Shoulda Been Passed

Summary

The Friend Zone – “Shoulda Been Passed”

Date: February 12, 2025
Hosts: Dustin Ross, Hey Fran Hey (Francesca), & Asante
Podcast: Loud Speakers Network

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Episode Overview

This lively episode centers on Black pop culture, accountability, technology trends, streaming dilemmas, and the emotional fallout from celebrity conflicts. The hosts deliver candid, humorous hot takes on current entertainment headlines—most notably Stephen A. Smith's latest controversy, Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show, and their own tech/media habits. Highlights also include hilarious commentary on the Real Housewives franchise, technology dependence, and tips for nourishing your mental well-being in overwhelming times.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stephen A. Smith’s Critique of Serena Williams

(Starts ~01:15)

• Francesca launches a roast on sports pundit Stephen A. Smith for negatively commenting on Serena Williams' Super Bowl performance:
  • He said he’d “divorce” Serena for “trolling her ex” on stage.
  • Fran and co. question his credentials, looks, and constant critiques of Black women.
  • Quote:
    “He always got his mouth on something it don’t belong on… He has something up his ass for Black women.” – Fran (01:36)
  • The hosts agree his repeated commentary against influential Black women is tiresome, especially during Black History Month.

2. Weekend Catch-Ups and Tech Talk

(07:11–12:12)

• Asante vents about PlayStation Network outages and impulsively buys an Xbox, leading to a tech tangent:

  • The group discusses the state of gaming hardware (Switch, Oculus, Vision Pro).
  • They admit many of these gadgets gather dust.

• Hey Fran Hey shares a serene road trip story to Oregon’s coast to recharge.

  • “Honestly that’s what I need. Spent some time in nature, which was really nice.” – Fran (14:43)

3. Super Bowl Halftime Analysis: Kendrick Lamar’s Performance

(13:28–21:36)

• The trio deconstructs Kendrick Lamar’s acclaimed halftime show, praising the artistry and cultural statement:
  • Fran and Asante express annoyance that the set’s Drake references overshadowed Kendrick’s moment.
  • “I wish this was just his moment… I almost wish he didn’t even motherf***in’ [reference Drake].” – Fran (28:03)
  • They debate the line between entertainment and personal beef:
    “This is entertainment at the end of the day.” – Fran (31:15)
  • The hosts agree that, as fans, they value the music over taking sides in celebrity conflicts.

4. Fandom, Industry Power, and Celebrity Beef

(32:09–36:45)

• Are fans too invested?
  • The crew insists their only loyalty is to the music, not to stanning individuals.
  • “When it comes to me and my parasocial relationships, I don’t know these people like that.” – Asante (32:36)
  • They ridicule hyped internet discourse about the Kendrick/Drake feud:
    “Get in the booth. I am the fan of the music…” – Asante (33:44)

5. Streaming Wars & App Overload

(52:38–56:55)

• Fran recently joined YouTube TV, prompting a discussion on which apps are truly worth it.
  • The hosts lament buggy apps (Max, Peacock) and disappearing series, and debate how to streamline streaming expenses.
  • Asante on nostalgia for cable: “I feel like what I’m paying for this YouTube TV is way cheaper than what I would have paid for cable.” (54:22)

6. Housewives and Home Decor

(64:28–73:42)

• Detailed breakdown of the Real Housewives of New York reunion:
  • Discussion of cast dynamics, favorite/least favorite looks, and cast member exits.
  • Laughter over petty reunion drama—hosts agree the cast is necessary for a true NYC mix.

7. Technology & The Future (Chips, AI, and Consciousness)

(75:38–82:42)

• Deep dive into the TV show “Severance” and speculative tech:
  • They debate the ethics of implantable chips and loss of personal agency for convenience.
  • “There’s no way… I ain’t finna be charging nobody’s phone. F*** that.” – Francesca (81:22)

8. Concert Culture—Beyoncé, Cleo Sol & Tour Talk

(82:56–85:55)

• Hosts compare plans for Beyoncé’s country album tour and other live events.
  • Excitement over costumes, but also concert fatigue.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Stephen A. Smith:
  "Celebrate the blackness. It’s Black History Month, first of all, and that should mean something to you. Coon boot liquor." – Fran (04:27)

• On Kendrick and Drake beef permeating Super Bowl:
  "I wish this was just his moment... I almost wish he didn’t even motherf***in’... like to me, that would have been so cool." – Fran (28:03)
  "I'm not gonna go out of my way and play 'They Not Like Us' because Drake walked into a room." – Asante (33:44)

• On streaming fatigue:
  “I just want to downsize. I was hoping YouTube TV would help me downsize… at this point it’s ridiculous.” – Fran (53:45)

• On implantable tech chips:
  “There’s no way. I’m not getting no chip that someone can program… I ain’t finna charge nobody’s phone.” – Fran (81:22)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Stephen A. Smith/Serena Williams Rant: 01:12–06:43
• Weekend & Tech Talk: 07:11–12:12
• Super Bowl/Kendrick Halftime Show: 13:28–21:21
• Kendrick vs. Drake Beef, Fandom: 28:03–36:45
• Streaming Service Overload: 52:38–56:55
• Real Housewives Reunion Recap: 64:28–73:42
• Severance/Tech Ethics Debate: 75:38–82:42
• Concert Culture (Beyoncé/Cleo Sol): 82:56–85:55

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Tone, Style, and Takeaways

• Tone: Candid, irreverent, deeply humorous, but insightful—a friendly, roasting, and welcoming vibe.
• Style: Conversational, packed with pop culture references, jokes, and real talk about mental, digital, and emotional hygiene.
• Takeaways: Unfiltered opinions on celebrity accountability, the current state of streaming and fandom, and reminders to seek nature and tech-free time for mental health.

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For Listeners New and Old

This episode is a tour-de-force of the Friend Zone’s signature blend: a pop culture breakdown with zero filter, tech-life wisdom, reality TV obsession, and infectious laughs. The hosts provide a safe, joyful space to question, vent, and celebrate Black excellence in media—reminding us to always protect our magic.

Transcript

[Francesca]

Divorce isn't that big a deal.

[Hey Friend]

You don't have kids or money.

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[Asante]

I don't want to get a divorce.

[Hey Friend]

No one does. She does.

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[Asante]

We need to find a way to restore the balance. And you had sex with my wife, so maybe. I don't know. No way. What is wrong with you? Splitsbo.

[Ad Host]

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[Francesca]

Welcome to the Friends.

[Hey Friend]

Every time I'm in the zone. I'm Francesca, also known as hey, friend.

[Francesca]

Hey.

[Asante]

My name is Asante.

[Francesca]

This is the friend zone.

[Hey Friend]

If you don't sit your God damn.

[Francesca]

Ass down with them spaces in between your teeth. That's right. And I mean it before, I mean it again. God damn it. And the person we're talking about is none other than canteen face ass Stephen A. Smith. Okay, that's what we're talking. Yes, yes. We're talking about Steven Saddlebag jaw having ass Smith. That's who we're talking about. He looked like you can take the sides of his mouth and wrap them around the rib cage of a horse and get on top of them jowls. Now here's the thing about this motherfucker. He always got his mouth on something that it don't belong on. Previous. Previous. Excuse me. Previously, we know that he started all that shit about saying how black people probably felt gu about liking Donald Trump and his politics and, you know, maybe they can speak out and all that. Spoke negatively about Kamala, spoke negatively about Beyonce and Rihanna and which feeds into what he spoke about this week, which was another black woman negatively. I don't know what his goddamn problem is besides the fact that he looks like. What does he look like? A clamshell. But the fact besides that, I don't know what his problem is, but he has something up his ass for black women. We all know it was Super Bowl Sunday this past weekend. Kendrick Lamar gave an incredible halftime performance and Serena Williams came out and hit her crip walk during the performance, amplifying it, taking it to a higher Level, adding to the performance, making it more interesting. It was an in your face moment to professional sports from black athletes because we know how she had been penalized at the Olympics.

[Hey Friend]

I was just going to say. Right.

[Francesca]

Yep, there was a lot of layers. Well, Stephen A. Smith said, this is According to the New York Post, Stephen A. Smith said that he would divorce Serena Williams for that Super Bowl 2025 halftime performance.

[Hey Friend]

What?

[Asante]

You can't even marry us.

[Hey Friend]

Okay, let's start there. But wait, what. What is he. What's the context?

[Francesca]

He said, if I'm married and my wife is going to join trolling her ex, go back to his ass. That's what he said. Because clearly you don't belong with me. Smith said Monday on ESPN's First Take. What you worried about him for? And you're with me. Bye. Bye. That's what he said.

[Asante]

He said he'd be acting too.

[Francesca]

His co host Ryan Clark said, if you were with Serena Williams, you're going to be a cat man anyways. And so he said, don't start that or whatever. Yeah, but that's what he said about Serena Williams. Now, my thing is you're not even married. I've seen you offset in pictures and videos where you have on the most homely and tawdry items. You are not a hot guy. You how you famous? And you're not even hot. Don't nobody. I've never heard a woman say, ooh, Stephen A. Smith makes me tingle in the middle. I've never heard anybody. I've never heard I'll be around gay men that love looking at guys. And I've never heard anybody say Stephen A. Smith. I'm trying to see what's up. I've never heard that and he hasn't either. And I think that's what his Damn.

[Hey Friend]

Or, or, or hear me out. Tweet.

[Francesca]

Never, never, never. They said they rather cut their ears off than be heard about, you know. And so that's my thing. He's just once again coming out his mouth with negative talk, negative information that is unnecessary. Celebrate the blackness. It's Black History Month, first of all, and that should mean something to you. Coon Boot liquor. Okay. Shoe shiner. Okay. Just still looking down when you walk past white people. That's what your ass do, you know?

[Hey Friend]

Clearly that helps keep him where he's at. You know what I'm saying? If you're willing to be that person within our community, you're gonna get the top dollar. So shout out to him.

[Francesca]

How you rich and can't Get. No, exactly. So anyway, with that being said, you Stephen A. Smith and I' ma stay on your opportunity I get because you give me so many. Okay. And. And you also look like. Who does he look like? It was that. But what's the. That was on the office that be he got all them gifts and.

[Hey Friend]

With.

