Billboard Unfiltered
In today’s episode of Billboard Unfiltered, Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson, and Kyle Denis give their thoughts on Lil Wayne’s latest drop and debate on if he is on their list of the top 5 rappers all time. Moderated by Billboard’s Delissa Shannon, each hip-hop expert gives their hot take on the album, his legacy and more.
Did you like ‘Tha Carter VI’? Drop your opinion in the chat!
Delisa Shannon:
What is up y’all, this is Billboard Unfiltered where we debate hot button topics, and whoever wins gets to give their unfiltered take. Now I am Delisa Shannon, your host for today, Short Form Content Director here at Billboard. For our panelists, we’ve got Mr. Carl Lamarre, Senior Director of R&B and Hip-Hop here at Billboard. We’ve got the Trevor Anderson, Senior Charts and Data Analyst for R&B and Hip-Hop, and the goat Kyle Denis, staff writer. All right, y’all, what’s-
Trevor Anderson:
What is this? Like, this initial bias?
Delisa Shannon:
No, I just- I mean,
Kyle Denis:
The intro was crazy
Delisa Shannon:
I mean I can’t even give my dude like props.
Carl Lamarre:
The Trevor, goat Kyle.
Delisa Shannon:
I said Mr. Carl Lamarre.
Kyle Denis:
You got an actual title.
Delisa Shannon:
This is no preferential treatment, don’t let it get it to your ears. I treat all my boys the same. Okay, I don’t discriminate. All right. Are we good to get into the topic of today?
Trevor Anderson:
We’re really not good, but I’ll let it slide.
Carl Lamarre:
I was about to hit my buzzer.
Kyle Denis:
Haters.
Delisa Shannon:
Listen, Kyle, don’t let them knock you off.
Kyle Denis:
They could never knock me.
Delisa Shannon:
Don’t let it. Don’t even start. So let’s get into the topic. So today we’re going to discuss Lil Wayne’s new album, ‘The Carter VI’. The album has received mixed reviews. I want to know, what are your thoughts? Do we think Lil Wayne is still on the list of the top five best rappers of all time? Carl, we’re going to start with your opening statement, 90 seconds, and you start now.
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In today’s episode of Billboard Unfiltered, Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson, and Kyle Denis are joined by Peter Rosenberg dive into Drake’s “Nokia” music video where he references Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” music video, Ye’s interview with DJ Akademiks where he makes statements surrounding Kim Kardashian, Playboi Carti, Beyonce & Jay-Z and others, and the current state of Summer Jam.
What do you want to hear more of? Drop your suggestion in the chat!
Carl Lamarre:
I’m curious to get your thoughts as far as, like, what were your thoughts on the video? Did Drake deliver, underperform? We’ll start with Mr. Rosenberg on his thoughts.
Peter Rosenberg:
Listen, I appreciate you guys very much. So I’m not gonna hold back here. I only watched highlights of the video. That’s not disrespect. Music videos for me these days. Like I probably watched, “Not Like Us” one time when it came out, was like, cool, right? I just don’t live currently in the space where, like, breaking down music videos is part of my thing. But I saw, like, the little connections people were drawing, yeah, and I it felt like a reach. Like, I’m not saying that it wasn’t little stuff, but it wasn’t enough to, like, honestly, warrant major conversation to me. But again, I’m not like, captain break it down to that degree. I’m like, is it on the surface, then to me, it’s something worth talking about? Like the 50 other- when people broke down the Super Bowl, like, by day two, I was like, All right, no, no, I get it. I don’t need, like, 50 different versions. Yeah, if it takes that long to figure out what we’re talking about, while it’s neat for like, the hardcore nerds,I’m too busy. I’m sorry I got no time. But, yeah, no, it was cool. I’m just, if I’m Drake, I’m just happy I have that big a hit. Like, what’s what’s happened? That’s more interesting to me than whether or not he took subtleties at Kendrick in the video.
Keep watching for more!
Billboard Women in Music 2025
The calendar has turned to April. With quarter 1 of 2025 officially in the rear view, which was a busy three months in the hip-hop world, Billboard Unfiltered is back with a new episode on Wednesday (April 2).
The trio is joined by Hot 97 and proud Duke University hater Peter Rosenberg for the discussion, which touches on Drake’s “NOKIA” video and what it means for Kendrick Lamar, Mustard’s comeback, Ye’s interview with DJ Akademiks and more.
Directed by Theo Skudra and shot in IMAX, “Nokia” arrived on Monday in black-and-white, and some fans perceived certain scenes to be jabs at Lamar.
“I saw connections people were drawing, and it felt like a reach,” Rosenberg said. “It wasn’t enough to warrant major conversation to me.”
Rosenberg thinks Drake should continue to dish out the hits and shy away from the Kendrick Lamar snipes. “If I’m Drake, I’m probably staying away from the Kendrick stuff,” he said. “And focusing on this. No matter what people say about this man, the hits are coming. Drake is fully back on the Hot 100.”
The Hot 97 radio host called Mustard’s hot streak one of the “greatest comebacks” in music history after the producer helmed “Not Like Us” and then hit the stage at the Grammy Awards, as well as Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show.
