Circle The Block

Underdog Podcasts
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  • Society & Culture
  • Updated Weekly

The Appraise The Phrase Show’s spinoff, Circle The Block, takes the focus from the history of common phrases to the power of nostalgia one memory-triggering clip at a time. Join Rello and Cunda as they bring the most iconic moments in film, tv, sports, music, pop culture, and how they compare to current events of today. From the funniest sitcom moments to unforgettable sports moments to hilarious Super Bowl commercials to thinking back to when we used to play outside until the street lights came on, Circle The Block is here to give you fun facts about all of the moments that bring a smile to your face. If you've ever said "back in my day" then this show is for you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 6d ago

    Marvel's Wolverine Is Here. Logan's Been Here Since 1974

    Marvel's Wolverine just dropped on PS5. Rello & Cunda trace Logan from Hulk #181 in 1974 to the arcade, X-Men vs. Street Fighter, and now. Marvel's Wolverine landed exclusively on PlayStation 5 on September 15, 2026 and on this episode of Circle The Block, hosts Rello The Saya and Cunda use the biggest game drop of the year as a doorway into the full history of one of the greatest comic book characters ever created. The crew starts where most '80s babies started: the 1992 X-Men animated series — that theme song, Cyclops as the actual front-runner, and the Jean Grey / Cyclops / Wolverine love triangle that taught a generation of kids what a love triangle even was. From there they go back further, into the character's real origins: created by Roy Thomas, Len Wein, and John Romita Sr., first appearing in The Incredible Hulk #181 in 1974 before joining the team in Giant-Size X-Men #1 in 1975 meaning the X-Men existed as a team before Logan ever walked in and took over. They dig into the parts of the mythology casual fans miss: that Wolverine was born in the 1800s and is pushing 215 years old, that he served across World War I, World War II, and Vietnam, that his claws were bone before they were adamantium, and the brutal origin moment; a sickly boy who discovered his powers by killing the man who murdered his father, only to learn he'd just killed his actual father, and took the name Logan because of it.The back half is a full Wolverine gaming retrospective: the 1992 Konami X-Men arcade cabinet (a six-player machine and one of the top five highest-grossing arcade games in the U.S. that year — where fans still argue Storm and Dazzler were strongest and Cyclops was the weakest), its 2010 HD port and 2013 delisting, the 2021 Arcade1Up home cabinet, and the game that owns a permanent place in Rello's heart: X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), the game that introduced tag-team combat and still draws tournament play today. Then the headliner itself — the new Insomniac-developed Wolverine, its linear campaign spanning Canada, Japan, and the mutant haven Madripoor, Liam McIntyre (Spartacus) on voice and performance capture, and Sabretooth and Omega Red showing up as major antagonists. Plus a genuine DC-vs-Marvel debate between two hosts on opposite sides of that fence, Halloween costume confessions, and Storm appreciation that gets slightly out of hand. As always, the crew runs their odds: Big 12 and ACC championship futures before Bishop Cunda closes with a sermon on the misconceptions people hold about gamers, and the head coach who's been building a Minecraft world for sixteen years. 00:00 – Cold open & intro with the crew01:21 – How everybody's feeling & running into childhood homies03:13 – Like, share, subscribe... and where's Angie?04:10 – Marvel's Wolverine just dropped04:28 – The hype was real: early gameplay reactions05:26 – Earliest Wolverine memories: the cartoon & the action figures05:49 – That X-Men animated series theme song06:23 – Wait, Cyclops was actually the front-runner?07:12 – The love triangle that taught us all about love triangles08:26 – Storm appreciation (and a brief Halle Berry detour)09:57 – Wolverine's real origins: Roy Thomas, Len Wein & John Romita Sr.10:35 – Who added the retractable claws11:10 – Incredible Hulk #181 (1974) & Giant-Size X-Men #1 (1975)12:05 – The X-Men existed before Wolverine walked in13:03 – The 1992 animated series creators & visual style13:52 – DC all day vs. Marvel neutral: the household divide15:00 – Halloween costume confessions 16:01 – Born in the 1800s: the wars Logan fought in18:35 – Action figures, imagination & bringing toys to school 19:26 – Which Wolverine power would you take?19:34 – Bone claws before adamantium20:22 – The traumatic origin: how his powers first surfaced21:46 – The father he didn't know he killed & how he became Logan22:57 – Circling the block on the 1992 X-Men animated series23:41 – Why the cartoon was really a drama24:15 – Big 12 championship futures25:50 – Back from break: Wolverine in video games26:58 – The 1992 Konami X-Men arcade cabinet27:29 – Six players, one machine, top five grossing arcade game of 199228:00 – Storm & Dazzler strongest, Cyclops weakest: fight us29:05 – The 2010 HD port, the 2013 delisting & the 2021 Arcade1Up cabinet31:29 – X-Men vs. Street Fighter enters the chat33:28 – The 1996 Christmas that made the game legendary35:02 – How it became Marvel vs. Capcom35:32 – Wolverine & Ryu: the unbeatable team36:11 – They still hold tournaments for these games today37:07 – Circling the block on the 1992 arcade graphics37:50 – "It can't get better than this" — 16-bit mindset38:39 – Circling the block on the new Wolverine game39:06 – PS5 exclusive, September 15, 2026: Canada, Japan & Madripoor40:22 – Omega Red and Sabretooth show up41:01 – Why gaming was never a fad41:52 – ACC championship futures43:35 – Bishop Cunda's closing sermon: the misconceptions about gamers44:46 – Mike Tomlin's sixteen-year Minecraft world46:33 – Last words Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Sep 24

