J. Bryson
This is a weekly Music & Entertainment podcast meant to be light hearted hosted by rapper/podcaster extraordinaire, J. Bryson. Come kick it with J and frequent friends every week as they discuss the latest going on in the hip hop and R&B scenes, the journey of grinding in the music industry and entertaining the hard working folk with some good laughs. Enjoy the show!
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J. Bryson kicks off the fourth quarter with a reset on goals, then covers a wide range of culture and sports topics. He reflects on retail store closures, TV revivals like Scrubs, new music from Jhené Aiko and Joyce Wrice, and a busy stretch of playoff basketball, baseball including the White Sox advancing and the Cubs disappointing playoff appearance and Bears talk. Will Case Keenum start this Sunday? Support the show
J. Bryson returns for episode 135 with a wide-ranging solo conversation on work, culture, sports, music, and staying motivated. He weighs in on the Millennials vs. Gen Z workplace debate—including whether bringing iced coffee to an interview is a dealbreaker—and talks honestly about building a career, chasing creative goals, and finding ways to keep moving forward. He also shares updates from a recent open mic, his plans to perform more, and the push to keep growing as an artist. Later, J. breaks down podcast drama, reacts to the upcoming John Madden movie, sounds off on the VMAs and the current state of music, then dives into the NFL, the Bears, Caleb Williams, playoff baseball, and the WNBA postseason. He closes with gratitude for playoff season, fresh sheets, and the people who keep everyday spaces clean—plus a reminder to stay positive, keep grinding, and keep leveling up. Start your own podcast with BUZZSRPOUT Start your own podcast and easily upload on all platforms with Buzzsprout! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show
A raw, hilarious, and unexpectedly deep hang with J, CJ, and D Roc turns into everything from GTA 6 to hip hop identity, and why the future of rap might already be slipping into something unrecognizable. What starts as a loose football-and-gaming check-in quickly becomes one of those episodes where the conversation keeps leveling up. The crew gets into music, culture, and the internet’s never-ending argument about what counts as real rap. They break down Lil Yachty, the SoundCloud era, whether being “uncultured” even means anything anymore, and why certain artists get dismissed even when they’re clearly shaping the sound of the moment. The episode also goes personal and nostalgic, with stories about meeting at Taco Bell, living together during COVID, and building the J. Bryson podcast from an idea that started years before it ever launched. There are even deep-cut detours into Bob Barker, Full House, beat selection talk, fantasy football misery, and the eternal struggle of finding a producer who actually understands your sound. By the end, it is more than just a hangout episode. It is a snapshot of friendship, creative ambition, and the weird, funny, frustrating process of making art while trying to stay entertained by life. Start your own podcast with BUZZSRPOUT Start your own podcast and easily upload on all platforms with Buzzsprout! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show
Episode 133 is a raw solo reset from Offworld CJ, built around one big idea: five years can change everything, but most of us are still just figuring it out as we go. If you need a reminder that progress, stress, money, relationships, and self-worth are all part of the same messy process, this one hits hard. CJ opens by correcting a few mistakes and then turns the episode into a candid reflection on who he was five years ago, what he would tell his younger self, and why the future is far less settled than people pretend. He gets brutally honest about debt, career pressure, anxiety, and the pressure to “have it all figured out” — while making the case that growth usually looks more like survival, adjustment, and learning than victory laps. He also pulls the conversation into music and sports, breaking down the rise of country crossover hits, the feeling that the industry is manufacturing some artists for the machine, and why he misses the era when talent had to be discovered through radio, MTV, American Idol, and local scenes. Then he shifts to the Chicago Bears, where Ben Johnson, Caleb Williams, and the team-first identity have him optimistic about what’s ahead. Start your own podcast with BUZZSRPOUT Start your own podcast and easily upload on all platforms with Buzzsprout! Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show
