DJ Akademiks and Charlamagne Tha God have spent years orbiting each other as two of the most influential voices in hip-hop media.

Now that relationship appears to be broken.

After a private conversation between the two became public, Akademiks launched a sustained public campaign against Charlamagne across multiple streams, posts, and platforms. What started as criticism quickly turned into something much bigger — raising questions about loyalty, influence, media power, and whether Charlamagne was always the real target.

SaVon breaks down the mentor/student dynamic between Ak and Charla, the leaked phone call, the role Drake's ICEMAN rollout may have played in escalating tensions, Joe Budden's involvement, the Complex Hip-Hop Media Power Rankings, and why this story feels less like a beef and more like a fracture inside hip-hop media itself.

Become a member of blankSLATE on Patreon — ad-free listening, early access, and a direct hand in shaping the show. Join here: https://www.patreon.com/blankslatehq

Two months ago JAY-Z told GQ that rap beef was taking the culture backwards.

On May 30 at Roots Picnic, he stood on stage and answered everybody in four minutes. Drake. Dame Dash. Jaguar Wright. Kanye. Nicki. He even pulled up the Un Rivera stabbing on himself.

This one breaks down who got addressed, what he actually said, and why Hov decided this was the moment to stop being above it.

Become a member of blankSLATE on Patreon — ad-free listening, early access, and a direct hand in shaping the show. Join here: https://www.patreon.com/blankslatehq

Originally released: July 7, 2025

This is the closing chapter of The Need to Know Podcast.
Everything below this is the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

SaVon and Alex sit down with Mero for a candid, wide-ranging conversation on media, ownership, and building in today's creator landscape. From BX stories to real industry insight, this one blends humor with perspective throughout.

Originally released: January 2025

This is the closing chapter of The Need to Know Podcast.
Everything below this is the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

A candid conversation with Elliott Wilson on hip-hop media, independence, and navigating relationships in the industry. From critiques of new media to the evolving landscape of the culture, Elliott shares perspective on legacy, partnerships, and what the future holds for the next era of hip-hop.

Originally released: October 13, 2025

This is the closing chapter of The Need to Know Podcast.
Everything below this is the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

A wide-ranging conversation with Ish and Yassy on relationships, media narratives, and the realities behind public perception. From transactional culture to industry power dynamics, the discussion also touches on business, recovery, and navigating life both on and off the mic.

Originally released: March 6, 2025

This is the closing chapter of The Need to Know Podcast.
Everything below this is the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

A wide-ranging conversation with Ian Dunlap on wealth, investing, and navigating the realities of building and maintaining financial leverage. From market outlooks to public perception, the discussion also touches on legacy, risk, and what it takes to sustain success over time.

Originally released: May 16, 2024

This is the closing chapter of The Need to Know Podcast.
Everything below this is the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

A candid conversation with Mandii B on podcasting, public perception, and navigating transitions in media. From creative pressure to industry relationships, Mandii shares insight on building across platforms, handling controversy, and evolving as both a creator and entrepreneur.

Originally released: October 6, 2025

This is the closing chapter of The Need to Know Podcast.
Everything below this is the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

A deep conversation with Mecc Rashawn on artistry, legacy, and the role of mentorship in hip-hop. From his work behind the scenes to shaping influential platforms and moments in the culture, Mecc shares insight on integrity, media, and what it takes to sustain impact over time.

This is the closing chapter of The Need to Know Podcast.
Everything below this is the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

A wide-ranging conversation with Rainey on creativity, identity, and building across multiple lanes in media. From music and sketch comedy to storytelling and collaboration, Rainey shares perspective on his process, influences, and navigating growth as a creator.

This is the closing chapter of The Need to Know Podcast.
Everything below this is the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

DJ Hed is in the headlines after editing the West Coast disses out of Drake's "2 Hard 4 The Radio" — and aired the cleaned-up version on his own broadcast.

Jeremy Hecht is going at DJ Akademiks, claiming Ak takes money from Truth Social. The receipts pointed to Rumble instead.

Both former co-hosts of The Bigger Picture. Both made waves this week.

I break down what actually happened on both fronts, the song, the edit, the accusation, the receipts and the angle nobody else is running: the audience already had what these guys were trying to manage.

Become a member of blankSLATE on Patreon — ad-free listening, early access, and a direct hand in shaping the show. Join here: https://www.patreon.com/blankslatehq

Filmed: January 23, 2020

This is the closing chapter of The Need to Know Podcast.
Everything below this is the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

Originally released: March 28, 2024

This is the closing chapter of The Need to Know Podcast.
Everything below this is the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

A return appearance from Eddin for a wide-ranging conversation on music, culture, and the dynamics shaping hip-hop today. The discussion centers around WE DON'T TRUST YOU, unpacking the evolving relationships between Drake, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, and Future, while also touching on major cultural moments and the broader state of the industry.