    Living Single vs. Friends

    NBC's president said Living Single was the show he most wished he had. A year later, Friends premiered. Rello & Cunda break down the receipts. This week on Circle The Block, hosts Rello The Saya and Cunda go digging into one of television's most debated origin stories: did Friends rip off Living Single? The episode starts with the receipt that sets the whole conversation off. Yvette Lee Bowser's Living Single premiered on Fox on August 22, 1993 , six friends navigating life in New York City, and the first primetime network series created, run, and produced by an African-American woman. One year later, on September 22, 1994, NBC premiered Friends, six friends navigating life in New York City. And in between those two dates, NBC president Warren Littlefield publicly named Living Single as the one show on a rival network he most wished he had on his own schedule. The hosts pull up Littlefield's own words describing how Friends was developed as something that "for some weird reason isn't on television," and let listeners sit with that contradiction. From there, Rello and Cunda go character by character through both casts — Khadijah James and Monica Geller, Sinclair and Phoebe, Regine and Rachel, Maxine Shaw and Chandler, Kyle Barker and Ross, Overton and Joey — plus the family dynamics, the slow-burn romances, the college-roommate connections, and even the near-identical dancing opening credits. It's a side-by-side breakdown that gets harder to explain away with every comparison. The conversation also digs into the business reality behind the two shows: the Friends cast's legendary 2% syndication equity deal that made Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston and Lisa Kudrow the highest-paid women in television at the time, the roughly $90 million each cast member earned in base salary, and the estimated $20 million per year in residuals they still collect decades later. Against that, Living Single's entire per-episode production budget was just over $1 million — cast, crew, cameras and all. As Rello puts it: a Ferrari engine going toe-to-toe with a Geo Prism. Plus: why so many Black sitcoms of the '90s hit a ceiling at exactly five seasons, what Fox was really chasing while Living Single aired, and whether the powers that be ever gave the show a fair shot. As always, the crew runs their odds, the 99th Academy Awards Best Picture race and a Harry & Meghan prop board, before Bishop Cunda delivers a verdict from the pulpit. 00:00 – Cold open: Warren Littlefield's own words00:45 – Intro & a new twist on the welcome02:05 – No hate, all love: setting the tone02:48 – Missing Miss Angie03:28 – Friends premieres September 22, 1994... sound familiar?04:34 – The question of the day: did he rip them off?04:41 – Circling the block on Warren Littlefield's interview about creating Friends06:16 – The receipt: Littlefield named Living Single as the show he most wanted08:11 – The Friends cast's legendary syndication chess move09:30 – $90M each in base salary & $20M a year in residuals12:19 – Odds: 99th Academy Awards Best Picture14:43 – Yvette Lee Bowser and the creation of Living Single15:16 – The first African-American woman to create, run & produce a primetime series16:21 – Living Single's inspiration: her own life and friends in New York City17:16 – Ten seasons vs. five: the ceiling for Black sitcoms in the '90s18:40 – Fox was barely seven years old at the time19:12 – A real David and Goliath moment19:34 – Cast comparison begins: Khadijah James vs. Monica Geller20:15 – Sinclair James vs. Phoebe Buffay21:49 – Regine Hunter vs. Rachel Green22:43 – Maxine Shaw vs. Chandler Bing24:12 – Kyle Barker vs. Ross Geller25:17 – Overton Wakefield Jones vs. Joey Tribbiani26:57 – Even the opening credits: both casts dancing28:30 – The family dynamics: Khadijah & Sinclair vs. Monica & Ross29:35 – The slow-burn couples & the love-hate romances31:33 – College roommates on both shows32:17 – The engine difference: Friends' budget vs. Living Single's $1M per episode34:40 – A Ferrari engine against a Geo Prism34:50 – What NBC and Fox were each really chasing35:20 – Was Fox using Living Single to fund the NFL rights chase?36:07 – Odds: Harry & Meghan props37:15 – Bishop Cunda's closing sermon: the verdict39:28 – On people who've never seen Living Single40:37 – Why putting Living Single against Friends made no sense41:52 – Final words: did he do it?42:27 – Outro43:00 – Angie, get back on the court44:00 – One more thing before we go ABOUT CIRCLE THE BLOCKCircle The Block is a culture and nostalgia podcast hosted by Rello The Saya and Cunda, where hip hop history, throwback pop culture, sports, and current entertainment news collide. New episodes weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Sep 17

