Loading summary
Sam Sanders
Hey, I'm journalist Sam Sanders. I'm poet Saeed Jones. And I'm producer Zach Stafford. And we are the host of a podcast called Vibecheck. On Vibe Check, we talk about everything. News, culture and entertainment and how it all feels. That's right. We talk about any and everything on our show, from real life issues like.
Saeed Jones
Grief to music and movie critiques.
Sam Sanders
And that barely scratches the surface. Yes, indeed. And it doesn't stop there. We have got a lot to say, so join our group, chat, come to life, follow and listen to Vibe Check wherever you get your podcasts.
Saeed Jones
Hey, y'all. This episode is brought to you by Target. Discover the Black History Month collection now at www.target.com blackbeyond. Measure. Discover the Black History Month collection now at www.target.com BlackBeyondMeasure.
Sam Sanders
Happy welcome back, everyone, to the podcast.
Saeed Jones
I'm Kid Fury and I am the Swamp Princess. And this is the Read. Thank you for returning.
Sam Sanders
Thank you indeed. It's Black History Month, so we don't have too much time. Let's get started. You know how that month goes. Let's begin with some black excellence. First. We will start by giving honor. Just wonderful musicians George Clinton and Rodney Jerkins, Dark Child, if you're familiar, have been named 2025 inductees into the Songwriters hall of Fame.
Saeed Jones
Amen.
Sam Sanders
So what does it take? Do you have to be like, how close to death do you need to be to be George Clidman, Dark Child?
Saeed Jones
Yeah, I think. Don't you have to have at least a 20 year career? I think so. It's something like that.
Sam Sanders
Okay, but I mean, George Glitton and. Okay, but yes. Good. Rodney's one of the youngest inductees at age 47. So there you go.
Saeed Jones
A Dark Child that's actually pretty young. They don't play about.
Sam Sanders
Induction ceremony is set for, I mean, hall of Fame of Songwriters period, I guess.
Saeed Jones
Right. I mean, I think all of the hall of Fames are like, you can't just have a couple of viral summers and think you gonna make it over here. Like longevity.
Sam Sanders
These people are like Dark Child. Sure, but George Glitton, I mean, my goodness, why so long? But he's here.
Saeed Jones
Yeah, he's maybe.
Sam Sanders
The ceremony takes place on 12 June in New York. Congrats, folks. Asia Wilson's jersey was retired at Colonial Life arena in Columbia, South Carolina on Sunday. She's the most decorated Gamecock basketball player of all time.
Saeed Jones
Sure. I can't even think of who we'd be second.
Sam Sanders
I really can't she's drawn alongside her parents and the head coach, Dawn Staley.
Saeed Jones
Stahle Staley, Another legend. Mm.
Sam Sanders
Congratulations. Beautiful.
Saeed Jones
And the shoe is out. It's gorgeous, love. Yes, it is. Well, not, like, for purchase, but I saw her with Issa. Actually, Issa and Asia were doing, like, a launch event for the shoe, and they had it there. It's so cute. Very pink. But I think there's other stuff coming out too. I heard maybe some slides. Now that I would.
Sam Sanders
No. That set the streets ablaze.
Saeed Jones
Okay. Cause remember when Rihanna did it?
Sam Sanders
Talk about knowing your audience.
Saeed Jones
I had, like, seven different colors of them. Fenty slides when they came out, so.
Sam Sanders
Because they were teased.
Saeed Jones
Asia, please don't play with me. I don't know. I don't know what I'm gonna do with a bright pink tennis shoe, but, baby, them slides come through.
Sam Sanders
I liked. I liked the creepers too.
Saeed Jones
Oh, yes.
Sam Sanders
That Rihanna had.
Saeed Jones
So shout out to Asia. I know Caitlin Clark's jersey got retired the same day at Iowa, which seems like. I mean, I guess she is the highest scoring, you know, college basketball athlete of all time, but it just seems weird for her jersey to already be retired. Like, the girl just graduated. But Asia's that girl. And Ben has, you know, proved herself not just at the collegiate level, but also high school and obviously the pros. She's had an incredible career. She is still just getting started. To me, it's an honor to watch her play, and I'm so excited for her. I just love. God, I love Asia Wilson. Ah. The absolute best man. Shout out to her.
Sam Sanders
Lastly, let's discuss some of the events that took place at the Grammys this past week, because it also kind of kicked black excellence off quite nicely. First time in 33 years. I read that the top three categories were solely won by black artists, that being Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year. Our good girlfriend, Beyonce. Beyonce, Mother of Blue, took home Album of the year finally for Cowboy Carter.
Saeed Jones
About damn Time.
Sam Sanders
Album of the Year. The elusive Shantu. It is.
Saeed Jones
It's been. You know, it's been ducking and dodging her for a while, but I actually knew that she had it, that she had won it. When she won Country Album of the.
Sam Sanders
Year, I had a feeling, too. I.
Saeed Jones
It was because it was like something. Something has changed.
Sam Sanders
Okay.
Saeed Jones
Within. Within the Grammys, I said, something's different. Something is.
Sam Sanders
Yeah.
Saeed Jones
Something is askew. And then. Did you watch the Grammys?
Sam Sanders
I did.
Saeed Jones
It was. Wasn't it a good show? Like, really? I enjoyed Almost all of it. I was really shocked. So when the president of the Grammys, or whoever that was came out and was like, yeah, the Weeknd said he wasn't coming back because we've been on some bullshit. And we thought about it and we actually have been on some bullshit.
Sam Sanders
So hilarious.
Saeed Jones
We said, let's add more people to this voting body and let's stop acting like women and don't exist, you know, and shit like that. So that whole setup for the weekend to come back out was very cool, but it also explained a lot about the quality of the show. To. To me, it was like as soon as he came out and gave that little explanation, I was like, oh, now everything. Now it's making sense as to why I'm like, actually enjoying this production. And. And, yeah, Beyonce rightfully getting her. Her things for Cowboy Carter. I've seen a lot of hashtag discourse about how, you know, oh, this is like Leo finally getting the Oscar for whatever movie that was, as opposed to all the other times, you know, that he was quote, unquote, robbed. But I don't actually feel that way. I mean, yes, this should have been her fourth one for. Cause I think self titled Lemonade and Renaissance all deserved.
Sam Sanders
And there's no question.
Saeed Jones
But I also think Cowboy Carter deserved because I actually went back and listened to all of the nominated albums for album of the year.
Sam Sanders
I do too.
Saeed Jones
And no Shade. Cause some of y'all did some great work. Billie Eilish, Brother Eilish, Come on in the Room. Cause I. It is a good album. It's good. Did, did that, did. And Andre 3000 and them flutes. You know how I feel. That was my most great album of the year. So, I mean, there was some. There were some good ones up there, but nothing as innovative. And that really pushes the boundaries of. Yes. And so well done.
Sam Sanders
Claiming, beautifully executed.
Saeed Jones
Yes, yes.
Sam Sanders
Nostalgic, historic, sensational stuff. Yeah. It is like, I think of the ones I. Listen. Let me pull it up again. Cause I listened to them all again. But to your point, I feel like of those albums, one that gives me like, ooh, this is art piece with thought and history and all kinds behind it is Cowboy Carter. It's Andre's album. And what was the other one? That might be it.
Saeed Jones
Yeah. I mean, I. No Shade to support.
Sam Sanders
Not to say I don't like the other one.
Saeed Jones
And Chapel Roan. Right. Not like y'all are. Y'all are doing very good pop music. But as far as, like, album of the year, for me, it's all the shit you just said on top of it being brilliantly executed, like, it is just excellent. So I didn't even see. I. I fully felt like this was not some consolation prize album of the year. This was very well deserved on top of the other ones that she should have won it for, if you ask me. And we all know I am biased, but, yeah, of course, you know, that was a. That was a lovely moment, the shock on her face when she won country album. Something.
Sam Sanders
I actually screamed all the memes I've seen of that since, just like, this is why the Internet shouldn't be allowed.
Saeed Jones
No, this is why it should. It was so funny. It was the sort of thing where you see and you like, I know y'all f to run this into the dirt. I know y'all are. Y'all finna slap this on so many Tik Toks, but.
Sam Sanders
Oh, John the Feast.
Saeed Jones
Oh, and I love John Batiste.
Sam Sanders
Yeah, that was fire, too.
Saeed Jones
Oh, my God. This is what I'm saying. There were some excellent. Like, this was. It was a great category for album of the year, record and song, and Best new artist. Oh, the Best new Artist Showcase. Can we talk about it? Grammys. Y'all need to leave that in the show. Never, ever get rid of that. Because for a lot of people, it's their first time seeing these artists or hearing these songs. And I just thought it was such an excellent way to introduce people who may not already be familiar. Because, again, best new artist does not mean you are actually a new artist. All of these acts I have heard of. It's just, you know, this is your first time being, you know, nominated or set up, whatever the Grammys rules are for that. Doji since, like Child, Dochi, Cronbin Ray, Teddy Swims, all of these. I'm like, I. I know all of these acts. Like, yeah, none of them are new to me. But that. I just thought that was so dope, that whole setup. Doji's performance. See, I'm all over the place because the Grammys were actually good. It blew my mind. I really stayed up for the whole thing, 30 extra minutes and all, because I really did enjoy the program. But Dochi went up there and killed it, baby. Just her. Her acceptance speech when she won for Alligator Bites Never Heal. I thought that was so cute, Cardi being up there.
Sam Sanders
Third woman in history in the category to win best Rap Album behind Lauren and Cardi.
Saeed Jones
Right?
Sam Sanders
Crazy.
Saeed Jones
So when she amended her speech to be like, you know, only two women have won. Oh, wait, only three. It was like, oh, yeah, it was very. Just so happy for you. And that message to black girls and.
Sam Sanders
Again, deserved so on time.
Saeed Jones
It's good.
Sam Sanders
It is an album intention. That is an album with a soul beard. That is an album that is like. It's an art piece. And it doesn't mean that there aren't other Fire albums or really great rap albums in the category, but it was just like, yep, that is exactly where that should go.
Saeed Jones
It's this one.
Sam Sanders
Yeah, that's exactly where that should go. I was very happy to see that. I was so happy. I just love seeing people walk in their assignment and the things that they deserve. And of course, her fucking performance was stellar. Uh, uh. Ugh. The looks, the choreography, the movement.
Saeed Jones
Yeah.
Sam Sanders
Ugh. The hair when she took off the.
Saeed Jones
Thom Browne and she just had the bra and the panties on.
Sam Sanders
Ugh.
Saeed Jones
So good.
Sam Sanders
Ugh.
Saeed Jones
All them beautiful Negroes on stage. No light skins allowed. It was really, really good seeing Jay.
Sam Sanders
Z clap into it. Like, just. That's my era. That's my sound. This. Yes. Hip hop. Look at the young people doing the thing. Everybody just loved it. I loved it. I loved it. What else? What other performances? I. I really. I love Chapel.
Saeed Jones
Yeah. Love Chapel. Loved her acceptance speech for Best New Artist, pointing out how artists really be having to get it out the fucking.
Sam Sanders
Mud and they can't take her. They want that girl to show up so bad.
Saeed Jones
Oh, well. Oh, well. She brought her little journal up there and said, I'm gonna. I'm gonna talk about it.
Sam Sanders
I'm gonna say it.
Saeed Jones
I'm gonna say it.
Sam Sanders
I love it. And I'm glad you did Pink Pony Club, because I love that fucking song.
Saeed Jones
I love that they highlighted different LA businesses, local spots and stuff like that that have been affected by the fires that they had the fire chiefs do the album of the year. And that lady was like, I was just so excited that I stumbled over the words and Carter came out first and all this like, okay, work hive. Like.
Sam Sanders
You have to understand that I was already presenting at the Grammys, which is really cool after all we've been through, right? And then in that moment, I realized I'm about to meet Beyonce and give her her Grammy for Album of the Year. So forgive me for being.
Saeed Jones
But it was. That was.
Sam Sanders
At least you weren't no motherfuckers from the Associated Press outside who told Babyface, if you could kindly go to hell and get directly from in front of our faces, because Queens here.
Saeed Jones
I could not believe them. I said, the Associated Press. Now forgive me. I Thought y'all were serious news over there.
Sam Sanders
That's what I thought.
Saeed Jones
I thought y'all put on your spectacles and got to the facts and the professionalism of it all. No, clearly not. I don't know what happened with the ap. They decided to bring in some influencers or content creator. I don't know what that girl does, but she's not a professional journalist. That was so tacky. So rude and disgusting. Shout out to Babyface for just being like, oh, that's clearly what you want to do. So go do that and just give him.
Sam Sanders
Why would he.
Saeed Jones
Ain't no need to throw a fit in front of you.
Sam Sanders
Gonna be aggravated on his behalf.
Saeed Jones
And even white people was like, how dare you?
Sam Sanders
The baby face.
Saeed Jones
The baby of faces to his face.
Sam Sanders
At the Grammys, child.
Saeed Jones
Right? Half the people here, oh, a significant chunk of their career to this man in his town.
Sam Sanders
That's like going to your friend's mama house and then just being like, I'll piss on this rug. Like, what, baby? Disrespecting babies and the Grammys.
Saeed Jones
This is my shit. This is.
Sam Sanders
Do you know how many motherfuckers have walked away from. Walked away from this bitch with awards from shit I wrote?
