Ep 128

Cam’ron is reportedly suing J. Cole — and I’m breaking down why he’s right to stand on business but might’ve been better keeping it private. Then I revisit Jay-Z’s old Verzuz comments where he said nobody could touch him. I name his three true challengers — Drake, Lil Wayne, and Kanye West — and tell you who I think would actually win that battle. My pick might surprise you.

Timestamps:

(0:39) What Happened?

(4:18) Right Thing Wrong Way

(6:40) Hip Hop is a Business

(8:33) Jay Z Says Nobody Can Beat Him

(9:54) Could Wayne Do It?

(12:08) Could Drake Win?

(14:54) Kanye West?

Four years later, Dave returns with The Boy Who Played Harp — a deeply personal album about faith, loss, and growth.
This isn’t just a rap record; it’s a reflection of where he is as a man.

In this episode, Cole breaks down how Dave uses spirituality, honesty, and vulnerability to tell his story. From “175 Months” to “Chapter 16” with Kano, this is Dave sounding more grounded — and more human — than ever before.

If you’ve ever questioned your faith or felt like you’re figuring life out one prayer at a time, this one’s for you.

🎙️ The Stem Society — honest hip-hop commentary with Cole Jackson. New episodes every Wednesday and Sunday.

Bonus Episode

Everyone keeps saying hip hop is dead, but the numbers don’t tell the full story. In this video, I break down why the culture is still alive — just evolving in new spaces. From charts to creativity, hip hop hasn’t flatlined, it’s just shifting.

Social Media:

@colejackon12 - Twitter

@colejackson_bynk - Instagram

Ep 127

This week on The Stem Society, Cole Jackson breaks down two moments that show what happens when hip-hop gets personal.

First, Kevin McCall’s emotional podcast moment reignites old drama with Chris Brown — raising questions about money, pride, and how fame breaks artists.

Then, Trap Lore Ross gets confronted by Central Cee’s team at ComplexCon — sparking a bigger conversation about accountability in hip-hop media and what happens when content creators push the line for clicks.

Cole unpacks both stories with honesty, humor, and perspective — reminding us that in hip-hop, the truth always comes with a cost.

Timestamps

(0:00) Cole Open

(1:26) Kevin McCall cries on the couch

(3:10) Chris Brown and Kevin McCall's history

(4:02) Kevin McCall blows $8 Million

(5:55) Does Chris owe Kevin for his success?

(9:11) It's the labels fault!

(11:40) Kevin needs to take responsibility

(12:15) Ray J and Young Thug step in

(14:33) Trap Lore Ross gets pressed at Complex Con

(17:00) Trap Lore Ross content

(18:09) Stand on what you say!

(19:37) Trap Lore Ross side of things

(22:06) Content Creators just want attention

(23:33) Outro

Tyler, The Creator is catching heat again — this time for old anti-Black tweets from his early career that have resurfaced online. The backlash came right after he paid tribute to D’Angelo, and somehow, his own fanbase became part of the problem.

Cole Jackson breaks down the controversy, the internet’s obsession with digging up the past, and how Tyler’s evolution as an artist challenges what “Black artistry” looks like in modern hip-hop.

🎧 The Stem Society — Honest Hip-Hop Commentary. No Industry Filter.

⏱ Timestamps:

(0:00) Cole Open

(0:39) Tribute Gone Wrong

(4:24) Tyler's Old Tweets

(9:01) Tyler's Music Tells Us Everything

(15:01) Final Thoughts

Ep 125

In this episode, Cole Jackson gets real about the downside of honesty in hip-hop media. After losing subscribers for calling Drake’s lawsuit a business move instead of a personal attack, Cole breaks down how fan culture and hive mind thinking are hurting small creators, hip-hop, and the conversations around it.

From Drake vs Kendrick to Nicki vs Cardi, and even voices like Akademiks and Joe Budden, this episode explores how fan loyalty has turned into blind allegiance — and what that means for creators who choose truth over tribes.

🎙️ The Stem Society is where real hip-hop commentary lives — no industry filters, no PR spin, just perspective.

Ep 124

Drake’s lawsuit against UMG over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” has officially been dismissed. In this episode, Cole Jackson breaks down Judge Vargas’ 38-page opinion, how it frames rap beef as protected art, and what this means for the culture going forward.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Cold Open – Drake vs UMG dismissed

(1:17) What the Dismissal Says

(7:10) Drake’s claim about bots and pay-for-play

(10:24) The timeline reacts on X

(16:17) Cole's Got Questions

(18:38) Drake's Legacy/Outro

Ep 123

Cole Jackson dives into two of the week’s biggest stories in hip-hop: Cardi B and Nicki Minaj’s Twitter meltdown and Diddy’s sentencing. The episode breaks down how a $4.99 tweet turned into a family-level feud — and why Diddy’s four-year sentence says more about the system than it does about justice.

Tune in for unfiltered commentary and cultural analysis that keeps it honest — because The Stem Society isn’t here to play it safe.

Timestamps

(0:00) Cole Open

(1:40) Cardi vs Nicki/How Did It Start?