Lil Yachty gets crowned, coffee drinkers get called out, and the Chicago Bears get a full-season hype train behind them. Offworld CJ comes in hot for a chaotic solo episode that swings from savage rap takes to fantasy football wins, existential spirals, and one wildly unhinged Ben Johnson movie pitch you will not see coming. CJ uses the first half of the episode to go all in on the things he hates—from cupping, tipping culture, and slow drivers to artists he thinks are wildly overrated. He doubles down on his love for Lil Yachty, torches the idea that coffee dependency is a personality trait, and turns his “hater” bit into a full-blown rant that is as ridiculous as it is entertaining. You'll also get his no-filter reactions to the Bears' dominant win, why DeAndre Swift and Jameer Gibbs have him fired up, and why Carson Wentz might be more dangerous than people think. He breaks down his return to fantasy football, including an auction draft, waiver wire strategy, late-round steals, and the players who either carried or tanked his Week 1 matchup. CJ also gets personal about music, creativity, and what it actually means to keep making art when the internet wants you to chase validation. He talks through being overwhelmed, staying consistent, and choosing the path that feels right instead of the one that looks good online. Support the show
A drill outside the front door, a new Jhene Aiko album, and one of the wildest turnaround stories in Chicago sports collide in this chaotic, funny, and unexpectedly honest episode. J. opens with a full-throttle reaction to Jhene Aiko’s “Ceiling Freestyle,” calling it an early Song of the Year contender and using it as a launch point for a bigger conversation about why some artists still feel impossible for AI to replicate. From there, he breaks down the energy of a live show at The Forge in Joliet, where Dre put on a masterclass opening for Lil Skies, and gets into the eternal debate over live performance, backing tracks, and what separates a real stage presence from just pressing play. You’ll also hear his unfiltered take on Lil Durk’s legal news, why Big Sean remains one of the most underrated hitmakers in hip hop, and why a Quavo and Pharrell collaboration is exactly the kind of producer-artist pairing he wants more of. John B shares what albums are on deck, why Janae moves to the top of the queue, and why the music conversation keeps circling back to authenticity. Then the episode pivots into a very real life detour: a hangover so brutal it forces him to miss his niece’s concert, leading to a candid decision about stepping away from alcohol for the foreseeable future. He talks through the social habits, the anxiety, the regret, and the accountability that comes with realizing moderation is not always enough. From there, the episode widens out into sports and culture. John B reacts to Anthropic’s CEO trying to answer the question everyone’s asking about AI risk, weighs in on LeBron’s Polymarket move and the weird future of prediction markets, and tears into the latest NFL chatter, including Aaron Rodgers’ latest run of commentary, Rex Ryan’s impossibly white teeth, and the return of Sunday morning pregame TV. And yes, there’s Bears football. J. celebrates Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson, DeAndre Swift, and a 59-point explosion against the Panthers, while also admitting where he was wrong about the team and why the offense has him dreaming big. He also hits the rest of Week 1, looks ahead to the NFC North race, and gives a sharp, skeptical take on the Broncos, Chiefs, Bengals, Jaguars, and more. Finally, he closes with the WNBA and the Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese conversation, pushing back on the forced drama and focusing instead on how well they actually complement each other on the floor. It’s part music recap, part sports rant, part personal confession, and part “how is there still drilling outside my door?” — classic J. Bryson energy. Support the show
J. Bryson is at his most unfiltered here—talking late uploads, the pressure of showing up twice a week, and why he’s done waiting for the “right time” to release music, hit the stage, or lock in on his goals .This solo episode starts loose and turns into a surprisingly real conversation about discipline, creativity, and what it means to stay ready. J. opens up about balancing a full-time job with podcasting, music, the gym, and the constant feeling that there is never enough time to do it all well. If you’ve ever felt torn between building your art and keeping life together, this one will hit home. Support the show
