Episode 912 | "Heaven Sent"

Summary

The Joe Budden Podcast

Episode 912 | "Heaven Sent"
Release Date: March 18, 2026
Host: Joe Budden
Guests/Co-hosts: Flip, Parks, Ish, Ishaan, Freeze, Mark Lamont Hill

Episode Overview

In this entertaining yet insightful episode, Joe Budden and the crew dive into their personal lives, discuss the Oscars, explore viral internet moments, unpack the Jack Harlow “blue-eyed soul” album controversy, debate inheritance taxes and NYC policy, trade spring break memories, and touch on current political headlines. Consistent with the JBP's signature blend of candid discussion and banter, the episode oscillates between witty humor and thoughtful analysis.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Catching Up: Weekend Stories, Food Mishaps, and Smart Toilets

• [00:49] Flip celebrates his dad's 70th birthday, reminiscing about extravagant Italian dinners and the digestive consequences ("That rigatoni had me hugging the smart toilet all night long." – Joe, [01:23]).
• The group jokes about mixing seafood and pork, being “off the set” food-wise.
• Debates evolve about the horrors and “needs” of smart toilets, with an aside about how only some of them have "smart" homes or fixtures ([02:31]).

2. Aging & Going Out

• [04:51] The hosts reflect on getting older, admitting one big night out usually takes them out for the rest of the weekend (“One night. The rest of the weekend's about to be quiet.” – Ish, [04:51]).
• Mark jokes about getting buff when his wife is out of town.

3. Personal Spaces for Men

• The necessity for men to have decompression time, be it the classic “sitting in the car” outside the house after work or building a man cave (“Sometimes you need some car alone—that's like the best you could get.” – Mark Lamont Hill, [09:45]).
• Flip, as the unmarried voice, playfully claims he can't relate to these married-man struggles ([10:01]).

4. Oscars Roundtable: Celebration, Critiques & Black Excellence

• [20:06 onward] The show energetically celebrates Michael B. Jordan’s Oscar win and his ascension from a minor role on “The Wire” to powerhouse movie star.
  • Joe lauds Jordan’s visible development: “That commitment to detail is what I'm talking about...where the public can see the improvements rather rapidly.” ([32:16])
  • Mark: “He's genuinely nice, genuinely humble...you couldn't see it happen to a better person." ([33:33])
• The crew discusses fast-forwarding through the Oscars, skipping what they consider non-essential awards and expressing pride in “Frankenstein” and “Sinners” performances ([24:31]).
• Oscars’ host Conan O’Brien gets a mixed but overall positive review for solid “dad jokey” delivery.
• The crew debates the authenticity of actors’ reactions to losing, with a consensus that the director/producer communities seem more collegial ([27:47]).
• Hot takes on national pride, the dominance of British Black actors in America, and a wish for more homegrown U.S. Black talent to receive limelight ([34:41]).
• Notable quote: “Get these British motherfuckers out of here. Oh, that was so great.” – Flip ([34:18])

5. Oscar Ceremony Behind-the-Scenes

• Detailed discussion on technical brilliance (like Frankenstein makeup taking 400 hours), creative performances (e.g., Sinners’ dance sequence), and the emotional gravity of Michael B. Jordan’s acceptance speech ([29:03]).
• The group expresses frustration with how certain Black films and artists are reviewed in the media, referencing a Slate article calling “Sinners” the “biggest loser” despite success ([38:19]).

6. Viral Moments: Jack Harlow’s “Blue-eyed Soul” Album

• The crew reviews the internet’s roast of Jack Harlow’s attempt at soul and R&B, reciting inventive social media nicknames: “Rhythmless Nation,” “IRS 1,” “Stevie Wonder Bread,” “Most Definitely Not,” “Luka Vandross,” “White Thought,” among others ([73:19] to [75:35]).
• Joe and Mark note that viral clowning isn’t necessarily bad promo but recognize that it stings when an artist earnestly tries something new yet gets panned.
• Explores the phenomenon of artists releasing “subpar” projects to get out of contracts versus going out with quality (e.g., Future and Joe’s own attempts in his Def Jam days).

7. LaRussell’s “Heaven Sent” Controversy & Artist Expression

• The crew critiques LaRussell’s much-mocked lyric equating infamous historical figures (“even the devil was heaven sent/even Malcolm was heaven sent/even Martin was heaven sent/even Kanye was heaven sent/Donald 2/Adolf 2/we all heaven sent” – [87:53]), with Joe exclaiming: “Don’t put me after Adolf!” ([102:13])
• Consensus: There's a difference between profound, challenging art and attention-seeking substance; the latter hurts credibility ([90:41]–[93:56]).
• Mark clarifies “heaven sent” traditionally means “something good happened” ([91:01]), not just “created by God.”
• Joe and Flip both suggest LaRussell might be pivoting away from music into social media notoriety, intentionally courting controversy.

8. Personal Life & Spring Break

• Old vs. new spring break: Miami closed down to spring breakers, pivoting the party to Houston. The hosts question why Houston ("lines wrapped around the block for clubs, partying at gas stations," [126:16]) and share nostalgia for their own spring break adventures like Freaknik and VA Beach ([129:24]).
• Breakdown of class, privilege, and hustle required to enjoy spring break as broke college students, plus some “elitist” ribbing over who stayed in which Miami hotels.

9. Debate: Inheritance Tax & NYC Mansion Tax

• Mark presents new proposals: Raising city tax for million+ earners from 3.88% to 5.88% and lowering the inheritance (estate) tax threshold from $7M to $750K; rates could hit up to 50% for the ultrawealthy ([177:15]–[194:00]).
• Ishaan and Flip passionately argue these taxes hurt Black and working-class New Yorkers striving to bridge the wealth gap through home ownership, not the billionaire class, due to loopholes via trusts ([179:22]).
• Mark emphasizes the devil’s in the details and that true tax reform should clarify wealth stratification rather than punish ordinary homeowners. He favors robust redistribution if done right.
• All agree the $500K+ “mansion tax” is absurd in NYC, where that's “a studio apartment,” and that million-dollar homeownership is now middle-class.

10. Relationships & Public Debuts

• The group discusses the etiquette of introducing significant others in high-profile settings, spurred by Ava DuVernay bringing her partner to the Oscars ([51:13] onward).
• Flip and Ish debate whether they’d let an A-list actress take them to the Oscars if attached; most would try to negotiate with their partner but expect a “no” ([56:55]).

11. Politics: Trump, Cuba, & Wealth Policy

• Updates on Trump’s international saber-rattling, comments on Cuba (“If I feel like it, the US will take Cuba” – Trump, [175:53]), and new tax proposals.
• Mark expresses concern about escalating US policy and political climate.

12. Miscellaneous Topics & Notable Moments

• Quick eulogy for Kiki Shepard ("She was our Vanna White, except she was bigger and more important to us..." – Mark, [137:10]).
• Chat about the new Roots Picnic, 30th anniversary of Jay-Z’s Reasonable Doubt, speculation on possible new Hov music ([103:34]–[112:55]).
• Bizarre sendup of Will Smith’s "Summertime" freestyle ([106:13]), revisiting ‘90s nostalgia and wardrobe/club memories.
• Joe reveals family updates, including his younger siblings' college exploits and opportunities to study abroad ([170:08]).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “That rigatoni had me hugging the smart toilet all night long.” – Joe Budden ([01:23])
• “Sometimes you need some car alone—that's like the best you could get.” – Mark Lamont Hill ([09:45])
• “Get these British motherfuckers the fuck out of here. Oh, that was so great.” – Flip ([34:18])
• “Rhythmless Nation, Music Stolechild, Stevie Wonder Bread, Most Definitely Not…” – Flip, on viral Jack Harlow nicknames ([73:14]–[75:24])
• “Don’t put me after Adolf. Don’t put me right after just seeing how you wrote the bar.” – Joe Budden, on LaRussell ([102:13])
• “We are the last to inherit wealth and the first to get taxed on it.” – Ishaan ([187:04] paraphrased context)
• “[Michael B. Jordan] was the little dirty nigga sitting on the bench on The Wire, bro.” – Freeze ([31:01])
• “Heads up: If you’re going to Houston on Spring Break, have fun at the gas station.” – Joe Budden ([127:27] paraphrased)
• “Do I believe if you make all the money, you can do what you want? Well, you got more options.” – Flip ([165:46])
• “Nobody wants to leave $50M to the state. I want my family to get it.” – Ishaan ([196:14])

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Important Timestamps

• [00:49–05:52] Weekend recaps, aging, and smart toilet mishaps
• [20:06–44:57] Oscars deep-dive, black excellence, Michael B. Jordan’s moment
• [73:14–76:55] Jack Harlow “blue-eyed soul” album internet roast
• [87:53–93:56] LaRussell’s “Heaven Sent” lyric controversy
• [170:08–173:11] Joe’s family stories, brother studying abroad, talking about the value of experience
• [177:15–194:00] NYC inheritance tax and mansion tax debate
• [103:34–112:55] Jay-Z and Roots Picnic anticipation, new Hov?
• [106:13–107:05] Will Smith “Summertime” freestyle fun
• [51:13–61:12] Oscars red carpet relationship “unveiling” etiquette, would you go as someone’s plus one?
• [175:53–177:08] Trump’s recent wild international comments
• [137:10–139:26] Kiki Shepard memorial tribute

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Tone & Style

True to JBP form, the episode mixes casual, barbershop-style debate, ironic jabs, running jokes, and serious social commentary. Joe, Flip, and crew move seamlessly between moments of comedy and thoughtful takes on Black upward mobility, politics, relationships, and hip-hop culture. The episode is lively, self-aware, and intentionally provocative, with everyone getting time to voice unique perspectives or play “devil’s advocate.”

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In Summary

Episode 912 is a rich, eclectic ride through pop culture, the Black experience, and real-life trials—centered on celebration of community wins (Oscars), the viral power of Black Twitter (Jack Harlow), and skepticism about how new policy proposals truly affect everyday people. The show is at its best when balancing humor and insight, never losing its sense of camaraderie even as debates get heated.

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For more, listen to the full episode or catch curated segments on The Joe Budden Network’s platforms.

Transcript

[Joe Button]

The thoughts, views, and opinions expressed by this podcast, as well as its hosts, offer entertainment purposes only. I repeat, it is not serious. It is not real. No one is exposing, revealing, indicting, or telling you anything about themselves. Also, we do not encourage you to try this at home. We are trained professionals who do not have your best interests at heart or our own.

[Flip]

Enjoy the shows, the levels. Mic check. Mike. Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike, Mike. Mike.

[Joe Button]

All right.

[Flip]

I'm good. Y' all good.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

We good?

[Joe Button]

Great.

[Flip]

All right. We are good. Hit the button. Let's go.

[Parks]

It is on.

[Flip]

Oh, come on, man. We here already. What's going on? What's poppin?

[Ish]

Chilling. How you feeling?

[Flip]

Real good.

[Joe Button]

Well, that's not true. That's not true. I can't even lie.

[Freeze]

So you're not real good.

[Flip]

Celebrated my dad's 70th birthday yesterday. Happy birthday, Pop. 70. Good to know how old your parents are. Thought he was a couple years older. No, once the cane comes out, nigga, I put you at 75 minimum. Went to an Italian restaurant.

[Joe Button]

Okay, I can't eat Italian anymore. It's over.

[Ish]

Was it bougie Italian or kind of like regular Italian?

[Joe Button]

No, it was real good Italian food right there in Harlem. But I can't do it anymore.

[Ish]

Oh, yeah?

[Joe Button]

I can't. That rigatoni had me hugging the smart toilet all night long. All night long, throwing up mad shit. Oh, it was bad. It was bad. I'm just now gathering myself, getting myself together. So happy to be here with you brothers. But chunky rigatoni with the pork Italian sausages.

[Ishaan]

That's what it is.

[Freeze]

I knew he was gonna say something. Told you, leave that oink alone.

[Flip]

And I ordered some branzino, had the crab cake and calamari for the appetizer.

[Ish]

Oh, you off the set.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, you way off the set. Sound good, though.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You making them the whole time.

[Ishaan]

Yo, you mix all that oink seafood, all that fish.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Ish]

No wonder you was like, what you talking about?

[Flip]

All the different types of fishes you've

[Joe Button]

mixed in your life.

[Flip]

Yeah, right.

[Ishaan]

Let me just spray it.

[Flip]

Haven't you mixed a lot of fish?

[Ishaan]

I did.

[Parks]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

You know.

[Flip]

You know what that life comes with.

[Ishaan]

But I don't eat them with the oink and all that together regular, right?

[Parks]

Hey, yo, pass that Febreze, baby.

[Flip]

You gonna be on the toilet and on God. The smart toilet is the absolute worst toy. I think I said that up here. That is the worst need to be smart toilet to throw up in toilets.

[Ish]

Don't need to be.

[Flip]

Keep coming down.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, you Ain't that smart toilet Parks.

[Ish]

I. I don't own a smart toilet. I don't have smart anything except for like phones.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Smart toilets are the. Except for when you need the earl or you got the bubble gut.

[Freeze]

You got smart toilets though.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I got. I. I use one upstairs. I don't use one downstairs. The toilet I use isn't cuz I'm basic, but I keep one upstairs. It's good for like cleansing and.

[Freeze]

Yeah, okay.

[Flip]

Anyway, well, I am feeling good now. Happy to be here with you guys.

[Joe Button]

Good to see y'. All. How y' all doing?

[Ishaan]

Good, man.

[Flip]

Good. Feel good.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Good, man.

[Joe Button]

How was your weekend? Good.

[Ish]

A little lit.

[Ishaan]

Sleepy.

[Ish]

Friday. Friday was a little lit for me. I was outside Newark actually.

[Flip]

Around Newark.

[Ishaan]

You ain't call me for a permission lip, you right.

[Ish]

I felt safe.

[Joe Button]

They knew though.

[Flip]

I felt safe.

[Ish]

They knew.

[Flip]

They knew you was my man. They knew you was my man.

[Ish]

They did, actually. They killed me. I know is there's a lot of that. A lot of that is was just here the other day. A lot of that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It was. He cop two Shut your ass.

[Flip]

He cop

[Joe Button]

y. You stupid dog.

[Flip]

He cop two.

[Ish]

But other than that, uneventful weekend.

[Ishaan]

Yeah. Slept. I didn't wake up on Saturday till like 4 or 5 o' clock in the morning.

[Freeze]

I didn't get out the bed.

[Ishaan]

I mean, four or five o'.

[Joe Button]

Clock.

[Ishaan]

In the daytime.

[Freeze]

I was just tired.

[Parks]

Afternoon, you mean afternoon?

[Ishaan]

Yeah, in the daytime. Running. I was just running around.

[Freeze]

My body was like, yo, chill out.

[Flip]

That was Saturday.

[Ishaan]

What happened?

[Joe Button]

Friday, perfect.

[Freeze]

Friday at work.

[Parks]

Okay.

[Joe Button]

I got it

[Parks]

from here, from this work. I worked here, so. That was so stressful. You slept through the whole afternoon.

[Flip]

I mean. But we got off at 5. Oh, we got off at 5.

[Joe Button]

Look how you could get. Look how fast.

[Flip]

Look how fast you can jam him up. We got off at around. We got off at around three. That's scary. That'll work. Yeah. Have you answering a question? Why people believe me?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I want to request it.

[Flip]

Well, at least up here nobody should

[Joe Button]

believe nothing I say up here.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Anyway.

[Joe Button]

Glad you're well rested. Glad you're well rested.

[Freeze]

Chilling. Went out Saturday. That's it. A do else quiet weekend.

[Flip]

I was in Yalls. Quiet weekend does involve going out once.

[Ish]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Sometimes.

[Ishaan]

Sometimes.

[Ish]

Well, what happens at our age. I'll speak for me at my age. One night. The rest of the weekend's about to be quiet.

[Joe Button]

Like I learned that this weekend you

[Flip]

don't got two nights in a row no more, dude.

[Freeze]

And I ain't got Two spots in a row. No more either.

[Parks]

Yeah. Be partying and you drink. Yeah, yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

So yeah, that's what does it. Draining you. Yeah.

[Flip]

You just go out.

[Freeze]

I went out and left early. Normally we be in the spot the two something.

[Ishaan]

I'm like, yo, what time is it?

[Freeze]

1:05.

[Ishaan]

I'm out.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, I did two spots this week. My wife is out of town. She's in Puerto Rico actually. So it was. Yeah, so it's been great, man. I mean. Yeah, I miss her. That's.

[Flip]

Oh, that's why you worked out.

[Joe Button]

Like your shoulders is pumped.

[Flip]

Like, look at your chest. Yo, wives leave for one little minute, they hit the basement. Hit the basement gym to get buff.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah. Nah, man, it's good though. Sometimes you need a little break, you know?

[Joe Button]

I'm trying to read what your T shirt says.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh, big Potter of the month. Great again.

[Flip]

Yo, you in this campaign and.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh my God, I didn't even, you know, I didn't even read the shirt. It just was on the.

[Flip]

Is it not great now?

[Joe Button]

I mean, tell that to my neck.

[Flip]

It feels pretty awesome.

[Joe Button]

And paused.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I must say, that was crazy.

[Flip]

Yeah, that was absolutely nuts. What's up, bro? Yeah, yeah.

[Parks]

I was with booze.

[Joe Button]

Boom.

[Flip]

My body. Yeah.

[Parks]

Careful.

[Ish]

Oh, yeah.

[Flip]

You can't sing that song. Oh, shit.

[Freeze]

I fucked up.

[Flip]

They got rid of a classic and

[Ishaan]

you said the word.

[Parks]

Yeah, you said the word.

[Flip]

Well, we gonna edit that out.

[Parks]

I had a dope weekend, man. Hanging out with Boozhoo, man, and running around the. Just learning some things and learning about the Rastafarian movement and just a dope, dope experience, man. I had a lot of fun this weekend. Yeah, had a lot of fun this weekend. Chilling, man.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

How do you recover? Cause you seem to be able to get out, work, do things and still come in, like, looking refreshed.

[Parks]

I sleep in the car. You should know about that, right? Boy, you know about that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I don't sleep in the car, man. This was just talking about that, though. I know we ain't gonna start with that, but you're saying the guy got caught with his wife cuz he used to be sleeping in the car before he come in the house.

[Ishaan]

Said that's how he decompress.

[Parks]

We need our decompressing moments. We do, we do. And I didn't realize how important that was.

[Joe Button]

Y' all heard that and didn't think that he's.

[Ishaan]

No wait for going outside and sitting

[Parks]

in the car for a little bit,

[Freeze]

like getting to the house and sitting.

[Joe Button]

He said the guy is sleeping in his car?

[Parks]

No, he sits.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, no, no, no.

[Freeze]

He pull up.

[Flip]

He.

[Joe Button]

He sits in the car sleeping in his car. You're taking this too far now, buddy.

[Parks]

Yeah, no. Hell no.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I used to sleep in the car a lot.

[Parks]

We know why this nigga walk is crazy.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I just. You know, you see me sleep everywhere, right?

[Ishaan]

Like post nut clarity, nigga.

[Parks]

Oh,

[Mark Lamont Hill]

this kind of day.

[Flip]

We have it.

[Parks]

She got the wipes in the car too. They gotta let it dry. Put the heat on.

[Joe Button]

Let it.

[Flip]

Yeah, let it dry. So I don't want to go inside

[Ishaan]

the house with a smell.

[Flip]

He got the gun compartment for the wife. He got the shit from the wire in his car.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

108.7.

[Parks]

Why you used to sleep in the Cardinal?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

This was years ago. Like when I was younger, sure.

[Joe Button]

Like 21.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Actually, 20, 21. When I was living in Atlanta, that's when it started. I did it till I was in my 30s. I couldn't get up. I couldn't get up. Like, if I could get home, as soon as I pulled up, I just couldn't get out the car. And I would sometimes sleep at 3, 4 in the morning.

[Parks]

Oh, shit.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You wanna live alone?

[Ish]

Did you drink?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, not necessarily. Sometimes. But it wasn't like drunk. It was just tired. Like I couldn't fight that shit. But now I sit out front sometime just. Cause I need a minute.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, just.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's gonna come. It's gonna happen, Joe.

[Ishaan]

Oh, yeah.

[Flip]

Please. Please don't insert me and y'.

[Joe Button]

All.

[Flip]

I don't relate to this. I haven't. I haven't experienced it yet. So I'm muting up. Please don't throw up.

[Ishaan]

You didn't mute up.

[Flip]

Hold on.

[Parks]

He gonna have two entrances. So he gonna have a big ass.

[Freeze]

It don't make you have a bat cave in there.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It ain't a lack of space.

[Parks]

It's just like if I had a.

[Ishaan]

Guess what come in the back.

[Flip]

Guess what. Nobody bats

[Mark Lamont Hill]

stupid ass.

[Flip]

You right crazy.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

All right.

[Parks]

Right down there that the man caves are important.

[Flip]

But y' all partner see.

[Ishaan]

Keep making the face.

[Parks]

Go ahead, go ahead.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Do you think.

[Ishaan]

Come on.

[Flip]

Our partners is what y' all partners work, right?

[Parks]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

What they got doing?

[Flip]

Is that not enough of a break?

[Ishaan]

See, that's why you.

[Flip]

I'm asking. I'm asking. I don't feel like I have no feelings. I've never lived this. I've never experienced this. I. I've never proposed. I never. I never know. I don't know nothing.

[Ishaan]

We work too. So when my girl at work I'm at work.

[Freeze]

So when you go home, you seen each other?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, right. Sometimes you want some? Home ideal is home alone.

[Joe Button]

Yes.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But since you can't get home alone, you need some car loan that, like, makes. That's, like, the best you could get.

[Flip]

Y' all let y' all partners have

[Joe Button]

the same work schedule as y'?

[Flip]

All?

[Ishaan]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

Unfortunate.

[Joe Button]

Can't relate.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

How do you do that?

[Flip]

I don't know nothing. I'm listening to my married brothers. And that's the end audience. I'm not bringing up marriage no more. Forever now. Forever now on the spot. It's over.

[Joe Button]

So please.

[Flip]

We have experts here. Please, if you have questions, direct the questions toward these brothers.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's fair. Did something happen to make you change course? It seems like such an abrupt shift from the previous episode.

[Freeze]

Hard pivot.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, hard pivot. Kevin McEl over there, he.

[Parks]

What the he did last time, huh? He said some. I got to go watch it. Tell me what he said.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, nothing.

[Flip]

Cuz.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You know what?

[Parks]

He tried. He tried to K that to them. So you know what I'm saying? That's what he doing now. He said some, and now he tried to clean it up.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, I don't think that's it. That doesn't seem like it.

[Freeze]

Can he get a mop out for another reason?

[Flip]

I'm putting cases on all. You nod and agree. I see all y'. All.

[Parks]

Are you good?

[Flip]

I'm great. Flip. I'm awesome. I'm wonderful.

[Parks]

Broadcast and the family. And listen to it.

[Joe Button]

It was just rigatoni.

[Flip]

I'm getting back together, like, if. Do y' all have any more advice for the people out there, like, all right, so you're gonna stand outside of your house for an hour every night, whatever. Every day.

[Freeze]

What else? I don't know.

[Flip]

What other keys. Can you brothers help the men out there with. With adapting and getting ready for such an adjustment?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Just get your own space brothers. That's all. Yeah, just carve your own space.

[Flip]

That's Mark.

[Joe Button]

What about you, Ish? What advice you got for these brothers?

[Ishaan]

I'll second.

[Joe Button]

All right. He seconded Mark.

[Flip]

He seconded Mark. Freeze.

[Joe Button]

How about you, man? Third.

[Ish]

Third.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Third and fourth.

[Flip]

That shit a mile away.

[Ish]

I would love to break it up. The man cage is very important.

[Flip]

All right, all right. Four. Four to none.

[Ish]

Fifteen.

[Flip]

You talking about Don?

[Joe Button]

You guys worried, man? We can have some fun today. I see it. I can see it.

[Flip]

I feel it in the air.

[Joe Button]

Sorry.

[Flip]

Happy day.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Today's gonna be the day that they're

[Flip]

gonna throw it back to you by now you should have somehow realized what

[Mark Lamont Hill]

you gotta do I see what you

[Flip]

did there I don't believe that anybody wahab it I see what you did there hey, it kinda worked out that way Kinda worked out that way. The weather's on the street that the fire in your heart is out mic shack 1 2, 1 2, mic check

[Parks]

sure you've heard it all before but

[Flip]

you never really had a dou I don't believe that anybody feels the way I do about you now. Up, up, up up up My tempo When the sun is out, man. The sun is out. You know what I mean? Well, kind of. Cole's a kind of stay night say the words don't feel right but do or inspire me White slaps only. White slaps only that Shout out to the first and last time listeners. All wait for the ladies.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

All wait for the ladies.

[Flip]

Big jersey. Big jersey.

[Ish]

Start with the acoustic guitars. On St. Patrick's Day. I see, I see the vibe happy

[Flip]

St. Patrick's Day out there. I didn't know just what I had Freeze.

[Ish]

You Irish today. You Irish today?

[Flip]

What are you Irish?

[Ishaan]

No, forgot it's greish.

[Flip]

Shout out to the patronies out there all the married people out there for the married people out there.

[Joe Button]

Drive myself crazy thinking of you made a mistake.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Hey,

[Flip]

I am.

[Joe Button]

Undefined neutral fine I'm just beginning she came on the garden the other day 20,000 starts singing this motherfucker. Nah, that shit was kind of crazy. Then I played it this morning my barber started singing it.

[Flip]

That's how I knew he was happy.

[Joe Button]

Ramadan was almost over.

[Flip]

It was like, oh shit. You in a vibe, ain't you?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Something in the distance so close.

[Ish]

Your white girl shine

[Freeze]

know

[Parks]

you know

[Mark Lamont Hill]

that P that feel good when it

[Parks]

come on some music make it feel

[Joe Button]

good n that do feel good.

[Freeze]

So them dirty air force ones get the moving.

[Flip]

Oh yeah, for sure. Wiggling. What? Look at these drops out the way right quick. New Joe B. New Joe Biden. Icing Ash.

[Freeze]

Who is that? Who is that?

[Flip]

And Ivy nigged on my promise for the flip drop.

[Ish]

Sure.

[Joe Button]

It's coming. Thank you. It's coming.

[Ish]

Work in progress.

[Joe Button]

It's just harder than I thought. Pause. Tougher than I thought.

[Flip]

I gotta go farther, you know what I mean? But we in the building, man. Stop playing with us.

[Joe Button]

What episode is this?

[Ish]

9:12.

[Flip]

Welcome to episode 912 of the JBP brought to you by Fueled by Powered By Prize Picks. Prize picks gang. You I'm your humble, gracious, super happy to be here super happy to not be throwing up over the smart toilet anymore. Host Joe Button here with some really amazing people. Best crew in the world. To my right. Queens get the money. Queens flip in the building next to him. We gotta deal with this Roots picnic shit all day. Our good brother, Dr. Mark Lamont Hill. In the building next to him. Mr. Thousand Doors and Up. Wherever you need it. Newark, Be more. And Cleveland. Well, if you need it in those three places, he can get it.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Irishman.

[Flip]

Anywhere else outside of that, it may be some trouble. The Irishman. I like that name for him. I like that name. Our good brother is in the building, man.

[Ish]

That's what is short for what?

[Joe Button]

Irishman.

[Flip]

That's funny.

[Freeze]

That's a good one.

[Flip]

Next to him. You know what time it is, man? Ramadan almost over.

[Freeze]

I had pork bacon this morning.

[Flip]

Ramen.

[Parks]

Oh, freeze. Come on.

[Flip]

It's the swiniest person.

[Joe Button]

But rely on the nation for protection. That's crazy. That's the crazy part.

[Flip]

I thought you would at least respect

[Freeze]

what the street want to do on the Nation, though.

[Joe Button]

I don't see you outside without the Nation.

[Freeze]

Press me outside.

[Joe Button]

I'll be outside.

[Freeze]

You going to be outside where I

[Joe Button]

be every time I see you outside? You got a nation with you.

[Freeze]

No, that's not true.

[Flip]

Salute.

[Joe Button]

Nothing wrong with it.

[Freeze]

I was just outside this weekend.

[Ishaan]

Ish. What?

[Joe Button]

And more Mark.

[Flip]

Anyway, our good bro. Our good brother Freeze in the building next to him. Elmira's finding so good brother. Parks is in the building next to him.

[Freeze]

White.

[Flip]

Poe is here. Black. Corey is here. What's Erickson?

[Freeze]

Spanish.

[Parks]

Spanish.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

He's black.

[Flip]

Which one?

[Parks]

Black.

[Flip]

Dominican.

[Joe Button]

Oh, all right. We got.

[Flip]

So nobody knows. Erickson is in the building. Savon and Tanner are hit by remote. Tanner is white, if you're wondering at home if you couldn't tell. And last, but certainly not least, each and every one of you guys out there are here. Let's get right to it, man. Tossing it to the Newark couch. Y' all know what time it is today?

[Ish]

Oscars.

[Freeze]

Damn right.

[Flip]

Yeah. New Jersey. Newarks only.

[Freeze]

That's right.

[Flip]

New Jersey's only. That's a fact. Stop playing. Get the round of applause, man.

[Joe Button]

God damn it.

[Flip]

Round of applause. That's right. Michael B. Jordan, baby. It is a celebratory day up here at the jbp. It was beautiful. Michael B. Jordan, it was. I got his speech queued up in a hot second. But I will say one of my favorite things about the Oscars was not watching them. I didn't watch the Oscars. At all. The Nick game I told y', all, you really missed. That Sunday game was 8 o' clock against the Warriors. The Oscars were on, so I missed the whole Oscars. My mom was giving me real time updates, but I watched it afterward. I just skipped all the white people. People except for the people that were worked on. Frankenstein and sinners.

