blankSLATE with SaVon

Latest Episodes:

"Charlamagne Was the Target" — The Akademiks Smear Campaign | blankSLATE Radio Jun 01, 2026

Show notes

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.

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"JAY-Z Said Rap Beef Was Dead… Then Shot at Drake"| blankSLATE Radio May 31, 2026

Show notes

He spent two months telling everyone beef was killing the culture. Then he took four minutes to answer all of it.

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.

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

Like, comment, subscribe — and support a Black-owned business.

"West Coast Media Wants Control of the Narrative" — DJ Hed & Jeremy Hecht | blankSLATE Radio May 28, 2026

Show notes

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

"The Hip-Hop Media Cold War" — Akademiks vs Charlamagne | blankSLATE Radio May 28, 2026

Show notes

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

"First Look" +Drake & Hip Hop Media NEED Each Other | blankSLATE Radio (Ad-Free Version on Patreon) May 22, 2026

Show notes

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

"Setting the Table" +Community Response | blankSLATE Radio May 21, 2026

Show notes

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

The Need to Know Closed. blankSLATE Begins. May 16, 2026

Show notes

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.

Joe Budden | "THE GOLD STANDARD" (ARCHIVE) (Ep. 232) Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

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

Joe Budden | "ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST" (ARCHIVE) (Ep. 238) Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

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

THE NEED TO KNOW POD | EP. 344 (FINAL EPISODE) Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

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.

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