Saeed Jones
You know, as soon as I walk in here, bitches gonna be climbing and clamoring all over me, trying to get. Trying to bitch.
Sam Sanders
Do you know who the fuck I am?
Saeed Jones
Right? I could not believe that. And then they had that little pathetic ass apology where the main one who was like, chapel in front of this man's face, where she was like, I'm so sorry. Obviously, Baby Face, a legend. We love Baby Face. I wanted to say, name one Beyonce Baby Face song. I wanted to so bad. I did because, like, clearly somebody fed.
Sam Sanders
You this or propped you said, today will be your last day. Now what you will do before we can and shoot your ass before we catapult your motherfucking ass out of here.
Saeed Jones
Because it's happening. It's happening.
Sam Sanders
You're going to get on camera and you're going to apologize. Then we're going to load you into this machine outside and we're flinging you to San Diego at minimum.
Saeed Jones
Man, listen, I love to see my favorite social media personalities in, like, real life doing real things, but y'all do. And you know what? I'm just saying, I just assume she's some white influencer. I don't know, because I pray that's what she is. There's no way you took even one journalism class and decided that that was the way to act. I mean, I don't even think you need college or school or training for that. I think that's basic home training.
Sam Sanders
I don't think that you need.
Saeed Jones
Do you not have. You don't have men. But, I mean, it's the basics of professionalism.
Sam Sanders
It really was. The gagging of it was that. It was the Associated Press. Like, if it was. If it was Shade Room, if it was like, I would have expected it. Even, like, Entertainment Tonight.
Saeed Jones
Any of.
Sam Sanders
Sometimes they get a little saucy.
Saeed Jones
But I actually think. I think legacy entertainment outlets like the ones you just named would know better. I don't even think Entertainment Tonight would treat Babyface like that. Like, I don't. I really do not. I don't get it. That was so wild, so strange.
Sam Sanders
And I'm talking about not even in, like, a. Oh, I can see how this kind of, you know, happened. There's a lot going on and. Oh, stumble of words. Or maybe I'm talking about directly in the middle of a sentence, Right. She was just like, fuck what you're talking about.
Saeed Jones
Stop talking.
Sam Sanders
Like, it would have been rude if you were at Wendy's.
Saeed Jones
Yes, it would have been rude at dinner. But you did this to this man on the Grammy red carpet. I'm really struggling to understand. And then the other white woman, when they did the apology, she was like, yeah, I'm sorry that I got dragged into this.
Sam Sanders
Like, she was.
Saeed Jones
She was fully blamed it on the 1.
Sam Sanders
Blame the white woman.
Saeed Jones
You know, it was two white women interviewing Babyface. Or there was two standing there, and there was the main one who was, like, hollering at Chapel.
Sam Sanders
And I remember one white girl. I think the other girl didn't look white to.
Saeed Jones
Oh, well, she may. Okay, the two women who look white to me, she some sort of Latino, whatever. Yeah, right. The other one was like, I am also sorry that I got associated.
Sam Sanders
You know, she looked ghetto.
Saeed Jones
Shit.
Sam Sanders
She did look. She looked annoyed the whole time.
Saeed Jones
She did. So that one for sure is not going to work again, though. I don't know what was going through her mind. But, yeah, ridiculous shout out to Kendrick Lamar, though, having everybody at the Grammys hollering out a minor when you go.
Sam Sanders
To pick up Hardware was nominated for five Grammys.
Saeed Jones
Mm. And how many did it.
Sam Sanders
Not like us won five Grammys.
Saeed Jones
Mm.
Sam Sanders
Not like Us won a Grammy for every song it was nominated for, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Oh, yes.
Saeed Jones
Yes, it did. TikTok said it was one Grammy for each whop. What a moment. That was Taylor Swift popping ass, baby. And I mean popping ass. I was about to say, did. Did Drake piss her off? And then I remember he did have that song Taylor made. And Kendrick and Taylor did do a song together, or Kendrick jumped on a tv.
Sam Sanders
Yeah, he mentioned her remix or something in Taylor Swift. He mentioned her in there somewhere.
Saeed Jones
Is Taylor annoyed with Drake? Probably. When I tell you she was popping that little flat butt. Taylor was turned up.
Sam Sanders
Honestly, Taylor was dancing all night. I honestly think, you know, that good old award show champagne will get you every time. It will. And that's something that she does at awards all the time now. She's just.
Saeed Jones
And she probably ain't ate some wine.
Sam Sanders
And she just does a little white girl dance. And I'm like, all right. You know, she was having a good time. I saw a clip of her literally throwing back, like, the wobble was on, almost bumping into this lady behind her, and the lady was like, like, tapped her, and they laughed it off. I saw a clip of.
Saeed Jones
I think that was Morris Chestnut's wife.
Sam Sanders
Oh, that's hilarious. I saw a clip of Alicia Keynes and Swizz Beats son.
Saeed Jones
Oh, yeah, Yeah.
Sam Sanders
I didn't know about this, but apparently they said there's a clip or something of their son. I think his name is Genesis. And he said that Taylor cheated on him when he found out that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey were together.
Saeed Jones
Oh, my God.
Sam Sanders
And they posted a clip last. They posted a clip at the Grammys where Taylor in that blazer with her.
Saeed Jones
Pretty rich in Janelle Monae's blazer, and.
Sam Sanders
She'S just, like, dancing with. Holding hands with him and, like, dancing or whatever. And somebody was like, I'm glad he forgave her. This is really cute. And I was like, yes, it is cute. And I hope that she also apologized, because how dare she hurt him that way? And he'll also take a Nintendo Switch 2 when it drops later this year, assuming the tariffs don't cause it to cost $2,000 a console. And, yeah, she seemed like she was.
Saeed Jones
Having a good time. She seemed, of course, everybody. Well, I mean, she's one enough.
Sam Sanders
I agree.
Saeed Jones
She seemed very genuinely happy for Beyonce winning those Grammys and getting to present her with one. But, yep, that was. You know, I don't mind Tipsy Taylor, you know, putting on Janelle Monae's blazer and. And eating edibles at award shows. I don't mind that. Taylor, I'll take. You're fine.
Sam Sanders
Oh, my God.
Saeed Jones
Are you guys fucking kidding me?
Sam Sanders
Oh, stop it. Yeah, another Drop. You guys know I am. I'll take it, get sauced up and do the stanky leg. They be girl, when that nigga won song of the year and came back out when Diana Ross was on the stage.
Saeed Jones
Oh yeah, yeah.
Sam Sanders
They zoomed in on that bitch and Janelle Mondae's blazer and she was literally doing the stanky leg. I said, where is Taylor Swift?
Saeed Jones
I'm telling you, she was having her.
Sam Sanders
She was having a blast. But the fact that that fucking song one album of the year and here you and they and they made sure to start the music at. Sometimes you gotta pop out and show niggas so his name would drop by the time that nigga got on stage. And sure enough, you hear say Drake, I heard you like me. Here you go, Beyonce clapping, dancing, dancing. Taylor Swift is back there doing the Charleston. You know, niggas is just having a great ass time. And then the whole entire building screams A minor. It's just like. It is the record of the like you can't.
Saeed Jones
Y'all gotta put Drake on a self harm watch. Like I to have. Did you see her record and song of the year? Both of them, Both of them listen.
Sam Sanders
As well as best rap performance and.
Saeed Jones
Best rap song and best music video in its entirety. We love everything about the song. Namely they said, what else can we give it?
Sam Sanders
What else can we give it? What else you got?
Saeed Jones
Did you see Drake wearing that hoodie with the bullet holes in it?
Sam Sanders
Yes, I was asking you that.
Saeed Jones
Oh, have you been struck in the back by the industry all day?
Sam Sanders
It's campy, it's dramatic, it's stupid. I love it. It's so dumb. Oh God, it's like some boondock shit. It's just like. It's so cartoon.
Saeed Jones
It is.
Sam Sanders
So Drake is doing the Australian leg of his tour or I want to say like Australian edition. Whatever. It's like a whole other thing because he calls it the Anita Max Win Tour, which I'm not even going to discuss.
Saeed Jones
Okay.
Sam Sanders
But I guess that just, that just started kicked off over the past couple of days as well. And they recorded him entering the arena or whatever. And he's done this for like a few of his shows on the last tour where he like walks out similar to the way the basketball players do.
Saeed Jones
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah.
Sam Sanders
Weird this time, I mean this, you know, athlete, you know, he loves basketball.
Saeed Jones
So I guess let's say cosplaying.
Sam Sanders
But this time he walks out and he's wearing an all black hoodie, which he's wearing all Black hoodie. And the hoodie is supposed to be like riddled with bullet holes. I guess. First of all, true bullet holes don't look like that. Like they don't.
Saeed Jones
You have respect.
Sam Sanders
Like it looked like Adonis just took some. Some preschool scissors and just snip, snip, snip, snip, snip, snip, snip. Bullet holes don't look like that.
Saeed Jones
Right? The FBI agent said. Correct. They don't.
Sam Sanders
Those would be the cuntiest bullets. Can you imagine?
Saeed Jones
I don't know. I really. It's like if somebody said, if you ask ChatGPT, write me a. A stereotype of a light skinned biracial man from Canada who has aspirations of being a rapper but was raised by his Jewish mother in the suburbs. It would spit out everything that Drake has been saying and doing over the past several months. It's just. It's peak stereotypical biracial male behavior. Like it just could not be more of a stereotype. So I. It. But I did. There was a part of me that had a twinge of empathy on Sunday night because. Because to have a room full of people that you respect so deeply, like Desi, I assume up until this moment he did. You know, I think Drake actually cares a great deal about how he is perceived and whether people like him. And so to. Well, I. But I think it's both. And so. And so I think that having a room full of these people celebrate a diss track that is about you. Like everybody is hollering out the line about you being a pedophile. I just. And to have that song be so heavily awarded.
Sam Sanders
Damn.
Saeed Jones
It's like that has to. That has to feel like just regular. Getting dragged online is not, you know, that's not fun. Like, that's not great. That's not a great feeling. Getting dragged, not just from this one song online for the past several months, but having it all capped off with this nigga being heralded for it and everybody singing along. Taylor Swift popping ass, Blue Ivy. Knowing the words. It's something about kids talking to. When kids say, say Drake, I hear you. Like I'm young. It all takes me down. Children not supposed to. Why do y'all know this? It's so funny because like, you are the young people we trying to protect. What are you doing? Beyonce. Beyonce jigging. Beyonce jigging to this. Like you've been on this bitch's albums. I would be throwing up. I would be throwing up. Oh my God.
Sam Sanders
Okay, so here's the thing. You knew that this nigga was nominated for these things. You knew that you weren't even going. Even if he wasn't, you were like gassing the Weeknd when y'all got along to co boycott the Grammys with you and shit. Guess who was back at the motherfucking Grammys on stage kicking it and doing his 1, 2. Cause he tried to play in his face as well. So you had no business watching this motherfucker in the first place. Now, are you going to hear about it and see clips of it and all of those things? Sure. What I would likely be doing since I'm gonna see those clips, is see it 30,000ft or whatever in the sky in my jit while I'm playing a virtual reality version of my PlayStation 7. I don't get. You are talking about somebody that is incredibly wealthy and that has all of the access. It does not mean that he is not human and doesn't have feelings and can't whoop de whoop. This is Drake that we're talking about. But the empathy, the sympathy is hard for me to reach when you are simultaneously walking out of or into a concert wearing a shirt that looked like 6 month old link got to it. You know, it's like. And then having somebody, I guess strap a fog machine to your back so it looked like you're smoking smoke. It's just. It's too much like, where. Where will I find the time to feel bad?
Saeed Jones
But Drake is not you.
Sam Sanders
Also, it's not that big a deal. Like, he's not on trial for anything. He's not. He lost a rap battle.
Saeed Jones
Let's look at what really matters.
Sam Sanders
You're not Diddy, who are like the whole industry turned again against him. Just look at everyone singing along.
Saeed Jones
It's a good song industry.
Sam Sanders
First of all, everybody in that building is not the whole industry. Mostly the people on the flow.
Saeed Jones
First of all, that's not even half the industry. Like, it's just some of the biggest names. Yeah, it's some of the most powerful people. But it's not everybody.
Sam Sanders
Most of the N who were present just live in la, so of course they love the song.
Saeed Jones
Like, I don't.
Sam Sanders
That's not representational.
Saeed Jones
Still want to work with Drake.
Sam Sanders
He's on tour. He has an album coming out in like two weeks. There's nothing.
Saeed Jones
He's fine.
Sam Sanders
Like, everybody's being dramatic. He lost a fucking rap battle. Like, it's not that big a deal. And ain't nobody like doing this whole. Like the people who have given Drake their ass To Kiss in the industry, I don't believe it is because of any fucking allegations of pedo behavior. A lot of niggas didn't like him before we got to not like the US. A lot of motherfuckers were clapping and laughing when like that came out. So you have to ask yourself, okay, when it comes to the common denominator being you. Why?
Saeed Jones
Yeah, and I think for some people, it's probably not even about Drake. That's just a good song with an extremely catchy line, several extremely catchy lines, and so hear that. But it does make up for a hilarious moment. It makes for excellent television and it makes for great Internet jokes. And yeah, if it were me, I would definitely be feeling a little. A little nauseous, like, but also glad that at least the Grammys are over. Kendrick didn't put Not Like Us on the album. It's almost certain he'll do it at the Super Bowl. But then after the super bowl, that'll probably be it for Not Like Us from Kendrick. Except for the tour, but that don't count.
