ITS UP THERE PODCAST W/LOONEY

On this episode of Internal Affairs, Loon goes deep on the Lil Durk trial: Kanye West, India Royale and Doodie Lo, Trap Lore Ross, OTF Jam, Drew Findling, Brian Steel and Zül-Qarnain. The conversation goes far beyond what happened inside the courtroom. Loon examines the spectacle surrounding Lil Durk’s federal trial and questions whether some of the people showing support outside are actually helping Durk—or turning one of the most serious moments of his life into content. Zül-Qarnain joins the show after attending the trial at the request of Durk’s father, Dontay “Big Durk” Banks. He explains what he saw inside and outside the courthouse, his encounter with Trap Lore Ross, why misinformation surrounding the case became a concern, and what Durk’s family is dealing with as the trial unfolds. Loon also breaks down what Kanye West showing up at the courthouse communicated to the public, his interpretation of the viral India Royale and Doodie Lo moment, and why the lack of sustained major-media attention surrounding such a high-profile federal trial matters. The episode also digs into the legal battle itself: OTF Jam’s testimony, the defense strategy surrounding OTF Vonni, Brian Steel’s courtroom tactics, questions around Drew Findling’s public media appearances, and the debate over whether Lil Durk should ever take the stand. Beyond the headlines, Internal Affairs asks a larger question: when somebody from the culture is fighting for his life, what does useful support actually look like? Lil Durk has pleaded not guilty. The charges and allegations discussed in this episode remain allegations unless established in court. Subscribe to Internal Affairs for long-form conversations about culture, media, accountability, business and the issues happening inside our community. #LilDurk #LilDurkTrial #InternalAffairs DISCLAIMER: Lil Durk and all co-defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Testimony, allegations and arguments discussed in this episode are part of an ongoing criminal proceeding and are not findings of guilt. INTERNAL AFFAIRS provides news commentary, cultural analysis and opinion.
#LilDurk #LilDurkTrial #lildurkmusic

0:00 Lil Durk Trial — What This Episode Is Really About 1:21 Victims, Stakes & Why This Isn’t Entertainment 2:22 Loon Goes Off on the Courthouse Clout Chase 7:00 Welcome to Internal Affairs 8:07 Should Lil Durk Testify? Loon Changes His Position 12:21 What’s Happening Outside Federal Court 13:45 India & Doodie Lo — Loon’s Read on the No-Hug Moment 17:55 Why Playing Durk’s Music Outside Court Matters 20:14 What “Free Durk” Is Supposed to Mean 21:49 Drew Findling’s Public Strategy Questioned 26:27 OTF Jam, Gang Structure & the Government’s Case 31:34 Federal Informants & the DOJ Rules Debate 45:01 How the Jury May Hear OTF Jam’s Gang Testimony 51:03 Brian Steel’s “Accomplished Durk Banks” Strategy 1:06:27 Why the Major-Media Gap Matters 1:11:28 Trap Lore Ross vs. Brian Steel’s Defense 1:17:58 Trap Lore Ross & the Courthouse Tension 1:30:50 Kanye West Shows Up for Lil Durk 1:40:33 Zül-Qarnain Joins Internal Affairs 1:46:49 What Zül Saw Outside the Courthouse 1:51:13 Big Durk’s Request & Positive Media for Durk 1:56:28 Should Lil Durk Take the Stand? 2:01:28 Zül Explains the Trap Lore Ross Confrontation 2:09:32 India, Durk’s Family & the Courtroom Energy 2:20:51 Monetizing Lil Durk’s Trial 2:23:10 Big Durk’s Mindset Through the Trial 2:35:06 Final Message to Everyone Supporting Durk
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Loon gets a live call from a federal inmate incarcerated with Lil Durk as they break down Durk’s trial, King Von, Akademiks, 6ix9ine, OTF witnesses, Tupac, Keffe D, Pooh Shiesty and more. INTERNAL AFFAIRS begins with access you rarely hear in hip-hop media: Loon gets a live call from a federal inmate incarcerated with Lil Durk while Durk is fighting for his freedom in one of the biggest federal rap trials in the country. Loon and his caller go inside the questions surrounding Durk’s case, the people around him, cooperating witnesses and whether Durk may ultimately have to take the stand and tell his own story. But Loon’s argument about Lil Durk goes deeper than the case. Everyone has spent years saying the internet “tricked” Durk with “Slide for Von.” Loon argues that explanation misses the emotional reality of what King Von represented to Durk. In Loon’s view, the internet did not create the pain — but social media, trolling and hip-hop media helped keep pouring pressure onto something that was already real. That brings the conversation directly to DJ Akademiks and 6ix9ine. Loon questions why Durk continued doing business and interviews inside a media ecosystem that repeatedly amplified 6ix9ine’s taunts about King Von, Quando Rondo and “Slide for Von.” That history has become even more relevant during Durk’s trial. A federal judge has ruled that jurors may see an excerpt from a 2021 episode of Akademiks’ Off the Record featuring 6ix9ine and Wack 100, where 6ix9ine mocked Durk over retaliation for King Von. Prosecutors say the clip helps show the public pressure surrounding revenge; Durk’s lawyers disputed that Durk had ever seen the interview. And the trial is no longer approaching — it is underway. Opening statements began August 24, 2026. Prosecutors allege Durk orchestrated a murder-for-hire retaliation plot targeting Quando Rondo after King Von’s death. Durk’s defense says he is being falsely portrayed as the architect of the shooting and points toward former assistant Kavon Grant. Durk has pleaded not guilty. Loon also gets into Trap Lore Ross, rap true-crime media and what happens when creators who have built content around alleged murders and street histories are sitting inside the courtroom while those same stories are being litigated for real. Then INTERNAL AFFAIRS moves from Chicago to another historic case happening right now: Tupac Shakur. Loon breaks down the Keffe D trial, Mob James, decades of interviews and the danger of turning old street stories into entertainment. Keffe D’s prior statements are now central evidence in his Tupac murder trial. Prosecutors are using statements he made to police, in interviews and in his memoir, while his defense argues that many of those accounts were exaggerated or fabricated for publicity and money. For Loon, that becomes a larger conversation about gang culture, aging, loyalty, internal betrayal and what people actually have left after decades of living off old reputations. The episode then turns to Pooh Shiesty, Gucci Mane and NBA YoungBoy. Loon discusses Pooh Shiesty’s authenticity, his relationship with Gucci, why audiences respond differently when they truly believe an artist’s story, and why Loon believes Pooh Shiesty represents something different from what many fans project onto NBA YoungBoy. This is INTERNAL AFFAIRS. The conversations happening inside our culture, examined from inside the culture. Hosted by Loon. Watch the full episode and tell us: what part of Lil Durk’s situation do you think the internet still doesn’t understand? 00:00 — Lil Durk Is Fighting for His Life in Federal Court 02:37 — Did the Internet Really Trick Lil Durk? 05:58 — The King Von Pain Nobody Talks About 06:26 — Loon GOES IN on Akademiks & “Slide for Von” 09:17 — How the Industry Tried to Lock 6ix9ine Out 10:28 — Why Durk Should’ve Drawn the Line With Akademiks 12:38 — Lil Durk Trial & Trap Lore Ross 15:18 — 6ix9ine & Wack 100 Interview Enters the Federal Case 17:59 — OTF Jam & Cooperating Witnesses 20:54 — Loon Questions Trap Lore Ross at Durk’s Trial 22:41 — Trap Lore Ross Gets Confronted Outside Court 25:41 — What “Free Durk” Actually Means 28:04 — Federal Inmate With Lil Durk Calls Loon LIVE 28:21 — Can Lil Durk Beat the Case? 37:19 — Does Lil Durk Need to Take the Stand? 40:15 — Akademiks & Trap Lore Ross Showing Up at Trial 56:41 — Why Tupac’s Death Became Big Business 58:31 — Pooh Shiesty Takes Over the Conversation 01:02:37 — Pooh Shiesty’s Legal Situation 01:14:20 — Loon: Pooh Shiesty Is Who People Think YoungBoy Is 01:17:18 — NBA YoungBoy Trying to Escape the Chaos 01:19:57 — Back to Durk & Why Akademiks Matters 01:20:37 — Loon Says He Warned Them Years Ago 01:21:58 — Is Hip-Hop Media Disconnected From the Culture? 01:25:00 — Why Durk Should’ve Shut Down the YoungBoy Questions 01:26:00 — Hurt, Anger & What the Jury May Hear 01:28:46 — Why Durk May Have to Testify 01:30:19 — Welcome to INTERNAL AFFAIRS #lildurk @LilDurk ​
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Dr. Umar Johnson sits down with Loon for an explosive conversation on Michael Jackson, Drake’s UMG battle, Jay-Z, Netflix, Floyd Mayweather, Farrakhan, Black leadership and more.
Dr. Umar Johnson returns to It’s Up There with Loon for a wide-ranging conversation that quickly moves into Michael Jackson, Drake, Jay-Z, the music industry, Black leadership, money, power and what happens when major Black figures collide with powerful institutions.
Loon presses Dr. Umar on Michael Jackson following Netflix’s Michael Jackson: The Verdict, leading to a deeper debate about Jackson’s 2005 acquittal, the accusations that followed him, Sony, his legacy, his cultural impact and whether the public has ever been given the full Michael Jackson story.
The conversation then takes an unexpected turn toward Drake.
With Drake currently battling Universal Music Group through his ongoing appeal and using Michael Jackson-inspired glove imagery for Iceman, Loon asks whether Drake could be signaling something deeper about his own position in the music business. Dr. Umar responds with a serious warning about fame, power, ownership and what artists should do when major conflicts begin happening behind closed doors. Drake’s appeal against UMG remains active in 2026, while his Iceman artwork has publicly drawn comparisons to Michael Jackson’s famous glove.
Dr. Umar and Loon also get into Jay-Z, Kanye West, Dame Dash and what may happen behind the scenes when artists become powerful enough to challenge the structures around them. Umar discusses why he believes major public figures should be more open about the battles they face instead of allowing the public to discover the story afterward.
But the episode goes far beyond music.
Loon and Dr. Umar debate Floyd Mayweather and wealth, 50 Cent, Michael Eric Dyson, Cornel West, FBA and the Freedmen debate, reparations, Marcus Garvey and the Black Star Line, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Muammar Gaddafi, Black nationalism, the assassination era of Black leadership and Umar’s continuing plans for FDMG Academy.
This is another unfiltered conversation between Dr. Umar Johnson and Loon about culture, history, celebrity, power and the future of Black America.
Watch the full conversation and tell us where you agree — and where you think Loon or Dr. Umar went too far.
Subscribe to It’s Up There with Loon for more long-form conversations, cultural commentary and interviews.
It’s Up There with Loon — conversations that go where everybody else stops.
The conversation closes by debating Drake versus Michael Jackson, streaming-era statistics versus cultural impact and whether numbers alone can capture greatness.

00:00 — INTRO — Dr. Umar Returns to It’s Up There
02:30 — Michael Jackson: Netflix, the Trial & What Really Happened
08:00 — Was Michael Jackson a Prophet?
11:30 — Michael Jackson vs Elvis, Sinatra & How History Gets Rewritten
15:30 — Prophets, Sacrifice & the Assassination of Black Leaders
19:30 — Farrakhan, Gaddafi & the Billion-Dollar Offer
24:00 — Malcolm X, MLK, Fred Hampton & the Era of Assassinations
29:30 — Floyd Mayweather’s Money Problems, 50 Cent & Who You Trust
34:00 — FBA, Freedmen, Reparations & Black Identity
39:00 — Cornel West, Michael Eric Dyson & Black Intellectual Leadership
43:00 — Marcus Garvey, Black Nationalism & the Black Star Line
47:00 — Jay-Z, Kanye West & What Happens Behind Closed Doors
52:00 — Why Dr. Umar Calls Dame Dash Valuable
55:30 — Drake’s Black Identity, Kendrick Lamar & the Culture
1:00:30 — Drake vs UMG — Is He Following Michael Jackson’s Path?
1:04:30 — The Michael Jackson Glove & Drake’s Iceman Message
1:08:00 — Why Dr. Umar Warns Drake to Be Careful
1:12:30 — FINAL WORDS
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Claressa Shields joins Loon on It’s Up There for an in-depth conversation that goes far beyond boxing.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist and multi-division undisputed champion opens up about the criticism she receives over her appearance, why she believes successful women are judged differently, and what it feels like to constantly have her confidence challenged publicly.
Claressa also speaks about her relationship with Papoose, the business surrounding her career, money in women’s boxing and the reported $8 million deal attached to the next stage of her journey.
She breaks down her side of the infamous viral sparring knockdown, including what she says happened with sparring partner Arturs Ahmetovs and why she believes there was more to the footage than viewers initially understood.
The conversation also touches on Angel Reese, Serena Williams, Franchon Crews-Dezurn, Jake Paul and MVP, The Fire Inside, Flint, retirement, legacy, and what Claressa believes she still has left to accomplish after already becoming one of the most decorated fighters of her generation.
Hosted by Loon / Big Loon.
Subscribe to It’s Up There wherever you listen to podcasts.
Watch the full video conversation on the It’s Up There YouTube channel. Search “It’s Up There Claressa Shields.”
00:00 — Claressa Shields Joins Loon
04:30 — What Is Claressa Still Fighting For?
09:15 — Being Called “Ugly” & Criticism of Her Looks
15:00 — Angel Reese, Serena Williams & Successful Women Getting Attacked
20:30 — Claressa Shields on Papoose & Her Personal Life
27:00 — The $8 Million Deal & Money in Women’s Boxing
32:30 — The Viral Sparring Knockdown
38:30 — What Claressa Says Happened With the Gloves
44:00 — Boxing Politics, Rivals & Her Legacy
48:00 — Retirement & What Comes Next

Original Publish Date Aug 14, 2026
Claressa Shields on Papoose, the Viral Knockdown, $8M Deal & Being Called “Ugly"
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Wack 100 returns to It’s Up There as the Big U federal case and alleged Future LAX story put his name back in hip-hop headlines. Loon presses Wack on Young Thug, No Jumper, Boosie and VladTV. This episode arrives as new federal charges against Big U revive online debate around Wack 100’s old account involving Future and LAX. Wack has since rejected the most sensational version of the story, saying there was a conversation but no airport assault, while Future’s camp has continued to deny the allegations. Wack is not charged in the Big U case. That developing story is current context—not a segment falsely added to this interview—but it places Wack’s larger warnings about street politics, public claims, recorded conversations and federal investigations under a completely new spotlight. Wack and Loon begin by breaking down why the old street playbook has become obsolete. Wack discusses whether No Jumper and other street-focused media platforms can attract law-enforcement scrutiny, why statements made during interviews may later appear in criminal cases. The conversation moves through the MacArthur Park federal drug operation. The temperature changes when Wack and Loon reach 6ix9ine, Big Bank and Young Thug. Wack argues that Young Thug said too much during the interrogation connected to the 2015 shooting of Lil Wayne’s tour bus. Loon agrees Thug should have said less but refuses to call it snitching without proof that he incriminated someone, helped build a case or provided information that harmed another person. Loon challenges the way hip-hop media reacted when the footage first circulated compared with the campaign that developed after it resurfaced. The debate becomes personal as Loon explains why he previously stopped Charleston White from using his platform to attack Young Thug and why his relationship with Thug will not allow him to entertain a dishonest narrative for clicks. Wack and Loon debate the difference between talking too much, trying to finesse detectives, showing a willingness to cooperate and actually cooperating. The episode then turns to the Boosie Badazz and DJ Vlad fallout. Was Boosie justified in demanding more after years of high-performing VladTV interviews? Wack and Loon examine the reported interview-fee dispute, 6ix9ine’s role in the argument, Vlad’s “franchise player” response and the deal Boosie could have negotiated. This is more than another Wack 100 interview. Wack and Loon confront questions involving Young Thug, federal investigations, media manipulation, loyalty, street codes, business ownership and what happens when private conversations become public content. The arguments inside this interview now land while Wack’s name is once again connected to a much larger online conversation involving Big U, Future, federal court filings and the relationship between street culture and hip-hop media. Watch the entire episode before deciding who was right. Subscribe to It’s Up There and turn on notifications for new conversations with Loon. Join Patreon for early access, exclusive episodes, Loon’s solo breakdowns and the complete It’s Up There experience. #Wack100 #YoungThug #BigU 00:00 Wack 100 Returns to It’s Up There 14:00 Why the Old Street Game Is Finished 15:35 Cameras, Phones and the Permanent Digital Footprint 18:30 Is No Jumper Being Watched by Federal Investigators? 21:45 Podcast Statements Appearing in Federal Cases 30:05 Wack’s Transition Into Trucking and Real Estate 39:45 How Suge Knight Missed the Digital Era 42:05 Why Birdman Survived Every Music-Business Transition 43:45 Loon’s Patreon and the Power of Solo Content 45:30 Wack 100 Revisits His 6ix9ine Interview 46:45 Big Bank Asks 6ix9ine for an Interview 48:15 Did Hip-Hop Apply Different Rules to 6ix9ine? 50:15 The Young Thug Conversation Gets Heated 51:30 Wack Says Thug Talked Too Much 53:50 Loon Rejects the “Pretty Much” Argument 55:50 Peewee Roscoe, Birdman and Lil Wayne’s Tour Bus 58:15 Was Thug Snitching or Trying to Finesse Detectives? 60:15 Loon Calls Out the Media’s Changed Reaction 61:45 “This Ain’t No Jumper” 63:00 Wack Says the Conversation Is the Road to Ratting 64:10 Loon Separates Speculation From Actual Cooperation 65:15 Young Thug’s Private Conversation With Wack 66:07 Why Loon Stopped Charleston White From Attacking Thug 67:20 Boosie Walks Away From VladTV 68:35 Did Vlad Treat Boosie Like a Friend? 69:35 Loon Says Vlad Left Out Other Revenue 69:45 Did Boosie’s Career Become Too Transactional? 70:00 The Gucci Mane Conversation Begins For all exclusive interviews & more content not here click here https://www.patreon.com/itsuptherepodcast
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