This week on The JAAM, we’re closing out the year with a special holiday episode featuring Chicago legend, Grammy nominated, multi platinum artist Vic Mensa.

Vic pulls up for a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from his early Chicago roots and the Internet Tape era to hip-hop culture, artistic independence, mental health, African history, and navigating fame in the internet age. We dive deep into creativity, ownership in the music industry, politics, spirituality, and what it really means to stay authentic while evolving.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

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Want to watch all of our episodes? Catch them here:

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Have 10 minutes? Check out a clip:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0nquUqSmmJBXkCqeETdgfQs4k6oY2Bvg

Connect with the hosts!

JJ: @jwilliamj / https://www.tiktok.com/@jwilliamj.

Abee: @abeetheartist / https://www.instagram.com/abeetheartist/

Matt: @wyomattt / https://www.twitch.tv/wyomatt/

Allen: @SohoStudios / https://www.instagram.com/sohostudios.co/

————

Thank you so much for watching #thejaampod !

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the final regularly scheduled episode of the year, we reflect on a chaotic, transformative season for both the podcast and the world around us. We dive into men’s mental health conversations, celebrity accountability, gun violence, and systemic failures across politics, healthcare, and justice.

We appreciate the love and support you all showed us this year! Next year is GOING TO GET CRAZY! STAY TUNED!!!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The JAAM takes on another GTA 6 delay, Met Gala announcements, Jasmine Crockett’s Senate bid, and the hard emotional labor of being a Chicago Bears fan.

Then we dive into the advent of Kalshi, the probability-market betting app trying to turn politics, news, and daily decisions into tradable wagers. The boys break down the ethics,the influencer pressure and accountability, exploring the disturbing reality that Kalshi lets users bet on things like famine in Gaza, polio coming back, and other crises that should never be treated like sportsbook props.

We also break down the dumpster fire that was the Streamer Awards; terrible production, cameras cutting to the wrong Black streamers, tension between the “poggers” side and the W/L community, and the general chaos of the whole thing. From India Love’s “Kanye moment” to Kai’s responsibility as the face of the platform, the crew asks what these awards even do for Black creators and why everyone still chases white validation.

And then, unfortunately, it’s finally time to talk about Nick Fuentes. His latest viral moment forced its way into the discourse, so we break down what happened and why he keeps resurfacing. We also get into why he might literally be the antichrist of American politics and why the direction he’s dragging young men in is deeply concerning. Tap in.

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America is out here cosplaying global supercop again, and the funniest part is they don’t even understand the shit they’re breaking. This week the JAAM digs into how U.S. leaders keep stumbling into international disasters with the confidence of a man who can’t read but insists he “gets the vibes.”

We talk Venezuela, the “drug boat” lies, the propaganda videos nobody asked for, and the media gremlins trying to sell regime change like it’s a Black Friday sale. It’s empire, but dumb. Empire, but unserious. Empire run by people who still think socialism is a haunted house.

Plus all the chaos you expect: quarter-zip cults, Nike Tech slander, Chicago’s tax mess, Starbucks settlements, Shedeur’s shaky debut, Sabrina Carpenter ethering the deportation video, and whatever else we yelled about before remembering the world is on fire.

Welcome to The Ignorance of Empire.

Grab a plate. America cooked itself.

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Black Friday is basically a fundraiser for the billionaire villains ruining your life. These corporations cut your food, killed your healthcare, raised your rent, and then had the audacity to email you a 12 percent off coupon like that’s supposed to fix generational trauma. So this weekend, keep your money in the hood. Buy local, buy Black, buy from people who would actually notice if you died. Stop donating to Jeff’s space cult. Stop feeding CEOs who think you’re a line item. Starve the rich. Feed your block. Let these corporations choke.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Everything is still on fire and nobody’s holding the hose.

Nikki Minaj is out here pretending she’s a foreign policy expert, talking wild about Nigeria, while the Grammys disrespect The Weeknd again for no reason. Zohran Mamdani is ready to show New York City what real leadership looks like, and Paul Pierce might’ve just set a new world record for the dumbest take ever recorded.

