The Stem Society

Ep 203

J. Cole is opening up about his future in hip-hop, his decision to step away from the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle, and the unreleased music from The Fall-Off.

I'm discussing why I never believed Cole was retiring, why I think he still has more music to give us, and why I'm increasingly curious about the original version of The Fall-Off.

I'm also questioning whether the unreleased material could have made the album even better.

What's happening with Griselda?

Westside Gunn, Conway the Machine, and Benny the Butcher are preparing new albums, but the ongoing questions surrounding their relationships have become difficult to ignore.

I'm discussing the repeated public disagreements, the reported business tensions, and why I believe the group may be beyond repair.

Can they work things out, or is it time to accept that Griselda might be finished?

Ep 202

Young Nudy and Westside Gunn are preparing to release new albums, and I'm approaching them with two very different expectations.

I'm questioning whether Just Doin Me will deliver, while Heelmatic has the potential to continue Westside Gunn's impressive run.

Then we're discussing Jay-Z's upcoming Super Bowl halftime performance and whether he can put together a show that balances his hip-hop legacy with mainstream expectations.

Timestamps

(0:16) Young Nudy "Just Doin' Me"

(5:56) Westside Gunn announces "Heelmatic"

(11:00) Reaction to Jay Z being the Super Bowl halftime performer

Ep 201

Wednesday's are for music!

Lil Baby has announced Fresh, and I'm wondering whether this will be the album that gets him back to the level I know he's capable of reaching.

Yung Miami is also preparing to release Watch Dis, but her feature-heavy tracklist has me questioning what kind of album we're going to get.

Plus, I'm sharing my thoughts on Doechii's “Catwoman” and Megan Thee Stallion's “Thin Ice.”

We're talking new releases, expectations, and what these artists need to deliver next.

Timestamp

(0:34) Lil Baby gives us the release date for Fresh

(1:43) Will this be good?

(3:38) Does Lil Baby even like to rap?

(7:00) Fresh is a make or break album

(8:33) Yung Miami Watch Dis drops Friday

(8:54) Too many features, too many tracks?

(10:20) Yung Miami has not found her voice

(11:55) Cole predicts whats on the album

(14:31) Why this will flop

(15:22) Tuesday was amazing

(15:41) Reaction to Doechii's Catwoman

(17:05) Reaction to Megan thee Stallion's Thin Ice

Ep 200

Where are hip-hop's next superstars?

Complex's ranking of the best rappers in their 20s has sparked that conversation, but I think there's a bigger issue involving the music industry, artist development, and the way fans support younger artists.

Then I'm reacting to Nas's open letter about hip-hop, going through his thoughts on the culture and explaining why much of his message resonates with me.

It's a conversation about hip-hop's present and future, from two different perspectives.

Ep 199

Doechii is building toward her debut album, and I'm becoming more interested in what she's going to deliver.

After sharing a letter about her creative direction and bringing back Swamp Sessions with “Bombs,” she's showing a level of intention that I respect. But with a Grammy-winning mixtape already behind her, there's going to be a lot of pressure to deliver something special.

We'll discuss why I believe Doechii could become one of hip-hop's next superstars and what makes this upcoming album such an important moment in her career.

Then we're getting into Gunna launching SB The Label in partnership with Atlantic Records.

I love seeing Gunna make moves beyond being an artist, but I'm not convinced this is the right time. His music is starting to feel predictable to me, and running a record label while maintaining a successful rap career isn't easy.

We'll talk about whether Gunna can balance both roles, the challenges of developing artists, and why I think his music needs to evolve before he takes on even more responsibility.

Timestamp

(0:26) Doechii's has started her rollout

(3:31) New visual and song Bomb

(6:52) Doechii has a high bar

(8:41) Gunna's SB label

(13:36) Gunna's music needs to evolve

(15:26) Can Gunna balance everything?

(16:50) More Grammy submissions

(17:55) Cole's too early pick to win

(19:36) J Cole did not submit

Ep 198

Can hip-hop move forward without Drake and Kendrick dominating the conversation?

With both artists largely absent from the 2027 Grammy conversation, Billboard is questioning where hip-hop's next generation of superstars will come from. But I think fans have to take some responsibility. We constantly complain about the state of hip-hop, yet how often do we give newer artists a real chance to succeed? Are we holding on to Drake and Kendrick so tightly that we're overlooking the next generation?

