Tyler The Creator Still Thinks Most Podcasts Are “Gross”

Tyler, the Creator isn’t backing down from his belief that most people shouldn’t have podcast microphones.

In a June 20 interview with The Cut, the rapper-turned-media critic argued that too many unqualified voices are gaining influence, diluting meaningful discourse in favor of loud, empty opinions.

“We give microphones to people who aren’t smart and just want attention,” he said. “They’re loud and wrong, and other stupid people follow them.”

He questioned why skilled voices—like teachers, electricians, or musicians—aren’t given the same platforms. His frustration isn’t new. Last year, in a Billboard cover story, he joked that if he were president, his first act would be to confiscate podcast mics.

Despite the criticism, Tyler isn’t anti-podcast. He singled out two shows he respects: Deante Kyle’s Grits & Eggs Podcast and Recho Omondi’s The Cutting Room Floor. Omondi, who also interviewed Tyler during Instagram’s “Ask It Anyway” series this month, offers the kind of thoughtful commentary he finds rare in the podcast space.

“Everybody with a mic is crazy,” Tyler said, “but those two aren’t.”

He compared podcasting’s rise to the democratization of music—where barriers to entry are low, and anyone can start a show with minimal resources. While this opens the door to fresh, unheard perspectives, it also floods the internet with takes no one asked for. That oversaturation, he argues, blurs the line between insight and noise.

Tyler The Creator’s stance speaks to a broader tension in digital culture: accessibility versus expertise. The internet has given everyone a voice, but not every voice offers substance.

He isn’t against new media—he’s against mediocrity. His call is simple: If you’ve got the mic, say something worth hearing.