Sam Sanders
Never mind.
Saeed Jones
I'm trying to make it better. I'm making it worse.
Sam Sanders
Why? Who cares?
Saeed Jones
Oh, no, it's the. It's. I'm trying. It's the. It's the nurturer.
Sam Sanders
It's because he's light skinned. If this was a dark skinned man, y'all would not be. If this was a dark sympathizing, a.
Saeed Jones
Dark skinned wouldn't have put on no damn. Now you know I do indoctrination now you definitely. We know, we know, we know. You're not being serious.
Sam Sanders
No, but the girls really do. I actually saw a couple of people who were like, oh, I could. This must suck. But it's like he's acting like a brat about it and has been and acting like he don't give a fuck the whole time. So why should you?
Saeed Jones
You have to remember that Drake egged all of this. All Drake told Kendrick, hurry up and drop. Where you at? Like Drake said, where you at? Come on, we waiting on you. TikTok. Where is the. Where is the lines and the dis at? Like he asked for it.
Sam Sanders
He was on Twitch talking about Custard like he's been making jokes since I don't. And with that coupled with knowing that he will be just fine. It's like, I don't know why everybody is.
Saeed Jones
Because people are thinking about how they would feel if it was him in that situation. You have to remember that you are not Drake. You would. Because you wouldn't be in this situation if Kendrick told me, keep it cute. Keep it all waxed. Don't say nothing to piss me off. That's what I would have done. Me personally, me personally wouldn't have never been in this situation situation in the first place. So you just gotta remember that. But all in all, great night for music, obviously for Beyonce. Sabrina Carpenter had a good night. She's so cute.
Sam Sanders
Her performance was really on her Goldy on tribute.
Saeed Jones
Yeah, that was really, really cute. I like her a lot.
Sam Sanders
I love how she mixes comedy and other genres.
Saeed Jones
Lady Gaga is returning and she has dove back into depression and filth and.
Sam Sanders
I really love that we're getting Freak Gaga back.
Saeed Jones
Yeah, Freak Gaga.
Sam Sanders
I missed her. I missed her.
Saeed Jones
Yeah. Yeah. Hey y'all. Have you ever been to a dentist who wants to chat with you while they're cleaning your teeth? Girl, wrong time. Or a therapist who only has openings in the middle of your workday when you are at your absolute busiest? You don't have to settle anymore when it comes to finding the right doctor with zocdoc, you've got options. Zocdoc is a free app and website where you can search and compare high quality in network doctors and click to instantly book an appointment. You can book in network appointments with more than 100,000 doctors across every specialty from mental health to dental health, primary care to urgent care, and much more. ZocDoc is my absolute favorite app website for finding a doctor. It is so, so easy. You just sign up, put in your insurance information or if you don't have any, you can book one anyway and just bam. Right there in network, out of network availability, date time. All of it right there. For people like me who don't like getting on the phone and whose mental health is hanging on by a thread on a regular basis, it is the absolute easiest way to make sure that I actually do get the medical care that I need. So stop putting off those doctor's appointments and go to Zocdoc.com theread to find an instantly book a top rated doctor today. That's Zocdoc.com the Read Zocdoc.com the Read take care of yourselves now more than ever. As we all know, Black beauty isn't just beautiful, it's joyful, inspiring and endlessly creative and deserves to be uplifted every day of the year. Ulta Beauty is honoring Black Beauty this month and always with products created for and by the community. From makeup for all skin tones, hair care for every texture and glow boosting Skin care. They've got the products for you, so show some love to some incredible black owned brands like Donna's recipe. Oh, one of my favorites, Whipped Vanilla curl gel for those perfect coils. Beauty Stats Universal Sea Refiner for that lit from within glow. And everybody's favorite, Fenty Beauty foundation for skin tones of every kind. Find products that celebrate black beauty all year long at Ulta Beauty Shop now in store or@ulta.com. i thought brat was gonna get. I thought they were gonna give Brat album of the year, but they did give it best dance album, so I'm.
Sam Sanders
So glad they didn't Brat.
Saeed Jones
I just knew they. Well, I just knew they wasn't gonna do right by Beyonce. I didn't know the Academy had made all this.
Sam Sanders
Yeah, I kind of. I kind of was like prepared to be disappointed too, but I didn't even consider that. I understand why you do the afternoon. Everybody's talking about Brat summer, brat, summer, brat, summer, brat summer all year.
Saeed Jones
Mm. So. But anyway, great. I really was shocked at how much I enjoyed the show and congratulations.
Sam Sanders
It was the Quincy. Oh, my God. Cynthia Eribo singing Fly me to the fucking moon now.
Saeed Jones
Are you okay?
Sam Sanders
That is one of my favorite songs, period. It just. Melodically, it is gorgeous.
Saeed Jones
Sure.
Sam Sanders
It's just so soft and pretty. Cynthia Rivo's voice, the nails, the no eyebrows, the bone structure, the complexion. But then she just like she always. And I feel like it's usually in just like the ending climax of the song. She will just take it and be like, but what if I did it like this? I don't know. It just.
Saeed Jones
Ugh.
Sam Sanders
She was great. It was great. It was great. I loved a lot of the little Quincy Jones moments. Janelle Monae's Michael Jackson was adorable. Anytime they let Janelle Monae get up on stage, I'm like, okay, we're gonna have a good time. Because I've said this about a couple people before. I've usually usually black femmes before black women. Janelle's one of those people who's just like, okay, how much of the stage do I have? All right, I'm gonna use all.
Saeed Jones
Yes.
Sam Sanders
Who's.
Saeed Jones
All of it, actually, this whole thing, actually, in fact, I'm use all of.
Sam Sanders
The stage and I'm going to use the audience as well. I'm just going to. Hi, Olivia. Rodrigo. Okay. Can I move this? Thanks. I'm just going to get up here.
Saeed Jones
Thank you so much. Just going to scooch right on.
Sam Sanders
Can you hold that for me? I'm going to just stand it. I loved it. It really was a good Grammys.
Saeed Jones
Yes, it was. I. When you brought up Janelle Monae, it made me think of a clip of her calling out Nelly. Did you see that?
Sam Sanders
Mm. Mm.
Saeed Jones
They were at some pre Grammys show or was it post Grammys? I don't know. It was something. But she was on stage performing. She sees Nelly in the crowd. Nelly's out there bopping along or whatever, and they're doing like Country Grammar or Hot in here or something. But it's like a remix, obviously. It's like, you know, their spin on it. Whatever. Point is, she sees Nelly and she goes shout out to Nelly. I used to like Nelly, but Nelly. And then she was like, yeah, Nelly, you think it's cool to go sit up in Trump's face at the inauguration or whatever else that we don't rock with that. That's all this. I said, go off Jane.
Sam Sanders
What?
Saeed Jones
To that man's face. You haven't seen this? Oh, baby, let me. Let me just go right ahead and pull this up. This is incredible.
Sam Sanders
Janelle said slams Nelly for performing at Donald Trump's inauguration. Who is this During Grammys after party?
Saeed Jones
Is it on Instagram? Where did I save this?
Sam Sanders
I found it.
Saeed Jones
Oh, okay. I'm over here searching for it. Yep, she sure did. It's like a short clip.
Sam Sanders
Performing his song.
Saeed Jones
Yeah, this is.
Sam Sanders
Oh, she's fierce.
Saeed Jones
If that's a. That's a bold. That is a bold. Brave. It's not too many people brave enough to do some like that, knowing that that is right there in the audience, child.
Sam Sanders
It is.
Saeed Jones
And I love it because. Exactly, exactly, exactly, exactly. Period. Janelle.
Sam Sanders
On beat.
Saeed Jones
Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention, she freestyled this. This is like a rap. Stay on these niggas necks. Snoop got booed. Good.
Sam Sanders
Black women are my favorite part of Earth, period.
Saeed Jones
Same those girls, like, shout out to Janelle.
Sam Sanders
That was fierce.
Saeed Jones
It was fuck you. Right next to Anderson. Anderson was like, I'mma just keep going.
Sam Sanders
That name might show up at Andy's word next.
Saeed Jones
Don't let them get away with it. If we can chop up. What's her name. Sure, something. What was her name sang at the first inauguration? Why do I keep.
Sam Sanders
Oh, Chrisette Michelle.
Saeed Jones
Yes. If we can chop up Basquiat skirt.
Sam Sanders
That's right.
Saeed Jones
Then we can definitely chop up these other niggas. Absolutely. Keep going, keep going. Right? And I want that same energy for the rest of these niggas. You go he, he and ha ha. In Trump's face. And then Come turn up with me, bitch. I don't think so.
Sam Sanders
And you know the crazy thing about that, too. Is there a lot of men in the industry who I would assume are left leaning who have defended him?
Saeed Jones
Yeah, well, of course, because you're a man first. And ultimately.
Sam Sanders
Oh, you gotta feed that man. Need to feed his family. He got a baby.
Saeed Jones
Okay, well, the rest of us, like.
Sam Sanders
A lot of guys have been doing that.
Saeed Jones
Women just get a job. When we have to feed our families, we go right down to Trader Joe's and we ask for an application. That's what we do.
Sam Sanders
Like women in the industry all the. Oh, speaking of Nelly. Rather singing of Nelly.
Saeed Jones
I'm glad you brought that up.
Sam Sanders
Ears to the beat.
Saeed Jones
I live had a fun time at the Grammys.
Sam Sanders
This has already been hot top, so might as well just keep going. Okay, so, yeah, we mentioned Miss Girl has an album coming out with Pardi. I guess they're not at the party. That was too easy. Low hanging fruit. It comes out on Valentine. Valentine's Day.
Saeed Jones
Who has an album coming out with Party Cardi?
Sam Sanders
Drake. Party Next Door.
Saeed Jones
Oh, Party Next Door. I thought you meant Partisan Fontaine.
Sam Sanders
I'm like, why would you ever think I meant him first?
Saeed Jones
Who the fuck is Party who? Okay, I completely forgot about that. Okay. Yes, Drake does with. With Party Next Door. Yes. And I heard one of them songs, and I am already not a fan. Drake just keep losing me. He just keep losing me, child. Maybe the better.
Sam Sanders
A lot of his core fan base loves that. That sound because they're accustomed to it. And I actually really like Party Next Door's music. I don't like that because I'm assuming we both heard the same snippets.
Saeed Jones
Yeah, probably.
Sam Sanders
I don't like that particular sound that he. I don't even know what you would call it. Like ambient, R and B trap, whatever that is. But Party Next Door is obviously written and performed a lot of songs I really, really like. Right. I think this is just kind of the pocket that he goes to a lot, especially with Drake. So I expect that a lot of their fans will like it because that's the stuff that they make for them a lot of the time anyway. But I was not moved by that little snippet I heard either. But we'll see. It makes sense that both of them would be doing something for Valentine's Day, I guess. But, yeah, I guess we'll see what that sounds like when it comes out. I mean, y'all will see. I'm not gonna go out of my way to listen to this. I'm not even gonna hold you. But it's not something I. I will get around to listening to it because I am interested.
Saeed Jones
I might, just to be fair. But I don't know. I didn't like. I haven't liked his last several projects. Scorpion on up. I did not. I do not care for.
Sam Sanders
So I still don't know why you pronounce that like Omarion. It is so funny.
Saeed Jones
I don't know why you pronounce caramel like caramel, but here we are.
Sam Sanders
That's how you say it.
Saeed Jones
Yeah. White women who are doing commercials.
Sam Sanders
What else is going on in the world? Beyonce again.
Saeed Jones
Oh, the tour. The tour. I forgot. We didn't even talk about the fucking tour.
Sam Sanders
We talked about her winning her things.
Saeed Jones
Are you ready for this bitch to go to nine cities?
Sam Sanders
Yes. I'm so glad. I'm so glad. I think I said this before, and maybe I'm a doofus and way too parasocial or. I don't know. But, like, I'm glad it's short.
Saeed Jones
Yes, I think I remember. Tours are a lot I wanted. Well, and especially because the Renaissance tour was so huge. The bitch went to everybody's backyard. I knew she wasn't ready to tour like that again, but the whole Chitlin circuit theme, I was hoping that it would be a small number of cities scattered across the South. Yeah. But I get it, because this makes more sense. Big cities are much more equipped to handle everything that Beyonce needs in order to execute a tour. These people do it like it's nothing. You know, she don't have time for the other stuff. Just, hey, find the biggest city near you. If you can't make it, you'll. You can. You'll see the clips on Tick Tock, girl. It'll be all right. But for those of you who can, and it's not. It's not nine cities, nine dates. That would be truly catastrophic.
Sam Sanders
Yeah.
Saeed Jones
At least she's doing three, four dates in most of these cities. So.
Sam Sanders
Yeah, I assumed.
Saeed Jones
But, yes, it's going to be a bloodbath here next week. As we prepare, everybody put on the full armor of God to try to get these tickets. I mean, no, because if I have to get one seat in the nosebleeds, that's fine. I will be there. I will be there. I'm going. I'm going.
Sam Sanders
So I'm not going to argue with y'all.
Saeed Jones
It's just a matter of how much I'm gonna have to pay, where I'm gonna Sit. But I'm gonna be there.
Sam Sanders
American Requiem live.
