SaVon and Alex have a candid, unfiltered conversation about 2025 and the state of the podcast going forward.

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SaVon

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Alex

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Q is back, and the guys break down their perfect pod day from the moment they wake up to the moment the mics go off, revealing routines, dream guests, and the kind of chaos they'd allow in the studio. They map out their ideal recording setups (2:51), and debate live audiences, surprise athlete pull-ups, Kendrick Lamar drop-ins, and whether baddies or bagels make for better ambiance (9:46). The conversation shifts into how each of them consumes music—relatability vs. believability vs. pure enjoyment (15:33)—before they go album-by-album through Pitchfork's "Top 25 Rap Albums" list and rebuild it from scratch (24:18). From Yeezus being thrown off the board to the absence of Pac, DMX, Nicki, and Wayne (33:13), they examine generational bias, regional representation, and why MF DOOM has a cult following (35:28). The episode closes with a deep dive on Kendrick's rise, whether "the machine" helped him, and what separates his career arc from his peers (54:52).

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The Need To Know Podcast Social Handles

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https://twitter.com/NeedToKnowPod

https://www.tiktok.com/needtoknowpod

SaVon

https://www.instagram.com/savonslvter/

https://twitter.com/SavonSlvter

Alex

https://www.instagram.com/balltillwefall/

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The guys kick things off debating vices, gambling discipline, and deleting FanDuel while joking about being "high off life," then highlight Eddin's unique position across NYC's podcast scene and how "relationship equity" lets him move in every significant room (7:44), before unpacking the latest with Rory - the Spaces fiasco, resurfaced tweets, race in Hip-Hop media, and what accountability should look like in a Black cultural space (9:30). From there, they dive deeper into Twitter/X pile-ons, apology etiquette, mental health, and how far "reprimanding" versus outright harassment can go online (14:15). The crew salutes Art of Dialogue's interviews with 90s Black TV stars and uses them to frame the old "sell your soul in Hollywood" conversation and what those "tests" look like today (50:53), then flip it into a wild bit on what number it would take to "sell your soul," Benny Medina/Will Smith lore, and brand deals with AI platforms like ChatGPT (55:15). In the relationship and Red Pill segment, they react to Akaash Singh's wife's podcast clips, green vs. experienced partners, and whether there should be rules when your partner starts a pod that can affect your brand and sanity (59:58). They close by celebrating Wale's 'everything is a lot.' and its pain-soaked relatability (1:16:05), breaking down Summer Walker's 'Finally Over It' and her elite R&B songwriting (1:26:13), reviewing the remainder of Billboard's 21st-century songwriter list (1:28:25), and teasing Patreon convos on Matt Barnes, AI "women," billionaire drama, and Jack Dorsey bringing back Vine (1:30:50).

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The Need To Know Podcast Social Handles

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https://www.tiktok.com/needtoknowpod

SaVon

https://www.instagram.com/savonslvter/

https://twitter.com/SavonSlvter

Alex

https://www.instagram.com/balltillwefall/

https://twitter.com/balltillwefall

Yassy joins the crew as they celebrate Max B's long-awaited return and unpack his first 48 hours out, from the Jets game to late-night studio runs and talk of a potential Jim Jones reunion (2:33). A Patreon listener question sparks a deeper conversation about how the pandemic reshaped youth behavior, work ethic, and communication (27:04). From there, the team breaks down Wendy Williams being cleared of dementia, linking her story to conservatorships like Britney Spears and Amanda Bynes, and debating whether Wendy could ever return to daytime TV (38:38). Summer Walker's "wedding-invite" rollout for 'Finally Over It' and Wale's 'everything is a lot.' both get major praise (1:05:48). The group then reacts to Billboard's Top Songwriters of the 21st Century list, setting off hilarious confusion over Kesha's "TiK ToK" versus the TikTok app and Alex's infamous HTC phone era (1:17:33). The episode closes with Salt-N-Pepa and OutKast's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductions, Tyler the Creator's performance of "B.O.B.," and a final round of Android jokes (1:41:00).

