The Shop

On #TheShop this week, legendary actor Mark Wahlberg and Emmy winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II join hosts Steelo Brim, Travis Bennett, and our OG Maverick Carter for an exclusive conversation around Mark and Yahya’s new movie, By Any Means.

Mark breaks down his 4am morning routine that had the internet questioning everything, and shares his worst celebrity encounter of all time, while Yahya reveals the salad ingredients white people put him on to. The guys get into the very different upbringings that shaped them and how working together pushed them to influence each other’s performances on set. Yahya talks about how Marshawn Lynch inspired him, and weighs in on what matters more in an actor’s career: awards or season two's.

0:00 - Intro
0:55 - Mark and Yahya join the show
01:38 - Mark's rap discography and early career
05:50 - How Yahya started acting
10:30 - Casting for 'By Any Means'
14:06 - Actors carrying the weight of the role outside the set
17:40 - Mark's daily routine
21:06 - The infectious golf bug going around
26:50 - What's more rewarding for actors
33:28 - Do you have to live in Hollywood to be a successful actor?
36:38 - Meeting actors at a young age
42:00 - Is Mark looking for an acting award?
45:00 - The Importance of 'By Any Means'

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Steelo Brim and Travis Bennett have Van Lathan and Vic Mensa pull up to #TheShop for a conversation that covers it all. From the animated movies that make grown men cry, fighting Jonah Hill, whether Star Wars might be kinda buns, and the effect certain songs may have on the culture. 

They also discuss  if being athletic is a requirement for men, if Jake Paul can really fight, and what the experience of taking a Honey Pack can do for your life.  

0:00 - Intro
0:49 - Van Lathan and Vic Mensa join the show
01:02 - The Crew breaks down Cartoons
03:50 - Teaching Acceptance From a Young Age
08:04 - Society is a pendulum
11:22 - Who could run the country the best
12:47 - The Fight Never Stops
19:19 - The Squad Breaks down Game of Thrones
29:43 - Do men have to be good in sports?
33:06 - Do trained fighters have the most self control?
37:20 - Is Jake Paul a real boxer?
39:41 - The wave of the Honey Packs
45:45 - Vic on the Orange Series

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Steelo Brim and Travis Bennett are joined by comedian Kountry Wayne and Actor Keith Powers in #The Shop. They get into all things relationships…including if women really need to cook to secure a man, what you can learn from working with your partner, and if couples should go 50/50.

Kountry shares why he caters to the ‘auntie’ audience online, and why it’s important to make grandma proud to be successful. The guys also talk about  AI Jesus,  why having an army of kids may be a good thing, and being a stay at home boyfriend.

(0:00) - Intro
(0:59) - Is cancel culture done? 
(4:55) - People who like dogs more than people
(8:25) - Does Kountry Wayne have a favorite kid? 
(13:16) - Which family members get an invite to the wedding? 
(16:01) - Taco getting engaged soon
(20:04) -  Kountry Wayne on being a vegan
(26:06) - Working with your romantic partner
(28:11) - Dating different zodiac signs
(30:28) - Going 50/50 in a relationship
(34:59) - Kountry Wayne speaks on his first marriage
(38:09) - The impact of social media on relationships
(40:27) - Being in competition with your romantic partner
(46:00) - Kountry Wayne knowing his audience
(55:44) - Using social media in a way that works for you
(1:00:31) - How Kountry Wayne built his social media empire
(1:02:13) - Have you seen the AI Jesus app? 
(1:05:123) - Should you hurt people’s feelings in comedy

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This week, #TheShop is all about the hosts, Steelo Brim and Travis Bennett. They break down when it makes sense to code-switch, why kids today are missing out on having ‘Big Homies’ in their lives, and unpack if you should loan money to friends and family. 

The guys also discuss the lasting impact of being a part of adult conversations as kids, why having a smart mouth is required if you’re short, the art of roasting, and what it takes to make our hosts shed a tear.

0:00 - Intro
1:43 - Taco on Code-Switching
8:50 - Black Skateboard Culture & Growing Up in California
14:50 - Being Exposed to Explicit Content at a Young Age
18:01 - When Did You Get Your First Cell Phone?
23:17 - Social Media Was Never Meant for This
32:40 - Why the World Is Lacking Big Homies
37:00 - What Makes Someone a Real Friend?
42:31 - Childhood Stories & Upbringing
53:10 - When Was the Last Time You Cried?
55:40 - The Slippery Slope of Relationships

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Steelo Brim and Travis Bennett bring two New York Icons to  #TheShop;  legendary rapper Fabolous and the one & only Greg Yuna are pulling up a chair this week. They get into the aftermath of the East Coast vs West Coast rap beef, what Tupac would’ve done with social media, who really belongs on a top New York rappers list, and if men are outdoing women with jewelry. 

The guys also discuss the social content that draws audiences in on the regular, what the mixtape era used to do for hip hop, if reinvention is really the move, and how the meaning of “being cool” has switched up on us. 

(0:00) - Intro
(0:45) - Fabolous and Greg Yuna join the show
(1:37) - Fab and Greg’s jewelry essentials and regrets
(5:42) - Why Fab sampled a West Coast track for his first song
(8:06) - Greg’s Top 5 New York rappers
(9:00) - Fab on hip hop being taboo
(12:26) -  Greg’s story on being a childhood player
(16:00) - Have mixtapes died nowadays?
(24:26) - How would social media would have changed Fab’s early career?
(26:18) - Greg on his 6th Ave shoots
(27:20) - The reason Greg likes storytelling
( 29:00) - Greg and Fab reinventing themselves in their career
(34:50) - How being a cool rapper changed in 2026
(36:53) - What does style represent to Fab?
(38:38) - What jewelry represents for men vs. women?
(40:21) - Does taste in jewelry matter?
(41:28) - Lab vs. natural diamonds
(43:05) - How do Greg and Fab measure success?