“That comeback to producer of the year to onstage at the Grammys to at the Super Bowl,” he said. “That may be one of the greatest music comebacks of all time. And It’s not really being talked about.”
Ye sat down with DJ Akademiks for an explosive interview last week, which saw him double-down on his hate for Jay-Z following his flagrant tweet about Jay’s twins, Sir and Rumi.
“There’s so no coming back from where he’s going,” Rosenberg said. “There’s no response at this point to Ye that I would think is inappropriate.”
Hot 97’s Summer Jam is back in 2025 with A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Gunna, GloRilla and more performing. While the event has moved indoors to Prudential Center, Rosenberg reflects on how the festival has transformed from its heyday in the ’90s to now.
“What I’m not gonna do is get up here and say, ‘Summer Jam’s the same as its ever been.’ It’s definitely not the same and it’s not coming back,” he added. “But I’m not gonna get up here and say it’s not a good time. … It’s not 2001, it’s not Michael Jackson with Jay-Z.”
Watch the full episode below.
In today’s episode of Billboard Unfiltered, Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson and Kyle Denis are joined by Nyla Symone as they discuss Playboi Carti’s big week on the Billboard charts with ‘MUSIC,’ Ye’s surprise drop of ‘Bully’ and the mixed reactions surrounding it, the women in Hip-Hop and R&B being honored at Women in Music and more.
What do you want to hear more of? Drop your suggestion in the chat!
Billboard’s Women in Music event will take place this Saturday March 29th at YouTube Theater in Los Angeles.
Carl Lamarre:
Gentlemen and lady in the house. Y’all already know the usual suspects here. We have a special guest today, you may have seen her on ‘The Breakfast Club,’ ‘We Need To Talk’ podcast, Hip-Hop Nation, the one and only Miss Nyla Symone.
Nyla Symone:
I love that, thank you!
Carl Lamarre:
You know a little something, something.
Nyla Symone:
That’s a good intro.
Carl Lamarre:
Yes, yes. How are you feeling?
Nyla Symone:
I feel good, I’m so excited to be here.
Carl Lamarre:
Okay, you ready to rock and roll with us degenerates?
Nyla Symone:
Yes.
Carl Lamarre:
I love that.
Kyle Denis:
Degenerates is crazy.
Trevor Anderson:
She’s already elevating the whole-
Nyla Symone:
I’m like on this sh*t. Let’s do it.
Carl Lamarre:
Bringing it up, the first thing we’re going to talk about is the caption of the YN’s, Mr. Playboi Carti. Kyle is so hyped for this.
Kyle Denis:
That’s my guy.
Carl Lamarre:
Mr. Carti had an amazing, d*mn near immaculate week. He is No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 298,000 album equivalent units which is the biggest streaming rap album of the year. Biggest rap set of the year. Mr. Playboi Carti, also 30 songs on the Hot 100. No. 2 being “EVIL J0RDAN,” No. 4 being “Rather Lie” with The Weeknd. These are some big, big numbers.
Keep watching for more!
In today’s episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Carl Lamarre, Trevor Anderson and Kyle Denis are reacting to Playboi Carti’s first album in five years, ‘MUSIC,’ and sharing their thoughts on everything he delivered on the album. They also go into Lizzo’s X crash-out over ‘poptimism,’ the public’s reaction to Leon Thomas putting out the “Mutt” remix with Chris Brown and more!
What do you want to hear more of? Drop your suggestion in the chat!
Carl Lamarre:
Yo, yo yo, yo what’s going on y’all and welcome to a fresh episode of Billboard Unfiltered. Gentlemen- what it do, what it do, what it do?
Kyle Denis:
Chilling man, how are you?
Carl Lamarre:
I am good. No complaints, well rested. Not bad at all.
Trevor Anderson:
Okay? What got you so well rested out here?
Kyle Denis:
I mean sleep, probably.
Trevor Anderson:
Well… that tends to be the number one ingredient.
Carl Lamarre:
It’s nice outside.
Trevor Anderson:
Yeah springtime is starting a little bit out here in New York.
Carl Lamarre:
Concerts are picking back up outside shortly, we got a couple in NYC this week so…
Kyle Denis:
Had Jordan Adetunji at Mercury Lounge last week, it was a great show.
Carl Lamarre:
Bowizzle, Omarion, yeah you know I might have to bring it back.
Trevor Anderson:
That is some millennial sh– right there.
Carl Kamarre:
I’m an old head, but you know in the midst of all this old head sh–, I’m trying to have some YN moments with this new Playboi Carti ‘MUSIC’ album. Whoo we are talking about this colossal 30-track project, which has some heavy-hitters with Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, we should say Kendrick Lamar thrice because we got three Kendrick Lamar records on there.
Keep watching for more!
In today’s episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Damien Scott, Carl Lamarre and Trevor Anderson are joined by DJ Drewski to debate who the best lyricist is among Nas, Jay-Z and Biggie, discuss who among Drake, Kendrick Lamar and J. Cole would have been the most successful in the ’90s, and consider if Wiz Khalifa’s freestyling signifies his return, and more!
