A new clip from My Expert Opinion Episode 13 delivers one of the show’s most passionate debates yet, as Kim Osorio, Math Hoffa, and Uncle Seth break down Robert Greene’s bestselling power playbooks, including The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of War, and The Art of Seduction. What starts as a discussion on influence quickly turns into a philosophical tug-of-war over morality, manipulation, and how much control a person should use to get ahead.
Kim Osorio pushes back hard against the idea of using strategic deception to achieve power, calling the mindset behind the books morally dangerous. Math Hoffa argues the opposite, insisting the texts are simply historical strategy, no different from studying old war generals or political leaders. He references laws like Never Outshine the Master and Preach Difference, Change Nothing, explaining that the greatest power players from 50 Cent to Barack Obama have applied Greene’s teachings in real time. Hoffa even admits that he once used a tactic from The Art of Seduction to win over the mother of his child, proving just how literally some people take Greene’s instructions.
Osorio’s stance becomes more layered when she reveals that her own first book deal only happened because of a lawsuit she filed in 2005. After years of being ignored by publishers, the lawsuit sparked headlines and suddenly multiple companies were competing for her book. Without intending to, she had used media leverage, the same kind of strategy Greene writes about, to force the industry to take her seriously. The irony isn’t lost on her.
The conversation turns to hip-hop’s complicated relationship with The 48 Laws of Power. The book has been referenced in countless lyrics and interviews, often by artists who never actually read it, turning Greene’s writing into cultural mythology. Math points out that many figures in rap have unknowingly followed the laws to perfection, while Osorio argues that the culture often weaponizes these ideas without understanding their full context. Both agree that hip-hop has a habit of amplifying concepts before fully digesting them.
The debate highlights a larger question: Are Greene’s books teaching people how to manipulate others, or simply exposing the strategies powerful people already use? For some, the texts offer a survival guide in competitive environments. For others, they encourage a mindset built on control, fear, and dominance, a mentality that mirrors dictators more than leaders.
Before the clip ends, Osorio shifts attention to her next chapter, literally. She announces her upcoming book, The People Versus Hip Hop, scheduled for release in September 2026. The project examines how the criminal justice system has targeted hip-hop for decades, framing artists and fans as criminals simply for being part of the culture. Her focus is no longer on power games but on revealing the systems that police and punish hip-hop communities.
The conversation proves one thing: whether you embrace Robert Greene or reject him completely, his books remain permanently embedded in hip-hop’s DNA. Some use them to win. Some use them to warn. But everyone has to decide exactly how far they’re willing to go in the name of strategy, success, and survival.