    The $17.7 Million Reason Shedeur Sanders Slid in the Draft

    Shedeur Sanders fell to pick 144. Dan Marino fell to 27. Rello and Cunda break down the two wildest draft slides in NFL history. Football season is officially here, and on this episode of Circle The Block, hosts Rello The Saya and Cunda kick off the season with a deep dive into one of the NFL's most fascinating recurring storylines: the draft slide. The crew starts with the one everybody's still talking about — Shedeur Sanders' historic 2025 NFL Draft slide. Projected by most analysts as a top-three quarterback and a franchise-altering talent, Sanders instead tumbled all the way to the 144th overall pick in the fifth round. Rello and Cunda break down the theories behind it: the front-office aversion to high-profile brands, the reported "prime equity clause" that would have given Sanders a cut of merchandise and NIL revenue, the whispers about medical flags, and whether being Deion's son helped or hurt him. They also dig into the staggering number that may explain everything — $17.7 million in jersey revenue, nearly doubling Tom Brady's previous single-season record, all before Sanders had proven anything on an NFL field. From there, the conversation goes full Quentin Tarantino and jumps back four decades to Dan Marino's 1983 draft slide — the Pittsburgh kid out of Pitt who fell to the Dolphins at pick 27 as the sixth quarterback taken in the first round. Cunda breaks down Marino's shocking senior-year college numbers (58% completion, 17 TDs, 23 interceptions), the pre-draft rumors that spooked front offices, and the painful Pittsburgh twist: the hometown Steelers passed on him entirely. The hosts also revisit the legendary 1983 draft class — John Elway, Jim Kelly, Eric Dickerson, Bruce Matthews, Darrell Green, Richard Dent — widely considered the greatest draft class of all time. 00:00 – Cold open & intro with the crew 01:05 – Missing Miss Angie & football season is finally here 01:51 – Fresh ink: the new tattoo update 03:31 – NFL offseason headlines & a whole lot of "activities" 04:27 – Setting up the Cleveland Browns quarterback battle 05:07 – Setting the scene: Shedeur Sanders' 2025 draft night 06:39 – The projections vs. the reality of the slide 09:32 – Circling the block on Shedeur's reaction to the slide 10:04 – How Shedeur handled himself through it all 11:04 – The front-office overcorrection theory 11:30 – The "prime equity clause" explained 13:11 – $17.7M in jersey revenue: shattering Tom Brady's record 14:47 – The three-way Browns QB competition 15:04 – Drafted 144th overall in the fifth round 15:36 – Jersey sales, inflation & buying in early 16:34 – Cleveland Browns regular season win total 17:45 – Back from break: repping the city 18:31 – Circling the block on Dan Marino's 1983 draft slide 19:16 – The Dolphins select Dan Marino out of Pitt 19:41 – Marino's shocking senior year college numbers 20:35 – The pre-draft rumors that spooked front offices 21:16 – 46 interceptions in two seasons: what were they seeing? 22:45 – The Pittsburgh heartbreak: his hometown Steelers passed 23:54 – Marino's actual career numbers & 1984 MVP season 24:32 – The legendary 1983 draft class (Elway, Kelly, Dickerson & more) 25:53 – The quarterbacks drafted before Marino 26:13 – Jets fans booing when they took Ken O'Brien instead 26:22 – Why Pittsburgh drafted Kenny Pickett 26:47 – Dolphins over/under win totals 28:01 – Odds on Marino's slide vs. Shedeur's 29:03 – Bishop Cunda's closing sermon 30:15 – What's next for the Browns QB room 31:54 – Football season is here: road to the Super Bowl 33:24 – Final thoughts & missing Miss Angie 34:42 – Outro Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Sep 10

    Music History in Houston (DJ Screw), Cincinnati (Bootsie) & Pittsburgh (Wiz Khalifa)

