The Man Dem Show Episode 217 brings the heat with Guttzy Guttz, DJ Laz Vagez, Junie Moonie, and Empress Claire. From the harsh realities of "the bin" to the nuances of colorism and tanning, no topic is off-limits. We also dive into the music industry, discussing Diddy, Chris Brown, and the legacy of Kendrick Lamar’s "Control" verse. Plus, a deep dive into the ethics of streamer culture and "clout-chasing" viral moments.

On this episode of The Man Dem Show, Guttzy Guttz and DJ Laz Vagez link up with Rare, a 7-time community and arts award-winning leader.

Rare drops incredible gems on navigating the creative space in Toronto. She shares her journey from writing poetry on sticky notes to securing grants and self-publishing her book, Rare's World. We get into deep conversations about the power of natural beauty , the necessity of bringing block parties back to Toronto for the youth , and her firsthand experience dealing with racism in the film industry. Plus, the crew breaks down the realities of modern dating, including why basic literacy and knowing how to properly approach a woman are non-negotiable.

Follow us on IG:

Guttzy Guttz: @eldelnegro

DJ Laz Vagez: @officialvftv

Rare: @rare.thecreative

Timestamps / Chapters

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  00:00 - Intro & Embracing Natural Beauty Over BBL Culture

  
  

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  04:47 - Self-Love, Insecurities, and Musical Influences (TLC, J. Cole)

  
  

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  10:18 - Writing Poetry & Securing Grants to Fund Artistic Dreams

  
  

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  14:45 - Growing up in the West End, Exploring Cultures & Dating Preferences

  
  

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  20:28 - Reviving Toronto's Community, Youth Programs, and Block Parties

  
  

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  31:29 - The Step-by-Step Process of Self-Publishing a Book

  
  

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  41:46 - Unlearning Competition and Dealing with Fake Friends & Imitators

  
  

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  45:47 - Stepping into the Music Scene & Overcoming Stage Fright

  
  

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  54:54 - Facing Racism in the Film Industry and Pivoting

  
  

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  56:06 - Dating Advice: The Right Way to Approach Women & Literacy

  
  

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  01:02:45 - The Future of Toronto, OSAP Cuts, and Trade Skills

  
  

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  01:04:17 - Upcoming Events (Rare Voices Talent Showcase) & Outro

This week on The Man Dem Show, DJ Laz Vagez, Guttzy Guttz, and Empress Claire are shaking the city up. We dive straight into the drama surrounding Gucci Mane’s new Pooh Shiesty diss, "Crash Dummy," and debate whether street rappers are giving the feds too much information.

We also have a heavy, necessary conversation about the dark legacy of Afrika Bambaataa, the complicity of the Zulu Nation, and how hip-hop protects its abusers. Later, things heat up as we debate ghostwriting in hip-hop following Jocelyn Donald's claims about Jack Harlow , and we ask the tough questions: Can you actually be a good parent while serving time in prison?

Plus, we talk Outkast's Diamond status , the greatest dancehall riddims , and drop our NBA Playoff predictions.

Follow the team on IG:

• @eldelnegro

• @officialvftv

• @empressclairefr

On Episode 214 of The Man Dem Show, Guttzy Guttz, DJ Laz Vagez, and Empress Claire bring the heat. We kick things off with a wild debate about dating dealbreakers and the jobs we absolutely won’t let our partners have.

In music and culture news, we break down the chaotic casino shootout involving Offset and the arrest of Lil Tjay. We also take a hard look at Kodak Black’s recent struggles , the conspiracy theories surrounding Gucci Mane’s 1017 label , and whether the NBA was right to waive Jaden Ivey over his religious comments.

Plus, we discuss Casper TNG linking up with A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie , why Canadian strip clubs are failing the local rap scene , and the terrifying zodiac sign stats of history's worst serial killers.

Make sure to follow the podcast, leave a 5-star rating, and hit up our socials!

Hosts:

Guttzy Guttz - @eldelnegro

DJ Laz Vagez - @officialvftv

Empress Claire - @empressclairefr

This week on The Man Dem Show, Guttzy Guttz, DJ Laz Vagez, and Junie Moonie are back to tackle a massive week in the culture. We dive into the heavy allegations surrounding Pooh Shiesty and Gucci Mane , react to Lil Berete's latest diss track "End of Discussion" , and call out the gatekeeping in Toronto's reggae radio scene.

