Drink Champs usually makes headlines for their hip-hop conversations, but the program’s most recent guest is one of the biggest blue-eyed soul stars of the last 20 years. Moreover, Robin Thicke recently graced the Drink Champs studio, speaking on his many industry connections, wild stories, and long-lasting career. While many might know him best nowadays for “Blurred Lines,” his laundry list of experience is much more extensive than that hit might suggest. In fact, during his conversation with N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN, he recalled signing to one of his collaborators on the track, Pharrell. However, one of his more illuminating comments came when discussing his many Lil Wayne collabs, where he spoke on his relationship to hip-hop.
Well, that was more based off of association, as we saw the “Masked Singer” judge talk about that experience through the lens of his Weezy collabs. Specifically, N.O.R.E. asked him how his hip-hop link-ups always felt natural, and how they even came about. “We were genuine fans of each other before we blew,” Robin Thicke recalled. “Like, when I heard ‘Go DJ’- I mean, you know, he was already blowing up. But when I heard ‘Go DJ,’ I was like, ‘This is the next biggest artist, period.
Robin Thicke On Drink Champs
“I told Andre Harrell, and he was like, ‘You think so?’” he continued. “I was like, ‘Trust me, Dre, this is the one.’ So, coincidentally, he just reached out to me. The first song on my debut album A Beautiful World– which it’s the 20th anniversary of- he heard this song called ‘Oh Shooter’ on my debut album. He just hit me up out of nowhere and was like ‘Yo, I love this record. Can you send me the tracks? Do you mind if I do something with it?’” That Tunechi remix landed on Tha Carter II.
“The first time that Lil Wayne ever did The Tonight Show– and the first time I ever did The Tonight Show– we did it together,” he added. “The first time either one of us performed at the Grammys, we performed together. So him and I have a real history together.” Despite his controversies, it’s clear that the appreciation for hip-hop goes both ways. Elsewhere in the interview, he talks about signing with Pharrell, his family’s industry experience, and much more. Check out the full Drink Champs episode above and return to HNHH for the latest on Robin Thicke.
Jadakiss was the latest guest on Drink Champs, and he also brought along his son and father for the conversation. In fact, The Lox member’s father expressed that he didn’t really know hip-hop culture before his son became one of the best rappers out of New York. Moreover, he discussed not wanting the Yonkers MC to sign a record deal and not really understanding the craft or worth of his work. However, eventually he clicked, and Jada’s father was very appreciative and proud in their dialogue. Overall, it was an entertaining episode that covered a lot of different aspects of his career.
For example, Jadakiss, his son, and his father discussed starting Kiss Cafe Coffee, a family-owned coffee company. N.O.R.E. remarked how incredible it is that hip-hop culture didn’t really have a coffee before, and also spoke on how it should go beyond the community and become big in the industry. What’s more is that Kiss has a lot more on the way that’s more in his traditional wheelhouse. Recently, he revealed that he has multiple upcoming projects this year, including two solo albums and an album with The Lox.
Jadakiss On Drink Champs
Also, one of the most iconic recent moments of Jadakiss’ career might see a second wind- or rather, a rematch. He recently reverted his original statements against a rematch with Dipset on Verzuz, and expressed that he’s down for another go. His incredible performance during their first showdown made for one of the most praised and talked-about moments in hip-hop that year. If anything, it just proves that his talent and skill goes much father beyond what people saw as his career peak. No matter his success, he continues to push himself, especially after he saw such recognition for the Verzuz performance.
In addition, the “We Gonna Make It” artist is an advocate for easing tensions in the genre. Along with former opponent Freeway, he urged the younger artists in the game to squash their beefs, standing by his now-close relationship with the Philly rapper. Especially with his father and son by his side, it’s heartening to see him get his flowers and keep developing his career. For more news and the latest updates on Jadakiss, log back into HNHH.
Timbaland says that he’s the one who discovered Ludacris. He recalled how he met the Atlanta rapper during an appearance on the I AM ATHLETE podcast. The topic of Ludacris came up while discussing Timbaland’s favorite Hip Hop artists of all time.