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This week, Steelo Brim and Travis Bennett took #TheShop to the streets of NYC and sat down with Grammy-nominated artist French Montana and rapper/producer Max B. to talk about the brotherhood behind their top-charting songs, the three items Max B claims you need to purchase after a bid, and how he fell victim to the algorithm. 
 
The guys also discuss the unique way French approaches making music that hits on a universal level, the music they listened to growing up that still influences their sound today, and the lasting impact Max B created with the Wave. 

(0:00) - Intro
(1:00) - French Montana on the Jay-Z show
(2:00) - Max B on his mindset
(3:20) - French on assimilating to American culture and getting into music
(6:50) - Max B on his music journey
(8:35) - French on his loyalty to Max B
(10:25) - What were Max B plans after getting released?
(12:10) - Max B on what he missed the most and changing his lifestyle
(15:34) - French how he approaches evolution and music
(17:55) - What French and Max B were listening to growing up?
(22:41) - Was song was the most surprised hit?
(24:28) - Max B putting his spin on R&B music
(27:30) - Adopting West Coast music on the East Coast
(28:40) - Max B on starting the wave trend
(30:33) - French on how he defines legacy
(32:50) - Why philanthropy matters to French
(35:13) - What is next for French and Max B?
(37:30) - Finding outlets that bring happiness
(40:00) - Do ranking lists matter and street vs. industry love
(44:35) - Max B’s advice to the next generation

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This week, Steelo Brim and Travis Bennett took #TheShop out east to #FanaticsFest and sat down with tennis GOAT Novak Djokovic & USMNT World Cup superstar Folarin Balogun alongside the OG Shop hosts, LeBron James and Maverick Carter. 
 
The guys talk Balogun’s infamous World Cup red card, Djokovic’s experience vs younger opponents, the things LeBron will miss most once he’s done playing, and more.

(00:00) Intro
(07:20) What drives you? 
(13:29) Will a team's fan base affects where LeBron will sign?
(26:00) How Djokovic feels competing against younger players
(33:13) Balogun's infamous red card during the World Cup 
(34:55) Times LeBron's been ejected from a game
(43:46) What LeBron will miss most about playing when he's done

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This week, Steelo Brim and Travis Bennett chop it up at #TheShop with NBA Champion Nick Young and comedian Chris Powell to talk NIL’s impact on college sports, whether or not there is a line to not cross in the standup comedy world and if the WNBA rim should be lowered for dunking. 

The guys also discuss tunnel fits, playing in the NBA in your 40’s, and the struggles of making it as a standup comedian.

(0:00) - Intro 
(0:45) - Taco and Steelo talk style 
(4:08) - Chris “CP” Powell and Nick Young join the show 
(5:36) - What was Nick’s wildest fit? 
(7:02) - Nick on the NIL landscape 
(10:09) - Could Nick still play in the NBA?
(11:02) - The NBA now and then 
(13:11) - Taco talks about growing up with the WNBA 
(16:25) - NBA players and betting scandals 
(20:05) - Chris on his advertising background  
(22:35) - Chris differentiating between comedians with different views 
(32:58) - Growing pains of comedy and pursuing his dream
(37:25) - Nick on entering the NBA and his journey  
(40:25) - Life after basketball for Nick, being phased out and negative narratives 
(45:08) - Nick finding himself in retirement 
(50:30) - Chris on his upcoming projects

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This week, Steelo Brim and Travis Bennett meet up at #TheShop with singer/songwriter The Dream and Grammy-nominated singer and actor Luke James to talk artist development in the music industry, the difference between good and great musicians and the latest update on The Dream’s new album.

The guys also debate the differences (and similarities) between “Love Island” and “Game of Thrones”, transitioning from TV to Broadway, and the power of being “delusional”.

(0:00) - Intro

(0:16) - Does Taco watch Love Island?

(01:45) - How skateboarding was for every genre

(04:31) - Luke James and The Dream join the show

(05:10) - The crew discusses the BET Awards

(15:55) - Do artists regret their work?

(18:07) - Could The Dream be successful if he restarted in 2026?

(20:48) - Pros and cons of artist development died out in the music industry

(23:23) - Difference between good and great musicians

(27:00) - Is Luke living his dream?

(30:04) - What brings The Dream back to artistry?

(33:15) - The gems The Dream gives to artists nowadays

(37:31) - Luke going from The Chi to Broadway

(41:53) - What’s the story on The Dream’s new album?

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This week, Steelo Brim and Travis Bennett invite actor Rome Flynn and musician and actor Buddy to #TheShop to chop it up on everything from men’s mental health to the importance of privacy to the NBA team they’d most like to get drafted to.

The crew also share their best financial advice, debate the best alien movie of all-time and discuss whether people wearing smart glasses can be trusted.

(0:00) Intro

(1:02) Can’t trust a man who’s ticklish? 

(4:13) Rome Flynn and Buddy join the show

(5:17) Can smart glasses wearers be trusted? 

(12:06) Making it in the NBA

(23:35) Dealing with mental health

(30:45) Are aliens amongst us? 

(36:12) Why can’t I just call God? 

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