[Freeze]

Okay, yeah,

[Flip]

well. And sinners. Well, I said white people.

[Parks]

Yeah, it was one.

[Flip]

Oh, no, citizen is black. Sinners.

[Freeze]

Black.

[Flip]

I fast forwarded through all of that. Hamlet, all that. If it wasn't Frankenstein.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Sinners.

[Ish]

No one better.

[Flip]

Yeah, I had to watch the one battle after another because Tiana's there. That's more. That's more black people. But other than that. Oh, and Shorty from Weapons. I do think that she deserved it, but I fast forwarded through it. Well, I stopped it when the Chinese with some of the other people was up there too.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

K Pop.

[Parks]

The K pop people.

[Freeze]

K Pop Demon Hunter, if you have any kids around. And that came on.

[Ishaan]

That's a song, Joe.

[Ish]

Yeah, don't do it, dude.

[Flip]

That shit is. Well, I'm not dissing. Oh, okay, great. I already got rid of what's them niggas names I got rid of BTS ended up. They're back. Yeah, but they adults now. Like those, like those little Stranger Things kids. It ain't the same. It ain't the same now ended dumb. But anyway, yeah, it was great to fast forward and just have your pick

[Joe Button]

of what you wanted to watch.

[Ish]

It's the. The most dull of all the award ceremonies.

[Ishaan]

It wasn't the most.

[Freeze]

I missed the first hour because I thought this started at eight. Oh, I'm like, damn, this started seven, so. But I watch the rest of it, though.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

They used to do it at 8, and then you'd be running so late, you be going. You'd be sleepy watching the end of it. Don't nobody care enough to watch the

[Ish]

whole thing, especially once they start hitting all the documentaries and all the. The shit that we don't give a fuck about.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Exactly.

[Ishaan]

Best short overseas indie.

[Ish]

Best short documentary animated. Like.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

All right, man, I went out. So I went back and fast forward through it too, and I didn't find much interest in it. I just kept waiting to see where Sinners was going to go and how it was going to do. And early on, a lot of people thought it was going to be a Color Purple moment. They thought it was going to be a situation where there's a lot of nominations and no victories and people online like complaining when some of them early awards didn't come out. So I was happy to see it shake out the way it did.

[Flip]

Nah, we gotta thank Timothee Chalamet for just totally imploding toward the end of the race. Like, for real. I was checking the prediction markets and

[Joe Button]

they said that the prediction markets had

[Flip]

for the majority, the big awards. They had it right for the most part.

[Joe Button]

About. They were doing the guesses what movies would win how many awards.

[Flip]

And yeah, Timothee Chalamet, they didn't even clap for him.

[Freeze]

Really.

[Flip]

They didn't even really clap for him. When they announced Leo, Pablo, Michael, Timothy, it was like. I was like, oh, shit. I never heard that for a white person.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

You can't just do.

[Joe Button]

You fucked up.

[Ish]

Yeah. Gotta be careful.

[Flip]

Yeah. So he. More black points to him. I'm off that cookout shit.

[Joe Button]

I've been off that cookout shit more.

[Flip]

Jack Harlow has me off it even more now. But. But yeah, anyway, what were you guys saying about it?

[Ishaan]

No, I mean, with regards to.

[Flip]

Okay, I'm sorry. Can we start with what did you guys think of Conan o'?

[Joe Button]

Brien?

[Ish]

It wasn't great, but it wasn't horrible.

[Parks]

It was. It wasn't.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I thought he had much to work with. I thought he held it down for what the show was.

[Freeze]

That's what I was about to say. Cause the bits that they pulled, like with the presenters come up, they try to make a little comedic bit were all terrible. So they were so bad that it made him look good.

[Flip]

I enjoyed Conan o' Brien on some dad jokes.

[Joe Button]

Joke.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Flip]

Like, they all. They all seem just like dad jokey. Like he wasn't killing it, but he wasn't bombing.

[Ish]

I like the intro and outro were funny. The skits off weapons and one battle after another. Those are funny. The. The jokes in between. It was. It was cool. It wasn't it. It was fine.

[Ishaan]

That was blah. Yeah, it was fine for me at best Block.

[Flip]

I was rooting for sinners in the costume design until I saw Frankenstein.

[Ish]

Frankenstein deserved a lot.

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

I couldn't four hours a day to get that put on him.

[Flip]

They said no. 400 hours total makeup time.

[Ishaan]

It was four hours a day. He would have to sit. That's before y' all saw. And action. You sitting there getting that put on

[Joe Button]

you stick and not the it.

[Flip]

Not to gay it out.

[Joe Button]

That's a good looking white guy that

[Flip]

had the moose in his head. Like, that room had some good looking

[Joe Button]

white people in there. I know y' all don't care anyway, go ahead Find Sinners.

[Ish]

Frankenstein was pretty good. It deserved. I'm glad it got some awards because it was pretty good. You should watch it.

[Ishaan]

You said it was good.

[Ish]

Yeah, it was good.

[Ishaan]

Okay, man.

[Freeze]

Said it was good.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Parks]

I watch it as well.

[Ish]

But the best two movies of the year were Sinners in one battle after another. And they won all the awards as they deserve.

[Flip]

I didn't.

[Freeze]

I didn't. I had started one battle after another a couple months ago, but I fell asleep on it. Never went back to watch. Yeah. After the Oscars, like, the next day, I said, I gotta watch this movie all the way through.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

And I get it.

[Ish]

It's a very good movie.

[Freeze]

It's a very good movie. And because when they did a supporting actor.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

I wanted Delroy Lindo to win that one.

[Ish]

Me too.

[Freeze]

But after fully watching one battle after another, Sean Penn deserved that award.

[Ish]

I mean, Sean Penn just had a much bigger role in one battle battle after another than Delroy did in Sitters.

[Joe Button]

And we do still have to honor racist bigots and piece of characters in movies,

[Ishaan]

especially when they can bring him.

[Joe Button]

Because that was his role.

[Ishaan]

No.

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

And if they can bring it to life and make you hate the on screen, they did their job.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But you know, sometimes, and I agree with everything y' all saying, sometimes with the Oscars, the best person don't get it. Especially when it comes to us. Sometimes we get skipped over and they go, oh, it's a lifetime award. You know, like when Denzel got skipped over for Malcolm X and they gave it to Pacino for Sin of a Woman, it was like, well, Pacino deserved it for, like a lifetime of work. I was. Sean Penn deserved it. But part of me was hoping that Delroy would get that lifetime of work

[Freeze]

for the lifetime.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

For a lifetime. Because Delroy didn't put in a lot of work from Malcolm X. I mean, all the Spike movies and then other stuff, too. And now with Sinners, he was amazing. What'd you say?

[Joe Button]

I mean, like, can we give it

[Flip]

to somebody that's going to be there next time?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, well, he.

[Parks]

I think he went to go speak to the president. Someone of the president somewhere in Columbia.

[Flip]

All right, then put the zoom screen up. You know what time it is via satellite. Give us the speech via satellite. That would have been fly. But the story tonight, by far. Come on. Let me just get right.

[Joe Button]

Let me cue this.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's it.

[Flip]

That entire room was just so established.

[Joe Button]

Addict for this brother.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's what I loved about it, and

[Flip]

I love that he acknowledged that in his speech.

[Freeze]

Gotta stand it up.

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Joe Button]

Put the camera on Timothy Chalamet. Yeah.

[Flip]

That's one of my favorite things from award shows is the loser can zoom

[Ishaan]

in on the loser.

[Freeze]

Could y' all do it? The loser can.

[Flip]

What'd you say?

[Freeze]

I said, could y' all do it? Yeah, for sure.

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Joe Button]

You?

[Ishaan]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

Act like you happy.

[Flip]

Yes.

[Ishaan]

And it might be genuine happiness.

[Parks]

I think some of them are genuinely happy.

[Flip]

For me especially.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I don't think everybody genuinely happy, dog.

[Ishaan]

They may not be, but you still. You got to get up there and play good sport.

[Ish]

The director community. The director community seems legitimately, like, happy for each other. They kind of remind me of the producer community in music, where it's like they with each other hard.

[Freeze]

Some of them actors, there's not so much.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Ish]

More like the rapper community.

[Joe Button]

Tiana about to break her hand.

[Ishaan]

She was going crazy in the front row.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I love seeing that. God is good.

[Freeze]

And your mama.

[Parks]

What's up?

[Flip]

Love that. Absolutely love that.

[Parks]

How I feel about my mother and my father's here.

[Flip]

Your pop, where you at?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

My dad.

[Flip]

My dad came in from G Fluent from here.

[Freeze]

My brother.

[Flip]

My sister's here.

[Joe Button]

My family suit looked great.

[Flip]

He looked great.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

He did.

[Freeze]

Warner Brothers. I want to thank Mike and Pam

[Parks]

for believing in this.

[Freeze]

This dream, this vision of Ryan Coogler and betting on the culture embedded on original ideas and original artistry.

[Flip]

And you're an amazing, amazing person.

[Freeze]

I'm so honored to call you a

[Flip]

collaborator and a friend.

[Freeze]

And you gave me the opportunity and

[Parks]

space for me to be safe.

[Freeze]

I love you too, bro.

[Joe Button]

Look at Ryan Coogler doing the sign language. I love you.

[Flip]

Cool.

[Freeze]

My incredible cast. Woonie, thank you so much for giving Smoke opportunity to be him. Haley at home, you know, she's, you

[Flip]

know, getting ready to have a big right now.

[Parks]

Thank you so much for. For being the other other other half of Stack.

[Freeze]

Miles Delroy, Jamie, everybody. Lily Omar, the entire cast. I think you guys for supporting me through this. My team, Phil Sun, Greg Slu, Lindsey

[Flip]

Gallon,

[Freeze]

man, y', all,

[Flip]

I love this too.

[Freeze]

All of that because of the people that came before me.

[Parks]

Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jamie

[Flip]

Fox, Forest Whitaker, Will Smith. And what if Forest went for again? Ghost Dog, right?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Scotland.

[Ishaan]

Stop playing, man.

[Freeze]

Support me over my career.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Serious.

[Freeze]

I know you guys want me to

[Parks]

do well is ghost and I want

[Freeze]

to do that because you guys bet on me. So thank you for keeping.

[Flip]

For keep betting on me.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Let's go, man.

[Freeze]

I'm going. Keep stepping up and I'm going Keep being the best version of myself I could be. So I just want to say thank you for everybody in this room that had something to do with my success. I love you guys and everybody at home who supported sinners, who went to go see the movie once, twice, four or five times. Thank you because you guys made this movie what it is. I love you. I love you.

[Flip]

And there you have it.

[Ishaan]

I thought he was gonna break down. Yeah, I thought he. It was a few times. I thought he was gonna break down. He couldn't hold it.

[Parks]

But.

[Ishaan]

But amazing speech.

[Joe Button]

I was breaking down.

[Ishaan]

Me too. No, I was home break.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Ishaan]

I thought he was gonna break down, but he didn't. Amazing speech.

[Joe Button]

Eyes watery off the dome.

[Flip]

He ain't even read off the paper. All that bullshit.

[Ishaan]

They do something. Sidney Poitier and him. Shit, you know, he had to give his.

[Flip]

I'm sure he wrote all of that somewhere, but just the look of it. I hate when they go get to pulling the shit out and crusty people. I had no idea I would win tonight

[Ishaan]

to watch his ascension. He was the little dirty nigga sitting

[Freeze]

on the bench on the Wire, bro. Where's Wallace?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

You know what I'm saying? Nobody would have ever thought that watching that he would go to this. Like, even in the Wire, his role was minimal.

[Freeze]

In the Wire, he didn't.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And they killed him in season one.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

Was that one?

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

Like, he didn't have the. The biggest role in the Wire. You know what I'm saying? And so the next time I remember seeing him was what? Fruitvale?

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

So. So. So to do that and again, to do that with Ryan, step and step and step is an amazing thing.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's my favorite part of it.

[Joe Button]

To do all of it with Ryan.

[Ishaan]

No, that's what I'm saying. Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.

[Freeze]

With Ryan.

[Ishaan]

That's just in the amazing thing. And they keep betting on each other. Like he said, hand to hand. I think it's fire. Yeah, I think it's super fire.

[Flip]

Listen, I've been.

[Joe Button]

I, I, I've.

[Flip]

I've been pretty harsh on Michael B.

[Joe Button]

Jordan over the years.

[Ish]

That's true. I forgot about those criticisms early on.

[Joe Button]

Oh, my God. Those are some of my best pods. I love that. I love coming in here talking all that.

[Flip]

He really said two.

[Joe Button]

Two sentences in Creed.

[Flip]

Like, I double down in what I said. But to Ishaan's point, that's what makes this so great, is for somebody to continue to develop their craft, for somebody to give a fuck. Enough about it.

[Joe Button]

To work on it consistently and where

[Flip]

the public can see the improvements rather rapidly. Like, I read something about the changes he made to smoke or stack one of them, one of their faces as he was doing it, like, to make

[Joe Button]

the characters appear different. Like, he said he was locking his

[Flip]

jaw paws, so one had dimples. Your eyebrows. He said he's manipulating his facial structure a certain way so that the twins could appear different. Like that. Commitment to detail is what I'm talking about.

[Joe Button]

So that's the stuff that resonates.

[Flip]

How could you not be proud of

[Joe Button]

a guy like this?

[Flip]

Take that, l'. Oreal. That was another real bad take of mine. Oh, my God. That might. That might have been up there with my chance take. Coming in here and siding with l'.

[Freeze]

Oreal.

[Flip]

What a mess. Hey, that's back when I was pandering the women. I ain't gonna lie to y'.

[Joe Button]

All.

[Flip]

I was heavy in pander mode defending l'. Oreal. And, you know, she was dead ass.

[Ishaan]

You know, he just seems like a nice guy.

[Flip]

He is, but he is a nice guy.

[Ishaan]

I'm just saying a lot of people on camera seem nice from him. You get like, yo, he just might be a nice cool ass dude. Like, I know people that know him personally. I never met him, but he just seemed like a. Just a overall genuinely nice cat. And you gotta root for people like that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

He's genuinely nice, genuinely humble.

[Ishaan]

Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Like, you gotta genuinely generous. Like, he's. You couldn't. You couldn't see it happen to a better person. That was the thing. You could even see it in the speech. Like, he was really overwhelmed by the moment and really excited by the moment. And to see somebody who's that love as an actor, as a sex symbol, as all these things be, like, genuinely nervous getting the award.

[Freeze]

He shouldn't have been nervous. Cause he's sexy.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I mean, you wouldn't understand this, but, like, if

[Flip]

I wouldn't look at another nigga and understand his sex appeal.

[Parks]

I got you, though.

[Freeze]

Go ahead.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, I mean, you're usually in control of every room. People are eating out of your hand. And he didn't care. Like, that wasn't how his brain worked. He was just overwhelmed by the moment. Humility, genuine about the moment. You don't see that too often with actors.

[Flip]

And for one night, even if only one night only. Get these British motherfuckers the fuck out of here. Oh, that was so great. Yeah. Pan the camera to Damson. Let me look at him for F1.

[Freeze]

Because these are.

[Flip]

Fuck.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Hey.

[Flip]

And I Love these guys. But it's been the whitewashing of just black American male actors.

[Freeze]

It's a good point.

[Flip]

Yeah. Enough, enough now with this British.

[Freeze]

That was great. I don't care. Flip.

[Flip]

I don't care.

[Parks]

I'm down with you.

[Flip]

That, that felt great.

[Parks]

That I wanted to make a correction because they killed me. Sean Penn was speaking to the president of. Of Ukraine Prime Minister. What's that his name?

[Freeze]

Yeah.

[Parks]

Not Colombia, Paul.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's a big deal.

[Ishaan]

Sean Penn is heavy in palm.

[Parks]

I wanted to correct that cuz it was Ukraine. He went to Ukraine. That's why he missed the Oscars and

[Flip]

the center's dance performance. Thirty minutes into the awards, I felt like that was the entire room agreeing. This is why. This is why.

[Ishaan]

That is true.

[Ish]

I love seeing the blues on a big stage like that.

[Flip]

Man.

[Freeze]

That was fun.

[Ish]

That was cool.

[Flip]

And homeboy, the little blues dude. My brother, you need a mix tape.

[Parks]

It's time.

[Flip]

Yo, don't miss your mark. You need a little 5, 4, 5 song EP or something with some blue slaps.

[Ishaan]

He showed up.

[Flip]

He showed up. No, he killed that.

[Parks]

I like his, his Post interview on the carpet with his mother. I think it was pre or post. I thought that was, that was dope.

[Flip]

Pre is before and I know, I

[Parks]

think, I think it's pre or post. I think it's before or after. I'm not sure. But you know when he was talking with his mom and stuff like that and she was like, like since 3 years old. He was singing and you know, they gave praise to God. I just like wholesome moments like that. That was dope to me for sure.

[Ish]

And they said the, the, the dancer ballerina girl was dancing in front of Timothy Chamberlay the whole time.

[Parks]

She's fire.

[Flip]

She's fire. Yeah.

[Ish]

She came back from the hip surgery.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Misty Copeland.

[Ishaan]

Amazing.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's. That's amazing too. She had a whole hip replacement and

[Ish]

just stood there in front of Timothy and said, hold up.

[Parks]

We say it's none.

[Joe Button]

I'll tell you one thing I know we honoring black excellence right now. Indeed.

[Parks]

Why do I say something about some

[Joe Button]

white man see some boy titties that

[Ish]

did it for you.

[Joe Button]

That Kylie Jenner looked all right. That Kylie Jenner looked like something last night. And I ain't into them Jenner Kardashians.

[Parks]

Almond milk plus all the ill milks. Coconut milk, cashew.

[Flip]

Cashew milks might be a little cashew year n that. That red dress with them earrings and that necklace with just two big ass stones in it.

[Joe Button]

No, I didn't think her titties were so great.

[Flip]

That's another one.

[Joe Button]

I pumped up that little racist white girl's titties. That's another just horrible take for me. That girl's titties. Sydney. Whatever.

[Freeze]

Sydney Sweeney.

[Parks]

Yeah.

[Joe Button]

It's just like a slap in my girl's face. Erase that episode from the archives.

[Freeze]

What else?

[Flip]

What else? What else is from the Oscars there? We need to discuss.

[Ish]

I mean, Ryan Coogler went in screenplay.

[Flip]

Ryan Coogler, Yes. I'm just happy for all those. All those brothers, of course.

[Ishaan]

And that don't really be touted like being a director, being a producer and all that. So especially coming from where he comes from, like, my. He probably got teased or some just for going into the arts in the hood. So for him to.

[Flip]

To.

[Ishaan]

To really stand up and stand out, that shit is, man, a amazing to me.

[Freeze]

I like the speech.

[Ishaan]

Got 16 awards. They won four. I've read an article from Slate magazine that kind of pissed me off. They was like, where you c. The slate?

[Joe Button]

You and Hudson News just w.

[Flip]

You read something where you picking up Slate.

[Ishaan]

The Internet generation.

[Flip]

You and Wawa just buying. Let me get the new slate. Let me get. But go ahead. What'd they say in sleep?

[Ishaan]

They was like, sinners turned out to be the biggest loser. And I just thought that was.

[Joe Button]

So that's why you can't support Slave.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

I just thought that was so tacky.

[Freeze]

My losers.

[Ish]

It's been a bunch of the publications on them even through their success. And it's really weird. I think was the other one that did Variety too.

[Parks]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

Yep.

[Ish]

They said something about it being a disappointment because it earned 60 million. I forgot what it was.

[Flip]

That was very early.

[Ish]

It was very early.

[Flip]

Variety was one of the first to get out there with the hate.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Flip]

And everybody responded them though.

[Ish]

They still retweet that to this day. Yeah.

[Freeze]

Yeah. I just thought that was tight. Remember y' all said this. Look what it made now.

[Flip]

What do y' all think about Michael

[Joe Button]

B. Jordan going In N Out Burger afterward?

[Ish]

That was the most disappointing thing of

[Mark Lamont Hill]

the day for me.

[Ish]

Why is horrible.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh, it's the tradition. Yeah, I get you. Yeah. Change, change. For those that don't know what I mean. Typically after the Oscar, there's winners do go to In N out Burger. It's like a thing. It's not.

[Flip]

I didn't know that either because some

[Mark Lamont Hill]

people thought he was trying to like, look humble. It's like, no. If you look at all the photos, like actors leave the Oscars and go to In N Out Burger. It's like a thing.

[Flip]

Well.

[Joe Button]

And I read something that said he apparently tried to work there early in his career and they turned him down. So it was like a full circle moment.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh, that's cool.

[Freeze]

Okay. That's dope.

[Flip]

In N Out Burger. If you're in LA, like that shit do taste good. Around 2am if you coming from somewhere

[Joe Button]

and you had a couple drinks. That's the only time.

[Freeze]

That's the only time I said that.

[Flip]

The only time.

[Freeze]

Late night.

[Parks]

I better than Johnny Rockets, though.

[Freeze]

Drunk and leaving.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Johnny Rockets was the shit, man. They used to have that apple pie too, man. I don't eat beef, but them apple pies are crazy.

[Joe Button]

Johnny Rockets back in my late 20s

[Flip]

was my first stop when I hit that Miami. Get that outside outdoor table.

[Parks]

You're the one. Johnny Rockets.

[Ishaan]

I don't know what that is.

[Flip]

I think they had one to show. You know what heroin painters on heroin is and you don't know what Johnny Rockets is.

[Ishaan]

I didn't live the privileged life like you, bro.

[Flip]

I don't know if Johnny Rockets is not privileged.

[Parks]

That shit is good.

[Freeze]

That ain't privileged, man.

[Ishaan]

They ain't had one in Newark.

[Freeze]

They got one in Jersey Gardens.

[Flip]

More.

[Freeze]

I wish y' all got points of reference.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

J. Rockets is like Applebee's dog word. It's the same level. Okay.

[Freeze]

Chili's.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Joe Button]

I miss when they used to come out on their little skates and do the dance.

[Flip]

Go ahead. I used to go there at that time. N. For real. Sometimes it was a baddie coming out.

[Joe Button]

But now you got to the Johnny Rockets girl.

[Flip]

Put yourself in a hard spot.

[Joe Button]

Oh, y' all be the Johnny Rockets girl anyway. All right. Come on.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I mean, look at love.

[Freeze]

Including people with word.

[Flip]

No, I probably would do it too.

[Parks]

Oh, all right.

[Ishaan]

Say that then.

[Freeze]

You look so.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Say that.

[Freeze]

Yeah, say that.

[Joe Button]

I feel like y' all are some Johnny Rocket mid.

[Flip]

We're not doing that. We're not doing that. We're not doing that. We're not doing that any. Who. Congratulations to all the winners.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, all of the winners. I still think I. I support that weapons lady winning. She. She did. She did.

[Ish]

She did. I like the girl from.

[Ishaan]

I'm not.

[Ish]

I haven't watched Hamnet, but the girl's speech was she. She seemed very like the Irish. Irish girl woman.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, it was a good speech.

[Flip]

I'm conflicted on how I feel about the Oscars.

[Joe Button]

Just hitting the music. Right, Right when is about to talk, fam.

[Freeze]

They took the mic down on a.

[Flip]

That was.

[Freeze]

I never saw.

[Ishaan]

They did that shit a couple times. Yo, that was fucked up.

[Freeze]

The mic went back down in the ground. My man was just standing there like,

[Ish]

the lights went off. All that

[Flip]

and the nigga ain't leave. They sent it back up.

[Freeze]

Yeah, that's my moment, bro.

[Flip]

That is truly messed up. But I can't lie and take. It ain't funny.

[Joe Button]

I wasn't entertained.

[Freeze]

Oh, no, it was funny.

[Ish]

We gotta keep this show rolling, man. And if you're as like, a group, you go up there with, like, 10

[Freeze]

of you, you can't.

[Ish]

You got the one lady hogged the mic a little bit. Like, you gotta just get it in now.

[Freeze]

You see, my man was trying to tap her arm, like, yo, let me get some words. She's shouting everybody.

[Ish]

She said the same speech.

[Flip]

She said at the last.

[Ish]

Shit. I forgot it was the Golden Gloves and the Grammys, but it's the same exact speech.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You gotta share that there.

[Flip]

And just on some pro black shit, while those. They was up there.

[Joe Button]

What was it?

[Freeze]

Koreans.

[Flip]

The Koreans. When the Koreans was up there, I did think to myself, oh, this would

[Joe Button]

be a great time to just let, like, 30 of the Tourette's niggas in.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Why, yo?

[Joe Button]

Nah, if they paying.

[Flip]

If they pan at the Tourette's table right now and crazy. All is for sure. No, they just letting it go. Practice restraint, please. He about to get his bag. You know all the words. Oh, that would have.

[Joe Button]

That would have been funny.

[Flip]

Overall, I thought the Oscars did a

[Joe Button]

good job, or at least the parts that I wasn't. Fast forward.

[Ish]

I think the awards were given to the right people. I don't think that the ceremony was particularly entertaining.

[Ishaan]

It was.

[Ish]

Blah. Yeah.

[Flip]

Then I liked. On the red carpet. I liked. I liked them highlighting the Steven Spielberg, Timothy Shalam beef. Apparently, they were on the red carpet at the same time ignoring each other because, remember, they had beef.

[Freeze]

I didn't even know that. I didn't know that. I ain't with y'.

[Flip]

All.

[Freeze]

This whole Tiana hate train that's running around right now. I like that, bro.

[Ish]

What are they hating on her for?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Her little interaction with the.

[Freeze]

Yeah, her. Her being excited during the awards.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh, that.

[Freeze]

It started. It started. Well, it started with the. So was it the supporting. Supporting. Supporting Actor Award. Actress award that she didn't win? And they announced the. The person that won, she jumped up screaming, and they're, like, clapping. Crazy. Oh, this is fake. You're phony. You're being. Y' all don't Know Tiana or something?

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Joe Button]

So they don't know Tion, though.

[Flip]

Not.

[Freeze]

You don't have to know her personally. You just follow her, watch her.

[Parks]

You see?

[Ish]

This is her.

[Parks]

Yeah, it is.

[Freeze]

She wasn't out of character is what I'm saying.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And even if she was right, I mean, if you. If you don't say anything, they say you're a hater. If you cheer for the person that wins, they say you fake.

[Freeze]

So then when one battle after another won, you know, the way she grabbed the director in the headlock. Nigga, I'm happy.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Right? When you make a movie with somebody.

[Joe Button]

Okay, we not gonna be on it. All right, go ahead.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Well, go ahead.

[Flip]

No, no, no. I want to hear the cap.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

When you make a movie with somebody, you go to war with them. You become family. So you might really be happy with the motherfucker that won. Like, I don't think that. I think that's normal.

[Freeze]

Our movie won, my nigga. If I worked on an album and the album won album of the year,

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm running up there happy with you.

[Ish]

Headlock.

[Freeze]

Yeah.

[Joe Button]

Got it.

[Parks]

What you got to say?

[Joe Button]

Nothing. Maybe I'm wrong about it.

[Freeze]

Well, what are you wrong about? You're not saying anything.

[Parks]

Are you saying that her grabbing the director was inappropriate?

[Flip]

I'm not. I'm not going to say what's appropriate

[Joe Button]

and what's not appropriate because, like, y'

[Flip]

all said she was happy. If that's how you showing happiness, awesome.

[Freeze]

Okay.

[Flip]

However, for me, if. If I'm winning an award, an award that I don't know if he's won before, this is a big deal for him to win.

[Ish]

It was. I think it was his first. Yeah, he's done some great movies.

[Flip]

That's what I'm saying. Like, the same reverence that the room had for Michael B. Jordan on the flip, they had it for him as well, in that moment. Don't put me in.

[Freeze]

In the headlock, you said, let him have his moment.

[Flip]

Please don't put me in.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh, I see. You're not saying it's fake. You're just saying.

[Flip]

I'm not saying it's fake.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You just saying.

[Flip]

I'm not saying. She's being performative.

[Freeze]

Performative.

[Flip]

They were saying she was doing a lot. And when I watched it, I could see how somebody could think that, at least.

[Parks]

I don't know.

[Ish]

PTA seems like the kind of guy that is cool with the headlock.

[Ishaan]

I think it depends on your rapport with the person.

[Flip]

But even if he's cool with the Head headlock. Please don't put me in a headlock as I make my way to the podium. Please.

[Ish]

To a comedian. I'm sure he's probably cool with it.

[Flip]

He might have not had a problem with it.

[Freeze]

I ain't see still.

[Parks]

I see what you saying.

[Flip]

Please don't put me in a headlock while I'm on my way to the photo to win my. Yo, if we win a. A Grammy or some for you, buddy, you getting headline.

[Freeze]

You getting a headline and a wedgie.

[Flip]

Flip is definitely putting you in the headline. Well, he's. Well, I didn't think it happen.

[Parks]

He's not gonna be there.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Right?

[Parks]

I know. Hello. I got you.

[Flip]

No, stop. Imagine. I don't think Flip would put me in adlock.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I don't.

[Parks]

It just.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Bro, you.

[Ishaan]

You'll be overwhelmed with emotion and you got a rapport with the person. If y' all play like that on scene. These movies. Some of these movies take months. So you literally in the trenches with these motherfuckers for months. So you know what their personality is. Like. The dude might not be that type of dude.

[Parks]

Dude.

[Ishaan]

Then it's something different. But if he a play fiend on set. If he does a bunch of silly on set.

[Freeze]

And that's the.

[Ishaan]

We might be slap boxing every day on set.

[Ish]

His wife is. I don't think she has some cool shit.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Right.

[Ishaan]

So it just depends, you know.

[Freeze]

And I don't think she does that.

[Flip]

But none of that. I get what y' all are saying just to me. I don't want to be circular.

