The Joe Budden Podcast Episode 916 | Muslim Laettner

TL;DR

Episode 916 of the Joe Budden Podcast featuring casual banter, Kanye's new album review, and various pop culture discussions.

Key Points

• 1.Episode 916 is dedicated to Sacramento fans. The hosts note Sacramento's 916 area code, shouting out Kings playoff history and the light-up arena dome experience.
• 2.Parks Valley wins Podcaster of the Month for March. He receives the chain in April, with Joe Budden giving a heartfelt speech about their years of touring and collaboration together.
• 3.The crew debates what 'mid' means on a 1-10 scale. Flip argues mid is a seven, while others insist mid means average, placing it at five or six.
• 4.Flip is making back-to-back Trinidad trips, the second framed as a business/charity trip. His wife wanted to come but he justified it as a solo work trip, returning Monday.
• 5.Marc Lamont Hill reposted podcast clips of the feminism and capitalism debates to Twitter. His followers called him a 'champagne socialist,' a term meaning you advocate for socialism while personally wealthy.
• 6.Zaya (Zaya Wade) Mayor Zohran Mamdani watches the show and wants to appear as a guest. A crew member met him at an iftar in New York and he cited specific segments he'd seen.
• 7.Kanye's new album is reviewed as mid-to-decent but well below his peak. The hosts note missing collaborators like Mike Dean, SCI High, Push T, Common, GLC, Consequence, and key ghostwriters.
• 8.The album sounds unfinished and demo-like compared to classic Kanye projects. Joe says the vocal production and delivery don't sound like Kanye, possibly due to a rushed release for a big Gamma/Larry Jackson check.
• 9.Track four and the stadium-sounding production were the standout moments for the hosts. Joe says the album clearly sounds designed for a massive SoFi Stadium-type live show experience.
• 10.The hosts rank this album near the bottom of Kanye's catalog. The 'Yay' EP and gospel records are cited as the weakest Kanye projects; this album is compared unfavorably to his second-tier work.
• 11.Mike Dean and The Weeknd are both cited as artists who should reunite with their old collaborators. Joe also mentions Ali and Kendrick, noting Kendrick is now working with Jack Antonoff's production camp.
• 12.Kendrick Lamar's rollout strategy involves reactor-style interviews and everyman appearances. The Carmelo Anthony interview was cited as the crew's favorite; a 10-minute 'Kill a Priest' deep-dive was mentioned.
• 13.Joe googled J. Cole's stepdad after a Glass Malone comment suggesting he is white. The crew found it amusing but deflected out of respect for Cole's family.
• 14.A lengthy debate erupts over whether physical features like feet can raise or lower someone's attractiveness rating. The consensus is fire feet might add half a point, while a bunion or missing pinky toenail has a slight negative effect.
• 15.Flip's 'catch and release' philosophy on noticing attractive women is discussed as the mature approach. The crew distinguishes between acknowledging attractiveness versus actively pursuing, calling the latter behavior from a less honorable past.