Happy Labor Day!! Hope you're off work but if you're not, we're with you in spirit and appreciate you. Bryson and CJ open with their usual chaos and banter, then quickly settle into the kind of unfiltered back-and-forth that makes this show work: football season is here, the Bears are under the microscope, and the guys are already making their season-long bets. They break down the Panthers matchup, argue over whether Ben Johnson's hard-nosed camp is a good thing, and make their division winner picks with confidence, hot takes, and a little bit of fan-induced delusion. You'll also hear them go all in on the current Chicago sports moment, from PCA's MVP-level ceiling to the Cubs' explosive offense and why this feels like a special year across the city. They even zoom out to talk about the bigger picture in the NFL, including the Chiefs' future, the Chargers, the Ravens-Bengals race, and why the league is taking over every day of the week. On the music side, they get into Kanye West's recent reunion with Big Sean, Kid Cudi, Chief Keef, and others, what forgiveness looks like in public, and why Kanye's influence still feels larger than life even after years of controversy. They also react to Drake's next move, debate whether music videos still matter, and talk about the importance of owning your art, mixing, mastering, and staying in control of your own catalog. By the end, the episode lands on a surprisingly thoughtful note about gratitude, decompressing, and appreciating the moments when life finally slows down. Perfect for anyone who wants a funny, high-energy episode that mixes sports takes, music opinions, and the kind of off-the-rails chemistry only John B and CJ can deliver. Support the show
No one’s safe from the contract drama, the AI music debate, or the countdown to Kid the Stranger’s solo episode. This one turns into a fast, funny, surprisingly revealing hangout about discipline, aging, music taste, and what it really takes to keep a podcast, a creative life, and a body together. J. and Kid the Stranger spend the episode firing off jokes, roasting each other’s handwriting, and revisiting the weird, hilarious rules that keep the show moving. But underneath the chaos is a real conversation about military discipline, motivation, time management, and the pressure of setting huge goals when life keeps throwing distractions at you. Support the show
Financial freedom, fitness goals, and a very unfiltered week collide in this loose, funny, and surprisingly practical solo episode from J. Opening up about rebuilding his relationship with money and chasing multiple streams of income after realizing how much time got wasted mismanaging his 20s. Along the way, he gets into the realities of getting older, staying consistent, and why the internet’s obsession with “financial freedom” sounds nice until nobody can explain how to get there. We also break down a few of the week’s most entertaining detours: the cultural time capsule that is Cocaine 80s, and why producer-artist collaborations still bring the best out of everybody involved. J. also reacts to the Daejohn Love scam story, the weird way sports fandom and internet grifting collide, and the ongoing chaos around WNBA discourse. As always, he closes with a grateful segment that keeps things grounded despite all the jokes, tangents, and side quests. Essential listening if you want a candid, funny episode about money, music, gym life, sports culture, and figuring it out in real time. Support the show
J. Bryson flies solo for a loose Thursday check-in that moves from a busted AI-generated “positive story” into music talk, Nas and Hitboy no longer on speaking terms, Russ's recent comments about mixing, the 49ers owner, and a grateful wrap-up. Plus all the sidetracks, but we always bring it back in. The episode matters because it captures the show’s off-the-cuff energy while still landing on a few real takeaways about kindness, music engineering, and keeping perspective. Support the show
J. Bryson is back with a jam-packed 125th episode that starts with music, swings through AI, and ends with a full-throated defense of the WNBA. If you care about hip hop, sports culture, and the kind of unfiltered commentary that actually says something, this one has your name on it. He kicks things off by breaking down new music from The Game, Paul Wall, Nipsey Hussle, Jorja Smith, Rod Wave, and the unexpected Erykah Badu and Alchemist joint album. Along the way, he gets into the future of AI in music, Dr. Dre’s take on artificial intelligence, the lawsuits surrounding Suno and Anthropic, and why fake features and AI-generated art are starting to feel like a line that should not be crossed. You'll hear his take on The Documentary 3, why Game still gets slept on as a rapper, and why some albums need to be cut down to a tighter 10-track version to hit harder. He also reacts to Drake rumors, questions the way modern rap features are being used, and explains what makes certain artists feel essential while others feel like filler. Then the episode pivots into sports with a chaotic mix of White Sox brawls, NFL preseason frustration, and a strong read on the current WNBA landscape. J. highlights huge nights from Angel Reese, Shakira Austin, Kelsey Mitchell, Caitlin Clark, Paige Bueckers, and others, while also calling out the distractions around the league and making the case for protecting the players and focusing on the basketball. This episode also includes a positive human moment, with a feel-good story about a missing cat reunited with its owner after more than a year, plus Jay’s trademark side quests into everything from leaf-crunching season to podcast punishments and future guest plans. Perfect for listeners who want music takes with edge, sports opinions with conviction, and a host who is never afraid to say exactly what he thinks. If you like your podcasts funny, honest, and a little unpredictable, hit play. Support the show
