EP 009 - CLOUT IS NOT THE ROUTE

·1 hr 4 min·5 clips

Ben Baller, a friend to both Drake and Kendrick, dissects the truth behind their explosive diss tracks.

The episode opens with Ben Baller and JimmyBoi introducing themselves from Los Angeles, celebrating the success of Ben's recent charity golf event, the Wash Lord Invitational. They quickly pivot to the main topic: the highly publicized rap battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Ben Baller, who is friends with both artists, provides an insider perspective, dissecting tracks like 'Family Matters', 'Meet the Grams', and 'Not Like Us'. He stresses that truth is paramount, criticizing Kendrick's alleged false claim about Drake having an 11-year-old daughter. The hosts debate the battle's outcome, referencing views, polls, and reactions from figures like Vince Staples. They then broaden the discussion to societal issues, lamenting the spread of misinformation on social media and the decline of fact-checking. Ben shares a personal anecdote about a costly lawsuit to illustrate the importance of knowing when to accept a loss, advising listeners to avoid letting pride and ego dictate decisions. The conversation shifts to relationships, with Ben offering practical advice about biological clocks for women in their 30s and warning against using children to fix partnerships. They also touch on tipping culture, criticizing its excesses while advocating for fair tipping in service situations. The episode concludes with calls to subscribe and upcoming plans for live shows, wrapping up a mix of personal storytelling, cultural analysis, and life lessons.

As heard by us

A heated music debate about hip-hop's audience, cultural ownership, and the cost of turning disagreement into a threat.

The episode turns a dispute over K-pop, hip-hop, and culture into a sharper question about who gets to speak on rap. Ben Baller frames his view through personal history, pointing to his claim of 21 platinum albums and to a time when hip-hop was taboo and less widely embraced.

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Why you'd press play

Press play if a K-pop argument has you wondering who gets to speak for hip-hop's audience.

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Play clips from this episode More from Cold As Ice with Ben Baller & JimmyBoi