We Talk Back — Episode Summary

Podcast: We Talk Back
Episode: RIP, The Streets Is Dead
Hosts: TamBam & AJ Holiday
Date: September 4, 2025
Network: The Black Effect & iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this episode titled "RIP, The Streets Is Dead," TamBam and AJ Holiday dive into the shifting dynamics of street culture, relationships, snitching, and what it truly means to be "real" in today’s Black community. Using the high-profile Young Thug trial, publicized celebrity relationships, and provocative social trends as talking points, the hosts mix their signature blend of unfiltered comedy, cultural critique, and personal advice to reflect on the changes impacting femininity, masculinity, and the collective Black experience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Weekend Catch-up & Mood Setting

• [03:02] TamBam and AJ kick off with a personal weekend recap, shopping deals, and cookout anecdotes.
• Mini-rant about no one liking their music choices at friend Raquel’s birthday ("Y’all just ratchet! I like old school." — AJ, 03:56).

2. The Cam Newton & Jasmine Brown Relationship Drama

• [05:22] AJ shares her irritation over Cam Newton’s repeated public embarrassment of Jasmine Brown and refusal to define their relationship, even as she carries his child.
  • "Imagine somebody asking your baby daddy, you’re pregnant with his second child... are y’all even dating?" (AJ, 05:22)
• Discussion about Jasmine’s social media post on raising sons to be the men women dream of, and speculation about her current regret.
• [07:42] Emotional reality: "I feel like I subconsciously raised him to be a man I can only dream of but never experience. And that's traumatic." — Jasmine Brown (via TamBam)
• Hosts reflect on generational patterns (referencing Yaya Mayweather and NBA YoungBoy).

3. Marriage in the Black Community – Offset’s Cynicism vs. Elders’ Wisdom

• [09:39] Offset tells podcast hosts not to get married — “you just lose yourself in a marriage.”
• [11:24] Positive marriage soundbites highlighted from Ty Dolla $ign and Anthony Hamilton; discuss the importance of family for Black generational wealth.
  • "We’re not gonna get anywhere in society until we put back the emphasis on family." — Ty Dolla $ign (as cited by AJ, 12:04)
• [12:26] "Men think they have to wait until they get their bag to get married. That will come once you get a wife." (AJ)
• Offset’s negativity attributed to him being "a man scorned" amid relationship troubles with Cardi B (TamBam, 13:18).
• Reflection on women believing they can "change" men — and why that almost never works.

4. Cardi B Court Drama & Female Celebrity Scrutiny

• [16:04] Recap of Cardi B’s courtroom incident: throws phone at a reporter who asked about a paternity test.
  • "Don’t be asking me disrespectful questions. She hasn't even announced that she's pregnant; you talking about a paternity test!" — TamBam (17:38)
• Hosts defend Cardi, framing her actions as real and relatable, especially considering media disrespect.

5. Main Topic: “The Streets is Dead” — What Does It Mean?

• [18:19] The central debate: Has “the streets” and its old ideas of street code, loyalty, and ‘realness’ died?
• AJ: "The street’s been dead as far as I’m concerned." (18:19)
• Transition into discussion about snitching, “realness,” and whether today’s street culture holds any value.

6. Snitching, Street Codes, and the Young Thug Trial

• [22:03] Both hosts discuss following the Young Thug trial (AJ’s cousin treats it "like a soap opera").
• [23:06] “80% of people in prison snitched.” — AJ challenges the myth of widespread ‘no-snitching’.
• [25:27] TamBam: "If you are a law-abiding citizen and you witness a crime and you inform the police... you’re not a snitch."
• Explains Alford Plea (27:12), how cases often only get built due to cooperation, and why most “civilians” would talk if put in that position.
• [28:57] Discussion on women disproportionately serving time for covering for men, with real-life examples.
  • "Most women are in prison because they covered a man. A lot of women are in prison for some shit they did not do, being a real bitch, down bottom bitch." — AJ (28:57)
• Critique the glorification of male prisoners and the social incentives around ‘street cred’.

7. Changing Definitions of "Real" in the Black Community

• [33:30] TamBam: “Real meant someone solid, respected in the streets, lived by the code. But now it’s about authenticity, vulnerability, healing, and emotional honesty.”
• New role models are artists like Kendrick, J. Cole, Drake — "a different kind of real."
• [34:44] AJ: Calls out the archetype of "real nigga" as a facade — "Young Thug... this is the end... niggas been snitching; there never really was a street code."