    Houston gave the world screwed & chopped. Cincinnati gave the world Bootsy Collins. Pittsburgh gave the world Wiz Khalifa. This one's personal. This week on Circle The Block, hosts Rello, Cunda, and Miss Angie get personal with a special "city episode" where each host repping the music history of the city that made them. It's also a bittersweet one: this marks Miss Angie's final episode before a hiatus, so the crew sends her off in true Circle The Block fashion. Miss Angie takes us through Houston, starting with the Geto Boys' "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" and the unofficial Halloween-anthem status Bushwick Bill's verse holds to this day. From there she dives deep into DJ Screw and Michael Watts, the origins of "screwed and chopped" music, and how a South Side Houston mixtape hustle turned into a global sound now heard everywhere from K-pop remixes to Spotify streams. She also breaks down Swishahouse, Slim Thug, and why Houston's slowed-down, laid-back sound is inseparable from the city's identity. Rello takes us through Cincinnati, spotlighting the legendary Bootsy Collins; his debut in James Brown's JBs at just 18 years old, that iconic bassline on "Sex Machine," his work shaping Parliament-Funkadelic and George Clinton's sound, and his surprising modern-day relevance (yes, he's still got a radio show on GTA V, and yes, he opened Silk Sonic's album). Cunda takes us through Pittsburgh, covering the obvious names, Wiz Khalifa and the late Mac Miller, but also the city's hidden hand in hip hop history: producers Mailman and Butter, who helped shape Dr. Dre's 2001 and Eminem's breakout albums from behind the scenes. The crew also revisits the staggering global numbers behind Wiz Khalifa's "See You Again," plus a personal, heartfelt story behind why that song hits different for the crew. As always, the episode is loaded with odds like the Breeders' Cup Classic, snooker, and the 2027 NFL Super Bowl before Bishop Cunda closes it out giving Pittsburgh its long-overdue flowers. New episodes of Circle The Block drop every week — hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a conversation about the music, moments, and cities that shaped us. 00:00 – Cold open & intro with the crew 01:21 – Hurricane season check-in from Houston 04:22 – A bittersweet announcement: Miss Angie's final episode before hiatus 06:04 – Setting up the city episode 08:21 – Houston spotlight begins: Geto Boys' "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" 12:32 – Miss Angie highlights DJ Screw 14:56 – Circling the block on DJ Screw & Michael Watts' Houston music history 20:50 – Swishahouse, Slim Thug & Michael Watts' legacy 27:59 – Odds for the Breeders' Cup Classic 28:51 – Cincinnati spotlight begins: James Brown's roots & Bootsy Collins 31:11 – Circling the block on Bootsy Collins joining the JBs 32:04 – Breaking down Bootsy's iconic "Sex Machine" bassline 34:45 – Bootsy's lasting relevance: Silk Sonic, GTA V & more 37:22 – Why Ohio doesn't get enough credit for funk & R&B 39:09 – Odds for snooker championship 39:57 – Pittsburgh spotlight begins: Wiz Khalifa & Mac Miller 41:12 – Pittsburgh's hidden legacy: producers Mailman & Butter on Dr. Dre and Eminem's biggest albums 43:35 – The staggering global numbers behind "See You Again" 44:31 – Circling the block on Wiz Khalifa's writing process for "See You Again" 45:26 – The personal story behind why this song hits different 48:24 – Odds for the 2027 NFL Super Bowl champion 52:04 – Bishop Cunda's closing sermon: giving Pittsburgh its flowers 54:06 – The Pittsburgh reference hiding in "Think and Grow Rich" 55:18 – Miss Angie's farewell words 56:25 – Final thoughts & send-off 57:39 – Outro ABOUT CIRCLE THE BLOCK Circle The Block is a culture and nostalgia podcast hosted by Rello The Saya, Kunda, Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  5. Sep 3