Back in Chicago, ICE is terrorizing Little Village, CPD is playing security for the wrong team, and Democrats somehow managed to fumble the government shutdown like they were actively trying to lose. Just another week of America speed-running its own collapse.

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While Trump’s ICE agents are kidnapping people off the streets of Chicago and federal courts fight to keep people fed, Chicago is still holding the line. In this week’s Lakeside Chat, The JAAM sits down with Mayor Brandon Johnson to talk about what real leadership looks like when fascism isn’t just on the news, it’s on your street.

They unpack how the SNAP funding crisis, migrant raids, and national cowardice are testing the limits of city power. Mayor Johnson explains how Chicago is driving down crime without doubling down on police, defending residents from lawless immigration tactics, and preparing Chicago workers and residents for strikes and coordinated protests if Trump’s government grinds the country to a halt again. He also breaks down his plan to treat violence as a public-health issue by investing in mental-health clinics instead of prisons and taxing social-media giants to fund it.

This is not a fireside. It’s a frontline. Chicago is standing tall while America burns, and The JAAM is documenting the resistance. Subscribe and stay ready.

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While millions brace for SNAP benefit cuts and another government shutdown, the people in charge are sipping champagne in a gold-plated ballroom. This week, The JAAM breaks down America’s warped priorities, where there’s always money for war, ICE raids, and photo ops, but never for food, housing, or care.

From billionaires building luxury halls to politicians telling hungry families to “get a job,” this episode tears into how class warfare gets dressed up as fiscal responsibility. It’s the war on the poor in real time, straight from the marble floors of a government that forgot who it serves.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen A’s back on his bullshit harder than ever. Cool Kicks got greedy for no reason, moving stolen shoes like they weren’t already up millions. Racist grifter Joel Patrick reappears out of nowhere after three years, coming for JJ again after already getting smoked more than once.

The internet’s full of fake confidence this week, but The JAAM’s here to keep it a bean.

The following episode contains discussions of mental health, self-harm, and related topics that might be distressing to some listeners. If you would like to avoid these topics, we advise you to skip from 30 minutes to the 1 hour mark.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, you are not alone, and help is available:

For US listeners, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also chat online at 988lifeline.org.

For international listeners, use findahelpline.com or search online for a local mental health helpline in your country.

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Chicago’s under siege — ICE kicking in doors while the media looks away. White-on-white violence is wildin’ but nobody wanna name it. And the Kyren Lacey tragedy shows what happens when cops lie, the press plays dumb, and fascists pick who gets protected.

Meanwhile, the same creators who fed chaos for clicks (Theo Von, Adin Ross, all them) are scrambling to walk it back and jump ship. It’s too late and The JAAM isn’t letting anything slide.

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The JAAM links up in Atlanta with Deante Kyle, host of the award-winning Grits and Eggs Podcast. His journey runs from the streets to the trucking industry to finally finding his voice behind the mic. He talks about the illusion of “street money,” the grind of warehouse jobs, and how a CDL became a way to provide for his family. We dive into Black history from Wilmington to Chicago, the hidden cost of childcare, and the weight of raising kids while chasing stability. 

Deante also unpacks how fronting, pressure, and performative toughness hurt men more than they help. This one covers damn near everything—sneakers, steaks, gangs, grief, fatherhood, and finding your lane. It feels like JAAM on a whole other level.

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Do the kids gotta CHANCE? We sat down with Chicago’s own Chance the Rapper for a convo that feels less like an interview and more like catching up with family. He breaks down his new album Star Line, why betting on yourself always pays off, and how he built a lane without cosigns or labels calling the shots.

But this sit-down goes deeper than music. Chance talks Chicago history, Harold Washington and coalition politics, the open-mic grind that shaped him, and why the Black church has always been about people not power. He shares lessons on resilience, faith, and community that cut way beyond headlines.

And it’s still cousin energy the whole way through: sneaker talk, a wild Usher story, and Chance’s vision for linking Chicago to Ghana. Funny, unfiltered, and real — straight family table vibes.

