Something Wrong With The Podcast

Welcome back to a solo episode.

Today, I return to music and break down Drake’s rollout for his upcoming album Iceman. I get into the strategy behind the campaign and what this moment means as he steps back into the spotlight as a solo artist for the first time in over two and a half years.

From there, I offer predictions on the album and unpacking my frustrations with the increasingly toxic fan culture in rap.

That conversation opens the door to a broader idea: the death of spontaneity and the disappearance of true “third spaces,” especially in cities. I explore how optionality has been replaced by “line culture” and where algorithms funnel everyone to the same places, aesthetics outweigh substance, and experiences are optimized for documentation rather than actually being lived. 

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Today I’m joined by Wendell Cole. He's a Brooklyn-born, self-taught, multi-disciplinary artist based in New York. His work dives into the Black diaspora, cultural identity, and the politics that shape how we’re seen and how we see ourselves.

We start by unpacking his journey as an artist and how his style has evolved over time. But midway through, the conversation takes an unexpected turn. It become an honest therapy session for both of us.

Through the lens of his new six-piece series, “What Does The American Flag Mean To You?”, we explore what it really means to feel like an outsider in your own country, how that tension shapes identity, influences decisions, and impacts perception.

Tune in for a powerful conversation on art, identity, and everything in between.

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We’re in the middle of Coachella, so I brought on legendary photographer Colin Lane, best known for capturing the cover of 'Is This It' by The Strokes.

We get into how Julian Casablancas first discovered that iconic image, and how a photoshoot gone wrong unexpectedly turned into a long-term relationship that took Colin across Europe with the band and even into their weddings.

He also shares stories from working with Diddy, Pharrell, and Lenny Kravitz on a Bad Boys II music video shoot, plus what the early 2000s in NYC really felt like at the center of it all.

We also get into what bands you should be paying attention to right now. Tune in as we discuss all of this + more!

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Today I’m joined by my friend Vaughn, who I met in his home country of South Africa while traveling with Bas. He’s a label head and creative who’s helped shape the sound of South Africa’s music scene from signing artists, curating festivals, and building culture from the ground up.

On his first trip to New York, Vaughn takes us through his upbringing in SA and the experiences that shaped his path in music. We revisit our time in the 'bush' and how moments like that create real, lasting bonds.

He shares how a mix of early success, timing, and luck led to touring with Bas across South Africa and Europe and how mentorship and collaboration have since become central to how he works.

We also get into the common mistakes international artists make when breaking into the U.S., when and why you have to be the “bad guy,” the importance of music education, and the sounds coming out of South Africa that American audiences should be paying attention to. Tune in for all of this + more!

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Bonjour Everyone - First, I'd like to apologize for taking some weeks off from recording. I'm glad to share that I'm finally back from my trip from Paris and Barcelona. In this episode I share what brought me to Paris and how I move as a solo traveler. I get into some fun stories from my trip as well as draw some comparisons between the US and Europe. Tune in for a fun and introspective episode. I'm thrilled to return to the microphone and thank you all for your patience. 

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Hey Everyone! I'm really excited for today's episode. I go in on all things Grammy Awards. I start with Kendrick and his historic night passing Jay Z for most Grammys for a rapper. Then I give Bieber his flowers for an outstanding rendition of "Yukon". I go through other keynote wins of the night Olivia Dean, Kehlani, Lola Young, etc. I share how Bad Bunny is the perfect artist to be at the top given the current political climate. I share my thoughts on him performing during the Super Bowl (incoming political rant / history lesson) I turn my iron sights on Billie Ellish and question the integrity of the award show. I end with some words about J Cole's 'The Fall Off'. Tune in as I discuss all of this + more during this all music episode. 

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It's a conflict-driven world. Today I begin by giving some praise to A$AP Rocky for maturing over the course of his career and why I believe Drake hasn't been able to do the same. Do we need a Travis Scott cameo in 'The Odyssey'? I then turn to the justified outrage against these senseless ICE incidents. I reference my tweet, see here: the fact that we’re watching american citizens getting shot and killed like game tape, as if the stakes were “did he keep both feet inbounds” shows how desensitized we’ve become to violence" and provide some more additional thoughts. Tune in as I discuss all of this + more!

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The real is back! I get into what we should expect and pay attention to from this Cole single and album announcement. Then I discuss my Dussepalooza days with Kaz, the newest edition to Hot 97. I move on to sports to discuss the fall off of the Knicks and the college football championship game. Tune in as I discuss all of this + more!

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Your favorite podcaster doesn't know anything. Congrats to Mero for the Hot 97 role. I nerd out about the Golden Globes. Thank you everyone for tuning in for my first episode of 2026!

Welcome back! I took last week's episode off for travel purposes and focusing on the family for the holiday. Happy to be back with some big stories this week. I offer my thoughts on Dave Chappelle's new special and my experience with seeing some of the material at his last NYC surprise live show. We pivot to late contender for film of the year, Marty Supreme. What a fever dream - a must see. We move into Charlamagne's blockbuster deal with iHeart and Netflix. I explain further on some thoughts I shared during a Twitter space. Tune in for all of this + more!

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