About this episode
SaVon and Alex sit down with Mecc Rashawn — journalist, A&R, and one of Hip-Hop's quiet stewards — for an unfiltered deep dive into artistry, legacy, and integrity. Mecca opens up about A&R'ing for Busta Rhymes (8:30), the need for stronger mentorship in a youth-driven industry, and a Patreon member question that sparks dream Super Bowl haltime show lineups (15:10). The crew unpacks all the latest in the Cardi B vs. Nicki Minaj rivalry (42:40) and how social media beefs overshadow the music, before Mecc explains the difference between gatekeepers and haters, dissects the state of modern Hip-Hop journalism (1:12:40), and weighs in on Diddy's sentencing and what his life will look like after prison (1:41:23). Later, Mecc reflects on his behind-the-scenes role in building Math Hoffa's My Expert Opinion (1:54:00) and helping unite Joe Budden, Royce da 5'9", Joell Ortiz & Crooked I into Slaughterhouse (2:08:41). The episode closes with Mecc reflecting on legacy, longevity, and teasing his next chapter in both podcasting and music, promising "a few surprises for the culture still left in the tank." Subscribe to our Patreon for EARLY & EXCLUSIVE access to ad-free episode visuals with music included, exclusive episodes each and every Tuesday, and much more! - www.patreon.com/NeedToKnowPodcast Book your next podcast recording at Need to Know Studios TODAY - https://needtoknowstudios.com/ Join our Twitter/X Community to chop it up with us about all things Need to Know - https://twitter.com/i/communities/1777442897001910433 The Need To Know Podcast Social Handles https://www.instagram.com/needtoknowpod/ https://twitter.com/NeedToKnowPod https://www.tiktok.com/needtoknowpod SaVon https://www.instagram.com/savonslvter/ https://twitter.com/SavonSlvter Alex https://www.instagram.com/balltillwefall/ https://twitter.com/balltillwefall