He began by naming Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, LL COOL J, Run-DMC, and Gang Starr. From there, he brought up Wu-Tang Clan, Fat Joe, Big Pun, OutKast, DMX, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, 8-Ball & MJG, N.W.A as well as A Tribe Called Quest, and finally, Ludacris. In bringing up Ludacris, he explained how he’s the one who discovered him.
Timbaland With Ludacris
UNITED STATES – JANUARY 01: Photo of LUDACRIS and TIMBALAND and Gabrielle UNION; L-R music producer Timbaland, actress Gabrielle Union and rapper Ludacris (Photo by Wendy Redfern/Redferns)
“I was the one who found Ludacris,” he said. “Because Ludacris was working in the radio station and I was like, ‘Hey, ain’t nobody sign you? What’s going on here?’ [He was like], ‘Nah man.’ Then he came down to Virginia and we did ‘Phat Rabbit,’ and from there, labels started calling. He asked me one time, ‘Would you sign to Def Jam or Eleltra?’ I said, ‘Man, you better go to Def Jam.’ And I didn’t know how the business go. I just backed them ’cause I knew he was incredible.”
Ludacris has previously been upfront about Timbaland being one of the first people in the industry to back him. When the two reunited for new music in 2019, Ludacris explained a similar story of the legendary producer discovering him. “Tim was the first person that really believed in me, along with Jermaine Dupri and Organized Noize,” he said at the time. “But in terms of really the very first person, [he] came to the radio station in Atlanta when I was working there. Timbaland was the first person who was like, ‘Who is that?’ And then [I] got on ‘Phat Rabbit’ and got on Tim’s Bio. Do your history, Google that. He’s the first person. So, to be back in the studio with him at this moment in time — for this juncture and this particular moment that is about to be monumental for me — is amazing.”
N.O.R.E. praised T.I. and Boosie Badazz for squashing their recent beef in a peaceful manner during a recent episode of his Drink Champs podcast, which featured Wiz Khalifa. The two rappers had originally planned to work on a collaborative project together, but Boosie called it off when reports surfaced that T.I. worked with the police to avoid jail time. T.I. later clarified that the report stemmed from comments which were taken out of context and the two made amends.
“T.I. and Lil Boosie, I know that you could have went to war, y’all could have just done a whole bunch of tremendous crazy shit, but the fact that y’all show that two Black men can get together and talk it out, I really commend that, I really respect that,” N.O.R.E. said. “I really salute that because we need to keep pushing that. That it’s not always drama.” He continued: “A disagreement doesn’t always lead to y’all fighting and shooting. I love the fact that you got together. So T.I. and Boosie, wherever you are at. I wanna salute. I’m so tired of violence.”
N.O.R.E. With T.I. At The BET Hip Hop Awards
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – SEPTEMBER 30: (L-R) T.I., Steve Rifkind and N.O.R.E pose backstage during the BET Hip Hop Awards 2022 at The Cobb Theater on September 30, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for BET)
T.I. and Boosie’s beef began back in February with Boosie labeling Tip a “rat. Speaking with VladTV, he said: “With the T.I. situation, if he did that – you a fucking rat too. I don’t spare no motherfuckin’ body. Because if you doing anything wrong, you doing anything criminal and you cooperate with law enforcement to get you out of trouble – that means you’re cooperating. That means you’re a rat.”
In proving his innocence to Boosie, T.I. shared a photo of court documents that showed he didn’t snitch on his relative. He also explained that he was using “humor” and “sarcasm” to “embellish” the story that was taken out of context for comedic effect. Speaking with TMZ in March, T.I. downplayed any beef between them and said that Boosie has “come to terms” with the fact that he “misspoke.”
N.O.R.E.’s “Drink Champs” Interview With Wiz Khalifa
The Drink Champs podcast is known for two things: big guests and long interviews. Hosted by DJ EFN and N.O.R.E., the series began in 2016. Nowadays, most people watch the interviews on YouTube, but the audio version is on streaming services, too. When guests come to Drink Champs, clips of the interviews often go viral. This can be because they lead to other discussions surrounding the person or because of information revealed during the interview. In some adverse cases, an episode goes viral because of how the interview was conducted. These situations typically involve N.O.R.E. Given the podcast’s name, guests are encouraged to sip or take shots during the discussion. This gets them to “loosen up” and often leads to controversial moments. We’ve compiled a list of some of the best interviews from the show.