[Francesca]

The glass, you know, you know who I'm talking. He looked like the black lady from. From. Where in the world is Carmen San Diego. What was the black lady's name? Lynn Thickpen looking ass. He looked like he, he looked like one of them subsidy subsidiary relatives of TN Tamara. A little bit in the face. Don't he got eyes and wide up eyes a little bit. He might be a second or third cousin, you know, somebody's mama's, you know, brother's half son to the left or some who knows the sister in it. I don't know because I just want to insult him. I'm taking any opportunity I can. I'm tired of him and his poppy seed eye ass. I'm sick of him. So you Stephen A. Smith, you look like the WB man. That's what he looks like. With that being said, welcome to the friend zone. Here we can look at all things mental health, mental wellness because we are definitely fit. Okay. And mental hygiene because who in the hell wants a musty brain. I know I don't. And I will definitely speak for both of you when I say that you don't either. So. Hey friend. Hey Sunday, how you doing?

[Hey Friend]

How y' all doing? How are your weekends?

[Francesca]

Fantastic weekend. I worked all weekend long. Let me see, the super bowl was Sunday. That was great. Went to an event. Mr. Johnson's son. Yeah, I'm just playing. I had a good weekend though. Just business as usual. Business as usual.

[Hey Friend]

Going with it. What about you, Asante? What'd you get into in North Kakalaka?

[Asante]

Literally nothing. Thank you. I would like to air out agreements before we really get into this episode.

[Hey Friend]

Okay.

[Asante]

Sony, y' all some. Y' all some. I want to credit. The PlayStation Network went down on Friday night. So that's how I started the weekend. And y' all know that I'm not a Y' all know that I game, but I don't consider myself a gamer. It was hard. I. I understand. I can only imagine what gamers felt because this network went down from at least 6:00pm Eastern Standard Time because they were supposed to start streaming some tournament at 6:30. But the tournament never streamed or. Streamed, yeah, never streamed because the network came back the next day at like 3pm in the afternoon.

[Francesca]

Oh, hell no.

[Hey Friend]

Damn. Well, I know them gamers was going crazy.

[Asante]

I was going a little. So I was like, I can only imagine. Like, luckily I had other things to do and. But I was like my other friends. So this is what I did. Actually. I am a gamer. I'm gonna go in and own it because I'm gonna tell you the truth of what I actually did because I was so upset that the network.

[Francesca]

You tell your truth.

[Asante]

7Pm that night, the network went down and I was scrambling. I ended up watching movies and catching up on shows and. But the next day, day, I still want to play my game because I didn't play it all week. Because I was working last week because I decided I was gonna get everything out the way and I wasn't gonna stay up late on the game. I was doing a really good job doing that. So I felt like I was gonna treat myself. And I did not get my treat on Friday. Saturday morning comes, I ordered another console for a different system.

[Francesca]

You don't want to say which one? Is it personal?

[Asante]

I got an Xbox. I got an Xbox.

[Francesca]

Okay.

[Asante]

I had bought me an Xbox because I really want to play this game that fucking bad. And I. I played. I played my game.

[Francesca]

That refrigerator, the Xbox refrigerator.

[Asante]

Did you see. You know, I didn't. I did see that.

[Francesca]

Randomly you need that, like a real.

[Hey Friend]

Like a big one.

[Francesca]

But it's Xbox branded.

[Asante]

Let me show you what the refrigerator looks like.

[Hey Friend]

Neon.

[Asante]

But the thing is, I didn't get that. That Xbox. So there's so that. So the reason. So again, I got this Xbox just to play the one game, the Xbox refrigerator that you're talking about. Because again, I saw all of this. That refrigerator looks like the Xbox X, which is like the higher tier Xbox. I got the Xbox S, which is the smaller tier Xbox.

[Hey Friend]

They have different Xboxes.

[Asante]

So consoles. Consoles are literally like computer systems now instead of. So before you remember back in the day when y' all used to play games, you used to just have the disc, just this or the memory card. Well, I'm telling you.

[Francesca]

You mean y' all used to play.

[Asante]

Games because y' all don't play games.

[Hey Friend]

I had. I had them cartridges, thank you very much.

[Asante]

Okay, so you remember how the data was saved to the cartridge? Right? Now you can actually download the game to the console as well as the data. And so you don't gotta like switch it all over.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, well, see, I only know that because I do have a switch.

[Asante]

Okay.

[Hey Friend]

Okay. Wig.

[Asante]

You've been brushing up on your Mario Kart.

[Hey Friend]

You know what? Honestly, buying a switch was goofy because I do not use it.

[Asante]

You are not a gamer.

[Hey Friend]

It was such a. It was such a novelty impulse version. It was a Covid purchase, you know what I'm saying? Where I was like, oh, absolutely. Tap into some joy, and literally it sits there and catches dust.

[Asante]

Yep. Me with the Oculus, mine was a.

[Francesca]

Relationship, so, yeah, don't even get me.

[Hey Friend]

Started on the Oculus. And we have two of them.

[Francesca]

I've been seeing people falling and busting their ass with them. Oculus is on, so y' all have oculi.

[Hey Friend]

And we thought, like, oh, the kids will at least use it, you know, because they. No, they don't even think it's cool. They're like an Oculus.

[Asante]

Yeah, they're like that. I'm like, luckily, you got some kids. Yeah, the Oculus didn't really catch on. It was hot for, like a day, but it just. It didn't do what they thought it was going to do. For real, like, the world ain't really. We don't really need that right now.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah. You know what I'm saying? I was gonna, like, have that cool thing at the house, but it's just not hitting like that, so.

[Francesca]

And people look crazy. They look crazy using them, you know?

[Asante]

You know the Vision Pro?

[Hey Friend]

That's the Apple.

[Asante]

Apple's version.

[Hey Friend]

The Apple.

[Asante]

Did you see Scotty wearing it? Dustin? The. The Vision Pro?

[Francesca]

The eyes? Yeah.

[Asante]

When they was on the.

[Francesca]

On the bus.

[Asante]

That's what Scotty was wearing. Her look like. So Scotty, one of the girls on Baddy's friend, was sitting on the front of the bus, just wearing her Vision Pro. And I'm like, are you serious?

[Hey Friend]

Just checked out?

[Asante]

Yeah. She. She got money now, so she be, you know, walking around with her dog. And so then, you know, she's flexing, missing with her Vision Pro. And I was like, all right, you know what, Scotty, girl, do what you got to do, but don't let these girls break your shit. That's what I was worried about.

[Hey Friend]

I saw a video of a dude walking through the New York streets with them, and I was so confused.

[Asante]

Have you.

[Hey Friend]

I'm like, what did you see when.

[Asante]

They first came out?

[Hey Friend]

How is he doing this?

[Asante]

And they were walking around or they were trying to stay on him for, like, 24 hours, 48 hour challenges on the Vision Pros.

[Hey Friend]

I did not.

[Asante]

All right, well, it was some bullshit.

[Francesca]

I wouldn't have known you.

[Hey Friend]

I know you wouldn't say.

[Asante]

You didn't get one a Vision Pro. Yeah, no, that was like, you know, 2, 3K, 4K somewhere in there. And I was like, apple, you know, I don't really know if I want to give you this for that, cuz.

[Hey Friend]

You get, you know, I know you would have gotten it. So I'm like, there had to be.

[Asante]

A reason if it was priced right, because, you know, I still. I could go get it, but, you know, certain things, it's like if my soul don't feel compelled. Match.

[Hey Friend]

We know.

[Asante]

Look, I told you, I just bought an Xbox just to play one motherfucking game. Which I was like, you know, I should take this bitch back, but it looks kind of cute, so I think I might keep it. So, dog, it was a crazy weekend because of this stupid ass game. And then as Dustin said, the Super Bowl. Kendrick was fucking phenomenal. I loved it and it was just a great time. I love.

[Hey Friend]

I was supposed to go see it. A friend of ours out here, there's this casino he goes to to watch the game every year, and it's actually really fun. We were supposed to go, but we didn't actually end up pulling up. But I did see the performance on YouTube. I looked it up and I saw it. I thought it was cool.

[Francesca]

Yeah, I did too. I thought the stage was. Was really dope. I thought the dancers, the. The performance was great. And I thought it was so funny that people were talking about Sza saying she was lip syncing and they gonna post a clip of Tamar Braxton singing her song My man. And everybody knows that there's a big part at the end of that song where she goes, my man, man.

[Hey Friend]

Is that what she's like whipping her.

[Francesca]

Hair back and she was lip syncing in this particular performance, so somebody gonna tweet and talk. Mike. It was Tamar, but. And then when you watch the halftime performance and you see Sza, like, falling out and, you know, really throwing her arms. It's funny. It was just funny. But y' all know I love Sza. I could listen to her singing all day long. So I was after Mercury hat on now.

[Asante]

Yep.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, I didn't realize. That's super cute.

[Asante]

Surely is. I love me some Solana, but yeah, I love that performance.

[Hey Friend]

Did y' all like the. Well, I'll say this. This weekend I had a great time. We drove to the coast, the Oregon coast. Right. We took a little road trip. To me, it's like when I'm not feeling. Yes.

[Asante]

The Oregon coastline. Coastal Oregon.

[Francesca]

Coastal Oregon.

[Hey Friend]

Oregon.

[Asante]

Yeah. So I was trying to. That's where I wanted to land. Because when you said it that first time, I was like, oof.

[Hey Friend]

Absolutely stunning. If you've never seen it, Google image that it is. Like I was telling the guys before we pressed record, like it's like straight out of a commercial. You just like you're driving through the windy roads and then we passed certain parts that had snow. So the, the trees, the beautiful trees just had like the leaves with the snow coming down. Like it just was like out of the snow capped trees. It was out of a book. Like just stunning. And then obviously when we got to the coast, just the coastline, the mountains, the water, the. Just the life out there, you know, I feel like we've all been so overwhelmed that we were just like, let's take a drive, listen to some bomb music. You know when you do those, those road trips and like you set your playlist up, you buy your snacks. We like made sandwiches royal, but we don't smoke. But we had our good snacks and we just had a really fun time, you know, a couple hours, just like check out a little bit, spend some time in nature, which was really nice. And did that for the weekend. And then like popped right back in and shout out to the people that have their homes on the coast.

[Francesca]

Breathtaking.

[Hey Friend]

I'm scary that y' all have homes on the coast. I was telling the guys how I'm still on the fence about that. Like as beautiful as that must be, I would be anxious every day just with climate change and you just not knowing, you know, water is its own thing, so. But what a life they live out there. Like, and you know, that's just a.

[Francesca]

Shit on my house. Like.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah, right, because they're like right there. Like you literally step out of your living room and you're on the sand. Like that's how close they are. It's incredible. Like we saw people watching the super bowl with their friends in the living room. Like, it's just a different life out there, but so gorgeous. Really, really beautiful weekend. I needed that. Honestly, that's what I need to put.

[Francesca]

A Real Housewives franchise out there in coastal Oregon. Them big ass houses on the coast? Hell yeah. See what the mall is doing, which.

[Hey Friend]

I'm see with those.

[Francesca]

Hell yeah.

[Hey Friend]

And you know, we have our own version of like the hills out here. Beautiful, massive homes and you're driving the highway and you see them just like on in the hills.

[Francesca]

Real Housewives of the Oregon Trail.

[Asante]

Not the Oregon Trail.

[Hey Friend]

That would be something. I'm curious if that would even be a Thing out here, but you could be on there. No, I would not. No, I would not.

[Asante]

Can we start?

[Francesca]

What would Fran's tagline be? Let me think. I may. Let me. What would she say?

[Hey Friend]

I'll start walking, talking about, turn the TV off. Turn the TV off.

[Francesca]

I'm all about vibes, but I will Paulo your santo.

[Hey Friend]

I really want to write that in my bio.

[Asante]

I will Apollo.

[Hey Friend]

I will follow your santo.

[Francesca]

And then have friend do it like this.

[Hey Friend]

You are so.

[Asante]

Oh, my God.

[Hey Friend]

Well, no, it was a great weekend that I had. Super, super needed, and I'm just grateful to. To have access to that type of beauty out here. Really, really grateful.

[Francesca]

Take advantage of it. That's what you're there for. You know what I'm saying?

[Hey Friend]

Literally, what I came here for. And I'm. Are y'. All. Well, no, the weather in New York, I know, is, like, cold, but did y' all get, like, a randomly hot, nice, sunny day? I feel like a lot of cities are saying they just got this randomly beautiful day over the weekend. Not y' all looking around?

[Asante]

No, no. I just assumed because I was in the south, you know, it was nice this weekend.

[Hey Friend]

Well, yeah, y' all got it different. It's a little different. We actually have snow coming the next three days. Supposed to be snowy out here, so.

[Francesca]

It'S snowing here tonight. Piss and snow and rats.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, shoot. Oh, yeah. That's gonna be a tricky one. But anyway, back to the Super Bowl. I. Like I said we were driving out and, you know, riding around, so I didn't get to see the actual game or anything. Not that I would have watched it. I don't personally understand football like that.

[Asante]

But honestly, it was a good game.

[Francesca]

I heard the chief's ass, and it was like a blowout.

[Asante]

I mean, how happened?

[Hey Friend]

Do y' all think it was rigged or some weird shit? It's just what it was.

[Francesca]

It just was time. Yeah, it was time. Shout out to Philadelphia. Dirty Birds playing.

[Asante]

Been playing heavy.

[Francesca]

Hey, the Eagles won, baby.

[Asante]

Yeah. Because I've been watch. I watched a couple of their games randomly this past season because the.

[Hey Friend]

Because Jalen Hurts is cute.

[Asante]

Well, yes. No. Armani White. He performed at one of the halftimes. And I remember I had it on. I was gaming, and I had it on the background. I thought that was dope. So shout out to him. Shout out to the Eagles. Yeah, shout out to Philly.

[Hey Friend]

That's so.

[Francesca]

And they may. Or remember, the Philly mayor misspelled Eagles. Did you see that when she was doing that press conference? Hold on.

[Asante]

I got it.

[Francesca]

I gotta find it. I'm finding y'.

[Asante]

All.

[Francesca]

Talk amongst yourselves. Hold on.

[Asante]

Put it in the group chat. Hold on.

[Hey Friend]

And did y' all see the Hoteps talking about how the. The symbolism of this game, The Eagles.

[Francesca]

Ain't nobody got time for that.

[Hey Friend]

I fucks with it. My tin hat was. Was foiled, but you're 10. What y' all think of the performance overall, though? I saw there was a lot of mixed feelings. Some people thought it was supremely boring.

[Asante]

Well, can I just say before we share opinions, Right. People can feel however they want to feel.

[Hey Friend]

Absolutely.

[Asante]

Just don't. Because what's killing me is the people that are like, y' all want it to be good so bad. For the ones that it is good for. It was good.

[Hey Friend]

Right?

[Asante]

Y' all want it to be bad so bad.

[Francesca]

Right? I was just gonna say if you don't, we all want it to be good.

[Asante]

You. You feel free to not enjoy it. I'm not gonna take anything away from anybody. Anybody. But for me and mine, I loved it. Yeah, I really with it. I with Kendrick the long way. So I really with seeing him, even his outfit. I know people, they had their things to say about it, but he was looking good.

[Hey Friend]

You know, Celine, the.

[Asante]

That he had going on, it took you to a place, though, didn't they?

[Hey Friend]

Is it just me? But his thighs looked so big.

[Asante]

They did.

[Hey Friend]

What is. Because he's a, you know, relatively smaller person. And I was like, where are these thighs coming from?

[Francesca]

He's settling into his body. He's settling into his, you know, his manhood.

[Hey Friend]

It was throwing me off a little bit, but I was like, shout out to you.

[Francesca]

Kendrick got hips.

[Asante]

He do.

[Francesca]

Y' all seen? He was double cheeked up in the mud. Some mud.

[Hey Friend]

Jeans. My jeans.

[Asante]

Why does it always come back to mud, Exactly?

[Francesca]

Why is it always come back, you.

[Hey Friend]

Know, wash and flares, now that you talk about it.

[Asante]

See, they took you to a. They took you places.

[Hey Friend]

And send the Martin Rose jacket. Shout out to Martin Rose. I love that he wore a black woman's fashion.

[Asante]

Fresh.

[Francesca]

Welcome to the friends.

[Hey Friend]

Every time I'm in.

[Francesca]

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[Hey Friend]

Yeah, I mean, I thought it was cool. I. More than anything, I will say this. I was just happy that he had the opportunity to just, you know, like that's huge for artists. That's, that's.

[Francesca]

And it is for them. It's in alignment with the other accolades he has. Let's not forget Kendrick Lamar has 22 Grammys.

[Asante]

Okay?

[Francesca]

Let's also not forget that Kendrick Lamar, I believe him and SZA were nominated for an Oscar. Right? For all the stars, right? Kendrick Lamar also has. Yes, he also has a Pulitzer Prize in music for his damn album. There's levels to this. So a Super bowl perform, halftime performance is on par with what he has accomplished thus far. And this is a perfect addition to his catalog of work, his portfolio, you know what I mean? And also he did a great job. I don't know about everybody else, but I listen to rap music. I enjoyed it. You know what I'm saying? It's not my fault that people just don't know the sum of the music, you know? We don't be knowing steals and Nash and maybe having their ass up there, you know what I'm saying? We ain't know a couple of them Coldplay songs, but we enjoyed it. We wouldn't be. You know what I mean? I think that's the difference. Like, so I don't know, everything don't have to be your favorite thing for you to fuck fucking. Just be pleasant and enjoy it. You know what I mean?

[Hey Friend]

I will say this, though, and I know there was mixed reviews on this as well. And granted, like you said, he has a extensive catalog of music and we know it. I mean, it's Kendrick. Like, he's phenomenal as a writer, lyricist, rapper, all the things I do wish, though, that the. The super bowl didn't have anything to do with Drake. Like, I wish this was just his moment. You know what I mean? Like, I almost wish that he. He disappointed people and just didn't even motherfucking. Like, to me, that would have been so cool because it's like this is a time capsule. This is a moment that in the future, even though low key, this beef is never gonna be forgotten because it's just so massive. But it's like, I'd rather this be a blip. It's gonna be a blip in a lot of people's lives. But for him, that's like a timeless moment that I wish he didn't stamp with that beef. Does that make sense?

[Asante]

Yes.

[Hey Friend]

And he didn't make it about it. Like, obviously, the songs he hit, there was very few moments about Drake, like the, say, Drake, you know, looking into the camera. But to me, it's almost like I wish that didn't even. That was.

[Francesca]

Because that's become the moment. That's become the moment that people are talking about.

[Hey Friend]

Like, you notice the energy completely shifted once he went into Not Like Us Grant. Massive song. I get it. But I almost hated that. I hated it because it's like he's bigger than that and he's bigger than this beef.

[Francesca]

Typically, it should have been his.

[Hey Friend]

Just his.

[Francesca]

I feel I agree with you. Let me say that.

[Hey Friend]

Right?

[Francesca]

I agree with you. And that would have been my approach too. The problem is Kendrick Lamar don't know how to stop. That's what the problem is.

[Hey Friend]

He's a killer.

[Asante]

So, like, he's.

[Francesca]

He's not gonna stop. And. And that would be him seeing an opportunity to take the high road and taking it when consistently since this whole.

[Hey Friend]

Shit, this whole he's been in annihilation.

[Francesca]

He has been doubled down on and created new opportunities to double down on double downing, on insulting him or doing him some sort of harm. So it makes sense that he was not going to have this moment. And not to try to embarrass Drake some more. It's just her, whatever it is. But I'm with you because you know me. I don't acknowledge nobody.

[Hey Friend]

You know, like, this is mine. This is mine right now. Like, you don't get to have a piece of my time time. That's just how I feel about it.

[Asante]

I totally hear that. I just think I. I think about like anime and people being enemies, those themes. I think about how people just keep these ties together and how they're both tied in hip hop as gray to me. And like, it was a moment that people were waiting for and then they didn't think he would. And he. It's something that he probably had to go back and forth on himself. And he was like, you know what it we doing it it. But yeah, that's why they kind of play with it. Because before even the say Drake, like, you know, the, you know, they. I'm not gonna do it. And then the girls in the background is like, ladies, just slow it down. And then since it comes out instead and we go that direction. And then to bring it back to that, it was like, damn and different. Finally hit the say Drake. I was like, what? But it's like he was with the people and still saying, I'm not scared because, you know, why the should I be?

[Francesca]

And that's how it sounded good.

[Asante]

That's how I read into it. And then at the end to be.

[Francesca]

Like, game over entertainment.

[Hey Friend]

This is entertainment at the end of the day. And I, I did see people showing like the bird's eye view of the configuration of the dancers. And it was like a game controller. Controller. And you know, that to me played into like, this is a game. This is. This is entertainment. He's just, he understands what it's gonna take to. It's like a David and Goliath story, right? He's. It's like you got like Dustin said earlier, it's gonna have to be a pure annihilation to really get him the out of here. So. But I, I guess it's just me being like, I hate it.

[Francesca]

Yeah, I get it. I would never killed him enough.

[Hey Friend]

You killed him enough. They showed a video this week of Drake in like Australia and they were like playing Squabble up when he passed in the street. Like, it's just bad. Even Australia.

[Asante]

I'm with you. I'm. I'm. I'm exactly the way that you are about, like, everybody, friend. Like, at the end of the day, when it comes to me and music, I'm gonna listen to everybody. I was just listening to for all the dogs this weekend before that happened, I was like, I love both of them.

[Hey Friend]

Bad for Drake at all.

[Francesca]

No. And I'm a huge Drake fan. You know, I love Drake and his.

[Hey Friend]

Music on a human level.

[Asante]

Whoa, can I be real with you, friend?

[Hey Friend]

I love that. I love that. I love that.

[Asante]

When it comes to me and my parasocial relationships, I don't know these people like that. I don't know them like that. I don't know none of them like that.

[Francesca]

I don't.

[Hey Friend]

I.

[Asante]

So that's why when people are like, well, you on this one. I don't know none of them. To be on nobody's side. I'm on nobody's payroll. I don't have blood to none of them. There's no ties that really need to be had as far as the loyalty is concerned. They've got my ticket for or my stream. You know, they've gotten my dollar here, there, and that's all they really wanted for me. They don't want me to. I mean, I'm not going to go out of my way and play. They not like us because Drake walked into a room. So at the most, you know what I'm saying? Like, I'm not doing anything crazy. So I don't know if Drake actually is hurting and I'm sure he is, you know, I'm saying I just don't know him. He could be hurting, but have another plan for five years down the road. Like, he could just be hurting music and got all this money over here. I don't know. He could not be hurting and really don't give a fuck because this is just a small part is like, we don't know. I don't care, to be honest. That's why I'm always like, get in the booth. Because I am the fan of the music, your job. When all the other stuff starts happening, like, even the fact that this is a beef, like, I see how it can get real life disrespectful and how it has gotten real life disrespectful. Like, you calling him certain things out on the airwaves, but, like, these are the games that y' all signed up for. When y' all signed up for hip hop. I didn't sign up for hip hop. I signed up to listen to the Records.

[Francesca]

I'm here for the ride.

[Hey Friend]

And I'm sure there's things we're unaware of. You know, that's the reality, too, for people to be going. Like, when I saw the Grammys and the entire industry was singing along and just. I was like, what do we not know? What do we.

[Francesca]

Not for some people. And then you also have to remember that because there's so many people who like that song, who are.

[Hey Friend]

Now they're just singing along on just some music.

[Francesca]

A song that they like. They don't even really understand that they're a part of a larger voice. You know what I'm saying? When they're doing that, they just. It's a popular song because when everyone.

[Hey Friend]

Came together, when the Grammys dropped the music off and everyone said a minor at this, I'm like, what? This is the entire industry.

[Asante]

And now he got to know about that song.

[Francesca]

That song won song of the year. Record of the year.

[Hey Friend]

Crazy.

[Francesca]

Best music video.

[Hey Friend]

Crazy.

[Francesca]

That's a genre. Best music video. Like, so. You know what I mean? And it was number one on the high 100 type. Like, that's.

[Asante]

And now they mixing in with Sabrina Carpenter.

[Francesca]

It's been as successful as you can get in.

[Asante]

You heard of that? They're not like us espresso mixes.

[Hey Friend]

No. What the. Not surprised at all.

[Francesca]

I wouldn't have heard.

[Hey Friend]

I don't know what Drake has done. I don't know what anybody has done. Like Asante said, we don't know these people. But on a human level, it feels.

[Francesca]

Like a lot has an amazing life. Okay. And if it's one person I know who is able to fill up the bad times with other good things, it is Aubrey Graham.

[Hey Friend]

No. But on a human level, there is.

[Francesca]

Not one for him.

[Hey Friend]

Nah. That don't even.

[Francesca]

There's not a human level for money.

[Hey Friend]

You can't change.

[Francesca]

He doesn't have a human level. He don't care about none of this shit. He does whatever he wants to do. That's why everybody hates his gut. So he don't give a. Drake is filthy. He's on a plane. He's in Australia performing. And it might have been some people, but everybody else in that concert was rapping all his music. You know what I'm saying? I think he's just. I don't think he gives a fuck. He's about to drop a whole nother album. Of course he feels some sort of sting, but, like, you know, he looks stressed. I'm sure one of them girls he with that do hair can Fix it.

[Hey Friend]

You ain't see the blue boots.

[Francesca]

I seen them blue honeys. That's what I said. I've seen them blue bands. That's what I seen. So, like, hell, no. I think. I don't give a.

[Hey Friend]

This is all crazy. I don't know.

[Asante]

I hear you, friend. Like, I hear you too.

[Francesca]

You know, I think on a human.

[Hey Friend]

Level.

[Asante]

I just think it's hard for me to get there. Like, because. Because I do hear you, and I'm like, I'm really listening to what you're saying, and I'm processing it. I think for me, it's just hard for me to get there as far as artists are concerned. I don't know. Certain artists I do care about like that, and certain artists I don't.

[Francesca]

Yeah, like Mary J. Blige. I care about her mental health.

[Asante]

You know what I'm saying? Like, there are certain artists that cash out.

[Hey Friend]

Speaking of Mary, been looking over it. Dustin, what's going on?

[Asante]

Well. Well, every time they show.

[Hey Friend]

Every time they show.

[Francesca]

Carrying the music industry on her back for so many years now, you know, she just finished a very weighty, you know, induct her.

[Asante]

Her.

[Francesca]

She was inducted to the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. You know, she's had a lot on her. She's tired now. She's back on tour. She's sleepy. She might be tired. I seen her pass that mic, you know, I did see that.

[Hey Friend]

She said this.

[Francesca]

But we ain't finna talk about Mary J. Blige. I just want to make. Make sure we clear, okay? Cuz sometimes, you know, family, you know, we gotta let each other know sometime. We ain't f. To be talking about Mary J. Blige. You know what I'm saying? That ain't what this is, you know.

[Hey Friend]

You know who's coming to Portland? Erica Badu.

[Francesca]

Oh, that's gonna be a good show.

[Hey Friend]

You know, I'm really excited. I'm absolutely going. I was on.

[Francesca]

Fresh off her Grammy win. She just won a Grammy with Rhapsody.

[Hey Friend]

And I saw her in. Was it Dallas that I flew to with her hometown?

[Francesca]

Oh, yeah, you said they were smoking all that.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, my God. I smelled like after I walked out of there, I was like, damn, y' all didn't even give me the option of wanting to smell like this.

[Asante]

Oh, my God.

[Hey Friend]

But also, I was fucked up that day because Claude had given me the Delta 8. Delta 8. Gummy destroyed my life. Worst decision of my life.

[Francesca]

But did the music feel. Did you feel that bass?

[Hey Friend]

I was the music.

[Asante]

You can hear your Heart pumping and your blood rushing and all that drum. Hit.

[Hey Friend]

Every string, pull every note. I was sitting there vibrating like, I hate that I did this. It destroyed my experience. Not to mention everyone's smoking, so that just heightened the experience. But I will be fine. I'm gonna see her in Portland. It's. I believe it's on the 21st. I'm very excited. I'm so. And it's a jazz fest, apparently, so.

[Francesca]

Oh, even better. More artists.

[Hey Friend]

More artists. And I'm curious, like, does she adjust her set list, you know, based on the festival or not? Like, I'm curious. It's gonna be more jazzy.

[Francesca]

I know what she better do. What you gonna do when they come to you?

[Hey Friend]

The work game is what it pays. Yes, yes.

[Francesca]

It does. Different.

[Hey Friend]

I am so excited.

[Asante]

Oh, my baby.

[Hey Friend]

And you know all the black people in Portland are gonna be at that concert. Hell, yeah. Literally every. It's about essence up in that reunion. Right? So I'm very excited.

[Francesca]

Message, please, for the mayor of Philadelphia. Yeah, misspelling Eagles. Asante. If you could put that on the summer jam stream, that'd be fantastic. If you can't do.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, no. I just saw the screenshot. E, L, G, S, E. I thought maybe she forgot a letter, but this is.

[Francesca]

I don't know what. She must have been tired. I know. It was. It seemed like it was early in the morning, you know what I'm saying? But she had to be tired. I don't know why she did that.

[Hey Friend]

It's just how it looks.

[Francesca]

Eagles. I know. I'd have been looking at that like, I know I ain't that high. She said, what? Yeah, Anyway, tie that. Tie that bow for y'.

[Asante]

All.

[Francesca]

Because we had left it open ended earlier in the show. That's all.

[Hey Friend]

Are you gonna play? I don't know if he was pulling it up.

[Asante]

Yes, I am.

[Hey Friend]

But I know our computers have been. I might have to get a new phone, y'. All. Y' all know I'm not that girl. I have the 12 still, so, friend.

[Francesca]

You need a new phone. No, that's what that means, friend.

[Hey Friend]

And it's only because a cup of water got spilled on it. You know, I'm livid. Y' all know I'm not a big. Get the new phone just because this new phone is out. Because a lot of the times the difference isn't even that. That stark for me to feel like I need the new one. So I still have the 12, like, and I've been good, and it's been perfectly fine. Like I'm talking about no issues whatsoever until I'm the one that gets a new phone when it breaks. But then water got spilled on it. I'm livid because that's not even like it's natural lifespan, you know what I'm saying?

[Asante]

Yep.

[Francesca]

Now I got a 14 miles.

[Hey Friend]

It disabled my face ID and that's annoying. Like that's one of those things where it's like okay, it said the laser. I guess that enables that got destroyed.

