Ep.276 | Is Hiphop in a Bad Place?, Jay Z Verzuz Debate, Ja Morant, JD5 Out, Halloween Recap + More!
Digest
The podcast begins with hosts discussing their Halloween experiences, including trick-or-treating and elaborate neighborhood decorations. They then transition to personal updates, with one host sharing a significant life change and potential move. The conversation touches on business ventures, tax advice, and social media mishaps. A review of Arby's steak nuggets leads to a broader discussion about food product perception and fast-food analogies. The hosts delve into the state of hip-hop, debating its perceived decline based on Billboard chart performance and the lack of new artists breaking through, contrasting it with other genres' generational transitions. They analyze the role of older hip-hop figures and media in hindering progress and discuss the impact of major artists' inactivity. The podcast also explores the phenomenon of rap "versus" battles, debating the capabilities of various artists like Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole, and the significant role of nostalgia. Finally, they provide an NFL update, discussing season surprises, injuries, and notable game results, including a major upset.
Outlines
Halloween and Personal Life Updates
The podcast opens with hosts sharing their Halloween experiences, including trick-or-treating and neighborhood festivities. They also discuss personal life changes, such as a significant move and the desire for a PO Box, alongside mentions of brands and business ideas.
Food Reviews and Hypothetical Scenarios
Hosts humorously discuss trusting others with tasks like taxes and recap a weekend event. They then dive into a review of Arby's steak nuggets, debating their taste and comparing them to beef jerky, using hypothetical fast-food scenarios and the McChicken as analogies for product perception.
Hip-Hop Evolution and Fashion Critiques
The conversation touches on the hype around the Popeyes chicken sandwich and references Kendrick Lamar's music. Hosts engage in playful fashion critiques and discuss battle rap events.
NBA Controversy and Sports Consumer Frustration
The hosts discuss the controversy surrounding NBA player John Moran, his team's performance, and his suspension. They also touch upon broader consumer frustrations in sports and media, citing ticket prices and disputes between media providers.
The State of Hip-Hop: Chart Performance and Generational Shifts
A significant discussion revolves around hip-hop's absence from the top 40 charts, sparking a debate about whether the genre is dying or evolving. Hosts analyze the role of older generations, media, and major artists in this perceived stagnation, contrasting hip-hop's development with other music genres.
Hip-Hop's Future: Succession and Media Disconnect
The hosts pinpoint the Kendrick, Drake, and J. Cole era as a key period and discuss the impact of major artists not releasing music. They critique hip-hop media for being disconnected from youth culture and argue for the need for clear succession plans for new artists.
Hip-Hop's Shifting Landscape and Consumption Habits
The podcast explores hip-hop becoming a novelty, the decline of live music venues, and the issue of "lack of consumption" despite artistic merit. Hosts argue that an aging audience resistant to new music is a key factor, and discuss the rise of podcasts and streamers over albums.
Supporting New Artists and Hip-Hop Media Critiques
The importance of older artists featuring newer talent is highlighted, alongside criticism of hip-hop media for being out of touch with youth culture, using NBA YoungBoy's popularity as an example.
Rap Versus Battles: Jay-Z and Contenders
The hosts engage in a detailed debate about Jay-Z's capabilities in rap "versus" battles, comparing him to various artists like Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Drake, and Future, considering their catalogs and performance styles. Nostalgia's significant role in these battles is also emphasized.
NFL Season Update and Game Highlights
The podcast shifts to the NFL, discussing the high number of injuries impacting teams and the unpredictable nature of the season. A "Belt Report" reviews game results, and the Bills' upset victory over the Chiefs is highlighted.
Keywords
Halloween
A holiday celebrated on October 31st, known for trick-or-treating, costumes, and parties. It's a time for festive activities, especially for children, involving candy collection and themed decorations.
Trick-or-treating
A Halloween tradition where children dress in costumes and go door-to-door collecting candy. The generosity of candy distribution can vary significantly among households and neighborhoods.
Hip-hop music
A genre of music characterized by rhythmic and rhyming speech (rapping) often accompanied by a beat. It encompasses various subgenres and has a significant cultural impact globally.
Billboard charts
Weekly music charts compiled by Billboard magazine, ranking the popularity of songs and albums. The Hot 100 and Billboard 200 are key charts reflecting commercial success in the music industry.
Music industry
The ecosystem of businesses and individuals involved in the creation, production, distribution, and sale of music. It encompasses artists, labels, publishers, and various support services.
Youth culture
The set of norms, values, and practices associated with young people. In music, embracing youth culture often involves promoting new artists and sounds that resonate with younger demographics.
Generational shift
The transition of cultural influence and dominance from one generation to the next. In music genres, this involves new artists emerging and shaping the sound and direction of the genre.
