The Stem Society

Ep 157

Meg Thee Stallion and Klay Thompson are done — but the internet turned it into something way bigger than it needed to be. In this episode, we break down what actually happened, why people are picking sides, and how narratives are driving the conversation more than facts. Then we get into Vince Staples’ “Blackberry Marmalade” video and the split reaction around it — did he go too far, or are people missing the message?

⏱️ Timestamps

(0:21) Meg & Klay Breakup Breakdown

(2:01) The Narrative is Crazy(4:58) We Don't Know

Anything

(7:07) The Meg Side of Things

(9:56) Final Thoughts

(12:27) Vince Staples “Blackberry Marmalade” Reaction

(14:26) Did People Miss The Message?

(16:31) Final Thought

Ep 156

In this episode of The Stem Society, Cole Jackson breaks down two major conversations in hip hop.

Drake begins his latest rollout, sparking debate about strategy, timing, and what comes next.
Plus, Complex drops its list of the hottest rappers right now, and the reaction says everything.

Tap in and join the conversation.

Timestamp

(0:26) Drake’s rollout begins

(5:43) Is Drake controlling the narrative?

(12:49) Complex drops Top 100 list

(13:58) Why this list makes no sense

(17:00) Biggest snubs & reactions

(23:44) Cole's Corner: Boosie & Vlad Breakup

Ep 155

Lil Wayne speaks out about being left out of today’s biggest moments, which leads to a bigger question about relevance and legacy in hip hop.

The Game jumps into the Drake conversation and blames fans for the current state of the culture, sparking debate about what actually drives success.

Plus, Ice Spice goes viral after a public incident that raises concerns about how artists move and protect themselves.

Cole Jackson breaks it all down in this episode of The Stem Society.

Timestamp

(0:21) Lil Wayne tweets about being out of the conversation

(8:41) Hip Hop is down?

(9:22) Isaac Hayes III tweets

(11:01) Is this a troll?

(12:33) The battle is not the problem

(16:06) Drake is fine

(20:02) Ice Spice attacked!

(26:03) Cole's Corner - Athony Fantano

Ep 154

This week, Cole tackles multiple topics.

He dives into Isaiah Rashad’s rollout and why this could be his best — and possibly final — album.

Next, Cole breaks down the Chris Brown & Usher tour, why it feels bigger than a moment, and whether this is the closest thing we’ll get to a Verzuz. He also asks: is this finally the move that puts Chris Brown in position for a Super Bowl Halftime show?

Finally, Cole revisits Gucci Mane’s “Crash Dummy” release, where it went wrong, and what it says about the current mindset of street OGs — including the shift toward more Republican views.

Timestamps

(0:17) Isaiah Rashad's New Album

(1:26) 'Same Sh!t' song and video

(2:28) Isaiah's place at TDE

(3:19) Speculation on who and what's on the album

(5:33) Usher and Chris Brown annouce a new tour

(7:48) Crossing Eras, How Will It Work?

(9:55) Does the Concert Turn Into a Verzuz?

(13:14) Let's Talk More About Gucci Mane

(14:27) OGs Turning Republican?

(18:47) Gucci's Downfall

(21:16) Drake's Rollout is Getting Stupid

Ep 153

Gucci Mane is catching heat after his latest track sparked a “snitching” debate, and the internet is split on whether he crossed the line or not.

Meanwhile, Offset is back in the headlines following a shooting incident, but the bigger conversation is about his recent pattern and how he’s been moving.

Cole Jackson breaks down both stories, the reactions behind them, and what it means for each artist going forward on this episode of The Stem Society.

Ep 152

Kanye keeps talking—but this time, people aren’t just tweeting about it… they’re acting on it. What used to be outrage is starting to turn into real consequences, and the industry might finally be drawing a line.

In this episode, Cole Jackson breaks down what Kanye said, why the backlash feels different, and asks the real question—why do we keep letting this slide?

At some point, it stops being controversy… and starts being a pattern.

Ep 151

Cole Jackson breaks down the growing tension between Gucci Mane and Pooh Shiesty, and what this situation reveals about loyalty, contracts, and how things can spiral in the industry. Then, we get into Kanye West’s latest run—sold out shows, major headlines, and the bigger question: does success erase everything?

Timestamps

(0:00) Cole Open

(0:36) How did we get here?

(4:20) Gucci Mane's Label is Cursed

(7:10) Gucci is a Snitch?

(8:58) What Wrong With New Rappers?

(11:07) Kanye is Back?

(13:28) I Can't Forget KKKanye

(15:15) The Pushback Against Kanye

(18:36) Final Thoughts

Ep 150

Cole Jackson breaks down two major interviews that have the culture talking — and they couldn’t feel more different.

J. Cole finally sits down, but instead of clarity, it raises more questions. From dodging the Drake situation to redefining himself as a battle rapper, something about this rollout isn’t landing right.

Then there’s Jay-Z. In a rare interview, Hov speaks openly on his current mindset, but his stance on battling raises a bigger question about where hip-hop is headed.

Timestamps

(0:00) Cole Open

(0:44) Jay's opinion about battles

(3:55) Jay might be right

(6:20) Battles are the foundation

(7:36) Jay comes from battling

(10:51) Final thoughts about Jay

(11:44) J. Cole's interview run

(14:02) The problem with J. Cole

(16:25) Nothing sounds credible

(19:07) Unanswered questions

(21:31) J Cole is compromised

(25:20) Outro

Ep 149

In this episode of The Stem Society, Cole Jackson tackles two conversations that show how quickly the culture picks sides.

First, Cole breaks down the backlash around LaRussell after a clip from his unreleased track “Heaven Sent” sparked outrage online. With controversial references getting clipped and spread, the question becomes — is this real concern, or just selective outrage from the internet?

Then the focus shifts to Jay-Z as he returns to the stage and rumors of new music start to build. Cole asks the bigger question: do we actually need a new Jay-Z album in 2026, or are we holding on to an idea that doesn’t match where the culture is today?

From outrage culture to legacy conversations, this episode challenges how we react, who we criticize, and what we really expect from artists at different stages of their careers.

Timestamps

(0:31) LaRussell's Heaven Sent

(3:53) Roc Nation Deal

(5:16) LaRussell Doubles Down

(6:45) Hip Hop is Hypothetical

(8:49) Final Thoughts

(11:02) Jay Z is Back Outside

(12:11) Why We're Not Getting an Album

(14:19) The Back Half of Jay Z Career

(15:16) I Don't Want an Album

(17:15) Outro

Ep 148

First, Cole reacts to comments from Ebro Darden that sparked debate across the internet after he criticized fans for their album opinions. The conversation raises a bigger question about credibility in hip-hop media — who really gets to decide what’s good music: the media personalities or the fans who live with the music every day?

Then Cole looks at the controversy surrounding independent artist LaRussell after Billboard ruled that thousands of his album sales would not count toward the charts. The situation highlights the ongoing tension between independent artists and the systems that still shape success in the music industry.

From media gatekeeping to chart politics, this episode explores what these moments reveal about power, independence, and credibility in hip-hop today.

(0:00) Cole Open

(0:32) Ebro Goes at the Fans

(4:42) Ebro Era and Distaste for Opinions

(7:59) Ebro is a Company Man

(10:03) We Are Just Customers

(11:42) LaRussell and Billboard Clash

(13:58) LaRussell's Strange Year

(17:41) Billboard and their Rules

(18:56) Final Thoughts

(20:17) Outro