it's literally about availability. Who can run those lines?

[Rosenberg]

Listen, sometimes. Listen, I got to tell you, if I show up someplace and there's a line to the parking garage. If it's less than like an eight hour drive, I'm probably driving. I don't know if I can do. I don't know if I can wait on a CSA pre check line for like 3 hours.

[Laura Styles]

I don't know if I have 3 hours online for an hour and a half flight.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, I can do it. It's not good. But I really hope the Democrats hold the line. I really do.

[Laura Styles]

I mean, we all got. Listen, if you're watching this program, shout to the super chat. We gotta get some super chat. Yeah, we have more super chat if you're watching the program. Listen, I hope you can't. I hope you can the line too well, because I tell you what, that's what they're banking on. They're banking us. Banking on all of us folding up for convenience so they can get back to their regular business of taking advantage of the most marginalized people. Yo, Laura Styles, thank you for that.

[Rosenberg]

Great job.

[Laura Styles]

What you got in super chat, fam?

[Rosenberg]

Let's see. Dj, cn, CIS people that don't care. This is about dog poop. Earlier, people that don't care figured out that they could get away with running red lights and dog poop after 2020. Weekend bounce fairy says happy belated birthday to Caesar and Ebro. Those St. Patrick's birthdays. Let's go.

[Laura Styles]

St. Patty's weekend bounce fairy. I need to know more about your hand and then you don't.

[Rosenberg]

If you don't have a business, it says weekend bounce.

[Laura Styles]

If you don't have a trampoline business, I need to know what you bouncing on on the weekend as a ferry. Like what's good. What are you saying?

[Rosenberg]

Go Eve says faithful fan. I will follow you guys anywhere. Keep it up. Keeping being real. Keep being real. Happy belated birthday, Ebro.

[Laura Styles]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Rosenberg]

Avatar 1232 says TMI, but I granted my dog. But granted, my dog gets walked in in the work and goes in the dirt. She notoriously has watery poop. I can't bring myself to pick it up. I've taken her to the vet and can't figure it out.

[Laura Styles]

So why don't you. Do you flip the dirt over? Do you bring a little shovel and maybe flip the soil over or something? Or people just got to stare at your dog's watery poop.

[Rosenberg]

I hate to say this, but a,

[Laura Styles]

you got to go to the vet

[Rosenberg]

and figure out what's going on. And if you can't, I mean, you might have to put like wee wee pads down in a bathroom or something and let the dog go in the bathroom and clean it up. You can't just leave watery ish everywhere all over the street. I'm sorry.

[Laura Styles]

Well, and also, what are you feeding your dog?

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. What's going on here?

[Ebro Darden]

Not normal.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, yeah. It shouldn't be. Listen, it happens to everybody every once in a while. And you go out there with a bag, you're smearing it.

[Laura Styles]

Yeah. But if you as a human being or your pet have watery poop constantly, you need to go figure that out all the time.

[Ebro Darden]

Be

[Rosenberg]

the plantation was on top of my choices today to watch on YouTube. Have never watched that show. Algorithms messing with y'.

[Laura Styles]

All. Yeah, we. We saw that. We ran a report inside here. I saw that. That they're. They're doing some. Listen, guys, it's the biggest form of flattery. The fact that we have in the course of

[Ebro Darden]

almost three months.

[Laura Styles]

I was gonna say, like, what has it been three months? 10 weeks? Has it been 10 weeks? Yeah, right around in the course of 10 weeks. With yalls help created something that a behemoth brand wants to make sure they're standing next to in some way is a testament to this crew here and what you guys do to support us because why would that even be?

[Rosenberg]

It means we're doing something. Latoya Paris jumped in just to show love. Just want to support. Show support. I love you, Moreno. The man says BB's wearing the same fit in all the AI videos, LA goings heading to Ebro. Laura Rosencon. I don't know what that means, but we're not Ebro.

[Laura Styles]

Laura Rosenberg.

[Ebro Darden]

I guess they're hoping we have a little a con.

[Rosenberg]

I don't be a con. But we're gonna work on some events.

[Laura Styles]

The Ebro Laura Rosenberg convention. Rosencon. I don't know. There's some here.

[Rosenberg]

I ran into my guy Peter. You know, Cultureama Peter Agustin or Augustin. You know, I'm long haired guy Peter. He's been a booker forever.

