The Stem Society

Ep 177

This week I'm breaking down one of the strangest stories in hip-hop. Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Kanye West, Playboi Carti and other artists all appear to have been targeted by the same hackers, leading to leaked songs and unauthorized uploads. I examine what happened, the possible connections, and what this could mean for the music industry moving forward. Plus, I share my thoughts on The Game vs. YG Verzuz and why The Game's catalog deserves more respect than it gets.

Timestamps

(0:20) Major artists are getting hacked

(4:21) Who is IMXX

(5:14) What I seen on their Discord

(9:10) Recap of Game/YG Verzuz

(17:08) Cole's Corner: 38 Spesh vs Everybody

Ep 176

Should rap lyrics ever be used as evidence in court?

This week, I break down the Yella Beezy trial and explain why I think using rap lyrics to convict artists is a slippery slope. Then I react to Complex's updated list of the 100 Best LA Rap Songs, reveal my own Top 5, and close the show with thoughts on why fans need to stop overanalyzing every Kendrick Lamar snippet before the full song is released.

Ep 175

This week on The Stem Society, Cole Jackson reacts to the long-awaited conversation between DJ Akademiks and Charlamagne Tha God. Did the Roc Nation accusations finally get settled, or did the three-hour discussion solve nothing? Then Cole breaks down Jay-Z's historic Yankee Stadium celebration, the surprise guests, the backlash from former insiders, and why the Target freestyle became one of the weekend's biggest talking points.

Timestamps

(0:18) Memphis Bleek agrues for Jay Z

(2:41) Jay picks GQ over hip hop media

(4:24) Should Jay Z sit with more outlets?

(8:28) Who's to blame?

(11:36) Major names don't sit with hip hop media

(13:25) Billboards top 10 hottest female rappers

(29:15) Why is Trim ranked so high?

(17:21) Yung Miami at 2?

(19:32) No love for Tierra Whack

(21:48) Cole's Corner: What's wrong with Wale?

Ep 174

This week on The Stem Society, Cole Jackson reacts to the long-awaited conversation between DJ Akademiks and Charlamagne Tha God. Did the Roc Nation accusations finally get settled, or did the three-hour discussion solve nothing? Then Cole breaks down Jay-Z's historic Yankee Stadium celebration, the surprise guests, the backlash from former insiders, and why the Target freestyle became one of the weekend's biggest talking points.

Ep 173

Is Yung Miami's "Spend Dat" just harmless fun, or does India.Arie have a point about the power music has over culture and behavior? Cole breaks down the backlash, why India.Arie was misunderstood, and whether artists should be blamed when listeners try to live out the lyrics. Plus, five predictions for Jay-Z's massive Yankee Stadium weekend celebrating Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint—including possible surprise guests, a Roc-A-Fella reunion, new music, and even a new album announcement.

Ep 172

Lupe Fiasco says there are hundreds of rappers better than Kendrick Lamar, and once again the internet is debating where he ranks among hip-hop's elite. Cole Jackson explains why Lupe deserves respect as one of rap's greatest lyricists while also breaking down why greatness is about more than just bars. Plus, a look at 50 Cent's reported performance at a Donald Trump Jr.-connected event and the ongoing conversation about money, morals, and hip-hop.

Timestamps

(2:02) Why is Lupe Doing This

(3:13) Who Would Win?

(3:48) Lupe is an Elite Rapper

(6:50) I Think Lupe is Trolling

(10:34) The MAGA Rappers

(11:28) Ebro Speaks Out

(13:36) Rappers Lie

(17:22) Cole's Corner: Joe Budden

Ep 171

On this episode of The Stem Society, Cole Jackson breaks down DJ Akademiks' accusations that Charlamagne Tha God and other media personalities are protecting Jay-Z and Roc Nation, and explains why the relationship between artists and hip-hop media is more complicated than many fans realize.

Later, Cole examines Lizzo's disappointing album sales and asks whether the blame belongs to the algorithm, her label, or the music itself. It's a conversation about accountability, public perception, and how quickly momentum can disappear in today's music industry.

Timestamps

(0:51) Akademiks Tweets

(2:01) Same Points, Different People

(4:00) 2 Narratives

(6:24) Charla has Receipts

(9:17) What's the Real Story

(11:27) Why Did Lizzo Flop?

(13:24) Her First Mistake

(15:43) Lizzo Blames the Algorithm

(20:43) Maybe Lizzo is the Problem

(23:47) Coles corner: Future's new song

Ep 170

On today's episode of The Stem Society, Cole Jackson breaks down two of the biggest conversations in hip-hop.

First, T.I. is facing criticism after calling Verzuz a "poor people activity" despite spending years campaigning for a battle with 50 Cent. Has he changed his mind, or is this a convenient rewrite of history before his new album?

Then, Meek Mill claims DJ Akademiks and his online coverage are responsible for a dramatic decline in his streaming numbers. Is Akademiks really that influential, or is Meek ignoring the real reasons behind his career slowdown?

Cole gives his unfiltered take on both stories, the bigger cultural implications, and why accountability in hip-hop is often selective.

Timestamps

(0:37) TI speaks out about Verzuz

(3:20) TI used Verzuz for his album

(5:08) TI had to clean it up

(7:09) Verzuz is not good

(11:44) Meek Mill calls out Akademiks

(14:37) Meek might be the problem

(17:34) Meek Mill is not doing it right

(20:06) Cole's Corner: Dame Dash

Ep 169

This week on The Stem Society, Cole Jackson breaks down the backlash surrounding Jay-Z's decision to release an exclusive 30th anniversary Reasonable Doubt vinyl through Target while the retailer remains the focus of a boycott within parts of the Black community.

Cole examines whether Jay-Z is being tone deaf, why billionaires often prioritize business over public sentiment, and whether fans are willing to hold their favorite artists accountable when money is involved.

Timestamp

(0:14) Jay Z partnership with Target

(1:11) Outrage vs Acceptance

(4:05) Is Jay out of touch

(6:04) This is not the first time

(7:45) Can we hold people accountable?

(9:36) Final thoughts

(10:41) Cole's Corner: Nicki Minaj

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Ep 168

This week on The Stem Society, Cole Jackson breaks down the latest lawsuit and allegations involving Kanye West and asks whether hip-hop fans have become too willing to ignore serious accusations when they involve their favorite artists.

Cole also reacts to Savon's claims that Elliott Wilson owes him $20,000 and discusses why turning personal business disputes into podcast content might be a bigger problem for hip-hop media than people realize.