J. opens up this solo episode talking about current buzz around AOC and Mackenzie Scott, argues that more public attention should go to positive philanthropy, and shares his frustration with the rise of celebrity music projects — especially Pat McAfee’s album and Tyga’s AI-assisted release. A big portion of the episode is spent paying off a punishment from a missed episode, which leads to a long, rant-filled breakdown of Jelly Roll’s career, his genre switch from hip hop to country, his relationship with Bunny XO, and a live reaction to one of his older freestyle videos. Jay also recaps music in 2024, reflects on the Kendrick-Drake discourse, and dives into Cubs-Sox brawls, questioning why people fight at sporting events. He closes with quick hits on the WNBA, including Paige Bueckers, Caitlin Clark, and A’ja Wilson, before ending with gratitude for hoodie-and-shorts weather and memories of reading the newspaper as a kid. It’s a loose, funny, and highly opinionated episode that mixes pop culture, sports, and personal storytelling in classic J. Bryson fashion. Support the show
J. Bryson is back on a Monday to start your work week despite some Sunday Night beers. Episode 123 is a loose, funny, brutally honest hang with J. that starts with accountability, turns into a surprising music discovery, and somehow ends with Bears season predictions, WNBA drama, and a whole lot of real-life perspective. J. opens up about missing an upload after a beer-fueled night, then pivots into why Katori Walker's track "Tension" stopped him cold on a royalty-free music site. From there, he breaks down what makes an underground rapper stand out, why putting music on licensing platforms could be a smart move for independent artists, and why he thinks more listeners need to pay attention to creators who sound like themselves instead of cloning everyone else. You'll also hear Jay talk through a Midwest food recall panic, the weird whiplash of expiration dates, and why a simple work-lunch habit can save real money over time. He touches on the brutal reality of summer weather, the frustrations of keeping a gym streak alive, and the challenge of becoming a true 6 AM workout person. Then the episode widens out into a packed music and culture rundown. J. reacts to the new Nipsey Hussle project with Bino Rideaux, explains why he trusts Nipsey's team to handle posthumous material with care, and gives Paul Wall his flowers while assigning the audience some homework. He also shares why Griselda still needs to link back up, how he may evolve his long-running "Music in the Year Of" segment, and what 2023 music really says about where the culture was headed .On the sports side, Jay goes deep on the Cubs-White Sox rivalry, the weird energy around Chicago baseball fandom, the rise of the Savannah Bananas-style spectacle, and why the new Chicago Snowballs might actually be worth checking out if you just want a fun night with family. He honors Candace Parker and Elena Delle Donne, then makes the case for Jaden Daniels to demand respect after the modern era's wildly loose number-retirement standards. He also gets into Angel Reese's finishing woes, Caitlin Clark, and why the WNBA is becoming appointment listening and viewing. And yes, he closes with a full game-by-game prediction for the 2026 Chicago Bears, plus a grateful-for moment about the kind of late-summer, pre-football stretch sports fans either ignore or secretly love. If you want a podcast that sounds like a real person thinking out loud, laughing at the chaos, and still dropping actual takes along the way, this one is for you. Perfect for fans of music, Chicago sports, independent artists, WNBA talk, and long-form unfiltered conversation. Support the show