    The Chicken Sandwich Wars

    Remember when a chicken sandwich caused actual chaos in the streets? Rello, Cunda & Miss Angie break down the Popeyes vs. KFC sandwich war. #PopeyesChickenSandwich #KFC #npstalgiaThis week on Circle The Block, hosts Rello, Cunda, and Miss Angie revisit one of the wildest moments in fast food history: the 2019 Popeyes vs. Chick-fil-A/KFC chicken sandwich wars — the lines wrapped around the block, the sold-out inventory, the viral memes, and yes, the actual altercations that broke out over a chicken sandwich. The crew shares their own "were you there" stories (spoiler: Miss Angie was very much in the trenches).The conversation naturally spirals into a deeper, funnier look at fried chicken's place in Black culture — from the Boondocks' famously prophetic 2010 "Fried Chicken" episode, to the chicken scenes in Undercover Brother and They Cloned Tyrone, to a real conversation about why fried chicken gets demonized in one community and celebrated in another (shoutout to Korean fried chicken). Plus, a deep dive into Houston's own hole-in-the-wall wing culture — Timmy Chan's, Quaker Steak & Lube, and the debate over flats vs. drums.Nostalgia hits hard when the crew breaks down Popeyes' legendary 99-cent Tuesday special — a Louisiana tradition from the early '90s that predates the sandwich wars by decades and still holds a place in fans' hearts (and wallets) today. They also can't resist circling the block on KFC's latest oddity: an Oreo-flavored fried chicken burger, currently only available in China.As always, the crew closes out segments with the odds on the 2026 MLB World Series and AL/NL Manager of the Year races — before Bishop Cunda delivers a closing sermon urging everyone to "choose wisely" when it comes to what's really in their chicken.New episodes of Circle The Block drop every week — hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a conversation about the food, moments, and culture that shaped us.00:00 – Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Pandemonium 04:04 – Setting up the Popeyes chicken sandwich conversation 04:51 – Who actually waited in line for it? 06:00 – Inside the pandemonium: sold-out stock, traffic jams & viral memes 08:15 – Circling the block on The Boondocks' "The Fried Chicken" episode 09:17 – The staggering sales numbers behind Popeyes' launch 09:44 – 2026 MLB World Series champion 11:40 – Back from break: the Dave Chappelle chicken scene in Undercover Brother 13:19 – Houston's own guilty-pleasure wing spot: Timmy Chan's 15:35 – The great debate: flats vs. drums 16:43 – Circling the block on the chicken scene from They Cloned Tyrone 18:30 – Why is fried chicken demonized in one culture and celebrated in another? 19:44 – AL Manager of the Year 21:12 – Back from break: throwback fast food promos & jingles 22:53 – Circling the block on Popeyes' legendary 99-cent Tuesday special 24:03 – The real history behind the Tuesday deal (it dates back to Louisiana in the '90s) 27:04 – Circling the block on KFC's Oreo chicken sandwich (China exclusive) 28:52 – NL Manager of the Year 30:00 – Bishop Cunda's closing sermon: "Choose wisely" 31:48 – Final thoughts & the mystery documentary tease 33:20 – OutroABOUT CIRCLE THE BLOCKCircle The Block is a culture and nostalgia podcast hosted by Rello, Cunda, and Miss Angie, where hip hop history, throwback pop culture, and current entertainment news collide. New episodes weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  6. Aug 27