[Ishaan]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

You said don't do it anyway.

[Flip]

None of it negates what.

[Joe Button]

Yeah. What I'm saying.

[Flip]

Like your wife's a comedian. You understand? And we've been having a blast on this movie for the last however many years. We tighter than the two ones and 11. I understand all this. Know that please. As I'm going to accept my. Please don't put me in that long. That's me saying that if they cool with it cool, we'll have a blast. I'm telling y', all, if we are ever in that situation.

[Ish]

Flip.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Flip.

[Flip]

You know what to do.

[Freeze]

Already gonna take your shirt off and slap it.

[Flip]

But other than that, I'm not with black. I'm not with black people suppressing the. The black. I'm not with that. Like we are. They were saying she's a lot. I'm we a lot.

[Ishaan]

No, but black people could be a

[Flip]

lot when they put up. And I ain't gonna be a lot like us. Like when they put them little dog whistling signs in the hotel that say, keep the noise down here for the white people. That's for us. Know why? Cause we gonna make noise. We gonna make mad noise while you and your little family of three asleep in there in the handicap room.

[Freeze]

So if you think they ain't making

[Ishaan]

noise

[Freeze]

with a couple of them pink paps, blue ribbons in them, go put

[Ish]

your ear out the window today.

[Ishaan]

They don't gotta be drunk.

[Freeze]

We ain't gotta blame it on drunk.

[Ishaan]

It's some loud, boisterous white people there is. They don't gotta be drunk to be crazy.

[Joe Button]

Are you talking about, like, the born in the USA whites, man.

[Flip]

In the USA America.

[Freeze]

When they thought America out there, not America.

[Flip]

I think one of them whites.

[Joe Button]

I was in a compromising situation a few weeks ago. I was in a pizza place by myself, enjoying the slice. I think one of them whites came in with his kid, like, and was loud, like, about his views.

[Flip]

I'm like, why didn't your views matter

[Joe Button]

at the pizza place? We shouldn't have.

[Flip]

I feel like you're doing. You doing that to get me to

[Joe Button]

do something in here.

[Freeze]

Absolutely. So he could tighten. Justify my. My. The way I look at you.

[Joe Button]

I ain't going to beat one of them up in front of their kids.

[Flip]

I would.

[Joe Button]

That's a lie.

[Freeze]

Don't get s or right.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You don't want no maga beat down.

[Freeze]

Yeah.

[Joe Button]

In the pizza place.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

You don't want that flipping you up like the dog.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Exactly. And you know what? Give me pepperoni.

[Parks]

Give me a pile of pepperoni.

[Flip]

You sit there, boy, you think I'm the dop. Slip me in the air every which way, huh?

[Ishaan]

Hey, pepperoni and the fuck out your ass.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Tell us you don't want to be in the headlock.

[Joe Button]

Well, that's when I expect y' all to run in there with the nation and fix it.

[Ishaan]

Oh, yeah, for sure.

[Joe Button]

Absolutely, indeed. How about that?

[Freeze]

Got you, indeed.

[Flip]

What else is important?

[Ish]

I mean, one last thing. In Oscars, it was pretty cool to see horror being celebrated on this big of a stage. It rarely is between Frankenstein, sinners and weapons all being mainstays of the awards stage. You never see that from.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I was gonna ask you. Cause I'm not in the horror at all. Like, is that. Like, is it, like, is it seen as lowbrow? Is that the reason?

[Ish]

Usually. And a lot of times it is in, but a lot of times it isn't. There's a lot of very good horror out there.

[Parks]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ish]

It Was cool to see that celebrated.

[Ishaan]

I didn't see Frankenstein, but was it really looked at as horror as opposed to cinema, cinematic, you know what I'm saying?

[Freeze]

Like old school.

[Ishaan]

It was because I don't look at sinners as horror.

[Ish]

It was kind of the second half.

[Joe Button]

It was labeled as hard.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I know.

[Ish]

And Frankenstein, since the inception, has always been considered the horror genre by today's standards of horror.

[Flip]

Maybe not, but that's because you're not

[Joe Button]

afraid of the white devils. He down with, like, with the vampires.

[Ishaan]

You ain't either.

[Parks]

Let him in.

[Freeze]

You ain't.

[Ishaan]

Not even remotely.

[Flip]

Don't say nothing.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Come in.

[Flip]

They should let them right in.

[Joe Button]

In our center's house.

[Freeze]

Come on, girl. Come on.

[Flip]

You got friends.

[Ishaan]

I met a bunch of them through you. You was welcoming you. You was welcoming.

[Ish]

So I was.

[Flip]

So I alley ooped it for you.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, you did.

[Joe Button]

All right, there we go. Deny it. Sometimes.

[Flip]

Stop. They get tired of talking about. They get tired of hearing about men issues, past relationship bromance, and how we mad hoes all over the world. So I'm not. I'm not talking about that no more. That'll be the last time you hear about me and ish hoes all over the world together. Anyway, what do y' all want to move on to?

[Freeze]

Hey, Mark, you were saying from the Oscar. Someone announced their significant other, one of

[Mark Lamont Hill]

my favorite people, favorite directors, Ava DuVernay. We love.

[Flip]

Oh, I did see it.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Shout out to Ava. We love you. We love you. We love you. She was on the red carpet. Essence was interviewing her, and they asked her sort of, was it something you're proud of? Or they asked her some questions that she could answer, like, a lot of different ways, and she chose to say, I'm proud of her. I'm happy that I brought my. And she introduces her significant other. She's. I've been hiding him for a while. You know, he's been around for a while, but I'm happy to introduce him and to bring him to the red carpet or whatever. And then, you know, all the blogs and stuff. Ava's got a man. All this stuff, which I thought was dope salute to her. I'm glad she's happy, but I wondered about that, like, one. Like, would y' all do that at an event that big at the Oscars? And then more broadly, like, when is the right time to unveil the significant other in public? Public?

[Freeze]

Because that's a big.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's big. That's not like, just like Instagram.

[Ish]

Eight months.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Eight months.

[Ish]

Eight Months.

[Ishaan]

Quick.

[Flip]

Eight.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I feel like you thought that through,

[Parks]

because

[Flip]

he just over there lying.

[Ish]

Someone's got started off.

[Flip]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Ish]

Eight was a starting point. Yeah.

[Ishaan]

How long?

[Freeze]

You know, how long?

[Ish]

Minimum requirement.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And is that. Is that for, like, IG or is that for, like, the red carpet?

[Flip]

I mean, well, let's slow down. I'm with the unveiling.

[Joe Button]

The first award show ain't gonna be the Oscars. Like, let's try this at the Ozone Awards first. Yeah, let's try to test Ozone Awards.

[Flip]

Source Awards.

[Freeze]

Source Awards Somewhere vibes.

[Flip]

Yeah, we ain't gonna do this. A premiere at the Oscars. That's how I know homeboy was home. And I love Ava, so I' shut

[Joe Button]

up actually about this.

[Flip]

But homeboy was home putting the pressure on her.

[Joe Button]

He was trying to get the unveiled

[Flip]

at the supermarket anywhere. When you unveil your partner at something as big as the Oscars with the speech that she gave, I assume that

[Joe Button]

there was pressure put on you from the partner.

[Flip]

I agree.

[Ish]

Oh, she gave a speech to identity, you think?

[Flip]

I assume that she gave a real speech. Yes.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It was just in the interview, like, in the interview, like, so.

[Ish]

Yes.

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Parks]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

Maybe that's pressure.

[Ish]

Yeah, it would have been some pressure.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Or she could just been in the moment.

[Ishaan]

It was more sincerity.

[Freeze]

It could be sincere.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah. She's a sincere person, so. And nobody was asking for that.

[Freeze]

You know what I mean?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I feel like, if anything, she might have been caught up in a moment. Like, you with your boo, whatever. You happy? Is you talking to essence. It was like some sister girl shit, and you just be like, yo.

[Freeze]

But you've never. I don't know how long they've been. Been together. You've never shown this person or said anything about this person. And you said, nobody's asking for that, dude. Could have been a person asking for that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Could be.

[Flip]

Well, this is another one of those instances where I don't have the life

[Joe Button]

experience to share on the matter.

[Flip]

Oh, but we have four. But we have four people here. Right? Like, so if y' all were gonna

[Joe Button]

do something like that, would you do

[Flip]

it that way, or would there be a different event, or would you try to get some more excuses out there?

[Ish]

I think you need a softer launch than the Oscar. Oscars.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Ish]

Instagram post a little courtside at the game.

[Freeze]

It depends on that relationship, man.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, it depends on the relationship, but I think you cannot leave your significant other at home at the Oscars.

[Ish]

Yeah, true.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But that's okay.

[Freeze]

They just do it all the time, taking Mom. Yeah, good point.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

So, yeah, so from now I'm seeing the Essence article a little bit more. They're giving more detail today. Cause they asked her what she's proud of. She said, I'm proud of myself for bringing my honey.

[Joe Button]

Right.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Apparently, they've always been together at these events, so she hasn't been hiding them. She just never, like, publicly acknowledged names. It. You know, she's kind of just doing her thing. It's not a secret.

[Joe Button]

Like, just go stand over there.

[Freeze]

Yeah. Hold my bag. Stand over there. Wait for me. I'll be right back.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

So, to me, that is kind of the soft launch. Right? Like, you go out with the person you've seen at events. People used to seeing y' all together. You at the games, you had this, you at this. Then to me, the next step is social media nowadays. Yeah. You know, like, you might post a holiday picture, Thanksgiving picture, birthday picture, and at your birthday, that person is next to you. Then you get to the award show.

[Ish]

Or it could have been a bunch of award shows and I wasn't acknowledged.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yes, that's true, too.

[Ishaan]

Oh, true.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's true, too. Could be that.

[Freeze]

I'm tired of this. I ain't gonna keep standing here. Would y' all do that?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Do dudes feel like that?

[Ishaan]

Yo, you just took the words out my mouth. Like, would you do that?

[Joe Button]

Do what?

[Ishaan]

Like, if you. If you were dating some, like, say you weren't famous and you were just dating somebody.

[Ish]

He doesn't have a lot of life experience in that,

[Ishaan]

but, like, if you're not famous.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

If you weren't famous, you wouldn't be dating nobody.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, I mean, I'm not doing that. Yo, if you weren't. If you weren't. If you weren't famous, you were dating somebody, like, overly successful, would you put pressure on them? Even if you come into the award ceremonies with them to be cast into the.

[Freeze]

The light?

[Ishaan]

Like, you could be with them as the escort.

[Freeze]

Like, I don't.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, I wouldn't do that. I'm not into that neither. Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I can't imagine this dude's like that.

[Ishaan]

I could imagine.

[Joe Button]

But if a.

[Flip]

If a.

[Joe Button]

If a.

[Flip]

If a. A List actress asked one of you

[Joe Button]

guys to accompany her to the Oscars, is that an automatic no. Because y' all involved.

[Freeze]

Yes.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh, you mean now?

[Joe Button]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yes. I might not even watch that.

[Joe Button]

Damn right. I understand.

[Freeze]

Can't do it.

[Parks]

I'm going, I'm going.

[Flip]

I'm going.

[Parks]

Yeah, you good.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm going.

[Parks]

I'm going, I'm going.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Wait A minute.

[Parks]

Wait, wait.

[Flip]

I'm going.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

So Halle Berry.

[Parks]

I'm going.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's like, flip, I need you to come with me to the hospital.

[Parks]

Wait, wait, wait.

[Ish]

Holly.

[Ishaan]

I might have to have.

[Flip]

Who is the A lister?

[Ishaan]

I'll be like, yo. My initial reaction would be no.

[Flip]

Okay.

[Joe Button]

Your uninitial reaction would be what?

[Ishaan]

It depends on the conversation I have with my girl. If my girl say no.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No.

[Freeze]

Well, let me take.

[Flip]

Let me. Okay, but how would you want to guide that conversation?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

She's gonna say no.

[Flip]

Yeah. How would you want to guide that conversation?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

How would you.

[Ish]

It's a good look.

[Ishaan]

I would go home.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

I would go home and say, yo, Halle Bear, Barry wants to take me to the Oscars. What do you feel about that?

[Flip]

I got everybody in here.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Spanish.

[Flip]

I got everybody in here doing this will be good for my career. Yeah. But I have everybody in here doing it.

[Ishaan]

I would try to get that off.

[Freeze]

No.

[Flip]

At least having the talk with your partner.

[Ishaan]

I'm gonna try to get it off.

[Freeze]

I'm gonna tell y' all it's not gonna work.

[Ishaan]

No, I just said that. I said, yo, Halle berry. Like you JLo, Halle bear. It could be somebody. Yeah. It don't gotta even be that high. Somebody that I think would be a good look for my potential career. I'm gonna go home and try to sell it.

[Ish]

And even if she says, yeah, it's gonna be a miserable, miserable year.

[Joe Button]

Plus, I wanna hear how you gonna tell her the Oscars is gonna get these houses built?

[Freeze]

The Oscars gonna get the houses built.

[Flip]

Yeah, Yeah, I would wanna.

[Ish]

This is what he's like, I'm a podcaster.

[Ishaan]

No, I'm in immediate space.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah,

[Parks]

let's go.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Ish.

[Joe Button]

True.

[Parks]

He practiced that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Ain't none of y' all going home with that. I ain't saying go home with this.

[Freeze]

It's not going to work. I'mma try it. I'm work, though.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Sure. It's not going to work. I'm not going to try.

[Flip]

I would try 100%.

[Joe Button]

Tried this before.

[Ish]

How'd it work out?

[Joe Button]

Not the greatest.

[Ishaan]

You ain't see me at the awards.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, I didn't go.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You ain't see me, But I tried

[Flip]

it, and in my head, it made sense. It made sense for me to try it. I didn't really expect her to all the way understand what I was saying, but it was the whole, hey, my career.

[Ish]

How abrasive was the.

[Flip]

No. I don't know that she said no.

[Ish]

You could feel the disappointment.

[Flip]

Feel the brain on your Skin. No one else will feel it for you. Yeah, I don't know that she said no, but she just. But you could feel kind of. You can feel the no in the air, like Beanie Siegel.

[Freeze]

She hit you with a have fun.

[Joe Button]

Oh, yeah, it was bad.

[Ishaan]

She can't say that now.

[Ish]

No, no, she. The half one is never there.

[Freeze]

You don't want that. Rather you say no than have fun.

[Flip]

But is it implied that we going

[Freeze]

to after the Oscars?

[Ishaan]

No.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, come on, man.

[Ishaan]

It's implied that you are charismatic and you are attractive and the possibility of being in somebody's company at an event like that could lead to something else.

[Joe Button]

And listen, when I tried it, it was very early, earlier on in the relationship. I don't think that flies at all right now. I don't even know if I can ask that right now.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's. I wish I would go home and ask my wife if I could go put an A list actress to the Oscars.

[Flip]

See, but if that's my wife, then I would ask.

[Joe Button]

I'm going.

[Flip]

If that's my wife, then I would 100 ask.

[Parks]

Hey, watch me there. I wouldn't hold her hand. I wouldn't touch her, man. I'll be right there.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But I worried about that.

[Parks]

My hands behind my back. Yeah, well, we are. We are worried.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

We are worried.

[Parks]

Would you let your wife go to.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Of course you won't.

[Parks]

Of course. Hey, yo, if your wife's up.

[Flip]

If your wife PhD.

[Ishaan]

But if your wife was in media. If your wife was an actress. If your wife was.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Nigga, I don't care if she does armed security.

[Flip]

She can't be.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, let me finish.

[Ishaan]

If your wife was in entertainment, it might be part of her job to go. You know what I mean?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

To do what, nigga?

[Parks]

You do a lot of smiling in them interviews with them ladies, nigga. Oh, we have Mark. Dr. Mark Lam on here.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Hello. Hello.

[Parks]

What was that white lady you just spoke to? I was just watching it.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Who was it? Rachel Dolezal.

[Parks]

Whatever.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Whoever in Keiichi Giallo. Now, excuse me.

[Parks]

It was a nice smile, boy.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I wasn't smiling for no in Casey Giallo.

[Parks]

Whoever you was smiling for, shake my hand.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'll shake your hand, but I don't know what you're talking about.

[Parks]

You was bad tea.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

My wife couldn't go.

[Flip]

No.

[Parks]

Yeah, you would change the subject.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, I'm not changing the subject. I just know what you're talking about. But I find it. But you find it. But part of the problem is, particularly if you're publicly In a relationship. Like you. Right. Or any of us.

[Joe Button]

Like us.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

All of us. But I'm just using an example is if you were to go, even if you had that discussion with your lady, all the blog's gonna say is you broke up and that you out with somebody new. So it's gonna be embarrassing.

[Parks]

True, true.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And so what your partner's gonna be thinking about is the embarrassment. And that's gonna trump whatever's going on with your career.

[Joe Button]

So we letting the blogs run our shit now?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Now you let her feelings run the shit, Joe.

[Freeze]

Ooh, that's a good one. Give him the chain.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Let's go to prize pitch.

[Flip]

Give em the chain. Go to prize, bitch.

[Freeze]

That was. That was.

[Flip]

Letting her feel it. Anyway, before we go to prize bigs,

[Joe Button]

though, quick question for you guys, since we were bullshitting around, not like this has anything to do with that.

[Flip]

How long after you move from a

[Joe Button]

place do you get to claim the place?

[Flip]

I'm thinking about this because of Nori

[Joe Button]

and Peter Rosenberg's little back and forth where Norrie went to do the new morning show with Merrill. And he was like, yo, it feels good to hear some New York. Some new. The show sounds like and feels like New York now.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Flip]

To which Pete took offense.

[Ish]

He was.

[Flip]

Because Pete is.

[Ish]

I love Pete, but that was a lot.

[Flip]

I thought he made a lot of valid points.

[Ish]

Huh.

[Parks]

I think.

[Ish]

I'm sorry to interrupt. I don't think there's anything harmful in saying that. I like hearing New York voices on the Premiere York radio station because none of them respectfully are from New York. And I think that's okay. It's okay to like, he was. It's not saying you weren't good at your job. It's not saying your show wasn't dope. It's not saying any of that shit. It's just like, it's nice to hear someone from New York on Hot.

[Flip]

I agree with that. But for people that are mutually fly with both Mero and the old morning

[Joe Button]

show, and you go to the new

[Flip]

show and say, oh, finally, it feels good. I could see how it could come off a way to Pete the sauce.

[Ish]

Nobody sounded sincere. And he didn't sound. Yeah, he.

[Ishaan]

Not even.

[Ish]

He didn't sound mean in his. It's nice to hear New York voices on a New York radio station. If he said, like, how you said it, I would completely understand.

[Flip]

But Pete's response was, I've been in

[Joe Button]

New York for 20 years now, been

[Flip]

repping underground New York hip hop more

[Joe Button]

than anybody in the Position, Married a New York woman, Had my baby in New York. I've been in New York.

[Flip]

And on the flip side, Norrie hasn't

[Joe Button]

lived here for 15 years.

[Flip]

And it wasn't until he got to the end that I was like, hmm, interesting. How long do we get to claim a place or act like we're in

[Joe Button]

tune with the onsgoings of the place?

[Flip]

I can speak as why you don't live there.

[Freeze]

I don't think he did that.

[Ish]

I can speak as someone who's not from here. I've been here for 20 years. I don't necessarily. I still claim Elmira. I wouldn't complain if someone said, you don't sound like a New Yorker. I don't think that that's out of pocket because I'm not from New York. I think that's okay.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But sounded like it seemed like they were talking past each other. Cause, like, I agree with you. It's like, if you're not from there, you're not from there. You can always say that. But Rosenberg's performance, I put on New York in terms of the artists, in terms of the radio, all these other things. And he did.

[Flip]

And his point was, I'm actively in New York right now during a mass

[Mark Lamont Hill]

exercise doing New York shit while you in Miami.

[Flip]

Yeah, I'm here and you not. Why do you get to say that to me?

[Freeze]

Yeah, but he could still say, because I'm from here. Like, I grew up here. I'm a New Yorker now that I touch down back in the city, whether it be 10 years, 15. Thing is, it just feels good to hear it sounding like New York.

[Flip]

But why, if you listening to Florida radio so that. That I'm listening to y'.

[Freeze]

All.

[Ishaan]

But look, the fact that I know

[Flip]

he's my brother, and I love it.

[Freeze]

I'm not in Florida right now. I'm back home in New York.

[Flip]

You here for two days. Well, you give a about how the morning radio sounds.

[Ishaan]

If I am listening to Florida radio every single day, and I come home and touch down, it feels good to hear New York radio or New York voices on the radio. I think that we're. Wherever you spent majority of your time, you can't say Nori's not a New Yorker. If I stood here, I went to jail here. I ran the streets here. I had my first fist fight here. I graduated high school. I did all of these things here. I'm certified stamped as a New Yorker. I don't give a if I moved to Wyoming and lived there for the last 30 days of my years of my life. I'm a New Yorker. You can't take that away from somebody because they've been gone for two years.

[Parks]

But you gotta be mindful when you have the relationships with people.

[Ishaan]

I'm not disagreeing.

[Freeze]

I'm not. I'm.

[Ishaan]

I'm talking about the one. I'm impulsive talking about the one thing. You can't say that Nori's not.

[Flip]

Y' all are right. But I'm split down the middle on this. Y' all are making fair points. I'm split down the middle. Nori made the war report so you can. In New York. So, I mean, yeah, that's it. He could go move to West Bubble after that. He's cemented in history in New York.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But if I'm a Chicago DJ and Kanye just happens to ride through Chicago tomorrow like it's about time. Chicago radio sound like Chicago. And like, he ain't been there in. I don't even know last time he lived in Chicago. Chicago. Like, I could see the person who's a transplant but holding down Chicago being like, the are you talking about? But I also could see Kanye liking to hear Chicago voices on the radio. That's what I'm saying. To me, they both true. It just seemed like an unnecessary.

[Ishaan]

I see both sides, but you can't never say Kanye not a Chicagoan.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Right. That's what I'm saying. It seems like they both could have just had their feelings and thoughts and not even had this exchange.

[Ish]

Nor's comment didn't seem like a dig. It seemed like a big up.

[Parks]

Yeah, he just digging his. Digging his man up.

[Freeze]

It does come off like a dig. Just because. Because Pietenham just got exiled from here, and now you just took the slot over, and now you're sitting here saying, oh, it feels good to hear New York again. So what you're trying to say, it wasn't New York when I was here. You've been in New York.

[Joe Button]

Yeah. There's no way for that to not

[Flip]

look like it's still a dig.

[Freeze]

Yo.

[Joe Button]

Sorry.

[Freeze]

It's still a dig. No matter how you look at it. Even if it wasn't intended. That's a dig. This is not your first time in New York in 15 years. So you're speaking to the times you've been in New York, and it ain't sound like New York, but go ahead.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Does this conversation happen if Rosenberg still had, like, if.

[Freeze]

No.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And I don't obviously, in the sense of like, if he had said, like, I wish New York radio sounded like New York. In other words, does Rosenberg ignore this? If they're not repositioning for the new. With the new gig and, you know, with the new platform and all this stuff they're doing, which I like, you know, is this also, like, I'm gonna just seize this moment? Was it an overreaction for the moment?

[Freeze]

I don't think so. I think he took it as a dig and was rightfully.

[Ish]

What did we say when they appeared to be hiring a bunch of people from out of town to replace Rosenberg and them on the radio show? What. What was the general consensus by media?

[Flip]

We ain't seen them two Atlanta comedians, where they was from. We ain't seen Atlanta.

[Freeze]

Atlanta. Now they all, like, Saturday.

[Parks]

Do y' all notice real quick that there's a lot of. Now that EO was off the radio, a lot of people are, like, on them a little bit. Yeah, it was. It wasn't on them before when it was. I mean, I've seen it, but it's. It's a lot more now.

[Flip]

You just wait till you get fired to shit on you.

[Parks]

They were gatekeepers and stuff. They call it Ebro, a gatekeeper and stuff like that. I don't know. You guys know the logistics and ins and outs of the radio.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I just.

[Parks]

It's kind of.

[Ish]

They're all doing great, so I, I, I. It's corny to try to on them while Ebro.

[Flip]

I like the changes you making to your show in real time. I like the set, I like the graphics. I like the topics. I like what you got going on over here.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's a great show.

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Flip]

Shout out to Ebro, Peter and.

[Joe Button]

And. And Laura.

[Freeze]

Yeah.

[Ish]

And. And everything they're doing individually, too, is. Is great.

[Flip]

Yeah. And Maro. I know.

[Parks]

Yeah.

[Ish]

Word.

[Ishaan]

Yeah.

[Ish]

Like, it seemed a lot of much ado about nothing, if you will.

[Freeze]

I will say I enjoy listening today to The Morning Show, Hot 97. I listen to it. Yeah. I listen to it daily.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Did you do that before?

[Freeze]

I did it before, too.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Okay.

[Freeze]

Because again, I got the kids in the car, so I just cut the radio on. It sounds differently with Mero when I'm

[Parks]

up there trying to get you a new job. Right. The biggest is playing up here. Let's go. Freeze. I know that trick. Freeze. I know that one. Freeze. Like, let me see where I fit on here. Mero, what up? You know how you DM and inboxing. Let's go. Freeze this. Freeze. What we doing? Freeze.

[Flip]

Why you always put me in. What we doing?

[Freeze]

Boy, I don't play none of y'.

[Flip]

All.

[Freeze]

That's y' all business.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Y' all do that.

[Joe Button]

See how I get.

[Parks]

It's easy.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's easy to get in trouble for being.

[Joe Button]

And that's your man. So you rhyme with you two.

[Flip]

You know what it's time for, fuckers. Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I ain't even say this.

[Flip]

Yeah, you speak with your face. Light eyed motherfucker.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Come on. Stick is crazy. I get looped in with him.

[Flip]

Yes.

[Ishaan]

All right, the same way you ain't want to be looped in with him.

[Flip]

But I'm really not down with him, bro. You are down with him, bro.

[Freeze]

Why y' all think. Why? Why do you think that?

[Ishaan]

Yo, why?

[Flip]

What's wrong?

[Freeze]

You do that every time, bro. Why do you think that?

[Flip]

Why do I think y' all are down with each other?

[Freeze]

Like, you start.

[Flip]

You.

[Freeze]

This is your creation. You know that, right? That whole north cast couch narrative, that's you.

[Parks]

They create that joke.

[Freeze]

You create it, and then you attach us in every. We don't think the same. We two different people.

[Flip]

Are y' all not down with each other?

[Freeze]

I'm down with all of you. We are friends.

[Flip]

Oh.

[Freeze]

Oh, I'm down with. Am I down with you?

[Flip]

But in the specific. No in the specific.

[Freeze]

Keep that in mind next time somebody mentioned marriage proposals, rings, anything like that. Cause you love to throw me in with you.

[Flip]

But in the specific, can you address what I'm saying in this? You didn't answer my question yet.

[Freeze]

You didn't get your question out.

[Flip]

I didn't ask the same question.

[Freeze]

You said, are you down? And I said, I'm down with all of you.

[Flip]

He did answer that, which means you're down with him.

[Freeze]

I'm down with him. And you and you and you and you.

[Flip]

Okay, I'm not down with him.

[Joe Button]

Just to be clear.

[Flip]

Or you.

[Freeze]

You are.

[Ishaan]

You are down with him. You too.

[Flip]

With who, Flip?

[Joe Button]

I don't want to be.

[Freeze]

Oh, my God.

[Flip]

How can I un down myself? Now it's time for my favorite part of the show. All right, shoot your shot on Prize picks and get $50 instantly in lineups when you play your first $5. That's right. Prize Picks is now giving you $50 in lineups when you sign up and play Your very first $5. Prize picks makes every dunk, every dime, every board that much more exciting. So don't forget to scratch that itch.

[Joe Button]

I'm sorry I started thinking about y'. All.

[Flip]

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[Joe Button]

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[Flip]

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[Joe Button]

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[Flip]

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[Joe Button]

All right now is did you try to win or would you just get doing some? Tell me.

[Ishaan]

I always try to win. What's your problem?

[Joe Button]

No. Okay, then I'm riding with what my man say it's the Jon ish picks then I don't. I don't believe you always try to win, but I'm riding with my man.

[Flip]

Ride with your man to get you killed, but I'mma do it. The Joan is picks of the week. We are going with Cameron Boozer for more than a point.

[Freeze]

Duh.

[Flip]

SGA for more than 34.5 points, rebounds and assists. Ivaka Zubak.

[Joe Button]

I know I jacked his name up

[Flip]

for more than seven rebounds. And Jalen Green for more than four rebounds. Don't forget, if you download the Prize picks app right this second and use promo code JBP, you get $50 instantly when you play your first $5 lineup. As I told you eight times when I started started this only on prize

[Joe Button]

picks where it's good to be, right?

[Parks]

Yes, sir.

[Flip]

Okay, so speaking of it being good to be white. Well, actually now. Cause he's black. Jack Harlow. Boy, the Internet. Woo.

[Ish]

It was like old Twitter.

[Flip]

This was a good week to have WI Fi.

[Ish]

Yeah, it was.

[Joe Button]

They creative.

[Flip]

Yo, you guys, sometimes this is when the Internet is at its best. When black people have it seriously, right?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Flip]

Black Twitter feels like Black Twitter again. Boy, they had a blast with Jack Harlow and his album while we were recording. We had some fun too, but the Internet had way more fun. And some of the names that these

[Joe Button]

people came up with, I mean, very creative fun.

[Ishaan]

They funny.

[Flip]

IRS 1

[Joe Button]

is ridiculous.

[Freeze]

Tone deaf.

[Flip]

Tone death.

[Joe Button]

That's crazy.

[Flip]

What did they call this music? Rothschild.

