The crew from Everyday Struggle are currently on vacation this week. Although they are taking some time off, they have filmed special episodes that will air this week on YouTube to tide fans over. Apparently, we are ultimately getting the Cam’ron episode we’ve all been asking for. I cannot lie, I am extremely psyched for that episode (update: we did get it and it was very necessary for the culture). Along with the special ones they’ve filmed to hold us over while they are on vacation. Which is what inspired me to write about the importance of the show.

Everyday Struggle is a morning debate show from Complex that resembles First Take from ESPN. Internet sensation DJ Akademiks and “retired” rapper Joe Budden go head to head over the biggest topics in Hip-Hop and pop culture. The show is moderated by the beautiful and professional Nadeska Alexis. It’s an everyday struggle for Nadeska to moderate over Joe and Akademiks because they are passionate about their views. I wonder if that’s how they came up with the title of the show. The people behind the cameras are just as important as the ones on screen, shoutout to Lyric and Chopz. The show airs on YouTube on Monday through Friday at 11 AM. The show has become a part of my daily routine. Recently, they just started filming shows on Friday with special guests who sit in for Joe Budden.

The biggest moments of the web show so far is when Lil Yatchy was a special guest and people misconstrued Joe’s constructive criticisms as hate. Clips of Joe yelling at Yatchy went viral, and the memes were unleashed.

Then, of course, the infamous moment with the Migos on the carpet at the BET Awards. Joe dropped the mic and walked off set because he was trying to get Akademiks to wrap up the interview. Joe didn’t want to interview the Migos, but the other two voted yes. Migos stood up and it looked as if they were ready to throw hands with Joe Budden. Of course, there is more context to that incident but it’s far too much to type out. If you watch the show then you know the context.

Their journey from April until now has been a wild one to say the least. As with many new shows, it’s been a roller coaster expedition. Early episodes of the show Joe would become engulfed with passion and come off disrespectful towards DJ Akademiks. Joe has been through so much in the rap industry and knows an immense amount about the workings that goes on behind the scenes. Frequently, Joe’s impetuous passion comes off as disrespectful or bitter, but he only wants to share what he knows. DJ Akademiks is younger, 27, and he listens to mostly the new rappers such as Lil Uzi Vert, Lil Yatchy, and XXXtentacion. Joe Budden and DJ Akademiks are the perfect embodiment of the generational gap we usually talk about in Hip-Hop. Joe is from the old school and Akademiks is not of that ilk. Which is fine, because that’s one of the terrific dynamics of the show.

However, the longer they’ve all been around each other, the more they have gelled. They have also been dodging moments like the ones I aforementioned. Budden and Akademiks have grown and learned from each other, thus resulting in mutual regard between the two. DJ Akademiks has developed individually as well, and he is articulating his points better than ever. Nadeska is voicing her opinion and talking more often, which is a breath of fresh air. She is considerably important to the show and some need to be conscious of that fact. Her input and opinions only make the show more compelling. Laughter is now commonplace throughout the length of the episodes. Presently they are less rigid, substantially more comfortable with each other, and the jokes fly. Despite that, they also get very genuine on certain topics.

Styles P was on the Breakfast Club a short time ago, where he and his wife discussed mental health. They also talked about their daughter committing suicide. The crew from Everyday Struggle watched this clip right before they discussed it. Joe was overcome with emotion, because mental health is something he has battled with throughout his career. Joe went on to say mental health is not discussed enough in Hip-Hop. I agree with him unreservedly, I also don’t think it’s discussed enough daily. When they talk about these things, it opens the conversation and gets us talking. Usually when they debate album sales, Joe brings up the label. He then discusses the shortcomings of labels, which is enlightening to fans who don’t know the particulars. DJ Akademiks and Joe Budden peel back the layers of topics to let the fans dissect from a different perspective. Everyday Struggle initiates important dialogue such as mental health, educates the fans about labels and how they work, and shows people you can have healthy intellectual debates about Hip-Hop. Everyday Struggle is entirely all about the culture. That is what makes it so significant for all of us who watch and enjoy every aspect of the show.