Snoop Dogg (Episode 310, April 16, 2022)
The Drink Champs podcast has had artists from all generations on it. Snoop Dogg is an artist that has been relevant his entire career. He entered the rap scene as a pioneer in the West Coast rap scene but nowadays can be found doing a show and commercials with Martha Stewart. Because of his length in the game, Snoop has met various artists. These include ones from his generation and ones from the current batch of artists. In his interview, he tells a story about a situation from someone from his generation – Nas. In the story, he speaks about a rather traumatic event that happened to him and his involvement with it. It’s always interesting to hear celebrity figures share tales about interactions with other figures, but it can be chilling to hear about situations like this one.
The Drink Champs podcast regularly has guests from the past generation on it. However, these artists are hailed as legends in their field. Due to their age, they may have retracted from regularly putting out music but have entered other entrepreneurial ventures. At the time of this interview, E-40 was still active in both lanes. During his appearance, he shares stories about Tupac and Biggie. He also weaves in advice for reaching financial prosperity. Naturally, this is advice that comes from his own experiences. This interview is easily a very informal one as the drinks are flowing the entire time. Supporters from E-40’s generation have praised the interview for that aspect of it. Fans admired the conversational feeling of it and how it highlights the authenticity of the relationship between him and N.O.R.E.
Patti Labelle (Episode 324, July 29,2022)
The Drink Champs podcast is not just for rap artists. When they expand beyond that world, they still bring in legendary guests. Patti LaBelle is an icon many people respect as an artist and a person. She’s maintained her class her entire career and knows she has nothing left to prove. And the class continued during her interview. When she arrived, they had a red carpet laid out for her. She brought her own wine class that had custom lavender jewels on it. The first thing she talked about was her new phone and the issues she was having with it. Having all of this in the opening moments was a testament to her class and her age in the best and purest way. As the interview continued, she shared stories of her interactions with figures ranging from Richard Pryor to Pharrell.
A Tribe Called Quest (Episode 55, January 12, 2017)
The Drink Champs podcast has had legends from several eras of rap. On this episode, they took it back to ’90s east coast hip-hop with their guests, A Tribe Called Quest. At the time of the interview, member Phife Dawg had already passed away. Naturally, both Q-Tip and Jarobi White paid their respects and shared stories of their time with him. They shared a behind-the-scenes tale from when Lupe Fiasco forgot their lyrics during a tribute to them at the VH1 Hip Hop Honors in 2007. Many people remember this as “Fiascogate.” They also told an interesting story about Pharrell and how he connected with them – and was almost on Midnight Marauders. Busta Rhymes also appeared and let listeners know how far back his connection with The Tribe goes. Consequence and DJ Scratch were also on this episode.
Benny is one of two Griselda members that have been on the Drink Champs podcast. He, along with Conway The Machine and Westside Gunn, started The Griselda Movement. This is their revival of gritty lyric-based hip hop. The three original members being a part of an independent label was a big deal, too. Therefore, it was surprising to fans when Benny signed with Def Jam. He spoke on this in the interview and doubled down on it by saying Westside Gunn (the founder of Griselda Records) was proud of him for making that move. He also speaks on working with Drake, linking with Kanye West, and a myriad of other topics related to his continually ascending career. Many of these moments also harkened back to who he is and how he has been carrying himself for years.
Pusha T (Episode 313, May 6, 2022)
This was Pusha T’s second appearance on the Drink Champs podcast. Some people were introduced to him during his Clipse era with his brother Malice. Others were introduced to him as a solo artist once he signed with G.O.O.D Music. Naturally, this interview focused on his more recent years, but he also touched on things from his past. He spoke about his album,It’s Almost Dry,which was half-produced by Pharrell.
Furthermore, Pharrell and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes are a big part of his development, and he also spoke about them. Perhaps the most interesting story was his involvement with the McDonald’s “I’m Lovin It” jingle and his “diss track” with Arby’s. Listeners have praised this interview for the behind-the-scenes info on the album that was a follow-up to what many have called his best solo work.
