J. Cole Reflects on Drake & Kendrick Battle, JAY-Z Diss Rumor, The Fall Off & More

2 Chainz pulls up to the Hook and it goes left early. He tells the story of getting cursed out by Melo during a run, breaks down his game, and why he still carries that competitive edge every time he steps on the court. From there, he gets into some of his best one liners, how they come together, and the mindset behind the way he talks and creates. He also opens up about a hit song he passed on and how he approaches decisions like that, plus what’s been guiding him throughout his career. The conversation circles back to his new book The Voice In My Head Is God and how trusting that inner voice has shaped everything from trapping, to music, and business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Civic made it to Red Hook. J. Cole pulls up to 7PM in Brooklyn and gets straight into it with Carmelo Anthony, Monica McNutt, and Kazeem Famuyide. He talks Drake, Kendrick, and clears up some of the lies and half-truths around the beef, setting the tone early. Cole taps into his real love for basketball, the story behind almost choosing that path, and what it felt like getting in the gym with pros. They get into the making of The Fall Off, chasing growth instead of comfort, and how Cole was able to avoid the fall off a lot of artists fall victim to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The guys are back in full form. Melo, Mero, and Kaz open with March Madness, breaking down sleepers, contenders, and why this tournament feels wide open this year. Melo gives his pick to win it all and shares what he looks for in teams built for a run. Melo gets into Kiyan’s freshman season, what he liked, what needs work, and how the next phase of his development is already being approached. The guys debate the 65 game rule as well as the potential NBA expansion that looks to be happening soon. Mero and Kaz talk joining Hot 97 with Morning with Mero, the importance of New York radio, and what it means to represent the city on that level. The crew also discuss the string of Jay-Z shows that were announced , touch on Hov's legacy and what a 2026 version of Jay looks like. Then it gets fun. The crew builds out a hood movie bracket and debates what really deserves to be called the greatest hood film of all time, with strong opinions, classic moments, and a champion crowned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aldis Hodge joins pulls up to Red Hook to tap in with 7PM in Brooklyn. He talks about stepping into his lead actor era with Cross, how he thinks about navigating Hollywood, the pressure of being number one on the call sheet, and why mentality matters just as much as talent. Aldis also opens up about fatherhood, peace, purpose, and how his daughter changed the way he sees himself and the world around him. The conversation also gets into Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman’s legacy, and the weight that comes with even being mentioned in that conversation. On top of that, Aldis breaks down the physical demands of action roles and training for movies like Black Adam and Road House 2. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shakur Stevenson joins 7PM in Brooklyn for a wide-ranging conversation about boxing, discipline, legacy, and why he believes nobody in the sport is on his level. He talks about his win over Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden, whether a fight with Gervonta “Tank” Davis will ever happen, the rivalry with Devin Haney, and how he sees himself in the current boxing landscape. Shakur also opens up about the discipline it takes to prepare at the highest level, what he learned from mentors like Floyd Mayweather, Bud Crawford, and Andre Ward, and why he is already thinking about life after boxing. On top of that, he breaks down the politics of the sport, belt fees, why boxing needs a union, and what has to change for fans to get more of the fights they actually want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ali Siddiq returned to 7PM in Brooklyn to address unfinished business from his last appearance and the fallout from the viral Katt Williams episode.Ali explains why he did not appreciate his interview being led with the Katt clip, how it felt watching the rollout unfold, and responds to some of the comments and insinuations made during Katt’s time on the show.What follows is a real and unfiltered conversation. Ali, Melo, and Kaz speak their peace. They work through the tension in the room, unpack accountability, and how narratives get shaped in today’s media.Beyond that moment, Ali stands firm on building his career independently. From being one of the most streamed comics in the world to rejecting the traditional machine model, he opens up about Netflix turning down his specials, owning his platform, protecting his integrity, and why legacy matters more than industry validation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wood Harris sits down with Carmelo Anthony and Kazeem Famuyide for a conversation that moves between basketball, acting and the discipline behind both. He breaks down how he really landed Motaw in Above the Rim, why hooping separated him from other actors and what it was like filming The Wire in Baltimore at a time when the city felt exactly like the show. Wood reflects on stepping onto set with Denzel Washington for the first time, feeling the pressure in that moment and why he believes sports is more honest than acting. He talks about Tupac’s presence during Above the Rim, playing Spencer Haywood in Winning Time and the mindset that carried him from the west side of Chicago to a 30-year career. Wood also opens up about being kicked out of NYU, nearly losing everything and the turning point that forced him to bet on himself. This is a rare look at the competitor behind the characters and the perspective that shaped one of the most consistent careers in black cinema. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

DeMarcus Cousins pulls up to 7PM and this one gets honest fast. He and Melo get into untold Team USA stories, including behind the scenes moments and personalities clashing that fans don’t really hear about, and what those experiences were actually like inside the locker room. They also talk about how close they were to teaming up in New Orleans, what was happening behind the scenes at the time, and how different things might’ve looked if that move had come together. The conversation also gets into NBA narratives, how labels stick to players whether they’re true or not, and how reputations can follow guys for years regardless of what’s actually happening on the court. Boogie speaks on how players deal with that noise, how perspective changes as you get older in the league, and why the mental side of the game doesn’t get talked about enough. They also look ahead to the teams they’ll be watching after All Star break. Tap in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Vick sits down with the 7PM in Brooklyn crew to reflect on one of the most unique careers in football history. From becoming the first Black quarterback drafted No. 1 overall to redefining how the position is played, Vick explains how the game changed and how he had to evolve with it. He also opens up about his second act in the NFL, what it took mentally to come back after everything he went through, and how those experiences shaped the way he leads at Norfolk State today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Starks sits down with Carmelo Anthony and Kazeem Famuyide for a Knickscast. He breaks down the dunk, what it was like guarding Michael Jordan, earning the trust of Patrick Ewing, and why those 90s teams were built on toughness and pride. Plus Knicks alumni night stories, player-only meetings, and what separated playing for New York from any other city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices