This Week In Culture

This Week In Culture
  • 5.0 (1)
  • TV & Film
  • Updated Weekly

This Week in Culture is a podcast where Trinidad Ant and J.Johnson breaks down movies and TV shows by Black creatives or shows that impact Black culture. Sharp analysis, real perspective, and unapologetic conversation.

  1. 3h ago

    EP532 | The Drop Season 1 Episode 4

    EP532 | The Drop Season 1 Episode 4

  2. Sep 25

    EP531 | The Drop Season 1 Episode 3

    This week on This Week in Culture, J and Ant are back to break down Episode 3 of The Drop. Three episodes in, and the fellas agree: The Drop is finding its groove. They discuss why fans need to give the story time to develop instead of expecting Snowfall 2.0, where Leon fits into the bigger picture, and why James is quickly becoming one of the standout characters. They also get into Lamar’s obsession with his music and how his ambition is putting everybody around him at risk, Artillery’s problems with the LAPD and the CRASH unit, the growing gang politics surrounding the story, and the question at the center of Lamar’s journey: when is what you prayed and worked for finally enough? Plus, the fellas respond to listener voice notes, talk about the real history and culture influencing the show, and discuss why sometimes you have to stop trying to predict every twist and simply let a good story cook. Tap in for the full Episode 3 review of The Drop.

  3. Sep 17

    EP530 | The Drop Season 1 Episode 2

    This Week In Culture – Episode 530 | The Drop Season 1 Episode 2 Review Two episodes in, and The Drop is starting to show Ant & J exactly what kind of story it wants to tell. This week, the guys get into the politics surrounding Lamar and Artillery trying to make music together in a city where the wrong neighborhood, the wrong person in your house, or even the wrong conversation can turn into something much bigger. Meanwhile, Wanda is making moves of her own, proving that she might understand the music business better than everybody around her gives her credit for.  But when a record deal gets mixed up with money, disrespect and gang politics, things go left quickly. That brings Leon deeper into the story, and Ant & J discuss why his history and reputation might make him the perfect person to keep everybody from destroying an opportunity before it even gets started. The guys also talk about Dara’s introduction as a real power player, DG learning the hard way that money doesn’t mean you can talk to everybody however you want, Big Deon getting pulled back into the situation, and why the peace Leon just helped negotiate may already be in trouble. Hip-hop is bringing these worlds together—but the streets aren’t going anywhere. Tap in with Ant & J for Episode 530 of This Week In Culture and their breakdown of The Drop: A Snowfall Saga, Season 1 Episode 2.

  4. Sep 11

    EP529 | The Drop Season 1 Episode 1 Review

    This Week In Culture – Episode 529 | The Drop Season 1 Episode 1 Review Three years after Snowfall ended, Ant & J are finally back in that world with The Drop: A Snowfall Saga. And considering how much Snowfall means to TWIC, the guys admit they were nervous about whether this spinoff could live up to the name. Thankfully, Episode 1 gave them plenty to talk about. Ant & J break down Wanda's attempt to turn her love of music into a real career, Lamar's dreams of becoming a producer, and how the show is using the early-'90s Los Angeles rap and gang scene to tell a completely different story within the Snowfall universe. They also discuss Wanda and Leon's relationship, the difficulty of escaping your past, and the tension between supporting someone's dreams and trying to protect them from the reality surrounding those dreams. The guys also get into Artillery, the record industry, crossover appeal, the complicated relationship between hip-hop and the police, and a standout moment between Lamar and his brother James that captures one of the episode's biggest themes: What happens when the people who love you don't necessarily believe your dream is realistic? By the end, Ant & J agree that the premiere gets stronger as it goes—and they're excited about the possibilities. With the story beginning in 1991, there's a lot of Los Angeles history still ahead, from the music and gang culture to the '92 riots and everything that followed. Snowfall is over, but this world might have another story worth investing in. Tap in for Ant & J's first review of The Drop: A Snowfall Saga.

    EP529 | The Drop Season 1 Episode 1 Review

  5. Aug 29

    EP528 - Again

    This Week In Culture – Episode 528 Ant & J are back after a slight technical difficulty wiped out an entire two-hour episode last week. This time around, the guys catch up on everything happening in culture and, as usual, the conversation ends up going in a few different directions. They start with TV news and everything coming down the pipeline, including the upcoming Snowfall spinoff The Drop, the return of Reasonable Doubt, Power: Origins, Fightland and why this next stretch of television could give the TWIC family plenty to talk about. The guys also get into British TV, accents, Tom Hardy’s reported issues behind the scenes of MobLand, and whether Aaron Pierre has really shown enough yet for them to know how good of an actor he is. From there, Ant & J talk about why some movies completely disappear from the cultural conversation, revisit Snowfalland what made Franklin Saint’s character development work, and explain why they’re excited to see The Drop explore Los Angeles, music and street culture during the era that followed. The conversation eventually takes a trip back to Insecure, including Lawrence and Issa’s legendary arguments, Daniel, some of the show’s wildest moments, and an idea for a “Men-Secure” conversation looking back at the series from the guys’ perspective. They also react to Issa Rae and Prentice Penny returning to HBO with a new series centered around boxing, friendship and ambition. And because it’s TWIC, things eventually go completely left. The guys get into Joey Bada$$ and Serayah’s breakup, revisit Joey’s old relationship advice to Tristan Thompson, and J makes his case for why Serayah should forget all of that and come to Detroit instead. Before getting out of there, Ant & J check in on The Doctor From Detroit and Average Joe, including why one might be a little too complicated for its own good and why the other may have already jumped the shark. Plenty of TV, plenty of culture, and plenty of unnecessary detours. Tap in with Ant & J for Episode 528 of This Week In Culture.

  6. Aug 11

    EP527 | Raising Kanan Series Finale

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  7. Aug 4

    EP526 | Raising Kanan S5EP7

    This Week In Culture EP526: Raising Kanan S5E7 Review The countdown to the finale is on. This week, Ant and J break down one of the most emotional and shocking episodes of Raising Kanan to date. The conversation centers around Marvin's heartbreaking death, Kanan's continued transformation into the character fans know from the original Power, and whether Rock's empire has officially reached the point of no return. The guys discuss Jukebox's revenge, Stefano tightening his grip on the streets, and why every decision Rock has made this season seems to be closing in around her. They also debate whether prison, death, or disappearing into retirement remains Rock's most likely fate before Power: Origins begins. As always, the listeners come through with thoughtful voice notes, leading to conversations about Makai Curtis' standout performance as Kanan, Sasha Penn's writing throughout the series, and why Raising Kanan has entered the conversation alongside some of television's greatest crime dramas. The hosts also discuss the symbolism throughout the episode, the show's treatment of family, loyalty, and violence, and share their predictions heading into next week's series finale. To close out the episode, Ant and J preview the upcoming finale, recommend several shows currently worth watching, discuss the behind-the-scenes tension between Courtney Kemp, 50 Cent, and Omari Hardwick during the original Powerrun, and explain why ego can sometimes get in the way of great television. If you're caught up on Raising Kanan, this is a full spoiler discussion you won't want to miss. 🎙️ Watch and listen to This Week In Culture wherever you get your podcasts.

  8. Jul 28

    EP525 | Raising Kanan S5E6

    This Week In Culture – Episode 525 | Raising Kanan Season 5 Episode 6 Review This week, Ant & J are back talking Raising Kanan, and after six episodes, they're asking a question they never thought they'd ask: Is this the best final season they've ever watched? The guys spend a lot of time giving flowers to the writers, discussing how patiently this story has been built over five seasons and why so many storylines are finally paying off. Instead of relying on shock value, Raising Kanan continues to reward viewers who have been paying attention from the very beginning. The conversation dives into Marvin's incredible character arc, Raq showing a side of herself we've rarely seen, Kanan's continued evolution, and why Breeze, Snaps, Pop, and Stefano all seem to be pushing the story toward an inevitable collision. Along the way, Ant & J revisit old Power theories, connect callbacks from earlier seasons, and debate what the final two episodes could have in store. As always, the conversation goes beyond just recapping the episode. The guys talk about long-term storytelling, why patience in television writing still matters, and what separates Raising Kanan from the rest of the Power Universe. They also discuss whether the series is setting a new standard for how prequels should be written and why they're already preparing for what could be an unforgettable finale. With only two episodes left, the expectations couldn't be any higher. Tap in for another spoiler-filled conversation.

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About

This Week in Culture is a podcast where Trinidad Ant and J.Johnson breaks down movies and TV shows by Black creatives or shows that impact Black culture. Sharp analysis, real perspective, and unapologetic conversation.

Information

  • Creator
    This Week In Culture
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © This Week In Culture
  • Show Website
    This Week In Culture

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