Saeed Jones
Nothing really ends as soon as that comes in. I. I may just have to take a seat. I may have to rest because American Requiem hits even harder now than it did when the album came out. So that's the thing about this. I went back and replayed it. Of course, I did the whole thing.
Sam Sanders
That's the thing about this tour that I think is gonna punch me. Is it being black, it being American, and it being this year.
Saeed Jones
Yeah. With Trump in office and everything. Yep, yep, yep.
Sam Sanders
I think that is what's going to get me, because Renaissance and maybe like a lot of the last Beyonce concerts, but Renaissance for sure felt like. I don't know. I don't want to say anything too bizarre that make y'all like. It just felt like communal. It felt like.
Saeed Jones
Oh, no, it did, it did. It had real vibes.
Sam Sanders
I don't know. It just. It felt like this experience where all of these people that don't know each other felt one. I can't describe it.
Saeed Jones
Okay.
Sam Sanders
It just like, felt like we were all there of the same mind, in the same mood. We were wearing the same shoes, same colors there for this experience that we all walked away from and felt like we couldn't stop talking about it forever. So I imagine this one with the artistic and cultural and historic direction that it has is going to leave me in a puddle of emotions. Good ones. But, oh, yes. Feel like. Just like I'm going to big, big cry. Big, big cry. I could tell. And don't let blue Ivy come out like, oh, God, it's a rap.
Saeed Jones
Please, it's a rap.
Sam Sanders
It's a wrap.
Saeed Jones
Oh, God, Beyonce was just so cute. She was so cute at the Grammys when she told that interviewer that Blue is taller than she is now. And she don't like it. I don't like it, and I don't like it.
Sam Sanders
She paints roomy.
Saeed Jones
Oh, yeah. When she got back up there. Thank you, Tame. Oh, God, I'm so. I'm very, very, very excited for this tour. Announced the tour and no dates. And then the dates came out and these old beehive. Pre sale. City, City field. Pre sale. Do you know Jesus personally? Pre sale is the. We just gonna be fighting to the absolute death. I'm. I'm worried because I think this is going to be the widest Beyonce tour since. Since. Since. Self titled at least. I think. I think we're going to see more. Well, you know what? Maybe not even widest tour. This is going to be the most non black or. I think we're going to see majority non blacks, which maybe it always is, but it doesn't feel like that to me. It's a stadium, so it's hard to see.
Sam Sanders
I don't think I thought about that.
Saeed Jones
I just. The.
Sam Sanders
I feel like I expect the demographic to look pretty similar, but I won't be surprised if the non black and specifically white fans are a lot louder than they have been.
Saeed Jones
I'm expecting packs of sorority girls in their matching denim skirts and cowboy boots and the hats. That's what I'm.
Sam Sanders
I mean, they might be thinking, oh, my God, Post Malone's gonna come. So I'm gonna go.
Saeed Jones
Well, I wouldn't count on Post Malone giving up half of his summer to follow this lady around the world. I wouldn't count on that.
Sam Sanders
No. But then I'm just thinking, like, other things to do, you know, L.A. houston. I don't know places where Post Malone might be. I don't know where those places might have an influx of whiteness.
Saeed Jones
Well, we shall see. It could be that her shows are always that way. And I just, you know, my perception of it is off. But she's. I mean, she's Beyonce. She's a global fucking.
Sam Sanders
I'm just telling you. I feel like at the last couple, the white fans have just kind of been like, all right, I'm. Shut up and just be quiet.
Saeed Jones
Because Renaissance, especially Lemonade.
Sam Sanders
Like, please.
Saeed Jones
Oh, we'll see.
Sam Sanders
Lemonade is when they found out she was black. Remember? That was the joke.
Saeed Jones
Oh, my God. And do you know that SNL clip came right back for you? Yes, it came right back. That was Formation. Yep. Right before the Super Bowl. That was nine fucking years ago, if you can believe it. So, yeah, Beyonce is. Is here. And we thank God and even more. Ready for Act 3 now, but happy for my fave. Delayed, not denied, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
Sam Sanders
I have an update on that Kid Cudi story we talked about.
Saeed Jones
Oh, okay. Which one was this? Oh, the man broke in his house.
Sam Sanders
Yeah.
Saeed Jones
Okay. What, uh.
Sam Sanders
Oh, so Kid Cudi spoke out about the incident we talked about last episode where we, you know, we tell the story about how he had a break in, in his home in Los Angeles and that the person used the bathroom, ate his food, took a shower, so on and so forth. He saw them on security cam. Police arrested him, said that the man appeared to be homeless and was being held on a hundred and fifty thousand dollar bill. Kid Cudi has since spoken out about it and said that in fact, the man was not homeless, but he's actually a fan. What? Stalking him.
Saeed Jones
Oh, my God.
Sam Sanders
For a while now, man, and I was like, here we were.
Saeed Jones
N. N. Trying to be nice, good people. We were like, perhaps he's simply unhoused and looking for a meal and a shower and a bed. And who could blame him? The whole time. What?
Sam Sanders
Um, okay, here we are. Says the man is an unhinged 34 year old who's been stalking him for years. Says the man's been to his shows, events in both the US and internationally. So the reason that the man broke into his house is because he was hoping to catch Kid Cudi and talk to him about collaborating on ideas.
Saeed Jones
Oh, no.
Sam Sanders
He says despite rumors the man is not homeless and that he himself, Kid Cudi, no longer feels safe in his own home.
Saeed Jones
Right, right, right, right.
Sam Sanders
So maybe not homeless, but definitely not.
Saeed Jones
Well, no, no. I'm like, you. You broke into my house hoping to talk to me about collaborating on music. You need a physician. You need. Yeah. You need a stay at the Grippy Sock Hotel indefinitely. Yeah. With some meds. Yeah. You need to go collaborate with your pharmacist. And you're a psychiatrist. Need to be triangulated with them.
Sam Sanders
We just got a new script. I'm not even like, sweet.
Saeed Jones
This isn't.
Sam Sanders
Can't do this.
Saeed Jones
No, no, no. This was. Oh, God. This was a lot funnier before the details.
Sam Sanders
It really was. No.
Saeed Jones
Yeah. I, too, would feel unsafe. Somebody who has been stalking me, following me around. I mean, coming to my shows is one thing. Even internationally, like, you're allowed to do that sometimes. People are just big fans. But, you know, driving across the country to break into this man's house. How did you even get Kid Cudi's address? Where do you even go to find that? I don't even know how you. Y'all are so weird. That's so. Okay. Yeah. That is quite scary. Sorry that that happened to you, bro.
Sam Sanders
Scariest.
Saeed Jones
What if you had been home?
Sam Sanders
I don't care how much you love me or what it is that you want to collaborate on, of what your intentions may or not be. If you break into my home and I am there, I am going to shoot you. Yeah.
Saeed Jones
Yeah, I am.
Sam Sanders
I'm going to shoot you. So don't.
Saeed Jones
These people are not in their right minds. You saying this to people who hear it and can receive it because they are in their right minds. People who are not.
Sam Sanders
I know. That's what I'm saying. Like, there aren't even Jokes for this homeless crazy. Like, damn Cuddy. What could he be? Something I can make fun of? Shit, Right?
Saeed Jones
Why couldn't it just be some ragamuffin who wanted to play around in rich people's houses for a lark? Like, I wanted it to be a much funnier story. Or even just he was homeless and looking for food. Like, even that was better to me than this. This is. No, I was targeted. This man planned and executed this endeavor to challenge my sense of safety and security. So, yep, nothing funny about that. Sorry, I. I don't even know. What do you do in this situation? Like, you already have security. You already have video cameras everywhere. You can't stop people from being out of their mind. So what else can you possibly do? Like, that's just. Yeah. And Kid Cudi. No, I mean, he's famous, obviously, but I wouldn't have thought he was stalkers coming to, you know, popular shit like Die Hard. I see. Yeah, the Katianas.
Sam Sanders
Yeah, and he's a great. He's really, really talented, so it makes sense. But.
Saeed Jones
Yeah, not that, though. Not that.
Sam Sanders
Speaking of ragamuffins, I. We need to talk about Fat, Juicy and Wet.
Saeed Jones
All right, let's. Let's discuss.
Sam Sanders
Sexyy Red and Bruno Mars for whatever unholy reason, have collaborated on music and the result of it is a song by the name of Fat, Juicy and Wet.
Saeed Jones
Oh, boy.
Sam Sanders
And if you haven't heard it, it describes probably what you're thinking of. I'll read some of the lyrics.
Saeed Jones
Great song.
Sam Sanders
Really?
Saeed Jones
No.
Sam Sanders
Okay, here's the chorus from Bruno Marx. Fat, Juicy and wet ah ah I don't even gang bang pussy so good make me throw up a set Ah ah that good kitty kitty good kitty kitty make it my pet Ah ah ah ah Pretty pussy type of pussy you ain't ever gon forget Fat, Juicy and wet. Wet wet wet wet wet wet wet. Vincent Reds are talking about her pussy lips and her titty milk or whatever.
Saeed Jones
Yeah, pretty gross.
Sam Sanders
Why? Why did this happen? And I. Okay, it is not a secret that I'm not a big fan of Bruno Mars. I don't hide the fact that I'm not a big fan of allegedly Sexyy Red. And so this just felt kind of like a personal attack, but.
Saeed Jones
Not a personal attack.
Sam Sanders
I just think, what do they want? Who is this for? Why did this happen? What is it? Why is Lady Gaga in the video? What? What do they want? Because I've been trying to tell y'all about Hawaiian tumnus for, like, I don't even know, probably like, the length of this part.
Saeed Jones
Don't do that.
Sam Sanders
And. Oh, no, he just. Just. Oh, he just loves the good old oldies. And now he's talking about gang banging and throwing up a set because of Sexy Red's pussy. So I'd love for y'all to explain.
Saeed Jones
Well, I mean, as somebody who does like Bruno Mars. Yeah, he. He been singing about sex. Now, that's not new. So I'm actually not shocked. This is a little more explicit. Not too much more, though. Like, he's open about this.
Sam Sanders
So I'm not talking about the explicitness. I'm not talking about the bad. About how bad it is. And awful important.
Saeed Jones
Well, I think Sexyy Red's part is the worst part of the song. I don't think Bruno's part is.
Sam Sanders
Yeah, because Bruno Mars is talented. Sexy Red isn't. But here we are back to the fact that is the whole thing is bad. Now, I'm not necessarily discussing whose is worse. It would make sense that the person who was worse at music would be, you know, but all of it is awful, which is true.
Saeed Jones
So I've heard that it sounds. The song goes a lot harder in the club. That's what I've heard. I have not seen that for myself. That is what has been reported back to me directly.
Sam Sanders
Okay, so for what you know and what you have, the information that you have directly.
Saeed Jones
Okay, sure, sure, sure. It. Are you asking me why the song is bad? It's because. I think because Sexyy Red is on it, but it's just not okay. We've seen your sex tape. It juicy or wet about it. So this is just more. Oh, you didn't. Well, it was not juicy or wet. It was dry. It was like. Are you even awake, girl? Are you even. Do you. Do you want the. I'm not even entirely sure you want the dick right now. So, you know, this is just more of rappers pulling fairy tales out of nowhere, I guess, and just saying things because they think they sound. She's technically that. And. Yeah. Why did it happen? I don't. I'm starting to believe.
Sam Sanders
So you like Bruno Mars hook? You like the hook of Bruno Mars singing these things?
Saeed Jones
It is the best part of the song. But I have not replayed the song other than the one time I streamed it to hear it for myself, because it's all. Because I do not. Because the song is bad. Yes. But his hook is the best part of it. Of it. But the best part of a Pile of is still, you know, the tip of so literally You.
Sam Sanders
This is awful, this whole thing.
Saeed Jones
It's really bad.
Sam Sanders
I'm so terrible. It's so stupid. It feels like a SNL skit.
Saeed Jones
Yes, it does. Yes.
Sam Sanders
Down to the Lady Gaga cameo who's probably hosting now.
Saeed Jones
See, I didn't even see the video. I did not even see. But see, Lady Gaga and Bruno just won a Grammy, so maybe.
Sam Sanders
Yeah, I. I figured she's in the video because they're cool or friendly right now or whatever.
Saeed Jones
But, like, I didn't even know. I didn't. I didn't see the video.
Sam Sanders
I streamed Lady Gaga in a. In a zoo suit talking about go sexy, go sexy, go or whatever the. Does it go. And I'm like, she looks pretty. I mean, sexy red looks pretty.
Saeed Jones
Oh, did she? I haven't seen.
Sam Sanders
Yeah, there's a part where she's like laying down in a cat on a. Like a couch or something in this long red dress and she looked nice. Oh, best I can give it.
Saeed Jones
Okay, well, I mean, I put the song out of my head as soon as I heard it. I was like, oh, I'm. I'm never revisiting this.
Sam Sanders
I wish it never entered.
Saeed Jones
Never going back.
Sam Sanders
I can't believe they did that.
Saeed Jones
Is it a. Is it. Is it gambling debts? But, you know, I think it's just that Bruno Mars is ratchet and he wanted to do it. I do.
Sam Sanders
Is he ratchet? I think he.
Saeed Jones
I think he likes ratchet. Shit.
Sam Sanders
Okay, see, those are two different things.
Saeed Jones
Okay, well, and here I am clarifying words, mean things.