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The fallout from Charlie Kirk’s killing shows how “free speech” only matters when the right’s in charge. Empathy only flows one way in America, and the culture keeps proving it. Canelo vs. Crawford split the fight world, NY Fashion Week’s a circus, FaZe Clan collapses in scandal, and the Trey Reed case exposes how selective America’s outrage really is. Power keeps rewriting the rules, and we’re left living inside the contradictions.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlie Kirk has been killed at an event in Utah. His death is not an isolated tragedy. It is the consequence of the violent and dehumanizing culture the right has been building for years. Guns treated like toys. People reduced to enemies. Politics turned into bloodsport.

The JAAM unpacks how empathy has been stripped out of American life, how demonizing communities for clout always comes back around, and why this moment will be used to justify even more chaos. This is not about mourning a single man. It is about confronting the system of hate and violence he helped fuel.

Join the Email list for the SOHO Studios “FREEDOM TEE” HERE:

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Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJAAMPod?sub_confirmation=1

Want to be featured on the show? Leave a comment with #JaamTalks

Want to watch all of our episodes? Catch them here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0nquUqSmmJBBd_hyzmCrDh762z7bHqqi

Have 10 minutes? Check out a clip:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0nquUqSmmJBXkCqeETdgfQs4k6oY2Bvg

Connect with the hosts!

JJ: @jwilliamj / https://www.tiktok.com/@jwilliamj.

Abee: @abeetheartist / https://www.instagram.com/abeetheartist/

Matt: @wyomattt / https://www.twitch.tv/wyomatt/

Allen: @SohoStudios / https://www.instagram.com/sohostudios.co/

————

Thank you so much for watching #thejaampod !

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump’s so-called Department of Race War is nothing but propaganda — a way to scapegoat Black and Brown people while the country slides into chaos. Epstein survivors are dropping receipts, including Trump’s own creepy birthday sketch, and the culture isn’t any less cursed. Fashion’s in freefall with Miley fronting Margiela and SZA cosplaying as Vans’ “creative visionary,” proving how deep parasocial exploitation runs.

Meanwhile, Angel Reese is sidelined, Caitlin Clark’s season is done, and Young Thug’s trial drags on. From politics to sports to fashion, everything feels wrecked — and JAAM’s here to torch it all.

☎️ Immigrant Family Support Hotline, Know Your Rights Materials, and Reporting ICE Sightings (ICIRR) - https://www.icirr.org/fsn

🪧 Free Chicago Protest Signs / Window Signs / Flyers - https://icnw.social/free-chi

📷 How to safely record and document events - https://indivisiblechicago.com/safety...

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Check out our Substack - https://thejaampod.substack.com/

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJAAMPod?sub_confirmation=1

Want to be featured on the show? Leave a comment with #JaamTalks

Connect with the hosts!

JJ: @jwilliamj / https://www.tiktok.com/@jwilliamj.

Abee: @abeetheartist / https://www.instagram.com/abeetheartist/

Matt: @wyomattt / https://www.twitch.tv/wyomatt/

Allen: @SohoStudios / https://www.instagram.com/sohostudios.co/

This Week on the Pod:

0:00 GOP = Grand Old PDF

2:16 What We On This Week

4:55 Fit Check: SOHO Freedom Tees

8:08 iPhone 17's Backpack is TRASH

15:25 D4vd Had a BODY In The Trunk?!

18:35 Ben Shapiro Cappin' on Breakfast Club

35:06 Angel Reese Suspended??

44:39 Young Thug & Snitching Culture

53:57 Margiela x Miley Cyrus is FIRE

1:17:58 Trump's Creepy Epstein Letter

1:33:32 Trump's Department of Race War

1:40:17 Chipocolypse Now? GTFO

1:55:37 Supreme Court Greenlights Racial Profiling

2:13:32 #JAAMTalks Comment Reaction

————

Thank you so much for watching #thejaampod !