(5:07) Cardi's Numbers Are Fake?

(7:33) Took It Too Far

(9:26) Nicki's Next Album

(11:13) Cardi Has a Problem

(14:02) Diddy's Sentencing

(18:05) Fame is Not Above the Law

Young Thug’s UY Scuti is 20 tracks of highs and lows. In this review, I break down what worked, what didn’t, the production, and the features. Thug shows flashes of the artist fans know and love, but most of the project feels scattered and inconsistent. I explain why this album lands as a Light Spin and what it could mean for his future.

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Ep 122

Cardi B just went back-to-back at #1 on the Billboard 200 with 208k first week — the first woman since Nicki Minaj to pull it off. But does that mean hip hop is thriving in 2025, or are we watching the culture stall out? Cole Jackson breaks down Cardi’s run, Nicki’s response, and why the game might be short on new stars.

In the second story, Live Nation’s CEO claims concert tickets are “underpriced.” Cole explains why that doesn’t add up for fans — or for artists.

🎙 Hosted by Cole Jackson, The Stem Society delivers honest hip hop commentary and unfiltered takes on the culture.

Timestamp

(0:00) Cole Open

(1:18) Cardi's Album is Number 1?

(4:30) Do you think hip hop is having a great year?

(6:16) We Need Drake

(10:35) No New Stars

(12:42) Who We Should Talk About

(15:29) Final Thoughts

(16:12) Concerts are Underpriced

(19:32) AI and Dynamic Pricing

(22:06) Final Thoughts

(24:56) Outro

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The Stem Society: Cardi B Album Review

After seven years of waiting, Cardi B finally delivers her new album—and I’m breaking it all down. From the big singles to the vulnerable deep cuts, this review looks at the highs, the lows, and everything in between.

Did Cardi remind us why she’s a superstar—or does this project expose her as an average rapper coming off a long break?

Cole Jackson gives his honest commentary on the rollout, the sound, the lyrics, and the cultural weight of this release.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Cole Open

(2:00) What Works/Production

(2:39) Lyrics/Does She Has Writers?

(4:31) Best Songs

(6:35) Problems with the Album

(7:16) Why Is Cardi doing Pop - Rap?

(8:09) Filler Songs

(8:52) The Features

(10:21) Did She Trick Us for Sales?

(11:17) Cardi's Lazy Rapping

(13:00) Replay Value

(14:57) Final Verdict

Ep 121

Dame Dash just had one of the wildest weeks in hip-hop. From clashing with Charlamagne on The Breakfast Club to claiming he was “chairman” of REVOLT, getting shut down by the CEO, and now filing a $300 million lawsuit — all in just a few days.

In this episode, Cole Jackson breaks down the timeline and asks the bigger question: why does hip-hop love to clown its fallen moguls? From 50 Cent flipping bankruptcy into a comeback to the way the culture treats figures like Suge Knight, Master P, and Birdman, we explore why some legacies get respect while others get ridicule.

Cole also weighs in on Cardi B’s album rollout. The announcement that her album went platinum on its first day raised more questions than hype. Cole explains why that kind of stat, while impressive on paper, can backfire — feeding into industry skepticism, distracting from the music itself, and making fans debate numbers instead of artistry.

Plus: a deep dive into the AI artist Xania Monet signing a multimillion-dollar record deal. With lawsuits against Suno and copyright laws in question, who really owns AI-assisted music, and is the money worth the risk?

🎙 The Stem Society — Honest hip-hop commentary every week.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Cole Open

(2:08) Dame Dash on The Breakfast Club

(4:21) OG's Clout Chasing?

(6:35) The Breakfast Club is Petty

(9:08) Cam'ron vs Dame

(12:43) Xania Monet Gets Signed

(15:02) Suno is a Scam/The Label Wants Control

(18:42) Why This is Bad!

(20:26) I Got Cardi B Fan Backlash!

Ep 120

Lil Baby might be done with rap completely — at least that’s what someone from his camp is hinting at. Cardi B is finally dropping her album, but the rollout’s got people saying it’s built for first-week sales instead of good music. And then Young Thug popped out from behind all the drama with an apology track… but can a full album really work after everything that’s happened?

Let’s break it all down.

This is The Stem Society — honest hip-hop commentary, no fluff.

⏱ Timestamps

(0:30) Lil Baby Retire Leak?

(1:18) Where is Lil Baby?

(2:40) Did Lil Baby Falloff?

(4:07) Is This a Rollout for The Leaks?

(6:22) Gunna vs Lil Baby

(7:53) This Generation of Artist Like to Quit

(9:07) Cardi B's Rollout Rant

(12:40) Glorilla Diss Track

(14:44) Young Thug's Apology/New Album

(16:46) Young Thug Talks Drake and Lil Baby

(17:32) Young Thug is Not the Same

(19:09) Nobody's Excited

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In this episode of The Stem Society, Cole Jackson breaks down Young Thug’s long-awaited interview and what it means for his future. Cole explores why this conversation matters for hip-hop culture, whether Thug redeemed himself in the public eye, why he still has so much anger toward Gunna, and if he’s finally ready to change his ways.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Cole Open

(1:36) Big Bank was great

(4:03) Young Thug wasn't ready for home

(7:30) Talking about pleas was confusing

(10:56) Did Young Thug snitch?

