The Read – "Step Up" (December 18, 2025)
Hosts: Kid Fury & Crissle
Network: Loud Speakers
Theme: Hip-hop and pop culture's dramatic tales, personal therapy, and shade delivered with humor and candor.
Episode Overview
Wrapping up the year, Kid Fury and Crissle bring their distinct blend of humor and real talk to examine hip-hop and celeb headlines, personal woes, and fan letters with their signature unfiltered commentary. The episode features everything from Black Excellence to petty rap beefs, problematic men, and relationship advice, ending with their infamous Reads.
Key Discussions & Segments
1. Opening Banter & The Joys/Perils of Modern Tech (02:29 - 06:55)
- Crissle vents about being disconnected from WiFi, realizing how much daily life is dependent on internet access ("Can I use the microwave? What else has to use...").
- PlayStation woes: Crissle recounts her game play being cut short by license verifications—a funny take on digital-era frustrations.
- Kid Fury quips: "What made you think I could function without that Internet working? I cannot..." (03:37).
2. Black Excellence: Deta Hedman – Darts Champion (05:18 – 08:22)
- Honoring Deta Hedman from Essex, UK—the first Black woman to become world darts champion.
- Crissle beams: "Shout out to black women doing it all, even when they shouldn’t have to."
- Notable moment: Deta’s joyful reaction to her win, “When the dart went in, I just thought, thank God, finally I’ve done it… I didn’t think it was ever going to come” (07:26).
3. Hot Tops: Pop Culture Mess & Rap Drama (08:29 – 54:00)
A. Young Thug & Mariah the Scientist - On-stage Proposal
- Hosts skeptical about the engagement and the history of public embarrassments in hip-hop relationships.
- Kid Fury: “You gotta believe you deserve better than this... But you don’t, so this is what you’re going to tie yourself to.”
- Comparison to Offset & Cardi B’s public drama.
B. Snoop Dogg's Netflix Holiday Halftime Show (12:13 – 17:40)
- Snoop to headline Christmas Day NFL halftime for Netflix; hosts wonder who else will appear.
- Kid Fury unfazed after Snoop’s questionable recent public positions: “Snoop is so deep on my shit list right now...I’m not interested in him performing.”
- Brief detour into rumored Glorilla/Megan Thee Stallion beef, with both preferring "denial and delusion" as a coping mechanism.
C. Nicki Minaj’s Twitter Rants (19:09 – 23:03)
- Crissle sighs over more “transphobic rants,” Nicki’s feud with Gavin Newsom, and her rabid stanbase dividing over her behavior.
- “She’s just a mess, bro. She’s not well.” (Q Fury, 22:28)
D. OT Genasis Accused of Assault (23:03 – 31:32)
- Stories emerge of OT Genasis harassing and spitting on multiple women.
- Crissle delivers a direct message: “If you cannot take someone rejecting you without threatening to kill them, you should be in the custody of people who can look at us.” (28:23)
E. 50 Cent, Diddy Doc, and Rapper Pettiness (32:46 – 36:45)
- 50 Cent feuds via Instagram over unauthorized Diddy docs; Jim Jones/Maeno/Fab/Dave East podcast get dragged into the mess.
- “Why are you trying to turn this into some late ass shit like this?” (36:38)
F. Chrisean Removing Blueface Face Tattoo (37:03 – 39:00)
- Crissle celebrates Chrisean getting Blueface’s name lasered off her face as a first step to recovery, naming it a “step in the right direction.”
G. Future Named 'Friend of the House' at Louis Vuitton (39:00 – 44:19)
- Pharrell’s influence at Louis Vuitton; hosts ponder the meaning of “friend of the house.”
- Comedic highlights imagining "dirty Sprite" Louis accessories and Future’s silent appeal as a model.
H. Drake's Petty DM to Ebro & More Rap Drama (44:19 – 54:15)
- Discussion of Drake messaging Ebro "Die slower pussy" after Hot97 show gets canceled, suggesting thin-skinned artist responses to public critique.
