The Read – Episode: (Not) Coming Home
Date: October 9, 2025
Hosts: Kid Fury & Crissle (Loud Speakers Network)
Episode Overview
In this episode of The Read, Kid Fury and Crissle dive deep into the absurdities and challenges of Black life, pop culture, and the general chaos of 2025—with their trademark humor, honesty, and shade. They touch on mental health in the face of unrelenting bad news, celebrate moments of Black excellence, unpack messy celebrity news, offer advice in “Listener Letters,” and end with searing “Reads” for the week. From Versuz nostalgia to personal stories and hard-hitting opinions on sports and media, the episode is a rich reflection of The Read’s voice and community.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Mental Health in a Chaotic World
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Opening Vibe: The hosts are exasperated by ongoing political and social turmoil, referencing events like ICE raids and the psychological toll of constant bad news.
- Kid Fury (03:08): “How are you holding up in this shithole? Earth 666, Earth. Martin Luther King Boulevard.”
- Crissle (03:23): “Honestly, the Chicago ICE raids have had me up for days...I can’t take it.”
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Coping with Despair:
- A meme about resisting propaganda prompts nuanced discussion.
- Kid Fury (04:00): “There was a trillion dollar propaganda campaign built to numb us all. And it didn’t work on you... there are days I wish it did.“
2. Black Excellence & Community News
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The Root Returns to Black Ownership:
- Ashley Allison, a Black political strategist, acquires The Root, pledging to center Black voices and meaningful content.
- Kid Fury (05:53): “It feels good in a sea of scariness and trash to be like, well, some people out here still with the energy.”
- Ashley Allison, a Black political strategist, acquires The Root, pledging to center Black voices and meaningful content.
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Reading Rainbow’s New Era:
- Michael the Librarian, known for his mental health advocacy, announced as the new host.
- Crissle (07:34): “He’s been very open about his mental health struggles... I’m so glad he’s here to see this moment.”
- Michael the Librarian, known for his mental health advocacy, announced as the new host.
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Literacy & Education Rant:
- The hosts bemoan declining literacy rates and standardized tests; Kid Fury recalls Florida’s “FCAT” (09:07).
- Crissle (08:39): “It’s the schools, it’s the education, it’s the government not giving a f***.”
3. Florida & State Representation
- Riff on their home states’ reputations for mischief and educational woes.
- Kid Fury (11:42): “All the great things about Florida are Black...”
4. Pop Culture & Mess: Versuz, Rap, and Hip-Hop
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Versuz Returns:
- Cash Money vs. No Limit Records set to perform at ComplexCon.
- Crissle (15:31): “That’s how you get me tuned in, b***h. I’m so sorry... I’m not gonna pay to stream it, but if it’s free, I’m gonna watch that.”
- Mixed feelings about artist participation amid controversy.
- Cash Money vs. No Limit Records set to perform at ComplexCon.
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Gambling in Sports & Culture:
- Critique on the proliferation of sports betting and its effect on fans.
- Crissle (18:35): “ESPN is running betting ads on every program nine times an hour.”
- Critique on the proliferation of sports betting and its effect on fans.
5. Celebrity Legal Drama
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Sean Combs (Diddy) Sentencing:
- Receives 50 months for sex trafficking-related charges; hosts discuss the lightness of the sentence and entitlement of the rich.
- Kid Fury (20:10): “To be honest with you, Sean, this is cute. Extremely, things considered.”
- Crissle (21:31): “You actually shouldn’t be back out. I’m scared of you.”
- Receives 50 months for sex trafficking-related charges; hosts discuss the lightness of the sentence and entitlement of the rich.
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Tyrese & Dangerous Dogs Case
- Tyrese’s legal woes after an attack by his dogs; hosts joke but acknowledge the seriousness.
- Crissle (30:04): “My baby’s dead. Right. Yeah. We going to jail or you going to jail?”
- Tyrese’s legal woes after an attack by his dogs; hosts joke but acknowledge the seriousness.
6. Love & Relationships – The Meg Thee Stallion Section
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Meg Thee Stallion & Clay:
- Heartwarming commentary on Meg’s happiness, the love for her pet (Four), and forming family bonds.
- Kid Fury (31:06): “My heart opened up when I saw Four... Fo loves this man.”
- Heartwarming commentary on Meg’s happiness, the love for her pet (Four), and forming family bonds.
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Romance, Gifts & Petty Math:
- Discussion of Meg’s new relationship perks (big stacks of cash, pet love), juxtaposed with their own perspectives on love and wealth.
7. Hip-Hop Feuds: JT vs. Cardi B
- Diss Track Analysis:
- JT releases “No Hook,” a diss track for Cardi B; reaction is mixed, noting most lines had already been “tweeted.”
- Kid Fury (49:36): “Past 2 minutes and 15 seconds, you just began to say the same things... you’re ugly, you can’t dress like me.”
- Crissle (53:22): “If you go through JT’s Twitter, a lot of the insults that she put in the song, she tweeted...”