Nostalgia
A sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past. In music, nostalgia can refer to a fondness for older artists, sounds, or eras of a genre.
Podcasts
Digital audio files that users can download or stream, often featuring discussions on various topics. They have become a major competitor for listener attention against traditional music consumption.
Versus Battles
A format in hip-hop where artists engage in lyrical duels, often judged by their catalog, performance, and crowd reaction. This has become a significant cultural event and topic of discussion.
NFL Injuries
The impact of player injuries on team performance and season outcomes in American football. This season has seen a high number of significant injuries affecting key players and teams.
Q&A
What was the main topic of discussion regarding Halloween?
The hosts discussed their Halloween weekend, including trick-or-treating with their children, the varying amounts of candy received, and the elaborate decorations and treats offered by neighbors.
What is the significance of the Billboard chart report mentioned in the podcast?
The report highlighted that for the first time in 30 years, no hip-hop records charted in the top 40, sparking a debate about the genre's current state, its evolution, and the role of older generations in its progression.
What is the central argument about the "dying" of hip-hop?
The argument is that the specific *type* of hip-hop that older generations prefer is dying because it's not evolving or embracing new artists. The genre itself is changing, but the resistance to new sounds and artists is the core issue.
How do other music genres handle generational shifts compared to hip-hop?
Unlike hip-hop, genres like pop, R&B, and country music actively promote and embrace new artists, allowing them to become the forefront of the genre and represent the current generation.
What role do older hip-hop artists and media play in the current state of the genre?
The hosts argue that older artists and media figures are holding onto the past, not making way for new talent, and are often stuck in a nostalgic mindset, which hinders the growth and evolution of hip-hop.
What is the significance of the Mortal Kombat analogy used to describe hip-hop?
The analogy suggests that fans often focus on specific artists (like Scorpion or Sub-Zero) rather than the genre as a whole (Mortal Kombat). This artist loyalty, driven by nostalgia and specific styles, might be preventing broader appreciation of new hip-hop.
What is the main criticism regarding John Moran's recent performance and controversy?
The criticism centers on John Moran and his teammate Jaren Jackson Jr. seemingly giving up during a game, showing a lack of effort and leadership. Moran's post-game comments and subsequent suspension further fueled the debate.
How does the podcast differentiate between loving a specific artist and loving hip-hop as a genre?
The hosts suggest that many fans are loyal to individual artists like Drake or Kendrick Lamar, but this doesn't necessarily translate to a deep appreciation for the hip-hop genre as a whole, especially when it comes to embracing new artists and sounds.
How has the competition for audience attention changed for hip-hop artists?
Hip-hop artists now compete not just with other music genres like R&B and pop, but significantly with podcasts and online streamers, diverting listener attention away from traditional music consumption.
What is the significance of NBA YoungBoy's popularity in the current hip-hop landscape?
NBA YoungBoy's massive success, primarily through platforms like YouTube rather than traditional charts, demonstrates a shift in how artists gain influence and reach their audience, challenging older metrics.
How does nostalgia impact the outcome of rap "versus" battles?
Nostalgia plays a critical role by evoking strong emotional connections with older songs, potentially giving artists with a longer history an advantage, even if their newer material isn't as impactful.
What are the main points of contention in the debate about Jay-Z's rap battle capabilities?
The debate centers on whether Jay-Z's extensive catalog and legacy make him unbeatable, or if younger artists with different styles and potentially more current relevance could challenge him, considering performance and song selection.
How have injuries affected the current NFL season?
The current NFL season has been heavily impacted by a significant number of injuries to key players across multiple teams, making the league more unpredictable and opening up the championship race.
Show Notes
On this episode of the MalloryBros. Podcast, the guys kick things off with a weekend recap. Halloween was lit, Terrance was back on the move, and there’s plenty to catch up on. Terrell gives his review of Arby’s new Steak Nuggets and whether they’re worth the hype. The conversation shifts to Ja Morant as the guys question what’s really going on with him as we speculate the cause for his feud with his coaching staff. Terrance speaks to the optics of Ja's leadership. This leads to a conversation about the topic of Hiphop being dead. This coming as a response to the news that for the first time in 30 years there are no hiphop songs charting in the top 40. Terrell leads the convo speaking to the issue he has with old head hip hop fans and purists who he believes would rather nuke the genre than let it grow. Next, they get into the viral topic of Jay-Z and whether anyone could actually beat him in a Verzuz. Terrance and Terrell go back and forth naming contenders and explaining who, why and how somebody gets the W standing next to Jay on that stage. They wrap things up with an NFL recap.. the Commanders get belt from the Seahawks, JD5 is out, the Broncos escape, and Terrance delivers a Belt Report.
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