We also debate why Americans love to hate the Toronto accent , break down the greatest sports "crash outs" in history (shoutout Lamar Odom ), and discuss who the next legendary Black actor will be. Plus, TV talk, LeBron wanting out of Memphis , and Kanye’s SoFi stadium set

Follow the Mandem:Guttzy Guttz: @eldelnegroDJ Laz Vagez: @officialvftvJunie Moonie: @juniegzz

Chapter Markers:(0:00) - Intro & Hip-Hop Video History(8:35) - Guttzy vs. COVID(14:20) - The Toronto Reggae Radio Drama(34:30) - The Toronto Accent Hate(47:00) - LeBron Trashes Memphis(58:50) - Peewee Longway's Plea Deal(1:02:40) - Pooh Shiesty Extorts Gucci Mane?(1:31:40) - Kanye West & Lauryn Hill at SoFi(1:44:45) - The "Strut" Controversy(2:03:10) - Druski's Erica Kirk Parody(2:15:20) - Lil Berete Reaction & Rap Politics(3:13:20) - Lamar Odom & Sports Crash Outs(3:34:15) - Netflix Live Streaming Ideas(3:54:55) - The Next Great Black Actors(4:10:50) - Toronto Rap Playlist & Outro

On Episode 212 of The Man Dem Show, DJ Laz Vagez, City McGritty, Teeks, and Empress Claire are unpacking a massive week in culture and music.

We kick things off analyzing the bombshells from Brandy’s new book, including her past beef with Monica and relationship with Wanya Morris. The conversation turns to modern dating—is withholding your past considered lying?

We also tackle the heavy double standards in Hollywood, comparing Hugh Hefner's legacy to the Diddy allegations. On the local front, we celebrate Casper TNG hitting Gold for "The Bucket" and discuss the reality of Canadian streaming numbers. Finally, Empress Claire steps to the mic to address the viral backlash regarding her comments on Toronto legend DJ Spex, breaking down the true state of Toronto Dancehall radio.

Follow the crew on IG:DJ Laz Vagez: @officialvftvCity McGritty: @city2grittyTeeks: @tkdrxEmpress Claire: @empressclairefr

Join DJ Laz Vagez, Sam (Underground Nation Pod), Junie Moonie, and Empress Claire as they dissect the biggest week in Canadian music and the harsh realities of the entertainment industry.

Highlights include:

• The 2026 Juno Awards: Analyzing Tate McRae, Toby, and the beaches.

• The Industry Blueprint: Why you should study Mike Dean and 40 before you pick up a mic.

• The "Groundwork": How to actually get your music played in clubs and on the radio.

• The Price of Fame: Unpacking the legacy of Bob Barker.

Featured Guests:

• Sam (@undergroundnationpod)

• Junie Moonie (@juniegzz)

• Empress Claire (@empressclairefr)

Listen now on the GTV Network via Spotify.

On Episode 208 of The Man Dem Show, Guttzy Guttz, DJ Laz Vagez, and Junie Moonie are joined by Toronto creator and streamer, TBaby Honcho.

We kick things off by addressing the elephant in the room: clout chasing and the exaggerated "Toronto accent" going viral for all the wrong reasons. TBaby walks us through his evolution from making dance videos in 2009 to running the craziest IG Lives during the 2020 lockdown, and eventually helping build the Toronto Twitch stream scene.

The crew debates why Canadian artists often have to cross into the US to get recognized, the underground legacy of Duvy, and TBaby's hilarious story of meeting Drake at a private party. Later, we have a raw conversation about the state of modern dating: why transactional relationships and social media are ruining romance, and what it really means to provide.

In This Episode:

• (00:00) Clout chasing and the "fake" Toronto accent

• (06:00) Why Toronto talent leaves for the US

• (15:00) TBaby's come-up: From YouTube to IG Live to Twitch

• (28:00) Classic Drake albums and meeting the 6 God

• (42:30) Stop waiting for the Drake stimulus package

• (44:30) Transactional dating and paying rent for your partner

• (1:14:15) How Toronto builds the next massive streamer

  
  

Follow The Crew on IG:

• Guttzy Guttz: @eldelnegro

• DJ Laz Vagez: @officialvftv

• Junie Moonie: @juniegzz

• TBaby Huncho: @tbabytgb

Guttzy Guttz and DJ Laz Vagez are back with Episode 205! We are celebrating a huge win as The GTV Network gets recognized by N.O.R.E., DJ EFN, and the Rory & Mal crew. The guys also dive into Jack Harlow's confusing new musical pivot, expose the tactics of daytime TV shows like Dr. Phil, and get into a heated debate about Denzel Washington's acting range. From analyzing US/Iran geopolitics to reacting to wild streamer drama, no topic is off-limits.

On Episode 206 of The Man Dem Show, Guttzy Guttz (@eldelnegro) and DJ Laz Vagez (@officialvftv) link up with R&B powerhouse Akia (@whoisakia)!

Fresh off performing on a sold-out tour , Akia drops by to discuss her journey from singing in church in Arkansas to catching her big break on Lifetime TV. She gets real about the vulnerability of songwriting , why she named her track "My Girl Gina" , and how her music embraces the "dumb, crazy, stupid" feelings of relationships. The Man Dem also try to teach her some Toronto slang and convince her to try curry goat —which is a tough sell for a famously picky eater.

In this episode we cover:

• How Akia's Facebook Live supporters paid for her studio time

• The realities of mental health while on tour

• Whether R&B is dead and the impact of artists like Chris Brown

• Southern Soul Food vs. Toronto Caribbean spots

  
  

Make sure to follow the podcast on Spotify so you never miss an episode, and go stream Akia's project "Dumb Crazy Stupid" on all platforms!