Originally released: November 16, 2023

This is the closing chapter of The Need to Know Podcast.
Everything below this is the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

A conversation with Eddin on his journey through media, from DJing to working across some of the biggest podcasts in the space. The discussion also touches on the aftermath of the Rory & Mal split, navigating public narratives, and the realities of building a career behind the scenes while maintaining perspective and balance.

Originally released: August 24, 2023

This is the closing chapter of The Need to Know Podcast.
Everything below this is the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

A wide-ranging conversation with Elliott Wilson on hip-hop, media, and legacy. From his perspective on today's rap landscape to building Rap Radar, Elliott shares insight on industry relationships, cultural moments, and the stories behind some of the biggest names in music.

Originally released: August 10, 2023

This is the closing chapter of The Need to Know Podcast.
Everything below this is the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

A candid conversation with Ish on life before podcasting, navigating success alongside one of the biggest shows in the space, and balancing business, fatherhood, and public perception. The discussion also touches on real estate, media controversies, and his perspective on the evolving hip-hop landscape.

There's a Cold War brewing in hip hop media, and nobody's calling it what it is.

DJ Akademiks says nobody's off limits. But watch how he moves — the gloves are only really off for two people.

Joe Budden, DJ Akademiks and Charlamagne Tha God are on a crash course, and they're not even fighting the same way. Joe Budden fights with his independence and fame. Charlamagne Tha God fights with the media, the network, the press. DJ Akademiks fights with Henny and violence.

Here's what nobody's saying: when these guys talk, they're not talking to us. They're talking to each other. Joe Budden and Charlamagne have even been flirting in public — that's not friendship, that's positioning.

Nobody's swung clean yet. Everybody's loaded.

Become a member of blankSLATE on Patreon — ad-free listening, early access, and a direct hand in shaping the show. Join here: https://www.patreon.com/blankslatehq

SaVon returns with another installment of blankSLATE Radio — breaking down Drake's codependent relationship with hip hop media, the ecosystem connecting Joe Budden, Akademiks, Mal, and why everybody involved benefits from the cycle.

He also dives into the growing war between YouTube and Netflix, paywalls changing podcast visibility, and what independent creator-led media looks like moving forward.

Become a member of blankSLATE on Patreon — ad-free listening, early access, and a direct hand in shaping the show. Join here: https://www.patreon.com/blankslatehq

SaVon opens blankSLATE Radio — the reactive lane of blankSLATE, built for the conversation between the deep dives.

In this episode: why Radio exists, how the two-lane system works, the three E's the whole thing runs on — entertain, educate, edify (and the fourth nobody says out loud: evergreen) and the proper close on the Need To Know chapter.

Multiple drops a week! You're not the audience, you're the co-host. Any

Need to Know Podcast questions will be answered on he first two drops only so head over to Patreon and submit any questions you may have.

Become a member of blankSLATE on Patreon — ad-free listening, early access, and a direct hand in shaping the show. Join here: https://www.patreon.com/blankslatehq

A reintroduction. Past the Headline. Past the Algorithm. Past the Noise.

blankSLATE is what comes next for SaVon, a culture and music commentary podcast going past the headline, past the algorithm, past the noise. A different lens on media, music, and everything happening within the culture. Made to outlast whatever's trending this week.

Two shows. One name. The main pod drops weekly, long conversations, one topic at a time, broken down with the context everyone else leaves out.

blankSLATE Radio is the real-time companion — solo, audio-only, responding to the moment, with the conversation driven by you through mailbag submissions.

Launch date coming soon. Turn on notifications and catch blankSLATE wherever you get your podcasts.

Join the Patreon community for ad-free episodes, early access, and the conversation I been wanting to have all along. Everything blankSLATE lives here: linktr.ee/blankSLATE.HQ

For people who want more than a hot take.

From the Need to Know Podcast era — the show has officially come to an end.
This is part of the archive. Enjoy the guest conversations.

A deep conversation with Joe Budden on media, relationships, and the realities behind running one of the most influential podcasts in culture.

Joe reflects on the evolution of his platform, navigating public fallout, and the balance between business, friendship, and integrity. The discussion also touches on industry rankings, creator economics, and the shifting landscape of modern media.

Topics include:

• The evolution of The Joe Budden Podcast
• Business vs. friendship in media
• Creator leverage and monetization
• Industry relationships and public narratives

From the Need to Know Podcast era — the show has officially come to an end.
This is part of the archive. Enjoy the guest conversations.

A wide-ranging conversation with Joe Budden on music, media, and the evolving creator landscape. The group reflects on industry narratives, platform dynamics, and what it takes to sustain relevance over time.

Topics include:

• Media perception vs. reality
• Streaming, AI, and creator leverage
• The state of R&B and rap
• Building longevity in entertainment

This marks the end of The Need to Know Podcast.
The show is complete, and everything below this episode is part of the NTK archive — a curated back catalogue from that era.

SaVon and Alex reflect on the journey, 2025, and what comes next.