[Francesca]

So Damn.

[Asante]

See, look how technology has developed and you became dependent and it was convenient.

[Hey Friend]

Right now I'm gonna get a new phone because I don't want to type in my password. That's really childish. Low key. I shouldn't just type in the.

[Francesca]

Don't be walking around with your laser craft.

[Asante]

You still have business to take to handle, you know what I'm saying?

[Hey Friend]

But they have the new app, the passwords app that like just fills it right in and opens it up. Like you don't even. You know what? I'mma be a rebel.

[Francesca]

I think you need to go in and get your new phone friend.

[Asante]

Right. It's a.

[Francesca]

You need something that's going to kill your business on the systems in your vehicle.

[Hey Friend]

I did hear that the camera is quite the upgrade. I did hear that. Especially from a 12.

[Asante]

I mean imagine how if you just.

[Francesca]

Had your phone in coastal Oregon.

[Hey Friend]

Well, my partner has a new phone.

[Francesca]

Your pictures would look like the Las Vegas fear. I'm telling you, you should do it.

[Asante]

Because I have a 14 Pro Max.

[Hey Friend]

That's a big ass one, right?

[Asante]

Yeah. But then I. So I have another device and it's a 16 and I was like damn, the camera on this is nice.

[Hey Friend]

That shit is like a dslr.

[Francesca]

I don't even know which one this is. Let me see which phone it is. I have general what's out.

[Hey Friend]

The 16 is the latest one.

[Francesca]

I have a 15 Pro Max.

[Hey Friend]

I mean you're damn near right there.

[Asante]

Yeah, right there.

[Francesca]

So I need a new phone.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Hey Friend]

No, you there be no changes though.

[Asante]

That's how they be making you feel.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah, the camera is probably the only thing for real.

[Asante]

Well, they added a button now too. So the camera.

[Hey Friend]

What you mean they added a button? Like the home button?

[Asante]

Yeah. No, but I told you I missed the home button. Wasn't that you. I was telling. Okay, so I thought I would but.

[Hey Friend]

I'm used to not being there now.

[Francesca]

I think a button would be nasty first.

[Hey Friend]

I don't even remember. My thing is I don't even remember the home Button like what did we use it for?

[Asante]

Oh, it was just to take you back to the home. It was right there on the center. You would press it.

[Francesca]

It.

[Asante]

Okay. Sorry, I just.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah. I forgot what that life was like.

[Asante]

Okay, so this is the regular 16. The basic S16. It's making a stallion.

[Francesca]

Okay.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, that's cool.

[Francesca]

Yeah.

[Asante]

Y' all know. How y' all know I'm a hottie. Standard buttons, you know, volume and all that.

[Francesca]

But do the YouTube hands.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, I see y' all got three. But what's the third one? Dude.

[Asante]

So this is the. Instead of the switch off on for the silent vibrate thing, you hold it down. So look, you press. You hold it or you hold it instead of clicking it back and forth. And then also. Okay, there's a button on the side now. So this button is a trigger button and you can just press it to open something. But you know, you still gotta have your face ID on. I just minus camera. But it used to. I think this default is for Apple Intelligence or something like that. But you can also use that button while you're using the camera. I figured this out. It was so random to zoom. So this button. You see that?

[Hey Friend]

Oh.

[Asante]

Oh yeah. There you go.

[Hey Friend]

Oh. So that's kind of cool. I don't think I would. I see. But to me it's like they was just like looking for to do like that's not life changing. Yeah, it's not zooms. Yeah.

[Asante]

Minor, minor conveniences. Like. Like little minor tweaks. But you know what?

[Hey Friend]

Cuz it's like know what to do.

[Asante]

But that's the thing. Getting a phone is like getting a car. But people think getting a phone is like getting, you know, a yearly checkup. People will get a new phone before they get a. A yearly checkup. But you don't need to get the new model car every year. It comes out every year. I mean, I mean you could though some people do trade their car every year. They're like, oh, this is.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah, the land of excess. I don't know. I'm gonna see the passwords app has been clutch. I also hadn't even updated my phone. I know it's at. What is it? 18.3 or something is like the new.

[Francesca]

I don't even what you wrote. What you using?

[Hey Friend]

Don't worry about it, friend.

[Asante]

I have to know now.

[Hey Friend]

But I updated. Here's how they got me. They said. They said if you update your software that it might fix the lasers. So here I go updating it. Can I tell you how it fixed it for like a day. And I was gassed. Like, oh, shit, that's done. I don't need to get a new phone. Next day it said, disabled, bitch, we got you. But thanks for updating it.

[Asante]

Because the software realized that the hardware wasn't really doing it. It was like, yeah, it said, no.

[Hey Friend]

We lied to her. We got her to update finally. But, yeah, I don't know. We'll see.

[Francesca]

You know what I kept for a while and didn't update was the Twitter ad. When Elon changed.

[Hey Friend]

I remember that. Because we didn't want it.

[Francesca]

I would not update it. And then one day it automatically did. I accidentally so mad.

[Hey Friend]

And now they even changed the URL. Before, remember, you'd still have to write Twitter, which was kind of funny. But now it's X. I'm gonna be.

[Asante]

I'm gonna honestly be upset because I still go to the URL. So I'm gonna be upset. Today I can't type in twitter.com because right now you'll go and it'll redirect you.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah.

[Asante]

Which is fine. But one day you're gonna go to Twitter. Like, no, this is no longer a thing.

[Hey Friend]

This is not a site.

[Asante]

X.comhoe I'm be like, yeah, see, this is the least y' all could be paying for it.

[Hey Friend]

I lowkey just want to get off of all this. Like, I wanna. I might get off of Twitter. I don't know. I want to get off of Twitter.

[Francesca]

I take some time off.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah.

[Asante]

You like it?

[Hey Friend]

I haven't used it really. Like, I'm on it, but I haven't been like, what. What do they call it?

[Asante]

Skating.

[Hey Friend]

Skating. Skating. I haven't been skating or anything. I should, though.

[Asante]

I love it. It makes me think of Lil John.

[Francesca]

I love it too.

[Asante]

Oh, Skiski. Well, and I love it.

[Francesca]

Olympic sports.

[Asante]

Ski.

[Francesca]

Shooting.

[Asante]

Ski. Goddamn.

[Hey Friend]

No, I haven't really been using it. I haven't really. I feel like the only app that I really be on like that T. Tick tock. Yeah, yeah.

[Asante]

You just go say, tick tock.

[Hey Friend]

It's just, you know, we got a thing going on.

[Asante]

I'm an apple. I just open and close all of them. I don't spend enough time on any of them. I open them up, Look, I'd be on ig. I spend like five, ten minutes scrolling through each of them and go, I have to. Because otherwise I will be in like, a paralysis. And I will be like, I've seen it happen to people in public. And I'm like, damn, is that me? Do I be like that? And when I'm at home sometimes I'm like oh my God, this like that is me. Like I've been able to like kind of scrolling. Yes. I look at the clock and like I did not sit here from 6:30 to 7:45 just scrolling on the twitter and tick tock. Like I did not do that.

[Hey Friend]

Should be feeling really bad. It'd be feeling bad when you realize like yo, I just sat and scrolled for three hours. That's terrible. Terrible, right?

[Asante]

The fact that I heard that that was on the low end too. And I know you exaggerating, but I've heard people say, I know you exaggerated, but people have told me that what I said was on the low end and I was like, nah bitch, who told you that? Some bed riders motherfuckers that be social media in their life away. And I was like, wow, so this is how you do it. This week's episode is brought to you by Squarespace. Squarespace is the all in one website platform for entrepreneurs to stand out and succeed online. Whether you're just starting out or managing a growing brand, Squarespace makes it easy to create a beautiful website, engage with your audience, and sell anything from products to content to time, all in one place, all on your terms. Connect major social and multimedia accounts to your website in a few clicks as icons, direct links, or embedded feeds. Build visitor trust while updating content only where you need it, extending your brand's footprint. Sellers can also sync their product catalog directly with Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Google, to reach more customers and reduce the steps for a purchase. Get discovered fast with integrated SEO tools. Every Squarespace website is optimized to be indexed with meta descriptions, an auto generated sitemap, and more so you show up more often to more people in global search engine results. All of the tools you need to engage your subscribers, drive sales and simplify your audience management. Set up automated emails to build connections while saving time and easily integrate your products into email templates to drive sales and increase site traffic. You guys, we love Squarespace. They are the og. If you know how to make a website, but you don't know how to sell something, this is the great place to intersect those two things. If you know how to sell something, but you know how to make a website, this is a great place to intersect those two things. If you don't know how to do either one, this is a great place to learn how to do those two things. Squarespace is really an all in one platform. I mean shopping, just having to be seen. It's a great place to have a presence on the net, and we all know it, and you all got to show it. So go to squarespace.com for a free trial, and when you're ready to Launch, go to squarespace.com friendzone to save 10 off your first purchase of a website or domain. That's 10% off your first purchase of a website or [e-mail] FriendZone.

[Francesca]

Divorce isn't that big a deal.

[Hey Friend]

You don't have kids or money.

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[Asante]

I don't want to get a divorce.

[Hey Friend]

No one does. She does.

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[Asante]

We need to find a way to restore the balance. And you had sex with my wife. So maybe I don't know. No, me. What is wrong with you? Splitsville.

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[Francesca]

Sometimes an identity threat is a ring of professional hackers.

[Asante]

And sometimes it's an overworked accountant who forgot to encrypt their connection while sending bank details. I need a coffee.

[Francesca]

And you need Lifelock.

[Asante]

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[Hey Friend]

Now. YouTube. Let's talk about YouTube. That I can't talk about. That's where they got me. And y' all convinced me to get YouTube TV. I did it. I went.

[Asante]

Isn't it everything?

[Hey Friend]

It is. But now I gotta figure out, like, what apps do I get rid of? What streaming apps do I need to.

[Asante]

Not have no more.

[Hey Friend]

Why do you all have people if you all have YouTube TV?

[Asante]

Well, I see I still like to watch some commercial free the next day for certain shows. And then they'd be uncensored and extended.

[Francesca]

Right.

[Asante]

And then Peacock also still has their own original other shows.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah, okay. Okay.

[Asante]

I think you can let Philo go.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah, but see, but Philo has married at first sight, which I do like to watch. And I know you can watch that.

[Francesca]

On the Lifetime app.

[Hey Friend]

It wasn't on there.

[Francesca]

It's on the Lifetime app.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, like if you go to the.

[Francesca]

App Store, you can watch it. That's how I watched it.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah, but I might as well keep Philo, because it's just another app, you know what I mean?

[Asante]

But I think if you download the Lifetime app, you can connect your YouTube TV or if maybe you connected your follow account to it, it would allow you to watch the episodes there.

[Francesca]

I don't know.

[Hey Friend]

I don't know. I just want to like downsize. I was hoping that YouTube TV would help me downsize. Like that's the whole point. Because at this point it's ridiculous. I'm.

[Francesca]

I got rid of my cable when I got on YouTube TV. I canceled my Spectrum cable and just kept the Internet.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

So. Because you can get local, you know, whatever. Whatever.

[Asante]

Yeah. That's why I like YouTube TV. Because local stuff on there and you can take it wherever with you and it'll update in different cities, even if you're, if you say you're just temporarily visiting and stuff. It is, it is. But you know what?

[Hey Friend]

I saw that price. I was like.

[Asante]

My thing is, I remember seeing. Because I ain't pay bills when I was a child. Like I remember seeing, you know, some of those like, like ad deals for those packages. And I feel like what I'm paying for this YouTube TV is way cheaper than what I would have paid for like a cable phone, whatever.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, for sure. There would have been like a hundred or ninety something. Yeah.

[Asante]

So I'm like, all right, I'll take it. I need to be in the know and have the actual news on the TV as opposed to watching the clips on YouTube.

[Francesca]

Exactly.

[Asante]

Have that on.

[Hey Friend]

I mean, it's a write off for us since we're in media. So they gonna take the money anyway. You might as well use it for something useful. But still, I just be looking at my bill pay account like this is ridiculous. And a lot of those apps, I don't even really be on like that. Like I haven't, I haven't really used my Max app a lot. I was on it. They had like a Diddy 5.

[Asante]

Max is about to go. Max is about to go.

[Francesca]

It doesn't work.

[Asante]

You know what?

[Hey Friend]

It doesn't have like a randomly good documentary or something. You know what I mean?

[Asante]

They know they're not keeping the catalog. Shout out to Westworld. I think I've talked about this already. Westworld is gone from the Max app. That was a flagship HBO series. I have no idea. Like now you have to purchase it. I don't know what happened, who still had what, but now you gotta like buy it. And you know what? It. I might buy it because I like it.

[Hey Friend]

You loved it.

[Asante]

Yeah, I love Westworld, the actors and actresses, all of them phenomenal. A1. But, Max, I don't like what you're doing over there. I don't like how I can't. I couldn't watch Legendary, and now you have to take Westworld.

[Hey Friend]

Legendary.

[Asante]

Legendary. Bing. I have complained for at least two or three Pride past Pride seasons. Well, maybe more than that if we count all the ones that happen in between her individually. But yes, Legendary. Been gone for a minute, and it needs to come back.

[Francesca]

Well, the Max app actually has technical issues as well. Every time I try to use it, it's lagging.

[Asante]

Always been buggy.

[Francesca]

I'm gagging. It's just not a good situation. You know what I mean? But the Max app is always moving slow, and Peacock moves slow, too. On my tv. The Max app.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah, Peacock. I have a lot of issues with Peacock. Even, like, the login page on my laptop. Like.

[Francesca]

Like, yeah, it's always my Peacock missing a feather.

[Asante]

To be honest. All the streaming platforms need work on their apps and things. I think they.

[Hey Friend]

They feel like for fast forwarding and rewinding. I feel like they're all so messed up.

[Asante]

Maybe coming hard to wind on fans.

[Francesca]

No more.

[Hey Friend]

What?

[Francesca]

Yeah, I know. I said the same thing. No, I know.

[Asante]

Oh, my God.

[Hey Friend]

You know what app, though? I have been randomly on a lot more Paramount. There is a show called Landman with Billy Bob Thornton, and it is so good.

[Asante]

I haven't seen it, but I've seen it. It looks good.

[Hey Friend]

Basically. It's like he is. He works for the oil companies. So these are like billion, billion, billion, billion billionaires. That guy John Ham from Mad Men is on it. Like, it's just good acting. And basically, it's like, how rich these are. The fracking that they do, the way they finesse the system, how they. How they're in bed with the cartel, and, like, they all have to coexist somehow. Just. It's really good. If you like that type of shit. I love.

[Asante]

No, watch it.

[Francesca]

Fracking, right? By definition, because I've heard of you several different rays, right? Is it true that fracking is like when you literally put your butt crack against another person's butt crack? Ain't that fracking?

[Hey Friend]

It's the fact that I sat here, looked into his eyes, thinking that I'm really gonna answer.

[Francesca]

I heard fracking was when two people take their ass cracks and just put them against each other and jump. I think that's what fracking is.

[Hey Friend]

Feminist is destroying my life right now. You are. Why did you just look like the Rihanna. Me.

[Francesca]

Fracking. You know?

[Hey Friend]

Yeah. You're crazy as hell. But it's a good show. Also, I. I have to start watching Yellowstone. I think Claude was telling me that that's another good show. I think Kevin Costner is like, the lead.

[Asante]

I always wanted to, but I never did.

[Francesca]

It's about the white part of Boosie's eyeballs.

[Asante]

No, the. The other yellow. I started watching yellow jackets instead of Yellowstone.

[Hey Friend]

Now, yellow jackets was good.

[Asante]

You the one that.

[Hey Friend]

No, let me tell you, Season one had me. Okay, had me. Season two, they lost me.

[Asante]

Like, episode five or six. I was like me. Because I already knew. I already know the setup and I don't care. So that's why I'm like. I don't know why I'm still here so much.

[Hey Friend]

You know what you have to watch that I just started.

[Asante]

Please tell me friend, what's his name.

[Hey Friend]

From this is Us, the black dude.

[Francesca]

Sterling K. Brown. Yeah.

[Hey Friend]

He is in a new show on Hulu called Paradise.

[Francesca]

I keep hearing things about this. Is that good?

[Hey Friend]

Is so I keep hearing, you know when you start watching a show, but it's a school night and you have to force yourself to turn the motherfucker off. Turn this motherfucker off. Because you're gonna let that next episode play and be up till three in the morning. That was us last night. Like, no, no, no, no.

[Francesca]

We gotta give myself a note for this. Yeah.

[Hey Friend]

It is so good. If you like, like government conspiracy theories.

[Francesca]

Oh, oh, so you're gonna love this.

[Hey Friend]

So it's about the government having a hidden city. Ah, wait.

[Francesca]

Oh, yo, I'm telling you.

[Asante]

Oh.

[Hey Friend]

We were sitting there like, I'm gonna watch it. Because you know it's true. The whole temp was like, letting us know. They letting us know when they do these shows, it's because it' happening. We just late.

[Francesca]

I can't do it. Here you go.

[Hey Friend]

We just late to the party. You know what I'm saying? My hotel was buzzing last night. Buzzing. But y' all should watch it. It's a very good show.

[Francesca]

I did watch Clean Slate. Remember I told y' all about it. The show with George Wallace and Laverne Cox. That's on Prime Video.

[Hey Friend]

You did tell us. Let me actually write that so I can remember.

[Francesca]

So I watched it, you know. Cause I wanted. I love George Wallace. He's one of my favor. And the show is produced by Norman Lear. It was the last show he produced before he passed. So, you know, but I watched it. It's. You Know, it's George Wallace had me rolling the whole time, and Tilma Hopkins had me laughing, too. But Nene Leakes has a cameo on his show. When I tell you Nene had me fucking dying in her cameo on this show.

[Hey Friend]

Do you think she should be in sitcoms like this should be her pivot?

[Francesca]

Hundred percent. She needs to go back, back. She remembers she was in the New Normal on NBC. It only ran for one season. She was great in that. But I'm telling y', all, Nicki Minaj. Yes, she said, but basically she's playing herself and she's running for a local government office and her bus pulls up to the car wash that this show is centered around and heard the lines that she delivers and they are going to shoot bricks when they see that. I like just the things that she's saying. Whoever wrote it for her and the way that she delivered these lines, I'm telling you, I was perfect. Dying Meanie had me rolling. So I want to see really cool.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah, she really just, like, leaned into that instead of trying to be back on the show.

[Francesca]

She needs to be on the show where she can cuss, too. Like, so she need to get with 50 cent and get on, like, power. Hell, yeah.

[Hey Friend]

Well, we don't know emfs ever coming back. Back. I was thinking about you, Justin. Remember our back and forth about that.

[Francesca]

Show and I that you love so much and encourage everyone to watch and continue to support us.

[Hey Friend]

Like, oh, no, Dustin.

[Francesca]

What they say in the song. At least you can wish me love. Little Meat said I was he was just trying to get his money up before next season. 50 Cent, go post the text to say what season?

[Hey Friend]

Next season with the ninja. Yo, 50 different season.

[Francesca]

I was like, man, 50 different.

[Hey Friend]

Y' all saw the video. The. The picture of him talking about smoking on.

[Francesca]

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. I did see that. And I'm not going to laugh right now because no. So disrespectful. It was shot like, value was funny. Yeah. The levels and he was smiling and yo, no, no, I'm not gonna sit here, though. I'm gonna be honest. It's some people who, you know.

[Hey Friend]

No.

[Francesca]

Don't even see myself not just smoking on the pack. I'm having a party and not a repass. Okay. I'm glad you passed. That's what I'm having. I ain't having a repairs. I'm gonna have. Thank you for pass. Thank you for passing, but should have been. I'm gonna have a Should have been passed. That's the party I'm gonna have for a couple. And I mean that with every bone in my body. What's the. What's that book that's turned into a movie? Children of the Blood. Trying to meet at a bone and blood. Children of the Bone and Blood. I mean. I mean it. From the core of my children. The bones, blood. That's what I mean.

[Hey Friend]

I have that book, so now I can't look at it the same, but.

[Asante]

Get me out of here.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, no.

[Francesca]

Cut different, Lord.

[Hey Friend]

Cut different. You hear me?

[Asante]

You know what else I watched what you see? I watched the part two of the Real Housewives of New York reunion.

