After the Snow

First up, Dave and Rick update the audience on what’s been going on in their lives the past week. Rick has been to Atlanta and Houston, while Dave is in DC. The hosts jump into the 9th episode of Snowfall, where the fallout after Louie and Jerome’s wedding is taking place. Buckley’s hit on Kane has gone badly and he’s being suspended from the force and drug tested. The double cross has come into full view now, with Leon and Franklin learning that Louie paid Buckley to take out Kane and also has begun buying directly from Teddy. Mental health is once again a topic of discussion as Leon takes back his copy of the book The Wretched Of The Earth from Franklin. Rick says he never went to therapy but considers if it’s something he might still want to do. Rick’s forays into other cities around the country with his cocaine business in the 1980’s are discussed as the subject comes up when Jerome and Louie tell Franklin they are going fully on their own, which may cripple Franklin’s business. Leon’s evolution into someone who thinks deeply about the impact of crack on his community continues, and Rick discusses his own transformation from drug dealer to activist. The hosts talk about what they expect to happen in the show’s finale episode next week. After The Snow, the authentic Snowfall after show, is in full effect.

This week’s episode (#8) of Snowfall, entitled “Celebration,” takes an interesting turn, leaving our co-hosts, Freeway Rick, Dave, and Brett with a lot to dive into. Rick is coming at you from Atlanta, while Brett and Dave are stationed at the Breakbeat Headquarters in Chicago. The hosts (attempt to) dissect the double-crossings and secret meet-ups from this week. First, Aunt Louie, with the help of Oso, gets together with Teddy to let him know that she wants to buy directly from him. Wow, Louie, after everything Franklin has done for you? Okay, next up is Veronique. She meets alone with Kane to confirm Franklin’s story that he and Kane have resolved their differences and will move forward amicably. Wonder how Franklin would feel knowing that his pregnant girlfriend is secretly meeting with dangerous people in dark bars? Then there’s Cissy who meets with Ruben, an apparent operative, to let him know about Louie and Jerome’s upcoming nuptials. Certainly seems like all the women in Franklin’s life are sneaking around behind his back. Rick reveals the true tales of times when his inner circle has crossed him. Power is the most dangerous weapon anyone can carry and everyone wants a piece. At the Jerome-Louie wedding, everyone is present — friends, family, enemies, employees, and otherwise. Scully spikes the chocolate fountain with LSD, leaving all of the guests hallucinating and dealing with tough revelations. Franklin comes face-to-face with the mirage of himself, along with those he’s crossed in his past, including White Rob. Ruben, who is posing as a waiter nearly has his cover blown when Cissy’s paranoia takes over and she confronts him, calling him a member of the KGB. What is happening?! Not only are audiences taken through an alternate reality, what was supposed to be a fun day, turns sour. The hosts realize that much of the series has focused on pain, death, guns, and drugs. Where are the celebrations, as the episode is entitled? With all of this newfound money, why isn’t anyone ever enjoying it? Finally, the episode ends with Franklin apologizing to Louie for never giving her more control within the empire. But is it too late? Tune in to hear what Rick, Dave, and Brett think. Peace.

After watching episode 7 of Snowfall (“Lying In A Hammock”), our co-hosts Dave and Rick break down all of the excitement and intrigue that this new episode brings. Rick first recaps his trip to Chicago earlier this week where he had a chance to hang out in person with Dave. They talk about Larry Hoover and one of Rick’s childhood friends who ended up in Chicago and became very close to Hoover. Hoover is the subject of an in-depth narrative podcast currently being completed by Breakbeat Media. Rick notes that Leon has shown restraint in trying to broker peace with Kane, and how real that is. Rick talks about how he connected with OGs like Kane and how that helped him expand his influence and reach. The audience gets a solid dose of Hip-Hop history as the hosts discuss Tam’s Burgers, and provide some unique insight on Suge Knight, Eazy E, Dr. Dre and Harry O. Auntie Louie is emerging as a ruthless leader, even as she is surprised when Uncle Leon presents her with a huge diamond engagement ring. It turns out that Peaches was a heroin junkie. Rick speaks about why he stayed away from that drug and how cocaine was different because it was a “celebrity” drug back in those days. They get into a conversation about the stigma surrounding mental health treatment in the hood as we see Uncle Jerome going through some deep, reflective moments. Leon and Uncle Jerome are both shown looking to give back to their community. The hosts discuss the difficulties and dangers of staying connected to the hood even as an individual reaches greater levels of financial success and societal clout. The remaining 3 episodes of this season of Snowfall look like they are going to be super-intense as the drama and tension spreading across all of the main characters is really taking shape. Stay tuned to After The Snow for the exclusive insights and analysis you will only find here. Peace.