J. is back after a two-week break with a louder mic, a bigger reset, and a surprisingly honest conversation about what it means to keep a podcast, and a creative life, moving forward. If you care about music, media, and the chaos of trying to stay consistent while life keeps interrupting, this one hits. He opens by addressing the missed episode, then reveals his latest upgrade: the Electro-Voice RE20. From there, the episode becomes a loose but sharp mix of accountability, creative discipline, and opinionated culture talk, with plenty of side quests along the way. John B also reacts to CJ’s solo episode and the punishment he’s been handed, which turns into a hilarious setup for a future Jelly Roll deep-dive. You’ll also get his unfiltered takes on the state of music right now, including why he thinks the industry’s obsession with quantity is wrecking quality, why one-producer albums still matter, and why projects from artists like Benny the Butcher, Harry Fraud, Nas, and Griselda still set the standard. He breaks down the music landscape of 2022, revisits standout albums and songs, and makes the case for why some of today’s biggest releases feel bloated and disposable. Then the episode pivots into sports and culture, where John B gives a passionate defense of the WNBA, praises Olivia Miles and the Minnesota Lynx, and pushes back hard on the kind of performative, political nonsense that keeps getting forced onto the league. He also touches on the Sophie Cunningham and Dijanai Carrington situation, the weirdness of outside voices trying to manufacture outrage, and why the real story is the talent and growth happening on the court. This episode is messy, funny, self-aware, and full of hot takes in the best way. Perfect for anyone who wants music talk with personality, a little sports commentary, and the kind of unscripted podcast energy that feels like hanging out with a friend who always has something to say. Support the show
Lades and gentleman the podcast is back to regularly scheduled programming with a SOLO CJ TAKEOVER Bryson hands over the keys, and Offworld CJ turns a solo episode into a high-speed ride through bad decisions, pop culture, and brutally honest life updates. If you like unfiltered stories, unexpected nostalgia, and the kind of tangents that somehow end up making perfect sense, this one is for you. CJ opens by assigning Bryson a ridiculous punishment: a deep-dive Jelly Roll segment with a live song review, full career history, and even the Bunny backstory. From there, the episode veers into a failed dating-app outing to a country music festival, why he is absolutely not trying to be a stepdad, and the messy reality of trying to date in your 30s. You will also hear CJ riff on the brilliance of Riff Raff, the return of Versus battles, the best Tony Hawk games ever made, and the skating shame of pushing Mongo. Then he hits peak nostalgia with a full throwback soundtrack of Disney and Nickelodeon theme songs, from The Proud Family to Fresh Prince, Boy Meets World, Full House, and Family Matters. And just when it seems like the episode has exhausted its chaos, CJ pivots into real-life stress: buying a house, dealing with storms and flooding, and getting absolutely buried by car repairs, from a catalytic converter to a flex pipe to the looming threat of struts and rotors. It is funny, raw, ridiculous, and weirdly relatable all the way through. Perfect for anyone who wants a podcast that feels like a friend spiraling in real time, but with enough laughs and nostalgia to keep you locked in until the end. Enjoy the show! Support the show
Welcome to the best of part 2!! The J. Bryson Podcast is on vacation this week so please enjoy these classic and memorable moments from the golden era of the podcast. All the laughs you can handle, from October 2022 to February 2024. Enjoy! Part 3 will be on Thursday and we'll see ya next week as we get back to regularly scheduled programming. Support the show
In this episode, J. Bryson is joined by Offworld CJ, Crazy Brain Cory, and Redeyez for Redeyez’s first appearance on the show. The conversation centers on Redeyez’s background, the experiences that shaped him, and the artist’s perspective each of them brought to the table as they talked through music, life, and the creative process.What makes this episode stand out is the way everyone opens up honestly while still keeping the energy light and engaging. The group shares important and uplifting topics around resilience, growth, authenticity, faith, and staying true to the art, while also making space for plenty of laughs, jokes, and natural chemistry throughout the conversation.It’s a real, encouraging, and entertaining episode that blends perspective with personality, showing both the deeper side of the journey and the fun moments that made the discussion memorable. Support the show
Welcome back to the rest of your week, join J. on this solo adventure where ANYTHING can and will happen. From Tom Skilling to Will Smith, J. dives into the Tony Romo arrest, Rick Ross flopping, a blast to the past looking at music in 2019, Dijonai Carrington and Nalyssa Smith drama, and of course all of the nonsense. Enjoy the show! Support the show
Ladies and gentlemen J. is back with another solo episode to get your week started off. Tune in as J. breaks down the fifth wall on why the podcast was late, an update on the gym streak, Akademiks vs Brittany Renner, the new Syd album, Game vs YG. Also in sports, Kane is coming back to Chicago, Lebron to the 76ers, WNBA all star weekend drama and of course all the nonsense along the way. Enjoy the show! Support the show