Off the Record with DJ Akademiks

DJ Drama is our guest today, he pulls up while promoting his upcoming album and he's down to talk about everything. He talks about how the Meek Mill vs Drake beef influenced rap culture, fractured his relationship with Drake and also helped DJ Akademiks as a platform explode. He talks about how he squashed the beef with Drake and also gave his thoughts on Quentin Miller. We talk about his artists Lil Uzi Vert and Jack Harlow and how he mended the relationship with Uzi while blowing up with Jack Harlow. We talk about about the gangsta grillz series and also the history of mixtapes since its the 50th year of hip hop and also analyze what our top lists would be. We talk about how issues with Young Jeezy got squashed after Jeezy was quoted of saying their beef was getting tense. TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Intro (01:37) How is executive life? (04:38) DJ Drama reflects on the importance of DatPiff and mixtape culture. (08:35) Where does Lil Wayne rank on Ak’s top 5 greatest rappers list? (12:40) Has Kendrick been too absent throughout his career to be a top 5 rapper? (20:22) How did Drama arrive at signing an artist like Lil Uzi Vert over a more lyrical rapper? (23:45) Ak and Drama share their Top 3 Gangsta Grillz tapes. (28:35) How is the process of dropping an album with an artist of Lil Uzi Vert’s caliber? (33:21) Is Drama still beefing with Rock Nation? (41:08) How did Uzi’s beef with Drama and Don Cannon start? (44:04) What did Drama see in Jack Harlow? (48:30) Drama speaks on the creation of Jack Harlow’s song “Churchill Down’s” ft. Drake.  (51:20) Drama speaks on his past issues with Drake and how they ended their problems. (54:08) Does Drama owe Quentin Miller an apology for how Drake and Meek Mill’s beef affected Quentin’s career? (56:37) Covering Drake and Meek’s beef was Akademiks biggest come up.  (01:04:38) What inspired Drama to start DJ’ing. (01:12:25) Why did Drama and Jeezy have to end their beef? (01:14:39) How did Drama create a Gangsta Grillz tape with NBA Youngboy? (01:16:33) Drama speaks on dropping his first album in six years with major features. (01:21:43) When is Lil Uzi Vert dropping his highly anticipated album “Pink Tape”?

19 Mar 20231h 27min

Joe Budden returns to join Akademiks for another entertaining educational episode. They continue in their recapping of momenets in the past of being at Complex. Timestamps (00:00) Intro (00:44) Ak explains what motivated him to plan live shows this year. (03:49) Former Apple Music global creative director Larry Jackson launches Gamma with $1 billion in backing. (08:50) Joe Budden speaks on his relationship with AMP. (11:17) Joe and Ak rehash their decisions while working for Complex. (14:05) What is stopping Joe and Ak from starting their own show themselves? (17:43) Joe explains why he’s happy that there are so many failing podcasters. (24:24) Ak explains how important it is to start streaming on multiple platforms. (27:45) Ak gives himself flowers for making Joe’s podcast peak again.  (30:54) Why Ak had a problem with Joe’s statements on NBA YoungBoy. (36:58) Joe’s opinions on the truth telling epidemics and Vlad TV being the biggest rap platform on Youtube. (41:46) Joe speaks on adding Queenz Flip to the Joe Budden Network.  (43:29) Joe and Ak speak on the current state of The Breakfast Club. (46:53) How is Joe’s and Van Lathan’s relationship today? (48:02) Joe and Ak speak on how No Jumper has been operating the past year. (58:45) Why did Joe call Michael B. Jordan corny for calling out the reporter Lore’l? (01:07:33) Will Joe Rogan stay with Spotify after his contract ends? (01:14:51) The guys speak on the rising trend of artists selling their catalog. (01:19:12) Who is the biggest artist in the world and what does it mean for the music business? (01:24:27) Where is Drake at in his career?  (01:32:14) Does Boosie make $40k a podcast from Vlad TV?  (01:35:10) Is 6ix9ine done? (01:38:43) Complex’s list on the 25 of the most influential media people in hip-hop.

18 Mar 20231h 42min

Jamaican superstar, Protoje, is our guest today. He hails from the small island in the Caribbean called Jamaica where he has showcased his talent for creating captivating anthems, ballads and melodic tunes that have brought him in his travels and touring to see all the continents of the world. He speaks on how the music he makes has affected others and how it helps him and what he's doing to expand to other passions and also gives us a insight into what inspires him as such.

15 Mar 20231h 3min

J.I. is our guest today. Having a incredible comeup from a reality/rap contest show that he was super impressive in, J.I. goes in detail of how he made into the music game through trial and error and also through constant letdowns and even embarrassment on stage. He talks building up a fanbaseand freestyle battling with anyone who would take him on as an opponent. He talks releasing his first big hit and even being compared to his peers in New York and we try to figure out which artists in New York are true royalty from a performance standpoint.

