Cold Drinks & Conversations

The moment has finally come! Episode 100 of Cold Drinks & Conversations. We'd like to thank everyone personally that has been an avid listener of the podcast whether you've become a cold drinker recently or have been with us since the early days. Episode 100 will mark the end of season 1, with season 2 coming in the next few months, watch this space! In this episode, Toren, Sillah & Ray begin by discussing 2022 and setting their sights on what looks to be a promising year, with the boys kicking off the year with Cold Drinks Live Volume 3, a very debate centred and discussion filled show! Sillah also discusses the upcoming Block Report open mic night, something he has been working on for a while, open to all artists, with submissions open until Friday the 14th of January. The conversation then moves onto discussing Molly Mae's recent comments on an interview she was a part of earlier in the week where she spoke on work ethic and everyone having the same 24 hours to work hard towards their goals, which many tabloids and people on social media spoke on, with many mocking and condemning her viewpoint, the boys each explain their take and why they see where she is coming from. Finally, with 2022 starting off busy for all three of the boys, Sillah caught a lot of attention with his Top 10 of all time UK Rap & Grime list that he put out earlier in the week, the trio give their takes, with Ray & Toren debating who they would of swapped out and replaced in their top 10's.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

After hosting the first Cold Drinks Live Show in over 2 years, Toren, Ray & Sillah reflect and relish how much of a success the event was, with a packed out venue and an evening full of entertainment and pure vibes! The lads also touch on preparing for and anticipating Volume 3, the upcoming live show on January 2nd which will focus on Music & Culture. For the remainder of the episode, the lads look back over the year, month by month and reflect on key moments in each of their lives, discussing what successes they've achieved in 2021, and how they plan on setting their sights on 2022.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

With Ray not being able to make the episode, Toren invites on childhood friend Muna, for a very entertaining and story-filled Christmas special. Toren, Sillah and Muna begin by delving into Muna's childhood, with Toren and Muna attending the same primary school, Muna provides his perspective into getting sent back to his origin country Zimbabwe for just over a year whilst in the later years of primary school before returning to England to complete his GCSE's. Muna details having to navigate going to school in Zimbabwe whilst ultimately still having a British educated mindset. The trio then moves on to discussing secondary school memories and how they differed even though Toren and Muna also went to the same school, with Sillah going to a neighbouring school. Finally, Muna discusses attending the renowned Brit School, a performing arts school based in South London, and how it shaped him into who he is today, now working in the film industry.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

Toren, Sillah and eventually Ray & Millz sit down for another entertaining conversation! In episode 97 the boys discuss whether they'd intend to apologise to their children in instances where a child feels like an apology is warranted. Often growing up in an African and/or Caribbean households, apologies from parents are very rare, but with society changing and millennials slowly becoming the next generation of parents, will parent to child apologies become more commonplace? Once Ray and Millz join they give their thoughts whilst lending a perspective on how having siblings can foster different parent-child relationships dependent on whether you're a younger, older or even middle sibling.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 96, Sillah brings on special guest Milan Churchill, content producer and music industry management student to discuss everything music from working on The Hub with Link Up Tv behind the scenes, to music tastes and whether U.K. music is as good as consumers believe it is, a follow up on from last week's conversation. Toren, Sillah, Ray & Milan also discuss dating and how to know when you're being played from both a man's and a woman's perspective.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

Toren, Sillah & Ray are back for another entertaining and unfiltered conversation, with some Cold Drinks! The episode kicks off with Toren reflecting on his present and past mares, including locking his lunch in his locker at work before arriving at the episode and nearly collapsing after doing the Chilli challenge whilst at school. The boys then touch on U.K. R&B, questioning its authenticity and the notion that many singers from the U.K. sing in an American accent, with Ray & Sillah agreeing with the statement, whilst Toren disagrees. New Music drops are also discussed including DBE's highly anticipated Home Alone 2 and Adele's '30'. Another question for our listeners - as music consumers, does the U.K. tend to not champion difference? s it's a common consensus that most popular black music sounds the same. The episode ends on a heated note, with Toren & Sillah getting into a heated debate in regards to having a 4-day working week vs the current norm of a 5-day working week.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 94, Toren, Ray & Sillah sit down with a guest from previous episodes 'Crafts' to discuss his journey and the story behind building his clothing brand 'Crafty Creations', including where he gets his inspiration from and how fashion has changed over decades. The boys also discuss Crafts recently attaining a role at Sony Music in subsidiary branch focused on creative branding and marketing campaigns.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