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The Need To Know Podcast Social Handles

https://www.instagram.com/needtoknowpod/

https://twitter.com/NeedToKnowPod

https://www.tiktok.com/needtoknowpod

SaVon

https://www.instagram.com/savonslvter/

https://twitter.com/SavonSlvter

Alex

https://www.instagram.com/balltillwefall/

https://twitter.com/balltillwefall

SaVon and Alex welcome Q back to the studio for another hilarious and thought-provoking episode. They open with laughs about a rapper's creative DM gone wrong, before catching listeners up on Apple Podcast feed issues and how platforms continue to affect independent creators. From there, they dive into former NBA player Tony Allen's arrest story and share personal encounters with police profiling (5:25). Patreon members spark candid conversations about following exes, emotional expression in the social media era, and a Leon Thomas-Kehlani debate (21:30). The group then shares their GRAMMY predictions for Hip-Hop and R&B (34:45) and debates DJ Vlad's latest controversy with Joyner Lucas, defining what it means to be a "culture vulture" and contrasting virality versus actual cultural impact (1:13:10). Later, they react to the new Michael Jackson biopic trailer and discuss whether Hollywood will tell the whole story or play it too safe (1:33:10). Finally, they close with thoughts on New York City's new mayor, rising costs of living, and why artists need to get back to doing interviews (1:48:32).

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The Need To Know Podcast Social Handles

https://www.instagram.com/needtoknowpod/

https://twitter.com/NeedToKnowPod

https://www.tiktok.com/needtoknowpod

SaVon

https://www.instagram.com/savonslvter/

https://twitter.com/SavonSlvter

Alex

https://www.instagram.com/balltillwefall/

https://twitter.com/balltillwefall

The Need to Know crew returns with laughs and real talk about checking in with your people before addressing ongoing Apple Podcast feed issues and why full episodes are temporarily on YouTube (0:00). Lama steps from behind the boards to share behind-the-scenes stories and the grind that brought him to the mic (6:30). The team debates rappers entering podcasting, the future of the medium, and how oversaturation is reshaping the space (12:40). They revisit the viral Jay-Z VERZUZ debate—stacking LL Cool J, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, and Future as potential challengers (22:30). Then it's Drake's rough week: alleged bot-inflated streams, gambling scrutiny, and Gracie Bond's viral claims, all tied back to the lasting impact of Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" (33:50). The crew reacts to the GRAMMYs splitting the Country Album category after Beyoncé's win (1:00:00), folds in a quick look at award-show bias (1:04:30), and closes with thoughts on Big Sean and Jhené Aiko's rumored breakup and what honesty looks like in relationships (1:08:30).

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The Need To Know Podcast Social Handles

https://www.instagram.com/needtoknowpod/

https://twitter.com/NeedToKnowPod

https://www.tiktok.com/needtoknowpod

SaVon

https://www.instagram.com/savonslvter/

https://twitter.com/SavonSlvter

Alex

https://www.instagram.com/balltillwefall/

https://twitter.com/balltillwefall

Alex is joined by Yassy and begins with a hilarious scam-call story that turns into an authentic PSA about phone scams (2:20). After Patreon shout-outs, a listener question sparks a debate on how long it takes for dating to get serious (14:05), leading to talk about "Temp Dating," relationship trials, and modern red flags. The crew shifts to music as Cam'ron's lawsuit against J. Cole raises questions about loyalty and integrity in Hip-Hop (26:00), followed by a conversation on the "Hip-Hop decline" narrative now that there are no Rap songs in the top 40 of Billboard's Hot 100 for the first time in 35 years (42:15). Jay-Z's bold VERZUZ comment — "no one can stand on stage with me" — kicks off a dream matchup debate featuring DMX, Lil Wayne, Kanye, Drake, and LL Cool J (54:00). Later, the room reacts to NLE Choppa's Tupac-inspired "KO" diss toward NBA YoungBoy (1:16:46), shares thoughts on new music from Brent Faiyaz and Offset (1:28:45), and closes with love for Big L, DJ Premier, and Max B's long-awaited return from prison (1:44:56).

