Ride Time: The Story about ‘The Star Report’

You’d buy your ticket, run through the empty space where the bars are not teeming with people, get on the ride, and strap in. The attendant would make sure you’re secure. In a COVID-19 world, this scene could play out in any amusement park that still wanted to acknowledge pandemic parameters, masks and sanitizing stations included. But this is just a metaphor for a YouTube show hosted by Troi “Star” Torain that just feels like a rollercoaster ride.

Titled “The Star Report,” after multiple iterations, including “Live and Direct” and “The Star Chamber,” Mr. Torain’s audience has grown steadily across races, ages, and genders because of his command of the microphone. He has mass appeal for a man with just one camera and a point of view, with millions of views.

His reverse psychology, doubletalk, bait and feed tecniques, playful jousting, and suddenly serious as nails attitude, permit this broadcast journalist to be the reigning man of thought across the urban media landscape.

LIKE

Why should you be screaming like a fourteen-year-old girl at a Justin Bieber concert on this ride? At first view or listen, the show seems vulgar, crass, even vile. He sips potent potables and puffs on a cigar. Settle in for a while though, and you’ll be treated to thought-jewels about a wide variety of topics and figures from the Black Lives Matter movement, to reparations for slavery, and sexual liberation to Galileo, King Charles I, King Leopold II, Josh Gibson, Judy Pace, President Donald Trump, and and of course Ayn Rand to name just a few.

At the same time, Mr. Torain addresses the latest hip hop news. There are very few artists he’s not reviewed. From berating Beyoncé for her overexposure in the market, to praising her by saying (without sarcasm) she should replace Aunt Jemima on the box of pancake mix, he’s opined on the twists and turns of the entertainment business.

He has even mulled over the ramifications of the Tory Lanez and Megan Thee Stallion quagmire. In short, Mr. Torain objectively covers the world of celebrity with aplomb.

He is insightful, and demands his co-hosts get the story “right,” which for him means being, above all, objective. In fact, the subtitle for his show is “The Objective Perspective.” Torain is utterly committed to delivering news items of the day with gusto, but presenting ideas with showing “receipts.” Sometimes, it’s just a verbal run down of facts. Other times, he actually shows evidence, printed out, with information to back up his claims.

Mr. Torain even had the foresight to ask for donations years before YouTube offered the Superchat feature. This is like the sharp turn that brings the coaster into an even speedier dip before climbing up again. He now uses Cash App and other streams of revenue, still ahead of the video platform’s own features.

Consistently appearing in Tommy Hilfiger clothing, he challenges the social paradigm within the black community that the designer is racist. Some things have deeper meaning, but when it comes to his clothing, Mr. Torain says, “It’s not that deep.”

Something that was “that deep” was what Mr. Torain did in 2016. He snagged an exclusive interview with artist and activist Ronald Savage. This is key. Mr. Torain allowed Savage to tell his story with honesty and sobering details. Savage alleged that hip hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa sexually violated him as a child. The story picked up some traction with other media outlets, but that’s not why Mr. Torain did it. Like a general commanding troops on a battlefield, he played the whole thing professionally, and directed his questions with care and concern. He showed sincerity and empathy in the midst of a serious and vulnerable discussion.

SUBSCRIBE

Should you subscribe to Mr. Torain’s channel because of herd mentality or collectivism? No. Mr. Torain wants only free thinking, active minds to engage in his show. He makes the effort to talk about rapper and social engineer Joe Budden, and presidential nominee Joe Biden, and speaks with intelligence about both men. Additionally, he has great data on his female audience, which is not only growing, but watching the show more frequently, too. Mr. Torain respects the ladies, and allows his female co-hosts to take over the microphone through calling into the show. Also, Mr. Torain allows callers of any sexual orientation and identity to call in and express themselves.

There are a host of regulars too. Craig, who has cerebral palsy, Houston, a rapper from (you guessed it) Houston, Texas, and Bob the Cop who’s an old buddy of Mr. Torain’s are among the many “regulars” who regularly share their joys and frustrations on-air. Also, “Dana with the Data” is a regular feature of the show. His primary current female host is “Ruger Ronnie.” She is a sharp young lady who compliments the unfiltered, unadulterated flow coming from Mr. Torain.

I implore people to subscribe, if not for any other reason than Mr. Torain resists going viral. In the past, rebroadcasts like the aforementioned Bambaataa story have been featured in multiple online journals. His subscribers are degree-holders and homeowners, make a decent living, and yet trolls still prey upon the show. What makes Mr. Torain different from most YouTube broadcasters is he “has time for the dumb shit.” He actually invites trolls to attempt to derail the coaster. He never fails to keep the ride on the rails, and launches insults right back at them.

Subscribing to his channel is well worth the ticket (especially since it’s “fee” based) because he’s always working. He reminds his audience that completing a show involves no “play-time.” He treats his show like an occupation, as he should. His subscribers can expect him to relate stories with a combination of caustic wit and a somber idealism, all wrapped into one.

SHARE

The show is worth sharing, like a viral meme on Facebook, because Mr. Torain assures his audience he will present excellence throughout the entire show. What he continues to do is present an unbiased, unvarnished viewpoint. There’s no intro or outro music. It’s the camera, a microphone, and a man of ideas. He handles every topic with the “style of no style,” substance, and insight. As straightforward as he is, he keeps things exciting. In between the big names, he asks viewers to call-in and talk about topics like “Tips for Raising a Gay Child,” “Are You Hiding a Dark Secret?” and “Do You Regret Getting Married?”

There’s a subtext running underneath each of his broadcasts though: that hip hop, and celebrity at large currently represent a kind of vapid madness. Mr. Torain critiques the perverse attitude, mocking style, and toxic worldview of the typical hip-hop icon, and says they should not be glorified because they’re just as likely to go against their supposed ‘principles’ and ‘morals’ for a deal done on a Thursday night.

So grab your remote, tablet, phone, or sit in front of your laptop or desktop and tune into this YouTube channel. Pop some popcorn and fix a beverage. It’s like putting your hands up in the air and taking that roller coaster ride, but without worrying about spilling your drink!