The Cold Drinks trio of Ray, Sillah & Toren are back for another episode, opening up with a conversation around celebrating birthday's, with all three being winter babies and their birthdays coming up. Sillah then raises the question of how significant 'Metaverse' will be in distorting reality with social media already doing so, especially young people. Finally, is Future a modern-day GOAT? It's undeniable what he has done for Hip Hop over the last ten years, releasing classic projects and hits. Should Future have been in more people's 2010's Mount Rushmore's?To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For EP92, Toren, Sillah & Ray kick off by discussing Meek selling 93k units in his first week with 'Expensive Pain'. Has Meek's time come and passed or for someone that's been in the game for so long, are these amazing numbers? Meek also recently tweeted that he hasn't made money from music in the last 10 years! How can this be possible for an artist of his stature? This conversation is followed by debating French Montana and the value that he has brought to Hip Hop, as he was recently clowned online with a squid game tweet regarding him barely having any solo hits. He then responded by stating his hits and saying without him there would be no Durk today. Is he right or was he a bit self righteous? For the latter half of the episode the trio talk about the upcoming projects that people can expect to hear as the year comes to a close, which then creates a segway for past and present classics, both projects and tracks, including how Versuz has contributed to reintroducing past classics to younger audiences.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

Toren & Ray kick off episode 91 by reflecting on life from 16-18 year's old and how going to parties was a 'no risk no reward game', often going to parties out of town and not having a solid plan on how to get home! As Sillah arrives, Toren raises Facebook announcing their name change, with the unveiling of 'Metaverse', which prompts the trio to reflect on what platforms they used during their teenage years. In other news, early last week on the 25th of October, the ULEZ (which is an acronym for Ultra Low Emission Zone) expanded in London which meant that many diesel car drivers and some with older plate vehicles that emit high levels had to begin to pay £12.50 a day to drive their cars, and now in instances even just to drive in their neighbourhoods. Is this ultimately a step in the right direction for reversing the effects of pollution and climate change, especially in metropolitan cities like London, or is it a major convenience? Finally, Manchester United 0 - 5 Liverpool, Toren isn't letting that slide! Do United urgently need a new manager or is this a structural issue?To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 90, Toren & Sillah sit down for another entertaining conversation, as it kicks off discussing Loski's recent project and self-censoring in drill music. Is self-censoring good for drill artists? We've seen the likes of Digga D & Skengdo & AM be given court orders to censor their music but ultimately allow for them to continue to their careers. However, in some instances, it can make it easier to fabricate things and take away the authenticity from drill lyrics. The lads also go over some other recent releases over the past weeks including Headie's "Too Loyal For My Own Good" & PinkPantheress "to hell with it". This then moves on to a debate about projects of the year and who ranks where have the U.K. artists outdone the US artists when it comes to music this year? Lastly, Is there such thing as an artist peaking 'too early'? Toren & Sillah debate both Chip's and Jay-Z's career, when were both of their peaks, and is there such a thing as peaking too early as well as peaking twice?To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 89, Toren & Sillah sit down and start off on a celebratory note, with Toren landing a new job in his field, Sillah filming the last episode of season 4 of 'The Block Report' with some very special guests and Ray dropping 2 new tunes in the space of a month! Toren then poses the question, 'Can you put a price on enjoyment?', as ultimately depending on where you live, enjoyment costs money, especially in places like London. If you go on holiday on a budget, is it really a holiday? Toren also details taking a trip to Manchester a few years back whilst at University and talks about the stark differences in cultures, are Londoners inherently unfriendly or are non-Londoners overly friendly? Is this generation of Black British young adults too optimistic and utopianistic when it comes to setting horizons on buying land in their originating countries, considering that many parents of this generation have ultimately settled in the U.K. and don't have the same outlook in regards to returning and retiring back home. Finally, what's worse, the workplace neek or the University neek? Toren, Sillah & Alpha finish off by discussing how neeks in school, can grow up to be the man in later life and vice versa in terms of being the man back in the day but being at the bottom of the workplace totem pole in later life.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

Sillah, Toren & Ray sit down for another entertaining Conversation with a couple of Cold Drinks. Sillah kicks off the episode by bringing up a list of icks from both men and women that were raised on the timeline and converted into a list. A lot of funny one's included women's toes touching the floor when they wear heels and men using 360 photo booths. This then leads onto the Cold Drinks trio discussing their personal icks, with Sillah telling an eventful story about a date that he went on, that he wasn't too impressed with, for a few reasons. To finish off, the boys carry on from the previous episode where CLB was discussed and put together a list of Drake's Top 5 projects, which sparks an intense debate as the boys clash on what projects should fall within the top 2. Is Views a better project than Take Care? We'll let our Cold Drinkers decide!To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

The lads are back for another episode as they discuss premier league title predictions as we're now a few games into the season, with the likes of Chelsea and United looking dangerous. Last weekend, Sillah also had backstage Wireless Festival access as he conducted artist interviews and crowd content with cord socials, providing some insight. When does everyone think they'll fully get back into their 'travel' bag, as right now it feels like it's hard to maintain a balance between travelling and going on holiday as well as working and building. Speaking of working hard and playing hard, are there ever any instances where a weekend bender is justified? Finally, Toren, Sillah & Ray give their opinions on Drake's Certified Lover Boy Album and whether it is ultimately a hit or miss, taking an insightful look into the project.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