Then we're getting into Summer Walker's reported $50 million legal dispute with Universal Music Group. I've never been a fan of how record labels take advantage of artists, but I also believe artists need to understand the contracts they're signing.

We'll look at Summer's situation, Megan Thee Stallion's previous label dispute, and J. Cole's approach to independence as we discuss who should be held accountable when record deals go wrong.

Two conversations about the future of hip-hop, the music business, and the responsibility we all have in shaping the culture.

Timestamp

(0:29) The Grammys have a hip hop problem

(2:20) Are the current artists big enough?

(4:18) We don't push new artists

(6:03) The Grammys took advantage of Drake v Kendrick

(7:11) Hip hop is changing and people don't like it

(10:38) Summer Walker is getting sued

(12:41) Megan Thee Stallion example

(14:51) J Cole and his independence

(15:51) Summer's brutal contract

(17:09) Why does Summer want to leave?

(18:04) Messsage to the independent artists

Ep 197

Drake is sitting out the Grammys again, and I respect him for sticking to his position. He's won awards, broken records, and built a career that doesn't need validation from the Recording Academy. So what does another Grammy really mean for somebody at his level?

Then I'm getting into something Rapsody said about hip-hop media that really made me think.

Why do we keep giving so much attention to platforms that profit from controversy, beef, and street stories while overlooking the people who actually care about the music?

I'm talking about Adam22, VladTV, Akademiks, and why both artists and fans have to take some responsibility for what hip-hop media has become.

The Stem Society — Honest Hip Hop Commentary.

Timestamps

(0:20) Drake is not submitting

(2:22) This is on brand for Drake

(5:00) Does Drake need another Grammy?

(6:00) The Grammys history with hip hop

(7:19) Drake is bigger than a Grammy now

(8:27) Rapsody's take on hip hop media

(11:58) Why don't more artist speak out

(14:08) Vlad and Ak do the most

(19:15) Why don't we support respectable platforms

(25:08) Protect black media

Ep 196

Rick Ross is facing serious allegations after turning himself in to police in Miami. His ex-girlfriend has made accusations against him and presented what she says is evidence of her injuries, while Ross has pleaded not guilty and his attorneys say he's been wrongfully accused. There are things on both sides of this story that have me holding off on making a final judgment.

Then The Game is suing UMG for $500K over money he says should've been spent promoting Drillmatic. I understand being upset if the label didn't spend what it allegedly promised—but I don't believe another marketing push would've turned Drillmatic into the album The Game thought it was.

The Stem Society — Honest Hip Hop Commentary.

Ep 195

There are three album storylines I wanted to get into this week.

First, Quavo has Pharrell executive producing Chromelife, a huge feature list and an Offset reunion. On paper that sounds great. I'm just not convinced Pharrell and a bunch of big names fix what hasn't worked for me about Quavo's solo albums.

Then Megan Thee Stallion is getting Act 3 started with the return of Tina Snow, but we're already getting headlines about Klay Thompson again. I want to know when Megan's music gets to be the biggest story of a Megan album rollout.

And finally, Drake is bringing the FOMO music to streaming and continuing what has turned into one hell of a comeback year.

Three upcoming projects, three completely different side plots, and a lot to talk about.

Timestamps

(0:22) Quavo's album Qromelive

(2:33) Is Pharrell right for this?

(3:49) Migos reunion

(5:15) Final Thoughts

(6:33) Meg's album rollout

(7:28) Tina Snow is back

(8:10) Klay is becoming the focus

(11:39) Too much is happening to mention Klay

(15:28) Drake's FOMO coming to DSPs

(16:15) This is revenge

(18:52) I want to hear FOMO

Ep 194

For this episode, I’m getting into two situations where how you handle a problem matters just as much as the problem itself.

First, Outkast is taking Ovrkast to court over his name. I understand Outkast protecting what they built, but some of what they're asking for feels like it could go way beyond protecting a trademark and potentially damage a young artist's career.

Then Rory and QueenzFlip finally came face to face after an issue that goes back two years. Rory admits he misread parts of what happened that night, and I agree that he picked the wrong place and time to confront Flip. But that doesn't erase what Flip originally said about Rory and Mal—or why Rory still felt a way about it.