Pass The Peas with Panama Jackson

Society & Culture

Panama Jackson, co-founder of VerySmartBrothas.com, hosts a weekly podcast where he shares stories, discusses pop culture and engages in conversations about culture with a who's who of folks. Welcome to a podcast about All Black Everything. This podcast is Blaaaaaaacktastic!

Pass The Peas with Panama Jackson Trailer

Welcome to Pass The Peas, a brand new podcast brought to you by VerySmartBrothas and TheRoot.com, hosted by VSB co-founder, Panama Jackson. Check out this weekly show about Black pop culture every Friday wherever you get your podcasts!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Oprah Winfrey Voicemail

On this inaugural episode of Pass The Peas with Panama Jackson, Panama shares the story behind the notorious voicemail he received from Oprah Winfrey back in 2016 and the story about how writing on VSB took him to LA to meet Oprah. And because it's been long enough, he shares the actual voicemail. Welcome to the party.

Oprah Winfrey Voicemail - 34:08

Intro Music: Berto Antonio "Morning Rituals"

Outro Music: Berto Antonio "LMK"

Music used with permission from Berto Antonio album WRTHY (2020)

https://open.spotify.com/album/7G4ZtHQLxEYUg1DPfXSNTQ?si=9WEV25khSaCja9HCNO0BGg

Podcast Produced/Recorded/Edited/Mixed by Panama Jackson

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

VSB Stories: The 2016 WaPo Profile x TheRoot.com Acquires VSB with Damon Young

Panama is joined by his VerySmartBrothas.com partner, author, podcaster and writer-extraordinaire Damon Young. Dem VSB Boyz talk the 2016 Washington Post profile that Panama thought would cost him his day job because of the behind-the-scenes happenings in VSB land. They also discuss the acquisition of VSB by Univision in 2017 that turned VSB into a vertical of TheRoot.com; how it happened, why it happened and what that process was like for them individually and as a duo. Check it out!

Link to the Washington Post article: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/very-smart-brothas-is-the-blackest-thing-that-ever-happened-to-the-internet-period/2016/11/21/9b62b5aa-8719-11e6-a3ef-f35afb41797f_story.html

Intro Music: Berto Antonio "Morning Rituals"

Break Music: You Gon' Have To Figure That Out Yourself

Outro Music: Berto Antonio "LMK"

All Music used with permission from Berto Antonio's EP, WRTHY https://open.spotify.com/album/7G4ZtHQLxEYUg1DPfXSNTQ?si=zLp8nhgbRpiIujqXnOAtdQ

Produced, Recorded, Edited and Mixed by Panama Jackson

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Shoutout to Black Women Just Because" Talking Stoop & Stank Tees with Brianna Downing

Panama is joined by Brianna Downing, owner and creative director behind one of his favorite tee-shirt brands, Stoop & Stank. Brianna and Panama talk about her origins and creative process, how Panama came to be aware of the brand and what inspires the varying messages on the shirts. Finally, Panama puts Brianna to the test based on one of her t-shirts (and Panama's favorite). Thanks for sleepwalking, have a Black one.

Link to brand: www.stoopandstank.com

Intro Music: Berto Antonio "Morning Rituals"

Outro Music: Berto Antonio "LMK" from his debut EP, WRTHY https://open.spotify.com/album/7G4ZtHQLxE…gbRpiIujqXnOAtdQ

Produced | Recorded | Edited | Mixed by Panama Jackson

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is "Return Of The Mack" The Greatest Song Ever? A Debate with TheRoot.com's Shanelle Genai Who Doesn't Think So (She's Wrong)

Panama reads an essay he wrote in 2017 about Mark Morrison's 1996 jam "Return of The Mack" that was apparently controversial and then is joined by his colleague at The Root, Shanelle Genai, who decided to issue a challenge to his notion that "Return of The Mack" is the greatest song ever. She wrote an article for TheRoot.com stating that Maxwell's song "Ascension" (also from 1996) is the GOAT song. Cases are made. Shenanigans ensue.

Also, they talk Shanelle's writing journey to TheRoot.com, how she came to her conclusion about "Ascension", if Maxwell truly bumps in the 'hood, her favorite albums, 112 vs. Jagged Edge and whether or not Ray J has any songs that might make a GOAT song list. And we close it out with a Blackamendation: a recommendation by, for and about Black people. This podcast is Blacktastic!

