In the episode of Saturday (January 28)."Drink Championships",the creators of another New York-based podcast, My Expert Opinion, appeared to discuss their most controversial interviews, confronted with rappers, the need for more female guests and more.
For an interesting new take on everything from battle rap and politics to sports, hip hop and current affairs, Math Hoffa released My Expert Opinion in 2019. Accompanied by co-hosts Michael Smith-Baker, Mecc Rashawn and Sean Bigga, listeners can expect entertainment and enlightenment through Math's anecdotes and those shared by a rotating cast of distinguished guests. So far they have prominent names as mentionedmethodical man, 21 Savage, Fat Joe and Derrick Rose to name a few.
Filmed in a barbershop, "My Expert Opinion" takes the expression "barbershop talk" to a new level. Most recently, Hoffa had special guest Troy Ave to address rumors and talk about his career as an independent artist, followed byearn your free timeCrew throwing some gems at Generational Wealth, and more. With ambitions to transform the brand into a more prominent platform, the podcast quickly rose to the top, with more to come in 2023.
For this week's Drink Champs recap, REVOLT has compiled a list of nine facts we learned in the My Expert Opinion interview. Check it out below and watch the full episodeon hereif you lost
1. No Reek Da Villian"My Expert Opinion"the appearance
In 2010, Busta Rhymes signed Long Island rapper Reek Da Villian to The Conglomerate. The two fell out a few years later after Reek's Kendrick Lamar-backed single "Go Off" was leaked online. N.O.R.E. refers to his extensive relationship with Busta. asked Mecc if he would like Reek on the podcast despite his past issues with the "Calm Down" artist.
"My work with someone I respect and your personal relationship are two completely different things. How many people has your husband had problems with that you haven't? Mecc asked. althoughN.O.R.E.disagreed, Mecc replied, "I worked with Bust when he was involved with Reek, so I don't know what their relationship was. I don't know what their personal relationship was like. This man's truth is this man's truth.”
2. Criticism of controversial interviews with Troy Ave and Self Service
Controversial moments are N.O.R.E. no secret. and DJ EFN, and the same goes for the guys from My Expert Opinion. Earlier in the interview, Math Hoffa admitted to removing portions of various conversations to avoid controversy and backlash altogether. He cited several cases, including Self Service's claims that Irv Gotti stole the beats from DMX and Troy Ave spoke about footage of the Taxstone concert.
“Besides that shit with Troy, there was this situation with Busta. Call self service. He told a story aboutjust burn"My thing is that an uncontrolled lie becomes truth. I'm not saying that someone got onto my platform through lies. I'm saying that the same way, how that person came into the store and told their story, so you can tell your story.”
3. That Kanye West's infamous "Drink Champs" interview was removed
Due to the backlash to Kanye West's statements afterwardsDeath of George Floyd"Drink Champs" quickly removed their interview with them. Although the interview racked up over 2 million views in less than 24 hours, it was removed from the podcast's YouTube account and REVOLT's website. After Math Hoffa took on the role of guest interviewer on N.O.R.E. and EFN, the duo claimed that it was indeed Ye who requested the removal.
When Math said they should have done the interview, N.O.R.E. replied, "That was tough, man. I have to defend that because it was actually [Kanye] who asked for it to be removed.DJ EFN added: "We found ourselves between a rock and a hard place. REVOLT stayed with us and they said, 'Either stay up or down.' So we had one of two choices.
4. Via "Drink Champs", a partnership with Warner Music Group
earlier this year,N.O.R.E. and DJ EFNannounced that they will take their career to the next level after signing a distribution partnership with Warner Music Group. The audio version of the podcast is now licensed exclusively to WMG's internal podcast network, Interval Presents, for streaming on all major platforms. N.O.R.E. briefly discussed their latest deal after asking the My Expert Opinion team if they would sign with a major or stay independent.
“That was one of our big plays. We hooked up with some good people and they [showed us] that they wanted us, if you get my meaning," N.O.R.E. uncovered. When Mecc asked how much control they would have to give up to do that, he replied, "None."
5. About Styles P disagreeing in J-Hood's "My Expert Opinion" interview
In late 2022, J-Hood stopped by My Expert Opinion to chat about his deal with D-Block. Hood claimed that he and his mother lost their home in a fire and that he used the $25,000 advanceDer LOXdeal with the consequences. Hood believes that Styles P, Jadakiss and Sheek Louch may have been hiding some money from him when record company executives told him they actually gave him $60,000. So Styles took to Instagram Live to set the record straight, which Math was discussing midway through the "Drink Champs" interview.
According to Math, “I have no control over what these people say. I can't say, 'That's a lie!' And discreetly I shoot s***. If I feel like it's going to be a problem, I take the shit out.
6. About the deaths of Gangsta Boo and Takeoff
While "MEO" slices through the ups and downs of podcasting, N.O.R.E. asked for a minute's silence for Gangsta Boo and Takeoff, who were doing their final interviews for Drink Champs before their deaths.Takeoff was tragically shot and killedin November while witnessing an argument in Houston, and Boo died outside his Memphis home.
"We don't want to be the last person to interview anyone, but when she died, when Takeoff died, people kept coming to our interview. It was like damn. It was an honor for me. That's why you should never listen directly to the internet or the rhetoric directly," N.O.R.E. explained. "The week before they criticized us and said 'Drink Champs' is for legends; Migos are not legends.' And then unfortunately his death. The next week they said, 'I'm so glad you gave them flowers.'
7. On Sean Bigga confronting Smif-N-Wessun
In November, Smif-N-Wessun's Tek and General Steele clashed with Sean Bigga during his interview for "My Expert Opinion." Emotions ran high when Bigga called the group traitors for siding with Pacwest and east coast, things quickly escalated. Bigga's argument was that Pac offended New York rap fans and that it wasn't fair to work with him. On that subject, Bigga delved deeper into the situation from the perspective of an OG hip-hop fan.
“We suffered in New York. We were. I know people spin the narrative that he spoke directly about Biggie, but me and my boys don't hear it that way. It sounded loud and clear that you're coming straight to New York," Bigga said.
8. About Mecc, maintaining relationships and integrity as a journalist
Among the entire "My Opinion" team is N.O.R.E. recognized that Mecc is the only one with professional journalism training. The former editor spent an incredible 12 years atThe sourcein the early 2000s interviews with names likeCapone-N-Noreagaand other. Despite this, Mecc offered his thoughts on maintaining his journalistic integrity while interviewing various artists and celebrities on the podcast.
As said by Mecc: “It's not a difficult thing. I learned early on that work is work. It's not about you, it's not about me, it's about the person who picks up the magazine and decides to learn more about that person's life. My job is to paint that picture, to make it as honest as possible and to be fun.”
9. About not believing Megan Thee Stallion during the Tory Lanez attack case
In December, Tory Lanez was found guilty of the 2020 shooting of rap superstar Megan Thee Stallion. While the trial took a few turns, including Meg's former girlfriend Kelsey Harris demanding immunity, the Canadian rapper was eventually convicted of negligent discharge with a firearm. , assault with a semi-automatic firearm and possession of a loaded and unlicensed firearm by a Los Angeles grand jury.Much like 50 Cent didDuring his interview with BigBoyTV, Math took the time to apologize to Meg after overhearing Tory's infamous phone conversation with Harris.
"I also want to apologize to [Megan Thee Stallion] because I saw 50 [Cent] apologize," Math shared. "We don't believe her. We don't believe her, brother. We don't believe her. She definitely needed more people. Well, she really didn't need more people. We just had to hear this conversation in prison.
“As black men, we must protect our women. I feel like I failed in that category...in terms of the things I said on our podcast," he admitted.