With Sillah returning after missing the last episode, the lads take a look back at what has ultimately been an underwhelming summer, with the weather being under par and many events and festivals not delivering the full experience, however, there have been some high's this summer, which the boys discuss including the rise in prominence of black-owned day parties including recess and DLT. In the second half of the episode, Sillah poses the question of whether freestyle platforms of the likes GRM's Daily Duppy & Fire In The Booth have lost their essence and exclusivity, as nowadays it feels as though the barrier to entry is much lower than in previous years when regarding who has been given the opportunity to be on these platforms.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

Toren & Ray kick off episode 85 in celebratory style by thanking the listeners for their continued support and keeping up with the podcast, as well as themselves for getting this far! The episode begins by discussing all the Love Island sagas that have taken place over the last couple of weeks including Faye & Teddy's rollercoaster relationship and Jake & Liberty deciding to leave the Villa, with it coming to an end tomorrow (August 23rd). The conversation then moves onto Only Fans, as they have announced that moving forward, they are going to cap down on explicit content, reportedly after many of its investors came to the decision they no longer wanted the platform to be a host for it. Many strippers, sex workers and celebrities have made thousands, and even millions from the platform through posting explicit content and building their subscriber count. Will this lead to the fall of Only Fans as well as many of those who were making their living off of their explicit content? Finally, being three years deep and 85 episodes in as a podcast, Cold Drinks and many of the entertaining and thought-provoking episodes wouldn't be possible without all the guests along the way. Toren & Ray shout out to all the guests over the years!To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

Toren, Sillah & Ray link up for another entertaining episode! A lot has happened within the last two weeks, with the Olympics now coming to an end, the legendary verzus that was The Lox vs Dipset & Messi leaving Barcelona after having been there all his career! The boys start by discussing what's gone on, specifically touching on all the music releases over the past month, with new projects from the likes of Unknown T, Skepta, Darkoo & Fredo just to name a few. The conversation then moves on to discussing the DaBaby and his remarks at Rolling Loud Festival surrounding HIV and what seemed to be an indirect dig at the LGBTQ community, which received major backlash resulting in DaBaby being dropped from multiple festival line-up's. However, is Hip-Hop beginning to lose its vulgar and outlandish routes, as the genre was birthed through artists being outspoken, especially within their lyrics and opinions. Now that Hip-Hop is a global genre, are these types of statements just now more visible and publicly ridiculed? To finish off the lads debate their top five movie villains, is it fair to say that in some films, the villain contributes more flavour to the story than the hero does?To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

It's Episode 83 and the boys are back with another thought-provoking yet entertaining conversation! Toren, Sillah & Ray start the episode by discussing Dave's Sophomore album, 'We're All Alone In This Together', with the project having dropped on Friday and the timeline going crazy over it, singing Santan's praises. With Sillah having been the only one to have had the chance to listen he gives insight into the album and how it boasts similarities to Six Paths, even claiming that off first listen, he believes it is a better project than Psychodrama, a big statement! The conversation then moves on to discussing monogamy and whether it is 'innately' natural or more of a western societal norm that has been opposed upon us over generations. Is there such a thing as hustling too hard? Do Millennials and those from Generation X tend to have an unhealthy obsession with grinding and working until the wheels fall off? Or is this just a result of the economy being in a state and inflation constantly rising. Finally, Toren poses a question of 'When do you know when it's time to leave something?', this includes a relationship, a business venture, even a party, what signs are there to look out for or feelings we feel when we know its time to make that all-important decision?To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

The boys kick off episode 82 by discussing the unfortunate end to the euros and England missing out on lifting the trophy, with a depressive feeling across the whole country in the aftermath. However, with the World Cup happening next year, after this run, things are looking promising. The main conversation then moves onto Ray asking Toren & Sillah what advice they wish they were given when they were younger regarding money habits, which would have been beneficial and put them in a better position now. Some of the advice includes keeping tabs on your spending, budgeting and saving with a plan.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

Toren, Ray & Sillah sit down for another entertaining and banter-filled conversation. The boys start by discussing the upcoming content that Cold Drinks have to come for Patreon, which will be similar to the recent YouTube video including taking a GCSE maths test and having a bake-off, if you want to see content like this keep an eye out for the Cold Drinks Patreon when it drops! The main conversation then begins by touching on Nick Cannon recently having 4 children in the last 6 months with different women. If you can afford to provide for all children, is there anything wrong with planting your seed all over the place? Or is this still messy regardless? Although in older and more traditional societies and cultures, polygamy is practised and was seen as commonplace, so are the views of this generation on what Nick is doing based on our western ways of thinking? Let us know what you think. Finally, is there any instance where a man should physically fight for his woman, whether that be for her or over her? To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 80, with this being the first time the boys have linked up in a couple of weeks, Toren, Sillah & Ray discuss the Euros results and the fact that it may be coming home! This is the first time that England have reached the semi-final of a European championship in 25 years, with their performances so far being very impressive, having yet to concede a goal in the tournament. Can England go on to win the tournament? We'll know by this time next week! This week also marked the return of Love Island after over a year of not having it on our screens. Which of the trio do you think would do the best or fair well on the Villa? Finally, the boys discuss overworking and knowing when it's time to rest, as Toren details having experienced burnout over the past week, taking it as a sign to make a big decision.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