    Tyson Bites Holyfield's Ear ft. George Forman's Nephew

    The 1997 Tyson-Holyfield "Bite Fight" still lives rent-free in boxing history. Rello, Kunda & Miss Angie break it down — plus a special guest. #MikeTyson #CircleTheBlock #EvanderHolyfield This week on Circle The Block, hosts Rello, Cunda, and Miss Angie revisit one of the most infamous moments in sports history: Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield's ear during their 1997 heavyweight rematch. The crew shares exactly where they were watching it live, breaks down the headbutt controversy that set Tyson off, and even gets into the wild afterlife of that moment — the two boxers' 2022 team-up to release "Holy Ears," an ear-shaped THC gummy line that turned their infamous rivalry into a business partnership. The episode also goes deep into boxing fight-party culture — pay-per-view prices, buying the fight twice to split it across two TVs, and the social ritual that made boxing must-watch TV before streaming existed. This episode features a special guest: Foreman, nephew of boxing legend George Foreman and co-host of the Pay The Toll Podcast, who joins the crew to talk growing up around boxing royalty, his own memory of the ear bite as an 8-year-old, and a deep breakdown of George Foreman's legendary knockout power. The conversation gets into an entertaining comparison of Tyson, Ali, and Foreman to different dog breeds, plus a look at boxing's next generation of rising stars. As always, the crew closes out segments with the odds on upcoming potential fights — before Bishop Cunda delivers a short, sharp closing sermon: "Defend yourself at all times." ️ New episodes of Circle The Block drop every week — hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a conversation about the moments that shaped sports and culture. 00:00 – Cold open & intro with the crew  03:55 – Setting up the Iron Mike Tyson conversation  04:34 – The 1997 Tyson-Holyfield ear bite, in the moment  08:13 – How the bite turned into a business: the "Holy Ears" THC gummies  09:52 – Potential fights (Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua)  11:34 – Anthony Joshua & the Lennox Lewis comparison  12:15 – Miss Angie's boxing "kryptonite" & the first Tyson-Holyfield fight  14:23 – Revisiting Tyson vs. Holyfield I  15:44 – Inside the $180M "Bite Fight" & why boxing is made for TV  17:58 – Fight-party nostalgia: buying pay-per-views & stealing cable  23:20 – Le'Veon Bell vs. Logan Paul  24:50 – Special guest: Foreman, nephew of George Foreman & co-host of Pay The Toll Podcast  26:34 – The guest's own memory of the ear bite at age 8  29:21 – Could this have happened to George Foreman?  30:07 – Breaking down George Foreman's legendary knockout power  32:02 – Comparing Tyson, Ali & Foreman to dog breeds  34:02 – Boxing's next generation: Shakur Stevenson, Tiger Johnson & more  36:34 – Circling the block on rising star Moses Itauma  37:38 – What's next for the Pay The Toll Podcast  44:30 – Ryan Garcia's next potential fight  45:57 – Bishop Cunda's closing sermon: "Defend yourself at all times"  47:14 – Final thoughts & tribute to the guest  49:20 – Outro ABOUT CIRCLE THE BLOCK Circle The Block is a culture and nostalgia podcast hosted by Rello, Cunda, and Miss Angie, where hip hop history, throwback pop culture, and current entertainment news collide. New episodes weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  7. Aug 20