8. Quality Control, QCP’s Response, and Who Qualifies as “Real”

• [36:54] QCP’s Instagram response, declaring: “I’m not a street n—. I’m a tax-paying citizen... All the street n— are broke, dead, or in jail. Why do y’all keep glorifying this?”
• [37:29] Hosts agree: realness is about taking care of family, not “crashing out.”

9. Corporate Snitching, Whistleblowers & Double Standards

• Brief compare/contrast of snitching in the streets vs. whistleblowing in the workplace.
• [45:14] AJ: “Whistleblowers are celebrated. Still, that’s a snitch. Right? Somebody telling on you at work?”

10. Snitching Scenarios & Moral Dilemmas (Lively Roleplay)

• [49:48 – 57:30] Series of hypothetical “would you snitch?” situations:
  • If your cousin gets you arrested–stay silent or talk?
  • If payroll is short and you know your coworker is stealing?
  • If police give you an ultimatum: talk or take a charge?
  • Would you take prison time to save your man/kid?
• TamBam: "I am not about to take a charge for you. I’m not that girl." (27:24)
• AJ: "Do what’s best for you. These niggas won’t crash out for you, so don’t crash out for them." (57:48)
• Universal takeaway: Women, protect your peace; avoid sacrificing your freedom for anyone.

11. Broader Social Commentary & Generational Shift

• [58:30 – end] Calling for an end to glorifying “the streets.”
  • "Let the streets die. Let that era be over. We need bigger and better things." — TamBam (61:33)
• [59:59] "The cool thing is to get money, get a fine woman, take care of your children, start building generational wealth... Y’all missing out on life." — AJ
• [60:46] Final thoughts on prison sexuality, loyalty, and the false romance of jailhouse relationships.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Cam Newton:
  • "You done ran into the fucking Thanos of modern women and he done turned you into a pick meisha." — AJ, [06:50]
• On Changing Street Codes:
  • "A real nigga is somebody who takes care of their fucking family, who's not about to crash out..." — AJ, [33:30]
  • "All the street n— are broke, dead and in jail. Why do y’all continue to glorify this?" — QCP (via AJ), [36:54]
• On Snitching:
  • "Snitches do not, in fact, get stitches. 6ix9ine is walking around perfectly fine." — TamBam, [46:08]
  • "Most women are in prison because they covered a man..." — AJ, [28:57]
• On Relationship Sacrifice:
  • "Don't let these men steal your youth. Make sure you're doing it for the right person in your family, not some fucking nigga who don't even consider you." — AJ, [15:27]
• On Letting Go of "The Streets":
  • "Letting the streets die means it’s time for us to focus on family, generational wealth and bigger, better things." — TamBam, [61:33]
• On Black Accountability:
  • "We can’t keep blaming the man when we’re doing this to our own people. Even the things they do wouldn’t work if they didn’t have help from a Black person." — AJ, [44:42]

Major Timestamps

• [03:02] Weekend Recap & Cookout Stories
• [05:22] Cam Newton & Jasmine Brown
• [09:39] Offset’s Anti-Marriage Comments
• [16:04] Cardi B Courtroom Outburst
• [18:19] "The Streets is Dead" Question Introduced
• [22:03] Young Thug Trial & “Street Codes”
• [28:57] Women in Prison for Men’s Crimes
• [33:30] Redefining “Realness”
• [36:54] QCP’s Response & Realness Redefined
• [45:14] Corporate Snitching/Whistleblower Debate
• [49:48 – 57:30] Snitching Scenarios
• [61:33] Let the Streets Die — Final Reflections

Episode Tone and Style

Bold, comedic, and raw, TamBam and AJ stay true to their style—direct, sisterly, and unafraid to name names or challenge Black cultural taboos. They balance humor with urgency, especially when warning women against sacrificing for unworthy men, and push back against the romanticization of "street" ideals.

Takeaways for Listeners

• The mythology of “the streets” is not just outdated, but actively harmful—especially to women and Black families.
• “Snitching” is a loaded term; most so-called no-snitching actually falls apart under real pressure.
• “Realness” today is about growth, vulnerability, taking care of family, and building wealth—not criminal credibility.
• Stop sacrificing your well-being and future to cover for men still stuck in outdated “street” mentalities.
• Let the streets die and invest in your own personal and communal growth.