Sam Sanders
Bhad Bhabie likes ratchet. No, she is Ratchet. Anyways, that's gonna be it.
Saeed Jones
Okay, great. Great. Welcome to Nada Yada Island.
Sam Sanders
Next on Nadia Yada Island.
Saeed Jones
I knew I deserved so much, much more. So I left. I finally switched to Metro and got.
Sam Sanders
What I was looking for. Get one line for only $25 a month with autopay. Just bring your phone to Metro and experience all the data you want on the largest 5G network. That's nada Yada yada. Only at Metro by T Mobile. First month is $30. Bring your number and ID offer. Not available.
Saeed Jones
If with T Mobile with Metro in.
Sam Sanders
The past 180 days.
Saeed Jones
Hey, y'all. If you find yourself in a rush and trying to get dinner on the table in a hurry, try HelloFresh's prep and bake meals. They come together with five minutes of prep, while HelloFresh's 15 minute meals are done in just three simple steps. Plus, with HelloFresh Market, there are over 100 add on items you can add to your weekly box like quick breakfasts and beverages. Seems like more and more of us are on the go and super busy from as soon as the day starts till it ends and trying to squeeze in healthy, nutritious meals for our family in between. Baby, be serious. That's what's great about hellofresh though. Honey Prep and bake five minutes of prep. The 15 minute meals where you got three steps and food is ready for you and your family. It does not get any easier than that. Plus, when you cook from scratch and you're making things out of your own ingredients, you kind of learn not just the science behind cooking, but how to judge things up and add your own favorite seasonings and accoutrement to elevate your meals or maybe just have some more fun in the kitchen. So if you're ready to make things a little easier for yourself, get up to 10 free meals and a free high protein item for life@hellofresh.com theread10fm one item per box with active subscription free meals applied as discount on first box. New subscribers only, varies by plan. That's up to 10 free HelloFresh meals. Just go to hellofresh.com theread10fm.
Sam Sanders
Okay, we're back. It's time for letters.
Saeed Jones
Yes it is. Send your questions to asktheread gmail.com and it may just end up being read aloud on the show, dissected for millions and millions in perpetuity. All right, our first letter this week comes from May who says I'm a 40 year old woman and a member of the Beehive. I am so excited about the Cowboy Carter tour, but I am conflicted about whether to bring my mama. She expressed to me that she really wants to see Beyonce again because she came with me to the Renaissance tour. My hesitation comes from the fact that my mother was uncomfortable with the overt sexuality of the show and the audience. She's a strict Christian black boomer, so when she saw the scantily clad dancers on stage and the men in the audience wearing assless chaps, it was all she could talk about after the show and for several days afterwards, it ruined the vibe so bad. She was deeply uncomfortable during the show and I felt like I had to keep making sure she was okay. I just don't want to hear any negativity when I go see Beyonce. I only want to see Cowboy Carter with people who are excited about Beyonce and specifically about this tour. When she brought up wanting to go, she said she thinks it will probably Be a more conservative atmosphere. I told her no. It would be the same vibe as before with gay Joy and assless everything everywhere, and asked if she's sure she's okay with that. She said, imma just have to wear my big cross. We joked about holy oil and prayer before the show, but to be honest, I just want to go by myself. I'm not religious. I have a lifetime of being guilted and shamed by Christian parents. I don't want to lie to my mom and Sam going with others. I don't have friends who love Beyonce the way that I do, so it's looking like I'll go solo. I'm terrified of hurting my mother's feelings, but I know I won't have as good of a time if she's there. Do you all have any advice on how to approach this conversation? Thanks so much, May.
Sam Sanders
I mean, what do you. How do you think you would. I feel like I would just come out and say it.
Saeed Jones
Yeah. May, the problem you have that I don't have is I'm not terrified of.
Sam Sanders
Hurting my mama, but my mama wouldn't give a fuck.
Saeed Jones
That's all. So if I took her to Renaissance and she got on my nerves real, real bad, and I simply didn't want to take her to another show, I would just say, that. Girl, when we went to Renaissance, I was supposed to be, honestly, a little high. You know, I was supposed to be tweaking a little bit. I was supposed to be, you know, just turning myself over to the vibe and the mood and the music and the community, the event of Renaissance. And the whole time, you over there with your nose turned up and clutching your cross and talking about Jesus and salvation, I'm. I'm literally not spending another few hundred dollars to repeat that experience. If you want to go, go with your homegirls and, you know, maybe we'll talk about it later. I. But again, that's me. I'm not scared of hurting my mama's feelings or, you know, there's. There's no part of me that is hesitant about not including her in something when I know she gonna fuck up my good time.
Sam Sanders
Yeah.
Saeed Jones
So.
Sam Sanders
I agree. I don't mean. I mean, I don't. You know your mama better than we do, but I don't know if or how you would hurt her feelings by saying what you're saying, because if she felt that uncomfortable at the last concert and you're saying, okay, well, you will likely. You're telling her. You will likely feel just as comfortable at this Concert. I don't think you. I don't know how you saying. You know what? I really, really, really just want to just go and have this moment for myself. I've been waiting for her for a while. I really kind of just need some me time. I'm gonna go do this alone, but like, here's some other dates that you could go to. Whatever. Like, I just don't, you know. But again, mamas be mama ing.
Saeed Jones
Yep.
Sam Sanders
And a guilt trip is one of their favorite destinations.
Saeed Jones
And she might just feel rejected, you know, Like, I don't think anybody's like, I don't. You don't know how to have fun at the function, so we don't want you to go. But essentially that is it. You don't know how to just have a good old gay Beyonce time.
Sam Sanders
But it's not something that you gonna lose your mama over.
Saeed Jones
I mean, not if your mama's in her right mind.
Sam Sanders
And it doesn't sound like that would be the issue. Right.
Saeed Jones
She just sounds religious. She doesn't sound. I don't know. Nevermind. Let me not.
Sam Sanders
So I think it's just something you have to just like come out and say, I always. In situations like this, try to arrive with a possible solution or alternative attached to it so the person can't might. So the person will hopefully feel like you're not just like dropping something on. On them and like bouncing on some figure it out type shit.
Saeed Jones
Yeah.
Sam Sanders
Doesn't always make a difference, but it at least shows that you're putting an effort into thinking about them and how they feel and how they can, you know. But ultimately you are the Beyonce fan. You have had an experience that, you know, kind of dampered your fun the last time, which already sucks. Yep. You know that if this goes left rather than right, you won't have fun. So if the options are maybe hurting my mama's feelings, which she will probably get over by summer or some shit.
Saeed Jones
Or, well, the end of the week.
Sam Sanders
You know what I mean by yes. Or me not enjoying another Beyonce concert. I'm gonna urge you to choose you in this situation, not even just because it's Beyonce, but because it's you. It's the best thing for you to make you happy. And honestly, the world is not gonna fall apart by you prioritizing your happiness. You'll be just fine. You gotta get used to setting boundaries in order for people not to, you know, and that includes your mama, your daddy, your baby, your. Your. Like.
Saeed Jones
I'm. I'm not even sure why your Mama wants to go back if. If all she could talk about was how naked everybody was and. And gay they were the last time for days. Not to mention during the show. I'm not sure why she wants to return, but if I were you, in the kindest way possible, I would say just straight up, I did not enjoy myself last time going to this show with my mama. I think I'm better off going alone.
Sam Sanders
No, Shay, I don't even know if I would say that.
Saeed Jones
Well, I mean, again, I'm serious.
Sam Sanders
You could be that honest.
Saeed Jones
I don't care about hurting her feelings, so.
Sam Sanders
Right. I understand.
Saeed Jones
So I'm really struggling with this.
Sam Sanders
I'm saying for someone, if you're like, I don't want to hurt her feelings, you might not even need to say that. You could just literally say, I know I'm going to have more fun if I go alone. I really want to experience this by myself. The end. That is not untrue. And it's. You know, you're not saying, mama, you ain't shit and you made the last concert suck.
Saeed Jones
Even though that's how you feel, even.
Sam Sanders
Though that's true, if you want, you could just skip that and be like, I want to go alone.
Saeed Jones
And that's still honest.
Sam Sanders
Please respect that. And here is another thing that you could go to. But if you could also, depending on the mama that you know and the temperature of things, you could also say, hey, the reason I want to go alone is because last time you made me feel very uncomfortable by being a part of the community that I am.
Saeed Jones
Who wants to have to sit there? And I mean, even if you not gay, who wants to sit there and have to be like, it's okay, mama. Sometimes people show their upper thigh. Like, who wants to have to sit there and reassure somebody throughout a show where you supposed to be enjoying yourself?
Sam Sanders
Meanwhile, they loved Prince.
Saeed Jones
That same generation, they showed.
Sam Sanders
That's what I'm saying.
Saeed Jones
They sure did.
Sam Sanders
Couldn't say nothing about him. Rightfully so.
Saeed Jones
It's Prince, right? And so, you know, respect that. I do not want to hear criticisms of my favorite artist while I'm spending half my fucking check to go see this.
Sam Sanders
Imagine that.
Saeed Jones
Can you imagine that? I want to have a good time down to the Beyonce show.
Sam Sanders
And mamas want you to be tapped into them, too. They want you just right in the middle of black. Like, birds just be like, I'm not having.
Saeed Jones
Go get me a pot.
Sam Sanders
Or, you know, like they want. Like, you are a bad child if you don't go and get them a root beer.
Saeed Jones
She's dealing with her other old homegirls.
Sam Sanders
Exactly. The ticket I was gonna get for you. In fact, I'll give it to you. And y'all go get into Facebook messenger right now and figure it out. Cause, like, you're not coming. I'm not going with you. The end. That is how I would do it. That is certainly how Crystal would do it. But I'm just giving you options.
Saeed Jones
Good luck, because all you're getting out of me is I'm gonna show you how to log on to Ticketmaster in advance so that you can secure your.
Sam Sanders
God bless. You don't have to Google the dates or times.
Saeed Jones
They're right here in front of you, sis. In the cut.
Sam Sanders
Have a good time. Can't wait to talk about it. Out.
Saeed Jones
Soccer games out here. Shit. Good luck. Let us know how it goes.
Sam Sanders
I don't even want to be that mad at my mom. Say, like. Cause I am going to be pissed.
Saeed Jones
Renaissance.
Sam Sanders
Imagine not enjoying Renaissance.
Saeed Jones
No, no, no. I actually refuse to imagine that. I might not. If somebody ruined Renaissance for me and then said, I want to come to a show with you again, I would not have even entertained it. I would have said, python, let's revisit the way you acted the last time I took you somewhere. I would have told you in the car on the way home, you ain't never coming with me to no another Beyonce nothing.
Sam Sanders
I want to go to Cowboy Carter. Did you just call me a bitch? Cause I could have swore.
Saeed Jones
Oh, Cowboy Carter. Who are you going with?
Sam Sanders
What does that have to do with you?
Saeed Jones
Do y'all.
Sam Sanders
Child, child, my mama would get fr. I listen and I love my mama to death, but I'm telling you, like, ain't no way.
Saeed Jones
Ain't no way.
Sam Sanders
Thankfully, though, and my mama is also very Christian and Jamaican. You can't pay. I'm talking about legacy and life on the line. You can't keep a Jamaican motherfucker opinion to theyself, especially a mom or grandma or auntie. You cannot, like, bullet to the head. Like, they gonna be like. Like, too much salt. Like, they don't care. I still think that my mama at Renaissance would have been there. She would have just had her arms folded, tell my bag I bought.
Saeed Jones
Hey, this is not safe. None of it.
Sam Sanders
Quiet. And I would have heard about it probably on the ride home, on the way home, right?
Saeed Jones
But don't ruin the show for me.
Sam Sanders
But I think my mama knows a. I will jump. Say, I dare you. Yeah. Thumbs up, FaceTime. I will leap off the nearest play for you. But no, she knows that Beyonce is my thing. And she also knows that I will bark at my big age, right?
Saeed Jones
Imagine.
Sam Sanders
I think she would have just shut her ass up. But she would. She would have sat on the car right on. When we get back, she would have been like, so you just wanna just.
Saeed Jones
I'm imagining you and your mama carbon copies of each other and one of you just looking so disgusted. My face on this woman's body who is just like, I can't even believe.
Sam Sanders
I'm seeing crossed purse in the lap.
Saeed Jones
And you getting recognized left and right and everybody sees it's your mama. You can't deny this is your mama. She's sitting here looking annoyed with the entire situation. Good luck with your with your conversation with your mama. Please do let us know how that goes. Our next letter comes from Shawna, who says, I know both of you love your fur baby so much and I know how black, blackity black y'all are. So I figured there's nobody better to ask for advice here. I have been friends with my current partner for a little over a year. She is also black and now we have been in a relationship for the last two months. As lesbians do. I spend a lot of time at her place cooking and lounging, which I love. The only issue is her pet etiquette or lack thereof. I can be very particular with how clean spaces I inhabit are and have been slowly noticing that we do not align with our views of what is clean and acceptable. When I first started coming over, I noticed that she would have her dogs lay on her side and they were very comfortable getting under the blankets and laying on her pillows. I guess she got the hint that I wasn't too cool with this because since she has stopped allowing them on the bed, I wouldn't mind the pets being in the bed with us if I knew that they were cleaned and groomed regularly. However, the frequency at which I see this happening is way too far and few between, which brings me to my next point. The dogs also jump, lounge and play on all the furniture, which makes me uncomfortable with having my face and clean body on the furniture. My partner also puts her clothing on the floor and furniture, which the dogs jump on and snuggle in and then she'll pick up those same clothing items and put them on again. She also allows the dogs to lick her face and low key her lips not too much, but I have never seen the dog's mouth clean. No doggy dental chews or nothing. My virgo mind is going crazy seeing all this, but I have held back because this is not my house nor my pets, so I haven't felt that it's my place.
