The Just Checkin' In Podcast w/ Steven Qualls II & Patrick Weary, Jr.

On this episode of The Just Checkin' In Podcast the guys welcome Tyler Riley (@tythewordsmith) to the show as we talk about wellness, mindfulness, seasons of life, the role awareness plays in how other people's actions affect us or vice versa.

This week we review Offset's second solo album, Set It Off and the newest album from Griselda's Westside Gunn, And Then You Pray For Me. Different artists, different lanes of rap, similar structured albums, and both artists showing exactly what makes them unique.

On this episode we welcome special guest, Ida Campbell-Jones, M.A to discuss topics in sociology and feminism, as well as tackle how to navigate and exercise accountability between black men and black women. A Black Feminist Sociologist, Ida has her Masters' Degree in sociology and is pursuing a Ph. D in Sociology with an emphasis in Black Feminist Thought, Sexual Politics, Popular Culture, and Musicology. She challenges us as black men to look at how we view the world, view black women in the world, and what we can do to be better at supporting them and ourselves in today's society.

Checkin' in on Diddy's latest project, and his fist solo project in over a decade! Did the legendary producer deliver? Let us know your thoughts and reactions in the comments!

Checkin' in on Doja's latest project, Scarlet! After a public "fued" with her fans about her music, and with a ton of reactions based off her new visuals, let us know your thoughts and reactions now that you've sat with the album!

The Boy finally dropped. Last week we got the highly anticipated "For All The Dogs" from Drake. We check in on the album, stand out tracks, and give our rating and letter grade!

In this week's episode we welcome two special guests, Noah McGee and Kevin Boyd, to talk about some of the impact debut albums in our opinion. We are sure there are some we missed, so remember to check out some our other videos from this week to catch all parts of the conversation!

On this Quick Check-In episode we review the latest albums from Tone Stith and Teezo Touchdown!

This week the guys check in on Fridayy's self-titled debut album and the newest album from Leon Thomas, Electric Dusk. Two completely different reactions to two completely different albums, but good music nonetheless.

The guys dive into ranking Drake's albums, how his sound and experimentation have changed over the course of his career, and our guest, Ken,  argues why Drake has never fallen off and why he rarely misses!

The guys invite the first member from The Homies, Kenneth Webber, on the podcast as they tackle the Best Drake Song Tournament. Have you ever cried to Marvin's Room? Which song you taking between Jungle and Teenage Fever? What's Drake's best time stamp song? What is Drake's best song ever? We answer these questions in part one of the latest episode!

This week the guys try to put rappers and rap artists into tiers. Basing their choices on star power, star potential, numbers, and industry impact, they break down the hierarchy of rap. Is Nicki Minaj God tier? Does 21 Savage belong in Tier three? What classifies as a legend in hip-hop. The guys answer these questions and more throughout the episode!

The guys check in on the Kevin Durant executive produced Apple TV series, Swagger. Loosely based on the life of the NBA star, the guys break down the first two seasons of the show (the second season wrapped last month), elements they like, and what they think the future holds for the show!

The guys check in on Rocket Power, the second studio album from Quavo. A solid project, with more songs than necessary, but still an impressive showing from the Migos member.

The guys review and rate the debut studio album from artist CHIKA

The guys review and rate the newest project from artist Baby Rose.

With anticipation and drama surrounding this project, the guys breakdown the third studio album from TDE's REASON. The artist's rap ability has never been called into question, but the guys discuss how despite that, and the progress they have seen, he seems to fall short of the mark in regards to putting together the album that he truly wants or that the label is truly impressed with.

Full album review of the 5th installment of the A Love Letter to You series by Trippie Redd.

On this episode the guys use a post from Vice detailing the "18 things you need to know before starting college" to reminisce on their days in undergrad, their takeaways from that experience and time in their life, their own advice for students entering college, and what lessons have stuck with them to this day. 