Pharrell Williams (Episode 241, December 18, 2020)
Pharrell was a guest on the Drink Champs podcast with a wealth of information to share. Since we already mentioned him twice in this list, it’s only fitting we highlight his appearance on the show. Throughout all of his stories, Pharrell’s humble personality shines through. Many know how many people he has worked with, but hearing him talk about it was quite exciting for viewers. His understated energy is a significant contrast to N.O.R.E’s, but this doesn’t stop the interview from being informative. Another Virginia native and collaborator, Fam-Lay, also joined him. Viewers celebrated this conversation because it captured many events in the megaproducer’s legacy in one sitting. Who were some of your favorite guests on Drink Champs? Let us know in the comments section.
Pusha T says that The Notorious B.I.G.’s 1997 album, Life After Death, is the “best double album ever.” He revealed his thoughts on the project during a trailer for Warner Music Group’s new visual podcast series Iconic Records. The first season of the podcast will dive into Biggie’s classic final album.
“[Life After Death] is by far the best double album ever created — ever,” Pusha T says via a Zoom call. He wasn’t alone in his praise of the album. Rick Ross also noted: “He had the attention of not just the rap game, but the entire world! … There will never be another B.I.G.” Iconic Records will premiere on the WMX Hip-Hop channel on The Roku Channel on April 29 through an exclusivity deal. It will later be available to stream elsewhere starting on May 1.
Pusha T Performing At Coachella
INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 14: Pusha T performs at the Coachella Stage during the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 14, 2023 in Indio, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for Coachella)
The Iconic Records trailer isn’t the first time that Pusha has praised the late Biggie Smalls. Writing an op-ed for Rolling Stone in 2015, he labeled Biggie the greatest to ever do it. “I believe the Notorious B.I.G. was the greatest rapper who’s ever lived,” he wrote at the time. “His personality was all confidence. This guy’s 300-plus pounds with a fucking lazy eye — and what woman did not love Biggie Smalls? You have to be damn near magical to do that.”
Iconic Records‘ analysis of Life After Death comes after the 25th anniversary of the classic album’s release. Speaking in a statement for the podcast, Angie Martinez remarked that it is a “masterpiece.” “It’s an honor to host the first-ever season of Iconic Records,” Martinez said. “Biggie was, and still is, one of the most important artists of our lifetime and Life After Death is a masterpiece! To collaborate with WMX on this series has been an incredible experience. It’s especially meaningful as we also pay homage to 50 years of hip hop and how it’s changed the course of history.”
50 Cent is always a controversial topic in pop culture discussions. He is often defined by the success of his early music, the various bizarre twists his career has taken, or his propensity for beef. A multi-faceted individual without a doubt, he is still often pigeonholed by defenders and detractors alike. His last album was released in 2014 and 50 Cent is now more associated with his, often unsuccessful, business dealings.
Kevin Durant often faces the same problems in discussions. A no-doubt Hall of Famer, people often reduce Durant to his time in OKC, off-court headlines, or participation in trade drama. Much like 50 Cent, Durant gets pigeonholed. A player who has never scored less than 25 points per game in the season since he was a rookie, people still find something to hate. Despite that, Durant is also known for often speaking graciously about his former teams. That penchant for praise is not just limited to the court, however.
Speaking on his podcast, The etcs. with Kevin Durant, Durant sounded off about his respect for 50 Cent. “The way 50 has transitioned from being an artist to what he’s doing now, a lot of people may forget about that run he went on,” Durant began in reference to 50 Cent’s success in the early 2000s, “A lot of people also think that it’s only Get Rich or Die Tryin’ and his catalog is way deeper than that, with hits.” Durant was absolutely on the money. 50 Cent’s lowest-charting album, Before I Self Destruct, still reached #5 on the US Billboard 200. As with many things, the further we are removed from 50 Cent’s musical career, the less people remember about it.