In this bonus episode recorded at the beginning of the year as extra content, the boys sit down with Antoinette, a previous guest to answer a question. What is the most broke you have ever been? The boys and Antoinette relive some tough times over the last few years including having to eat digestives for breakfast, lunch and dinner and debit cards being declined at Lidl. A very entertaining and comical bonus episode, enjoy!To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

Ray & Sillah kick off episode 78 by discussing the Music Mount Rushmore debate that Toren & Sillah had in episode 76, but this time from a UK music perspective. When considering UK urban music, thus mainly highlighting Grime and UK Rap, the two discuss who they believe are the founding fathers of the scene, with Sillah putting Wretch, Giggs, Skepta and Dizzee on his Mount Rushmore, whilst Ray takes a wider genre-focused approach. As Toren arrives and joins in on the conversation, he gives his two pence before the boys move on to solving some riddles. The conversation ends following on from last week's episode as the boys dissect some more philosophical questions, some of which include "Does fate exist and if so do we have free will?" & "Will Religion ever become obsolete?".To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 77, the boys are back, as Sillah, Toren and Ray sit down for another entertaining conversation. The episode starts with the boys by taking a walk down memory lane, looking back at elite phones and gaming consoles back in the day, from the Blackberry Curve 8520 to the first play station. This then leads to a conversation on whether past a certain age, if you're not making an income from gaming should you be spending multiple hours on games consoles per week? Toren then asks the boys what is the weirdest thing they've ever experienced at work, with Toren giving an example of having to give a female customer a hand massage. To finish off, Toren poses another question, would you rather be able to look into the past of your worst enemy or look into the future of your closest friend? The question is then followed by some more philosophical questions including does evil come from within? To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 76, Sillah & Toren provide the listeners with a music-focused conversation. The episode begins with some banter surrounding Sunday dinners before delving into the main discussion. Sillah poses the question of who is U.K. Rap's greatest export? Skepta falls at the top of both Toren & Sillah's list, with him being one of the first U.K. artists to successfully break America, whilst ultimately still protecting and maintaining his unique sound and style having featured on massive tracks with the likes of ASAP Rocky and being on Drake's More Life Project as well as the recent YSL: Slime Season 2 project. The conversation then leads onto a different but still music-focused debate, discussing one of the more timeline centred topics over the last week, Hip-Hop's Mount Rushmore, specifically those who dominated the 10's decade. Most critics would argue it is undeniable that Drake, Kendrick Lamar and J-Cole would take the first three spots, all having sold multiple platinum albums and classic projects within these years, often being referred to as the three modern-day goats, however, who would you give the 4th spot too? Nicki Minaj, Young Thug, Future and Chief Keef are all worthy contenders, Toren and Sillah debate this and decide who they believe should take the 4th spot. To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

The landmark episode 75! Toren, Sillah & Ray kick off the episode by discussing how it seems that we are finally moving towards some sense of normality before Covid19 hit, with packed trains, traffic and the scheduling of events. The trio then moves on to discussing party holidays and which ones you should go to if you haven't been, as well as the pros and cons of going when your young vs going when you're older, with Toren telling a few funny stories and providing a taste of his experience in Magaluf when he was 18. Reflecting on the stories, Toren then poses the question "What advice would you give your 18-year-self, knowing what you know now?", with some of the advice including you don't always have to be right, never take things personally and don't overestimate your position in people's lives. To finish off the episode, the boys discuss announcements and news from the week, including Benzema being on the France National Team after seven years of being axed from the squad, the teams that finished top 4 in the premier league and new bangers that have dropped this week!To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

It's a very special occasion for Episode 74, as the Cold Drinks Lads invite on Chini and Astrid of the It's A Continent Podcast! It's A Continent Podcast breaks down the history of different African Countries and celebrates their differences and individual greatness, tackling the myth that Africa is a country. Toren, Sillah & Ray sit down with the girls to discuss the origins of It's A Continent and how it came to fruition, with them being the 25th most popular history podcast in the U.K. on Spotify, having only been a podcast for just over a year! Topics discussed include views on a United Africa and whether it would work, Africa's colonial past and the impacts it has on today's governance of African countries, plus the potential that the diaspora has in terms of investing back home but how building back home can also be seen as a form of gentrification if done in a certain way. The group finish off by touching on future plans for It's A Continent and whether they look to delve into the history of other continents! A very educational and insightful episode overall & make sure to check out It's A Continent's Podcast!To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