Sam Sanders
Two months in a lesbian relationship. Those are your children?
Saeed Jones
Married my partner, Duck. Two months and you calling her your partner? This is still your right?
Sam Sanders
What are you talking about?
Saeed Jones
Okay, my partner does express that she always wants me over and loves spending time and it's more complex to have her at my place because she can't leave her dogs for too long. However, my final straw was last night. My partner was making us dinner when I walked in the kitchen and noticed that the dog's food bowls that are regularly on the floor on her kitchen counter right next to where she was putting the utensils that she was gonna cook our food with. I threw out a quick bae, you got the dog food bowl right next to the stuff you using to cook our food. Ew. She sighed, rolled her eyes and threw the utensils in the sink. I grabbed the dog bowls that she mentioned she had on the counter to clean, quickly rinsed them out and went to put them back when to my horror, I saw two human bowls that we eat out of on the floor to replace the dirty dog bowls. I had to hold myself back from cussing Sid, now I know you can't be using the same bowls we eat out of as dog bowls. If you do that, you might as well have them eat off of our forks. I just couldn't believe the girl I love would do such a thing. Is giving caucasusness and I hate that for both of us. We talked about it a little later and she said it will never happen again, but I'm still concerned at the mindset to begin with. Like Kid Fury said, if it involves filth, it doesn't involve me, and that's law. My questions are do you two allow Lincoln Laney on your furniture, on your bed, et cetera, and would you ever eat out of their same bowl or so serve serve others in dog bowls? Would this be a deal breaker to you if a partner did these things? Please help. I really love her. She is very receptive to things I bring up, but I don't want to be constantly adjusting and suggesting and suggesting. What do I do? Any help is super appreciated. Thanks, Shauna.
Sam Sanders
Well, Shawna. Oh, I miss Raptors. Yeah, I cannot argue with any of the points that you made in this particular message to us. I don't disagree on anything that you've said as someone who has a beautiful doggy for a baby of mine own. My daughter has what we call home training. She has self respect, and she has respect for our home. She. She knows she's a dog.
Saeed Jones
Mm. Interesting. Lainey does not.
Sam Sanders
And. Oh, she's a baby.
Saeed Jones
Right.
Sam Sanders
She's not there yet.
Saeed Jones
Right.
Sam Sanders
It took a couple of years for. It'll be a while. Fine. Okay, cool. Whatever.
Saeed Jones
I'm in the trenches. I'm in the trenches, you know, But.
Sam Sanders
I've made it as lavish for her. She wants for nothing.
Saeed Jones
True.
Sam Sanders
So there will never be a time, it will never be necessary for this bitch, this literal bitch to eat out of the bowls.
Saeed Jones
Come on, now. Come on, now.
Sam Sanders
That I use for my mouth.
Saeed Jones
I'm shocked by this.
Sam Sanders
See, now this is why she has more than one bowl for her food, for her water.
Saeed Jones
Yep, yep, yep, yep, yep.
Sam Sanders
Okay, now when there's one in the sink, because I haven't gotten to the dishes yet. Maybe.
Saeed Jones
Okay.
Sam Sanders
And. Oh, it's time for Link's food. Oh, I still haven't washed that thing. I pop out that other bowl that I can go to Target for.
Saeed Jones
Look at how it does that.
Sam Sanders
$13. I don't know.
Saeed Jones
Wow. And I put that there on that.
Sam Sanders
And I feed her out of bed because that is for dogs to eat out of, and she is a dog.
Saeed Jones
Yep.
Sam Sanders
Now, the bowls up in the. In the top in the cabinet where I put my mouth at, those are for human mouths. I feel like I wouldn't even disrespect her. Cause when I put that in front of her after, she'll be like, what is that? I don't all that to say. Some people just have different lines when it comes to pets. The line that you. That your girlfriend has drawn is a little too close for me, you know, personally, and I love my dog, but there are just certain things, especially when it comes to training, that have to be done a certain way. Now, the stuff like the them sleeping on or cuddling up on her clothes, that's just a dog thing. They like the way you smell. It's cozy. Whatever. I. In fact, a lot of times, if I'm, like, going to the gym, if I'm gonna be gone for a little bit or whatever, I might take, like, my hoodie or sweats or something like that, and I'll leave it in blink. Will curl up on it.
Saeed Jones
Yes. I'll throw a sock to Lany. And she don't need nothing else.
Sam Sanders
It's just like, yeah, okay, mom's here. Whatever. When I come back, do you know where that hoodie goes? Cause here's the thing. I already wore it.
Saeed Jones
Right?
Sam Sanders
That's why she likes it, right? Cause it smells like me.
Saeed Jones
Yeah.
Sam Sanders
And now it definitely smell like her, too. So that. We washed that now. We wash that now. And that's not Link. That has nothing.
Saeed Jones
I give Lainey a sock. It's not a sock I plan on wearing again without it being laundered. That's quite insane. She's been chewing on that, you know, Right?
Sam Sanders
I'm like, good luck if you can ever wear it again.
Saeed Jones
She has been nom nomin on that bitch. Just FYI.
Sam Sanders
The bed thing is another one, too. And I love that you were like, you know, I wouldn't even be too smoop about it if I noticed that these dogs got regular wipes and baths, but that don't seem to be.
Saeed Jones
That's not happening. So all I'm thinking is dog germs multiplied by a billion, and now they all festering around in this. In these bedsheets.
Sam Sanders
One of the few TikToks that I've posted, and it was long ago, actually, was me.
Saeed Jones
I already know. I already know.
Sam Sanders
And. And I think I saw a comment from someone who was like, oh, Link is so chill. Like, my dogs jump out the window when they see these. Like, they hate. Link is just like, yeah, okay, I'll do this.
Saeed Jones
This is a regular part of her life.
Sam Sanders
All right. In the back.
Saeed Jones
All right.
Sam Sanders
You know what I mean? And I'm so used to it that I just. My goofy ass sings Wipe Me down, and she's just like, let me just get this over with. But, like, that's why I don't flinch at her being on my couch or even jumping up in on the bed with me, because she does not go outside, jump on my bed, do any of that without me cleaning her paws, her snout, her bum, and all of it. She's constantly clean.
Saeed Jones
Like, God, their faces get so nasty so fast because they stick it to everything. All food and everything just dries up. You got to clean anyway. Keep talking, Keep talking. I do not want to interrupt.
Sam Sanders
No, I mean, I'm just saying, like, I think that you. There are some people. Like, I feel like a lot of people have differing lines and boundaries when it comes to pets, especially black folk. And some people who. Some people in this situation might be way more strict or uncomfortable or judgmental. And she's just kind of like, you know, I'm noticing something. Even though the bowls being next to the sink while she's washing. Whatever. Whatever. It was like, I thought that's where the frustration ends. She's like, all right, I'mma go wash the bowls or whatever and finds out the motherfucking shit that she just had Cinnamon Toast Crunch out of is on the goddamn ground with kibbles and bits in it. Like, bitch, are you okay? It's just like, I keep trying to meet you somewhere. And then something else like, what are we doing?
Saeed Jones
Y'all are having some very real issues here with regards to. I don't know, maybe it's cultural. Does she have maybe. She's probably. She grew up with white people in the home.
Sam Sanders
It probably is because my parents. My parents. It was like, my mother would not. Our first dog. I felt like my mother would not hush about how Americanized we were. Because the dog stayed in the house.
Saeed Jones
Yeah. Cause ours didn't. My mama did not play that. Absolutely not. Dogs live outside.
Sam Sanders
We were, you know, little kids. We were just like, oh, we want to play with the kid. A dog live inside the house.
Saeed Jones
How we.
Sam Sanders
And our dad was just like, yeah, you know, let him. But my mother was like, many things.
Saeed Jones
My mother was just like, what do you mean?
Sam Sanders
Like, my mother was just like that whole thing. Because they dogs, for them, a lot of times were barely pets. They just kept the house safe. You know what I mean? Like, yeah, you know what I mean? It was more so protecting her property and shit. Insurance, maybe. They were cute, ran around and stuff, but they weren't, like, fun, right? So they damn sure never came in the house. And even when I was a kid and went to Jamaica to visit and went to my grandpa's house and stuff like that, if the dogs would, like, step in the house, just one paw, my auntie would holler after them to get the fuck out. So it was like, I think maybe. Yeah. Culturally, I say that. All I have to say, like, for me, even, like, I still have the wiring of. You are a dog, okay? And even if you weren't, even if you were a little baby, right? A human, I would have to make sure that you are clean. And because you're always sticky, you're always sick. Always, always have something on you, right?
Saeed Jones
Is this like a 3 year old? Because those things are just walking sticky germs. That's all they do. They spread sugar and disease. That is it. That is all they do. Yuck.
Sam Sanders
But, yeah, I think it's just some people have, like, like no bounds when it comes to dogs. Even though licking the face link.
Saeed Jones
Yeah. Well, Lainey still does those things because she is a baby, but she is learning.
Sam Sanders
Yeah.
Saeed Jones
And I Don't mind Lainey lick. She cannot lick my mouth. Now, we don't play that, But I don't mind her licking me. She's not being trained to not lick. But she does know to stop if somebody says stop. Or they, you know, like, kia don't play that. So she can, you know, lick your hand a little bit. And then Kia's like, all right, Annie had enough. And that's fine. Laney will take whatever you willing to let her have.
Sam Sanders
But, yeah, I don't mind the licking as long as it's not my face.
Saeed Jones
Yeah, I don't even mind, like, cheeks. Just not my. But I don't let her do it a lot because it's like your nasty tongue on my skin. I gotta wash my face now. I'm breaking out. Is it your fault? So, you know, there's that, but it's also. I don't know. I. Lainey has for sure changed me in a lot of ways. For sure. For sure. Coming from Oklahoma, where a dog's lived outside, to now having this purely inside dog, I think that's a huge difference. Lainey is much cleaner than the average dog who lives outside, but she still goes outside. She just don't live out there. And when she comes home, like you said, everything gets wiped down. We do a full grooming routine every night where she gets deodorized, skin conditioned, everything combed out, eye powder, the whole nine. And there's lots of aspects of it that, you know, when I first started wiping her down and all, that, she wasn't really with it. But that's because. But you don't have no choice. You are a baby, and you have to be cleaned. This is just part of life. So used to it. They get used to it. Yes. So at this point, she's. She's welcome in my bed. She doesn't get on my pillow. I don't know how I feel about her on my pillow. But she don't even try to get up there. She likes to lay by my feet. Now, the thing with the dog bows, I would also be grossed out. I would. Because why, if the dogs have specific bowls, why. But also to be completely fair, objectively saying, hot water and soap kill even dog germs. They kill even dog germs. I'm just. Just being fair about it.
Sam Sanders
Of course they do.
Saeed Jones
So mentally, would I be okay with it? No, it's always that's. I'm never going to eat out of Lainey's bowl. That's Lainey's bowl, like, right for me, that distinction is so clear. Even though she eats human grade food. So it's not even dog food in the bowl. And I still just don't feel right about it. But if. I don't know it's nasty.
Sam Sanders
They're not subway rats. Cats. Like, nothing we're talking about is really going to, like. It's highly unlikely that you're going to, like, get some sort of, you know, vicious disease if you, you know, let your dog sleep in. In the bed and you didn't wipe their paws this week or something like that. It's just nasty.
Saeed Jones
In some people's and yalls houses smell like dog and you don't know it. That's how you build up to having a smell in your house. And you don't know the dog pees on the puppy pads and you. Or piss shits or whatever, and you leave it for hours. And they are. You don't bother to clean up after them. This is still a beast that you have to constantly be cleaning up after.
Sam Sanders
Yeah.
Saeed Jones
So would I ever serve somebody out of Lainey's bowl? Absolutely. The fuck not. I could personally bleach that bowl down and I would still never serve another person from it because. No, I'm sorry. Mentally, there's a block there and it's just gross. But. So, yeah, if I were you, I think that's where I would be with it. Just straight up. Like, there's certain things about this that are kind of gross to your girl. I'm not gonna be. And it sounds like your partner is receptive to that even.
Sam Sanders
So, yeah, it doesn't sound like either of you are pushing too hard.
Saeed Jones
I think you're just so grossed out. Whereas she's like, okay, if. If that makes you uncomfortable, I'll adjust. But you're like the initial disgustedness of it all. And I. I mean, I do get that because again, I'm simply never going to eat out of Lanies, but I'm never going to do that. I'm never going to serve anybody but a dog. Out of them four bowls that are designated for Lainey's food and water. I just. There's no need for that, so. But good luck to you, Shawna. Sorry.
Sam Sanders
That'll be fine. It sounds typical.
Saeed Jones
It's gross, but it's. It's a. And if y'all. If y'all end up, you know, married forever, like it sounds like you might be, you can. The things that you're grossed out by, your partner may not even mind you just doing them instead. Like, you wipe the dogs down before they get in the bed. Then if it, you know, if it bothers you that much, if, if she's okay with that, then why not, you know.
