Podcasts

3 Shots of Tequila

by 23 December 2022
3 Shots of Tequila
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What is 3 Shots of Tequila?

3 Shots of Tequila is a podcast hosted by London-based friends Tazer Black and Marvin Abbey (and until February 2024 also Keith Dube).

The pioneering black British podcast started in April 2016 and is said to have inspired a number of others that launched in the years following its inception.

Full 3 Shots of Tequila audio episodes were exclusive to Spotify until 2022 when it joined the Acast network (broadening it to Apple and Google Podcasts). Shortened visual content is released soon after on YouTube.

3 Shots of Tequila won ‘Favourite Podcast’ at the 2016 Screen Nation Digital-iS Media Awards and was nominated for ‘Personality of the Year’ at the 2020 GRM Awards.

The podcast is described on its official SoundCloud account as “a fun and light hearted… about any and everything underneath the sun”.

 

3 Shots of Tequila Hosts

The 3 Shots of Tequila hosts are all friends from different boroughs in London. They all have experience in events promotion, have been active gym goers and are very familiar with the London night scene.

 

Tazer Black

Tazer Black (real name Toba Akande) came to prominence thanks to his Faded club nights from 2012, which he promoted with Matt Bridgeman.

Following the launch of 3 Shots of Tequila, Tazer has become more of a personality on YouTube and has featured on a variety of channels and shows, including Champions League of Everything, The Tazer Black Helpline and has launched his own channel featuring Forfeits with Taze.

In 2022 Tazer became a presenter on 1Xtra, co-hosting a weekend show with Sian Anderson.

Tazer is often characterised on the podcast for his way with women and his extensive dating history. He is of Yoruba heritage and is the parent of a daughter.

 

Marvin Abbey

Marvin Abbey (real name Marvin Abegunde) is a personality who was known for co-hosting the OnTop FM On Topic Talkshow with Gabriel Sion from 2015 (taking over from Keith) and as a promoter known for his Lux events since 2016. Marvin also maintained a significant presence on Twitter and Instagram by curating and narrating comedy videos.

Since the launch of the podcast Marvin has appeared on a variety of different platforms and has hosted content on Link Up TV.

Marvin is known for adding humour to the conversations, even when the subject matter may be serious. He is of Yoruba heritage. Marvin has a daughter.

 

Former Hosts

Keith Dube

Keith Dube (known as Mr Exposed) gained his popularity as a blogger in the early-to-mid 2010s and was known for provoking reactions with his Twitter content.

From late 2013 to late 2014 Keith hosted the On Topic Talkshow with Gabriel Sion (Dear Rob TV), before moving to Australia. Upon his return to the UK the trio launched 3 Shots of Tequila.

Since the launch of the podcast Keith briefly hosted the Mornings Unfiltered show on Radar Radio. In 2016 Keith released a book and made a BBC Three documentary entitled Being Black, Going Crazy? based on his experience with depression.

On the podcast Keith is known for sharing many life experiences and insights about a wide range of talking points. Keith was born in Zimbabwe and moved to England as a teenager. He settled in Croydon after living in Middlesborough for two years.

 

3 Shots of Tequila Example Episode

The following is an example episode of 3 Shots of Tequila, featuring Tazer Black, Marvin Abbey and Keith Dube.

 

3 Shots of Tequila Format

3 Shots of Tequila is a free-flow conversation podcast in which the three hosts talk together without a core structure in a room together. The podcast is currently recorded at THE NEW BLXCK studio, which run by Brent Colthurst, who also produces the podcast and others based in the facility. In its earlier days the podcast was recorded at Savage Dan’s Jukebox Studios.

Depending on whether guests are present or if it is just Tazer, Marvin and Keith will depend on if any segments are added to recordings to break things up and give each recording more of a framework.

On some occasions episodes have included:

  • Drinking games
  • Hypothetical questions
  • Phone ins
  • Quizzes

 

Nollywood Clips

On YouTube uploads of the podcast, any time a Nollywood film is referenced within a discussion the clip is included in the video (to provide context to the audience).

 

Dilemmas

A key element of the podcast are its dilemmas, in which the public supply questions about real life situations that they would like the hosts to play agony uncle roles to advise how they should deal with the situation.

 

 

3 Shots of Tequila Topics

3 Shots of Tequila’s primary content is relaxed conversations between friends. As such, discussions tend to drift to discuss a variety of different topics. Many conversations revolve around current affairs in the UK and United States.

A large proportion of the content includes conversations about:

  • Romantic relationships
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Black music
  • Dating
  • Growing up with African parents
  • London nightlife
  • Entertainment industry
  • TV
  • Fitness
  • Daily routines
  • Everyday frustrations
  • Current affairs

 

3 Shots of Tequila Development

In November 2013 Keith Dube co-hosted OnTop FM’s On Topic Talkshow. The opinion-based radio show is centred on real life situations and dilemmas. In 2015 show’s co-host Gabriel Sion (then known as Dear Rob TV) continued the show with Marvin Abbey when Keith left to spend a year in Australia.