[Laura Styles]

Hey, Peter.

[Rosenberg]

He's a great guy. But we talked about trying to put together some stuff he could really like. Route some good stuff for us and make it work.

[Laura Styles]

Will there be seats?

[Rosenberg]

Oh, seated for sure. Best. Best by far. Just a few years ago, they hated wearing a mask. It infringed on their rights. Now they want to be protected and keep them on to be safe. The hypocrisy is too damn high. Hit the button.

[Laura Styles]

Congratulations.

[Rosenberg]

That's our message of the day right there so far. And Kreppin TV says much love from San Antonio. Y' all have become a part of my morning routine, and I love it. Keeping it. Keep it consistent. Go, Spurs.

[Laura Styles]

Let's go. No shout to Wimby out there, man. I like that kid. Y' all want to get to the guru?

[Rosenberg]

Yeah.

[Laura Styles]

Guru time. Hey, yo, it's time for the gurus, Rosenberg. Laura, you know you are beautiful queen Ebro. Don't ever play yourself. You're not a guru.

[Ebro Darden]

The original gurus. Gmail.com theoriginal gurus gmail.com where the gurus unite.

[Laura Styles]

Hey, Laura, before we. We've been making some equipment adjustments here on the program. If you've been watching today, I saw we were reported that our levels and audio was whack or something. I'm hoping we fixed it. Let us know if it's sounding brolic to y' all today, all right?

[Ebro Darden]

All right. Burn the sage, Ebro. All right, Rosenberg, who's out there? Who's writing to us? Who needs our help?

[Laura Styles]

Zen.

[Rosenberg]

The original gurus. Gmail.com. the original gurusmail.com. and by the way, a one lover adds. The Democrats also have been trying to compromise by putting forward separate legislation to fund TSA and other DHS departments. Without the ice piece, there's still no movement. Oh, y' all don't want to do that, though. Mm.

[Ebro Darden]

Of course not. Thank you for that.

[Rosenberg]

Hi, Gurus. I'm coming to you from the Bay Area.

[Laura Styles]

Yay area.

[Rosenberg]

Where I have been watching the show on YouTube. I love this new format and the conversations you've been having. I have a question for you.

[Ebro Darden]

You.

[Rosenberg]

It's not so much a guru's problem. Maybe it's a family matters issue. But I'm curious. I'll start by letting you know I'm a black woman living in the Bay Area. I am no stranger to interracial relationships, whether it's an interracial marriage or an interracial adoption. I feel like I've seen the full range of combinations of what this could look like. However, I was recently confronted with a scenario that had me feeling well away. I should also add that the subject here was gurus. Am I a racist? I met a new mom at my daughter's school. The mom is black, and the husband is white. They have two adopted children, a white daughter and a Filipino son. This really stirred up something in me. A black parent choosing to adopt a white child. I felt betrayed, annoyed, and bothered by this. But I've never felt this way about other interracial adoptions. I know white parents who've adopted black children and it never generated this kind of reaction. As you three have very diverse and expansive social networks, I'm curious if you know any non white parents who have adopted a white child. And as I try to make sense of my emotions, am I racist for having this reaction. Thanks so much for your thoughts. Sincerely. Side eyeing in Oakland, my thought wasn't racist.

[Laura Styles]

That's not what that.

[Rosenberg]

Race is the wrong word. But bigotry, whatever it is, race obsessed.

[Laura Styles]

Race.

[Rosenberg]

Mine is more, you need to mind your business. You don't know the situation.

[Laura Styles]

Why the first thought I had was you don't even know how they adopted.

[Rosenberg]

You don't know where the children came from.

[Laura Styles]

You don't know they could have lost friend. Those could be children of another family that parents died and they adopted. You know, they went to an agency

[Rosenberg]

and they said we want to help the most in need children. And this one came from this situation and this one.

[Laura Styles]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

So like I guess that's almost a separate thing though of minding your business. It's the triggering part. Like, you know what I'm saying? Is that more the question.

[Laura Styles]

Well that goes back to race obsessed.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah. Like why are you.

