3 chapters across the catalog
The discussion covers the ubiquity of racial slurs in early 20th-century American life, from song titles on the Billboard charts to household products. It then moves to the 1960s and 70s, highlighting Muhammad Ali's refusal to serve in Vietnam and Richard Pryor's use of the word to achieve crossover comedic success.
An archival recording features Barney Ales pressuring distributors to ensure Diana Ross's single "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand" reaches number one on the Billboard and Cashbox charts. Ales uses veiled threats, stating that more than just a hit record is at stake. The segment explains the importance of "calls from the field" in manipulating chart positions during the 1970s.
Moe introduces Big Meech, the leader of the Black Mafia Family (BMF), a massive multi-state drug organization. BMF was famous for its "The World is Ours" billboard in Atlanta and for laundering money through winning lottery tickets. Moe compares Meech's legendary status to Pablo Escobar and Scarface, noting how the organization was loved in the communities it supported despite the destruction it caused.