*Deep breath* Snowfall's viewers finally receive some big reveals in the recent episode (#6) -- or so they think. "The Iliad: Part 2" has tons of information, leaving co-hosts, Dave, Rick, and Brett with a lot to dissect. What's up with this tiger? Oso and Franklin manage to escape the cage they were locked in only to be captured again by Mexican gang members still on the hunt for Franklin's moneybags. The hosts talk about what Franklin and Oso should have done. There were far too many mistakes. Rick sheds light on how he handled similar situations. Peaches, man, say it ain't so. Did you really team up with Kane, the formerly incarcerated big brother to Kevin, Franklin's deceased best friend who he accidentally killed in season two? We didn't get a hard confirmation but all signs are pointing to Peaches as the inside connect. Shame, shame, shame. Even worse? Sounds like Kane isn't finished. Could a war be on the rise? While Franklin and company may be cut out for this life, Veronique is wavering. She leaves Franklin, afraid that he can't keep her safe like he once promised. But is she really the mastermind behind this whole organization with Franklin wrapped around her finger? Each host has their own theory on V's intentions. Aside from the fiction, we take pause to send our thoughts and prayers to those in Ukraine and give deep contemplation to when Black folks and Hip-Hop took a turn for the worse. How can we get back on track? Tune in for an episode you won't want to miss! Peace.

Wow. Things heated up in a big way on the latest episode (#5) of Snowfall, so Dave and Rick have a lot to talk about. They get into the meaning of the episode title, “The Iliad,” and give their thoughts on Cissy’s meeting with her new contact who is supposed to help with her plans to get rid of Teddy. Did she take the pen embedded with a transmitter, and if so, what did she do with it? Of course, things explode in this episode with a rash of drive-by shootings. The hosts talk about the way the cops are depicted and what it was like for Rick dealing with them himself in the 1980s. Rick confirms he once had to jump out of a car with dope and go on foot while being chased, similar to what we see happen with Franklin and Oso. Things are so wild that the hosts want to know if the show’s writers are running out of material or if they will find a clever way to make this all make sense going forward. We find out Rick has an upcoming meeting with FX. We’ll stay tuned for updates. Finally, we can’t help but remind our audiences that Breakbeat is for the culture. See you next week!

In this episode, Dave and Rick talk about Cissy’s return from Cuba and what her plans might be to deal with CIA agent Teddy. They take it back to the 1980’s to talk about if there were really rappers with skateboards in the projects and whether rappers were calling out the names of real hustlers in their songs. Rick says that Leon reminds him of his former right-hand man Ali, and the hosts discuss what they think of Leon’s newfound revolutionary mindset. Looking at the scene with Leon buying heavy artillery to take on the police, Rick is reminded of how some of his former partners once thought about shooting up a narcotics detectives’ van. Rick talks more about how he worked with Danilo Blandon, his supplier who turned out to be a CIA operative. Dave and Rick talk about the recent 25th anniversary of the murder of Biggie and their thoughts on whether the government might have played a role behind the scenes, just like they were doing with Rick.

Dave and Rick are back after watching episode 3 of the new season of Snowfall, which leads Rick into talking about loyalty, money, and power in the drug game. In the show, Auntie Louie and Uncle Jerome are looking to build something of their own. Right now, looks like loyalty is not an issue. But how long will that last? Scully from the “low bottoms” projects is back in the mix and Jerome and Louie have squashed their beef with him and brought him back as a partner. Rick talks about how he worked with different gangs from different parts of the city to put himself in a position of strength. Rick was surprised to see Scully going to visit a psychic, but confirms that both he and his own mother visited people like this-- “readers” --at the time. The espionage level dealings of Teddy, the CIA character in the show, is also discussed. Stay tuned to the end for some insight into what Rick’s up to today in the world of professional boxing and the appeal he made to Don King when he came home from prison.

This week’s conversation covers Snowfall’s season 5, episode 2. With CIA operative Teddy back in the mix and at the center of this episode, our hosts Dave, Brett, and Freeway talk about Freeway’s actual dealings with real-life CIA operative Danilo Blandon. Blandon was Rick’s supplier who was using drug proceeds to fund a war in Nicaragua. Rick points out how the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine is similar to the situation between the United States and Nicaragua in the 1980s. The hosts go on to talk about Franklin’s friend and business confidante Leon and if the scene with Jerome and Louie buying guns was realistic. Only on After The Snow can you find out what really happens when you get caught up in the game.

Welcome to episode 2 of After the Snow. Today, you get reacquainted with co-hosts Freeway Rick Ross and Dave Mays. You also meet the show's co-creator and co-executive producer, Brett Jeffries, who kicks off the episode with a recap of the season 5 premiere of Snowfall. Whoa! A lot is happening in just one episode, leaving Rick and Dave with plenty to dissect. Up first: the 1986 tragic and untimely death of basketball star Len Bias. Dave, a D.C. native, tackles this topic from a personal place, sharing what life was like at this time -- the conspiracies, the stories, the tensions. What really happened? Rick discusses how this story affected his drug empire. Moving on, Rick and Dave continue to pick apart Snowfall. How could Franklin kill White Boy Rob, one of his oldest and best friends? You'll be shocked to hear Rick's take on this! Turns out, the drug game isn't a game after all. Rick details life in the fast lane -- cars, women, controlling his God-fearing mother, and more! Tune in to hear Rick and Dave give a real download on Freeway's real life.

Welcome to the launch episode of After the Snow — the after show podcast about the hit FX series Snowfall. In this inaugural episode, you meet Freeway Rick Ross, the man whose real life is the inspiration for Snowfall. The activist, entrepreneur and former drug kingpin is the co-host of After The Snow along with Hip-Hop pioneer and media mogul Dave Mays. These legends lay out for listeners what to expect from After the Snow and why they’re so excited about the wide range of important issues they’ll be able to discuss using the amazing storytelling of Snowfall — based on Freeway Rick’s life — as the vehicle.