13 Mar 20231h 15min

Natalie Nunn of the hit tv show Baddies is our guest today. She's a reality star and media mogul at this point having started her career from Bad Girls Clubs but now is the executive producer of numerous shows on the Zeus network which has taken off in the last few years due to its proclivity for curating salacious unfiltered content. They get into the business model of new reality shows and also even unofficially start negotiating possibly Blueface vs Akademiks in the ring? Timestamps: (00:00) Intro (01:47) How Natalie transitioned from being on Bad Girls Club to Zeus. (05:47) Akademiks questions the cultural impact of Zeus Network. (11:23) Ak and Natalie debate if her show influences regular women to act more aggressive. (14:59) Does Natalie think that Blueface is more valuable as a rapper or Chrisean Rock’s man. (20:15) Is Zeus profiting off of Chrisean abusing Blueface. (24:55) Akademiks explains his beef with Blueface. (27:46) Natalie explains how women are making more money than men in the entertainment industry. (31:00) Akademiks needs at least $3 million to box Blueface. (33:25) Natalie calls Lemmie Plummer, the CEO of Zeus Network. (47:36) Ak and Natalie debate if Lil Baby was disrespectful by hitting up Chrisean Rock. (50:30) What does it take for a girl to be on Baddies? (54:56) Is Chrisean Rock really pregnant? (01:06:16) Would Natalie box Chrisean? (01:06:45) Has Natalie thought about what comes after Baddies for her? (01:13:50) Ak guesses how much money Natalie makes a year. (01:19:54) Who is the prize in Chrisean and Blueface’s relationship? (01:23:11) Natalie asks Akademiks “Who will be the first rapper to catch Ak slipping?” (01:29:55) What does Akademiks look for in a woman? (01:42:24) Akademiks shares a story about Jonathan Wright. (01:53:10) Natalie asks what other person in the industry would try to put hands on Ak. (01:55:29) Akademiks explains why Megan the Stallion and Young Miami might not like him. (01:59:00) Ak details why he doesn’t hang out with rappers and celebrities. (02:14:00) Natalie asks what rappers could Ak get as a guest, that he has beef with. (02:16:28) Natalie asks Ak’s opinion on having sidechicks while in a relationship. (02:23:50) Natalie has written three books detailing how to live life as a bad bitch. (02:25:43) Akademiks pocket watches Natalies. (02:28:16) Where does Natalie see herself 10 years from now?

10 Mar 20232h 32min

Dan Bilzerian is our guest today on the podcast. Akademiks and crew made it all the way to Las Vegas, Nevada to Dan's home to do a podcast with the infamous instagram influencer / master poker player. Time Stamps (00:00) Intro (01:45) Dan Bilzerian explains why he wrote his book called “ The Setup”. (06:11) What did Dan take with him from his time in the military? (11:13) What motivated Dan to want more in life? (13:44) Dan’s greatest pleasures in life did not cost money. (15:50) Dan feels like he has become desensitized to many pleasures in life. (17:30) How Dan handles women who want him to be monogamous. (21:00) Does Dan sell women a dream of wealth and fame by being with him? (24:40) Dan gives his thoughts on the explosion of the Red Pill community. (28:43) Ak and Dan share how they slide into a girl’s DM’s. (34:19) Akademiks asks how Dan approaches famous women. (36:45) Dan claims he has used a condom for the past 3 years and even masturbated with one on. (40:00) How Dan handles manages gambling and living a healthy lifestyle? (42:30) Card counting has become so obvious that it’s not viable anymore. (46:18) Dan explains the psychology of poker and the factors that go into making a decision. (48:37) Dan’s biggest single payout was around $12.8 million. He also shares his biggest loss. (50:48) How Dan manages gambling, partying, and running a company. (53:00) Dan got Justin Beiber laid. (55:05) The guys speak on Andrew Tate’s recent arrest. (58:32) Dan shares his biggest orgy and what the perfect amount of women is during a vacation. (01:00:45) Dan explains how he isn’t into girls that aren’t into him. (01:03:49) Dan shares the drama that happens between the women he sleeps with and their boyfriends. (01:08:47) How does Dan know when he actually feels love versus being attracted to a woman. (01:13:14) Does Dan have any regrets? (01:15:00) Why hasn’t Dan created a life coaching course like many in the manosphere? (01:19:00) Dan thinks social media is a cancer to society. (01:20:37) Dan wants Ron DeSantis to be president. (01:26:01) Dan Bilzerian speaks on asking a cop for a gun during a mass shooting in Vegas in 2017.

22 Feb 20231h 33min

Bill Bellamy is our guest today. Some of you may know him wayyyy back from Def Comedy Jam or the movie 'How to Be a Player', he's lasted decades in the business of entertainment doing standup comedy and acting. He meets up with Akademiks after discovering him through the app Clubhouse where they talk about all things entertainment including Will Smith/Chris Rock Oscar incident plus him being related to Shaquille Oneil and also watching the infamous fight go down between LL Cool J and Jamie Foxx.

16 Feb 20231h 49min

On this episode, Akademiks is joined by Orlando Whartonberg. Orlando recently has been announced to be the President of Priority Records at Capitol. He is here to tell us about his plight through the music game and also tell us some interesting stories about the happenings of when he signed Fetty Wap, A boogie, xxxtentacion, PNB Rock and Kodak Black. He also talks about how he almost signed Post Malone and details how he worked his way up the ranks being a intern to Senior Vice Preisdent of A&R. His story is one for the books and about your favorite artists as well.

13 Feb 20231h 44min