After four episodes of being absent due to Ramadan, Sillah is finally back! The lads kick off the episode by catching up with Sillah as he details how Ramadan has benefited him over the past month, teaching him empathy and allowing him time to realign himself physically and mentally. As the trio also discuss what else has gone on over the past month, and specifically the past week, Sillah brings up the notion of cheating back, essentially cheating on someone because they have cheated on you, to get back at them. Toren, Ray and Sillah all give their individual opinions on cheating back, all essentially agreeing that it is pointless, as if you have forgiven the person then cheating back doesn't mirror this or alternatively if cheating is soemthing you know you cannot tolerate, then the best option would be to leave the relationship. Let us know what you guys think about cheating back! Finally, and linked to the previous debate, what constitutes to being a real man. Being a man of your word? Having discipline? Being self-sufficient? The trio go back and forth on what they believe makes a man to end the episode.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

Toren & Ray begin episode 72 by reflecting on what's gone on during the week including the outcome of both the Champions League and Europa League Semi-Final's which resulted in a Chelsea vs Man City CL final and Manchester United vs Villareal Europa League final upcoming. The lads then delve into some recent hip hop deaths including Pop Smoke's and updated details and what really happened, as well as King Von's killing. This week it was also revealed that allegedly Drake flew out a female singer and her boyfriend to feature on his album but whilst spending time together Drake slept with the artist. Do men with power and success tend to abuse their power, especially in instances like these? Alpha refers to an excerpt from Think & Grow Rich that may explain why this may be the case. Also, do any of you guys have or in the past had celebrity crushes? At a certain age is having a celebrity crush weird? Finally, Toren & Ray finish off by discussing the recent "Blue Therapy" serious on Trend Central and why so many unrealistic expectations exist within relationships nowadays.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

In Episode 71, Ray & Toren sit down and begin the conversation by discussing Giggs, Damson Idris and other fellow Black Brits currently out in the US living their best lives, with this being the first time that Giggs has been allowed into the states, its good to see him connect with everyone and being shown overdue and genuine love. This week Daniel Kaluuya who is also currently out in the US won an Oscar for best supporting actor in the film Judas and The Black Messiah. Should more Black British entertainers and creatives follow suit and start moving over to the US to fulfil their potential? The pair then move on to discussing new music that has been released over the past month including the release of DJ Khaled's latest album 'Khaled Khaled' which Toren deemed lacklustre, questioning whether it was a project that Khaled may have had to drop as opposed to wanting to drop it, as a lot of the songs felt like throwaways. Should Khaled perhaps steer away from the albums and enter the music management and entertainment bag? Finally, the London Mayoral election is in a few days, 23 candidates are running the race. If you are eligible to vote make sure you head down to your polling station on the 6th of May and vote! Toren & Ray go over a few of the candidates, and focus on the building of new youth centres, which a lot of candidates seemed to include in their manifestos, however, is there an actual need for them and do they work?To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

Following on from last week's episode which included a conversation on whether Football has changed over the last decade or so for the better or worse, for episode 70, with the immediate rise and fall of the super league and what could have been, it is only right that this episode is a sport-focused one. Toren & Ray brings on Gids, the man behind the growing sports blog gusports_ & Stephen of Flash Squard to discuss the super league and whether it was as bad an idea as football fans and sports media made it out to be. Also, did anyone consider why Florentino Perez was a driving force behind the ESL? The amount of debt that many teams across Europe have come into as a result of bad transfer and signings, particularly both Barcelona and Real Madrid, has left many teams in dire need of more and greater streams of revenue. What do our listeners think is the worst transfer to have ever taken place in European football? Finally, the episode finishes off discussing the NBA and how Lebron changed the game when joining Miami Heat, constituting the big 3 that boasted himself, Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade. Who is the no.1 contender that comes to mind when thinking about who is going to win a ring this year? To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

Toren and Ray sit down to discuss the easing of Lockdown restrictions that came into force this week, including the opening of indoor leisure and non-essential retail and how they've been making the most of it, with things looking hopeful and normality becoming more realistic. Toren then discusses the recent Champions League and Europa League results, as it's debated who are the most likely winners in the two competitions. This then leads to a conversation about football and how it has drastically changed over the past two decades. Millz and Crafts join in, as the four give their insights as to why the game has changed including the development of playing styles and formations, as well as football being as commercial as it has ever been. Do we currently have the best England squad since the 2006 world cup squad and do England have a realistic chance of winning the cup next year? Let us know your thoughts!To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast 