[Freeze]

Yeah.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Flip]

And music Soulless Child and Music Stole Child. They had a blast with that one. They said his album was Rhythmless Nation. The gentrification of Lauryn Hill.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh.

[Freeze]

Oh.

[Flip]

What were some of y' all favorites?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Hello.

[Flip]

Wake up.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Charlie Kirk Franklin. Charlie Kirk Franklin was one of my good.

[Flip]

Charlie Kirk Franklin was a good one.

[Ishaan]

Neo Nazi they call that a bunch of.

[Flip]

They call that Disingenuine. Oh, they called him. Most definitely not.

[Parks]

Most definitely not.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Luke Luka Vandross.

[Flip]

Luca Vandross.

[Freeze]

Oh, my God.

[Flip]

Brian McWhite.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Flip]

What did he. Wonder Bread. Stevie Wonder Bread was funny too.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Crazy.

[Flip]

The Anglo Saxon, they called them.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yo, they Colonial Soul.

[Ishaan]

They went crazy, bro. Like, all these are creative.

[Flip]

They call Ice Cube, but the ice that's doing the. The Immigrant Ice Cube.

[Ishaan]

Oh, that. That is funny, son.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

This has to be the worst thing that could happen to you if you a artist and you go on a limb like this.

[Freeze]

No, it ain't. Look, my album just dropped. Y' all got me viral.

[Ishaan]

That is a good point.

[Parks]

You buying it, though?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

At this point, I ain't even fucking with the album, but they just clowned it.

[Flip]

They call this nigga Lint Condition Lazy. Lazy. They call that nigga White Thought, Vanilla Rice, Ghost Face, Vanilla De La Soap instead of De La Soap.

[Joe Button]

No, that's funny, too.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's funny.

[Joe Button]

That's pretty.

[Ishaan]

Yo, dog, that's.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And they got, like, better every day. They was like.

[Ishaan]

It's some creativity out there, bro. I ain't gonna lie. Some of these witty.

[Flip]

Oh, man. If you're Jack Harlow, how are you feeling about it? Is it like free promo? You roll with the jokes?

[Parks]

Yeah.

[Flip]

Are you feeling good about it?

[Freeze]

It's free promo. But at the same time, because he. He seems to have been genuine in trying to make this album, and it's getting stepped on like that.

[Flip]

It did.

[Freeze]

Was it.

[Ishaan]

It might hurt.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's what I'm saying.

[Parks]

How does it sound?

[Ish]

Unfortunately, I feel like for today's artists, they're probably happy with the.

[Parks]

The buzz word, so no one listens.

[Ishaan]

I think if you feel confident. I think if you feel confident in your product and you think you put out a good product, then this jokey might take to go listen to at least one or two songs so they could get some more jokes off.

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

And then if you deliver, then I think you're okay.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I think you give the Internet too much credit. I think they'll get them jokes off without doing any investing. They just want to clown.

[Freeze]

They just had the pictures.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That was enough. Yeah, that was enough. The album reviews. I think the overall rating I saw one was, like a 3.3.1. So it's, like, getting critically panned and it's getting clowned. I just. I can't imagine he's okay with this.

[Flip]

Yeah, it would be different if you felt like some of the jokes were leading people Back to what was an amazing project.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

They called him Masterpiece.

[Freeze]

Yeah, no.

[Flip]

Oh.

[Freeze]

And I did, because, remember, that might

[Flip]

be my favorite one.

[Freeze]

Masterpiece. We were trying to figure out if he was still generation now or not because the album just said Atlantic. So I reached out to DJ Drama and his response is, and I'm quoting him, he is forever generation Now. Which I have thoughts on what that means, if you can read.

[Parks]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm gonna listen to the album.

[Joe Button]

That's the thing about your music industry. Street friends, like, no matter how fly you are, you won't get the truth.

[Freeze]

No, you can. Some things you can kind of.

[Flip]

The truth is right there.

[Freeze]

Yeah, the truth is there.

[Joe Button]

Yeah. Drama, I'll see you in Atlanta or something over coffee and find out what happened.

[Freeze]

The truth there.

[Ish]

He's still eating off that. That's all he's saying.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Okay.

[Joe Button]

Yeah. So slow.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Tell you that.

[Flip]

Rigatoni me up.

[Joe Button]

I'm. I'm slow today. Oh, no, y' all gotta help me.

[Freeze]

That's what that meant. You can see it.

[Flip]

Oh, got him. Do you put out your best work if somebody is. If somebody's eating off your more than you want them to? Like, is Jack trying to do Tricky.

[Ishaan]

It's tricky, though.

[Freeze]

It's tricky. Depend on how many albums you got left. And not just that. You put out your subpar work now, your demand drops and. And it make it harder for your next go round.

[Parks]

We got some niggas that won't even record because they don't want the names on that anymore.

[Joe Button]

That's what Skane told me in 04 when I had the bright idea of getting out of all my contracts by just dropping trash, putting out some trash. And he was like, okay. And then you're gonna go try to get a new situation with this. Off the stats from your trash, so you're only hurting yourself.

[Flip]

I was like, fuck, they got me.

[Freeze]

Cause then you got another example where Future had that situation where Rocco was eating off his next two projects and he gave us two of his best shits just to get them out. Just to get out the deal honorable you know what I mean? It was like, all right, if I. You got my next two. Fine. I'm dropping an album this week and next week so I could be done with you. And they were heat.

[Ish]

Yeah, they were.

[Freeze]

And look what it did. You know what I'm saying?

[Ishaan]

Or if you put out some bullshit, it might make the label have reservations about giving you some money for your next project or putting your next project project out quickly.

[Ish]

I don't think he put this out thinking it was some trash.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I don't think so.

[Freeze]

I think he meant. I think he put his heart in

[Mark Lamont Hill]

it and it's not trash. That's the thing. I, I don't actually think this album is trash. I, I again, like I said last week, I like, I like the production on it. I like a couple of the songs. It's just, it's just fine. It's not bad. It's just fine. But I think given the expectations for him and the fact that there were no like major slaps on this, it was just. Is an easy album to pan. And once one person starts clowning you for it, just follow the leader like Ice always says. And so, so it's like N is gonna just keep piling on that shit. I think it hurt him more than he ever expected. Like, I can't imagine he did this thinking that he was gonna get killed for it.

[Freeze]

See, what I think is this is not the time to be experimental. Like, you know, it's been a couple years since your project, since your last project, which was well received.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

This ain't the time to come out and make a hard pivot and go a completely different direction that nobody expecting

[Flip]

but Andre and that always tricky to say.

[Ish]

It works. It is, it is because we've killed artists for now, but it trying some new shit.

[Freeze]

Well, what I always say, find a way to do both. You get what I'm saying? You, if you want to experiment with some new throw maybe three, four songs in there of trying that out. But you don't want to alienate those who are here because we were fans of what you've been doing all this time.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But I think if it's good enough, I mean, look at, look at Andre 3000.

[Joe Button]

Look, that's my first time hearing you say that ever.

[Freeze]

Oh, you don't listen to me.

[Flip]

That's why I feel like.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Right. Who obviously made a huge pivot when he did the, you know, Anomaly man. You said what?

[Freeze]

He's an anomaly.

[Parks]

But, but that was good.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

If it's good enough, I think the people will accept the heart of it.

[Freeze]

Andre has even prior to that, proven himself to be an artist.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

So those are 20 year track record.

[Ish]

I mean, the Pimple Butterfly was Kendrick's second album. And that was a very hard left.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah. And it wasn't.

[Freeze]

And it wasn't not received by everyone. The greatest either.

[Ish]

I mean, so you're saying Freeze was well accoladed.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

So what? You got a lot.

[Flip]

So what?

[Parks]

You're Saying is that even if someone is eating more than you want them to, don't put out anything made because it hurts you in the long run. I'm.

[Freeze]

I'm saying you, anytime you put something out, you should try to put your best project out every time.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I think he thought this was, like, I've watched. I think even, like, Heavy D when he did the reggae album, which I actually really liked.

[Parks]

Rest in Peace.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I think Rest in Peace, Heavy D. I, I, I think sometimes, like, you make a turn and some fans gonna love it, some fans hate it, but they, those artists really be believing in that project. I bet you Jack Harlow was somewhere when he dropped that on them DSPs like, yo, this it just the one.

[Freeze]

Yeah. You know what? That used to be the mixtape. That was the artist putting out the project that they wanted to put out. And then when it's album time, I gotta work with the label.

[Flip]

Yeah, I got you.

[Freeze]

Because the label know what works. And we have to, we have to do this. But where it's freedom. And I could do whatever the fuck I want. That's my mixtape.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Maybe.

[Flip]

And again, remember, maybe this onslaught doesn't occur if the interview doesn't happen. That's probably, probably blacker now.

[Parks]

Yeah, yeah.

[Flip]

Like, we maybe just let that album come and go.

[Freeze]

That's true.

[Flip]

There's nothing on there to warrant this attention. But the interview coupled with the music,

[Joe Button]

now you asking black people to show too much restraint.

[Parks]

You heard that album.

[Joe Button]

To not tease you. I heard it.

[Parks]

Nothing.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

There's nothing.

[Freeze]

Okay.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's fine. I say it's fine.

[Freeze]

It's okay.

[Flip]

It's not an album I'll ever return to. There's nothing on there that'll make me go back to it. Is it.

[Ishaan]

Is it something?

[Freeze]

And that means it's not a good album, bro.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

We could say that, but it's not a bad album.

[Flip]

All I'm saying is, see, to me, that's not what that means.

[Freeze]

If I listen to a project. If I listen to a project and there's nothing on it, I'm like, all right, you know what? There's nothing. I'm going back to this. I took it. It's cool. And I would never hear this again. That's not a good album.

[Joe Button]

I totally.

[Flip]

I'm on the total opposite.

[Ishaan]

Me too. I'm on the total opposite side of that, too, because it's a lot of artists that. And I don't want to throw no artists out there, but we've covered some albums as of late that we ain't returned To.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, I'm not.

[Ishaan]

I'm not going back there.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But they weren't.

[Ishaan]

But they weren't bad albums. The rapping was superior.

[Freeze]

I didn't say bad. I just said that means it's not a good album. That's all I'm saying. That's all I'm saying.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

There are albums that are good that just aren't for me or. Or that I just don't want to. Don't have a lot of replay value for me that I'm not. I mean, I want to save names. Like, I can think of a few that we really praised up here.

[Freeze]

I can tell you one off the top. I'll say, jcole album I have not went back to, and a lot of people have not went back to.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You think it's a good album?

[Freeze]

Not at the. I don't think it's a good album. I. Even when I came in here, I said the second disc was cool. I like the second disc.

[Parks]

Leave him alone. That's how you feel.

[Freeze]

He taking it further?

[Parks]

No, you gotta stop doing that with

[Ishaan]

him on that album.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's the album.

[Freeze]

We sitting here talking around it. I know what he meant. I know what he meant. We talked about Jake.

[Flip]

I didn't think they were doing it.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I wasn't J. Cole. I was.

[Freeze]

Say it.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No,

[Ishaan]

he was rapping his ass. I won't never come back to that album again. So I was about to ask you, because with the.

[Freeze]

With the.

[Ishaan]

With the Jack Harlow projects that we've seen, he always got that slap rap that'll make you be like, oh, I might have passed that up on the album, but now I hear it outside. You like, oh, it didn't sound like that on an album to me. But now I'm outside in the club now it's the summertime and the shit. Come on. You like. Oh, you get what I'm saying?

[Freeze]

Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I was saying Cardi and I think Cardi made a great album, but I don't. I'm not. I don't return to it a lot.

[Freeze]

You don't go outside.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That might be. Tell me why. Again, it's a great album. All I'm saying is not returning to an album doesn't necessarily mean that it's not great.

[Flip]

That's all I'm saying.

[Ish]

Or good, at least. Like, good and great are different.

[Freeze]

Right? I was just speaking to good.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, but even that, I feel like, for me, it's just like. It's almost like a slap in the face to the music industry, the musicians, the songwriters, the the fellowship that is filled with musicians, right?

[Flip]

Like this phenomenon albums out there that

[Joe Button]

we just never going to get to like.

[Flip]

If it ain't the.

[Joe Button]

If it ain't the JID and the

[Flip]

Wale and the ones that we come in here and praise. I think it says more today. It's a higher compliment to say I continue returning to this album.

[Freeze]

Absolutely, absolutely.

[Joe Button]

Than to be like, I agree with you.

[Flip]

Than to write some of these artists off. Because I'm not returning.

[Freeze]

I'm not writing the artist off, though I'm looking. I'm literally just saying I've given this. I'm. I'm talking about projects that we've given a chance. I know we miss a lot of stuff or stuff we catch. We listen one time, giving the project an actual chance and say, wow, there's really nothing here for me.

[Parks]

Understand?

[Freeze]

So. And when you do that, I have to accept that this wasn't a good project to me.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Got it now.

[Freeze]

Not saying you can't speak for the masses. The masses might love it. But if I. If I listen to your project, top to bottom, try to digest it, take it in, pause and then say, all right, there's nothing here for me then. I cannot call that a good project.

[Ishaan]

See?

[Joe Button]

And somebody closer.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, I was about to say, I'll wrap it up. It could be good for me. Right? But I. I don't want to hear it again because I like something else better. So if I'm driving in my car, that album was cool.

[Freeze]

It was good.

[Ishaan]

But I just want to listen. I'mma waste my time listening to something that I enjoy better.

[Freeze]

It.

[Ishaan]

Don't discount that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I've written with you a few times. You often go back to the classics. Yeah, I listen that Jay Z is

[Joe Button]

going to be playing mag.

[Freeze]

A mag album.

[Ishaan]

No, I don't have a Meg album.

[Parks]

Yes, you, Christina. Milan.

[Flip]

You came and told us.

[Parks]

They been love.

[Flip]

They been down slow.

[Ishaan]

I was trying to do my job.

[Freeze]

I was trying to do my job

[Ishaan]

and I got ridiculed for it.

[Freeze]

So.

[Flip]

What?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

So.

[Flip]

But Meg is not my go to.

[Ishaan]

In my car.

[Parks]

No.

[Ishaan]

Sorry, D. I just wanted to make a. Jesus.

[Flip]

I don't judge you. I didn't judge you when it was mad.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It was right at the rim. I was just trying to do my rock, my roots, picnic, Jay Z segue.

[Ish]

You said it right the first out there.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, it's true.

[Freeze]

Well, before that, Roc Nation. You want to go to the other Roc Nation?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Say that again.

[Freeze]

Before that, Roc Nation.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh, yeah. You know, we got three. We got to do three Roc Nations. Yeah, yeah.

[Freeze]

We want to get up.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

They told me we haven't done one yet. Go ahead, LaRussell. Oh, yes, please. That's all you.

[Flip]

Boy, oh, boy.

[Ish]

As an engineer, Parks gotta listen to your engineers. He did one of his backyard concerts, right?

[Parks]

And he.

[Ish]

He said, I've got this song that my engineer begged me not to put out. Please don't put this out up.

[Flip]

Here you go.

[Joe Button]

I ain't gonna let you do that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I made this record and I sent it off to my engineer. He calls me, say, man, you probably

[Freeze]

shouldn't put this out.

[Ishaan]

I said, why?

[Parks]

What the hell happened?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

He said, you know, you. You talk about ep. It's a lot of going on.

[Ishaan]

And I said, thank you for calling me.

[Ish]

I was going to drop this. I thought it was about to be something else.

[Flip]

That's exactly why we leave that stupid ass laugh.

[Joe Button]

Should have told you that silent and

[Ishaan]

the goal of an artist is to express the times and discuss say all

[Mark Lamont Hill]

the things that nobody else want to

[Flip]

say or know how I hate when a full of tell a little bit of truth. Not perfect and these.

[Ishaan]

Neither is the president was guiltier than the hiding evidence.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You can't be mad that they heated if you don't let them vent. Even the devil was heaven sent.

[Joe Button]

Oh, my God.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Even Malcolm was heaven sent.

[Joe Button]

Oh, my God.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Even Martin was heaven sent.

[Ishaan]

Even Kanye was heaven sent. We all heaven goodness.

[Freeze]

Donald 2 Donald 2 oh, my God.

[Parks]

Have been sent

[Mark Lamont Hill]

that scene two. We all have been sent. Adolf too. Whoa. We all haven't sent.

[Parks]

Even you.

[Ishaan]

We all haven't seen.

[Joe Button]

They going to put me after Adolf,

[Flip]

Yo. Find a different placement for me. I ain't even like where he put Mountain, Martin and Mouth especially say even

[Ishaan]

that me up. I was like, huh?

[Parks]

What?

[Ish]

I understand what he was trying to do. He just did it absolutely horribly.

[Freeze]

The engineer had your best interest in mind.

[Ishaan]

From Satan to Malcolm.

[Ish]

Nah, it's saying even.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's the even.

[Flip]

Even is wrong with you.

[Freeze]

No.

[Flip]

Is he? I think he is, man.

[Joe Button]

We got to bleep that word. Niggas.

[Flip]

Is that niggas? Be that niggas. Is that.

[Freeze]

And to answer your question, it might be. I might be rolling.

[Flip]

I'm conflicted on so many levels about this one. I never saw the Russell as like a top of hour two type of guy. Like a artist we gotta get into

[Ish]

until you do something like this.

[Flip]

And I feel like he's going out of his way to insert himself himself in conversations that are unbecoming. Yeah, this is like from the Wayne

[Freeze]

take to this the most he's ever been talking right after getting the big

[Flip]

look from Roc Nation to how he handled the backlash from the. Wayne, this right here. Let me make my. Let me remember, let me make myself clear. I agree with him about artistic expression for sure.

[Joe Button]

Absolutely.

[Flip]

That is a fact. The great part about that is an artist is typically able to view something or hear something, or see something, or draw something, or paint something that somebody who is not artistic won't be able to do. So it's brilliant. If you're going to go out there and say, hey, all of these evil people are having and we're all made

[Joe Button]

by the same creator.

[Flip]

Awesome.

[Freeze]

Real quick.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Because I want heaven sent doesn't mean made by the creator.

[Ish]

Yes, that's heaven sent.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Means something that's good and fortunate, like a stroke of luck.

[Freeze]

This was heaven sent down from heaven.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah. Like as a good thing. So it's not just like this is made by God. It's a good.

[Ishaan]

So it's actually, it's not the context that he's using.

[Flip]

So you're clearing that up for a lot of people out there.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Cause I also know when Joe get clipped out of context where he's like, yeah, Hitler was heaven sent. You know, like, no, like, don't. That ain't what that means.

[Ish]

That's not what that means here.

[Ishaan]

Yeah.

[Flip]

So we think what he was trying to say was these people were made

[Joe Button]

by the same creator.

[Flip]

Yes. But he said heaven sent, which has a different definition, which is absolutely horrible.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But.

[Flip]

But my thing is say, okay. What?

[Ish]

Say it better.

[Flip]

Say it better. It's a very. Okay, we got, hey, we all are made by God. Yeah. Now what? Like, what else? Like, it's a very, very surface level. It's just, it's no thought put into it. It seems like you're just saying something for the clicks, for the attention. Like if you artist and you standing on artistic expression, then when you tell me that these people are made from the creator, then delve deeper into that

[Freeze]

thought he should have or be artistic

[Ishaan]

or be more artistic in how you deliver it.

[Parks]

You gotta make separations. You have to.

[Freeze]

I could come up with a list of people that did some fucked up shit and some good shit and say, hey, these people are. Haven't seen like, what was the artistic part about that? And any one of us in this room could have done that exact same thing.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Flip]

Also my thing is part of being an artist for me means being more in tune with the times and the people. Right.

[Joe Button]

Than just the guy that's not

[Flip]

bad

[Ish]

time to do all this horrible time.

[Flip]

Like, you couldn't have picked the worst time. We at war. There's the Epstein fouls. There's too much real shit going on in the Unit universe for you to pop out here and say, hey, all these people are great.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Flip]

No, the Russell. No, no.

[Parks]

Do you think he's doing it for just more notoriety? Conversation pieces? Do you think that's what it is?

[Ish]

I think it was attempt to have conversations. And notoriety is not what you're gonna get from this.

[Parks]

It may be bad notoriety, but you may.

[Ish]

Okay, yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Like literal. You'll be notorious.

[Flip]

I think he's positioning himself to. To not be successful in music.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Flip]

Really? That's what it looks like. It looks like he's setting up. This is a great move. If you in the future are about to be some type of political black pundit or just whatever you. I don't know. I don't know.

[Freeze]

I don't even take that. I think he's been rapping for what he said. He got 40 albums or something like that, and nobody's talking about me.

[Flip]

Yeah, it seemed like he trying to

[Joe Button]

be like Dick Mensa.

[Flip]

Serious. Like, it seemed like he want to go under a tree on Instagram and just talk about. And talk about some things. But putting it in song. And then if you're gonna put it in song, make it again. Like, hate to be the bearer of bad news. I hate to sound like Amoni. The songs don't Be good. That and LaRusso, you might be a great guy. I've never met you. Maybe that'll happen one day.

[Joe Button]

If I ever go. Go over there to la.

[Flip]

But I. I just don't get what you're doing. I don't get it. I don't get it. I couldn't believe it, man.

[Freeze]

We've talked about the Russell more times this year than we ever have, and it's gotten him.

[Ish]

What?

[Flip]

But. But a migraine and a sleepless night here and there, and they get attacked by a bunch of people who had no idea who you were.

[Freeze]

Some people take that risk, bro. Some people want that. That's that whole algorithm shit everybody be talking about today. Like, some people. All right, cool. My name is in the news cycle now. I'm being mentioned. I'm on the blogs, I'm on the podcast. All of that. I'll take it.

[Parks]

If you're able to ignore and filter out the negative. The fact that your name is being mentioned means some of these people.

[Ish]

That's a very low Bar.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Parks]

Well, no, hold on. No, no, that's subjective with the low ball. What. What is the. What's low about the ball? Once your name is being mentioned, once you have clicks, you're able to present it to companies and show. Regardless of what it is, just the circle surface level thing, you're able to present it and get a bag out of it.

[Freeze]

Engagement and all that.

[Parks]

Yeah, it's not low. So we gotta.

[Freeze]

He's right.

[Ish]

If you're trying to be.

[Flip]

If you go into details, there's nothing

[Joe Button]

that Russell just said that's gonna help

[Parks]

him, what I'm saying.

[Flip]

But he said, okay, he's gonna get demonetized. They're gonna cite him for hate speech. That's true. They're gonna. They're gonna shadow ban them. They're gonna not distribute him.

[Freeze]

That's true.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Because you should.

[Flip]

Like, like what you're saying is true for somebody who said something different stupid.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, yeah.

[Freeze]

You sound like somebody that's doing that. But don't. Don't know all the. Yeah, he don't even know that when I say this. All those things you just said are about to happen. I don't know that. All I know is, okay, cool, let me do this. This is going to get me talked about some more.

[Parks]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

And now you're going to bump your head and realize, oh, I said a lot of those.

[Ishaan]

Standing on business. You think you stand on business?

[Freeze]

Yo, my producer told me I shouldn't

[Ishaan]

play this, but that's crazy.

[Parks]

You saw what they did.

[Freeze]

Hold on.

[Parks]

Listen, listen. Tyler Olive Rivera was speaking about every different culture, gaining millions and millions and millions and millions of views. He went and talked about the people in Jersey. You know what he talking about? It took his Patreon. Sponsors are hitting him up to take. Remove our sponsorship from your description, even from two, three years ago. So when he was talking about the black community. When you talk about the Somalian community, Somalia Molly community. Excuse me. When he was talking about different communities. Now, they took everything. When he went to Jersey and did

[Mark Lamont Hill]

what he did and said that. So.

[Parks]

Yeah, I get what you're saying. Shadow banning, blocking. He just did a video about it, and it's crazy. I'm talking about millions of views, tens of millions of views on these things.

[Ish]

Also, like, if you're trying to be a rapper, that seems like what his primary goal is. Yeah, this is not gonna help that.

[Parks]

I got you. I got you, Box.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Got you.

[Ish]

If you're trying to be like just an Internet personality, maybe this helps somewhere.

[Parks]

Got you.

[Flip]

You know, what else new acts need to learn sometime. Shut the up. You ain't always got to say something. You always got to be heard or get in the mix. I know. With this new age. Monetize everything. Attention, attention, attention, attention. You feel like you don't have to comment on all of it. You don't.

[Freeze]

And you know what? It's hard to tell them to shut the up because they. They management team and they labels and all this is telling them, go get hot.

[Flip]

And they.

[Freeze]

They watching. So they open, they. They Instagram or they Twitter, and they watching. What is talking about what's working. All right, I gotta go get hot. All right, Let me go jump out there and go do something.

[Flip]

That's a great. That's a great point that you made.

[Joe Button]

Freeze. I'm glad you introduced that terminology here.

[Flip]

I don't think some of these niggas know what get hot mean or feel like. They don't in this new digital era.

[Freeze]

They don't.

[Ishaan]

And y' all saying with regards to the labels, they don't have development.

[Flip]

When told me to go get hot. Granted, four score and seven years ago, like we was trying. Was trying to get hot. So you'll be thinking that you doing and heating up. But then you go to the barber.

[Freeze]

Ch.

[Joe Button]

Ain't nobody talking to you. Ain't nobody playing your music. You go to the club, you got to wait in line.

[Flip]

It's like, all right, you still not hot. And they told me, hey, you will be the last one to know when you got hot. And sure enough, when I started to heat up. And then I went outside. Anytime I ever had heat on my career, when I went outside, it totally felt different. It's a total. It's a. It's a nuclear type of feeling. It's reaction everywhere. It's different treatment.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's.

[Flip]

It's fill me up 93 premium, not 87. It's real shit going on. Some of these people just don't know what hot feels like.

[Freeze]

They don't. And again, they try to, but they're being told by.

[Flip]

So you're trying to manufacture.

[Freeze]

Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

The heat.

[Freeze]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Flip]

This is a fucking mess. Now, what I will say. Cause I saw all the engineers, and you engineers.

[Joe Button]

Engineer people rejoicing.

[Freeze]

That was funny.

[Flip]

I saw everybody. Everybody raised their hand and said, the engineers be right, and you should listen to your engineer. I agree with that. The engineer is there. Partly even that these artists don't know. Like, the artists think that when you go in there, you just telling the engineer what to do. And if you got a capable and great engineer and you should be listening. Yeah, you should be listening what they have to say. But on the flip side of that, I'll just push back a little bit.

[Ish]

Go for it.

[Flip]

If you have artist brain, when you hear, hey, you shouldn't put this out. Sometimes, sometimes it pushes you. He's totally wrong and this is a horrible. This was a mess. He should have listened to his engineer.

[Freeze]

What's something that they told you not to put out?

[Flip]

Come on, man, you already know. You already know. OLS 3.

[Freeze]

Oh, yeah, no, everybody.

[Flip]

OLS 3. I didn't tell you I was in the studio. I said, yo, park. So are you able to do something?

[Ish]

No, no, we're not gonna recreate history. You came in there to record, I think when it all implodes and you had been saying how much you love that Novocate. And I sat there and started chopping, making an instrumental out of it because it didn't exist. This is pre stems and all that I just chopped. I was in little spots. We end up staying in the studio till 2 in the morning. Because you made the loop, cuz I made the loop.

[Flip]

So now I got it right and you did it. About my heartache.

[Ish]

I never was awesome. Don't put that out. I made that on the spot for you to put that out.

[Flip]

People told me not to put it out.

[Ish]

Yes.

[Flip]

Not my engineer. Not my engineer. So very glad.

[Ish]

But I, I agree with you that sometimes the engineer might be a little safe. But that being said, the engineer producers whole career revolves around the success of the artists they're working for. So they typically have your best interest in mind. Especially if you're going to come out and say some dumb like Epstein was having said.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Parks, when. When you say if you're an engineer and you tell him not to put that out.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You give the why.

[Ish]

I would, yes.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Because I would feel like if you give the why, like as an artist, even if you got artist brain, like you might.

[Freeze]

He told him why.

[Ishaan]

He told him why.

[Freeze]

He said it. He was like, yo, engineer said, don't put this out. You talking about this. You talking about that. Like, he said it.

[Ishaan]

He told him.

[Ish]

I thought he was about to like say some truths.

[Flip]

Right, right.

[Ish]

Oh, you might say some things that might make people uncomfortable, but it was not in a good way.

[Ishaan]

Crying on your couch.

[Freeze]

I was heartbroken, broken. I'm looking like a.

[Ishaan]

No, you look like a crazy person.

[Flip]

This era ain't got a. They need a noz. They need somebody who could articulate some of the deep thoughts.

[Parks]

But LaRussell sandwiches for that Epstein at

[Flip]

a time like this.

[Parks]

Sandwiches.

[Flip]

Did you read any of them? Six million pages.

[Ish]

No, I don't believe so.

[Flip]

And also, I cannot confirm that all these come from God. Oh, I can't confirm it. I can't. If you read some of that Epstein, it's hard to imagine, I don't know that God made these.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And even if they do, what's the. What's the point of mentioning it? Why remind me?

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Like, what do you get for that? Yeah, you got Epstein, Hitler, and jf. I mean, MLK in the same paragraph. Now, what?

[Ish]

In saying even before the MLK and Malcolm.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That was crazy.

[Flip]

And then what?

[Ish]

This is horribly unpoetic, too.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yo, he don't know how words work, which is crazy for somebody who traffics in words.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Flip]

How old is Lussell?

[Ishaan]

31.

[Freeze]

I. I googled it.

[Ishaan]

I googled it. When he.

[Flip]

I heard.

[Ishaan]

I said, oh, this guy.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

He might be young.

[Ishaan]

Let me give him a.31. I was going to give him a pass.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

I was going to give him a pass. It was 22. I. I'd have shot him some smoke.

