Peak 2000s

I Still Love New York on VH1 - Pt. 2

Despite being passed over twice by Flavor Flav on the hit VH1 show Flavor of Love, everyone could see Tiffany Pollard, aka 'New York,' was a star. The self-proclaimed "HBIC" went on to have a slew of shows of her own and is central to some of the most memorable memes in history. Sydnee Washington [https://www.instagram.com/justsydbw/?hl=en], Marie Faustin [https://www.instagram.com/reeezy/?hl=en], and Columbia University Professor Racquel Gates [https://twitter.com/racquelgates?lang=en] get to the bottom of why we STILL love New York. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

D-listers Find Love on VH1 - Pt. 1

In 2004 rapper Flavor Flav and actress Brigitte Nielsen confused everyone when they fell in love in front of cameras on VH1's absurd reality show, The Surreal Life. The romance gave rise to the spinoff, Strange Love. But once the couple broke up Flav went looking for love, competition style. The dating game show, Flavor of Love, saw 20 women vying for Flav's attention week after week and spawned an entire genre of D-list celeb-reality dating shows. Sydnee Washington [https://www.instagram.com/justsydbw/?hl=en], Marie Faustin [https://www.instagram.com/reeezy/?hl=en], and culture writer Madeleine Davies [https://twitter.com/madeleine_rae?lang=gu] re-examine what was so entertaining about dating D-list celebrities like Bret Micahels and Flavor Flav. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Chopped and Screwed: The Houston Rap Takeover

In the 80s and 90s the rap music scene was dominated by the East and West Coast. But in the early 2000s the Dirty South began to gain national attention, and in Houston, Texas, rappers created a unique sound of their own. Sydnee Washington [https://www.instagram.com/justsydbw/?hl=en], Marie Faustin [https://www.instagram.com/reeezy/?hl=en], and Houston native Brandon Caldwell [https://twitter.com/_brandoc] slow it way down to understand how chopped and screwed music made its way into the mainstream. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

Tyra Banks: America’s Next Problematic Fave

For a long time supermodel Tyra Banks was known as the first Black woman to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated. She was a trailblazer in the modeling world. But Tyra had television aspirations and went on to host the now cringe-worthy America's Next Top Model and The Tyra Banks Show. Sydnee Washington [https://www.instagram.com/justsydbw/?hl=en], Marie Faustin [https://www.instagram.com/reeezy/?hl=en], and Buzzfeed culture writer Michael Blackmon [https://twitter.com/blackmon?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] smize while unpacking the problematic television era of Tyra Banks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

TRL and 106 & Park Were the Only Places to Be after School

In the 2000s a hit music video could make you a star. And for a time, the shows TRL and 106 & Park were THE places to see the most popular videos. Sydnee Washington [https://www.instagram.com/justsydbw/?hl=en], Marie Faustin [https://www.instagram.com/reeezy/?hl=en], and co-host of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour Aisha Harris [https://twitter.com/craftingmystyle?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor] reminisce about the most memorable celebrity appearances, mishaps, and videos on TRL and 106 & Park. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]