Once Keith returned to live in the UK and published a book, he planned to create a podcast. Tazer had YouTube plans and Marvin had just left OnTop FM. The trio decided to work on a collaborative project. After Tazer appeared on one of the first Halfcast Podcast episodes (HC Pod), 3 Shots of Tequila launched later that month in April 2016.

The first recordings were uploaded to SoundCloud and the first episode received nearly 10,000 listens in its first day. Early growth of the podcast can be attributed to the trio’s highly engaged online social media presence and offline network through their own individual endeavours. They had amassed over one million listens by the time they hosted their first live event in November 2016.

In October 2018 3 Shots of Tequila joined BBC Radio 1Xtra’s 1Xtra Chat platform for a series of six hour-long episodes. Other podcasts that went on to feature on 1Xtra Chat include The Receipts, Dope Black Dads and Cut the Chat.

In March 2019 the team announced their exclusive partnership with Spotify. The following month Spotify launched an advertising campaign featuring 3 Shots of Tequila prominently in billboards across London. The podcast would go on to join the Acast network in 2022.

Between May 2020 and April 2021 the team published an offshoot Learn with 3 Shots podcast, commissioned by Spotify. Off the back of this, when Learn with 3 Shots ended, they pivoted towards more frequent guest interview-styled episodes on the main podcast.

 

3 Shots of Tequila Guests

A large proportion of the podcast’s episodes feature guests. This includes both a mixture of people that they know well (before the podcast), industry associates and special guests.

Friends of the Hosts

Many of their trios friends have appeared, including:

  • Yusuf (Meet Us After 7)
  • Gina (Meet Us After 7)
  • Margs (No Behaviour; Filthy @ Five)
  • Castillo
  • Savage Dan (HC Pod; Filthy @ Five)
  • Gracious K (LanceTopics)
  • Miles Fearon (Filthy @ Five)
  • Rich (RS Johnson)
  • Ant
  • MK
  • Seb
  • Disu (Disunomics)
  • Chiso
  • Gerald (G. Diddy)
  • Fred Santana (90s Baby Show)
  • Temi Alchemy (90s Baby Show)
  • VP (90s Baby Show)

 

Special Guests

  • Axel Blake
  • D Double E
  • Kayode Ewumi
  • Nick Singhsahota
  • Tinie
  • Nadia Rose
  • Jack Fowler
  • Josh Denzel
  • Wes Nelson
  • Krept
  • Konan
  • George the Poet
  • Harry Pinero
  • Iman Leila
  • Klayze
  • Trillary Banks
  • Afro B
  • Dutchavelli
  • Michael Ward
  • Big Tobz
  • Fekky
  • Zeze Millz
  • Ola the Comedian
  • Steveo the Madman
  • Faith Fontaine
  • Ariete Santos
  • Hemah K
  • Qoy
  • Ghetts
  • Dane Baptise
  • Graft
  • Lord Simon Woolley
  • Paul Bridges
  • Hoil Boys
  • Donae’o
  • Pass the Meerkat
  • Tom Moutchi
  • Avelino
  • Grace Bakare
  • Maxxi Jay
  • Omotoyosi
  • Major League DJz
  • Matt’s BBQ
  • Medhy Malanda
  • Not3s
  • Chiefer Dcypha
  • Tomi Music
  • Hardy Caprio
  • Matthew Bridgeman
  • Travis Jay
  • Simply Sayo
  • Compozers
  • DJ Cuppy
  • Henrie
  • Bianca Miller
  • Young T & Bugsey
  • PK Humble
  • Ramz
  • White Yardie
  • Jerome Shakespere
  • Rimzee
  • Oxlade
  • Byron Cole
  • Lippy
  • Loons
  • Andy Mensah
  • Lethal Bizzle
  • Adesope
  • Shxts N Gigs Podcast
  • Keith Murray
  • Dwain Chambers
  • Oxide & Neutrino
  • K-Trap
  • Junior Okoli
  • Chas Appeti
  • K Koke
  • Adejah Parrish
  • Reyna Love
  • Eric Pinkett
  • Miasha Coleman
  • Adebayo Akinfenwa
  • Dele Akinfenwa
  • Rotimi
  • Crayon
  • B Simone
  • Megan Ashley

 

3 Shots of Tequila Live Shows

3 Shots of Tequila has been adapted for live shows since its first year in production. This has included two tours of England. In 2017 there was also a 3 Shots of Tequila live show in Barcelona. Their live shows often include group discussions, guests and musical elements.

Find the details of the 3 Shots of Tequila live shows below:

  • November 2016: SINK, London
  • December 2016: SINK, London (hosted by Mo Gilligan)
  • March 2017: Tropicana Beach Club, London
  • April 2017: Sion Cocktail Bar, Birmingham
  • April 2017: Bierkeller Theatre, Bristol
  • May 2017: Bierkeller, Manchester
  • May 2017: 2Funky Music Café, Leicester
  • June 2017: Tropicana Beach Club, London
  • October 2017: Tropicana Beach Club, London
  • June 2019: The Y Theatre, Leicester
  • June 2019: The Glee Club, Birmingham (featuring Margs)
  • June 2019: Gorilla, Manchester
  • June 2019: Anson Rooms, Bristol
  • June 2019: O2 Empire Shepherds Bush, London (hosted by Axel Blake)
  • December 2019: Eventim Apollo, London
  • November 2021: Royal Albert Hall, London (featuring Margs and Savage Dan; performance from Sneakbo)
  • August 2023: IndigO2, London

3 Shots of Tequila Sponsors

3 Shots of Tequila is largely monetised through live shows and content distribution partnerships. They have previously been sponsored for one-off recordings including an EMI Records-funded episode to promote Krept & Konan’s Pour Me Another One single.

 

3 Shots of Tequila Deleted Content

In 2022 most of the 3 Shots of Tequila YouTube content recorded before November 2021 was deleted. This is thought to be a result of their previous deal with Spotify.

Prior to this largescale content removal some episodes and clips of its content had been deleted from YouTube due to comments made by its hosts and/or guests. Tazer Black has spoken about names, stories and phrases being edited out of published episodes due to the potential backlash that guests and/or the podcast may receive.

 

Learn with 3 Shots

In 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 3 Shots of Tequila team launched an offshoot podcast called Learn with 3 Shots. The podcast features the team speaking to a series of associates that are specialists in different fields, including finance, event management, fitness, reselling and more.

Learn with 3 Shots Guests:

  • Ben Anderson
  • Lynette Charles
  • Nathan Redmond
  • Tipz
  • Aliyah
  • Simeon Panda
  • George the Poet
  • Mr Finance iQ
  • Bryon Cole
  • Mr Benjamin
  • Ruby and Christina (VAMP UK)
  • Dapah
  • Isaac Chamberlain
  • Matthew Bridgeman
  • Demi Ariyo
  • King of Trainers
  • Shauni Caballero
  • Nikkita Amina
  • Aron Jarvis
  • Jazz Rose
  • Sol Lovemore
  • Charmaine Hayden
  • Disunomics
  • Dope Boy Packs
  • Victoria Omobuwajo
  • Kelly Upstaged
  • Ella Ensures
  • Adam Mapani
  • Eugine
  • Paragn
  • Debodun Osekita
  • Samie
  • Sarah Drakard
  • Ike Humble
  • Lotanna Ezeike
  • Millenial Money UK
  • Karat K
  • Jay’s Car Sourcing
  • Adrienne
  • Mr Khan
  • Hari Jayaram
  • Daecolm
  • Jvos
  • Kimberley
  • Chiso
  • Yusuff
  • Uptown P

 

3 Shots of Tequila FAQs

Who are the 3 Shots of Tequila members?

Keith Dube, Tazer Black and Marvin Abbey are the original hosts of the 3 Shots of Tequila podcast. The friends are all of African heritage (with Keith spending his childhood in Zimbabwe) who met in London and all have a background in events promotion, entrepreneurialism, fitness and nightlife.

Before the launch of 3 Shots of Tequila both Keith and Marvin were primarily known for hosting the On Topic Talkshow (during different phases) and for creating highly engaged social media content. Tazer was more known for his role in co-founding the Faded club event.live

Since the launch of the podcast they have continued with various personal endeavours, including Tazer Black co-hosting a show on BBC 1Xtra, Keith hosting a BBC documentary and Marvin launching a club promotion.

 

Why did Keith leave 3 Shots of Tequila?

In March 2024 Keith posted on Instagram announcing his departure from 3 Shots of Tequila. After being absent from a series of recordings, Keith stated that the reason he chose not to continue was because he had “fallen out of love with it”. He was clear to mention that he “was not kicked out” and that his absence was nothing to do with any “past, pending or impending scandals”.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Keith Dube (@mrexpsd)

 

When did 3 Shots of Tequila launch?

3 Shots of Tequila launched in April 2016, making it one of the first longstanding black British podcasts. Others that published their first episodes around the same time include HC Pod (then named Halfcast Podcast) launched earlier in the same month (with Tazer Black featuring as one of its first guests) and Meet Us After 7 (then named No Carbs After 7) which launched in January of that year.

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