[Laura Styles]

Well look, the other thought, the other only thought I had is some of the most unadopted children they say tend to be black boys of a certain age, like after they're, you know, four or five, whatever. So maybe I don't know if this person is close to adoption stats or something, but that would have been another thought of like really you couldn't, you didn't want to adopt a young black boy who needed a family and they don't. They kind of just end up in foster care or whatever it is.

[Rosenberg]

But the question is, with something as personal as having children, it's really hard to ask someone or tell someone what they need to do when they adopt. Meaning in terms of age. For example, if you want to adopt a little baby, you can't tell a woman who wants to be a mother. Nah, this isn't adopting adult.

[Laura Styles]

Take the six year old.

[Rosenberg]

Take a six year old. But I want a baby.

[Laura Styles]

Right.

[Rosenberg]

It's not the same as a puppy and a three year old dog.

[Ebro Darden]

So I ran my googles and yes, black children are least likely to be adopted and face the longest days in foster care.

[Rosenberg]

For sure.

[Ebro Darden]

Doesn't surprise me. A fact. Black children make up roughly 23% of children waiting for adoption. But only about 18 of those get adopted. So yes, the wait times are longer. Disparity. Yep. So I think maybe she. I'm assuming that she leaned into those statistics and she was thinking about all of that, and she was.

[Laura Styles]

So you're giving her the benefit.

[Rosenberg]

That's a huge benefit. She didn't want to. She would have said, have you guys. I think. Have you guys seen the stats? I think she's saying, no. The skin color triggers me. Like, why did they. Why would a black parent want a white child? Yeah, but also, you're forgetting, it's two parents. And maybe they both were like, whatever. Since we're interracial, whatever we get, we get.

[Ebro Darden]

No, no, I hear you and I agree with you.

[Laura Styles]

We don't know the stat, but I think that goes back to minding your business. We don't know these people, man. You don't know nothing about them. You don't know if their priorities are aligned with yours.

[Rosenberg]

But being upset about those stats is very reasonable.

[Ebro Darden]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Rosenberg]

That's very being. Just be like, wow, that's so sad. And it's messed up and it's wrong and it's so.

[Laura Styles]

I'll tell you how crazy it is. You know what? The most unadopted this is how this dog. Dog is a black dog.

[Rosenberg]

No, black dog.

[Laura Styles]

This is how, like, how psychotic the programming is in our world, fam.

[Ebro Darden]

When I got peewee, he. My dog was black. Out of the whole litter. That was the one that nobody wanted.

[Rosenberg]

Crazy. You know, that's so. That's so common.

[Ebro Darden]

Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

And I, you know, I feel.

[Ebro Darden]

But I did.

[Rosenberg]

I feel guilty now because Rocky was so white.

[Ebro Darden]

Oh, my God.

[Laura Styles]

But you weren't involved in that, so we don't have to blame you. We just blame your wife.

[Rosenberg]

Malteses are only white. But if we ever get another small dog.

[Ebro Darden]

I never knew that either. I thought. I'm like, yeah, maybe I've never seen that.

[Rosenberg]

No, no, they only. Malteses only look like Rocky.

[Laura Styles]

Never.

[Rosenberg]

They have a few different faces. They can be, like slightly different faces. Ears can be a little different, but a purebred Maltese, they're only that look. That's why I don't think we can ever get just a straight up Maltese again. Because it's too similar. They're like the same. Now, if you get a malti poo, you could get black, you get brown, you get all kinds of different ones.

[Ebro Darden]

Yeah. You know, palms come in.

[Laura Styles]

Did you not have enough information, you

[Ebro Darden]

know that palms come in blue?

[Rosenberg]

What do you mean blue?

[Ebro Darden]

They're blue pumps.

[Laura Styles]

All right, guys.

[Ebro Darden]

Yes.

[Rosenberg]

I want to see a blue palm.

[Laura Styles]

What are we Doing. Yo, man. Appreciate y' all today. I. You know, let us know what. You know what? I want to start something in the chat. Let us know what we missed that you want to talk about or you think we need to be talking about? And we cover a lot of politics. One of the things I haven't got to this week to Marsha. We need the Trump talking about Cuba clip. Yeah. And I need the Trump sitting next to Mike Johnson talking about that. That other politician.

[Rosenberg]

Oh, my God. Also, I didn't mention. When we showed the Jay Z earlier. Forgot to mention that. I like that he had the. The front. What? That. The two dots.

[Laura Styles]

The two dots.

