This week on Catch Up, in the first of two parts, James and Jordan highlight a few of their absolute favourite rap beefs from this century. The two spend the episode’s first half breaking down the epic beef between Atlanta rappers Gucci Mane and Young Jeezy, and then turn their attention to the short but noteworthy battle between T.I. and Lil Flip over the claim to the title “King of the South”. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone , and is produced by Kyle Fulton . Make sure ...
May 14, 2019•35 min•Ep. 41
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the legacy of one of hip-hop’s most iconic and polarizing figures, Eminem. Following years of disappointing releases, it’s become easy to forget that in the early 2000’s Eminem was not only the most critically and commercially acclaimed rapper working, but was also considered by many to be one of the best rappers of all time. The two talk about Eminem’s journey from battle rapper to MTV icon, the critical reevaluation of his lyrical content, his la...
May 07, 2019•54 min•Ep. 40
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan do a deep dive on Beyoncé’s already classic concert film and live album, ‘Homecoming’. The two discuss the story behind the historic performance, why Coachella was the right venue, the career-spanning setlist, the select guest performers, and why you don’t have to be part of the BeyHive to appreciate this incredible work of art. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone , and is produced by Kyle Fulton . Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instag...
Apr 30, 2019•59 min•Ep. 39
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan do a deep dive on one this era’s most talented young artists, Lil Uzi Vert. The two discuss Uzi’s early career in Philadelphia, his breakthrough ‘Luv is Rage’, his outstanding mixtape ‘Lil Uzi Vert vs. the World’, his collaborations with artists like Migos, Playboi Carti, and Travis Scott, and what to expect from his long-delayed sophomore album ‘Eternal Atake’. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone , and is produced by Kyle Fulton . Make...
Apr 23, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 38
This week on Catch Up, inspired by the wild success of Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’, James and Jordan investigate the “yeehaw agenda” and look back on the history of “country-rap”. The two discuss the ‘Old Town Road’ Billboard controversy, and then dive deep on country-rap canon, including notable songs from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Nelly, Bubba Sparxxx, Outkast, Young Thug, and more. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone , and is produced by Kyle Fulton . Make sure to follow Catch...
Apr 16, 2019•36 min•Ep. 37
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan pay tribute to the legendary rapper, entrepreneur and community activist Nipsey Hussle, who tragically passed away last week. The two discuss Nipsey’s innovative career, his work with artists like Rick Ross, YG and Kendrick Lamar, and the collective grief in the hip-hop community following his murder. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone , and is produced by Kyle Fulton . Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram , and feel free to get i...
Apr 09, 2019•42 min•Ep. 36
This week on Catch Up James and Jordan answer more of your questions including: Who’s the most exciting Toronto artist right now? What is Jay Electronica’s legacy? Who’s a big rapper you could never get into? and many more. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone , and is produced by Kyle Fulton . Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram , and feel free to get in touch with us at catchuppodTO@gmail.com ....
Apr 02, 2019•27 min•Ep. 35
This week on Catch Up James and Jordan answer listener mailbag questions including: What’s the deal with Russ? Who’s had the best career rebrand? What’s the next big trend in rap? and many more. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone , and is produced by Kyle Fulton . Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram , and feel free to get in touch with us at catchuppodTO@gmail.com ....
Mar 26, 2019•41 min•Ep. 34
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss one of the more influential, but also underappreciated artists of this century, T-Pain. The two talk about the origins of auto-tune, T-pain’s legacy as a pioneering user of the technology, his impressive track record as a featured artist, his overt influence on artists like Kanye West, Future, and Young Thug, and finally, his latest studio album ‘1UP’. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone , and is produced by Kyle Fulton . Make s...
Mar 19, 2019•42 min•Ep. 33
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss one of this generation’s greatest musical talents, Solange Knowles. The two trace Solange’s career starting with her early days in the music business, her artistic breakthrough ‘True’, her masterpiece ‘A Seat at the Table’, and finally her excellent new album ‘When I Get Home’. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone , and is produced by Kyle Fulton . Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram , and feel free to get in touch with us ...
Mar 12, 2019•34 min•Ep. 32
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan look at the abrupt rise and fall of one of the more polarizing musical genres in recent memory, SoundCloud Rap. The two examine the origins of SoundCloud rap, question why so many of the genre’s stars have met tragic ends, and finally spend some time discussing one of SoundCloud rap’s most controversial stars, Lil Pump, whose sophomore album ‘Harverd Dropout’ is out now. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone , and is produced by Kyle Fult...