[Francesca]

Okay.

[Hey Friend]

I don't know if I watched it. Oh, you know what? I did, but I didn't pay attention. That's why it just wasn't interesting. This the part two. I thought part one had me.

[Asante]

Part one was effective. Part one, definitely. But you know what? Part two really, like, wrapped it up, and I like that they wrapped it up with luck love, because they really did run Brent ass through the ringer on that.

[Francesca]

Oh, baby. She was in a pinball machine the whole day.

[Hey Friend]

I was hugging her and kind of.

[Asante]

I. But you know what? They all meant well, because something really terrible did happen to her, and they acknowledged and they wanted to support that, which I felt was very, very important. And even the way. Even the way UBA was forgiving her, you know what I'm saying? Like, but she was still showing how hurt the she was.

[Francesca]

Uber only did that because she looked better than her. That day was like, I can take the higher road. I looked at this today.

[Asante]

I didn't watch the season, so I didn't know what was happening between Uber and Stunning.

[Hey Friend]

I mean.

[Asante]

Oh, girl. Who was it? No.

[Francesca]

Oh, no. Rebecca.

[Asante]

What is. Is Rebecca? No, not Rebecca.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, with the porter with Puerto Rico.

[Asante]

Yeah. I was like, oh, what was going on?

[Hey Friend]

I was a little on the fence with that one because I get what Raquel was sensitive about. Like, if I took y' all to Dr. Or Puerto Rico or Katie and y', all. And there was the part that was a little sus and y' all on TV talking about, like, yes.

[Asante]

You could.

[Hey Friend]

Tell me later or say it off camera, like, you know, but don't do that to me. So I get it. But at the same time, there was dead birds and, like, what'd you think people was gonna feel, right, if they're sitting on beach chairs with trash visible, like, of anybody would react. But I also come from New York, where we swam at Cho Cha beach, so.

[Francesca]

So, like, But I. I'm with. I'm. I personally was with Raquel on that one.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

I thought that it was. To me, it's just a way you do, you know?

[Asante]

Yeah. You don't make somebody special.

[Francesca]

You know what I mean? And UBA needed to chill.

[Asante]

On that couch. She was giving her. But on the couch, she was giving.

[Francesca]

Her a lot both ways. So that's what I'm saying with the right one.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

What Kendrick say you picked the right.

[Hey Friend]

Time with the wrong guy. No, I understood Raquel's sensitivity. But it did crack me up though, when they were mad. Cause Uber was like, what are the two Puerto Ricans gonna jump me? Or whatever. I'm the wrong person because I find everything funny. I would have been like, bitch, shut up.

[Francesca]

Shut up, bitch. I threw something at her muffin or something.

[Asante]

But I think that's what Uber wanted back because they all call her mean and stuff. Yeah. Cuz that's why S was like, I'm not scared of uba, you know, she's used to it. But Raquel, you know, I feel like sneering ass.

[Francesca]

She didn't do nothing but sneer. The whole goddamn.

[Asante]

Faces.

[Francesca]

That's what she.

[Asante]

That's what she was. And Brent's faces dusting with.

[Francesca]

I think she tough. And Bren, let me tell you about her ass. You know, her hair. Her hair was coy lift and rolled under. So was that lip. So every time she cried, both that lip and the hair was like.

[Hey Friend]

She looked pretty.

[Francesca]

I was like, Yo, YouTube, relax.

[Hey Friend]

Sai has been on YouTube. I noticed she's been aggregating on my YouTube. So she's really been focusing on her YouTube channel as of late. And I clicked it and man, she has this, like, country house. Oh, have y' all seen it?

[Asante]

No.

[Francesca]

Is it gorgeous?

[Hey Friend]

Oh, my goodness. I was like, girl, you are living it up. Just beautiful. Yeah, I think she just got it or something because she's walking you through the design process, essentially. And I love that. You know, I love home decor and just home. So I was like, ugh. That type of money is just different, beautiful.

[Francesca]

Way different, man.

[Hey Friend]

Listen. But. But her YouTube channel is really cute. But they all looked beautiful.

[Asante]

What did you think about Rebecca?

[Hey Friend]

Man, I love Jessa's look.

[Asante]

What I think of what Rebecca, when she showed up, I don't think she.

[Hey Friend]

Should have done the show and got.

[Francesca]

The nerve to post an announcement talking about she's not returning you. Weren't we literally.

[Asante]

Literally, the way it was edited, girl, we know, like, and it's fine.

[Francesca]

Because you're successful in your own right. You can totally.

[Asante]

You just weren't up there for the show, girl.

[Francesca]

I don't think came on the show.

[Hey Friend]

And stood around, but I don't think it helped.

[Asante]

It did not help.

[Hey Friend]

Sometimes the mystique of not necessarily knowing the CEO or creator, like, helps.

[Francesca]

You know what I mean?

[Hey Friend]

This always paint. Right. So I hated it for her because I'm sure she had an intention, which they showed the clip where she was like, they lost 70% or something during COVID and she was hoping that the show would happen, help her turn the brand around. I hate that. That is not what happened. If anything, I think it had the opposite effect.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

They on here clowning her, talking about she got it. She in Norseman's racks. And which to me, like, y', all, what's wrong with Nordstrom rack?

[Hey Friend]

Right, Right. Nor finding some gems up in there. And she. The Scientology thing, too, I think.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

That she, you know, she on her own with that. I can't help you with that, mama.

[Asante]

And I like how some of the girls were trying to make it seem like they were at least open to getting to know her. Even Raquel, who was newer, you know, I. I like how she. They seemed included, but not her, because Rebecca wasn't. Was Rebecca supposed to be a housewife, or was she just a friend of.

[Francesca]

Just a friend.

[Asante]

Yeah. Raquel was actually on as a housewife. Right. Okay. Yeah.

[Hey Friend]

Okay.

[Asante]

Okay. So that works. So Raquel definitely did fit as a housewife. I liked her as an additional. And Rebecca definitely was a poor friend of. And should not return. Okay.

[Francesca]

Raquel had that on at the reunion. That beautiful. That Carolina Herrera dressed. Yeah. She looked good as. They all look good to me. Except one person. Two people. One person. They all. Except one person.

[Hey Friend]

I just didn't care for size dress.

[Francesca]

You know who it was.

[Hey Friend]

Thank you.

[Francesca]

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[Hey Friend]

It'S true. Why she do that?

[Francesca]

Like. And then like, why like her? I don't know about hair and makeup and. Right. But I know what don't look good. And that. That black dress with that regular ass, like brown.

[Hey Friend]

But that's what I wondered if something happened when she just didn't have time because Sa is usually on. She's fun. She's a veteran. Very fun fashion girl. Like, she's gonna give you cool, different. I like her. Her clothes.

[Francesca]

You know, she gonna be in my DMs. And something happened.

[Asante]

Literally was just about to have recovered from the last one, and I. Look at me do it again.

[Hey Friend]

The sneering is killing me.

[Francesca]

She does it all the time. All season long, she's been sticking her chin out at everybody, just making a. You know, she does that.

[Hey Friend]

So what do y' all think of Aaron?

[Asante]

I don't. I honestly, I. This has been an ongoing thing for me because sometimes I like Aaron but think. But then I think sometimes I like the idea of her more than I actually like her.

[Francesca]

Not a standout personality for me, but totally necessary for the show.

[Asante]

Yes, yes.

[Francesca]

And I think that she is a great. I just think she fits a. A character profile. A character profile that is necessary for this mix of women that represent New York City personalities. I got you personality. Her life, like, just, you know, and some of her personal style and. And taste, I think is necessary to be in the mix for what it appears that Bravo wants this cast to represent.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Hey Friend]

And her style is classic white woman.

[Francesca]

In New York with just a little.

[Hey Friend]

Bit of teeny bit.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Hey Friend]

Because she got the money to play, you know, like income for clothes. So you have money to play, you.

[Francesca]

Know, that woman in New York.

[Asante]

That's what I'm saying. She checks off a lot of boxes that fit. So that's why I said I don't know if I like her or the idea of her because I get, like. I get that profile and that's why she is perfect. But sometimes her, I don't know because she doesn't do anything that, like, pisses me off or annoys me per se. But I am bothered by her at times. And I've only seen the first season and a few episodes of this season, like the first three and then the finale.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah.

[Asante]

The reunions.

[Hey Friend]

So, yeah, it's all the lying and lack of accountability that's. Yeah, that gets kind of annoying.

[Francesca]

But I mean, you know, had Brim been anywhere else, you know, she would have got beat the up a long time ago. Any. Anyone else would have been ragtag brand, like all that goddamn Lying about the. What she said about Jesse. She's like, no, you right now. Because you. I was like, damn. Just that mean. Her. Her husband.

[Hey Friend]

No. Imagine how embarrassing that was to sit there next to your husband talking about a black man was over your life. He probably looked at her.

[Asante]

They accusing. They calling me and I'm going to get a sandwich. Meanwhile you out here doing whatever. Whoever.

[Francesca]

He looked down when he said.

[Hey Friend]

But the worst part is she said he didn't believe her. When she told him that that's not what she said. I was like, oh, this is bad.

[Francesca]

Because he. She. You know why.

[Hey Friend]

Stop looking.

[Francesca]

Shortcomings. That's why. Okay.

[Hey Friend]

Papa don't give a. He just want.

[Asante]

He's gonna get his mouths. Why did those things. Yeah, yeah. So that's it for the Real Housewives in New York. Honestly, I feel like that's all that needs to be said.

[Francesca]

Bravo, friend. Bravo. No pun intended.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, and severance is back.

[Asante]

Are you.

[Francesca]

My friend is watching that and he told me that I need to watch.

[Hey Friend]

To be honest, I'm going to rewatch season one because it's been too many years in between and I don't even know what I'm looking for.

[Francesca]

Question, question. Is this the show that you had us watch, Asante, where. I just remember it was a show where this black guy was going to be a part of this experiment and he was like a psychiatrist or something, and he was going to be a part of. Where they put some chip in you or some shit. You don't remember, like, why you at work?

[Hey Friend]

No, that was Mahershala.

[Francesca]

Am I mixing stuff?

[Hey Friend]

Yeah, you're mixing that Mahershala movie that we watched about him being cloned, remember?