- JT releases “No Hook,” a diss track for Cardi B; reaction is mixed, noting most lines had already been “tweeted.”
8. Female Rappers & Beef Instigators
- Critique of Nicki Minaj’s Influence:
- Hosts blame Nicki for stoking drama among female rappers, discuss industry pettiness, and celebrate Mona Leo’s success.
- Crissle (53:58): “Why don’t we all just focus on the real problem here, which is Nikki... Nikki is the catalyst behind all this s***...”
- Hosts blame Nicki for stoking drama among female rappers, discuss industry pettiness, and celebrate Mona Leo’s success.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Propaganda & News Fatigue
- Kid Fury (03:58): “Just remember that there was a trillion dollar propaganda campaign built to numb us all... there are days I wish it did…”
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On Wealth Disparity Between Friends
- [Listener Letter, 101:16] Greta: “It’s like my inner child starts yelling, if I had to do it the hard way, why doesn’t she? Which is ugly and irrational, but it’s real.”
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On Black Ownership
- Kid Fury (05:53): “In a sea of scariness and trash, to be like, well, some people out here still with the energy to stand up and get stuff done...”
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On Diddy's Sentencing
- Kid Fury (21:19): “For what you’re charged with... for what you did, you should be getting way more than 50 life.”
- Crissle (23:48): “The gall and audacity of these extremely wealthy people will never cease to amaze me.”
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On Sports Betting's Social Impact
- Crissle (18:35): “ESPN is running betting ads on every program nine times an hour... The sports gambling is horrible in this country.”
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On AI, Death, and Privacy
- Crissle (139:04): “Zelda Williams, who is Robin Williams’ daughter, had to publish a statement on Instagram stories begging y’all to stop doing AI videos of her father and sending them to her.”
Important Listener Letters (Advice/Community)
[78:04] Carla’s Update:
- Ongoing family dysfunction; Carla’s mother prioritizes a problematic boyfriend over her children’s safety.
- Carla stands firm in protecting her younger sisters.
- Kid Fury (81:15): “I hope you have an outlet for releasing steam and exhaling... It is a huge task to be parenting your siblings.”
[85:27] “Lynn’s” Family Dilemma:
- Biracial woman excluded from white siblings’ obituary for their father; hosts validate her pain and critique the racism of her siblings’ decision.
- Kid Fury (90:46): “What am I supposed to do with that statement?”
[98:52] Greta on Mixed-Wealth Friendships:
- Struggling with resentment toward a wealthy friend; hosts advise honest communication and self-reflection.
- Kid Fury (101:16): “I would wonder what was wrong with your wording at the end, and say that.”
Hot Tops (Pop Culture/Lifestyle)
[14:06] Versuz and Rap Label Rivalries
- The return of Versuz at ComplexCon; debates about relevance and which artists “should” show up.
- Kid Fury (16:26): “The energy in the room matters more in Versuz... than who...”
[59:29] Mona Leo and the Future of Rap
- Celebration of upcoming female rappers; recognition of changing concert demographics.
[61:09] Young Thug Relationship Drama
- Hosts dissect Thug’s breakup and reflect on public romance perception and toxicity.
The Read(s) of the Week
[114:43] Dream Kardashian’s Internet Drama
- Discussion around why Dream Kardashian (age 8) should not be subjected to messy fan questions live online.
- Kid Fury (116:09): “Now she calls that lady Tokyo... Oh, I knew she was a horrible grandmother, but god damn.”
[139:04] Zelda Williams and AI Exploitation
- Crissle calls out fans aggressively sending AI “deepfake” videos of deceased loved ones to their children.
- Crissle (139:04): “Stop making AI videos of my daddy saying shit for your own fucking entertainment. What’s wrong with you bitches? Put the AI down.”
[143:20] On AI and Grief:
- Kid Fury (143:09): “Why are you sending me videos? Fake videos of my family member that I mourn?”
Timestamps for Major Segments
- 00:00–03:08 – Intro, mental health & news fatigue
- 05:11 – Black Excellence: The Root & Reading Rainbow
- 14:06 – Versuz’s return, Cash Money vs. No Limit
- 18:35 – Gambling in sports culture
- 20:10 – Celebrity legal drama: Diddy
- 30:19 – Meg Thee Stallion happiness, relationships
- 36:40 – Pop culture news: Stefon Diggs lawsuit, rap beefs
- 49:36 – JT’s diss track versus Cardi B
- 78:04 – Listener letters section
- 114:43 – The Read: Dream Kardashian, exploitation of children online
- 139:04 – The Read: AI and disturbing fan behavior
- 146:18 – Artificial Intelligence, art, and creative apathy
Episode Tone & Takeaway
The episode brims with humor, realness, and cultural insight, embodying a communal processing of pain and joy. Kid Fury and Crissle’s signature shade and banter counterweight serious commentary on trauma, family, race, class, and pop mess. If you missed the episode: expect raucous laughter, hard truths, and a sense of enduring solidarity amid the storm.