Hotter Than July

Stay hydrated.

Jul 01, 2025

This is what we’re on today.

What We’re Up To

Hey y’all!

Happy Canada Day to all of our Canadian peeps, and early Happy 4th of July to our folks across the US. Hopefully, all is well where you are! Let’s get into it…

A couple weeks ago, we released an episode where we reviewed the music of 2Pac, but only the albums that he was actively a part of making, so 2Pacalypse Now through The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory. We dug into our favorite songs and talked about how each album reflected who 2Pac was at that particular moment. Check it out!👆🏾

So, we dropped another episode yesterday where we got into his movie career. We’re talking about Juice, Poetic Justice, Above The Rim, Bullet, Gridlock'd and Gang Related. We got into our favorite scenes, favorite characters and favorite lines. We also discussed which roles made famous by others that we would have liked to have seen Tupac play, and which of his characters that we could be friends with.

This episode is filled with spoilers, but these movies came out over 30 years ago, so, you've had time. :-)

Since it’s July, that means it’s time for our annual summer break, because of that, there won’t be any new episodes for a couple of months. We’ll still be dropping the newsletter and active on our socials during that time, so follow us if you don’t already, @troypodcast.bsky.social‬ on Bluesky and @troypodcast on Instagram.

We’ll also dropping some stuff over on YouTube throughout the summer as well. Speaking of YouTube…

Share Liner Notes by They Reminisce Over You

Shameless Plugs

We’re about 25 subscribers short of 500 on our YouTube channel, so if you’re not already rocking with us over there, go ahead and tap in!

If you enjoy the content that we're making and you're looking for ways to support our independent podcast, here’s a little something that you can do:

Please leave us a 5 star rating or review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser or Goodpods.
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However you choose to support, know that it is greatly appreciated as always. 🫡

What We’re Watching

Duster on HBO Max

This is one of those, drive fast and shoot ‘em up shows from back in the day. It’s not bringing anything new or groundbreaking to the table, but you can just put it on and enjoy it. And the soundtrack is amazing.

From J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan, this 1970s drama follows a getaway driver and a young FBI agent as they take on a notorious crime syndicate. Set in the 1970's Southwest, the life of a gutsy getaway driver for a growing crime syndicate goes from awful to wildly, stupidly, dangerously awful.

Check out Duster here.

What We’re Reading

Bad Bunny covers the most recent issue of Variety.

Some questionable placements, but here’s Billboard’s top 75 R&B artists of all time.

Netflix’s A Different World reboot has begun filming.

Andscape article about how Black culture became collateral damage in the Altadena fires.

Jay Ellis discusses his roles in Insecure, The Game and Top Gun: Maverick with The Hollywood Reporter.

Craig David talks to Billboard about 25 years of Born to Do It.

What We’re Listening To

Victory by Slick Rick

Another hip hop vet dropped an album that stays true to their style and sound, while still giving us something new. We’re always gonna be fans of the OGs that don’t try to chase trends and try to force their way into the hearts of younger fans, but instead give their core fan base what they’re looking for. That’s what we’re getting from Slick Rick in 2025. The only issue I have with the album is, the songs are too short. But in the context of the visual album, the short songs make more sense.

Check out the movie below, and listen to the audio version of the Victory album here.

You Down Wit’ O.P.P.? (Other Peoples Podcasts)

On That Note by Shawn Stockman

Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men is hosting this show where he talks to people about how music fits into their lives, and how it helped to shape who they are. I didn’t know what to expect before I listened. I figured that it was just another celebrity vanity project, which it very well may be, but Shawn is actually good with his guests. This isn’t Club Shay Shay or Drink Champs, where there’s a bunch of chaos happening all the time. It’s good, informative, deep-dive conversations with a wide range of people.

Music is more than just sound—it’s the soundtrack to our lives.
On That Note is where culture, nostalgia, and real stories collide. Hosted by Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men, this podcast takes you on a journey through music with legendary guests from all walks of life—artists, athletes, producers, actors, and more—diving deep into the songs that shaped their paths.
From the anthems that fueled their biggest moments to the melodies that got them through the lows, every episode explores the undeniable power of music. Expect real talk, untold stories, and a vibe that’s soulful, unfiltered, and straight from the heart.

You can check out the trailer below.