In a recent episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, things got lively when Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin dropped by for a chat. One interesting topic that came up in the conversation was music taste, specifically in regard to hip-hop heavyweight Kendrick Lamar and his 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning album DAMN. Franklin said something that did more than surprise the hosts; it catalyzed a broader conversation about how athletes-and perhaps many other people-listen to music.
Franklin did not mince his words in arguing thus: for NFL players like himself, music is rather about the way it makes them feel than about lyrical genius or even accolades like the Pulitzer.
“We just want it to sound good,”
Franklin clarified, explaining that when him and his teammates press play, they’re not thinking about Kendrick’s deep messages or award-winning bars; rather, they’re in it for entertainment purposes, looking for music that gets them hyped or calms them down.
Joe Budden, never one to shy away from a hot take on hip-hop, dove in to question whether that mindset overlooks some of the artistry that makes rap, and artists like Lamar, so vital. Budden, himself a former rapper, said that the cultural impact of records like DAMN. is worth paying attention to-even from athletes, whom he thinks might be missing out on something deeper.
But Franklin held firm, underlining that for athletes-especially those going through the chaos of the music live outside metaphors and arguments over who won what.
“It’s not like breaking down metaphors or thinking about who won what,”
Franklin said.
“It’s more about the vibe-does it get you ready for a game, or does it help you chill after a tough day? That’s what we care about.”
This led to a broader discussion: do any of those types of awards Pulitzer Prize, really impact in any way the way people interact with hip-hop?
Franklin seems pretty sure of this one: no. He allowed that the Lamar win was historic and warranted; it doesn’t make DAMN any more fun for, say, an athlete looking for music to match a mood.
“At the end of the day, it’s a good beat and a good time we’re looking for-not a history lesson,”
he joked, which indeed made Budden and co-hosts burst out in laughter. Budden countered that while music may indeed serve different purposes for different people, an entire dismissal of lyrical content can indeed be limiting. He said that even though that is not what hooks listeners, initially, there is value in understanding the messages behind the music.
This exchange between Budden and Franklin is more than a difference of opinion over musical tastes in the NFL. This underlines a general modern trend in listeners and what is important to them regarding music. In a time when streaming services have leveled the playing field and every genre, artist, and style are easily accessible, the ways in which people experience music today are more diverse than ever. Some tune in to get hyped or to unwind, while others analyze and interpret the meaning behind the lyrics.
Here’s The Full Episode:
