Views From The 7

This week on Views From the 7, the crew starts with a conversation about the “IT factor.” We all know artists who seemed to have everything it took to become a star, but is having “it” actually enough to make it?

From there, we get into songs we love using for certain occasions even though the lyrics mean the complete opposite of what we’re celebrating. We also talk about our first experiences stepping into the “lion’s den,” whether online feedback has ever genuinely affected us, and why having an opinion outside of the popular consensus is so quickly dismissed as rage bait.

And of course, the episode title had to come from somewhere: do all women turn into hoes after losing a lot of weight? 😂

It’s a mix of music, personal experiences, internet culture, and a question that definitely had the room talking. This is Views From The 7!

FAA | Is Vegas truly West Coast , Does Game have Top 5 catalog , Should WNBA let Trans Women in by VFT7

It’s a Family Matters kind of episode! 😂

Spence and Shayna kick things off with the Aruba recap before the crew gets into Donell Jones vs. Joe and a bigger question: are we officially getting tired of Verzuz?

From there, the conversation gets a little deeper as we talk prayer vs. manifestation, the realities and considerations of having children with someone who has a disability, and the family red flags you might want to pay attention to before things get too serious.

We've got that and much more... this is Views From The 7!

With Spence and Shayna out of the country, S.O., Ivan and Skinny hold down the 7 and are later joined by special guest Mr. Grand Jeremy for an episode that starts with life updates and nostalgia before going completely off the rails. 😂

Before the guest conversation gets started, the guys catch up on life. S.O. talks about dealing with gout in his left foot and how one painful experience had him questioning what life is supposed to look like moving forward. Meanwhile, Ivan shares a much better life update—being on vacation from work gave him the rare opportunity to be there for his daughter’s first day of school.

From there, the nostalgia kicks in as the crew remembers the days of watching low-budget Black movies during the DVD/VHS era. That somehow leads to Kevin Hart’s 72 Hours and the guys attempting to name their Top 3 Kevin Hart movies… if they even have three. 😂

Then Mr. Grand Jeremy joins the show and takes the conversation in a completely different direction.

Jeremy talks about what inspired him to start hosting DJ battles, the difference between putting together DJ battles and themed parties, and which one he enjoys the most. He also opens up about how he met his husband, what married life has been like and the reality that being married definitely doesn’t stop people from shooting their shot.

That opens the door to a much bigger conversation about gay sugar babies, side pieces, DL men, relationships, sex and money. The crew debates whether spending money on someone you’re sleeping with—but aren’t actually in a relationship with—is really tricking… or are those just “love tokens?” 👀

Jeremy even flips the interview around and asks Skinny a question of his own: Why do so many gangstas come home from prison and become pimps?

Beyond the wild conversations, Jeremy also gets into the business side of what he’s building. He talks about receiving a county grant contract to produce five events, with three still remaining, and reflects on how he’s managed to scale his pie business over the last five years.

And because this is Views From The 7, there was absolutely no chance the episode was going to end normally.

The final conversation takes one last unexpected turn when Ivan hits Jeremy with a question so outrageous that it basically ends the show right there. 😂😂😂

From fatherhood, gout and Kevin Hart movies to DJ battles, marriage, sexuality, money, entrepreneurship and everything in between—S.O., Ivan, Skinny and Mr. Grand Jeremy give us one of those conversations that could only happen on Views From The 7.

Episode 415: Zemp Phi Zemp 🎙️

This week on Views From The 7, we’re going from vacation mode to R&B debates, high school nostalgia, fraternity life, and a much deeper conversation about interracial dating and race in America.

S.O. kicks things off with the full recap of his Aruba getaway — from the perks of having a personal butler to off-roading adventures, vacation mishaps, and a competitive game of Mario Kart that got a little more serious than expected. 😂 We also get into some of the underrated perks of traveling and why sometimes getting away gives you a whole new perspective.

Then the conversation shifts to R&B. Is Jacquees too established to take a supporting role on a Chris Brown tour? The crew debates where Jacquees currently stands in R&B and how his career compares to artists like Tank and Mario.

From there, we take it back to high school. Who was actually considered “cool”? Does being popular — or unpopular — during those years follow people into adulthood? That conversation leads us into fraternity life, brotherhood, and some very different opinions about Greek culture.

Finally, things get deeper as we discuss interracial dating in America — preferences, fetishization, common interracial pairings within the Black community, and some unpopular opinions that lead into a bigger question: Will we ever reach a point where race isn’t such a major part of the conversation in America?

TIMESTAMPS

00:00:15 — S.O.’s Aruba Recap: Butlers, Off-Roading & Apologies

00:14:30 — Jacquees vs. R&B Giants: Where Does He Rank?

00:28:10 — High School Social Hierarchies: Who Was Actually Cool?

00:36:10 — Fraternity Life, Brotherhood & “Organized Banging”

01:13:50 — Interracial Dating, Preferences & Fetishization

01:42:00 — When Will the Conversation About Race Change?

💬 Join the conversation: Were you one of the “cool kids” in high school? And where do you rank Jacquees among today’s R&B singers?

We're back again! On this episode we discuss dealing with the fallout of a viral moment and the reality of being removed from the dating scene since 2013.

Vacation Glow Up: The struggle of online shopping, the dread of flying, and the essential prep before heading to Aruba.

Mortal Kombat & Movie Cuts: Why modern fight scenes feel different and our take on Johnny Cage in MK2.

Ivan’s Spider-Man Reaction: A full breakdown of the biggest preview day in history and why the theater experience was like nothing else.

Marvel’s Black Superhero Problem: Why do so many promising shows featuring black characters keep getting canceled?

The Marriage Debate: “A man doesn’t marry the woman he’s in love with, he marries the woman who’s ready when he’s ready.” The crew gets real on intensity vs. quality in love.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & The Aruba Red-Eye Struggle

03:52 - Caught Vaping in the Airplane Bathroom!

11:15 - Bedazzled Nike Shorts? The Men’s Fashion Movement

22:23 - Mortal Kombat 2 Review: Fighting Games vs. Movies

34:00 - Street Fighter vs. Mortal Kombat: The Goat Debate

44:20 - Spider-Man: Brand New Day Spoilers & Easter Eggs

01:03:30 - Why Black Marvel Shows Keep Getting Canceled

01:13:20 - The Marriage Debate: Ready vs. In Love

01:38:55 - Real Talk: Finding Strength and Growth Through Shared Loss

01:56:40 - The "Good Girl" Truth & Outro

Sometimes the toughest conversations aren’t about movies or music—they’re about friendships, money, and knowing when enough is enough.

In this episode of Views From The 7, the crew dives into the difficult realities of long-term friendships, lending money, and recognizing when someone needs to be taken off your list for good. From personal experiences to relationship expectations, we unpack dating with intention, transparency, “girlfriend treatment,” and why marriage is more than just romance—it’s also a business decision.

Then we shift into entertainment as we break down the biggest announcements coming out of San Diego Comic-Con. With Marvel leaning heavily into nostalgia, we debate whether the return of familiar faces is enough to get the MCU back on track. We also discuss what’s next for the franchise with Avengers: Doomsday, Secret Wars, and Black Panther 3, while taking a look at DC’s upcoming slate, including Lanterns and Clayface, and whether DC can finally close the gap with Marvel.

And because it’s Views From The 7, we wrap things up with some lighter conversations—including the fast-food hacks we somehow never knew existed (yes…the soda lid buttons).

⏱️ Timestamps

1:00 – The “Friendship Limit” & Social Media Drama

Ivan shares a personal story about a longtime friendship that unraveled over money. The crew debates where to draw the line between helping friends and being taken advantage of, and whether social media should ever be used to air out personal disputes.

45:15 – The “Girlfriend Treatment” Debate

What does it really mean to date with intention? The conversation gets heated as the crew discusses “girlfriend treatment,” mixed signals, and why changing relationship patterns can create unexpected tension.

1:03:25 – Marriage as a Business Decision

Is marriage purely about love? The crew discusses divorce laws, protecting your assets, prenups, and why many people see marriage as both a romantic and financial partnership.

1:09:30 – Marvel’s Nostalgia Play

Following the latest Comic-Con announcements, the crew debates Robert Downey Jr.‘s return, Marvel’s future with Avengers: Doomsday, Secret Wars, and Black Panther 3, plus whether DC’s Lanterns and Clayface can finally shift the superhero landscape.

1:48:00 – Fast Food “Revelations”

The episode ends on a hilarious note as the crew realizes they’ve been missing some of the internet’s most “obvious” life hacks—from soda lid buttons to the real purpose of can tabs.

💬 Join the conversation in the comments:

Is Marvel’s reliance on nostalgia a smart strategy or a sign they’re running out of ideas?

What’s one rule you’ll never break when it comes to lending money to friends?

👍 If you enjoyed the conversation, don’t forget to Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications for more weekly discussions from Views From The 7.

On this episode of Views From The 7 we debate the true legacy of Denzel Washington, and take a nostalgic trip through 00s Hip-Hop and the films that defined an era

In This Episode:

The Denzel Debate: Is Man on Fire actually superior to Training Day?

Hip-Hop History: Revisiting Fat Joe’s book and the era of Big Pun and Mystikal.

The Movie Graveyard: Breaking down the "Holy Trinity" of trash classics like Sprung and Booty Call.

14:45 – Animal Kingdom: Why the Aliante Park ducks are not to be messed with.

23:01 – Fat Joe’s Book Review: The reality behind the "Don Cartagena" stories.

35:45 – The Denzel Face-Off: Man on Fire vs. his entire legendary catalog.

56:15 – The DC Struggle: Can they survive without Batman carrying the team?

1:09:35 – From 8 Mile to Hustle & Flow: The best Hip-Hop movies ever made.

1:38:55 – The "Holy Trinity of Trash": Why we still love Sprung and Booty Call.

On this episode we get into everything from the influence of American culture and the reality of algorithms to debates about hip-hop legends and R&B icons like Pretty Ricky and TLC. The team gets personal, sharing harrowing stories of close encounters with nature, including a terrifying wild boar incident in New Orleans—and dives into a heavy discussion on American history, the Revolutionary War, and the complex diaspora of the black experience. We've got that and much more...This is Views From The 7!

00:37 - The Most Influential Country? The debate kicks off with a look at whether America is truly the global leader in cultural influence, from trap music to "American gangs in Africa."

06:33 - Man vs. Nature: A series of wild stories about alligator attacks and bear encounters leads into a terrifying personal account of being chased by a wild boar in the New Orleans sticks.

18:41 - The "Booze Cruise" Incident: A breakdown of how a simple vacation boat trip turned into a survival situation and a life-changing lesson on local warnings.

32:05 - Pretty Ricky vs. The World: A passionate defense of Pretty Ricky’s R&B dominance, including a debate on how they would fare against groups like TLC or New Edition.

44:48 - Lauryn Hill's Legacy: The group clashes over whether a "Lifetime Achievement Award" is deserved for an artist with only one solo studio album.

1:13:30 - The Complexity of History: A deep, serious dive into the Revolutionary War, the role of black soldiers, and the often-overlooked history of free black people in early America.

On this episode of Views From The 7, we’re joined by 24K and Misha for an honest conversation about spirituality, identity, and one of the internet’s most controversial figures—Nature Boy.

We discuss African Traditional Religions (ATR), the Orishas, leaving Christianity, and what practicing Ifá actually looks like beyond the misconceptions. The conversation also takes a deep dive into their firsthand experiences with Nature Boy and Carbon Nation, including his time in Las Vegas, the social media fallout, and what really happened behind the scenes.