"Return of The Mack" Is The Greatest Song Ever that Nobody Acknowledges Is the Greatest Song Ever by Panama Jackson

I Don’t Know Which Very Smart Brotha Needs to Hear This, but Maxwell’s 'Ascension' Is Actually the Best Song Ever by Shanelle Genai

Produced, Recorded, Edited, Mixed by Panama Jackson

Music:

Intro: "Morning Rituals" by Berto Antonio

Outro: "LMK" by Berto Antonio

Music used by permission from Berto Antonio's 2020 album, WRTHY, found on all streaming platforms.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

DMX and His Legacy with The Ill-Informed Homies Podcast Crew

Panama is joined by his friends from the Ill-Informed Homies Podcast (three-fourths anyway: Jibri, Frank and Manu) to discuss the the passing of rap legend DMX, his legacy in hip-hop, what made him special, his controversial and problematic lyrics and songs and some of our favorite records. Rest in Peace, Earl Simmons. Rest in Power, Dark Man X. This podcast is Blacktastic!

Check out the Ill-Informed Homies Podcast everywhere you stream podcasts. Season 2 on deck!

Produced, Recorded, Edited and Mixed by Panama Jackson

Music:

Intro: "Morning Rituals" by Berto Antonio

Outro: "LMK" by Berto Antonio

Music used by permission from Berto Antonio's 2020 album, WRTHY, available on all streaming services.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Morehouse College, 'A Particular Kind of Black Man' and Res' 'How I Do' with Author Topé Folarin

Panama is joined by award-winning author and Rhodes Scholar Topé Folarin to talk about their respective times at Morehouse College and what that HBCU administration life is all about, Topé's journey to becoming a writer, his debut novel, A Particular Kind of Black Man, and last but not least, Res' 2001 album, How I Do, a favorite album of both Panama and Topé. In between those topics, they also talk about Topé's upbringing as the son of Nigerian immigrants in Utah, some of the awards he received and how Oprah Winfrey was kind of his guardian angel for a little while. This podcast is Blacktastic.

Buy Topé's novel, A Particular Kind of Black Man

Produced, Recorded, Edited and Mixed by Panama Jackson

Music:

Intro: "Morning Rituals" by Berto Antonio

Outro: "LMK" by Berto Antonio

Music used by permission from Berto Antonio's 2020 release, WRTHY, available on all streaming platforms.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Is Jodeci Unbeatable in a Verzuz Battle? Michael Harriot Doesn't Think So. A Debate With Hot Takes

TheRoot.com's Award-winning writer, wypipo-ologist and Black History savant Michael Harriot joins Pass The Peas to discuss Panama's recent VSB article that declared Jodeci to be unbeatable in a Verzuz battle. Michael Harriot disagrees vehemently with Panama's assertion and the two debate to whom and how Jodeci could lose. They also delve into some musical hot takes and the episode ends with a Blackamendation, a recommendation about something for, by and/or about Blackness. This podcast is Blacktastic!

Produced, Recorded, Edited and Mixed by Panama Jackson

Music:

Intro: "Morning Rituals" by Berto Antonio

Outro: "LMK" by Berto Antonio

All music used by permission from Berto Antonio's 2020 album, WRTHY, available on all streaming platforms.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

VerySmartBrothas, White Teen Movies vs. Black Teen Movies, Jay-Z & Nas, Tattoos and More with Damon Young

Damon (Young) joins Panama this week to talk about his exit from Very Smart Brothas and what he will be working on in the future. Along the way though, and in typical (and lengthy) VSB-fashion, they discuss white teen movies and the differences from Black teen movies, Jay-Z and Nas on "Sorry Not Sorry," what the old VSB was like and how it will be different in the future and what would make for the best VSB tattoo. It's basically a standard issue discussion with #DemVSBBoyz. This podcast is Blacktastic.

Produced, Recorded, Mixed and Edited by Panama Jackson

Music:

Intro: "Morning Rituals" by Berto Antonio

Outro: "LMK" by Berto Antonio

Music used with permission and can be found on Berto Antonio's 2020 release, WRTHY, available on all streaming platforms.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An Inter-Generational Convo About Hip-Hop and J Cole with my Nephew, Xavier, and His Homie, Emgra

Panama is joined by his 19-year-old nephew, Xavier, and his friend, Emgra, (also 19)—both college students in Alabama—to talk about why they consider JCole to be a GOAT rapper and why they think their generation is so drawn to him. They also break down their favorite rappers and we talk hip hop for the younger generations. Finally, both Xavier and Emgra give Panama some musical recommendations that the young folks are listening to. This podcast is Blacktastic.

Produced, Recorded, Mixed and Edited by Panama Jackson

Music:

Intro: "Morning Rituals" by Berto Antonio

Outro: "LMK" by Berto Antonio

Music used with permission and can be found on Berto Antonio's 2020 release, WRTHY, available on all streaming platforms.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.