Sam Sanders
Yeah.
Saeed Jones
Little things. But this, this can definitely be worked through. You just had an initial shock of. I didn't even know. Acted like this. And that's unbelievable.
Sam Sanders
Yeah, you said. I remember. That's probably just how she's always.
Saeed Jones
Yeah.
Sam Sanders
Always dogs and her family maybe. Yeah.
Saeed Jones
Nobody got scurvy. You know, her family's fine.
Sam Sanders
Yeah. Like, it's not like. Yeah, it's just kind of gross.
Saeed Jones
Yeah, it's just kind of gross. And we don't do that. So. All right. Sha. Good luck with the conversation with your girl again. Keep us updated. That's going to wrap up the letters for this week. If you have a question for us, send it on over to Ask the Read gmail dot com. We'll be right back. Hey y'all. Acorns makes it so easy to start automatically saving and investing so your money has a chance to grow for you, your kids, your dog. Maybe if your dog spends all your money like mine and your retirement. Look, you don't need to be an expert. Acorns will recommend a diversified portfolio that fits you and your money goals. And you don't need to be rich. Acorns lets you invest with the spare money you've got right now. You can start with $5 or even just your spare change. Okay. Acorns gives you, you and your money a chance to grow. You don't need to feel like financial wellness is impossible. Acorns gives you small, simple steps to get you and your money on track. So head on over to acorns.com the read or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today. Now wait girlies, because this part is important. Paid non client endorsement compensation provides incentive to positively promote Acorn Tier 2 compensation provides investing involves risk Acorn Advisors LLC and SEC registered investment advisor. View important disclosures@acorns.com theread when we're trying.
Sam Sanders
To make progress, life's curveballs often feel like taking one step forward and three backflips back. A Chime checking account makes financial progress easier with features like no maintenance fees or getting paid up to two days early with direct deposit and with fees in everything. And I mean everything. Concert tickets, airlines, movies, every video game. It's just like their fees and everything. And with Spot Me Chime will spot you up to $200 when you exceed your balance. Sickening Eligible Members also get complimentary boosts to temporarily increase a friend's Spot Me limit. And when you give a boost, your friends can boost you back to temporarily raise your limit. Friendship make progress towards a better financial future with Chime. Open your account in two minutes@chime.com theread that's chime.com the read Chime feels like progress. Banking services and debit card provided by the Bancorp Bank NA or Stride Bank NA members. FDIC Spy Me eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. Boosts are available to eligible tribe members enrolled in SpotMe and are subject to monthly limits. Timing depends on submission of payment file fees. Apply at out of network ATMs. Okay, we are back and it is now time for the read. You can start.
Saeed Jones
I have a few quick things that have really pissed me off. Jesus Christ. For a while there last week, it literally felt like every time I picked up my phone, there was some new absolute disaster happening in this world. And one of those things was this aircraft collision over the Potomac that was just devastating. Of course, I immediately reached out to Kia, who had just been at the airport. So that really fucked me up. But anyway, several people tragically lost their lives. I've been crying at some of these videos. There was a video of this American Airlines flight attendant who, like, you know, some of the flight attendants, like, put on a little show and they're so animated and like, they seem to really love their job and all that. This guy was one of those. It was a black girl who was a flight attendant for however many years. Another one who had a black woman who had gone to Harvard Law and was going to start teaching at Howard this fall. A bunch of kids who were ice skaters and stuff like, so it's just tragic, right? Just devastating, this helicopter and plane colliding and we trying to figure out what happened in all this. You would think the loss of life, that the main focus of the people in charge would be empathy, sympathy, condolences, you know, regular human things. Yeah, you would think government would feel that way especially. Anyway. But no, we have Donald Trump as president. We have Elon Musk calling the shots. And so Trump said that Di could be the cause of this fatal, terrible collision. And talking about how Joe Biden and Barack Obama have done all this shit with the Federal Aviation Administration and, and that, you know, they're, they're making disabled people air traffic controllers and they shouldn't be. And I just literally said that the Biden administration recruited people with severe intellectual disabilities in FAA hiring. And when they asked him if he was going to visit the crash site. When they asked him if he was going to visit the crash site, he said, what, the water? You want me to go swimming? First of all, DEI is not the cause. That is not the reason this happened. The pilots of the helicopter, I believe, were both white. One of them was a woman. The woman's family is not even releasing her. I mean, she might not be white, I'm not entirely sure, but they're not even releasing her, her name, because of the way that people are acting because of Trump's reaction to this whole thing. But anyway, it turns out that air traffic controllers are being asked to work more and more. It turns out that people have been raising the red flag, ringing the alarm about the number of flights flying in and out of dca, that whole area. They were told that air traffic needed to be reduced and in the name of capitalism, it was increased instead. And anyway, the thing is, it doesn't take much to go find real news and see what is going on. Like, it actually doesn't take much. The problem is that this absolute asshole is the president and everything he says and does is news. And so. So when you decide to address the media for the first time after something this horrific happened, quite literally in the backyard of Washington D.C. for you to then turn around and blame diversity and equity, and saying that severely mentally handicapped people are the ones running air traffic control is just, just so many people are going to take whatever lies and you say at face value and not bother to find out the truth. And then they go around perpetuating these exact same pieces of shit to everybody else.
Sam Sanders
Right?
Saeed Jones
So the trash you say doesn't just stay with you. And I mean, this is what we have been seeing since the Trump inception. But for this nigga, this nigga has been in office not even a month. Month. Not even a month. And they are talking about trying to get rid of the Department of Education. Now, isn't that, is that actually going to happen? I don't know. Doesn't sound likely. But who, who fucking knows? I don't know what's legal anymore. I don't know what. When people say, oh, well, Trump can try to do this, he could try to do that, but the Constitution says this, and it'll be challenged in court. That the Constitution being held up by this Supreme Court court, this Trump Supreme Court. Oh, oh, they'll battle it out in court where he has appointed God only knows how many judges, where we see people and businesses falling all over themselves to, to. To fall in line with the things that Donald Trump says and does and wants. And that's going to segue me right into something extremely uncomfortable. That, frankly, Chris may not allow me to say this. I may not be allowed to say this publicly. And so if so, Dwayne, just put a long beep here and the people will never know what I said. And Azealia Banks, you're a hating ass hoe, and you will forever remain one. I knew. I knew Dochi winning that Grammy was gonna poke her in a. In her insecurity place. But to call that girl a burnt matchstick, to say Dochi is just a burnt match. Like, what does that even. You're so, so pressed. Stay pressed. And to wrap up, like I said, I had a list of people who got on my nerves this week. Carla Sophia Gaston, the star of Amelia Perez, the Trans Woman, who. Who is apparently the Caitlyn Jenner of Spain.
Sam Sanders
Girl.
Saeed Jones
So it was discovered over the bigger.
Sam Sanders
Gag than the movie.
Saeed Jones
Well, and I still haven't seen it. Katya, the way Katya reacted to it.
Sam Sanders
It is really bad.
Saeed Jones
Let me just sidebar here right quick. Katya talked about that movie, which set with such hatred in her voice. She was right that it makes. It makes. I now understand why so many people went and watched Acrimony after I talked about it. Because I used to wonder, I talked so bad about that movie. What made y'all say, I need to go see it? And now I understand.
Sam Sanders
No, I have no, this can't be.
Saeed Jones
When somebody describes it with such vitriol and disgust, you're like, I have to see it for myself. Like, is this bitch just dramatic or is it really this bad?
Sam Sanders
True. It's true.
Saeed Jones
At my turn. Now I get it. I get it now. I get what y'all said. It ain't no way y'all said, I'm gonna watch the movie and I'm gonna be able to tell Crystal exactly how she got on the boat. That's what y'all thought. Y'all thought. Yeah, y'all said, oh, she just missed it.
Sam Sanders
Don't worry. I'm gonna tell you only for them all to surge into your comments, talking about, okay, we can figure this out. Let's just put our heads together. We can figure something out. Okay, now, two plus two. No, that movie was bad. Well, when it was, like, sweeping over at the Golden Globes or whatever, I think that was, like, the first time I heard it.
Saeed Jones
Oh, yeah.
Sam Sanders
And so I went to go look it up, and I was like a musical with Zoe Saldana in it. What are you saying?
Saeed Jones
About what?
Sam Sanders
So then I went and I watched it.
Saeed Jones
Oh, man.
Sam Sanders
It was not. It's not a good movie.
Saeed Jones
Okay, well, I. I mean, I do.
Sam Sanders
Trust the two of you, but it's like a novella. And I get that it's supposed to be whatever, but again, this Carla Sofia reveal was so. Jack.
Saeed Jones
So. So shout out to Sarah Hagi. She is a Muslim journalist from Ottawa. Says here she's written for Guardian, buzzfeed, Taste Cooking. She currently writes for Vulture, where she recaps episodes of Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. And I saw a video of her talking about this and she was like, yeah, I basically just searched her account and then like the word Muslim or Black Lives Matter or whatever, and all this shit came right up. And these are not old tweets, you know, they're not 2010 Covid. No, seriously, that's what I'm saying. Like, these are four or five years old. These are not. Oh, in my youth, I was so dumb. This. This is. This is a grown woman. So this was yesterday for you? You know, anyway, if you somehow haven't seen it, this hates Muslims was talking about. All of a sudden it's more Muslims in Spain. When I go get my kids from school, you hoes is wearing skirts down to your heels.
Sam Sanders
Teach them Arabic.
Saeed Jones
We gonna have to start teaching Arabic. Yes. And I was like, wow, talking about the. The hijab and the women are, you know, they swear they really like this and they being oppressed and don't even know it. And it's like I gagged at her.
Sam Sanders
Saying she went to the school and all the girls were wearing skirts down to their knees. I was like, well, but miss. As opposed to what? And they're girls at school.
Saeed Jones
You're offended because people are wearing skirts that. Full length skirts. Is that really a problem?
Sam Sanders
Of all the things, like, in general.
Saeed Jones
That's silly.
Sam Sanders
But you're talking about girl students at school. Like, okay, why. Why is that?
Saeed Jones
Students, teachers, staff, parents. It. It's a long skirt. You know, anybody can wear a long skirt, right? Like.
Sam Sanders
Like, why is that offensive?
Saeed Jones
There's stuff here about. Oh, yeah, George Floyd mentioned. George Floyd, quote, I really think that very few people ever cared about George Floyd, a drug addiction swindler. But his death has served to once again demonstrate that there are people who can, who still consider black people to be monkeys without rights and consider policemen to be assassins. They're all wrong. No, you're wrong. Too many things to reflect on regarding the behavior of our species. Every time an event occurs. Perhaps it is no longer a question of racism, but of social classes that feel threatened by each other. Maybe that's the only real difference. Wow, sweetie, this is a potato could give you this analysis. You would have to be just as dumb as one to think that race and class have no intersection. Like, you would have to just be a real fucking dummy to think that race and class, or even social class, have nothing to do with one another. Like, did you just get here? Last week she criticized the Oscars, talking about they looking like a ceremony for independent and protest films. I didn't know if I was watching an. I didn't know if I was watching an Afro Korean festival, a Black Lives Matter demonstration, or the 8M. Apart from that, an ugly, ugly gala.
Sam Sanders
God damn. The same ceremony.
Saeed Jones
Like, the same ceremony that you're now nominated as best actress called the COVID vaccine. The Chinese vaccine. Said the Chinese vaccine, apart from the mandatory chip, comes with two spring rolls, a cat that moves its hand, two plastic flowers, a pop up lantern, three telephone lines, and one euro for your first controlled purchase.
Sam Sanders
I didn't see that.
Saeed Jones
Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Sam Sanders
I heard Netflix is pissed.
Saeed Jones
Oh, yes. I'm just like, girl, I heard y'all.
Sam Sanders
Produced this whole ass movie, went on this, this campaign that allegedly cost y'all millions and all this other stuff. Stuff. And nobody looked up her tweets from a couple years ago.
Saeed Jones
It's quite. Or nobody. Nobody even scrolled through her socials. How did y'all find this girl? How did you even end up casting her? How did she. How was she even cast? I don't understand how a freelance journalist who I'm sure is, you know, good at her job, but like, the girl is. Is writing Housewives of Salt Lake City recaps. Like, this is not. She's not. Not. This isn't some hard hitting investigative journalism. And you know she doesn't work for the fucking Times or the Post. This girl said, hmm, let me just search some tweets. Bam. Bam. And now Netflix is not flying you out no more. They said if you come, it's gonna be on your own fucking dime, paying for shit. You're no longer invited to none of these little fets leading up to the Oscars. Like, like, I just. I mean it. We'll see if she actually wins it. That'll be something. That will really be something. Because I'm sure voting closed before all this controversy came out. Probably did. But you know, it ain't clarifying your statements. Of course. She said you know, y'all are doing too much. Blah, blah, blah. None of this matters. You know, y'all trying to diminish the work. And who said that this bitch did this? This?
Sam Sanders
I thought she apologized.
Saeed Jones
Yeah, this is what I'm saying. This is her. This is her little bullshit apology. And I just. I'm so completely. There's nothing you can say, okay? There's nothing you can say to clean this up. As far as I'm concerned. The Chinese vaccine, this shit about you didn't know if it was an Afro Korean Festival or Black Lives Matter. All this like, you really. You really are the Caitlyn of Spain. Like, you. You really. You're one of those girls who thinks you're the exception and you don't see how the oppression of other people is related to your own. You might not even consider yourself to be a member of an oppressed class. You may just think that you have risen right above that trans shit. And that's really not any of your business anymore. You. Maybe so. Maybe so. But I. I went from, you know, feeling apathetic about it to now actively rooting for this bitch's downfall. Shout out to Sarah for really, really up some plans over there at Netflix. Really, really throwing a wrench in the schedule over there. And that's it for me. Oh, damn. Wow. We went on.
Sam Sanders
She can act, too. Like, the movie's not good, but what they, you know, the people within it who can act what they were given, they tore up. Like, she's a really good actor and did a great job in the film. Although I didn't like it, but. Yeah, that's a bummer, I guess, for their campaign. I still. I feel like it still should be Cynthia's, but I feel like if they don't give it to Cynthia, they're either gonna give it to Demi or they're gonna give it to Fernanda. I feel like they might. I give it to Demi.
Saeed Jones
Yeah, I think so, too. But, you know, we shall see.
Sam Sanders
Cause Demi tore ass in the substance as well. Cynthia's done the best in the category as far as I'm concerned.
Saeed Jones
Well, Ms. Demi was not lay. Yeah. I think it's just the egot anticipation of it all for me. But I also don't think this will be her last shot at getting one.
Sam Sanders
That's the thing. And I think a lot of voters might think, too.
Saeed Jones
Yeah. Oh, there is that.
Sam Sanders
Whereas Demi. This is like her comeback, but it doesn't mean. And she really did a great job. That's what I'm Saying. That's exactly what I'm saying.
Saeed Jones
Category is stacked. Like Best New Artist was very fucking stacked at the Grammys. Sometimes it's just excellent performances all around and what can you do? Yeah, but we'll see.
Sam Sanders
Okay, so I'm gonna pass my read.
Saeed Jones
Like we used to.
Sam Sanders
And just for fun, I'll let you know that I haven't really read it.
Saeed Jones
Oh, okay.
Sam Sanders
I just read the title, which is, why is this white dyke in my DMs? It reads, oh, it's from a very tired black and Southeast Asian lesbian.
Saeed Jones
Okay, not me. Great.
Sam Sanders
Dear white people, I'm going to hold your hand gently with a napkin in between when I say, because I really have not for many years now had interest in discussing politics with white people, and that hasn't changed. I know you probably mean well and I know you want to be in dialogue with a diverse community, but please talk to your people and not me and mine. Let me remind you, black people, especially black women, did not tip the vote for djt. Your mama, cousin and auntie and them did. I'm actively not engaging with administration specific political content right now. For my own sanity, I am not interested in white liberal doomerism. We have bigger fish to fry than spending all my time with the names of DJT and associates on my lips. I have bigger priorities right now, like helping protect my neighbors and community from ICE raids in Chicago. Making sure trans and non binary and gender trans non conforming folks in my life and community are materially safe. Not worrying about who was following POTUS or VP the day after inauguration. But the accident bringing dumbass virtue signals into my DMs is not doing the work that's not organizing, nor will it save anyone. If it took you until 2025 to realize that the account handles are recycled and the old admin content is archived for U.S. political social media accounts. Then welcome to understanding how government accounts are handled on a technical level. There is a lot of information being changed over and when you interact with information like that, it bugs. That's normal with technology. As someone who literally worked for a Fortune tech company, I can tell you it's extremely fragile. Not always reliable. It's really not the litmus test you think it litmus test you think it is, nor it nor is it the gotcha that you think it is. What I really want to focus on though is why you felt so bold and comfortable as to slide into my damn DMs talking about fucking J.D. vance completely unprompted. Instead of worry about me, why don't you worry about why? How every time you get drunk you cry and try to cheat on your girlfriend. Worry about why your parents have been in a loveless sexless marriage since the dawn of time and the only thing you have to show for it is white supremacy with a blue bow on it. Instead, worry about why nobody except people who can pass the paper bag test in their mid July skin tone associate with you. If you're so fucking worried about this administration, how about you? One, go raise some money. Two, put it where your mouth is. And three, stay the fuck out of my ethnic ass business. Sincerely, a very tired black and southeast Asian lesbian. P.S. yes, queers, your queerness does not erase nor otherwise change your whiteness.
Saeed Jones
Got to tell them that again.
Sam Sanders
You too.
Saeed Jones
Yes. That includes you non binaries, everybody.
Sam Sanders
And with that I say thank you. I did that last part in there.
Saeed Jones
Some things just need to be said. Amen. Amen. Don't come over here bothering us with that mess about that, man. Cause if only black people could vote, we wouldn't have been in this situation. Please go buy the Sunpiper. If only black people could vote. White people getting out of here. Well, maybe not black men. Not letting white women go.
Sam Sanders
That's true.
Saeed Jones
So.
Sam Sanders
But that's very true sometimes tacking up all the tabs on the boat, they said.
Saeed Jones
Now wait a minute, wait a minute.
Sam Sanders
Trishell, wait a minute. Hold. Hold on now. Let's talk about it. We can't, can't be like this, okay? We gotta have a heart somewhere. There's gotta be a lot. Wait a minute, let's just hold on.
Saeed Jones
Well, maybe if we let the other girls stay, they'll be like, okay, as long as we can have an exotic, right?
Sam Sanders
That's what it is.
Saeed Jones
Just not you Kardashians. Oh no. Now we gotta get real strict about white sorry Armenians and Italians.
Sam Sanders
We gotta do it sometime. So let's just get to it. Now's the time to do it. Let's get specific and let's get a chart going.
Saeed Jones
Shout out to the. Who is that that said that man?
Sam Sanders
I'm not gonna say their real name.
Saeed Jones
Oh yeah, yeah. If you have a read to pass.
Sam Sanders
Very tired black in Southeast Asian woman.
Saeed Jones
If you have a read to pass, send that to passtheread gmail.com because that was great. Yeah. Then that will wrap up this week's episode of the show. Check us out on social media at. This is the Read, our website. This is the read.com you can get tickets to our 12 year anniversary show. Taking place right here in New York City at the beacon theater on February 15th over at thereadlive.com and you can find our merch over at shoptheread.com any other announcements from you friend?
Sam Sanders
I have to agree on the live show. We will be there celebrating 12 years. Very excited.
Saeed Jones
I can't. Wow, wow, wow.
Sam Sanders
Wait. I feel like I haven't done a re live in a year. So. So I'm very much looking forward to that. You can also find me over on patreon.com kidfury we've got lots of fun content. I just posted a full film reaction to the substance. She's really good. So you can watch that and lots of other fun stuff over@patreon.com GitHub now follow us on Instagram and stuff. Happy Black History Month.
Saeed Jones
Yes.
Sam Sanders
Be good, be safe. Don't take nobody's shit, but don't go to jail if you can.
Saeed Jones
We'll see y'all next week.
Sam Sanders
Hey, I'm journalist Sam Sanders. I'm poet Saeed Jones.
Saeed Jones
And I'm producer Zach Stafford. And we are the hosts of a.
Sam Sanders
Podcast called Vibe Check. On Vibe Check, we talk about everything. News, culture and entertainment and how it all feels. That's right. We talk about any and everything on our show, from real life issues like.
Saeed Jones
Grief to music and movie critiques. And that barely scratches the surface.
Sam Sanders
Yes, indeed. And it doesn't stop there. We have got a lot to say, so join our group, chat, come to life, follow and listen to Vibe Check. Wherever you get your podcasts.
Summary of "The Read" Podcast Episode: "The Puppy Bowl" (February 6, 2025)
Introduction In this episode of "The Read," hosts Kid Fury and Crissle delve into a variety of topics celebrating Black excellence, recent industry honors, the highlights of the Grammy Awards, and listener interactions. The episode is marked by their characteristic humor, sharp wit, and insightful commentary.
Timestamp: [01:28]
Honoring Industry Legends Kid Fury opens the discussion by celebrating significant achievements within the Black community. He highlights the induction of George Clinton and Rodney Jerkins (Dark Child) into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Kid Fury: "Do you have to be like, how close to death do you need to be to be George Clinton, Dark Child?"
Crissle: "A Dark Child that's actually pretty young. They don't play about."
Insights:
Rodney Jerkins' Early Induction: At age 47, Rodney Jerkins becomes one of the youngest inductees, highlighting his impactful and enduring career in music.
Longevity in the Industry: The hosts humorously question the criteria for induction, emphasizing the importance of a sustained and influential presence in the music scene.
Timestamp: [03:08]
A Landmark Achievement Crissle announces the retirement of Asia Wilson's jersey at Colonial Life Arena in Columbia, South Carolina.
Highlights:
Asia Wilson's Legacy: Recognized as the most decorated Gamecock basketball player of all time, her jersey retirement signifies her exceptional contributions and inspiring journey from collegiate to professional levels.
Community and Family Support: Crissle praises Asia's collaboration with her parents and the head coach, Dawn Staley, underscoring the communal support behind her achievements.
Timestamp: [05:17]
Historic Wins The hosts discuss the recent Grammy Awards, noting a historic moment where for the first time in 33 years, the top three categories—Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year—were all won by Black artists, with Beyoncé taking home Album of the Year for "Cowboy Carter."
Kid Fury: "About damn time."
Crissle: "It's been ducking and dodging her for a while, but I actually knew that she had it."
Key Points:
Beyoncé's Victory: Celebrated as a long-awaited recognition of her artistry and impact on the music industry.
Quality of the Show: The hosts praise the overall production quality and performances, highlighting acts like Janelle Monáe and Doji for their standout moments.
Inclusivity and Representation: Emphasis on how the Grammys have evolved to better represent Black excellence and diverse artistry.
Timestamp: [17:05]
Drake’s Grammy Performance A significant portion of the discussion centers around Drake’s Grammy performance, critiqued for its theatricality and perceived lack of authenticity.
Crissle: "How did you even get Kid Cudi's address? Where do you even go to find that?"
Kid Fury: "He wants that girl to show up so bad."
Analysis:
Over-the-Top Staging: The hosts dissect Drake’s choice to wear a hoodie "riddled with bullet holes," suggesting it was an attempt to craft a certain image rather than a genuine expression.
Industry Support: Criticism is leveled at the industry's unwavering support for Drake despite ongoing controversies, questioning the motivations behind such endorsements.
Janelle Monáe’s Bold Stance Janelle Monáe is lauded for her fearless performance and outspoken criticism of Nelly for supporting Donald Trump.
Crissle: "If we can chop up Basquiat's skirt, then we can definitely chop up these other niggas."
Kid Fury: "Black women are my favorite part of Earth, period."
Impact:
Advocacy and Activism: Monáe's actions are praised as a powerful statement against political and social injustices, reinforcing the role of artists as advocates for change.
Empowerment: Highlighting how artists use their platforms to influence and inspire societal discourse.
Timestamp: [67:33]
May’s Concert Conundrum A heartfelt letter from May, a 40-year-old woman, seeks advice on whether to bring her strictly Christian Black mother to Beyoncé’s "Cowboy Carter" tour. May is concerned about her mother’s discomfort with the concert’s overt sexuality and vibrant atmosphere.
Conflict: Balancing her desire to attend the concert passionately with her mother's potential discomfort.
Emotional Impact: Fear of dampening the concert experience with negative interactions.
Advice from the Hosts:
Kid Fury: Suggests being honest about the previous experience and setting clear boundaries to ensure a positive experience.
Crissle: Recommends expressing personal enjoyment needs while respecting the mother’s feelings, potentially offering alternative dates or suggesting the mother attend with others.
Key Takeaways:
Setting Boundaries: Importance of prioritizing personal enjoyment while maintaining familial respect.
Effective Communication: Addressing concerns transparently to navigate complex emotional dynamics.
Shawna’s Pet Etiquette Issues Another letter from Shawna discusses conflicts with her partner regarding pet hygiene and etiquette, such as dogs on furniture and sharing food bowls.
Cleanliness: Discomfort with dogs jumping on furniture and sharing human dining utensils, raising hygiene issues.
Living Arrangements: Struggles with maintaining personal cleanliness standards in a shared living space.
Hosts’ Responses:
Insights:
Shared Living Challenges: Balancing pet care responsibilities with personal cleanliness preferences requires mutual understanding and compromise.
Healthy Relationships: Addressing grievances constructively is essential for maintaining harmonious living conditions.
Timestamp: [85:25]
Upcoming Events and Promotions The hosts wrap up the episode by promoting their 12-year anniversary show in New York City at the Beacon Theater on February 15th. They encourage listeners to connect via social media and participate in the live event.
Kid Fury: "You can find our merch over at shoptheread.com."
Crissle: "Happy Black History Month."
Final Thoughts:
Community Building: Emphasizing the importance of engaging with listeners and celebrating milestones together.
Continuous Support: Reinforcing their commitment to uplifting Black beauty and creativity throughout the year.
On Drumbeat Induction:
Beyoncé’s Grammy Win:
Drake’s Performance Critique:
Janelle Monáe's Advocacy:
Advice on Concert Dilemma:
In "The Puppy Bowl" episode of "The Read," Kid Fury and Crissle effectively blend humor with poignant commentary, celebrating Black excellence while critically examining industry dynamics and personal relationships. The episode not only honors significant achievements but also provides relatable advice for listeners navigating their own challenges, all while fostering a sense of community and empowerment.