    25 Years Later: Giving Aaliyah Her Flowers

    25 years after her passing, Rello, Kunda & Miss Angie give Aaliyah her flowers — Star Search debut, One In A Million, and the Beyoncé debate. This week on Circle The Block, hosts Rello, Cunda, and Miss Angie mark the 25th anniversary of Aaliyah's passing with a full tribute episode. The crew opens up about exactly where they were the day they heard the news of the fatal 2001 plane crash, and reflects on how differently that kind of breaking news traveled before smartphones and social media. From there, the episode traces Aaliyah's career from the beginning — her 1989 Star Search debut at just ten years old, going up against future stars on a show that famously "never found a star" — all the way through the One In A Million era with Timbaland, Missy Elliott, and Static Major, which the hosts call one of the most influential R&B albums of the 90s. They dig into her cover of the Isley Brothers' "At Your Best (You Are Love)," the making of "Turn My Music Up," and the videos and routines ("Back & Forth," "One In A Million") that shaped a generation of Black girls growing up in that era. The episode also tackles the debate fans still have today: would Beyoncé still be Beyoncé if Aaliyah had lived? The hosts break down the different lanes each artist carved out vocally, stylistically, and in film — and give an honest, no-disrespect comparison of two icons who came up in the same era. As always, the crew closes out segments with odds on the 2026 Leagues Cup, the WNBA Championship, and an upcoming boxing card — before Bishop Cunda delivers a closing sermon giving Aaliyah her flowers, 25 years later. New episodes of Circle The Block drop every week — hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a conversation about the music, movies, and moments that shaped us. 00:00 – Intro & warm-up with the crew  03:32 – The anniversary of Aaliyah's passing: where were you?  05:38 – Life before smartphones: how the news actually traveled in 2001  07:59 – Miss Angie's memory of hearing the news on TV  10:13 – Breaking down the flight & the pilot's impossible position  12:36 – Aaliyah in her own words on how she wanted to be remembered  15:43 – Her lasting influence on artists 25 years later  18:04 – Her last interview: 106 & Park, four days before she passed  20:25 – The Matrix sequels she never got to film  22:49 – "She wasn't trying to impress nobody, she was just impressive"  22:49 – 2026 Leagues Cup winner  25:44 – Back from break: her 1989 Star Search debut  26:53 – Aaliyah performing on Star Search at age 10  29:44 – The wild list of Star Search "losers" (Beyoncé, Britney, Justin Timberlake & more)  32:09 – The One In A Million era & growing up with her posters  34:26 – Breaking down the "One In A Million" video and routine  36:49 – 2026 WNBA Championship  37:47 – Back from break: diving into the One In A Million album  39:39 – Ginuwine's "Final Warning" and the Aaliyah feature  40:37 – Aaliyah on going double platinum, in her own words  41:46 – One In A Million album stats: 8M+ copies sold worldwide  44:08 – "If Your Girl Only Knew" and 90s letter-writing nostalgia  44:37 – Missy Elliott's story behind "Turn My Music Up"  46:57 – "Up Jumps Da Boogie" and the crew's favorite lyrics  49:23 – The big debate: would Beyoncé still be Beyoncé without Aaliyah?  54:02 – Comparing Aaliyah's and Beyoncé's vocal styles  57:33 – Upcoming boxing card (Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn)  59:47 – Bishop Cunda's closing sermon  1:01:51 – Final thoughts & tribute  1:03:54 – Outro ABOUT CIRCLE THE BLOCK Circle The Block is a culture and nostalgia podcast hosted by Rello The Saya, Kunda, and Miss Angie, where hip hop history, throwback pop culture, and current entertainment news collide. New episodes weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  8. Aug 13