For Episode 68, Ray, Sillah & Toren begin by reflecting on DMX and his legacy, rest in power to an icon and music legend. Reflecting on X's legacy leads to a conversation on the rap game and which coast has been running it since the turn of the century? The trio argues that the East Coast were dominant in the early 2000s specifically with the likes of Ja Rule, 50 Cent and Jay Z in their primes. In 2005 came the introduction of The Game and the Documentary album, with him 'bringing back the west coast" and at the time arguably carrying it on his back, at the same time that Kanye West was on the come up with the release of Late Registration and College Dropout the previous year. In the latter 2000's we saw the South start to take stride with the rise of both trap and crunk music, notable names include Jeezy, T.I and Soulja Boy. From 2010 we saw the emergence of a new era of east coast music with A$AP MOB and Pro Era setting trends and new styles, whilst over on the west coast TDE were also gaining popularity, as we argue that the game was more contested between the turn of the last decade up until around 2015/16. From thereon can it be argued that the south has taken back control with Atlanta arguably being at the forefront of the music game with the likes of the Migos, Future and Playboi Carti? Let us know your thoughts! In the second half of the episode, Ray poses the concept of 'Green Flags' as opposed to Red Flags when considering a partner, and asks Toren & Sillah what some of their green flags are? These include having a drive, a good relationship with family and being a patient individual. The usual Cold Drinks & Good Conversation!To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast 

