The Stem Society

Ep 116

This week on The Stem Society, Cole Jackson breaks down two major stories in hip hop.

First, Drake’s lawsuit against UMG takes a new turn as CEO Lucian Grainge responds directly, calling Drake’s claims “ridiculous” and pushing back against his legal strategy. Cole gives his take on how far Drake’s team is going and whether it’s helping or hurting his case.

Then, Lil Yachty faces backlash after dropping a George Floyd punchline on livestream. Stephen Jackson responds, and we’ve got Yachty’s apology before the news cycle catches it.

Honest hip hop commentary, culture talk, and the stories shaping the music we love.

Timestamps:

(0:00) – Cole Open

(1:05) – Drake vs UMG Lawsuit Recap

(4:22) – Lucian Grainge Responds in Court Filing

(7:43) – Cole’s POV on Drake’s Legal Strategy

(10:47) – Lil Yachty’s George Floyd Bars on Livestream

(14:10) – Stephen Jackson Responds & Yachty Apologizes

(17:47) – Charleston White Jumps In

(19:28) – Cole’s POV on Yachty Backlash

Atlanta came with two major drops this week. JID’s God Does Like Ugly blends gospel influence, Atlanta pride, and sharp lyricism across 15 tracks, while Gunna’s The Last Wun—his final album under YSL—delivers 25 tracks of luxury rap and Turbo-driven production.

Cole Jackson breaks down both projects, highlighting the standout moments, the skips, and where each one lands in 2025’s hip-hop conversation.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Cole Open

(1:38) "God Does Like Ugly" | Initial Thoughts

(3:25) Production

(6:00) Lyrics/Features

(8:56) Final Verdict

(10:28) Album of the Year Candidate?

(11:29) Gunna "The Last Wun" Initial Thoughts

(12:50 Gunna's Keeps His Style

(13:43) The Flow of the Album

(16:47) Features

(17:27) Flaws in the Album

(19:23) Final Thoughts

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Ep 115

Drake’s loss made hip-hop boring? J. Cole’s not a great MC? Black Thought is way better than Jay-Z? This week on The Stem Society, Cole Jackson takes on the wildest hot takes shaking up hip-hop — breaking down why they went viral, where they miss the mark, and what they say about today’s music commentary.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Cole Open

(1:42) Bag Fuel say Hip Hop is Boring

(9:07) Ray Daniels say J Cole is Not A Great

(16:08) Will i Am Give the Nod to Black Thought over Jay Z

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BET just hit pause on the Hip Hop Awards — and the Soul Train Awards — with no clear return date. In this episode of The Stem Society, Cole Jackson breaks down what this means for the culture, why the Awards still matter, and how BET and its parent company both share the blame.

We also talk solutions: should the Hip Hop Awards move to streaming? Could going back to basics — raw cyphers, real performances, and a wider range of nominees — bring it back to life?

Plus, it’s New Music Friday with fresh drops from JID (God Does Like Ugly), Roc Marciano & DJ Premier (The Coldest Profession), and Gunna (The Last Wun). Which one gets your first spin?

Timestamps

(0:00) Intro

(0:50) BET has cancelled the hip hop awards

(3:14) Why Should You Care

(5:23) What is the company doing?

(7:40) Is BET still for Us?

(9:44) You Should Go To Streaming

(11:15) How to Fix the Awards

(13:55) Final Thoughts

(15:24) New Release Friday

Ep 114

This week, Cole Jackson breaks down Joey Bada$$ vs Columbia Records — and why threatening to leak his album might be the smartest move he’s made all year. Then on the B-side, we look at YouTube Music’s new “Monthly Audience” stat… and why Coolio and Doechii outranking Drake has the whole internet confused.

Two stories. One episode. All facts, no fluff. Welcome to The Stem Society.

(0:00) Intro

(:50) Joey Badass album gets delayed

(3:09) This is common with labels

(6:44) Youtube should be the move

(9:27) What’s Next?

(10:42) Youtube’s Monthly Audience 

(11:50) The First Artist List

(13:27) Monthly Audience will justify Pod BS

(17:15) Outro

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The Stem Society Weekly Album Check In

Freddie Gibbs and Alchemist are back with Alfredo 2—but does it live up to the original? In this week’s Weekly Album Check-In, Cole Jackson breaks down the flawless sequencing, standout features from JID and Anderson .Paak, and the not-so-subtle disses aimed at Curren$y and Benny the Butcher.

Then we get into it: Is this the best rap album of 2025… or is Let God Sort Em Out by Clipse still holding the crown?

Timestamps:

(0:00) Intro

(0:37) Initial Thoughts

(2:45) The Production

(4:56) Freddie Gibbs is Elite

(8:04) Shots at Curren$y?

(9:57) The Freddie & Alchemist connection

(11:10) The Features

(13:38) The Verdict

(14:42) Who Has AOTY?

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Ep 113

Complex just dropped their 2025 Hip Hop Media Power List—and it’s a mess.

In this episode, I break down who got kicked off (Sway, Gabe P, Adam22), the weird additions, and why putting Kai Cenat at #1 says everything about where hip hop media is headed.

We’re talking moved goalposts, clout over consistency, and the real voices being erased from the conversation. This list isn’t about media—it’s about metrics.

Tap in as I give my unfiltered take on what Complex got wrong, who should’ve made the list, and why this matters for creators in the culture.

0:47 – What is Hip Hop Media Now?
2:06 – The Criteria: How Complex Moved the Goalpost
3:49 – Who Got Kicked Off the List
6:59 – Weird Additions & Placements
13:17 – Who Complex Completely Missed
16:52 – The Number One Pick: Kai Cenat
21:41 – Why This List is Trash

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This week, Cole Jackson breaks down two standout drops from very different corners of the music map.

First up is Jim Legxacy’s Black British Music—an emotional, genre-blending mixtape filled with tension, vulnerability, and moments of raw honesty. Cole shares his first-listen reactions, favorite tracks, and what makes this UK release worth paying attention to.

Then, it’s a sharp left turn into Tyler, The Creator’s Don’t Tap the Glass—a dance-heavy, chaotic album. Is this Tyler just having fun, or is there more underneath the surface?

Two albums. Two different energies. Same real talk.

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The Weekly Album Check In

This week on The Weekly Album Check-In, Cole Jackson takes a close listen to two major drops: the long-awaited return of Clipse with Let God Sort Em Out and the smooth new project from Larry June & Cardo, Until the Night Comes. One album is pushing for best of the year—one just holds steady. Tune in for the verdict.Follow Us on Social Media:

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Ep 112

This week on The Stem Society, Cole Jackson breaks down Nicki Minaj’s explosive claim that JAY-Z and Roc Nation owe her up to $200 million from the Tidal deal. From the original artist equity rollout to the 2021 sale, we revisit the numbers, the silence from other stakeholders like Rihanna and J. Cole, and Steve Stoute’s comments that Nicki never signed her paperwork. With no lawsuit in sight and the Barbz in full attack mode, is this a legitimate financial grievance or just a high-stakes PR play? Let’s get into it.

🎧 Curated Spotify Playlists:

▪️ Cole’s UK Selections – UK rap, grime, drill, alt vibes

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7iw59JQcJD5IEhfr6A4lea?si=vPEdwcYzSEKb4evP_aaUGg

▪️ In The Loop – U.S. hip-hop, new drops, underground heat

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0cKpuFv5atDUg2yn4FhzzZ?si=hGaLFWxvRcqOBNkQlQemsQ

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Get bonus content + behind-the-scenes:

https://www.patreon.com/TheStemSociety

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