Rapsody joins Ebro, Laura and Rosenberg for Family Friday to talk about the freedom she has found at this stage of her career. She opens up about the space she has carved out for herself, running a relatively small team and the moment she stopped measuring success by industry expectations — describing 2024 as her “surrender year” and this chapter as her “freedom season.”

She also gets into God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops, working with live instrumentation, the influence of Terrace Martin and Denaun, her upcoming unplugged shows — and casually reveals that Stevie Wonder calls her on special occasions.

Later, Rapsody weighs in on Jay-Z and Colin Kaepernick, explaining why she believes Black communities need both business power and activism rather than choosing between the two. The conversation expands into Harry Belafonte, private dialogue, criticism and accountability before turning to Stephen A. Smith and the importance of listening when longtime supporters push back.

Chapters:
00:00:00 — Rapsody Joins Family Friday
00:01:55 — How Rapsody Keeps Her Career Organized With a Small Team
00:03:20 — Rapsody’s Jewelry Collection and Supporting Artists Through Vinyl
00:04:45 — Introducing the Kids to Turntables and Hip-Hop
00:07:25 — Maya’s Surprisingly Hardcore Taste in Rap
00:09:20 — Stevie Wonder Calls Rapsody on Special Occasions
00:11:30 — Is Rapsody Happy With the Space She Has Carved Out?
00:12:10 — God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops and Finding Artistic Freedom
00:14:30 — Why the Music Business Stopped Being Fun
00:15:35 — Terrace Martin, Denaun and Building the Album With Live Instruments
00:16:10 — Rapsody Prepares for a Run of Unplugged Shows
00:16:50 — When Does a Live Band Make Hip-Hop Better?
00:21:10 — Rapsody on Jay-Z, Kaepernick and Two Forms of Activism
00:24:40 — Why Private Conversations Still Matter
00:29:40 — Criticism, Accountability and Refusing to Make Everything All-or-Nothing
00:35:35 — Rapsody on Stephen A. Smith and Listening to Criticism

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With Colin Kaepernick back in the spotlight on his book tour, Ebro and Laura revisit how his national anthem protest became a national controversy and how much of the original message was lost amid the backlash. They discuss his decision to kneel, the role of veterans in shaping that form of protest, the NFL’s response and why the current Macklemore controversy has them thinking again about the power influential people can wield over who gets a platform. 

Earlier, the crew reacts to a report on injectable peptides being sold at a Brooklyn bodega. Four products were sent for independent testing, and none contained the active ingredients listed on their labels; the testing also did not determine what the substances actually contained. That sparks a larger conversation about weight-loss and fitness trends, distrust of pharmaceutical companies and why buying something injectable from an unregulated source carries a very different risk than getting treatment through a medical professional. 

The episode also covers Jerry Greenfield’s concerns about Ben & Jerry’s losing its ability to speak out under corporate ownership, Chris Brown’s response to the controversy surrounding a Texas lawmaker’s recognition of him and a tragic Los Angeles news-helicopter crash. Guru Time closes with a widowed mother of three searching for affordable after-school care while trying to keep her job. 

• (00:00:00) Family Friday plans and the week ahead
• (00:00:55) Jerry Greenfield says Ben & Jerry’s has been silenced
• (00:03:30) Corporate pressure, activism and the Macklemore connection
• (00:05:55) New York street-safety proposals
• (00:07:20) Injectable peptides are being sold in bodegas
• (00:08:10) A lab tests four Brooklyn bodega peptide products
• (00:10:20) Why people are turning to unregulated peptides
• (00:13:35) Chris Brown responds to the Texas tribute controversy
• (00:15:20) Tragedy as a news helicopter crashes in Los Angeles
• (00:16:40) Colin Kaepernick’s book tour reaches Brooklyn
• (00:18:40) Why Kaepernick chose to kneel
• (00:20:00) Revisiting the NFL backlash and what happened afterward
• (00:22:10) Macklemore brings Kaepernick’s experience back into focus
• (00:24:35) What changed after Kaepernick’s protest
• (00:26:15) Guru Time: a widowed mother needs after-school help

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The Macklemore fallout gets even bigger. Ed Sheeran addresses Macklemore’s removal from his tour, while the remaining opening acts and his backing band withdraw in solidarity. Ebro, Laura and Rosenberg debate whether Sheeran misread the moment by trying to remain neutral, how much responsibility belongs with Robert Kraft and other venue owners, and whether Sheeran should have risked canceling shows rather than continuing without Macklemore. 

The crew also gets into the complicated business side of a stadium tour — contracts, hundreds of employees, ticket refunds and the financial consequences of walking away — while asking why the artists tend to receive more public scrutiny than the venue owners making the decisions. They also consider whether the controversy has ultimately amplified Macklemore’s message rather than silencing it. 

Later, Laura highlights Drake’s FOMO film and an unreleased lyric saying “Pray for Gaza,” while the crew discusses Texas state Rep. Venton Jones’ apology after participating in a Chris Brown tribute. They also turn to the Kennedy Center, where a federal judge again blocked adding President Donald Trump’s name to the building before its board voted to close the main venue for renovations. 

• (00:00:00) The Macklemore and Ed Sheeran fallout gets bigger
• (00:01:35) Ed Sheeran responds as his openers and backing band withdraw
• (00:03:00) Should Sheeran have stood by Macklemore and risked the shows?
• (00:05:00) Tour contracts, money and the legal consequences
• (00:07:30) Sheeran’s attempt to remain politically neutral
• (00:09:20) The consequences of speaking out on Palestine
• (00:12:25) Can Macklemore and Ed Sheeran remain friends?
• (00:15:20) Seven stadiums and Robert Kraft’s role in the dispute
• (00:16:40) The Kanye stadium comparison raises more questions
• (00:18:10) Did trying to silence Macklemore make the story even bigger?
• (00:23:10) Drake’s FOMO film and the “Pray for Gaza” lyric
• (00:24:20) Venton Jones apologizes over the Chris Brown tribute
• (00:26:25) The Kennedy Center closure and Trump naming fight
• (00:29:05) Mitch McConnell, a viral video and paid sick leave
• (00:31:00) Life gets heavy and the crew talks about coping with change

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The crew spends much of the episode unpacking Macklemore’s claim that Robert Kraft and other stadium owners pressured Ed Sheeran to remove him from upcoming stadium dates after his pro-Palestinian remarks. They debate whether Sheeran should have stood by his longtime friend, what responsibility comes with being one of the world’s biggest artists and whether attempts to silence Macklemore have only amplified his message.

The conversation then digs deeper into the business and free-speech questions surrounding the dispute, including what tour promoters and privately owned stadiums may have known about Macklemore’s politics before booking him. The crew also argues that the backlash risks reinforcing the very perception its critics are trying to combat.

Ebony McMorris joins from Washington with an update on the Supreme Court blocking new mail-in ballot procedures before the midterms. She also details allegations from a federal whistleblower who says government employees were instructed to access state voter-registration systems using individuals’ personal information while looking for potentially ineligible voters. The discussion expands to election security, the stakes of the midterms and the future makeup of the Supreme Court. 

• (00:00:00) Macklemore fallout takes over the show
• (00:02:30) Macklemore says stadium owners pressured Ed Sheeran
• (00:03:40) Ed Sheeran’s attempt to remain neutral
• (00:05:05) Should Ed Sheeran have stood by Macklemore?
• (00:07:05) Did everyone involved already know Macklemore’s politics?
• (00:09:00) Robert Kraft, privately owned stadiums and tour contracts
• (00:11:10) The crew reacts to Kraft’s statement
• (00:12:25) Did the backlash only make Macklemore’s message louder?
• (00:14:30) Rosenberg describes a conversation with another Jewish listener
• (00:16:10) Ebony McMorris joins from Washington
• (00:17:00) Supreme Court blocks new mail-in ballot rules before the midterms
• (00:19:00) Whistleblower alleges improper access to voter-registration data
• (00:21:50) Election interference concerns and what could happen next
• (00:23:00) Could Trump get two more Supreme Court appointments?
• (00:25:50) Congressional Black Caucus at 50 and what’s at stake

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The crew opens with a bigger conversation about artificial intelligence, from AI-powered scams and deepfakes to whether the companies building increasingly powerful systems should be trusted to regulate themselves. They question who should ultimately set the rules and connect today’s fears around AI to the surveillance powers Americans accepted after 9/11.