    DMX's Woodstock 99 Performance

    DMX's 1999 Woodstock set is called one of the greatest hip hop performances ever. Rello, Kunda & Miss Angie break down why — plus the Aaliyah connection. On this episode of Circle The Block, hosts Rello, Cunda, and Angie circle back to one of hip hop's most legendary live moments: DMX's 1999 Woodstock performance, widely regarded as one of the greatest hip hop sets of all time. From there, the crew dives deep into DMX's dominance on the 1999 Hard Knock Life Tour alongside Jay-Z, Method Man & Redman, DMK, and more — including the wild story of the "Million Dollar Bet" that led DMX to record his double-platinum sophomore album, Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood, in just 30 days. The conversation turns personal and nostalgic as the hosts share their own DMX memories — from getting an A in English class off a DMX prayer, to debating DMX's underrated acting career in cult classics Belly and Romeo Must Die. That leads into a heartfelt tribute to Aaliyah, her film debut, her chemistry with DMX on screen, and her lasting influence on 90s and 2000s pop culture. As always, the episode is loaded with the crew's signature odds segments — placing bets on which artists drop albums in 2026 (Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift), the 2026 Mercury Prize, and the 2026 box office race between Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday. It's culture, nostalgia, comedy, and hip hop history — all in one sitting. New episodes of Circle The Block drop every week — hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss a conversation about the music, movies, and moments that shaped us. 00:00 – Intro & warm-up with the crew  04:12 – DMX's legendary Woodstock '99 set  09:18 – The 1999 Hard Knock Life Tour breakdown  18:37 – Tour trivia: the Cincinnati snub & Pittsburgh snowstorm story  20:54 – Who's dropping an album in 2026? (Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift)  24:47 – Rough Ryders anthems & DMX's raw storytelling  25:33 – DMX on Drink Champs: recording two platinum albums in one year  26:03 – The numbers: It's Dark and Hell Is Hot vs. Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood  29:31 – The DMX prayer that got a host an A in English class  31:58 – The Million Dollar Bet with Def Jam  33:00 – 2026 Mercury Prize  34:21 – DMX the actor: Belly & Romeo Must Die  37:07 – Aaliyah's film debut and her on-screen bond with DMX  41:52 – The Aaliyah legacy debate  46:56 – 2026 box office predictions  47:07 – Bishop Kunda's closing sermon  49:42 – Final thoughts & outro Subscribe to Circle The Block: https://www.youtube.com/@CircleTheBlockPodcast  Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GcCyRJN4vtNPei0UtRg7D?si=f21fff83d20f4280  Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/circle-the-block/id1790258938  Instagram: instagram.com/thecircletheblockshow  ABOUT CIRCLE THE BLOCK Circle The Block is a culture and nostalgia podcast hosted by Rello The Saya, Kunda, and Miss Angie, where hip hop history, throwback pop culture, and current entertainment news collide. New episodes weekly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About

The Appraise The Phrase Show’s spinoff, Circle The Block, takes the focus from the history of common phrases to the power of nostalgia one memory-triggering clip at a time. Join Rello and Cunda as they bring the most iconic moments in film, tv, sports, music, pop culture, and how they compare to current events of today. From the funniest sitcom moments to unforgettable sports moments to hilarious Super Bowl commercials to thinking back to when we used to play outside until the street lights came on, Circle The Block is here to give you fun facts about all of the moments that bring a smile to your face. If you've ever said "back in my day" then this show is for you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Underdog Podcasts
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    51
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Chris Horwedel
  • Show Website
    Circle The Block