It’s clear that Durant has nothing but respect for 50 Cent, going on to call him “one of the greatest”. Durant has no time for people who reduce 50 to the likes of Get Rich or Die Tryin‘, his breakout 2003 debut album. And in spite of what 50 may do, or how the public may perceive him, Durant has only respect. “He’s still a monster,” Durant remarked during the podcast episode. The Suns star has made his thought clear and doesn’t have time to hear people disparage 50.
Benzino says that he once tried to prevent his daughter, Coi Leray, from smoking weed as a teenager. Appearing on an upcoming episode of The G.O.A.T.s and Underdogs Podcast, the former Source editor recalled the first time Leray tried to smoke.
“She’s about 15, 16, essentially,” he began in a preview clip of the episode. “And she’s smoking — I’m like, damn, I don’t want her to smoke. So it’s like, man, I don’t wanna be the bad guy.” When co-host Tamira Smith asked what age Benzino started smoking, he admitted he was 13 years old. “But you want your kids to be better than you!” Ray Daniels said. “You’re right,” Benzino responded. “It’s called necessary hypocrisy.”
Coi Leray At Rolling Loud
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JULY 24: Coi Leray performs onstage during day 2 at Rolling Loud Miami 2021 at Hard Rock Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Jason Koerner/Getty Images)
Leray and Benzino have been at odds in public many times over the years. In 2021, Leray admitted that she was “ashamed” to be her father’s daughter. In response, he slammed his daughter in a since-deleted Instagram post. “I been posting and supporting, so idk where all this bs is coming from. That line in her song is [cap] my name and rep is very important to me and nobody is gonna tarnish that for story line u dig? I still love u very much coileray but this gotta stop,” Benzino wrote.
Leray fired back at the time, says she’s “embarrassed” by Benzino. “And this is why I NEVER WANTED ANYBODY TO KNOW!!!” she wrote in a since-deleted tweet of her own. “I’M EMBARRASSED TO BE YOUR DAUGHTER. I should have been a boy your right cause I would have knocked you the fuck out already. NUMB TO THE PAIN!! I’m hurting right now but it’s all good. Ima be the one to PUT US RIGHT BACK IN THAT MANSION.” In the time since, the two have also traded shots over Leray expressing her support for Eminem. The Detroit rapper and Benzino have famously had beef over the years.
Charles Barkley can sometimes be a walking headline. The NBA Hall-of-Famer seems to stay in the news over comments he has mentioned. But his latest story might be one he wishes he could take back. On a recent episode of The Steam Room, Barkley discussed a rather bizarre thing he does while on the road. Sir Charles claims he brings his own bars of soap with him on trips. He claims that soap at hotels is too small for him to use. However, the reason behind his thought may be a little too rated R for public consumption.
“I travel with a big bar of soap… These hotels started being cheap. Those bars ain’t big enough. Because I almost had a couple of accidents with the soap at hotels.” Co-host Ernie Johnson could barely keep it together when Barkley delved into the details of hotel soap. Barkley insinuated that the small soap may have almost caused him to make a mistake. We’ll let you decipher what Barkley means with his comments. But it won’t be hard for you to put it together.
Charles Barkley Won’t Drop His Soap
“I travel with a big bar of soap… These hotels started being cheap. Those bars ain’t big enough. Because I almost had a couple of accidents with the soap at hotels.”
The story was too much for Shaq to take. The former NBA big man lost it when Barkley recounted the story on NBA on TNT. Charles can sometimes be comedy without even realizing it. However, this time, the former Suns star knows he has comedy gold. The NBA on TNT crew is the best team covering the sport. Shaq, Ernie, Kenny, and Charles are can’t miss television. From Kenny’s races to the big screen, all the way to the on-screen rivalry between Barkley and Shaq. Fans get high quality entertainment when tuning in.
We all now know that Charles Barkley fears hotel soap. A fact I didn’t really expect to ever know when discussing him. However, the reasoning for his fear is something we should all be scrubbing out of our minds. But Barkley isn’t the only one who shares strange habits when traveling. Do you have any traveling habits that you want to share? Please let us know your traveling pet peeves in the comment section. For the latest on Barkley’s bizarre travel habits and the NBA, keep it right here with HNHH.
Out now on REVOLT. 
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