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

 Unconditional love sounds perfect but in real life it can get messy fast. The JAAM breaks down why love without boundaries often turns toxic, how family dynamics shape the way we think about loyalty, and why guilt keeps so many people stuck in bad situations. From yelling parents and food shaming to being labeled the angry kid or ignored when therapy was needed, this is an unfiltered conversation about breaking cycles and choosing self respect over blind loyalty.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

🚨 JAAMergency 🚨 Trump is days away from invading Chicago while bragging about bombing a boat near Venezuela.

Murders are at a sixty year low but he wants the Guard in our streets and ICE running raids during Mexican Independence Day. Eleven people were killed by a two million dollar missile in waters near Venezuela because he called it a drug bust. This is not protection, this is occupation.

0:00 – Republican Crime Frame Exposed

0:22 – Chicago & National Guard Threat

1:22 – Stats as Pretext (Bowser, DC)

3:36 – “Tank on Every Block” Fallacy

7:24 – Labor Day Myths vs Reality

8:59 – Gaslighting & Clapback

13:11 – Black Codes → Mass Incarceration

17:00 – National Guard Isn’t Trained for This

22:04 – Chicago Pushback; Texas Guard?!

25:16 – ICE Raids & Mexican Independence Day

34:15 – U.S. Bombs Venezuelan Boat

49:05 – Stay Safe: Record & Know Your Rights

Military Deployment Prep Kit

Gov. Pritzker announced that Trump is staging the Texas National Guard for deployment to Chicago. And, along with ICE, will likely target Mexican Independence Day celebrations (Sept 14-16).

With that in mind, we'd like to share a number of resources to help you get loud about what's happening and support our neighbors.

☎️ Immigrant Family Support Hotline, Know Your Rights Materials, and Reporting ICE Sightings (ICIRR) - https://www.icirr.org/fsn

🪧 Free Chicago Protest Signs / Window Signs / Flyers - https://icnw.social/free-chi

📷 How to safely record and document events - https://indivisiblechicago.com/safety-guidelines-and-tips-for-protest#enforcement

Finally, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (ICIRR) is planning a snap protest (as seen in the attached image) to be held at the intersection of IDA B. Wells & Michigan Ave downtown. 

If troops arrive before 3pm, a same-day protest will take place at 5pm. If they arrive after 3pm, a next-day protest will take place at 5pm.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump paints Chicago as a war zone to sell his fake law-and-order but the numbers blow his lie apart. JAAM drags American Eagle’s “better genes” ad — straight-up eugenics cosplay in denim, a cracker fetish for the culture war and breaks down GAP’s clapback with Katseye that actually pushed inclusivity.

We call out the NFL for burying Shedeur and Shilo Sanders, and torch Trump’s Chicago takeover fantasy for what it really is: propaganda to justify an authoritarian flex.

Subscribe now so you don't miss out! 🚨

Have 10 minutes? Check out a clip from our episodes:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0nquUqSmmJBXkCqeETdgfQs4k6oY2Bvg

Want to be featured on the show? Leave a comment with #JaamTalks

Connect with the hosts!

JJ: @jwilliamj / https://www.tiktok.com/@jwilliamj.

Abee: @abeetheartist / https://www.instagram.com/abeetheartist/

Matt: @wyomattt / https://www.twitch.tv/wyomatt/

Allen: @SohoStudios / https://www.instagram.com/sohostudios.co/

This Week on the Pod:

0:00 "Rhythm is passed down through generations..."

1:05 What We On This Week

3:31 Fit Check: Turtleneck & Short Sleeves

5:38 Freddie Gibbs Pulled Up + Jamie Foxx Is Tappin’ In

13:51 These Lil Nas X Takes Are Trash

20:03 Snoop's "Fear" Ain't It

25:12 “Thoughts & Prayers” Don’t Stop Bullets

30:12 Shedeur & Shilo Deserve to Be Seen as Human

49:50 Raja Jackson’s Crashout & Emotional IQ

1:12:10 Katseye BODIED American Eagle

1:33:32 Trump Lying on the Chicago

1:52:49 Trump's "Black Support" Is Fake AF

————

Thank you so much for watching #thejaampod !

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.