ABSTRACT THOUGHTS

QTip’s Abstract Radio on Apple Music’s Beats 1 kicked it up a notch last Friday night with a conversation that could only be described as awesomely weird, but candid, hilarious and heartfelt.

Chris Rock mostly led the banter in Tip’s home studio, a room that included Dave Chappelle (the second-most chatty) and Leonardo DiCaprio, along with The Abstract himself, who regularly inserted commentary via the songs he was jamming as the soundtrack for this conversation.

The talk ranged from each one’s best day professionally (Rock: selling out The Garden; DiCaprio: getting cast in Gilbert Grape; QTip: hearing his voice on the radio) to how Trump steals the spotlight as a candidate, partying with Malaysian billionaires, the “selective outrage” of the public at the moment, a shared love of rapper Future, Robin Williams, and gossiping about a celebrity fight between two big stars at the Pacquio/Mayweather bout that Leo has recorded on his cellphone. (“I’m not gonna get into it on your little radio show,” he said when pressed to reveal the culprits, in one of many hilarious clap-backs during the two hour chat.)

It was typical bro-bonding among four fiercely private people, with their guards deliciously down around each other. Also obvious was some not-so-subtle deep inhaling going on of various herbal refreshments, and some regular cussing, all edited out.

This talk of course, also included taking multiple shots—what else do you expect when you’re in the room with two world-class comedians? And Rock had most of the best lines. “There’s very few people who enjoy life as MUCH as you do, Leo,” was one of many grenades launched at DiCaprio.

And Leo got on Tip about being slow to release new music. When Chappelle asked why no one has heard any new music from him Leo stepped in and answered exasperatingly, “Because he takes forever! You take years, dude. YEARS!”

“I have Muhammad Ali work ethics. I go to the gym fat sometimes,” joked Chappelle.

After various meandering subjects were addressed, the talk inevitably turned to food. You could even hear Rock munching on-air, which only added to the bro-barroom ambiance.

“The catfish is astounding,” enthused DiCaprio. “Make sure you get some of that.” Astounding? Probably the first time in history catfish has been described as such.

Abstract Radio was indeed that this past week—Q-Tip succeeded in giving us an intimate yet surreal glimpse of what it’s like to chill with the homeboy elites, and it sounds like pretty much the same hang: listen to some music, smoke a blunt and munch on some fried fish while getting in a deep, stony convo.

Rich and famous people, they’re just like us.