What do you want to hear more of? Drop your suggestion in the chat!
Carl Lamarre:
Yo, yo, yo what’s going on y’all. Welcome to a fresh episode of Billboard Unfiltered. And we have a special guest today. Holding it down, my brother from another, HOT 97 resident — I would like to say he is one of the biggest architects in New York City in terms of breaking talent.
Damien Scott:
Let’s go!
I’m talking Cardi B. I’m talking about late Pop Smoke, A Boogie, Fivio Foreign. I could keep on going, the good brother DJ Drewski in the house.
DJ Drewski:
Thank you. Thank you for having me.
Carl Lamarre:
How are you feeling my brother?
DJ Drewski:
I’m feeling a little unfiltered, let’s talk about it
Trevor Anderson:
Okay!
He’s got a little feisty today, he’s feeling a little spicy today! Like I told you before the show, your political connects, they might be a little upset, but they’re going to be alright.
DJ Drewski:
Artists don’t get mad, please join Summer Jam if we need you. You know what I’m saying don’t-
Trevor Anderson:
Don’t take it personal.
DJ Drewski:
It’s just for the live.
Damien Scott:
Blame Carl.
DJ Drewski:
Right!
Carl Lamarre:
Don’t do that to me. I already got the Kendrick heads coming at me. But no, this is going to be a fun show today. Of course we’re going to bring some fire topics with the first one, we got to give flowers to Mr. Wiz Khalifa.
Keep watching for more!
In today’s episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Kyle Denis, Damien Scott, Carl Lamarre and Trevor Anderson break down Drake tying with Taylor Swift & Jay-Z on the Billboard 200 with ‘$ome $exy $ongs 4 U,’ if MCs should take J.Cole seriously, Ye sharing an alleged DM of The Game DMing Tina Knowles, Rolling Stone’s worst song on Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller,’ the 15 up and coming hip-hop, African & R&B artists to watch in 2025 and more!
Carl Lamarre:
Yo yo. What’s going on, y’all, welcome to a fresh episode of Billboard Unfiltered, gentlemen!
Kyle Denis:
Yo yo.
Carl Lamarre:
What it do, what it do, what it do, what it do? How y’all feeling?
Trevor Anderson:
You a little high today?
Carl Lamarre:
I’m on my high horse.
Trevor Anderson:
Clearly!
Damien Scott:
We all know why.
Carl Lamarre:
We all know why!
Kyle Denis:
A high horse? Uh-oh, why?
Carl Lamarre:
The reason why-
Kyle Denis:
Something happened?
Carl Lamarre:
Huh?
Kyle Denis:
Something happened?
Carl Lamarre:
Something monumental will happen.
Kyle Denis:
Oh, put me on. What happened?
Trevor Anderson:
Monumental?
Carl Lamarre:
Potentially, I’m not gonna say historic, but we’re on the doors of something, well, on the steps of some history-making sh–. I gotta say we’re gonna start this off with brother Aubrey Graham notched-
Damien Scott:
Surprise, surprise.
Carl Lamarre:
Notched number 14.
Trevor Anderson:
Come on, notch?
Carl Lamarre:
Notch. Come on. I took some advanced classes back in the day. Brother Aubrey and PARTYNEXTDOOR notched a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, ‘$ome $exy $ongs 4 U.’ 246,000 album equivalent units, marking number 14 for Mr. Aubrey Graham, tying him with Jay-Z and Taylor Swift for the most No. 1s for soloists still trailing, of course, The Beatles with 19.
Kyle Denis;
Come on.
Trevor Anderson:
Hey, they got the AI song a few years ago, a lil AI album.
Carl Lamarre:
Still got some work to do. But you know, first off, of course, Mr. PARTYNEXTDOOR, shout out to PARTY getting his first No. 1 album.
Kyle Denis:
Absolutely.
Damien Scott:
This is his biggest first week, right?
Carl Lamarre:
Biggest first week.
Keep watching for more!
Billboard reacts to A$AP Rocky’s not guilty verdict, Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR’s ‘$ome $exy $ongs 4 U’ album, Kendrick Lamar makes Hip-Hop history following his Super Bowl Halftime performance and more! Carl Lamarre: Yo, yo. What’s going on, y’all and welcome to a fresh episode of Billboard Unfiltered,gentlemen, we are live, and in fact happy to […]
In today’s episode of ‘Billboard Unfiltered,’ Billboard staffers Kyle Denis, Damien Scott, and Angel Diaz react to Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show, highlighting the best and controversial moments, discussing Ye’s X rants and more. What did you think of Kendrick’s performance? What do you think of Ye’s X rants? Let us know in the […]
In this episode of Billboard Unfiltered, Billboard staffers Trevor Anderson and Kyle Denis are joined by Vibe’s Regina Cho to recap hip-hop and R&B’s big night at the 2025 Grammys, review The Weeknd’s new album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, and more! Trevor Anderson: I mean, who wins five Grammys off of just one song? I mean that […]