Mar 05, 2019•39 min•Ep. 31
This week on Catch Up, inspired by Drake’s recent decision to re-release his breakout mixtape ‘So Far Gone’ onto streaming services, James and Jordan point to other classic mixtapes that deserve similar treatment, rather than risk being forgotten in the age of Spotify and Apple Music. The pair advocate for landmark mixtapes like Lil Wayne’s ‘Da Drought 3’, Rick Ross’ ‘Rich Forever’, and Chance the Rapper’s ‘Acid Rap’, among others. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone , and is...
Feb 26, 2019•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 30
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the history and music of one of this decade’s most innovative and consistently excellent hip-hop labels, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE). The pair talk about the label’s early days, how they’re founder Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith discovered and nurtured the label’s young artists during the Black Hippy era, and what makes TDE so special compared to other hip-hop labels. They also breakdown landmark albums from the label’s already legendary catalogue inc...
Feb 19, 2019•40 min•Ep. 29
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss two artists with similar names but very contrasting styles. First, the pair talk about the Bronx’s A Boogie wit da Hoodie, touching on his origins in the New York rap scene, his debt to the late southern rapper Speaker Knockerz, his feud with Lil B, his excellent 2016 EP ‘TBA’, and his extremely disappointing sophomore LP ‘Hoode SZN’. The pair then turn their attention to Compton, California rapper Boogie, tracing his career from his breakout singl...
Feb 12, 2019•37 min•Ep. 28
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan talk about two wildly popular contemporary rappers with very divergent paths; Kodak Black and 21 Savage. The two chat about Kodak Black’s influential early work, his latest record ‘Dying to Live’, and how they approach listening to Kodak’s music considering his history of abusive behavior. The two then discuss 21 Savage's evolution from a talented – but seemingly one-dimensional – rapper, to one of the more compelling artists working in hip hop today; touc...
Feb 01, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 27
This week on Catch Up its the first annual 'Catch Up Rookie Draft', where James and Jordan highlight the hip hop artists they feel are most likely to breakout big in 2019. The two discuss their hopes and dreams for artists like City Girls, Blue Face, YBN Cordae, YNW Melly, and many more!
Jan 25, 2019•46 min•Ep. 26
On the final Catch Up of the year, James and Jordan run through their top 10 albums of the year followed by their top 10 songs. To listen to our top 10 songs please subscribe to Catch Up's Spotify playlist.
Dec 21, 2018•44 min•Ep. 25
This week on Catch Up James and Jordan celebrate the people and things that made the year in hip hop so great with the inaugural 'Catch Up Awards. Superlatives are handed out for: 'Best Controversy', 'Best Comeback', 'Best New Artist', 'Best Beef', and many more.
Dec 14, 2018•43 min•Ep. 24
This week on Catch Up, we look back on the seminal Young Thug, Rich Home Quan and Birdman' collaborative album 'Rich Gang Tha Tour Pt. 1'. The episode is the second part of a retrospective series where James and Jordan assign "Classic Status" to 10 albums from the 2010's. The two discuss the early career of Rich Homie Quan, Birdman's artistic contributions to the album, and if we'll ever see a 'Tha Tour Pt. 2'. Also referenced: Rich Homie Quan's 'Type of Way' , Cash Out's 'Cashing Out' , Rich Ga...
Nov 23, 2018•34 min•Ep. 23
This week on Catch Up, Jordan and guest host Kyle Fulton discuss the enduring influence of the emo-rap legend Lil Peep, one year after his untimely death. The two discuss Peep's early mixtape days, his rich palette of musical influences, and his excellent posthumous album 'Come Over When You're Sober Part II" Also referenced on this episode: Lil Peep's 'Star Shopping' , Lil Peep's 'White Wine' , Trippie Redd's 'Love Scars' , Lil Peep's 'Benz Truck' , Lil Peep's 'Awful Things' , Lil Peep's 'Sex W...
Nov 16, 2018•45 min•Ep. 22
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss arguably the most influential producer of this decade, Metro Boomin. The two go back to the producer's early days in St. Louis, his legendary collaborations with Future, his ascendance from critical darling to #1 hitmaker, and his latest record 'Not All Heroes Wear Capes'. They also touch on Ty Dolla $ign and Jeremih's new album 'MihTy', and the excellent soundtrack to Jonah Hill's directorial debut 'Mid90s'. Also mentioned in this episode: Future'...
Nov 09, 2018•49 min•Season 1Ep. 21
This week on 'Catch Up', James is joined by a special guest host, renowned Toronto DJ Josephine Cruz (aka jayemkayem). The two discuss how they both got into DJing, how DJing hip hop has evolved since they started, what they look for in a great DJ, early 2000's Hip Hop vs early 2000's R&B, and the current trend of more danceable hip hop. They also chat about two classic sophomore albums they've recently rediscovered: Handsome Boy Modelling School's 'White People', and Wu-Tang Clan's 'Wu-Tang...