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The Need To Know Podcast Social Handles

https://www.instagram.com/needtoknowpod/

https://twitter.com/NeedToKnowPod

https://www.tiktok.com/needtoknowpod

SaVon

https://www.instagram.com/savonslvter/

https://twitter.com/SavonSlvter

Alex

https://www.instagram.com/balltillwefall/

https://twitter.com/balltillwefall

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After a surprise run-in with a famous scientist, Alex swears his IQ jumped 30 points — but the crew isn't letting him off easy. From mental man-crushes and superpower confessions to Irish exits, African dating stories, and the debate over Eddie Murphy vs. LL Cool J energy, this one spirals from curiosity to comedy fast. Tap in on Patreon to hear who everyone compares themselves to, which celeb Alex almost melted for, and how the pod accidentally turns philosophical.

SaVon and Alex kick things off by answering Patreon listener JJH's question on their top three "struggle meals" (6:25) and unpacking the NBA's latest gambling scandal, breaking down Chauncey Billups' alleged mob-linked poker games, Terry Rozier's betting scheme, and what it means for athlete integrity and fan trust (18:00). Later, they debate generational superstardom through the lens of Playboi Carti, NBA YoungBoy, and the disappearance of universally famous names (1:01:08), before covering Diddy's latest headlines (1:12:57), the Golden Globes' new podcast category (1:22:28), and the Riyadh Comedy Festival and the moral cost of Saudi money in entertainment (1:31:01). The episode closes with new music reviews from Kehlani, Leon Thomas, Miguel, Hit-Boy and The Alchemist, plus anticipation for Drake's 'ICEMAN' (1:40:56).

Subscribe to our Patreon for EARLY & EXCLUSIVE access to ad-free episode visuals with music included, exclusive episodes each and every Tuesday, and much more! - www.patreon.com/NeedToKnowPodcast

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The Need To Know Podcast Social Handles

https://www.instagram.com/needtoknowpod/

https://twitter.com/NeedToKnowPod

https://www.tiktok.com/needtoknowpod

SaVon

https://www.instagram.com/savonslvter/

https://twitter.com/SavonSlvter

Alex

https://www.instagram.com/balltillwefall/

https://twitter.com/balltillwefall

SaVon and Alex open on fall weather in New York and how September always feels like a reset, before joking through an AWS outage that exposed how dependent creatives are on big tech (0:00) and calculating the real cost of streaming the NBA season (9:00). Next, they deep dive Kevin McCall's viral breakdown and his long history with Chris Brown (15:20), which leads into a broader talk on Gucci Mane's admission of schizophrenia on The Breakfast Club and mental-health transparency in Hip-Hop (35:55). From there they dive into DJ Vlad vs G Herbo (57:00), debating entitlement in media, the line between "platform vs personality," and why artists no longer need the press. The discussion expands to NBA YoungBoy's polarizing appeal (1:19:33), Stephen A. Smith's appearance on Carmelo Anthony's 7 PM in Brooklyn and the ethics of letting him diss LeBron James (1:21:51), before closing with the latest in new music (1:49:00).

Subscribe to our Patreon for EARLY & EXCLUSIVE access to ad-free episode visuals with music included, exclusive episodes each and every Tuesday, and much more! - www.patreon.com/NeedToKnowPodcast

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Join our Twitter/X Community to chop it up with us about all things Need to Know - https://twitter.com/i/communities/1777442897001910433

The Need To Know Podcast Social Handles

https://www.instagram.com/needtoknowpod/

https://twitter.com/NeedToKnowPod

https://www.tiktok.com/needtoknowpod

SaVon

https://www.instagram.com/savonslvter/

https://twitter.com/SavonSlvter

Alex

https://www.instagram.com/balltillwefall/

https://twitter.com/balltillwefall