[Producer Griff]

Does he need that?

[Laura Styles]

That was from. That's his original.

[Rosenberg]

But that was just cute that he did that back.

[Laura Styles]

Well, they. People say it was because of multiple Moet Shandon.

[Rosenberg]

You know, the.

[Laura Styles]

The champagne bottle.

[Rosenberg]

So shout. I just like that he had that. The old school look.

[Laura Styles]

But that's the reasonable doubt of it all.

[Rosenberg]

No, it's the. It's the single cover for Dead Presidents and it's like the original logo for him back then. Well, what.

[Laura Styles]

But didn't he spell his name with the umlauts over it for that album?

[Rosenberg]

But is it like. But. Yes, but the look of the actual Reasonable Doubt cover is so different.

[Laura Styles]

That color scheme.

[Rosenberg]

Yeah, that color scheme scheme. Dead Presidents.

[Laura Styles]

Yes.

[Rosenberg]

And before kind of look.

[Laura Styles]

So we should assume that that whole performance is the album Reasonable Doubt.

[Ebro Darden]

People are assuming.

[Producer Griff]

People are assuming they've done that before.

[Laura Styles]

Yes, they have.

[Rosenberg]

But I'll be here for it.

[Laura Styles]

People forget the MTV Unplugged, which is available on streaming services. Jay Z in the roof. We know.

[Rosenberg]

What's the date of the Roots picnic?

[Laura Styles]

You know, May.

[Ebro Darden]

The 30th.

[Laura Styles]

30th.

[Rosenberg]

End of May.

[Laura Styles]

You guys want family tripping perhaps?

[Rosenberg]

You can't. You already have something in Vegas.

[Ebro Darden]

I'm so mad. Yeah.

[Rosenberg]

What's in Vegas?

[Ebro Darden]

I'm gonna go see no Doubt in Vegas.

[Rosenberg]

She's going to no Doubt in Vegas.

[Ebro Darden]

I know.

[Laura Styles]

Congratulations. You're going to see Maga. Gwen Stefani.

[Rosenberg]

No.

[Laura Styles]

Yeah.

[Ebro Darden]

People, listen. I've been really.

[Laura Styles]

You didn't know Gwen Stefani went full Maga after her Blake Shelton romance.

[Ebro Darden]

So the thing is, is because she is all about the same prayer app and she's leaning into her religion. And I think at one point she retweeted, like some religious quote that happened to be from a racist.

[Rosenberg]

But is she ever. Did she come out and support Maga?

[Ebro Darden]

No, not publicly. She has not.

[Producer Griff]

All right.

[Laura Styles]

You gotta.

[Rosenberg]

Sometimes you Gotta hang on to hope.

[Ebro Darden]

So I've been like, also, like, I know people get more religious. I get it. But she hasn't put on the hat and been like, you know, I think

[Rosenberg]

you gotta hang on.

[Laura Styles]

The same app Charlie Kirkinen was promoting. Is it that same?

[Ebro Darden]

I don't know. I don't know. But it's definitely a prayer app. It is. Well, that's.

[Rosenberg]

But again, I need more information.

[Ebro Darden]

That's how I feel, too. I was like, rare app.

[Rosenberg]

You can't just.

[Laura Styles]

Which app? Which.

[Rosenberg]

I looked at them and said, maga. I turned to this room and everywhere, yeah, she's Maga.

[Ebro Darden]

Have you guys seen her with the hat? Has she endorsed him?

[Rosenberg]

Christian MAGA makeover. But she hasn't endorsed Laura.

[Guest or caller]

No.

[Ebro Darden]

So that I'm holding on to that.

[Rosenberg]

I might be down to go, though. I think we need to do a cardi. A Cardi family.

[Laura Styles]

The chat. The chat's looking at Laura sideways speaking Maga. Gwen Stefani over hov.

[Rosenberg]

Well, guess what? I'm looking at everyone in the chat. Let's go through your list of people you're hanging on to hope for. Everyone's got people they're hanging on to hope for.

[Laura Styles]

See you tomorrow. Just don't call it a population podcast. USAA knows dynamic duos can save the day, like superheroes and sidekicks or auto and home insurance. With usaa, you can bundle your auto and home and save up to 10%. Tap the banner to learn more and get a'@usaa.com bundle restrictions.