Nov 02, 2018•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 20
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the history of the much celebrated Atlanta record label, 'Quality Control Music, and then give their thoughts two of the label's most recent releases: Quavo's lacklustre 'Quavo Huncho' and Lil Yachty's surprisingly solid 'Nuthin' 2 Prove'. Jordan also recounts his recent to trip to a Scott Storch lecture, and James reflect's on De La Soul's timeless debut '3 Feet High and Rising'. Also discussed on this episode: OG Maco's 'U Guessed It ', Fader Cov...
Oct 26, 2018•49 min•Ep. 19
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the increasingly common trend of collaborative mixtapes; looking back on touchstones of the form like Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana's 'I Can't Feel My Face', Kanye West and Jay-Z's 'Watch The Throne', and Drake and Future's 'What A Time To Be Alive'. They also give their thoughts on 'Drip Harder'; a new collaboration from up-and-coming Atlanta stars Lil Baby and Gunna. Also referenced: Juelz Santana and Lil Wayne's 'I Can't Feel My Face ', Lil Wayne'...
Oct 12, 2018•59 min•Ep. 18
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan return from vacation to discuss the career of one of their all time favourite artists, Lil Wayne. The two discuss Weezy’s early days on Cash Money, his unrivaled hot streak in the mid 2000’s, and his long awaited studio album, Tha Carter V. Also discussed on this episode: Juvenille’s ‘Back That Ass Up’ , Lil Wayne’s ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’, Lil Wayne’s ‘Bling Bling ’, Sqad Up , Lil Wayne’s ‘Renegade’ Freestyle , Lil Wayne’s ‘Sportscenter ’, Dj Khaled’s ‘We...
Oct 05, 2018•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 17
This week on Catch Up, Jordan breaks down his experience at the 'Aubrey & the Three Migos' concert (2:20), and then he and James discuss new releases from two of their favourite contemporary artists: Young Thug's 'Slime Language' (16:10) and Travis Scott's 'Astroworld' (29:45). Also referenced: Drake visits a sick fan , Offset arrested in Georgia , Jordan's Travis Scott Interview , Russ at Scotiabank Theatre Drake's 'I'm On One ', Young Thug's Media Snakes, T.I's 'About the Money' , Rich Gan...
Sep 03, 2018•54 min•Ep. 16
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan look back on two of this decade's most influential records: Kendrick Lamar's 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City' and Chief Keef's 'Finally Rich'. The episode is the first part of a retrospective series where the two will assign "Classic Status" to 10 albums from the 2010's. Referenced in this episode: Drake's 'Buried Alive' , Kendrick Lamar's 'Poetic Justice' , Kendrick Lamar's 'M.A.A.D City' , David Drake on Chief Keef , Chief Keef' s '3HUNNA' , Chief Keef Gets Out ...
Aug 17, 2018•46 min•Ep. 15
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan are back to answer more of your mailbag questions. The two weigh in on Spotify and YouTube's recent attempt remove certain controversial artists (0:45), the best albums for very specific situations (7:25), the myth of the 'OVO Sweatshop' (10:05), who represents hip hop's next evolution (14:30), the top five female rappers to watch (18:05). Also referenced in this episode: Meek Mill's 'I'm a Boss' , Beat King's Club God 5 , Golden Turtle vs Pho Tien Thanh ,...
Aug 10, 2018•27 min•Ep. 14
It's a Toronto centric episode of Catch Up, with James and Jordan discussing the Prime Boy's debut album 'Koba World', as well as Jazz Cartier's new LP 'Fleurever'. Also referenced on this episode: Jimmy Johnson's 'Northside ', Undisposable Photo Book , The Remix Project , Jazz Cartier's 'Switch ', Jazz Cartier's 'See You in Hell' , Tory Lanez' 'Diego' . To listen to the music mentioned in this episode subscribe to Catch Up's Spotify Playlist , and please feel free to reach out to us with questi...
Aug 03, 2018•42 min•Ep. 13
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan answer your questions in our first ever mailbag episode! The two discuss which city has the best chance of becoming "the next Atlanta" (1:30), the first rapper they would feel comfortable introducing their future children to (4:50), their first musical obsessions (8:00), and the best forgotten rappers of all time (21:30). Also referenced on this episode: The Swishahouse Freestyles , D12's 'Revelation' , Charles Hamilton's 'Brooklyn Girls ', Fam-Lay's 'Rock...
Jul 27, 2018•37 min•Ep. 12