For Episode 67, Sillah, Toren & Ray are back for another round of Cold Drinks & Conversations as Sillah hosts an episode for the third time in a row. The lads begin the episode by discussing what they tend to eat for breakfast and what truly is the most important meal of the day? This then moves on to a reminiscent conversation about school dinners back in the day! Who remembers smiley faces? Custard and Cake? until Jamie Oliver came and ruined it all for us! Who has had more of a bigger influence on Black Youth and Music culture in the UK, Choice FM or Channel U? With both being significant in a lot of black millennials upbringings culturally and musically, the trio come to somewhat of a conclusion. Finally, a look back at legendary WWE moments and favourite WWE stars including Steve Austin and Jeff Hardy. Who is the most legendary WWE Superstar of all time? We'll leave that for the listeners to decide!To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 66, the Cold Drinks trio open the episode by discussing Lil Nas X recent 'Satan' Shoe collaboration with MSCFH coupled with his satanic themed music video 'Montero'. Was this move by Lil Nas X a publicity stunt, a cry for attention or ultimately a publicity stunt? As Sillah, Toren & Ray debate whether it is evident that the artist worships the devil or if the whole thing was an example of extreme trolling. Secondly, Sillah poses the question, do women lead with emotion? & if so does that impact their ability to be leaders, focusing on examples like Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May who both were deemed 'tough' and 'emotionless', when it comes to women being world leaders are they often over-scrutinised and painted to be villains or on the other hand deemed weak? Finally, are men of today losing their masculinity and becoming soft. As we take a look at the changes in the working-class man and what has contributed to these changes. Should things like construction and DIY be taught in schools or at least made an option or has technology men that masculinity has transformed over time? As it is true that the modern man will always change and develop with societal changes.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 65, Sillah, Toren and Ray take a trip down memory lane as they go through moments they've fallen off and ways to sustain a wave throughout a motive. The conversation then moves onto taking a look at previous carnivals as the trio are hopeful for Summer 2021 discussing how likely it will be that Notting Hill Carnival will run this year, as well as plans for the summer including a bike ride to Southend.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 64 Ray, Sillah & Toren invite Millz on for another interesting and thought-provoking conversation for the second week running. The episode begins by discussing guilt in the black community and why when black people become successful or financially well off they are put in a position where they feel they have to give back to everyone in the community, which is sometimes to their detriment. Is it right to feel that you owe everyone that was a part of your journey once you reach a certain tax bracket? Does not knowing how to deal with money or not being prepared in how to deal with big money play a significant part? The guys then move on to discussing healthy habits that contribute to improving time management and financial literacy including saving before you spend, paying yourself when you get paid and making sure to pay your future self, plus using calendars and to-do boards. Finally, was Jay-Z selling tidal after 7 years of owning the streaming platform a shady move and a slap in the face to black consumers? The lads debate the timeline's opinions on Jay-Z selling majority shares in tidal and how it may be deemed selling out, considering that it was marketed as a black-owned business putting more money into the pockets of black artists, just to be sold on after a few years. But at the end of the day business is business right?To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 63, Ray brings on frequent guest Millz, who has just dropped his debut mixtape titled 'Fly Straight Szn'. The lads sit down with Millz and discuss what it is like making a musical project from beginning to end and what it takes to remain committed, as Millz explains that the mixtape was years in the making with the earliest song on the project having been made in 2019. The cast also explores Millz musical inspirations and the concept behind 'Fly Straight', detailing how the tape reflects upon his life trials and tribulations, as well as lifestyle. The conversation then moves on to discussing dating standards and knowing your worth as the controversial Kevin Samuels is bought up, who has recently gained a massive online following due to his raw takes and honest opinions when it comes to giving dating advice on his show. With Ray, Sillah & Millz being regular watchers of Kevin Samuel's content, they break down to Toren what his content entails and how ultimately women are mainly to blame for ruining the 'game' we call dating, due to unreasonable standards and expectations they place on men who may or may not be right for them. Finally, a look at mental health in the ends, specifically how growing up in inner-city areas can involve seeing and experiencing a lot of things that many outsiders would consider abnormal and which can later contribute to trauma and other psychological issues. Is therapy as accessible to inner-city youth as it is to other demographics? Ultimately, a well-rounded episode.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For episode 62, Sillah & Toren take a look at the origins of gang culture, specifically the history behind the bloods and the crips and how over decades they've influenced and birthed other sets and gang culture overseas including within the U.K., with bandana flagging having been a recent trend in music videos by the likes of Digga D and Dezzie, as well as other European countries. Is Bandana flagging that is based off of blood and crip culture outside of America cliche? Or is it just a case of gang and music culture being passed down and crossing borders? The conversation then moves on to a debate on who we could consider the most talented musicians 25 and under, with Juice Wrld, Lil Uzi Vert and Dave receiving mentions. Additional discussions include, is Aaliyah an R&B pioneer and trendsetter, would you consider Drake & Lil Wayne generational talents & with Ghetts recently landing No.2 with Conflict of Interest, which albums out of the U.K. over the last year have actually been no.1 worthy material.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For episode 61, a celebration of Sillah's Birthday, the Cold Drinks trio delve into Music and Movies. The episode begins with Sillah, Toren & Ray discussing which five albums they would purchase vinyl copies of, cementing them as their favourite musical projects of all time, with the mention of Lauryn Hill's Miseducation, Tupac's All Eyez On Me and Big L's Lifestylez Ov Da Poor & Dangerous. This then moves onto a conversation about favourite movie trilogies including the Matrix, Godfather and Bad Boys 3. What are some of your favourite movie trilogies? The conversation then diverges back into music with a discussion on Chris Brown and whether he will be considered a legend when it's all said and done. Arguably does Chris Brown have any classic albums, or is he more of a legendary entertainer and hit-maker? The conversation finishes with the trio discussing flawless albums and what contributes to a musical project being given this label.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For the landmark episode 60, Ray, Sillah & Toren deliver the usual laughs, entertainment and thought-provoking conversation. The episode begins with the lads discussing London and which side of the city takes the title when it comes to the most attractive women, this then moves onto a conversation surrounding celebrating pagan holidays and birthdays and specifically why Sillah usually chooses not to. Do any of our listeners have playlists that are catered for when its time to get jiggy in the bedroom? The lads discuss what genres usually act as background music for them. Other conversations including Auto Durk Vs No-Auto Durk & Long Hair vs Short Hair on black men. The episode finishes off on a banterous high, discussing successful and unsuccessful job interviews that each of the trio have had, and how discussing your ventures and content creation can act as a selling point. A final question is, who is the most transparent on the podcast? We'll let the listeners decide.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 59 the Cold Drinks trio are back after two episodes without Ray & Sillah. A substantial range of topics is discussed in this episode, starting with the debate of what is more difficult, making money or attracting and getting women as a man. This then moves onto a conversation around paying for your girlfriend's rent if you could afford it and what is a suitable minimum spend on valentines day for someone that is not your partner but that you are exclusively dating. After a good time spent on relationship-centred topics, Toren, Ray & Sillah delve into some of the dark dreams that they've had recently and what may be the cause of them, as well as a look at some of their experiences of Deja Vu. Finally, the episode ends on a sports focus, with everyone debating their top 3 sporting icons of this generation, Ronaldo, Messi, Usain Bolt, Lewis Hamilton, Serena Williams & Floyd Mayweather are amongst the names contested.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For the first time ever, it's only two people in the hot seat! Toren brings in guest Antoinette of Prime Melanin for an impromptu episode focused on life post-university and soul mates. The episode begins with Toren detailing his journey now that he has graduated and how patience is key once you have left university and seeking a graduate job or any form of employment. This is especially considering that the majority of 2020 was spent in a pandemic. This leads onto advice being given for recent graduates, including niche sites and platforms where graduate jobs can be found and how to make the best of your network and final year. Finally, do soul mates exist? An interesting conversation is had on whether you can ever know if someone is truly your soulmate and what type of things or traits existing in someone else can clarify this.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 57, with No Sillah or Ray for the first time, Toren brings in previous guests and close friends Paul & George of Flex Ents for an episode full of stories and entertainment! The episode begins with Toren giving Paul & George a rundown of last week's episode discussing practical fears, this brings on various stories from all three, involving car breakdowns and parking tickets. The conversation then moves onto an interesting one involving school and the church, and which can be considered a stronger influence on a child's upbringing, with the three debating that School ultimately has a massive influence on lifestyle and friendship circles, whilst the church can have a significant influence on one's moral groundings. Finally, looking back at school, there were a lot of suspicious and crooked characters, a conversation is had on people dating individuals younger than them whilst they are still of school age.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast and follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPodcast

For Episode 56, Toren opens up the floor by asking Ray & Sillah what are their biggest practical fears, with Toren giving being walked in on in a public toilet and returning to where he parked to find his car missing as examples. Ray & Sillah then similarly state their fears as being out with a girl or their partner and getting into an altercation in which they are outnumbered. This then moves onto a conversation about going out with women or your partner in general, discussing the positives and the downsides that come with it. Finally, the conversation finishes off discussing whether apart from the legacy that Dipset and Kanye created, as well as the obvious head of the label Jay Z, did Roc-A-Fella live up to its full potential or could it be deemed a failed project? With the likes of Memphis Bleek and arguably Beanie Sigel not standing the test of time. The boys compare this to Young Money and notably MMG, being headed by Ross, with Toren claiming that MMG and Ross don't get enough credit for running the game from the early to mid 10's consistently with the Self Made Tapes, whilst all artists under the label were at the top of their game, a feat other music groups don't tend to reach.To join in on the conversation use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast & follow us on Twitter at @ColdDrinksPod

For Episode 55, Toren, Sillah & Ray open up the episode with a conversation on fashion & streetwear in the U.K. When considering the two giants Nike & Adidas, is there an actual competition between the two, or over recent years has Nike gone clear of Adidas, potentially operating as a monopoly within the streetwear and leisurewear market? Without the Yeezy brand, do Adidas have a leg to stand on, or are we underestimating their market outside of the U.K.? The boys then move on to discussing Lockdown NO.3 & whether each of them think lockdown is the right or wrong solution to dealing with the new variant of Covid-19. Finally, with what was a draining year in 2020, with 2021 already giving signs of deja vu, Sillah raises the question of whether it is selfish for Black British people, with family and links to where they are originally from to travel back home during a pandemic. Toren alternatively raises the idea of dual citizenship, with now being the best time for people to seek this as an option where possible.To interact with us and join in on the conversation, use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast

For the first episode of the new year, the lads invite on long time friend Razza to discuss a few light-hearted, yet thought-provoking topics. Do women go for men with flaws, intentionally looking to build on and develop them? Or is this a myth? In addition to this, do people believe that social media profiles present an accurate representation of people? Can you gauge someone's personality based off of their Twitter or Instagram Profiles? Toren then poses the question to the guys of "What is your unique selling point when it comes to women taking an interest in you?". After a focus on relationships and dating, for the final third, the conversation moves on to discussing the current title race in the premier league. This year's race is one of the closest in the past decade at this point, with there currently being just 10 points between 1st Place Liverpool & 12th Placed Leeds United.To interact with us and join in the conversation, use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast

After a 2 month hiatus (blame lockdown and all the tiers), the boys are back! The episode begins with a look back on the year, with this being the final episode of 2020. In January, no one could of guessed or imagined what the year would have had in store for everyone, Toren & Ray begin by discussing the changes over the year and how although it's been tough, there were a lot of good things to take from it. Has anyone noticed that music output and how artists create has changed in 2020? With there being no shows and ways for artists to gauge how the fans are receiving their projects in real time, apart from social media, has this allowed for artists to be more experimental and produce more reflective music, or have some artists become too experimental? Finally, Toren, Sillah & Ray take a look at setting goals for the coming year and how doing so this year has helped to track progress and ultimately see the brighter side of what has been a tricky year.Use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast to interact with us!

For Episode 52, Toren & Ray sit down with artists and collaborators of the summer anthem 'Owner' - Keys The Prince, AdeJosh & OluwaJBeats to discuss #EndSars and the rise of Nigerian youth and youth empowerment. The process and story behind 'Owner' is also delved into with all three of the artists explaining their individual takes. Finally, Keys, AdeJosh and OluwaJBeats all detail their musical journeys thus far and what we can expect from them looking into 2021 and beyond.Use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast to interact with us!

For Episode 51, the lads take a walk down memory lane as they have a conversation about organisation and the use of calendars as they got older, this opens up a dialogue about Secondary/High School diary's and whether anyone still has theirs. Of course Sillah being exposed on the timeline is touched on as its found out that he fell for a thirst trap. The mandem have a grilling session claiming that each other are always in girls likes on Instagram. Are women from the U.K. specifically London unfriendly? What would you deem worse or less forgiveable, one off cheating or an affair? Finally, Sillah, Ray & Toren debate at what age they feel they'll be ready to settle down, as well as whether we are ultimately should not be outraged when we attend events and go to nigtclubs that ultimately we know we're not wanted and/or accepted at.Use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast to interact with us!

For the milestone episode 50, Ray, Sillah & Toren discuss the future of driving and whether in years to come people will still require driving licenses, with the prospect of driverless cars set to become a reality. The trio also discuss the latest government restrictions placed on the hospitality sector including restaurants, pubs and bars now having to close at 10pm. Kanye's recent Twitter activity resulted in him both demanding his masters back from Sony and pledging to give back the 50% of Good Music Artists masters that he currently owns, as it is debated whether Kanye is fighting a battle that can be won? Finally, it is currently estimated that the world will deplete its natural resources before the end of the decade. Is the previous statement true or is there a bigger picture?Use the hashtag #ColdDrinksPodcast to interact with us!