Laura then reports that Lil Durk was found not guilty on all five charges in his murder-for-hire case, although the rapper still faces additional legal battles. Later, Papoose’s “Jezebel” reignites the public breakdown of his marriage to Remy Ma, with the crew wondering how much of the renewed attention is personal conflict and how much may also be feeding upcoming music. 

Colin Kaepernick’s recent comments about Jay-Z and the NFL spark one of the episode’s biggest debates. The crew considers Kaepernick’s activist position alongside Jay-Z’s decision to work within the league and whether different approaches to change have to be mutually exclusive. The episode closes with a discussion of Fat Joe defending his use of the N-word and why familiarity with hip-hop culture does not automatically settle who gets to use a racial slur. 

• (00:00:00) The whole crew is back
• (00:01:00) AI scams, deepfakes and warnings about what comes next
• (00:02:35) Should AI companies be allowed to regulate themselves?
• (00:04:50) Robots, accountability and the lessons of post-9/11 surveillance
• (00:07:15) Lil Durk found not guilty in murder-for-hire case
• (00:09:20) Why Rosenberg has checked out of rapper trial culture
• (00:11:30) Hip-hop, street credibility and when the danger becomes real
• (00:14:15) Papoose responds to Remy Ma with “Jezebel”
• (00:16:30) Is the Remy and Papoose drama also becoming promotion?
• (00:19:20) Colin Kaepernick addresses Jay-Z’s NFL deal
• (00:21:40) Kaepernick’s activism versus Jay-Z’s corporate strategy
• (00:24:45) Did Jay-Z regret saying “we’re past kneeling”?
• (00:26:30) Can two completely different approaches both move things forward?
• (00:27:20) Fat Joe and the debate over who can use the N-word
• (00:31:45) Why an “N-word pass” doesn’t travel everywhere

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Twenty-five years after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Laura and Rosenberg spend most of the episode remembering the day and trying to explain its impact to people who did not experience it firsthand. Laura recalls heading to BMCC from Inwood as the city began shutting down, while Rosenberg reflects on how difficult it still is to look away from footage and stories from that morning.

The conversation expands to the first responders who knowingly entered extraordinary danger, the families who waited for news of loved ones and the long-term health consequences for people who worked around Ground Zero. The crew also shares memories from New Jersey and Brooklyn, including classmates with parents working in the city and seeing smoke and debris from miles away. 

Laura also previews an ELR News report about undocumented victims whose stories have received less recognition, while the discussion turns to Flight 93, airport security and the many ways Sept. 11 permanently changed everyday American life. The episode ends on a lighter note as the crew revisits Rosenberg’s legendary Thanksgiving parody “Turkey With the Gravy” and debates whether the tradition should return this year. 

• (00:00:00) 25 years since Sept. 11
• (00:01:05) Why younger generations may experience 9/11 differently
• (00:02:40) Laura remembers trying to get to BMCC that morning
• (00:04:30) How different the world felt before the second plane hit
• (00:06:00) War, foreign policy and the aftermath of the attacks
• (00:07:35) Why Laura recommends visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum
• (00:09:45) Remembering the racism and backlash that followed
• (00:10:40) First responders and the people who ran toward danger
• (00:13:55) The undocumented victims whose stories were overlooked
• (00:15:20) The crew remembers where they were on Sept. 11
• (00:19:45) Newly resurfaced footage brings the scale of the destruction back
• (00:22:30) Flight 93 and the passengers who fought back
• (00:24:10) How 9/11 permanently changed airport security
• (00:26:50) Remembering the families who lost someone that day
• (00:27:55) Should “Turkey With the Gravy” return for Thanksgiving?

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With Ebro away in San Francisco, Laura and Rosenberg dig into the Republican midterm convention in Dallas after Democratic Sen. John Fetterman appeared in a video introducing Republican Sen. Dave McCormick. They question Fetterman’s “common sense Democrat” positioning, his rejection of socialism and whether he could become an especially important swing vote if control of the Senate is closely divided.

The Rundown turns to a lawsuit filed by Carmen Bryan accusing N.O.R.E. of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan nightclub in 1999. The crew stresses that these are allegations while discussing the unusual difficulty of evaluating a claim nearly three decades later. They also sort through conflicting reports about the future of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and whether a major late-night host could ultimately succeed outside traditional television. 

Later, Rosenberg gets unexpectedly excited about Apple’s new foldable iPhone despite its eye-popping price, while Laura previews Jhené Aiko’s first album in six years and a new Kendrick Lamar collaboration. Guru Time closes with a retired listener considering a second career in video and audio production, prompting advice about learning practical skills, building a portfolio and finding opportunities in an economy where nearly every business needs content. 

• (00:00:00) Rosenberg races back to the studio
• (00:01:55) Flight delays, rebooking nightmares and traveling with kids
• (00:04:50) John Fetterman appears at the Republican convention
• (00:06:15) Fetterman calls himself a “common sense Democrat”
• (00:07:40) Could Fetterman become a crucial Senate swing vote?
• (00:08:30) Hasan Piker becomes part of the GOP convention spectacle
• (00:10:25) Did Grindr really crash during the convention?
• (00:11:35) Tim Scott’s convention speech gets the WWE treatment
• (00:14:40) N.O.R.E. faces sexual assault allegations
• (00:17:15) Jimmy Kimmel cancellation rumors and the future of late night
• (00:20:10) Apple’s new foldable iPhone gets Rosenberg’s attention
• (00:23:00) Jhené Aiko announces her first album in six years
• (00:24:15) Guru Time: starting a second career in video and audio production
• (00:26:15) Is there still money in content production?
• (00:28:35) Skills and a portfolio versus going back to school

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Rob Markman joins the crew for a conversation about BET.com removing years of interviews, articles and other editorial work. As former MTV News contributors, Rob and Rosenberg reflect on how much hip-hop history has already disappeared from BET, MTV and other digital outlets — including interviews with artists who are no longer alive — and why creators need to preserve their own work.

The conversation then turns to Macklemore after he used an Ed Sheeran stadium date to call for a free Palestine and criticize Israel’s government and ICE. The crew debates the distinction between criticism of Israel and antisemitism before celebrating Lil Yachty’s increasingly serious work with WWE. 

Guru Time closes with an update from a listener who sought treatment for sex addiction and is now struggling with how much of his past to disclose to his wife. Rosenberg urges him to work with a certified sex addiction therapist and pursue full disclosure in a therapeutic setting rather than revealing pieces of the truth over time. 

• (00:00:00) BET.com removes years of digital history
• (00:01:10) MTV News, HipHopDX and the disappearing internet archive
• (00:02:15) Rob Markman remembers fighting to get Kendrick Lamar on YouTube
• (00:03:40) Lost Mac Miller, Nipsey Hussle and MTV content
• (00:05:45) How Viacom moved away from music culture
• (00:07:20) Rob’s chaotic Odd Future and Joey Bada$$ interview
• (00:09:55) Macklemore says “Free Palestine” at MetLife Stadium
• (00:12:35) Macklemore’s politics and how his public identity changed
• (00:14:30) Criticizing Israel versus antisemitism
• (00:16:15) Kehlani, political speech and attempts to shut artists down
• (00:19:40) Lil Yachty’s surprising WWE run
• (00:21:00) Yachty goes through a table and impresses the crew
• (00:23:40) Bad Bunny, Travis Scott and hip-hop’s WWE connections
• (00:25:45) Guru Time: a listener returns after seeking sex-addiction treatment
• (00:27:40) Should he tell his wife the entire truth?