(13:42) Gunna Talk

(19:41) Will Thug change after this?

Ep 119

Drake just reunited with Bobbi Althoff for their second interview — but was it real or just another curated fluff piece? Cole Jackson breaks it all down on The Stem Society, from the “culture vulture” debate to Wiley calling Drake out on BBC Radio 1Xtra, to why he refuses to sit with hip hop media.

This episode dives into Drake’s history with UK Grime and Afrobeats, the Pharrell jewelry flex, and why avoiding hip hop media says more about his legacy than the interview itself.

Timestamps:

(0:52) Interview Recap

(2:23) Bobbi Doesn't Know About Drake?

(3:17) Culture Vulture Claims/ Drake Used UK Grime

(7:34) Drake Used Afro beats for a Number 1

(8:57) Drake Disses Pharrell?

(10:59) Drake Has a Problem with Media

(13:34) Drake vs Hip Hop Media

(15:00) Drake Will Have to Come Back to Hip Hop.

🎙️ This week on The Stem Society, Cole Jackson dives into two big drops.

• Joey Bada$$ – Lonely at the Top: Joey trades bravado for maturity, with polished production and introspective themes. But did the rollout promise a different album than what fans got?

• Westside Gunn – Heels Have Eyes 2: Griselda’s frontman brings hidden features, coke-rap piano, and gritty verses. But does it measure up to 12 earlier this year, or fall short?

Two heavyweights, two cool listens—did either one deliver?

⏱ Timestamps

(0:00) Cole Open

(1:00) Lonely at the Top/Initial Thoughts

(2:55) Standout Songs

(5:34) This is Not What I Wanted

(7:11) Final Verdict

(9:21) Heels Have Eyes 2/Initial Thoughts

(11:24) Hidden Features

(12:55) Standout Songs

(13:54) Stove God Cooks, Rapper of the Year!

(14:54) Biggest Disappointment

(16:16) Final Verdict

Ep 118

In this episode of The Stem Society, Cole Jackson gives his take on Young Thug’s leaked interrogation audio.

I break down where Thug has gone wrong, how Gunna managed to bounce back from snitching accusations, and whether the street code is ruining hip hop. This isn’t just about one tape — it’s about the rules that can shape or end a career.

What I cover in this episode:

• My opinion on Young Thug’s leaked interrogation clips

• Where Thug may have slipped up

• How Gunna has managed to recover and rebuild his career

• The bigger cultural question: is the street code destroying hip hop?

👉 Let me know in the comments: is the street code protecting the culture, or is it ending careers?

🔔 Subscribe for more honest hip-hop commentary every week.

This week on The Stem Society, Cole Jackson reviews Offset’s latest album Kiari. Across 18 tracks, Offset delivers his most personal and intentional solo project yet, balancing Atlanta trap energy with reflective cuts. Cole breaks down the standout songs, the features, and why Kiari stands above Offset’s past solo albums.

Timestamps:

(0:00) Cole Open

(1:07) Initial Thoughts

(1:54) Favorite Songs

(5:14) Offset Finally Talks About Cardi B

(6:57) The Features

(8:24) The Bad Spots

(10:05) Final Verdict

Ep 117

This week on The Stem Society, Cole Jackson breaks down two stories shaking hip hop right now.

First, Fat Joe says he actually likes Gunna’s new album The Last Wun — but he refuses to support it after labeling Gunna a “rat.” Cole dives into what this means for the street code, loyalty, and whether that code still holds weight in today’s culture.

Then, Drake reunites with Bobbi Althoff for another interview on her new podcast. Cole doesn’t hold back, questioning why Drake keeps giving her the spotlight while real hip hop media gets sidelined. Is this about clout, or is it hurting the culture?

Tap in for an honest conversation about loyalty, media, and where hip hop draws the line today.

Timestamps

(0:00) Cole Open

(1:15) Fat Joe Problem with Rap

(12:36) Drake Spins the Block with Bobbi

Chance the Rapper is back with Star Line, a 17-track project that’s got the culture asking if this is his true comeback or another stumble. Cole Jackson digs into the themes, highlights, and where Chance stands in 2025.

Then, Cardi B takes on Jay-Z’s Imaginary Players with her own flip, Imaginary Playerz. Cole breaks down the flexes, the delivery, the backlash, and what this move says about Cardi’s future in hip hop.

Two artists. Two big swings. Only one might land.

Timestamps

(0:00) Cole Open

(1:41) Star Line Review/Production

(3:48) Lyrics

(6:23) The Features

(7:37) Hight Points

(8:44) Weak Points

(10:52) Final Thoughts

(12:19) Cardi B's Imaginary Playerz/Hov Influence

(13:33) Cardi's Take

(15:36) Why Is It NOT Working?

(18:29) Do Something Else

(21:53) Sophomore Slump

(23:38) Final Thoughts