Rapper Waka Flocka Flame and Comedian Desi Banks talk all things Spades in anticipation of their new video podcast “We Playin’ Spades.”

We spoke with rapper Waka Flocka Flame and comedian Desi Banks ahead of the launch of “We Playin’ Spades” this week, September 11th. They are the hosts of Wondery’s new video podcast. Each week, the series puts fans in the spotlight for an ultimate game of spades, with actor and comedian Desi Banks and rapper Waka Flocka Flame challenging their card-playing talents against a variety of famous guest opponents. 

The podcast premieres exclusively on Wondery+ on September 11 and will be accessible on Amazon Music, Wondery’s YouTube channel, and everywhere else podcasts are available beginning September 18. We Playin’ Spades is available ad-free on Amazon Music for Prime members. 

Each week, hosts Desi Banks and Waka Flocka Flame will play the famous and strategic trick-taking card game of spades, with a different celebrity guest joining them, assuring a fascinating and diverse selection of opponents and talks. Playing spades generates a real and free-flowing dialogue in which players share personal tales and opinions that spectators and listeners will not hear or see outside of this room. It’s daring, original, and just amusing commentary that hasn’t been rehearsed. Famous names on the guest list include actor and comedian Jay Pharoah, media mogul Nick Cannon, rapper and actress KaMillion, actor and comedian Lil Rel Howery, and many more. 

The show is intended to resonate with fans wanting both entertainment and true representation of Black culture, since the cultural phenomenon of spades transcends decades and unites members within the Black community. 

Cox: So, Desi and Waka, exactly what age were you both when you learned how to play spades?
Desi: For me, it was when I was about 12 or 13. I watched my parents play it a lot.
Waka: I was in the first or second grade when I learned it.

Cox: Do you both know exactly how many rules there are?
Desi: For this show, I let Waka be the rules person. He’s a little more advanced than me.
Waka: We have the basic rules. You know Ace, King, and Queen. No talking across the board. But if we wanted to, we could do “Big” Joker, “Little” Joker, and Joker. Joker Deuce Deuce, but then everybody would get confused.
Desi: We keep it simple.  

Cox: Do you do Boston’s too?
Waka: Of course, but we do the best of three games. So, whoever wins two out of three wins the game.
 
Cox: Okay, usually the game is played with at least four people. What’s the most people you’ve ever seen play?
Waka: The most people I’ve seen play a game are five.
 
Cox: When it comes to playing spades, are you the serious type, or is it just a game to me?
Desi: For me, you shouldn’t play if you don’t know how to play. I’m very competitive. I still play for fun or whatever, but when it comes to the game, if you don’t know how to play it, it highly upsets me.

Cox: Who would you want on your team when it comes to a family member or friend? Someone you know will help you win.
Desi: My mama or grandma They are really serious. When I told them I was doing this show, they said I didn’t know how to play it and they would beat me at it.
Waka: I would want my two older brothers. I know I’m going to win because we all play the same.

Cox: On a scale from 1 to 10, how bad is it if your parents renege?
Desi: Oh boy, that will make people flip a table if they do that.
Cox: Desi, have you ever flipped over a table?
Desi: Hell yeah, I’d flip over this table. I’ve ripped the cards up. I get mad, especially when they start messing up and they are laughing.

Cox: Do you think someone’s black card has to be revoked if they don’t know how to play spades?
Desi and Waka: Yeah, you gotta go (saying and laughing simultaneously).

Cox: Why is it that when someone doesn’t know how to play spades, you never want to teach them? You usually yell out, so you don’t know how to play?
Desi: I feel like you should know how to play if you step up to the table. And I don’t have the time to teach you because I’m trying to win.

Cox: We know this game can get intense. Do one of you have a story you can share about where it got the most intense?
Desi: Probably when I was a kid and I just came back from the store. I tried to step in and play with the family, even though they knew I didn’t know how to play. But they allowed me, and I was terrible. I was nervous, looking at everyone around the table looking at me to throw my card out first. At that time, I didn’t know what to throw out, so I threw out a spade. I will say that it got ridiculous after that. It was so terrible that they told me to get my butt away from the table.

Waka: For me, it was with my grandma. It was about two years ago, and she was playing at my brother’s house. She was playing for change. That’s how she gets down. My brother was about to grab the books, and my grandma said, Hold on, there’s money on these books. I have it recorded too. And she will stop talking to you too. She holds a grudge. You know how grandmas do it.

Cox: Okay, so do you trust the scores, or do you make sure the person recounts everything?
Waka: I don’t trust the scores when I’m losing, but when I’m winning, I do. Honestly, I’m checking after every second to fourth hand. My brothers are always cheating, so they can never score. They don’t even let me take the score because they are so busy cheating that they think I’m going to cheat.
Desi: Once I put my cards down, I’m taking a score of my books.

Cox: What was the most number of spades you have played in one sitting?
Waka: We played 500, and that lasted for about four hours.

Cox: Last question: if your teammate causes you to lose, are they invited back to be your partner again?
Desi: They get suspended for about a month and have to go back and practice.