[Ish]

Sure.

[Joe Button]

31. 31.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Joe Button]

LaRussa, I'll be honest. I'm probably not going to speak about you up here anymore. This might be.

[Freeze]

I think it's time to put him on the list.

[Joe Button]

This might be it.

[Ish]

Yeah, he might be on the list

[Freeze]

because it seems too intentional. It's like, I'm doing this so that y' all can talk about me, and I feel like we get played when we do that.

[Ish]

You're not wrong.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Flip]

That's just another one of them names

[Joe Button]

that really never need to enter my orbit unless it has to.

[Parks]

Sorry.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, man, I can't. I can't.

[Freeze]

I'm with you.

[Joe Button]

I can't. Nigga, don't. Don't say I'm heaven sent after, Adolf. Don't put me right after just seeing how you wrote the bar.

[Flip]

Even you.

[Freeze]

Even you.

[Flip]

Anyway, that shit was ass. Yeah.

[Ish]

Long story short, that shit was bottled out.

[Flip]

That's it. Then he hopped on stage and hopped

[Joe Button]

off stage and probably sent the fucking WYD text or went to get a burger from somewhere. He probably just went on about his day after that. Bullshit. That's what made me mad.

[Flip]

He probably just went and had a hell of a day after that. Like, I shouldn't have to see that.

[Joe Button]

And then you get to go, have a great day.

[Ish]

I have to imagine that someone else in that crowd might be. And said, hey, man, Your engineer was right. But he said, you know what? Let me go ahead and put this on my Instagram.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I can't imagine anybody heard that and told me it was a good idea. Right. Even after the first 100 listens and stuff. Yeah, I just delete. Like, you can always take a step back.

[Ishaan]

I wouldn't listen to that a hundred times.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, I meant like a hundred. I meant like if 100 people gave feedback on your. On your social media, like, yo, this is. Everybody had to say, this is terrible.

[Flip]

He did that with no drums.

[Joe Button]

Word.

[Flip]

Some nice little rows. That's the. Wow. You want to.

[Ish]

Wanted you to some nice keys. Sure.

[Flip]

You hit it, LaRusso.

[Joe Button]

I'm praying for you. But I'm praying. I'm praying for Dick Mental, because that's what it seemed like. You're trying to seem like he's trying to be D1 or somebody like a corrupt D1. I don't know.

[Flip]

In more Roc Nation news, I'll toss it to our good brother Mark.

[Freeze]

Go ahead, Mark.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Roots Picnic has been announced. They've been hitting at it for months now, but they finally announced that the roots picnic on May 30, 2026, in the world's greatest city, Philadelphia. Philadelphia will be headlined by Jay Z. It's a big deal. 25th anniversary of reasonable doubt. 30th.

[Freeze]

Excuse me.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

30th anniversary, reasonable doubt. 25th of the blueprint. It's also the 18th anniversary of the Roots Picnic. It's gonna be a big deal, man. And everybody's gonna be there.

[Freeze]

Have they ever done this before? Announce just one person. Usually they put the lineup out, right?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, usually they say. Yeah, they. They start. They. They say like he is the lineup.

[Ish]

Usually you hear more names.

[Flip]

This is the show.

[Ishaan]

Put no podcast people out.

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

What? That's all you need. Sold out. It's all you need. They already said no. Asking me for no freebies, no comps.

[Joe Button]

No.

[Ish]

They moved to a new venue too, right?

[Joe Button]

Yep.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

They're gonna be at the Belmont Plateau.

[Freeze]

I bet they better place called the Plateau.

[Joe Button]

What is the Belmont Plateau?

[Flip]

And what is.

[Joe Button]

How different is it from the old venue?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's a place everybody go. Everybody.

[Ishaan]

Fresh Prince.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's a summertime reference. It's. It's. It's the Bell Bar. Plateau is up in West Philly.

[Joe Button]

You didn't just hit me with a summertime.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, that's what it is, though. That's what he talk about.

[Joe Button]

It's 2026.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm sorry. It's the last Converse he made that freestyle.

[Ish]

That freestyle action.

[Flip]

Stop.

[Joe Button]

Oh, we got to play that freestyle.

[Flip]

We got to play that freestyle. Please keep talking. Anyway, they told me I couldn't keep chewing, but I did. What is that? I just bit on more than I could chew and I chewed it.

[Ish]

Plateau any tell us all about the Bella Plateau.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Over the last couple years, it's been in different. Different spots. Used to be down in Colum Del, where I have. This is a space that's gonna be a much more wide open, much more free flow, and it's gonna be much more conducive to what people want. The people spoke the last couple years and said, we want a new venue.

[Flip]

Last year specifically.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, Last year specifically.

[Freeze]

Yeah. That problems they had.

[Parks]

So this.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But the great thing about them is that they listen and that's great. And it's gonna be a great event. So you'll be there? Will I be there? Yeah.

[Joe Button]

You have so many interests in this Philadelphia ROC nation.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's right. Everything. Inshallah, I'll be there.

[Parks]

You know, Nice.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

A lot of things going on that day, but I'll do my best to make it there.

[Ish]

Well, luckily, I have found the freestyle. This clip is only 23 seconds, but I feel like that might be enough.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I want to hear it more than enough.

[Ish]

I kind of want to hear it.

[Flip]

As long as the chew it line is in there, I'm fine. More than I can chew. Then I chew it. Yeah, y' all two can start off.

[Joe Button]

Blew it.

[Ishaan]

I to pin out the grenade on

[Flip]

purpose, and I threw it. So I'm in action sometimes.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'mma act bizarre.

[Flip]

Let's go then. I'm not just an actor, y'.

[Parks]

All.

[Flip]

You know the funny enough. I know he got killed and clowned for that freestyle, but over a different beat. I think it works different flow. I think it was because the beat would have changed the flow.

[Freeze]

Yeah, that sound like old Luda.

[Ish]

Don't do that.

[Freeze]

Don't the flow sound like, oh, yeah, Lud.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Anything.

[Flip]

Anything.

[Joe Button]

Luda jump on the Internet and say

[Flip]

that, oh, he's still whipping.

[Parks]

Now he be body. And that.

[Flip]

That.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That. That verse was ass. But I don't want to lose sight of the fact that Will Smith, AKA Fresh Prince, is a rap legend and he deserves all the respect and love in the world as an artist. That was ass. But Fresh Prince is the legend. Just want to put that out later because these youngest forget.

[Freeze]

Yeah, they wasn't there, though.

[Flip]

Y' all are trying to hide y'

[Joe Button]

all Jay Z excitement to look cool on camera, especially ish. I'm not excited about this.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Excited?

[Parks]

You going down there.

[Flip]

The people that are excited. Can y'.

[Joe Button]

All.

[Flip]

This is y' all time to be excited about it.

[Parks]

You can be my man. Plus one.

[Joe Button]

Oh, shit.

[Flip]

Again.

[Parks]

I'm just saying, if Mark invite you down, would you go?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I invited him. Him down. No, not like that. Like we going to roll.

[Ishaan]

I want to roll.

[Joe Button]

This is a good plus.

[Parks]

You are fire.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Plus one.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Flip]

You don't talk too much.

[Joe Button]

Like you play your part.

[Flip]

You don't eat a lot. You don't drink. You just be quiet and stand over there like AA man used to do.

[Joe Button]

O.

[Parks]

Hey, your green eyes, that's you.

[Flip]

Yeah. You're presentable. You know how to dress body, though.

[Ish]

Presentable.

[Freeze]

He gonna pod down there.

[Parks]

Ain't gonna po.

[Joe Button]

This is a good plus one.

[Parks]

Thank you, Ms. Brian. Hey, I'm here to represent all my brothers, you know.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Again.

[Freeze]

Yeah.

[Parks]

That's gonna be lit.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Going up.

[Joe Button]

I'm not going.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I know you're not going.

[Ish]

I might.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Ish]

Let me see what that day is. Saturday Pirate.

[Parks]

Why you don't go to that?

[Flip]

Joe?

[Parks]

Them be wanting you to just say why, man. They know you.

[Joe Button]

I don't know you for no reason. I just rather not.

[Parks]

You don't want to be seen.

[Joe Button]

The. The people, the commute.

[Parks]

Remember last year when you started going out and stuff? You said you're gonna, you know, make an effort to go to more events and stuff like that.

[Freeze]

You said that.

[Flip]

Well, yeah.

[Joe Button]

I didn't mean Picnic.

[Parks]

Oh, okay. Got it.

[Flip]

I support the Roots Picnic.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I love the Roots Picnic Music Festival.

[Flip]

I support. I support the Roots Picnic.

[Joe Button]

But yes, it's not for me.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm not going well for you. Hov lovers and Ice was telling me this, so I will give credit. Credit where it's due. The. There's probably some other opportunities to say to see Jay Z potentially.

[Freeze]

That's what I'm waiting for. That's why. I mean, this is great.

[Flip]

Be clear.

[Freeze]

I'm not. I don't want to sound like I'm shitting on this or nothing. This is not the announcement I'm waiting for. I know we getting something in jail.

[Flip]

This announcement has me about why this was announced.

[Freeze]

Yep.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Right. That makes sense.

[Flip]

I'm not excited about this. It's not for me.

[Joe Button]

Fucking bring your skin so soft and your mosquitoes.

[Flip]

I got talent.

[Joe Button]

And hopefully the speakers are working great and y' all are vibing out. I'll see the clips on Instagram.

[Flip]

But whatever he's building up to. Yeah, I'm excited.

[Freeze]

About that's what I'm excited about.

[Flip]

And I. I'm hoping that that's music.

[Freeze]

Oh, I'm hoping that's a.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You should see him at the Prudential Center. All that.

[Freeze]

I don't think it's. I think he's going to be at the Barclays for eight, nine shows.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Really?

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

Doing the 30th anniversary of reasonable Doubt and it's to going to be some amazing that you just going to have to catch.

[Parks]

Got you.

[Ishaan]

And for it to be the.

[Flip]

With no music.

[Freeze]

New music. No, I don't think so.

[Ishaan]

I think music.

[Joe Button]

He ain't doing all that. He ain't leaving his house and all

[Ishaan]

that he been doing with the DSPs and all that. Them is calculated. He doing all that with the DSPs.

[Freeze]

Putting all the old music out there. Yeah, nah, the vinyl, everything. I got something coming. But again, that's the icing on top of the cake for me. If it's new music, I'm cool. Seeing Reasonable Doubt 30 Year Anniversary show and he's going to go on all out. I'm fine with that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And I think he's past that point where he has to like I remember back when Prince came to Philly and did like he was going to multiple C, but Philly did like five or six days in a row in like around 2004, 2005. He no new music. He's Prince and he'd been around for decades. Jay Z's 30th anniversary. I. I don't think he needs to do.

[Freeze]

He opens a Barclays with eight shows.

[Flip]

We don't need to debate that he's

[Joe Button]

a legend, legacy act. He doesn't need new music.

[Flip]

But some place I'm to going. Going off of what I think some of what young Guru has said in the past has or not said, rather

[Joe Button]

has given me new music vibes. I'm going off of Memphis Bleak.

[Flip]

What he has said, what he has not said.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

He said it and took it back.

[Parks]

Yeah.

[Flip]

I'm going off of the recent Fat Joe. Hey, Fat Joe's got a Jay Z verse on some song that's coming coming out. I don't think he just got out of bed to go to Fat Joe session and do a verse and that's it. He's in rap mode. He's done the whole anniversary show, his whole career, none special.

[Freeze]

He did Reasonable doubt.

[Joe Button]

He did 10 years.

[Flip]

He did the Unplugged.

[Freeze]

He did my anniversary show last year.

[Flip]

I'm just saying he's popped out with. With Boutique Show Yes.

[Joe Button]

30s of people, his old career.

[Flip]

But 30 years, no new music. You see what this look like out here? You. You own and run a streaming company.

[Ish]

I just spent a year following my wife around, watching her kill shows. I want to rap now.

[Flip]

He wants to rap.

[Ish]

Yeah, I want.

[Flip]

He wants to rap. Yo, he wants to rap. He don't want to just pop out. And you think he's doing all these shows and he not going to give you an acapella verse that you never heard before.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh, so that's going.

[Flip]

Do you think he put his pen away after that?

[Freeze]

I think we get a guest verse somewhere.

[Flip]

Anthony, do you think no dropped his pin after he finished. When he finished that verse, the acapella

[Freeze]

that he's gonna do at whatever show.

[Flip]

Did he tuck his Bic away?

[Freeze]

No, I think he has. He also pinned the verse that he's gonna give to somebody. I think it's a whole verse like he's been doing over the last couple years. I don't think we get again, I would love to be wrong on this, but I don't think we getting a whole album. I think this is all reasonable doubt.

[Parks]

Even.

[Freeze]

Even the thing with the name change, putting the amlot back on the over his name. Even like that. I think this is all an old to old Jay Z.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's what I'm feeling.

[Ishaan]

And I think he gonna give you some.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You think an album's coming?

[Ishaan]

I do.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I hope you're right.

[Freeze]

I would love to. I would love a new Hov album, especially to watch the taste of 444 out my mouth.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You're not coming to the. The brunch, man.

[Freeze]

I think he's acting. No, I wasn't coming to the brunch anyway. They just unblocked me.

[Parks]

Who?

[Flip]

Roc Nation.

[Freeze]

We good now.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

He's still the anti 444 shit. Fucks me every time. But yeah, I hope.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, that's another take. I can't get with that. Him and park share

[Freeze]

me too well,

[Joe Button]

park shares that because of how it was mixed. Okay, me too.

[Freeze]

It wasn't good.

[Joe Button]

I've listened to too many projects with bad mixing for that to be something about Hill I die on.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, he's not wrong. But like that. I ain't not loving the album because it's not mixed well.

[Flip]

If it's.

[Freeze]

That ain't my reason.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I know. That's what.

[Joe Button]

One of the biggest, if not the biggest rapper in the world coming out to say I cheated on the biggest R and B person in the world.

[Flip]

She almost left this is how I got through it.

[Joe Button]

This is how we survived.

[Flip]

I learned so much toxic shit from music. I had so much toxic shit, like,

[Joe Button]

from my family and upbringing that I didn't even realize. This is how it's affecting me today.

[Flip]

This is how we would never hear that message again.

[Joe Button]

We would never hear that again from anywhere.

[Flip]

So even if I had a problem with the music, what he did and how that hit at the time.

[Joe Button]

Coming off Lemonade, right?

[Flip]

Wasn't that coming off Lemonade? It was, yeah. Oh, yeah.

[Joe Button]

We ain't never gonna see nothing like that again.

[Freeze]

But I get it.

[Joe Button]

Y' all don't like that.

[Freeze]

Yeah, I don't want to see y'

[Joe Button]

all don't like that again like that. I'm gonna get it.

[Flip]

Yeah. I think new music is coming. Me too. I do, too. And I'm excited about it.

[Freeze]

Indeed.

[Ish]

Me too.

[Joe Button]

Indeed.

[Freeze]

Again, I would love it.

[Ish]

I also would be okay if it was just a tour or something like that. That's fine, too.

[Freeze]

I don't think it'll be a tour.

[Ishaan]

I think I.

[Freeze]

Lots of series of shows and that's it.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Nah, sure. Shows in New York.

[Flip]

Right?

[Ishaan]

I think he got a lot to say.

[Ish]

I'm sure.

[Ishaan]

I think he has a lot of.

[Freeze]

To say. I think you're gonna be addressing some people. Addressing.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh, yeah.

[Ishaan]

Society address. You know what I mean? Like, I'm older now. I've been in every room that you can imagine. I think he just got a lot to say.

[Joe Button]

Yeah. And hopefully JLC is not on this one.

[Ishaan]

No, hopefully JLC is on this one.

[Joe Button]

Please.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, please, keep.

[Joe Button]

Keep him in. Wherever he is, way over there. Keep him far away from his project

[Mark Lamont Hill]

coming out soon, too.

[Freeze]

That's cool.

[Ish]

And a J elect.

[Flip]

That's fine.

[Ish]

Is good money.

[Ishaan]

It's great money.

[Ish]

Good bread.

[Ishaan]

Great money.

[Ish]

Now the whole album together. I'm with you. I'm not the biggest fan of that, but a day like guest verse is great.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I still don't.

[Freeze]

I.

[Ish]

That will never. I will never hear Slater on that. And I like Jay. Electronic soul.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, I know. I know you're a fan. That's why I don't know how you didn't love written testimony, but I just love that album. You didn't like it either.

[Freeze]

That's a whole album. Tell you.

[Ishaan]

I just think that. I just think if you do a. A joint album, I think.

[Freeze]

I think.

[Ishaan]

No, I just think y' all gotta be. Somebody gotta catch up. And I just think he got out wrapped so badly.

[Parks]

And, you know, I like Jay.

[Freeze]

Electronic.

[Ishaan]

I Just think he got out wrapped so badly that it was.

[Freeze]

It didn't make for good.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'll be fixing a new one. I gotta end with his management. It's gonna be great. Going to be great.

[Ish]

It is St. Patrick's Day.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Let's. What did. What did y' all think? Did y' all hear Jalen Rose's new controversy? His commentary? Who, Jalen Rose?

[Flip]

No, here's what he he said something controversial.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm curious to know what y' all think about it. He did an interview and he was talking about the NBA.

[Freeze]

Did he say how he felt about Bam?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm sure he's happy.

[Freeze]

That's what I want to hear. Ask him how you feel that Bam got 83. No, he. No, he not.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Why you say that?

[Ishaan]

He ohad.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You know he was going guarding Kobe.

[Ishaan]

I know you know, he wasn't guarding nobody.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Clearly nobody.

[Ishaan]

I still think that Jaylen Rose is a standup dude and a basketball purist. And I don't think that. That he would have appreciated that.

[Freeze]

No, we just talking about. Because now y' all can't choose not to get 81 no more.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Fair enough. But we ain't talking about. Wait, that's not what it was.

[Freeze]

Yeah, yeah, go ahead.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Jay Larose said the only sports that have salary caps are black Led first off. So that's basketball and football. Those are the only sports with salary caps. Baseball, golf, nascar, tennis. You can keep naming. They do not have a salary cap. That's the first thing. The second thing is I'm reading this word for. Yeah, he said baseball, golf, nascar, tennis. You can keep naming. They do not have a salary cap. He said the second thing is they have no after high school restrictions. He said. So that's a residue of slavery because we're going to get money off of you for multiple years for free. That's the part that got people up in an uproar. Him one, the analysis, whatever. But then two, him saying that it's the residue of slavery. People don't like slavery comparisons a lot of times in general, but they definitely don't like it when it comes to sports.

[Ishaan]

I mean, the argument has been made for a long time with the football, basketball after high school requirement because it was just a way. I mean, they pawn it off as saying that it's a real physical jump from high school physicality to the pros.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I would agree with it.

[Freeze]

Football, right.

[Ishaan]

But in basketball, I wouldn't because some of our greats have skipped college and went on to be Kobe KG like Tracy, like it was a bunch of people that skipped LeBron, that skipped college, and went on to be some of the best basketball players we've ever seen in football. I will. I understand it, but it was still based around money. There's so much money in college sports that they want the greats from high school to at least do a year or two in college so that we can benefit off you in college. And again, this is pre nil, so they wasn't paying them at that point in time. So we could benefit off you in college and then send you to the pros where we're going to benefit off you again. And the two primary sports where the blacks dominate were the only ones. That was an argument that's been going around for a long, long time. The slavery. I mean, the salary cap argument is kind of new. I think just business. Business is going to be business.

[Ish]

I think NHL has a seller cap, though.

[Ishaan]

I'm not sure it's a.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Does NHL? That's a great question. I don't know.

[Ish]

I believe it does.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I think it's a soft one, but I'm not sure.

[Joe Button]

And baseball is still minority led.

[Freeze]

Yes, but NHL has a hard salary cap.

[Ish]

It's a hard cap.

[Joe Button]

Okay. It's predominantly minorities.

[Ishaan]

Oh, that play.

[Flip]

That play, yeah. Oh, I agree.

[Ish]

And I don't know why golf and tennis were in the organization.

[Parks]

I don't mean to have a slow. A moment here.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

So I get.

[Ishaan]

But it hasn't always been.

[Joe Button]

I wouldn't know.

[Freeze]

No, I'm just saying.

[Ishaan]

So if you. I mean.

[Parks]

Oh, duh.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

So it hasn't always been so. From when black started to dominate football and basketball, we've been dominating them ever since.

[Joe Button]

Also, there's no season with golf and tennis.

[Ish]

There's no team seller. Kept a little mo in that particular argument. I'm not mad at his general slavery point.

[Flip]

I'm not mad at that.

[Joe Button]

But how he got there.

[Parks]

I see.

[Flip]

What do you guys. What do you guys. What do you guys think of NASCAR too?

[Freeze]

It ain't no.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

What do you.

[Flip]

What do you guys think of the.

[Joe Button]

The NBA board of Governors voting on the expansion teams? They say they're going to hold a vote, but it's as good as a done deal for the most part. Those teams being. Those cities being Vegas and Seattle. I'm extremely happy that Seattle is back in play. Yeah, I felt like Seattle never should have lost their team. It's an amazing sports city, so I'm really happy for them.

[Flip]

Vegas remains to be seen, but I'm

[Ish]

not Mad at that. Vegas is a big.

[Freeze]

A big.

[Ish]

Yeah, they should have a team. I do think that the NBA isn't the most interesting product right now. So expanding it is a little iffy to me.

[Freeze]

Then they say, oh, Minnesota or Memphis might come to the Eastern Conference.

[Parks]

Do you think expanding it brings more viewers box?

[Ish]

Maybe. But again, I don't think the product as it stands right now is the greatest.

[Freeze]

They gotta fix basketball.

[Flip]

The NBA's expansion draft rules.

[Joe Button]

If it were to expand to Seattle and Las Vegas in the 2728 season,

[Flip]

teams can protect eight of their players. Teams can't protect players on expiring contracts

[Joe Button]

or restricted free agents.

[Flip]

Expansion teams will get to, quote, unquote, steal unprotected players from teams. Only one player taken per team. Contracts transfer to the amount they are already agreed to. And expansion teams get high chances at

[Joe Button]

the number one pick.

[Flip]

I remember this with Orlando, Toronto, Vancouver.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, I mean, the NBA has done a really good job historically of getting expansion teams into the mix. If you think about how successful the Heat franchise has been, you know what I mean? To be this young, to have that many final.

[Ishaan]

Orlando was even.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Orlando's been to the Finals. Toronto won a championship and Memphis, which was Vancouver, were very competitive. So they get them into the mix. My issue with it is what Parks was just alluding to, which is now you're adding more players into a league that's already watered down.

[Parks]

Is the league watered down or the product is.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I think it's both.

[Parks]

Is it watered down or do you

[Mark Lamont Hill]

feel like if you ask a lot of the old heads, they'll say the

[Parks]

structure of it is.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I think it's both. I think if you ask a lot of old head basketball players, and I mean like our generation, like the Charles Barkleys and the. They'll say a lot of these guys can't play. You know what I mean?

[Parks]

It's more shooting.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You saying, well, no, no. So there's a style of play issue, but then there's a question. It's just there's a lot of guys that aren't that good. Got it. And when you have expansion. I was a success when we were just putting anybody on a team during that 10 win season. Now you're gonna add a bunch of team, you're gonna add four more teams, there's gonna be more of that. There's gonna be a lot of bad nights, a lot of bad basketball. And it's hard to watch when everybody's, to your point, playing this new style. Everybody's jacking up threes I just think it might not be a good product, but I think it's great for those cities. I'm glad those cities are getting teams.

[Freeze]

I think the product suffered more because there's not many killers no more. Yeah, like, we friends. I'm not trying to take your head off. Balls. We out here having a good time. Let's go play. Go to the club after this. And that changes the product.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Slavery.

[Parks]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

I don't like.

[Flip]

You know, for a few weeks, I've

[Joe Button]

been asking you guys why Houston spring break has been written on the board. No one really gave me a straight answer.

[Ish]

Yeah, I've been trying to.

[Parks]

Where is it at?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I don't see it.

[Joe Button]

It's been up there for weeks and weeks and weeks.

[Flip]

We never got to it. And I never really got an answer

[Joe Button]

that I was happy with as to why it was written up there.

[Freeze]

But I saw it now.

[Joe Button]

God is good. I seen it myself. And I was confused because I'm old now.

[Flip]

Shout out to the college kids. Shout out to you spring break kids

[Joe Button]

out there having a blast.

[Ish]

Shout out to Houston.

[Joe Button]

I'm not gonna be the old guy to come tell you. Y' all really missed out on some good spring breaks back in the day. I feel for you college kids now.

[Flip]

So apparently Miami shut down.

[Joe Button]

Cause y' all was out there being. Being niggerish.

[Flip]

So they closed down the beaches, closed

[Joe Button]

down some businesses, regained control of their town.

[Flip]

Because those people that pay millions and

[Joe Button]

millions and millions of dollars to live on the beach don't want to wake up and see y' all pissing in the sand.

[Flip]

Y' all was out there bucking.

[Freeze]

It was bucking out.

[Flip]

Y' all was out there shooting people, stabbing people. So Miami did what they had to do. And this was a little while ago. See, I forgot about this.

[Parks]

Yes.

[Flip]

I forgot that they did.

[Freeze]

They started with the curfews, remember? Yes, Started curfews. And then after that, they just start shutting it down. Nope. Now you can't come down here at all.

[Flip]

So now I've been going back and forth with my girl, trying to get her to help me because she got

[Joe Button]

kids going to college.

[Flip]

Help me understand how all the college

[Joe Button]

kids picked Houston of all the places to go to in the world.

[Flip]

And she keep telling me because of

[Mark Lamont Hill]

the weather,

[Flip]

and I'm saying that don't make sense to me.

[Ishaan]

And prices.

[Flip]

Help me, help me, Help me with

[Ish]

that, I think, is the short part. Houston's lit and beautiful city. Like, it's a fun party city. And it is. It's not like tropical, but it's nice.

[Flip]

Yeah, but if you had your pick for spring break to pick any anywhere to go, I just don't get how you would land on Houston.

[Freeze]

Well, Houston is again lit. Weather is domestic. So now domestic's most important, I think. Exactly. Everybody ain't got a passport or the capability to fly international, so they can't go to college. Right? To my college kids, man, I seen somebody, they got in town and rented a U Haul because they was like, yo, 1995 plus miles versus renting a car, we gonna rent this U Haul. And they use the U Haul while it was in. In Houston, niggas is budgeting, bro.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And although Texas is somewhat conservative, like Florida now has a reputation as being a place you don't want to be.

[Ishaan]

And it costs. Florida costs, right? But also LA costs. If you're doing weather, you don't want to go to somewhere where the weather's shitty for spring break. So you really got Florida, Texas, California,

[Mark Lamont Hill]

right in Texas and Texas in the middle.

[Ishaan]

Texas in the middle is cheaper than the other two. Like college kids can't afford to be staying in these high ass LA hotels. You can't afford to be staying.

[Freeze]

You know what I'm saying?

[Flip]

If you're a college kid during spring break, is it important to you to

[Joe Button]

be where all the other college kids are going to be?

[Flip]

Absolutely.

[Freeze]

If I'm college kids, yeah, absolutely.

[Joe Button]

All right, so that, that's the biggest draw of it all. If every college all over says we going to Houston. Houston, somebody going to Houston.

[Flip]

Every clip I've seen, it don't look like a good time at all.

[Ish]

At all.

[Parks]

Oh, for real.

[Flip]

Nothing about it, Nothing about it looks fun

[Freeze]

wrapped around.

[Flip]

Absolute mess. An absolute mess.

[Ishaan]

With 45, we saying it 41 year old brain. No, with 22 year old brain. That means everybody. All these bad chicks in the line.

[Joe Button]

Chicks in the line. That's the other thing about what happened.

[Flip]

Spring break versus the girls we had for spring break.

[Ishaan]

Houston. Houston on a norm got bad chicks.

[Ish]

But they might not be outside because they're.

[Flip]

Listen, I don't know what the fuck

[Joe Button]

y' all are talking about.

[Flip]

Houston. The same way that they're not set up. The infrastructure is not set up to

[Joe Button]

receive a lot of snow.

[Flip]

It ain't set up to receive a lot of. It's also not set up. Yeah, that, that's kind of what I'm going to. So the line is to Kai, like he said, wrapped multiple times around the block. They charging 3 to 600, 3 to 700 per head for you to get in there. Most of y' all are not getting in there. So now y' all gotta go migrate to the gas station that's up the street. And now I'm watching y' all party at the gas station. There's not been one clip of spring break in Houston that looks fly or lit, which made me say, if I was in, I'd be at San Diego. I don't care if no other college is here. I. I would be. I. I wouldn't.

[Ish]

Oh, maybe you.

[Flip]

I wouldn't.

[Freeze]

But now, like we saying, that gas station look lit to them.

[Parks]

Oh, they.

[Freeze]

They at the gas station. Let's go.

[Flip]

We.

[Ishaan]

We covered freaknick when was jumping out of cars in the middle of traffic.

[Joe Button]

Freak nick was the greatest time ever.

[Flip]

Damn near to a college kid chick

[Ishaan]

around the back of the gas station and get right to. That's 20. That's something.

[Flip]

Houston, when there's no event right at

[Ish]

the gas station is a cuss contradiction.

[Flip]

Houston, when there's no event, the popping brunch line might be too long for you. So now you just adding thousands and thousands.

[Joe Button]

I don't know.

[Flip]

Hey, you like it? I love it. That looks a mess.

[Freeze]

That's some young people. They whip that shit. They'll go out there. They had them out there in them lines. They having a blast.

[Flip]

Would you send your kid out there?

[Ishaan]

No, I'll be scared.