- “That’s exactly what I expect a white boy to say.” (Q Fury, 48:06)
- Reflection on Drake's insecurity post-beef with Kendrick and diss tracks that failed to chart.
4. Advice Letters & Therapy Hotline (58:12 – 95:11)
A. Should I Tell My Situationship I Want to Date Around? (58:46 – 70:15)
- A listener, Tony, is dating a woman but wants to explore with masculine-presenting lesbians.
- The hosts encourage open communication and self-discovery, emphasizing not confusing presentation with sexual preference.
- Playful banter about "stems" and "super studs" in the Black lesbian community.
B. Can Exes Be Friends? (70:15 – 81:37)
- Xavier asks about remaining friends post-breakup; hosts give a resounding “Nope” while emotions are raw.
- Kid Fury: “You don’t build, maintain a friendship with someone while you’re grieving them... You have to put him in the ground.” (72:07)
C. Supporting a Struggling Partner (81:56 – 95:12)
- Marisa wonders if her professional success is making her boyfriend feel worse during his career setbacks.
- They suggest not projecting insecurities or inventing drama, but being present and supportive—unless he shows resentment.
- Sharp eye toward red flags: “What is it about this nigga that make keeping a job so hard for him?” (88:37)
- “I have my ‘No’ answers ready if he asks for money.” (91:29)
5. The Reads: Strong Words for the Week (99:21 – 126:51)
A. Crissle’s Read: Lazy Storytelling & Military Stupidity in Sci-fi (99:21–106:44)
- Rants about Hollywood always turning monsters into military weapons—hates the trope and criticizes Quentin Tarantino’s Fortnite tie-in for “Kill Bill.”
B. Kid Fury’s Read: Russell Simmons & Out-of-Touch Journalism (106:44-126:51)
- Drags Russell Simmons for trying to shift blame onto Kimora Lee Simmons about his relationship with his children, reminding listeners of Simmons’ grooming and criminal allegations.
- “Why were you best friends with a teenage girl at 38?” (109:43)
- Blasts sports reporter Rachel Nichols for asking cringe-inducing, too-personal questions to athletes about their relationships, emphasizing professionalism and boundaries.
- “Why are you taking bored-ass losers’ jokes to the faces of legit athletes?” (117:09)
- “Let the Internet joke be an Internet joke.”
Notable Quotes & Moments
- Crissle (05:18): “Shout out to black women doing it all, even when they shouldn’t have to.”
- Kid Fury (28:23): “If you cannot take someone rejecting you... without threatening to kill them, you should be in the custody of people who can look at us.”
- Crissle (72:07): “It’s like if this motherfucker died and you’re grieving while keeping his body on the couch... You have to put him in the ground.”
- Kid Fury on Drake (48:06): “That’s exactly what I expect a white boy to say... trolling on live video games.”
- Kid Fury on Rachel Nichols (117:09): “You’re taking their little jokes and bringing them to actual athletes and asking them in person about that dumb shit.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Time | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------| | 02:29 | Show proper intro & tech frustrations | | 05:18 | Black Excellence: Deta Hedman | | 08:29 | Hot Tops Start | | 09:08 | Young Thug/Mariah proposal | | 12:13 | Snoop Dogg Netflix Show discussion | | 19:09 | Nicki Minaj’s Twitter Troubles | | 23:03 | OT Genasis Assault Allegations | | 32:46 | 50 Cent/Diddy/Rappettiness | | 37:03 | Chrisean tattoo removal | | 39:00 | Future x Louis Vuitton | | 44:19 | Drake petty DMs / Ebro beef | | 58:46 | Listener Letters: Dating/Breakups | | 99:21 | Reads (Crissle) | |106:44 | Reads (Kid Fury - Russell Simmons, Rachel Nichols)|
Overall Tone & Takeaways
The Read closes 2025 with classic shade, insightful commentary, and honest life advice, never shying away from hard truths or hard laughs. The humor is always balanced with sharp social critique, especially around gender, race, and celebrity culture. If you want a sampling of hip-hop and pop culture’s messiest moments with a side of therapy and community affirmation, this episode is a must-listen.