On this Quick Check-in the guys follow up their discussion on the 7 artists that tell the story of hip-hop from 2010 - 2020. For some of the top artists in the game we compare them to who they remind us of from the 90s. Also, is Kendrick unblemished as an artist from a discography standpoint?

In this episode, the guys take inspiration from Clint Coley and the Music Is The Love Language Podcast and discuss the seven artists that tell the story of Hip-Hop from 2010 - 2020. Honorable mentions include Nicki Minaj, Wale, Wiz, Big Sean, Kid Cudi, & Lil Uzi Vert. Who all do you think made the actual list of 7?

On this quick check-in the guys review the newest albums from Mahalia and Roy Woods. Both are rising R&B singers who haven't necessarily broken into mainstream yet, and are still developing as artists. The talent in both is undeniable. Tune in to hear what the guys think about these artists and their respective albums!

In this episode Qualls and Pat reminisce on how things just aren't the same. Closing in on being a decade removed from high school, they discuss relationships, friendships, technology and more, and the changes they've seen in them throughout the years. Whether it be perspective or just experience, it always feels good to reminisce on what you've learned from your past.

UTOPIA has finally arrived! Travis Scott's fourth studio album and the guys break down the highly anticipated project. Travis took us to a different world forsure, but is the world he created reminiscent of the genius he's been heralded as? Or is it a world unfamiliar to those who have been listening since Owl Pharaoh and Days Before Rodeo? Did you feel like you visited UTOPIA? Let us know in the comments.

On this Quick Check-In we review the latest projects from MAETA ("When I Hear Your Name"), Deante Hitchcock ("Once Upon A Time"), and Phabo ("Don't Get Too Cozy"). All recent drops of late spring and early summer, these albums are still in rotation for Qualls & Pat. They also get lost in a conversation about the return of mashups and some of their favorites they've heard to date.

In this episode we talk about deciphering situations and understanding the difference between if you're spinning the block or if something is meant to be. We also welcome our second guest to the show, Jalyn Johnson, and delve deeper into love, relationships, and how we're consistently redefining themes surrounding these topics.

The guys return from a brief hiatus and jump right back in to checking in on life, friendships, relationships, adulting, and much more! Why do we seek validation? Does love involve ultimatums? What's the benchmark age to have your run in the streets by? What is the three strike theory? We answer all these questions and more in this latest episode!

This week, Qualls and Pat welcome their first guest on the show, Cortez Brown! We talk about artists gracefully falling off, and if that's a possibility for the one and only Nicki Minaj. In the midst of recent beefs and other situations in the media, is it possible for her to have a graceful "retirement" at this point in her career?

On this week's episode, Qualls and Pat check in on some of the recipes we need to keep and pass down in the black community. The conversation goes a lot of different places, as they typically do with these two, but did they miss any recipes?

On this episode Qualls and Pat check in on the relationship between acceptance and forgiveness. They discuss how they approach both as it pertains to relationships, both platonic and intimate, as well as the roles apologies, loyalty and obligation play in the midst of practicing both!

On our second episode, Qualls and Pat check in on the state of lyricism in music today, defining what that means and what it looks like, and who's carrying the torch for it now.

Qualls and Pat quickly check in on the controversy surrounding this years Album of the Year winner as well as what winning a Grammy means to artists in the music industry today!

Qualls and Pat check in and discuss the difference between a hit and a classic, what R&B is, and the state of music today!

In episode 3, Qualls and Pat check in on their perspectives and outlook on life as they enter the new year, and as they navigate being in between the age milestones of 25 and 30. They also touch on the different layers and reasons for anxiety that men, specifically young black men, deal with.

In episode 2, Qualls and Pat tackle trauma and break down it's layers and how they both have navigated it from the perspective of how it affects them personally, in their relationships, and with their families. You know, just checkin' in with each other.

On the inaugural episode of The Just Checkin' In Podcast, Qualls and Pat talk about how their decade plus friendship began, seeing each other evolve, and how their friend group has influenced them as men. You know, just checkin' in with each other.