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Rob Markman returns to ELR to talk Ransom, Rapsody and why hip-hop no longer needs a participation trophy for filling stadiums. The crew then recaps Jay-Z’s London shows, including his birthday tribute to Beyoncé and appearances from the Fugees and other guests.

Laura reports that prosecutors will not pursue the criminal case against Big Tigger following his June arrest. Then the crew reacts to the eerie first look at You Can See Everything, Nathan Fielder’s new documentary featuring Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes. 

Finally, Ebony McMorris joins from the White House to break down Canada’s new retaliatory tariffs, the potential economic impact and the political stakes heading toward the midterms.

• (00:00:00) Rob Markman returns to ELR
• (00:02:45) Rosenberg prepares to fly into Donald J. Trump International Airport
• (00:04:45) Rob Markman on Ransom, Rapsody and his latest interviews
• (00:05:50) Do we need to keep celebrating rappers for filling stadiums?
• (00:06:40) Jay-Z’s London shows and the Reasonable Doubt debate
• (00:08:10) Jay-Z leads the crowd in singing happy birthday to Beyoncé
• (00:09:25) The Fugees, Giggs, Idris Elba and Jay-Z’s London guests
• (00:11:30) Ciara is expecting baby No. 5
• (00:12:00) How many kids could Ebro, Laura, Rosenberg and Rob handle?
• (00:13:55) Big Tigger will not face criminal prosecution
• (00:15:50) Nathan Fielder’s Elizabeth Holmes documentary shocks the crew
• (00:20:30) Ebony McMorris breaks down Canada’s retaliatory tariffs
• (00:23:25) Trump’s Truth Social blitz, the economy and midterm politics
• (00:27:50) Rosenberg reacts to Marc Lamont Hill’s new DJ Vlad clip

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Family Friday begins with the crew thinking seriously about bringing the ELR community together in person. They debate everything from an intimate dinner and live podcast to a straightforward party, while considering ticket prices, sponsors, food, drinks and giving Patreon supporters early access. The Patrionis are invited to weigh in on what kind of event they would actually want.

Listener emails lead to a funny detour through Googling themselves and checking their Wikipedia pages before the crew explains why an old Ebro in the Morning podcast feed suddenly featured an episode of Mornings with Mero. They clarify that the legacy feed remains controlled by Hot 97’s owners rather than the ELR team.

Then the family updates take over. Laura shares Kenza’s struggle with swimming lessons, Rosenberg realizes it may be time to get Maya into the water more formally and Ebro shows off Isa’s latest flag football training. Selasi’s trip to Paw Patrol turns into a conversation about toddler milestones, Bluey episodes that unexpectedly wreck parents emotionally and how quickly the little-kid years change.

• (00:00:00) Family Friday and the quiet Patrionis
• (00:02:05) Should ELR finally throw a live event?
• (00:03:40) Dinner experience, live podcast or party?
• (00:06:45) Ticket prices, sponsors and making the event work
• (00:08:40) Would an ELR pre-game or brunch be better?
• (00:11:30) Listener ideas for ranking episodes and beating the gnats
• (00:13:35) Do Ebro, Laura and Rosenberg Google themselves?
• (00:14:55) Why Mornings with Mero appeared on the old Ebro in the Morning feed
• (00:17:30) The internet’s most-searched questions about Ebro and Laura
• (00:21:40) Kenza keeps fencing
• (00:22:20) Kenza’s swimming fear and whether to keep pushing lessons
• (00:23:45) Maya in the pool and learning water safety
• (00:26:20) Isa’s latest flag football training
• (00:27:30) Selasi goes to Paw Patrol
• (00:29:45) Bluey, parenting and the episodes that make adults cry

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