[Freeze]

I would be terrified.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

My dad was on spring break now, but she didn't want to go there, but she wouldn't. She ended up going to California and Mexico.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, but I was about to say Mexico, if you got money, then like Ibiza, Tulum, all of that stuff is.

[Ish]

Oh, it's a lot. It's a big stretch from. From Houston.

[Freeze]

No, that's what he's saying. If you got the money you ain't got. You ain't got to deal with them options that everybody else is playing with.

[Parks]

You can go over there, but it's not.

[Flip]

Yeah, maybe.

[Parks]

I'm just saying he's a loner. He's a loner.

[Freeze]

No, that's not being elitist. That's not being elitist.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You are.

[Freeze]

You said you seeing a broke spring break. That's what been doing.

[Joe Button]

I said maybe. That's what I'm saying.

[Freeze]

No, that is what you said, but

[Parks]

that's other college kids.

[Freeze]

That's what been doing. Guess what? Most of the in college, bro, I broke.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, you broke as in college.

[Freeze]

So guess what? We gonna find a way to make

[Joe Button]

this broke lick so Y' all went to college, so we look at it different.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, ramen and ramen and ketchup is spaghetti for me.

[Flip]

The that was broke didn't get to go to college.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's a different kind of broke, too.

[Flip]

Yeah, we looking at it different.

[Freeze]

He was in college, bro. Spring break. You was getting to where? Wherever the mix was.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Right

[Parks]

down the spring.

[Freeze]

Piling up in a room.

[Flip]

All right, give me some of yalls greatest y' all have been to spring breaks, I'm assuming.

[Joe Button]

What were some of y' all greatest spring break memories?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

See, my favorite spring break memories are still like freaknick memories.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, like Virginia.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I was in Atlanta, Virginia beach.

[Ishaan]

Like that. That's when they got will go.

[Flip]

Y' all just naming places.

[Joe Button]

Like, what happened?

[Parks]

I mean, just lit.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Just had fun not saying air, but it's good times.

[Parks]

Went on a college campus, went on the beach.

[Joe Button]

Won't get the chain that way, Mark.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, you see?

[Parks]

You know what? You doing spring break, Joe.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah. No spring break.

[Flip]

I know what I did.

[Parks]

I never been to college, nigga, but I was out there with the students. I act like I was in the college. Oh, you on campus.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You.

[Parks]

You new here? Yeah, I'm in there was wilding in Miami.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Wet Willies.

[Parks]

Lit went to the beach. And I don't drink, but, yeah, drink your Wet Willies, whatever the that is in there.

[Freeze]

Willie, call a cat.

[Parks]

Call a cat with the Superman. Don't let her get on the Superman, boy.

[Ishaan]

Wet Willies that meet you after wet

[Joe Button]

will show you free will.

[Flip]

You crazy?

[Freeze]

I meet you after Wet Willies and show you free Willy.

[Parks]

Yeah.

[Ish]

Oh, my God.

[Parks]

You probably pull it out. You probably pull it out on the Strip.

[Flip]

No, no.

[Freeze]

Yes, he was,

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yo. Never my bad.

[Ishaan]

Never.

[Joe Button]

My bad was knocking him down at the Clevelander. What?

[Parks]

That's what you think about Flamingo. What's other one?

[Ishaan]

That's what you think about me?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yo.

[Parks]

Yo, you wasn't at the Short Club. You was at the Flamingo. You was at the shit with the colors.

[Joe Button]

Flip, flip, flit.

[Parks]

You was at the Short.

[Flip]

But what's wrong with that? You wasn't at the Cleveland.

[Parks]

No.

[Flip]

Is that bad?

[Ishaan]

Yes.

[Ish]

Why?

[Freeze]

I'm waiting to hear why.

[Flip]

Answer. Parks and Ice.

[Freeze]

Seriously.

[Flip]

Cause you keep calling me a elitist.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

The Clevelander.

[Ishaan]

When I.

[Joe Button]

My nigga was doing his numbers when

[Flip]

I was younger, I had a little

[Ishaan]

bit more money than I had to

[Mark Lamont Hill]

stay in the Clevelander.

[Ishaan]

It's not nothing to say.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Ain't nothing wrong with that. Yeah.

[Freeze]

You know what I'm saying?

[Flip]

Yo, I Need it.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's elitist.

[Freeze]

That's elitist.

[Flip]

You know what I need from you?

[Ishaan]

That's not true.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Tell him.

[Flip]

Tell them besides your love, like, I need a. I need a. I need

[Joe Button]

the timeline on, like, when you was down bad.

[Flip]

Because that's the only way I could

[Joe Button]

keep up with your pardon.

[Flip]

You be rich one year.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, that's how life goes down.

[Flip]

Bad poor the next year.

[Ishaan]

Yes, that's how life goes.

[Flip]

Black. Black belt, rich black belt one year. Like, God damn it, dog. You never did the struggle Miami trip?

[Ishaan]

Never.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh, hell yeah.

[Joe Button]

Okay.

[Ishaan]

Stay home.

[Joe Button]

That explains.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, I stay home.

[Parks]

What's the cheapest hotel you stayed in

[Freeze]

the end and see for a lot of the cheapest hotel.

[Flip]

Yo, dog.

[Freeze]

All right, what'd he say?

[Parks]

The Madrid.

[Flip]

Wait, what did he say? What you asked him?

[Parks]

He said, what's the cheapest hotel you stayed in?

[Ishaan]

They said, yeah.

[Parks]

He said, the Madrion.

[Ishaan]

That's the cheapest hotel. I haven't been to Miami a lot like that.

[Flip]

Took a lap for you.

[Freeze]

Took a lap.

[Parks]

He's a legend.

[Flip]

Want.

[Ishaan]

No, y' all want me to lie? I'm not lying. Not lying. My. If I didn't have no money to travel a certain way, I stayed my dumbass home.

[Parks]

So you never traveled anywhere broke?

[Ishaan]

Yes, I've traveled places. Broke not. Miami wasn't one of the places.

[Parks]

Okay, got it.

[Joe Button]

I got it.

[Parks]

Got you.

[Ishaan]

I've been to Virginia beach and stayed at one of the little hotels on the Strip before. And it was a bunch of them,

[Flip]

a whole heap of them. I've been there.

[Ishaan]

When I would start going to Miami. God, thank God I ain't have to sleep flee sh.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Exact from Pax.

[Flip]

No matter where I stayed in Miami. I've done struggle trips. I've done trips where I was doing okay. No matter where I was at, I

[Joe Button]

was going spin through the Cleveland dirt around 3am See what was going on out there at the Little.

[Flip]

They had little seats. They did little cafe. They had a little fake party.

[Joe Button]

The.

[Flip]

The window you can see through should be peeking there.

[Ishaan]

Window.

[Flip]

Listen.

[Ishaan]

Some of the window outside.

[Parks]

Yeah, listen.

[Flip]

And no matter how good you're doing in Miami, the chick that you want to pop, she is over there. She's over there. Ain't that a flamingo? Y' all know the one Dirty Feet. Hey, little Dirty Feet with the flip, she could be anywhere. The only one I didn't want to go to was the Lowe's. Too big. Too many people gonna see me moving around in here, Joe. Crazy.

[Parks]

Crazy.

[Flip]

No, it's popping when it first opened.

[Ishaan]

Yo, Joe.

[Flip]

Crazy. It's popping when it first opened, y'. All.

[Joe Button]

N. Not at all.

[Ishaan]

Okay.

[Joe Button]

Not at all. I'm cool.

[Flip]

Y' all can have that Lowe's,

[Joe Button]

I think. Good times.

[Freeze]

Last time I was in Miami, man,

[Ishaan]

that Lowe's wasn't bad.

[Joe Button]

I ain't been to Miami since Jerry's Clothes.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, like, see, I'm not a fan of Miami.

[Joe Button]

Like that.

[Ishaan]

Like, I ain't the biggest Miami fan. I only been to Miami.

[Parks]

Miami had a stretch.

[Ishaan]

I haven't been to Miami a lot of times.

[Parks]

You don't know what you was missing, boy.

[Freeze]

I. I do.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Cool, bro.

[Parks]

Yo, dog, you think as you travel with we. We with.

[Flip]

Say that light eye don't do nothing in Miami. Yeah, it don't. It don't.

[Parks]

It's a lot of light eye, boy, with the mouth, the tongue. That don't do nothing.

[Flip]

That don't do nothing.

[Parks]

Six packs, boy. What you pointing to with muscles?

[Flip]

Talking about his mouth. He got dimples.

[Freeze]

It's the dimbles he said he got with muscles, boy.

[Parks]

Get you up out of there.

[Flip]

Wait, what was he pointing to?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

His mouth.

[Parks]

What in Miami.

[Flip]

Oh, you going to eat your way to fame. You gonna drive with a go cart. My boy gonna put that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

What car you in in the end?

[Parks]

A Malibu.

[Freeze]

Yo, you are a nutcase.

[Ishaan]

I never rent a car in Miami.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You're a driver?

[Ishaan]

Nah, just caught cabs and shit.

[Joe Button]

Your whole life is different when you're not plus one in.

[Freeze]

Why?

[Joe Button]

Oh, I don't know.

[Parks]

He take the easier route.

[Ish]

Yeah, yeah.

[Joe Button]

He on a gray Peter bandit to Miami.

[Parks]

Hey, yo, let me get a cat.

[Flip]

Yeah. When them new dope boys don't come out, my is going through it anyway. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You better shut up.

[Ishaan]

When a new dope boys don't come out, I go to something with a saint in front.

[Flip]

The bar with a saint in front. A church.

[Ishaan]

No bar. No bar.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

St. Catherine.

[Flip]

Oh, he take it to the church when they don't come. Amen. Okay. Come on, Mark. You know. You know, you are our eulogy special specialist, and we have to do it.

[Joe Button]

We have to do it.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

We have to do.

[Flip]

We lost a legend.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

We lost a legend. The great Kiki shepherd passed away today or last night suddenly, actually. Massive heart attack. I know people who were in communication with her over the last few weeks. So it seemed very sudden. People were talking. She had a golf tournament schedule.

[Joe Button]

Schedule.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

She was in good health.

[Flip]

Such a liar.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm sorry.

[Flip]

Yo, everybody that died, he just talked to him.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No I didn't talk to her. I said I talked to somebody who talked to her.

[Parks]

He just said same.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's not.

[Flip]

All right, fine.

[Joe Button]

Muting up. He was that j. I just spoke to her.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I did not just speak to her.

[Flip]

How you know everybody.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

All right, I'm just going to let me first start by reading something from Roland Martin.

[Flip]

Oh, go ahead.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm sad to see Keke Palmer. Kiki shepherd passed away. She was 74. I just saw her February 12th at the NBA All Star Game Gospel celebration. She asked me to play her in her annual golf tournament. I said yes, and we traded numbers. Rest in peace. So that was where I was getting it from. I just didn't want to shout out another platform.

[Joe Button]

Oh, so you're leaning on Roland Martin Connects.

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah. That's what reporting is. You get. You get sources.

[Joe Button]

Thank God for Roland Martin.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Thank God for Roland Martin. But, yeah, we lost a legend, Kiki shepherd, yesterday. She died of a massive heart attack. Seemed to be sudden. By all indications, any black person in America knows who Kiki shepherd is because they know Showtime at the Apollo, which is a staple of black culture. It's a staple of our tradition of music and performance. And while the show has had lots of hosts, there's really only been one co host. And that co host is Keke Shepherd. And I'm using the word co host because a lot of times we think of her just as the person on stage, just the person telling people, you know, to rub, you know, for good luck. But she was more than that. She would help produce the show. She helped break acts and talent. There are so many acts of all races, but especially black and brown are artist who broke because of the Apollo. And she was a big part of that. She was incredibly gifted and talented herself. She's a Howard University grad, business administration degree. She was part of the D.C. rep. She helped start the D.C. repertory Dance Theater. She acted. She's in stage plays like Mama, I Wanna Sing, which most of us know from our generation. She was even in the Wiz. She had a role. I mean, she was an incredible dancer, actor, singer. She just did everything as a lot of people from that generation did, even when they didn't get credit for it. But she was also like our imaginary idol, our imaginary girlfriend, imaginary wife, imaginary mom, and at some point, imaginary auntie. You know, history will remember Vanna White, but she was our Vanna White, except she was bigger and more important to us at a time where there weren't more of us. You know, she was on TV when nobody was on tv, she was a model when there were no other models. And I just, you know, I'm glad that her name will be remembered, but it's going to be remembered not just for what she did on that stage, but what she did across every aspect of her life. She was a philanthropist. She was a giver. In fact, I don't know if, you know, she was having a golf tournament just next month scheduled, which was going to raise money for charity. So, you know, hopefully they still have it. Yeah, they should still. Hopefully they still have it. So, you know, rest in peace. To our now ancestor, Kiki shepherd was a life well lived. And we honor and love her.

[Joe Button]

We love you, Kiki.

[Ish]

Peace. Thank you.

[Joe Button]

I ain't gonna front. Mark maybe do know a couple people that know where he killed. That he knew. He knew the facts. That wasn't like he.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, he.

[Joe Button]

Did he do it. He did.

[Freeze]

You can't.

[Joe Button]

With Mark Ulaju.

[Ish]

Never.

[Freeze]

Now he. He do them shits, right? We can't do them like that. We too immature.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Joe Button]

Let's see here.

[Parks]

I had a question for you.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah,

[Joe Button]

I don't know.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I don't think now.

[Joe Button]

No, check it out.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

They just try to push her out of the wheel of fortune.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, they got out of there.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

They try to get her out of here.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, she tried to get that past Ajak Money.

[Freeze]

I think she's still there.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

They fighting over the money right now.

[Joe Button]

No, it's a money fight. Yeah, but she there on Kibbles and dicks. Oh, speaking of looking sweet of Queen Latifah who looked amazing at the awards code. Dana White again. Dana White.

[Flip]

What is going on today? I told y', all I'm slow. Hey, blow my mind,

[Freeze]

I say.

[Parks]

Yo, Mark. Has the word actress been removed from the database? Because I noticed that we're not calling women actresses anymore. We're considering them actors. Is that a thing?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I think some people are trying to go more gender neutral, which I don't think actor is to me.

[Parks]

That's what I'm saying.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You know what I'd say? A lot of people still use actress. I think it's just a preference thing in a lot of spaces.

[Parks]

Okay.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, they certainly still do it at the big award shows like Oscars. So.

[Parks]

They say actress.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

They still say actress.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Flip]

Don't worry, audience members. You will not get a paradise review from me this week.

[Ish]

Did you watch it?

[Flip]

I've seen it.

[Ish]

Okay. You don't want to keep hating. I mean, I thought this one was pretty good.

[Flip]

This one this one was pretty good. Now that they got back to some

[Joe Button]

of the characters that we give a fuck about and some of the storylines lines that we were waiting on continuance from.

[Ish]

I have a quick question. Do y' all still just call him Randall?

[Joe Button]

Yeah. Or Sterling. I don't. What is his name in the.

[Ishaan]

Xavier.

[Ish]

Xavier.

[Joe Button]

Oh, I don't call him. I don't call him Xavier at all. It's Randall or. Or Sterling.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

I'm gonna tell you I have nothing

[Flip]

to say because you guys killed me for giving you paradise reviews. Especially when I said that the wife shouldn't have slid with homeboy and the kid looking for safety when the world was coming to an end. For me, it was satire kinda. But you guys made valid points. I will keep my paradise reviews to

[Joe Button]

myself until the end of the show.

[Ish]

I thought this was excellent.

[Flip]

No need to make mention of how dude tried to kill Homer boy. Who couldn't?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Hey.

[Ish]

Almost got away with it too.

[Flip]

Who couldn't.

[Freeze]

Hey.

[Joe Button]

Oh my God.

[Freeze]

You saw that?

[Flip]

I mean, I'm not gonna say that I saw that, but when you and your wife are separated, the guy that she normally. The guy that slides in right after

[Joe Button]

you, he normally doesn't have your best interest at art.

[Ishaan]

I think. I think the circumstances.

[Flip]

The first thing you said when you seen the dude was I love your wife.

[Parks]

Yeah.

[Flip]

She's my best friend.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Flip]

I. They've taken her from me. They didn't say anything. Taking her from him and they didn't take her. Yeah. But Ed is like. And now you show up as the husband. The husband that could fight. The husband that's trained. A trained agent who couldn't have seen that this dude would try to get. Kill him. That's all I got to say about it.

[Ish]

Put a little bit of a little too much faith in.

[Joe Button]

In bro.

[Flip]

Yeah, come on, bro. Cuz he's fat.

[Ishaan]

N. I think he was.

[Freeze]

I think he honestly been on Homeboy

[Ishaan]

the whole time treating that like a. Yo, you going to just sit here and do nothing? Shut up.

[Ish]

He gave him the trigger for the Would even let.

[Ishaan]

He wouldn't let him touch a baby.

[Freeze]

My. Like I. Oh, sit over there.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, yeah, sit your dumb ass down. Like that's how he been treating home.

[Parks]

What episode y' all up to now is.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's six.

[Joe Button]

It's two left.

[Freeze]

I'll tell you this.

[Joe Button]

And they've been already renewed for the third season, which many think will be their final.

[Freeze]

Well, it is their final.

[Joe Button]

It's.

[Ishaan]

They set up.

[Freeze]

But I was going to Say, you could kind of tell it ain't being received the way they might have thought. The fact that they even had Sterling K. Brown up there with the signs, with the signs announcing season three. We in the middle of season two. He's holding the signs in front of the cat camera like homeboy was in front of the bunker.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, see, I think. I think they. They rolled it out so slow, and there's so much ground to cover that it really needs 10 episodes.

[Ish]

Yeah. Yeah, I would agree.

[Ishaan]

You know what I'm saying? I think it needs 10 episodes instead of eight. Then they could have really got they shit off on the last two, I think. Yeah, it just. It just. It's just moving super slow. The way they keep tying it back into paradise to here. It's just. It's just a lot of ground to cover, and they need more. More episodes.

[Joe Button]

For me, it's fine. I'm already on down to St. Louis.

[Ish]

Thank you. Let's get to the Go. Let's get to. Great.

[Flip]

Y' all want to move slow with season. I'm on DTF St. Louis now.

[Joe Button]

Jason Bateman, you did it again. Are you caught up?

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

Three episodes. Got right to it.

[Flip]

Third. The third.

[Ish]

The first episode, I was like, this is weird. The second episode, I was like, this is weird, but I might be into this. The third episode was amazing. Tv. That last episode was amazing.

[Freeze]

I'm here. I text y' all at the one.

[Ish]

I like dark humor, so I was with it. But it was. It was weird. It was weird. There's a lot of weird.

[Joe Button]

No, this is kind of a comedy, bro.

[Ish]

That position where she's.

[Flip]

What is it called?

[Freeze]

Amazon?

[Flip]

No.

[Ish]

The power or something.

[Freeze]

Yeah, no, he was telling her to say powerhouse.

[Ish]

Powerhouse.

[Freeze]

But the position was the Amazon.

[Ish]

Oh, okay.

[Joe Button]

That can't be a comfortable position at all. As I was watching, I'm like, this doesn't look like. Like, it's fun at all.

[Freeze]

I knew dude was into some weird when he's like, yo, I just want you to sit on my face. But, like, go on about your day. Go on about your business and make your phone calls and handle your business. I was like, huh? Some ice.

[Joe Button]

This show is really, really, really good.

[Ish]

It's really.

[Joe Button]

It's really, really, really good.

[Flip]

With every episode, what I'm enjoying, with every episode, the. The. The. The guy to die.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Flip]

Becomes more likable.

[Ish]

Yeah, for sure. For sure.

[Flip]

Sure. Although he's extremely likable. Every step. Every time you learn something new about this guy. He was.

[Joe Button]

He.

[Flip]

You like him? You're mad that he's the one that died. Also, what I thought was interesting and

[Joe Button]

I'm not gonna give the whole show away because it's really that great of a show. You should watch it.

[Flip]

But when Jason Bateman and homeboy's wife was at the show watching him do the sign, watching him. Yeah. And she was like, yo, I love my man.

[Parks]

I love him.

[Flip]

We not working. I know me and you did whatever, but I've gotta like, as. As someone that's cheated before them highlight in that moment that, yo, I'm out here with the person that I'm fucking. We held hands for a quick second, but I'm refalling in love with my partner and I don't want to continue

[Freeze]

to do pushing and all of this shit.

[Flip]

That shit is hard.

[Joe Button]

Hard, yo.

[Flip]

It's hard. They killing. They're killing so much about this.

[Ish]

Those all, all the actors. I don't remember homeboy's name, but I don't know if you were privy to any of the Lily Allen T. Lily Allen, the British singer was married to dude. The dude that died. He was also in Stranger Things. She made a whole diss album about him on some ols.

[Flip]

I had no idea.

[Ish]

She's running around touring, wearing dresses with his receipts from dates where he was cheating on her. Like, she's going absolutely crazy. I think she's losing now, though, because he is crushing this.

[Flip]

And roll in real life.

[Ish]

Yes.

[Flip]

And just how they focus on how two couples are going through dry spells in their sex lives for different reasons.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Joe Button]

The reasoning was funny.

[Flip]

It's like, yo, see the psychology behind that?

[Freeze]

That be real shit.

[Flip]

It's so deep. He's saying, yo, dog, she's an umpire now.

[Freeze]

Job is umpire.

[Flip]

She's got on this umpire outfit. And why would I want to fuck the umpire?

[Freeze]

He's like, I can't.

[Flip]

She's like, dog, I'm an umpire. Cuz you're broke. I had to get a job. You broke bastard. And we not. Because I didn't even know there was a word for when your dick is curved like that. Peronis. This show is a trip. It is.

[Ish]

It's a. It's a super trip.

[Flip]

She can't him because his dick is curved and he's got medicine he gotta take.

[Joe Button]

Let it's going.

[Flip]

This show is nuts.

[Ish]

It's nuts. But it's, it's. It's. It's getting more serious and better the

[Joe Button]

further you get with each other. Yeah.

[Ish]

Like, it started off quirky and weird and dark humor and I'm like, okay, this is cool, but I don't know how this is going to play out.

[Flip]

That's another one of my favorite things about the show. I'm normally pretty good about guessing who did what and who the killer is.

[Joe Button]

No idea.

[Ish]

I'm on the wife.

[Flip]

I can't be.

[Freeze]

I'm on the other wife because they

[Flip]

won't show her anymore.

[Freeze]

I think she did it.

[Joe Button]

Dane.

[Flip]

Dane shown her since episode one.

[Ish]

I think she has two little cameos.

[Freeze]

She found out and it's setting them up.

[Ish]

I'm not mad at that. I'm not mad at that.

[Flip]

I'm not mad at the wife.

[Joe Button]

I haven't seen her enough.

[Flip]

But Jason's wife.

[Freeze]

Yeah, Jason's wife.

[Ish]

But the wife that was cheating at first I had looks pretty guilty. After this last episode, I'm going to do whatever it takes at the end.

[Freeze]

Yeah, after this last episode, it's almost like they're. They're. They want you to believe it's the. It's his wife for sure.

[Flip]

Or him or his wife and his likes too. And it's like, I can't.

[Freeze]

I think it's the wife. Like, even from where they found out about the Jamba Juice shit, where you sat there, you ordered them shits over and over and over and over and over and over, waiting for him to get there, like. Or some creep shit. And she been said she'd been playing him the whole time. And now she keep mentioning insurance. I don't have insurance. I need you to do that. Like, he's such a sucker that he's going along with this not knowing. And I think she just setting them. I mean, it's, it's dressed up like she's walking him down the path for

[Flip]

them to even highlight.

[Joe Button]

That I thought was amazing, right?

[Flip]

Like, oftentimes as committed men, once you cheat, you just got to rear. You just got to rear whatever comes with you cheated.

[Joe Button]

You're a horrible person.

[Flip]

And you be like, oh, but it wasn't me. And you throw all the lines out there. This show is showing you how a dude could be minding his own business.

[Freeze]

She targeted that.

[Flip]

Yes.

[Freeze]

She really did.

[Flip]

Watermelon Breeze.

[Ish]

He's also a terrible friend.

[Freeze]

Go get her.

[Ish]

Yeah, go get her.

[Flip]

Watermelon Breeze.

[Freeze]

She was the Watermelon Breeze.

[Ish]

Yes.

[Flip]

Little hot ass. These girls be hiding hot to try.

[Freeze]

And he had no clue.

[Joe Button]

Of course he was gonna.

[Flip]

The girl, she came in Jamba Juice every morning the same time I did and ordered the same drink as me and played Ivy games with Me, you gotta.

[Ish]

The girl. Even if it's my best friend's guy, he should not.

[Flip]

Her dirty talk was wild.

[Ish]

Their dirty talk was incredibly wild.

[Flip]

Well, I don't know that they was best friends when it happened. That's true.

[Ish]

They became best friends as.

[Flip]

Yeah, you're right, cuz. I believe. Marty.

[Joe Button]

Marty. I've been calling him Marty.

[Flip]

I've been calling him Marty. Leave Marty. But yeah, when Marty was in the interrogation room, like, hold up now. This is my man.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, he's defending.

[Flip]

I love, love this guy. Listen, I don't want to give too much of the show. Show it. This is not an ad on HBO. DTF St. Louis. Great show.

[Freeze]

And it's this. This. It's only seven episodes.

[Ish]

Yeah, that's what. According to IMDb.

[Freeze]

Yeah, we looked it up. It's only seven. They've gotten three so far.

[Joe Button]

So they smoking this.

[Freeze]

Yeah, they're killing this.

[Joe Button]

They're smoking this. Shout out to them. Really, really good show.

[Ish]

That's great TV right there.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, really good show. I also started Scar Scarpetto on. Oh, Nicole Kidman. It's good. So far so good. I only got to one and a half episodes.

[Ishaan]

I saw it.

[Joe Button]

But yeah, let me know. I'm finishing anything Nicole Kidman for sure. Pretty much on screen.

[Ish]

It's like a.

[Parks]

You.

[Joe Button]

You on on screen and off screen. Boy.

[Freeze]

Nicole.

[Parks]

Yo.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Huh?

[Freeze]

You on Nicole.

[Joe Button]

Love Nicole Kidman.

[Parks]

Freak.

[Joe Button]

Boy, that's some milk I can get with. She great actress. Yeah, sure, sure, sure. Y' all don't think I would Nicole Kidman. You might

[Ish]

quickly escort her to the. The Oscars or something.

[Joe Button]

If Nicole Kidman asked me to go to Oscars, I'm going and shot a. Will have to understand

[Flip]

who's that person for y' all and not that person because I'm not trying to say it

[Joe Button]

like it's a romantic thing, but she's a list enough to where. Yeah, I'm going.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I ain't got one.

[Joe Button]

Mark ain't playing Marx is Lisa Bone. Lisa Bonet. I have him out. What Lisa Bonet app right there.

[Flip]

You seen them pictures that went viral?

[Ish]

She looks amazing.

[Flip]

Lisa Bonet looks absolutely stunning.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Still.

[Ish]

Still. Always has, always will.

[Freeze]

What say you, Mark?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh, that's different.

[Freeze]

Why it's different?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Because I'd be willing.

[Freeze]

You'll get some Dwayne Wayne glasses.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Okay.

[Joe Button]

Oh, man.

[Flip]

Going to hell.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yo, that freaks. They was just that working now. She's beautiful.

[Ish]

Still is.

[Flip]

Still is.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

For sure.

[Ish]

Still is.

[Parks]

This is a rare sighting. She hasn't been outside, you know she

[Flip]

looks good also, while we're here and

[Joe Button]

you guys could think of, like, something important for us to get to after I'm just finished talking, which only be for 10 seconds. So.

[Flip]

Yeah. So you people out there, y' all had a really cool challenge going on

[Joe Button]

where an older person would be showing themselves in the camera, and then the kid voice would pop on and say,

[Flip]

hey, dad, what were you like in the 90s? I thought this was such a fly

[Joe Button]

challenge that you idiots fucked up somehow.

[Flip]

So it started with me. So seeing fly older men and women panning to, yo, are you snoring fat? Breathe loud.

[Freeze]

I was like.

[Parks]

I'm like, you know, what's wrong with y'? All?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm looking around the room trying to

[Flip]

guess who's having a heart attack.

[Parks]

No, no, no.

[Flip]

I was about to call ambulance.

[Parks]

It was him. My whole face.

[Ishaan]

Turn this way.

[Parks]

Looking at this. Stop. Stop picking and choose. If I y up in here. Yo, stop we picking and choose. I looked at you, I thought like this. Look at this.

[Joe Button]

I thought you was having a seizure. I ain't going to hold you. I was going to try to do cpr.

[Ishaan]

I'mma jump on your stomach.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Come on, man.

[Flip]

Without the mouth to mouth, though.

[Parks]

Bring me back to life.

[Flip]

So your 90s people were showing their old of them in the 90s. It was a really fly challenge for older people.

[Joe Button]

We don't get too many of those.

[Flip]

Then you idiots came and started panning, showing yourself, and then panning to, like, Shaq or, like, Morris Chestnut or whoever your lookalike is from the 90s. And I think that's super corny. I know y' all are having fun, so who am I to come rain on a parade? But some challenges you just gotta skip. If you weren't lit in the 90s, leave it alone. Or you wasn't old enough to have been moving around in the 90s. Why do you have to to do it?

[Ish]

The first person I saw do it was Tim Meadows. And that was kind of funny because he did Don Cheadle. That was a little bit funny. Tim Meadows is a comedian.

[Freeze]

All the people I seen, it was some young means, and they was killing

[Parks]

them in the 90s, right?

[Ishaan]

Women were showing themselves in the 90s like, this my son gonna ask me what I was doing in the 90s,

[Flip]

and this is it.

[Ishaan]

And they was showing that.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, they were showing that. Oh, so you didn't see the people that have turned it into a joke. It disturbed me enough to want to come in here and get that off my. My Heart.

[Parks]

Would you be able to do something like that?

[Joe Button]

Yeah, if I find the pictures.

[Freeze]

If I find the picture.

[Flip]

D got all the pictures. I was outside enough to be able to pan back to me and my little Tommy Hill figured outfits.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Flip]

99, 98, 18, 19. Yeah, I could do that time.

[Parks]

Say no more.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I wish we had more pictures. You know what I mean?

[Ishaan]

They are really important.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Cuz kids today take a picture of every moment every day. Got a thousand pictures. I don't. I don't think I have 20 pictures of myself.

[Freeze]

Got a lot I don't over like

[Mark Lamont Hill]

a 10 year period.

[Joe Button]

Strict rules in the cult it was

[Ishaan]

cameras are not allow.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You gota lean into the joke, man.

[Joe Button]

No, that was funny.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's disgusting.

[Parks]

Oh, come on, man.

[Freeze]

Nasty.

[Ish]

Yo.

[Parks]

Any problems, you would bring that coach to point the begin.

[Freeze]

It's hurtful.

[Joe Button]

Yeah,

[Flip]

I can't segue after that. My brain automatically went to what I would do if I found that tape

[Joe Button]

with Mark on it.

[Flip]

Oh, I don't know how Patreon. No, something's going up. I would not do that. You can't do that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, I wouldn't do that. I'll show you a little bit of coat footage one day. I got some more.

[Ishaan]

You got some on your phone?

[Parks]

No, he said some at home.

[Freeze]

He said I got.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I said on my phone.

[Parks]

Apologize.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, I'll find it.

[Ishaan]

What you had on?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

What was I wearing? A robe? Yeah, Jelly bean.

[Ish]

Jelly bean.

[Ishaan]

What you said.

[Ish]

Did you have a sweet hat?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, I didn't. Did I have it?

[Ish]

There are some sweet hats and I

[Mark Lamont Hill]

did have on a tarouche.

[Parks]

You got the names like a turbo.

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

Oh, you wore the tall fashion at the end.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It looks like a shrine or a messiah like that.

[Ishaan]

The raccoon car.

[Parks]

Yeah, but don't they got a spot in Brooklyn? They still got the culture.

[Flip]

Bushwick, right?

[Freeze]

Bush.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You have. Yeah, yeah. Yep, still there. I don't go. I don't go often.

[Flip]

Who was that that was tasked with finding the next interesting topic for us.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

So I was about to go anyway. So ice on the board. You asked where does personal happiness rank? Rank to you? Yeah.

[Freeze]

In your life.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I want to know why you asked. I was more curious to know why you asked that. Like you. I don't know if he's going through something.

[Freeze]

No, no, that's not me. I have conversations.

[Joe Button]

I'm searching for personal happiness.

[Freeze]

Who

[Parks]

you get me started with?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

This is my favorite new dynamic. Joe says anything. He gets mad as.

[Freeze]

You talking to because if he wrote

[Flip]

a check, I would have thought the same thing you thought it. If I knew he wrote that on the board.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

No, I said, you know, this be a good question to bring to the pod based off.

[Flip]

Where do you rank personal happiness? Yeah, like, what do you mean?

[Freeze]

So I was talking to somebody and he was saying, like, yo, what he said. I'm about to tell you what he said, if you let me finish.

[Flip]

No, no, no, no.

[Freeze]

I'm here to play today. I'm here to play what that said. All right, I'll tell the truth. I was on the phone with Joe.

[Flip]

Oh, wait, baby.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh, yeah.

[Flip]

Oh, see, this is me.

[Freeze]

Yeah, this was. You remember our conversation the other day? I bring it to the pot. Now I'm on the phone with Joe. And he was just like, yo, man,

[Joe Button]

I got a bad memory. This way it's up. I don't remember nothing he said.

[Freeze]

I'm playing. This wasn't Joe.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh, shit, man, you gotta ride that out long.

[Flip]

Yeah, word.

[Freeze]

Let him sweat a little bit.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, I gotta pee already.

[Freeze]

But, yeah, he was just like, yo, I'm doing xyz. And he was like, yo, are you happy in your life? I'm like, yeah, yeah, my. Like, a lot of people are happy. He was like, yeah, but what does it mean to you being happy versus everything that you. You gotta juggle and deal with? I'm like, well, I gotta make sure everybody good. And then making sure everybody good kind of makes me happy. And he was like, it's kind of the opposite for me. I'm losing my happiness because I'm taking care of so much.

[Ish]

That's a lot.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, that's like, more.

[Freeze]

So then that's why I said, let me ask. I said, yo, this is a good question to ask.

[Ishaan]

Great question.

[Freeze]

Where does your personal happiness rank as importance to you on the scale?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I feel like the older I get, the more it drops.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, my shit is in the bottom.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Really?

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

I don't really think about my own self fulfillment as long as my family and all that other shit got what they need. You kind of.

[Joe Button]

That's your fulfillment.

[Ishaan]

It's just a responsibility that you don't even think about being fulfilled filled in. You know what I'm saying?

[Freeze]

It's just.

[Ishaan]

It just don't. It don't come up.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And I think people convince themselves, like your homie, that makes them happy. That's just a way of, like, dealing with the fact that you're not. That you're not actually giving, like, care to yourself.

[Ishaan]

I think it's a really good question.

[Ish]

It ranks High for me, but I'm easy. I don't require much. And as long as my wife is happy and my family's, everyone's good. But I don't like he say the same. Stress myself out to make sure everyone else. Else is happier than me. That's a lot. That's a lot of. You put a lot of yourself.

[Freeze]

Yeah, I agree.

[Ishaan]

I'm not disagreeing.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But sometimes it's just like making sure everybody's okay. I'll give you an example. Like, if you got. If you got to do a lot of care work, that means you might not have time to listen to music or work out or hang with your homies. So it's not that you're making sure people are happy. It's not you just making sure people are like, okay, like. Like just well. And in doing that, you ain't got time to do the shit that actually makes you happy. And that's what I find a lot of people. I see a lot of women go through that.

[Freeze]

Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You know what I mean? Especially like with. With small kids.

[Ishaan]

Single mothers.

[Freeze]

Single mothers.

[Ishaan]

Single mothers.

[Freeze]

They don't.

[Ishaan]

They could.

[Freeze]

They.

[Ishaan]

They can't think about themselves.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

What I want don't matter. You know what I'm saying? I might want to go to happy hour after work. You got to go pick up another human being, make sure that they're dressed, fed all that other. You are the last priority.

[Joe Button]

So that's when I swore, man, like,

[Ishaan]

you don't got kids.

[Ish]

That's true.

[Ishaan]

You know what I'm saying?

[Freeze]

You got two or three kids.

[Joe Button]

You want me to pay for the sitter for the night?

[Flip]

Yes, she do.

[Joe Button]

Hey, girl. Hey. Go, go.

[Flip]

Go ahead.

[Joe Button]

Call. Call out a family dollar, girl.

[Flip]

Oh, my God.

[Ish]

Hey, Pizza hu.

[Flip]

Pizza Hut.

[Freeze]

Yo, Pizza Hut.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You got crazy pizza.

[Flip]

Hey, what's that term? Money? Future farming.

[Freeze]

What was it?

[Flip]

That's when I come in and. Future bombing.

[Joe Button]

Future bomb.

[Flip]

Single mothers or farm.

[Joe Button]

Come on, girl. What it take?

[Parks]

I pay you for the days.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I think it's a great topic. Ice and they don't take shit serious.

[Parks]

I know, I know.

[Freeze]

I just said it was something. I think it's a great topic, too.

[Parks]

Yeah, but it's low if it's low for a lot of us, man, you know, we got family, we got kids, and you. You know, and then you start to think when everybody starts to be happy around you and you start looking like, what that starts to make you happy? Or you start to look inside if they're not appreciative, you start to look inside and say, okay, what can I do? What should I do to make myself happy?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's funny you say that, Flip, because sometimes.

[Parks]

Because sometimes the people that you're trying to make happy aren't appreciative of the lengths that you're willing to go to make them happy or the work that you're doing to make them happy.

[Ishaan]

They may not even know.

[Freeze]

A lot of times they don't know.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I would have thought you. I thought you were gonna say something a little bit different because you're one of those people I look to who has a balance between the two things. Like, you take care of your family, you do all the things you need to do, but you also don't neglect yourself. And I find. And I actually. And you're the person that's always telling me, like, make sure you take care of yourself. Make sure you, like.

[Joe Button]

You are good Verona for that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I wasn't being funny. I'm.

[Joe Button]

I mean.

[Parks]

Watch your mouth.

[Ish]

Get Mark.

[Parks]

Thank you, bro. Watch your mouth, bro.

[Flip]

I'm.

[Parks]

I'm saying.

[Flip]

You down?

[Joe Button]

You killing that.

[Parks]

I asked you how Alex was doing today.

[Flip]

What you told me, I have no idea. I have no clue

[Parks]

how your son do it. I don't know.

[Freeze]

With a straight face.

[Flip]

You gotta be doing good. Ain't nobody call my ball. No, no.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Wow.

[Flip]

I'm joking.

[Parks]

What'd you say, Martin?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Like the balance?

[Parks]

Just balancing it. Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah. I was just surprised. It sounds like you said, in this

[Parks]

labor, hey, that shit got its ups and down. Listen, I make it look different because in all reality, I got a goal to make, you know what I'm saying? And I have to maintain a lifestyle to keep my fitness family happy. But that comes with a lot of ups and downs. Everybody don't agree. My wife don't agree. We just had something the other day, you know what I'm saying? So she doesn't.

[Joe Button]

Who was right in that?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Both.

[Parks]

She might have been. I understood her, but what's the point?

[Joe Button]

She was trying to get out.

[Parks]

Who knows? I don't want to talk about that. But what I'm saying is.

[Joe Button]

But what was your point?

[Parks]

I don't know neither.

[Joe Button]

She was eating you off.

[Parks]

The point is I'm not going to change anything when it comes to anything pertaining to my business. I'm not changing anything for professional advice for my family. I'm sorry. If there's nothing else that could be presented to me in order for me to do something to make up what

[Freeze]

you were losing by not knowing this.

[Flip]

I'm not.

[Freeze]

We gotta Deal.

[Parks]

We gotta figure it out.

[Joe Button]

No way. That went over well now.

[Parks]

No, it don't have to go over. That's. I stand on that. You understand? Like, I believe some of us come from struggle, nigga. I was laying on a couch with my family, nigga, broken ass couch on the floor in my mom's basement. I am not going back to that, period. Not going back to like living like that. My children have become accustomed to, you know, a lifestyle and I'm gonna maintain that. And it's. It takes a lot of hard work. But also, you know, one thing I learned about this is that my reaction has to be different. I have to grow up. Cause, you know, my kids are bigger now, so they look at things different. My daughter heard me yelling the other day. She looking at me like, shaking her head. That don't feel good. Like she's shaking her head like, oh, you talking like this. You sound crazy. It doesn't feel good to have your daughter do that. So you have to respond different and try to find a medium. That's what I'm working on now. Just find the medium and how to balance it. So the balance, it may look like, like it, but it comes with its ups and downs. You just got to just make sure you do it and get to it. My wife brought up some. I brought on the podcast. Oh, if you make all the money, you can do what you want. I said, you heard that? I don't think she be here with it.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Somebody probably sent that to.

[Parks]

I hate them. Do I believe what?

[Joe Button]

Like if you make all the money, you can do what you want.

[Freeze]

Look, it's a trap.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

She gonna get this clip too. Flip.

[Flip]

You gonna get a clip.

[Parks]

Well, you know, I believe if you make all the money, you're able to.

[Joe Button]

We got it.

[Flip]

N. We got it. You have more options.

[Parks]

Yeah, Yeah. I don't believe that though.

[Flip]

I think that everybody out there, no

[Joe Button]

matter what you do, no matter where you are in life, you, you, you should put some time to your side for yourself and your happiness. No matter how. How much you provide, no matter how much you showing up for people, no matter how much you working, find something that you can get a little bit of joy from as a guy is probably something like bowling. Like you ain't going to get a

[Ishaan]

lot of

[Flip]

the little hoop game. Little hoop games. Get a bunch of those in the little punch machine. Boom. 890.

[Ish]

Don't skip the gym because you got

[Parks]

a strip clubs gang.

[Ish]

Would you say that pay for someone's

[Parks]

lifestyle to be a form of you know, here it is.

[Freeze]

Absolutely.

[Joe Button]

I mean, maybe for some people out

[Parks]

there and then what if, what if, what if your significant? What if that's your form of happiness? Not you, but somebody's form of happiness and their significant other may not be, you know, so welcoming to that. How do you balance that? How does a person balance that? What you lie.

[Ishaan]

You talking about?

[Ish]

Good thing about strip clubs, they're open really late. So you could like. You know what I mean?

[Parks]

Oh, got you. Gotcha.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

If you live with the person, it's hard to dip out at 3am and explain why where you at?

[Parks]

I got to go talk to minister Fabric. Minister Hut.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Hello.

[Parks]

Hold on, I'll be back. Shout out to business.

[Joe Button]

The strip club fight is a fight that I would have kept going a little longer in my relationship had they not just kept hiring 22 year olds in the strip clubs.

[Flip]

It's like, all right, I'm not going to lie.

[Ish]

Last one over there. It was like.

[Flip]

What was.

[Parks]

What was too old for this?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

What was her?

[Parks]

When you say she won, what do you mean? I'm sorry.

[Flip]

Whatever.

[Joe Button]

Our debates were about the strip club and strip club etiquette, strip club lifestyle. Like whatever I was holding on to,

[Parks]

it was over with.

[Freeze]

It's hard.

[Joe Button]

When they died, she won because of stupid New York clubs.

[Freeze]

Got you.

[Joe Button]

Okay. I can't even be stubborn if I wanted to. Like, I've naturally like grown up like by mistake. Yeah, it's like corny. I didn't like it like that. That's why we need to go to Vegas.

[Ish]

We need to go to the old head strip club.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, we need to go. That's that shit in the caucus with the truck driver.

[Flip]

Yo, the truck driver strip club spot is very different from the cool dude strip club spot.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

In Bloomfield. I wasn't the one that took us there.

[Joe Button]

We went there, we did a lot. We talked around and we got right the smooth out there, you know?

[Freeze]

You know who took us to that spot?

[Joe Button]

I have no idea.

[Ishaan]

I used to live a block away

[Flip]

from there and I only been in there once in my whole life.

[Ishaan]

I lived a block away from there.

[Ish]

Those strip clubs could be kind of fun.

[Flip]

This one here comes Amber.

[Freeze]

Amber look like she just gave birth.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, no, Amber looked like she did.

[Flip]

She in the back. The kid. The kid is with the house mom.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

Hey, fam. N. I'm cool. We walked around there and walked right out. N. I'm good.

[Joe Button]

Hey, yo, I'm low maintenance too, so I don't need a whole lot to be happy.

[Freeze]

I just need my PS5. Yeah.

[Joe Button]

I don't need a whole lot to be happy at all.

[Freeze]

That's what you get older. That's what you get. You get your video game system.

[Flip]

Rest in peace. A good meal, a good show. Everybody I love in good spirits.

[Ish]

That's it.

[Flip]

In good health, man.

[Joe Button]

I'll be happy with that.

[Ishaan]

Shout out to you.

[Joe Button]

I had a blast at my dad's birthday dinner. Yeah, I called you that day last night. No, you called me for a surprise party. I had a blast for his birthday dinner. I'm really enjoying having a little sister. Like.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Why?

[Flip]

Cause she's funny.

[Joe Button]

Yo.

[Flip]

She sat at the table and said, all my friends say my parents as old as hell.

[Freeze]

Holy.

[Flip]

I never put myself in her. My little sister's in the sixth grade till 12.

[Freeze]

That's 11. 12.

[Flip]

Yeah, something like that. 11 and Pop turned 70. She said that at the.

[Freeze]

Got tired.

[Joe Button]

Oh, yeah.

[Flip]

Well, she got both parents. If you got to pull that out.

[Freeze]

Yeah.

[Flip]

This bad. But I'm just saying we be so caught up in our lives, like, it ain't till I go and I got to really stop to put my brain

[Joe Button]

in their experience on earth and what's going on like with my brothers in college and what they got going on

[Freeze]

and how they doing.

[Flip]

Good.

[Freeze]

Good.

[Joe Button]

Well, one of them.

[Flip]

One of them I ain't got the report on yet.

[Joe Button]

I think he's dealing drugs.

[Flip]

I think he's. I think he out there. Yeah. One way, really. Hearing from too much stupid. Yeah.

[Joe Button]

I think they out there fucking hustling.

[Ishaan]

They go in the same school.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Flip]

Oh, that's the other thing. Right.

[Joe Button]

Like my. My brother, I respect his anonymity.

[Flip]

Whatever course he taking in college got him about to go abroad for a year.

[Freeze]

Fire.

[Flip]

Wow.

[Ishaan]

Fire.

[Flip]

Wow. They shipping his ass to Japan

[Joe Button]

to

[Flip]

live and work and function and learn for a year. I wish I remembered the name of what he's. That's so taken business abroad or whatever.

[Freeze]

The name is amazing.

[Flip]

I think that's the scariest I ever heard in my life. I don't. I don't have that. It is amazing.

[Freeze]

It is scary.

[Ishaan]

It's scary, but it's a good scary.

[Joe Button]

Oh, please.

[Ishaan]

It is.

[Freeze]

That's a good scary, B. It is.

[Ishaan]

It makes you way more well rounded. You'll start seeing the world totally different than you see it. Just being around here, you know, that is dope.

[Freeze]

I mean, people, their entire ideology, everything is the block that they grew up

[Ishaan]

on, the eight block radius that they lived in.

[Freeze]

The more life you get to live and they young, the more life they living and experiences. Experiences they're getting.

[Joe Button]

True.

[Flip]

Just hearing that would make me drop out of school. What?

[Joe Button]

No.

[Flip]

What did you go to Japan for a year and just be and learn how to live? You've been out your parents house for a hot eight months.

[Parks]

It was.

[Flip]

Now you just want some?

[Ishaan]

I mean, as a freshman that usually don't happen.

[Flip]

Terrifying.

[Ishaan]

It is scary. It's scary as shit. But just as a freshman it is a little more scary I think around junior year because now you have been living outside of your parents house for a couple years. Even though college is like I always say, college is like a bridge between living in your mama house to living in your own house. You get what I'm saying? It's supervision there. You got RAs and all that shit. And you can't just run amok and do whatever you want. But you got mad more leniency than when you were at home. So I think it's dope. But as a freshman, I don't know if I would let my kid go to Japan as a freshman.

[Joe Button]

Gonna be next year, maybe junior.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

What's the worry, Junior?

[Ishaan]

My niece went. My niece lived in Italy for a year. She lived in Italy for a year.

[Freeze]

At what year of college?

[Ishaan]

Junior? She lived in Italy for a year, came back speaking fluent Italian. Matter of fact, toy went. Toy. That's why Toy speaks fluent Spanish. Toy went abroad for a year. That shit is dope. I think it's dope. I think it gives you just a broader perspective on how you see the world.

[Flip]

And I'm talking shit. The guy that goes to college and

[Joe Button]

signs up for this particular, he's prepared

[Flip]

to be ready for that.

[Ishaan]

He don't want to come with it.

[Joe Button]

He's ready to go and do like that.

[Freeze]

So that shit's fire.

[Joe Button]

Salute to my siblings just living. Yeah, dope, dope. Selling them nickel bags, getting the college right. Got to stay up on test

[Flip]

perks.

[Joe Button]

30s Stairsfield and dick pills, Danceville. I went to college today. I'd have to litter it with drugs.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'd have to help.

[Ish]

Not groundbreaking.

[Joe Button]

I'd have to help. I'd have to add to it. Add to the demise.

[Ish]

Sure, sure.

[Joe Button]

Anywho. All right, it's time for our political segment.

[Ish]

Mark Lamont Hill.

[Joe Button]

We're giving Mark ISO so he can try to win the chain back.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No isos. This is just everybody talking, man. The first thing was just, just the Trump updates because I feel like our favorite. We gotta, we gotta let people know what's going on.

[Freeze]

Even he's heaven sent.

[Joe Button]

Trump is heaven sent.

[Ish]

Almost threw something at you.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Trump is a reptile for sure, yo. He's a lot of things from V. As you know, things in Iran still going on.

[Joe Button]

And his skin is looking funny if you look at him now. Yeah, I'm not sure his skin is looking.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm not sure he's gonna make it a whole turn. He looking kind of sick.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, I know we got a black auntie somewhere putting the Trump doll on the stove.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I wish he'd get to it.

[Flip]

Turn the vial.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Exactly. Couple things. Iran, obviously things are still crazy over there in terms of the US Intervention. The whole Strait of Hormuz is closed. Trump has been trying to get other countries to open it up. They have have not agreed to do warships to open up, to force it open. That means that things will get worse before they get better, both in terms of violence, in terms of oil access, in terms of revenue, et cetera.

[Flip]

Is it. Is the straight of Hormuz closed?

[Joe Button]

Because I'm reading conflicting reports.

[Flip]

Is it closed or is that some

[Joe Button]

US Shit that they preaching the most?

[Flip]

I read somewhere they letting some other niggas closed.

[Ishaan]

Pass through, letting China go through.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's why they're putting it. It's generally closed, but there are exceptions. But according to the most recent reports as well, of the time we're recording this, the access has been closed and Trump is trying to force it open, which isn't working. Like I said, things gonna get worse before they get better. Another thing since we're talking about oil is Cuba is going through a blackout right now, partly because of the US Pressure. Obviously, US Kidnaps Venezuelan president doesn't help. Mexico was giving them emergency oil. US Put pressure on Mexico to stop giving them humanitarian aid and support. So Cuba is in a tough situation, which only got worse when Trump said. Yeah, yesterday. That he thinks the US Is gonna take Cuba.

[Freeze]

If I feel like it.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

He said, if I feel like it. And he said, do you mean like militarily or do you mean diplomatically? He was like, kind of like, whatever. Whatever I feel like doing, but I think it's gonna happen. Yo, shit is scary.

[Ishaan]

I don't know what I'm gonna do with it, but, yeah, I might go

[Freeze]

over there and just take it.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah. I don't know.

[Ishaan]

I ain't figure out what I wanna

[Joe Button]

do with it yet, though.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Wild. And then to fill out the trifecta, he was talking about Gavin Newsom. They said, what do you think about Gavin Newsom and his chance to be president? He Said he doesn't call him Newsom because of new scum. He says News Gum shouldn't be president. You know why? Because he has a learning disability and people with learning disabilities shouldn't be president.

[Joe Button]

Oh, he just throwing it to the rim. He just tossing it up the rim right there.

[Ishaan]

He's bugging up.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yo.

[Joe Button]

He's bugging up.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's like there's nothing. He can't say any one of those three things that I just said. Starting a war, gonna take Cuba, taking other countries at my disposal.

[Ishaan]

Determine what I feel like doing with

[Freeze]

it and how I feel like taking

[Ishaan]

them after starving them for three months.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Exactly. Or mocking people with learning disabilities or neurodivergent people or whatever. If Obama wore tan suit in this

[Ishaan]

shit and they went crazy, was crazy.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Trump can say and do whatever. I'm only bringing this up cause I want people to keep their eyes on this because this is getting crazy.

[Freeze]

Oh, it's bad.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And then, of course, since we're talking about politics, last thing. Mamdani has put forward some new tax proposals.

[Ish]

Okay.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Which I'm excited about. First one is one that he has direct control over. Right. He wants to raise tax. The tax rate for people who make over a million dollars.

[Joe Button]

Okay.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm okay with that. It affects. I'm gonna pull up the exact numbers and exact percentage, but I believe it's from 3% to 5% tax rate for people in New York City. And the idea. He wants to raise the city income tax rate to 5.88% from 3.88% for the roughly 34,000 households that earn more than $1 million per year. He said that a family earning a million dollars should pay an additional $20,000 in taxes. The equivalent of. It's a 51% increase. And then the other thing is, he's trying to advocate for, at the state level is an increase in what some people call the death tax, which is more appropriately just a. What do you call it?

[Ishaan]

A hereditary thing or.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah. When you give somebody.

[Ish]

Inheritance.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Inheritance. Thank you.

[Ish]

Yes.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Inheritance tax. Which would raise the rates pretty high for people who are.

[Flip]

Who are.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Who are bequeathing things to people. So if you have a house and you were to give it to your kid, you're going to pay a higher tax rate on it.

[Ish]

I don't love that.

[Freeze]

I don't.

[Parks]

I don't like that.

[Ish]

I'm cool with the other one.

[Ishaan]

Some of the dumbest shit you ever

[Freeze]

heard in your life.

[Ishaan]

First off, we have a really wide broadcast.

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

But we got to Think about. We talking about New York State.

[Joe Button]

Right.

[Ishaan]

And so when you start thinking about people in New York, especially in New York City proper. So that's the five boroughs or anything remotely close, what he's doing, he's taking the rates from 16%. His proposed new rate is 50%. That's a different level of a jump

[Ish]

for the inheritance tax.

[Ishaan]

Yes, the inheritance tax one. And then the rate cap.

[Ish]

Pardon me for interrupting. Is there a cap?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

7 million, I believe is.

[Ishaan]

No, no, no, the old, the old start of the inheritance tax used to be $7 million.

[Ish]

That's where you start getting.

[Ishaan]

That's where you start to get taxed. He wants to drop it to 750 grand.

[Freeze]

Oh, no, that's what's coming up.

[Ishaan]

So you start taxing New Yorkers at 750 grand for those of us that live in the area, you can't find a house in the five boroughs for 750.

[Ish]

You can't find a one better.

[Ishaan]

Roberta, that's my point. And so now you're starting to impose way more sanctions. I don't want to call them sanctions, but way more stress on the poor and the middle class that you ran your campaign on. Uplifting, right? It's so. And this is what I want people to understand, yo, when you start talking about taxing the billionaires and taxing the rich, especially when it comes to inheritance and all that other. The term trust fund babies comes from somewhere. They don't pay taxes like that. They put all of the assets and they put all of their money in a trust. And when you die, your trust don't get taxed. So now you putting all this pressure on motherfuckers that don't have the information or don't have the resources to carry out they, their, their, their inheritance that way. And a lot of people, especially in our communities, black and brown, we come up off of insurance policies, we come up off of real estate, inheritance, etc. Etc. That's how you gain a of lot leg in the quote unquote wealth gap. So now if I inherit a house that's a million dollars and I got to pay 500k on a million dollars, I ain't inherit shit if my parents bought this house for a half a million dollars when I was 10. Yeah, it's nuts for New York City. I think it's counterproductive. Again, based on what he said he was going to do for the middle class and the poor. It don't even to propose it to me is asinine whether it gets voted on or not just to propose. That means you, in my case my opinion, you have a disconnect on what's going on out here.

[Ish]

I'm not mad at the, the three to the five for the other for the million. But the inheritance at 2 at 750 is crazy to me, bro.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Even a million dollars, people should be taxed at all.

[Ish]

No, they should, but the threshold especially for New Yorkers should be higher.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, like we, we again, it's, it's an industry specific thing. I want somebody in Cleveland to be like, yo, these are stupid. Or somebody in Indiana to say, we stupid.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, we talking about New York.

[Ish]

You literally can't get a one bedroom condo.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yes.

[Ishaan]

And people don't understand understand that worldwide. So again, that's why I'm prefacing it with yo dog. We talking about New Yorkers. So if you're talking about people that are struggling in the Bronx, people that are struggling in Queens, people that are struggling in Brooklyn, your family passes away, they leave you this asset that may be worth $2 million. Y' all gonna take a million dollars of it, like, get the fuck outta here. That shit don't make no sense. And again, they keep trying to pawn it off as.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, I don't think that's what's happening. That's not, that's not what the policy is.

[Ish]

Oh, okay, tell me more.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, I wanna pull up. I'm trying to put the exact policy, but first of all, it's on estates, right? So it's not just on houses, it's on like the estate. So if I have an. I'm just be clear. No, no. So if I have an estate of $5 million, the idea is if I'm leaving that to you, you have to pay taxes on it doesn't mean that if it's because the state might be valued at a million dollars. If I give you, if I leave you a house for a million dollars. I don't, I haven't even sold the house. I don't have to cough up $500,000.

[Parks]

Okay.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But I do have to, I do have to pay taxes on, on part of it and the reason for it to me. And I want to put up the exact number so we can get into exactly what it looks like on the ground. Because I don't, I didn't know this. I only knew the million. I only knew the first part of story I brought up. It's brought this to us. It's brought this to us this morning. So I didn't get a chance to read into it beforehand. But it's important to note that the top rate is 50%. Not all of it is 50%. Okay, so if I inherit $750,000, I wouldn't be paying 50. The person who inherits $7 million and above would be getting the 50%. But I haven't seen a schedule to know what the steps are. So I don't know whether it's 20%, whether it's 30%, but it will go up. The exemption is no longer up to $7 million. I think that's important to note. But to my point, again, I don't think it's a contradiction sound for poor people, or I'm for. Or even the middle class and saying, I'm gonna raise a tax rate on people who are inheriting stuff. I get the idea of wanting to pass wealth onto your children. I get the idea of wanting to share those things. I get it. But I'm not convinced, even in New York, that somebody who Inherits, say, a $3 million property right now or a $3 million estate, whatever it is, shouldn't have to pay some taxes. If they're getting $3 million, you have

[Ishaan]

to pay taxes already.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But New York is one of the few states that have had that sort of. There's a federal tax you pay on it, but the rate is fairly. In New York is fairly like nothing.