[Francesca]

Yeah, maybe that's what I'm saying.

[Hey Friend]

Because he was sickly and like there was a program where he could get cloned and live forever.

[Francesca]

Yeah, yeah, that ain't. Excuse me.

[Hey Friend]

No, we did that for the binge. But this is a show essentially, like, you know, when people trying to find work life balance, and it's damn near impossible for most of us, you can sever your consciousness. Is that the best way to put it? So that you have like a double consciousness. You have the consciousness at home, so you turn off work, and then when you get out to work, you turn off home. And it's like ethically how dangerous that is that you don't remember what happened to you at work. You know what I mean? Like, you don't know what happened to you at work. And so the show plays with that concept. It's really interesting. I like it. I see a lot of people say they think it moves a little slow. I can see that it is a very slow moving show. But I like it.

[Asante]

Yeah, well, I'm gonna watch it.

[Francesca]

My friend been telling me to watch it, so.

[Hey Friend]

Very cool friend.

[Asante]

You know, this is my favorite type of television, this genre, like, as a Westworld world. It's like the conversations that are happening about technologies that are simply emerging or but way in the future, like how they could play in the future, how they've already been developed, right? So think about that Elon Musk, that chip that they put in people's brains and how right now, yeah, the neural link. How for some people right now it's just beneficial for, you know, maybe people, other abled people and helping them out. But in the future, if it becomes. And a less invasive technology and the processes and the AI or whatever has developed to where you can have this link to where when you go to work, you literally, when you go into the building, Dustin, these people literally go into the building. They go on an elevator. And imagine you just remember coming down the elevator eight hours later and you go back to your car to leave. Like, that's like you, you don't even remember the eight hours. It feels like, well, so. Well, you're not doing drugs, right? You're not doing drugs, drugs. Because you don't feel those eight hours missing. Like, for you, it just feels like maybe seconds, like you're just going up and down. You're like, what the was that? But in that eight hours, that feels like second.

[Hey Friend]

So maybe.

[Asante]

Because it's more like, so listen. So you would never do that, right? So they do a great job of. This is why it's like one of my favorite types of TV shows because they do a great job of giving you a circumstance of where someone might do some like this and you might not even agree with them doing some like this. But this person, he lost his wife and so now for him, it's like time is going by so slow and. And he was preyed upon. You know, they also explored capitalism in this a little bit too, right. Somebody showed up to his door, was like, you know, we know that you're grieving. Your wife has been, you know, she was a big part of your life and time is going slower. This can help you speed time up a little bit and you can make some money while you're doing it because you'll be working a job. The thing is, you won't remember what you're doing. But it's completely safe. Your. Your body's not at home, Harm. And honestly, he does just go to an office job every day. But for him, he gets that. He even says, I think in this season, he's like, that time has gone by faster. Like that time that he would have spent grieving over her. Like, the days would have gone by longer. But he said he feels like time's actually moved along a little bit for him. But there's a whole nother thing that's happening on the show that we don't even have to get into. But I just like the fact that there are those threads of technology and how it could be used for you and still against you. Like, either showing even how it could still be abused, which is up is.

[Francesca]

No planet in the world and our solar system and those beyond that exist on which I would agree to allow Elon Musk.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, no.

[Francesca]

I don't care who or anyone.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

To put a chip in my body that alters my ability to be aware of what the. Is going on around me.

[Asante]

Right.

[Hey Friend]

But what if you're cornered where it's like, if you don't have this chip, you can't grocery shop. Kind of like with COVID how it was like if you didn't have the vaccine, you couldn't go into certain places unless you showed the card. Like, what if you get cornered in that way?

[Francesca]

Then I'll give it to scammers and figure out what I need to do. But I'm just not. There's no way.

[Hey Friend]

The difference is jailbroken.

[Asante]

Right?

[Francesca]

I'm not getting no chip that somebody can program. My, my, my. That's why they keep doing these shows and movies.

[Hey Friend]

It's always prep.

[Francesca]

But imagine the example we gave right. Of dealing with grief.

[Asante]

They always. I've been dealing with grief.

[Francesca]

Are you crazy? You've been dying since the 60s.

[Asante]

They always. They always push grief in these tech conversations. They always push grief in them. I'm like, damn.

[Hey Friend]

People have been dying since the 60s.

[Asante]

But imagine people in the hood, you know, that just. They're just making it and they find a way. Some, hey, I'm offering these chips. You know, you can make money doing something good and you can put it on your resume, blah, blah. Or you might just want to stay with us. You'll get benefits. Xyz and they can start this year.

[Francesca]

They go into. The people they know lack education and. And awareness to know the dangers of that. And they gonna exploit those people. That's fucked up. But them hoes ain't putting no, you ain't finna put no USB up in me. I ain't finna charge nobody phone. Fuck that. You know what I'm saying? How you a phone charger?

[Hey Friend]

I already seen it. I already seen videos on YouTube of people that have the chip in their hand to get into work, which is.

[Asante]

I don't like that stuff.

[Francesca]

Like you gonna work there for the rest of your life.

[Hey Friend]

That's my thing. Like, so what if you get fired now? You gotta.

[Francesca]

I spit in my boss face. That'd be my last day working there. The day they asked me, we put it. Put your work badge in your wrist. You know how many people hate their damn job anyway? Can you imagine if they try to force some like that? It's gonna be a bloodbath.

[Asante]

I couldn't imagine working in any place of business where I have to get some sort of hardware installed in my body.

[Francesca]

You gotta get a chip to go make chips.

[Hey Friend]

It's gonna be the future. I really do see it.

[Asante]

This conversation is not going to age well. And that's totally fine because as of.

[Hey Friend]

Right now, we gonna have chips. You're saying we're gonna look back like. Remember when we were scared to get our chips?

[Asante]

Somebody gonna find this in a time. Time caps on here. This. They're like, damn.

[Hey Friend]

That's these old talking about.

[Francesca]

They would never even imagine now surgery anyway. So I'm gonna say it wasn't me. I'm gonna look totally different by that point.

[Asante]

Oh my God.

[Hey Friend]

Do you guys have anything else you want to touch on before we get up?

[Francesca]

I do, but I can't. Couple more days anyways.

[Asante]

You know, Rest to everybody. Shout out to everybody getting their Beyonce tickets.

[Hey Friend]

Oh yeah. Y' all going? I don't think I'm. I think I'm gonna sit this one out.

[Francesca]

I'm going because I gotta hear her do 16 carriages live. So literally like. And two hands to heaven. I have and American Requiem. I have to hear them three songs live. And everything else I probably get with Asante.

[Hey Friend]

Are you sad there aren't more international dates for you to play with, Mr.

[Asante]

I am sad. And it's. It's so funny you said it, cuz I was you.

[Hey Friend]

I was like.

[Asante]

I was being a fool earlier. I was like, am I gonna look at Paris?

[Francesca]

I was like, am I gonna look.

[Asante]

And I was like, don't look at Paris. Don't look at Paris. So. But I am going for sure. It's just.

[Francesca]

You going to.

[Asante]

It's just a matter of where and when.

[Francesca]

He already knows My sister and my cousin shout out to my cousin India and my sister Daria. They literally. They handle that. They be boots on the ground with them Beyonce tickets because they both in the house. Since the Formation World tour, I have not had to, like, go find a Beyonce ticket. They already got. They got bots almost. You know what I'm saying? They don't around, so I love that.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah, I was surprised in the group chat, but, you know, everyone's going through things.

[Francesca]

Yeah, it's a lot going on right now.

[Hey Friend]

It's a lot going on.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Hey Friend]

Because last time, obviously, it was more of a thing, like, everybody was like, okay, which city we all going to? We're gonna. The house this time. Everyone was like, I don't know. It's kind of up in the air. I personally already knew that I wasn't. I loved going to Renaissance. I love spending time with the girls and making it a thing and the outfits. Like, that was so fun. But I just don't know if I want to do that again right now.

[Francesca]

You're the country album.

[Hey Friend]

I just. Yeah, just not even. Because I like this album. I think it's nice. She sounds great. I actually really love the songs, but I just don't have the. The energy to, like, do all that again because it was a lot.

[Francesca]

I just don't know if I want to be around country fans.

[Asante]

Yeah. I'm not dressing up like that.

[Hey Friend]

I doubt that you will. It's just gonna be, you know, still.

[Asante]

Gonna do what we do, which I love, and I can't wait to see. That's actually one of the things that's always exciting about a Beyonce concert, because always show up and always show out on the floor.

[Hey Friend]

Oh, God, the outfits are gonna be so good. I'm actually really looking forward to this.

[Francesca]

Everybody's gonna have on two chaps.

[Hey Friend]

You. You keep doing this. Tassels, boots, asses out with chaps. Calling it. You already know.

[Asante]

Then you just going to be like, all right, now, y' all know y' all can't show up in here.

[Francesca]

Cuz some of y' all was indecently exposed at that Renaissance tour. Okay, I'm telling you right now, some of that.

[Asante]

Yes.

[Francesca]

For me to be taken aback because you know I'm a dirty. So for me to be taken aback, I was like, no, this is too far. Okay. So I can't.

[Hey Friend]

Yeah, it should be cool. I saw Cleo Soul is doing a LA stop, too. She's coming to the West Coast. Yeah. I just don't have the energy to fight for tickets, child.

[Asante]

But I might randomly go see her in New York.

[Hey Friend]

Really? I think they're. They're probably, you know, the scalp tickets. The reseller dollars still got some stuff going. It's just expensive. They be going crazy with these prices.

[Asante]

One of our friends hit me up and said they had some tickets, so I was like, oh, you know what? Maybe I could fly for that.

[Hey Friend]

Because I. I thought about it. Yeah, I thought about it, but I don't know. I'm just. I know.

[Asante]

Let me know if you know what I'm saying.

[Hey Friend]

I mean, I'm gonna be there for the thing that we can't talk about.

[Asante]

Yeah.

[Francesca]

You know, going to the concert.

[Asante]

You gotta let her know. Why did we end up here two weeks in a row? What is with y' all and him?

[Hey Friend]

You gotta let me know. You gotta let me know that. And on that note being said.

[Asante]

Yes. We love you so much. Stay obvious and protect your magic.

[Hey Friend]

Love you guys. We'll see you guys next week. Bye.

[Asante]

This is the friend.