[Ishaan]

When you have the exemption, that's relative.

[Joe Button]

Number one.

[Ishaan]

I've gone through this.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Let me put it differently. It's literally zero right now, up to $7 million.

[Ishaan]

I've gone through this. Right? So it depends, like, I know New Jersey law, and I know Maryland laws. In New Jersey, if somebody passes away and they leave their estate, it depends on your relationship to the person.

[Freeze]

Right?

[Ishaan]

So if you are the wife, the spouse, or the kids, then you don't pay a tax on property.

[Freeze]

Okay?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Right.

[Ishaan]

If you're a sibling, if you're somebody else, then you pay a tax. However, when we start to. Again, talk about. And this is where it gets funny, because when you start throwing these numbers out, like Mark threw a number out, like $5 million, $10 million. If I have $10 million assets, that means I also have $10 million of information where I'm going to protect those assets when it comes for me to pass away to where my family's not going to pay taxes at all, that's one key, key, key point is the information of the rich. They always find a loophole to escape paying taxes. So it's going to disproportionately affect us or the people that are in a different tax bracket that don't have that information and don't have a trust or don't have somebody to have set up their estate situations. Again, in our community sometimes don't even have life insurance. So if you are a family that you didn't come up off a life insurance policy, that house that your mother left you or that house that your father left you, that might be your only thing.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Right.

[Ishaan]

That you could build wealth off of. And so now to tax that in a. In a way that to some might seem minimal, to most might not seem minimal, it is. Is disheartening to me.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I gotta read one and I gotta read more to know the sketch. To me, the devil's in the details. I agree with you that the rich circumvent the rules. But to me, that's the argument for making better rules.

[Ishaan]

But that's the argument that they push when they act as if it's in fairness. Like, yo, we gonna tax all these.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I think this isn't fairness.

[Ishaan]

We're tax all these billionaires.

[Freeze]

No, you're not. Yeah, then they. They already are exempt. They know how to play the game, right? So the ones you want to tax are the people that don't know how to play the game, and they don't know how to play the game.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But I think. I think that's why this population could be useful. Again, devil's gonna be in the details. But also when I think about the people who are the most effective, people like us, we don't, for example, poor black people, we don't inherit houses. We don't.

[Ishaan]

That's not true, Mark. Especially now. Especially now. We are starting to be more on the side of inheriting houses.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

We are disproportionately inheriting debt. We're disproportionately inheriting houses that have. That aren't paid off. We're inherently.

[Ishaan]

Doesn't matter stills equity in the house. That still is a value. That still is a net value.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, no. What saying I'm. What I'm saying is that black income, there's different, as you know, difference between income and wealth. And what I'm saying is black people are disproportionately under. We're underrepresented on the wealth side.

[Ishaan]

Zero, dead last, Right?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

So I'm saying. That's all I'm saying. And so it's not like the most vulnerable people in New York City are the ones who are about to get hit hard because they're inheriting these houses that they now have to pay extra taxes on. I'm saying that the people who are often getting around the rules, rules are more likely to get ensnared with this policy based on the way it's been laid out than the people who we're taught, who we're trying to protect. That's what I'm saying. It's not, it's not. My auntie's not inheriting a five million dollar house.

[Ishaan]

You keep going to five million, stay at a million.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Okay, 1.5.

[Ishaan]

We're in New York City. So the minimal house, you could get some piece of shit two bedroom apartment.

[Freeze]

All right, cool.

[Ishaan]

So now you could get a piece of shit house in New York City. No disrespect to Queens, let's say Queens abroad.

[Freeze]

Brooklyn. Right.

[Ishaan]

You could get a house that's $1.5 million. Again, the wealth for black people ranks dead last amongst ethnicities in the United States of America. We are last.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Ishaan]

So now we are starting to get information based on eyl, shit like that. We are starting to get information on how to wealth build.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, cool.

[Ishaan]

You may not have all of the vehicles set up to wealth build, but for a majority of people, I'm con, I'm arguing, arguing with you that people own houses and grandparents own houses and mothers own houses and they are leaving these houses to their kids. So when you start taxing these people at a high clip, 16% to me is too much.

[Parks]

Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And see, that's what we disagree. I don't, I'm not disagreeing to grandmother's bequeath housing. I'm simply saying that black people are underrepresented on that list.

[Ishaan]

I know.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And so because we're underrepresented on that list, I'm actually more interested in how tax, tax revenue could be used to invest in us in ways that can get us to where you want to be. Education, all the things that help people be able to access houses and things like that. You know what I mean? And social mobility.

[Ishaan]

And I think that's all theory. I'm a man that practices practicality. And I don't have no faith in Democrats, I don't have no faith in Republicans. I don't have no faith in no fucking politicians to take the money and allocate the money accordingly to us to where we could come up off of it. We haven't seen it ever. So again, if my parents leave me some shit that I can tangibly touch, I don't want the state taking it and look and giving my faith in them. That they gonna allocate it to the Bronx school system or to the Brooklyn school system that so desperately needed? No, me and my family need it so that we can progress and get to a place where I'm not relying on the state.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But then if we take that approach to the extreme, then we're making a case of not paying any taxes.

[Ishaan]

I didn't say that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, no, I said, I just said, listen to what I'm saying. I said to the extreme. Which means we have to pay something.

[Ish]

Right?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And, and I think we agree that we have to pay something. So, so, so if, so if we have to pay something, the question is, what's the number? I don't think 16% on the low end or 50% if you talk about a $20 million state is too high. That's all I'm saying.

[Freeze]

I do.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Okay.

[Freeze]

I think 50% is too high.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You think 50% is too high for anything.

[Parks]

What do you think the number should be?

[Ishaan]

I think, I think that we pay. We pay property taxes the whole entire time you own your home.

[Parks]

Do we understand what we.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Right.

[Ishaan]

So if my grandmother or my mother's been paying property taxes for the last XYZ amount of years. Right. My mother's already paid a share of the estate tax to the state.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Already got it.

[Freeze]

Right.

[Ishaan]

So now she passes away. I'mma get hit on that. And she done been paying taxes on this particular piece of property for the whole entire time.

[Flip]

What do you think about the proposed mansion tax?

[Ishaan]

Again? I think that the.

[Flip]

I think I want to hear what

[Joe Button]

Mark said because of his view.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm sorry, in New York, I don't know the number in New Jersey.

[Flip]

I thought the number proposed mansion tax

[Joe Button]

increase increases in New York City yesterday. Yesterday. I'm slow today.

[Flip]

Yesterday the New York State Senate and

[Joe Button]

Assembly released their budget proposals as part of the ongoing negotiations with the governor.

[Flip]

Including. Included in both proposals are significant increases to the New York City mansion tax for any residential deals done after June 1, 2026.

[Joe Button]

One of the most notable changes is

[Flip]

a proposed 1.425% tax on transactions.

[Joe Button]

This is where the bullshit is, if you're asking me.

[Flip]

Could be higher between $500,000 and $1

[Joe Button]

million where no mansion tax currently exists.

[Flip]

Today at the high end of the market, rates could climb as high as

[Joe Button]

5.325% on transactions above $25 million. A $500,000 home in New York City

[Ishaan]

is, is, is, is a studio apartment non existent. So look, the New York City mansion tax is a one time progressive tax Paid by buyers on residential purchases of a million dollars or more.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's the same in New Jersey.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, that is all of New Jersey, New York, bro.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

So, so here's if. You know, I think, because I, again, I, I'm not, I'm not, I don't disagree with any of y', all, that tax rates need to be fair based on what people make and that you can't. And that the numbers that they use need to be adjusted for inflation and for the time. I agree with that. I agree with a mansion tax. I think there should be a mansion tax. If you're buying high end real estate, you should pay a fee.

[Flip]

We got that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I just don't think the number. And I'm fine with one to. In New Jersey, it's somewhere between 1% at like 1 million. They can go up to 3.5. I know, I'm fine with the same number in New York. I just don't think it should be at 500,000 or a million dollars because people are buying one and two bedroom apartments. The idea of a mansion tax was for mansions. Luxury, luxury.

[Freeze]

That scale should be updated for today.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And what they've done is they take the word mansion and they make it. That's such a word. The. I had to pay a man. You've been to my house. I ain't got no damn mansion, but I had to pay.

[Joe Button]

It's pretty nice. I thought it was a mansion.

[Freeze]

When I was in the driveway. I said, oh, he got one.

[Ish]

Did you guys go to the west wing or the east wing?

[Joe Button]

Yeah.

[Flip]

Oh, we went east and it was mad mansions on the block.

[Ish]

It didn't look mansiony, but I can see how the west might look nicer across the moat.

[Joe Button]

I didn't get to see the.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I hate everybody in this room. So when I spent, we had to pay extra 1%, which is a lot of money.

[Ishaan]

A lot of money.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You know what I mean? It was like this wasn't intended for this house. It was intended for those houses. A fancy state in, I don't know, Montclair or something. You know what I mean? Like it's, it's one of those. You're comparable to Montclair, but it's not a fancy estate.

[Ishaan]

No, I'm joking, I'm joking.

[Flip]

But what I was saying is in

[Ishaan]

yesteryear, a million dollar house was something

[Mark Lamont Hill]

that would have got you. And that's my point.

[Freeze]

Right.

[Ishaan]

But they haven't adjusted it and that's a problem.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But to the average taxpayer, if they just hear you paid over A million dollars dollars if you make 50,000.

[Ishaan]

Not in New York. And that's why I said it's relative.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

And that's why you started this. I am agreeing with this.

[Ishaan]

That's why I started.

[Flip]

Say that, nigga. Without all these words. You agree.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I said that from the beginning. I agree with y'.

[Joe Button]

All.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I only disagree on inheritance because when. Because of the fact that one it's not your shit and I want people to be able to pass. I started with I want people.

[Freeze]

It's not true.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, it's not true. You're inheriting it.

[Ishaan]

It's mine, nigga. Some shit that my mother and father worked for for.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

They.

[Ishaan]

It's my shit. It ain't the states.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, no, I'm with you.

[Flip]

It's tough talking to Mark because Mark

[Joe Button]

is against anything that gets you some money, bro.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, I'm saying I want people to be able to pass the wealth. I just don't think taking enough slice of taxes.

[Ishaan]

Mark is pro. Black inheritance is a very, very, very important vehicle that we are using to close the wealth gap. That is one. Yo. Home ownership and life insurance are the two main vehicles that we are now using. I'm talking about common men that don't and all that shit. Those are the two main vehicles that we are using to now catch up. So when these motherfuckers strip you of the home ownership equity piece, that is

[Flip]

very, very, very important.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Right, But I'm saying, again, not to go in circles. I agree with everything you're saying. I just think that the bulk of this tax revenue is not coming from us. It's coming from rich.

[Ishaan]

It's not.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, it is. That's just a fact. You're saying the bulk of tax revenue from inheritance tax comes from black people?

[Ishaan]

No, I'm saying the bulk of inheritance of tax revenue comes from. Comes from people that are uninformed because the informed have vehicles that they use to skip the tax.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Man, I'm with you on that.

[Ishaan]

And These are buying 100 million dollar houses for a reason. And they're not all black.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm saying most of them aren't black.

[Ishaan]

I know what they.

[Freeze]

Because that's what it seemed like y' all are. Y'. All.

[Ishaan]

I'm not even talking about. I'm talking about blacks at the bottom of the totem pole. There are blacks that own $100 million houses. What I'm saying is three take blacks out of it.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, right.

[Ishaan]

Black and brown, poor, disenfranchised, Whatever you want to say.

[Freeze]

Right?

[Ishaan]

Right, fam. Those Are the people that are uninformed. Michael Bloomberg is not gonna get taxed on his 30, 40, 50, $60 million house when he passes away.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

So the solution, I think what we're disagreeing is a solution. Cuz I agree with you. Well, we agree with two things. One, I think I agree you have to pay some taxes. I just think the number should be scaled. I think if you have uber amounts of money, you should pay high amount on inheriting the shit. If I'm inheriting $100 million, I should pay some taxes on that shit.

[Freeze]

Not 50% though.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Again we disagree on that. I just think think you should. But I think your bigger point is the one that I think is for me the most compelling one which is like yo, like these things end up, the rich circumvent this and the poor people end up actually getting the business into this. I'm with you. But to me the solution is to write better laws. Not to not agree. That's all I'm saying. I'm saying I think we need to inheritance acts just get rid of the loopholes.

[Ishaan]

But what I'm talking about as constructed, the laws are what they are. So we not gonna disagree on the legislation. What I'm saying saying is the law that he is proposing does not rewrite the existing tax.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, that's exactly what he's trying to do. That's what I'm saying. I need to see the schedule to know what it looks.

[Ishaan]

Changing a dollar amount. He's not changing the loophole that if I could take all of my six zillion dollars and put it in the trust, I don't pay a penny in

[Mark Lamont Hill]

tax and that's a federal problem. I agree with you on that. That's a federal problem.

[Freeze]

It sounds like the other problem, the other solution is learning them loopholes.

[Ishaan]

Yes.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, but they don't. They make it so that even if you learn them, you can't do them. Poor people will go to jail for themselves. Same loopholes that rich people, he keep

[Joe Button]

it up, he gonna clear New York.

[Flip]

Yeah bro, like I don't think so.

[Ishaan]

Yes, he.

[Joe Button]

I hear what Mark is saying and

[Ishaan]

let me tell you what I think

[Parks]

it depends on what he does.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

The tax revenue, bro, these, these big,

[Ishaan]

these businesses are going to start just in corporate structure, start changing the state in which they are incorporated in and now they going to bypass everything.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

For real? For real.

[Flip]

They're just going to pick up and go, yeah.

[Ishaan]

Yo dog, nobody making $100 million is going to pass away and leave $50 million to the state. Nobody wants to do that. And again, if I was $100 million, family and my family bust they ass for the last how many ever years to accumulate this amount of wealth. I don't want to leave $50 million of it to the state where I don't know where funds is being allocated, where Christy Noman them is giving it to their peoples.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, I'll be honest with you. I wouldn't either.

[Freeze]

I'm with you.

[Flip]

I wouldn't either.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I still think it's the right thing though.

[Joe Button]

I absolutely agree.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Nobody wants to get up their money

[Joe Button]

like when mom died. And again, I'm a New Jersey resident. It's none of my business, but I'll be over there sometimes.

[Flip]

But when he ran, he ran on a campaign that seemed like it would be kind of for all New Yorkers.

[Ishaan]

And didn't I say that?

[Flip]

And all includes me.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

But this is exactly what he proposed. Well, we had this argument before, but

[Flip]

that's not what's happening.

[Ishaan]

That's not.

[Flip]

That's not what's going on.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I disagree.

[Joe Button]

Oh, but all right, we'll see.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I mean. Cause when we were arguing about, you

[Flip]

know, New York already had a exodus

[Joe Button]

problem before he got there. Like people were picking up in.

[Flip]

So when he came in on the hope of we're gonna make this thing cheaper, we're gonna make it more affordable, more livable, more presentable, that was something

[Joe Button]

that all, all us could get behind.

[Flip]

But to get there now and everything you hear is, we're gonna fix this and we're gonna get the rich. We're gonna fix that. We just gotta get it from the rich. We're gonna get it from the rich. Well, at some point, the rich. The rich people are not dumb.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Flip]

The rich people are not just gonna allow you to keep. They're gonna pick up and get the fuck out of here. And he can't, man.

[Ishaan]

Even if he could, right? Let's say even if he could, they would voluntarily leave.

[Flip]

Sure enough, if he could.

[Ishaan]

If any one of us in this room was worth a billion dollars and somebody said, yo, we're going to tax you at XYZ percentage, that we didn't feel was fair. We have enough money where we could relocate. We can still conduct business in New York City. That don't stop us from conducting business

[Mark Lamont Hill]

in New York City. Do that anyway with Florida and in

[Flip]

other places, businesses, and leave. We could just relocate. Cool, right?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

[Ishaan]

But I came in and I said, what he's doing is selling hope the same way Donald Trump sold hope. I said, yo, you now are appealing to the poor and the marginalized. And you're saying, yo, I'm gonna make it better for you. You can't afford peanut butter. I'm gonna get you peanut butter with the jelly. And I said, the way in which he is outlining it to do it to me seems damn near theoretical as opposed to practical. That's all I'm saying.

[Flip]

And I don't want y' all to

[Joe Button]

keep going back and forth.

[Ishaan]

Yeah, we.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I think there's just. Real quick, JoJo, I just think there's a. There's two different things happening. There is a five, five and a half billion dollar budget deficit in New York, which doesn't allow people to get the things they need. Right. The money has to come from somewhere. The bulk of this. Mamdani isn't proposing to take people's inheritance and pay the city deficit. He's saying people who make over a million dollars should go from 3.8% to 5.8%. That's the primary source. That's the main. I just want to be clear about that because I don't want people to think that like Mundani's saying, I'm take all your kids inheritance to pay to. Cause these are two different issues that are getting mixed. I just want to be clear about that. That's a different issue. Mamdani is just making a proposal to the state. State about the inheritance, he can't change. It's a state policy. He's just making a proposal. These are just proposals. But again, it's not at 50%. It's at a scale that could go up to 50%. And I'm saying I'm okay with 50% in the. For the uber rich, but who it would apply to.

[Freeze]

50% would be those if ish was 100 million.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

When ish bequeaths his to his children his 10. 10 million dollars. Just say 10 million. Yeah, I don't think you should give up 5 million of it. But that's different. You know what I mean? But I'm just saying all that's on the table. I just wanted to be clear that those two policies are different. Just so people don't mix the two of them.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, you're not getting a chain now. He lost. Ish got him out of there. I'm with you on that one.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

All you rich people stick to side. To side with each other.

[Joe Button]

Mark, that's why you confused me. You down.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm down to pay the taxes and

[Flip]

front Facing you be with all of that. Oh, the poor, the poor, the poor. But behind the. The nigga know. Mom Donnie need to find a way to speak to me and you.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, but see, he does. 500 millionaires.

[Flip]

You don't want to hear that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

No, I do want to hear it. I'm just telling you. 500 millionaires signed a petition yesterday in New York or where is it? No, you don't want. No, you don't. Because they're saying we want to pay more taxes to fill the gap. So I'm just telling you a lot of people who make over a million dollars are willing to pay their fair share.

[Ishaan]

How many millionaires in New York?

[Joe Button]

I'm about to look 1 in every 24. I just looked it. I just looked it up.

[Flip]

And a whole 500 of them signed yesterday.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I mean everybody.

[Freeze]

I would.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

If I made that kind of money and lived in New York, dog.

[Flip]

I was coming on here to kill mom Donnie for. For this goal of our administration to lower the speed limit across the city

[Ishaan]

to 20 miles an hour.

[Flip]

Keep saying nut done with a local

[Parks]

law change to the city administrative code.

[Flip]

And I repeat, it is a goal of our administration to local lower the

[Ishaan]

speed limit across the city to 20 miles an hour.

[Flip]

He's serious.

[Ish]

It's 25 now, right?

[Freeze]

Who do that?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah, I don't know. I don't. New York is one place where I don't pay attention to speed

[Flip]

traffic. Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I mean I never, I never had throws an option to follow the speed.

[Ish]

Yeah, it's not.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

It's not unless you're on the west side at 2:00am like when the. Do you get to have a speed limit?

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

East side Highway.

[Ish]

I think it's 25. No, no, it's.

[Parks]

Is it?

[Ish]

Yeah. Like regular pedestrian streets. I think it's 25.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yeah.

[Ish]

Yeah.

[Freeze]

Okay.

[Ishaan]

And you barely get to get to 25.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's what I'm saying. I don't know how many times I've driven 25 miles an hour.

[Joe Button]

He made it sound like the Henry Hudson would be 25 miles per hour city wide. He made it sound like the FDR.

[Flip]

He didn't say select, select neighboring. He said all of New York.

[Joe Button]

I don't know what he's talking about.

[Ish]

But the side streets, which are 25 right now.

[Joe Button]

Well, still. That too.

[Flip]

I agree with him on lowering the

[Joe Button]

speed limit by the school zones.

[Parks]

Yes.

[Flip]

Which he did.

[Ishaan]

Indeed.

[Joe Button]

Down to 15% of 15 miles an hour.

[Ish]

15%.

[Flip]

15 miles per hour or 20.

[Ish]

20 probably.

[Joe Button]

I think I agree with that.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

If you want to. If you want to make an omelette, you got to break eggs. You know what I'm saying? There's something y' all say in the South.

[Joe Button]

Don't worry, we all gonna be in

[Flip]

the south in a minute.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

If he didn't do all his taxes, then people be like, he said he was gonna. He said he's gonna give us free public transportation in supermarkets. And he ain't did shit.

[Joe Button]

Right.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

The only way that he said from the beginning, I'm gonna do it by raising taxes. He said that.

[Ishaan]

So taxes on the rich.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Yes, And I think the 3.88 in New York, people who make over a million dollars are rich, not rich the way they are in Wichita. But if you make over a million dollars, you're rich. I don't care where you are.

[Ish]

That's true,

[Mark Lamont Hill]

right? It's like if you make a million dollars, you're rich.

[Joe Button]

I gotta sit with that.

[Ishaan]

It depends on what you. And it's relative.

[Freeze]

That's not true.

[Ishaan]

Not in New York City.

[Ish]

No.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You're rich. If you got a million dollars a year, you're rich. I'm sorry.

[Joe Button]

Okay.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You're not independently. Like, you ain't got you money, but you're rich. Yeah, you're rich.

[Joe Button]

I'm not doing 20 miles per hour. Nope. In New York City. Well, actually, I'm lying, cuz my driver.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

What your driver do, he'll definitely do.

[Freeze]

He do ten.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Oh my God, three miles an hour. So everybody see you. It's cool.

[Joe Button]

God learned me a lesson. God gonna teach you something. Now do all this complaining about my driver, and he couldn't drive me around yesterday because he had jury duty. I was judging him for that, but fine, you went and did jury duty. Ian sent me his Puerto Rican driver. He'd be using sometimes to drop them off. Drugs and pills go flying, hitting every bump, dog. I'll never say a bad word about my driver again, man. Never again.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

You are a man of the people.

[Freeze]

You judging him for going to jewelry?

[Joe Button]

Dude, this guy was moving slow. This guy had a little. Yeah, it was bad.

[Ish]

Russell seems to have made a. A triple down. But it's five minutes long. I'm not trying to.

[Flip]

No L. Russell, come on. No L. Russell.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Go away, little snippet.

[Freeze]

Go.

[Ish]

It's five and a half minutes long.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Youall want to.

[Freeze]

No, we don't.

[Flip]

I do. I do want to hear a little.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Even Solon, when you.

[Flip]

When you put it to your ear, did it sound like something? Come on, let's hear a little piece.

[Ish]

This Is Mark's fault.

[Freeze]

I schedule it and I post and I. I way.

[Flip]

He's talking music. Wait, what?

[Freeze]

All the outrage.

[Flip]

Wait, turn this off.

[Joe Button]

He's talking.

[Flip]

It's not a song. Get the out of here.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I thought he's making more music.

[Flip]

Hell no. We ain't hearing you talk no more. Your talking days are done. Your talking days are over.

[Joe Button]

Russell.

[Flip]

Yeah, sorry, buddy.

[Freeze]

Sorry before we got here. Parks, how you feel about your team trade?

[Ish]

Listen, man, they're tearing it down to the studs, man.

[Flip]

It is what it is.

[Ish]

I don't love it, but it is a good value.

[Ishaan]

That's what they about to have out there studs. They just rebuilt three years ago.

[Ish]

Six years ago. But yeah, that's up.

[Flip]

N. When.

[Joe Button]

When Freeze told Parks they traded Jaylen

[Flip]

Waddle before the pod, he looked up

[Joe Button]

and was like, wait, what?

[Freeze]

What?

[Flip]

He cool now? He found out a way to get. He gathered himself.

[Ish]

I mean the first and the third for Jayla Waddle. I'll take that.

[Flip]

Yeah, they did good. Yeah, good return.

[Joe Button]

Got a good return.

[Ish]

They got a draft well though you got a.

[Flip]

Whatever. They got a first third and a fourth for somebody.

[Ishaan]

I'm. I'm a fan of the person that has proven it with the bright lights on versus the. That has never suited.

[Flip]

Bright lights hurt his hamstring too. Now that be it.

[Ishaan]

Every other week that Waddle gets.

[Ish]

He still shows up that.

[Ishaan]

That play he played. I ain't going to do that to waddle.

[Flip]

5th round fantasy pick. These football trades this year in fantasy.

[Freeze]

I feel like I say it every

[Joe Button]

year, but this year in fantasy is nuts.

[Freeze]

Yeah, it's a lot.

[Joe Button]

It's going to be nuts.

[Ishaan]

It's a lot.

[Ish]

New quarterbacks all over the place. It's a lot going on.

[Joe Button]

Yeah. Yeah. No, it really is.

[Flip]

Before we get out of here, I do want to shout out Ryan Coogler's hair braider. I don't feel like enough praise is thrown their way. That the guitar with the.

[Ish]

The g clef.

[Joe Button]

Yeah, that was absolutely nuts. To show up to the Oscars.

[Flip]

That's crazy.

[Joe Button]

With shout out to Ryan Coogler's hair braider.

[Flip]

Also, apparently the Oscars didn't mention Eric Dane in the memorials.

[Ish]

Oh, really?

[Freeze]

I didn't see him.

[Ish]

I was on the phone during the memorial part.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Is that a movie actor? Huh?

[Joe Button]

Excuse me?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Is he.

[Ish]

He was in movies.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I'm. I'm asking. I only know him from tv.

[Ish]

He was mostly tv, but he's in movies.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Okay.

[Parks]

I think it was talked not during the show.

[Flip]

But off.

[Parks]

Whatever. What's that called when they do it? Like when the cameras are not on?

[Ish]

That doesn't matter.

[Parks]

I think it said microphone.

[Ish]

Oh, don't worry. He made the. That we don't air. That's not the flies.

[Freeze]

Oh, yeah.

[Ishaan]

He's been in movies.

[Flip]

Yeah.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I only know him as McSteemy.

[Ishaan]

Stop saying that, bro.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Nope.

[Ishaan]

He's in Bad Boys.

[Joe Button]

Rest in peace every day, man.

[Freeze]

There we go.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Number two.

[Joe Button]

Rest in peace together.

[Ish]

Go ahead, Flip.

[Parks]

Yeah, it's my.

[Flip]

Hopefully y' all have enjoyed this broadcast

[Joe Button]

as much as we have enjoyed delivering it to you. Now Ish one.

[Freeze]

This guy's an idiot.

[Flip]

Keep us in your prayers, Lord. Know that we need to be there. Huh?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

He might be Potter tomorrow.

[Flip]

Maybe.

[Ishaan]

It's a tight.

[Flip]

It's a tight one this month.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

He's a dark light horse.

[Joe Button]

It's a light horse.

[Flip]

It's just back in the running.

[Joe Button]

Somehow Amani tried to EJ his way in the talk. Like it's a talk now?

[Parks]

Yes, sir.

[Flip]

It's a talk now.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I like a good race.

[Flip]

Yeah, you about fourth.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

That's fine.

[Flip]

You about for it.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Look at. Look at Mark.

[Flip]

Keep us in your prayers. Lord knows we need to be there. Till next time.

[Parks]

Yeah, everybody.

[Flip]

I know what you thinking.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I know what you're thinking. Not at all.

[Flip]

Yes. Yes.

[Parks]

Hey, what up, baby?

[Freeze]

I don't know the.

[Parks]

You know.

[Flip]

You seen this?

[Parks]

The 5%.

[Flip]

Remember, life is a series of moments. And moments pass. So let's make this one last as if it's all we have. Last, but certainly not least. The baddies are insecure. The stagnant women want to travel. And the close minded women want you to teach them things. Grab you with Tylenol, you might need it.

[Parks]

Or Advil.

[Flip]

Or Advil. Whatever works, man. Ego. Please stop explaining. Tell me. No, don't speak. I know what you think.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

I know what you thinking.

[Flip]

Yeah. Let's go. See Jack Harlow. That's how it's done, boy. That's how it's done right there. My buddy Jack Harlow. Go buy you a few Matt King. Matt King albums. What y' all got going on this week? Anything funny? Anything funny?

[Mark Lamont Hill]

Anything fun?

[Ishaan]

Working like.

[Flip]

Working like a slave? Probably, yeah. Probably just hard at work.

[Ishaan]

I'll get to your level soon.

[Joe Button]

Talking to a few of the fellas.

[Flip]

At my level, I'm poor. Working.

[Joe Button]

I'm working too.

[Flip]

Ain't no chilling me. Ain't no chilling me. I'm one of the artists working in the show business.

[Parks]

Hey,

[Flip]

they call that Jew Hill.

[Joe Button]

That's a go.

[Flip]

Wait, hold up. Oh, my God.

[Mark Lamont Hill]

My joint was Milk the Shocker.

[Flip]

They called him Shaka Connor. They called January 6th in park. That was a good one.

[Freeze]

106.

[Flip]

Poor Jack.

[Joe Button]

Arlo. Man, look at this.

[Flip]

January 6th.

[Freeze]

That's funny.

[Flip]

Proud boys to men, Yo. Proud boys to men. Y' all hold it down out there, man. We'll be back same time, same place, this weekend. Until then, y' all hold it down out there. Ego, If you made it this far, go ahead and sign up for the Patreon. Yes, sir.

[Ishaan]

They call a tribe call.

[Joe Button]

They call honky, honky, honky.

[Flip]

Instead of tony.

[Ishaan]

Tony, tony, tony.

[Joe Button]

Oh, my God. J. Hill is hilarious. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[Parks]

Jo,

[Flip]

you never heard of Joe Bunny? Jbp. Jbp. Where would you be without the J?