Great talk this week with rapper Chip Fu of Fu-Schnickens. The Fu were a groundbreaking act in many regards, and we talk through their history, their unique rap style, and yes, the Shaq connection. Chip is a great storyteller, taking us back to the golden era, inside Battery Studios, when some of the greatest music ever was being produced by him, his peers, and his label mates. We also talk about the recent Verzuz battle and propose a few intriguing matchups. brought to you by Stony Island Audio...
Oct 28, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 192
Where we're from, in the Bay Area of California, DJ culture is ingrained in our experience of hip-hop. Legend has it that sometime in the ate 90's, turntables began to outsell guitars. I've never been able to see any kind of documentation on that apocryphal stat, but if it's true then a lot of those turntables must have been sold in a 50-mile radius from San Francisco. We grew up seeing DJs at school, talent shows, battle, house parties, basically everywhere. When the so-called Turntablism era p...
Oct 21, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 191
What makes a song an underground anthem? Is it more important to have an iconic beat that soundtracked a generation? Is a big, hooky chorus the most important thing? Perhaps lyrics with inspiring levels of wordplay. We discuss all that and more, name some of our personal picks, and then turn our attention to Time's Up, the signature track and underground anthem from our guest this week, the legendary rapper O.C. The DITC member has released over 20 albums full of knotty lyrics and street wisdom ...
Oct 14, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 190
This week we are joined by prolific rapper, producer, writer and podcaster Blueprint. Print is a foundational figure in the independent rap world, from his work in groups Soul Position and Greenhouse to his vast solo catalog. He has also written multiple books and hosts the phenomenal podcast Super Duty Tough Work right here on Stony Island. SDTW is a forum for Print and frequent collaborator Illogic to dispense advice about art making, marketing, social media, longevity, creativity, and much mo...
Oct 07, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 189
Hey everybody. Today we have a quick mini-episode wrapping up our recent trip to Boise, Idaho for the Treefort Music Fest. We talk about some of the acts we saw and our general impressions of the overall experience of traveling given current circumstances and more. We also have a brief interview with Treefort publicist Marissa Lovell, who describes some of the hard work that goes into planning, booking, and making a music festival come to life. Brought to you by Stony Island Audio.
Oct 04, 2021•39 min
We recently had the pleasure of attending the Treefort Music Festival in Boise, Idaho, an annual event bringing an eclectic musical lineup as well as discussions, food, beer, and much more. We had a great time at the fest and one of the highlights was getting to have a conversation with Open Mike Eagle and Video Dave. Mike owns our podcast network Stony Island and we have interviewed him several times before, but he is truly one of the most practiced and engaging podcast guests on the planet. Th...
Sep 30, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 188
This week we bring you an extravagangsta, our attempt to reckon with the complicated legacy of one of hip-hop's greatest collectives, N.W.A. It is impossible to tell the story of rap music without talking about the controversies, personalities, and most importantly, the music of N.W.A. In the first segment we view their music through a contemporary lens, parsing what works, what doesn't, highlighting favorite tracks, and discussing the group and its members, some of the most important figures, b...
Sep 16, 2021•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 187
Yoooo. This week we have a quick segment talking about some new music then a great chat with the prolific rapper Blu. We interviewed Blu and frequent collaborator Exile last year about their excellent jazz-influenced album Miles. This week he's back to discuss several new projects and his overall approach to how me makes and presents his music. Beats this week were submitted by Darko The Super and we appreciate the contribution. DBRP is a palm tree slightly inland on Stony Island Audio, bending ...
Sep 09, 2021•47 min•Ep. 186
If you've been a hip-hop fan long enough, you've been to a few wack shows. Maybe it was too many dudes on stage. Maybe the artist was beefing with the sound man. Maybe someone was rapping over their own vocals. Maybe somebody got too drunk. It happens. However, with the right perspective, you don't have to let it ruin your night. Our three hosts recall less-than-stellar shows as both fans and performers in the first segment. Next up we have an interview with Karim aka Nightclubber Lang and Destr...
Sep 02, 2021•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 185
This week our attention turns to record stores, record collecting, and the art of the come-up. Dave, Demone & Nate share a few digging stories, talk about the state of the record collecting game, and discuss the limits of sample snitching in hip-hop media. After that we have a lovely chat with consummate b-boy, gifted producer and recording artist DJ Format. We have been fans of Format's records and mixes for many years, so we are pleased to welcome him to the show to talk about his career, ...
Aug 26, 2021•1 hr 19 min•Ep. 184
What is the rap album of the summer? We share our picks as well as some listener feedback sourced from Twitter. That conversation inevitably leads to a deeper examination of the seasonality of music and how we decide when to listen to certain albums. Then we have a great talk with MC The Last Emperor. Perhaps best known for his underground classic cut "Secret Wars" where he imagines a battle between hip-hop stalwarts (who he impersonates, some of the impressions are spot on) and Marvel comic her...
Aug 19, 2021•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 183
This week we're chatting about new records from Isaiah Rashad, Nas, and past DBRP guests Homeboy Sandman and Pink Siifu that have been released recently. Next up we have a great interview with duo Tanya Morgan. Donwill and Von Pea are veterans of the underground rap scene with an impressive discography of work together as a group and as solo artists. We get into all of that here, with an emphasis on their most recent LP Don & Von which drops Friday August 13th. DBRP is a proud part of the St...
Aug 12, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 182
This week we have a conversation with Declaime aka Dudley Perkins. This Oxnard-born MC recently released an album of his early collaborative tracks with the great producer Madlib. As Dudley Perkins, he also has a full career as a self-taught singer over very funky production. He is currently focusing a lot of his effort on building up the artists on his label, and we get into all of this and more. DBRP is a proud part of the Stony Island Audio podcast network.
Aug 05, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 181
This week we are touching on the subject of gentrification as it relates to rap music and specifically a few recent albums that directly discuss displacement. We are big fans of Skyzoo's most recent release All The Beautiful Things, which describes the changing nature of a Brooklyn neighborhood in vivid detail. Skyzoo possesses one of hip-hop's most gifted pens, and he joins us this week to talk about the layers of his writing, how he put together such a cohesive album, and some of the hallmarks...
Jul 29, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 180
Bonus episode! We spoke with Joseph Patel, the producer of the must-see film Summer of Soul! SoS is a ray of sunshine filled with incredible performances of Soul, Jazz, Latin music, Gospel, and so much more. People are already calling it one of the best concert films ever made. Joseph and Director Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson bring a hip-hop energy to the pacing and editing of this important historical document about a series of amazing concerts in the summer of 1969. Tune in to hear about the lon...
Jul 26, 2021•45 min
Once again we find ourselves mourning one of our heroes. This is the first episode we've recorded since hip-hop icon Biz Markie passed away over the weekend. Biz's music and presence is extremely important to us and we will deeply miss his presence here on Earth. RIP Marcel "Biz Markie" Hall, a unique, funny, and deeply funky person who brought entertainment to so many. Next up we have a great interview with Kurupt. We talk about Death Row, the Dogg Pound, SOS Band, his best known work, his cann...
Jul 22, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 179
Hip-hop compilations are vital vehicles for helping audiences understand far-flung scenes and sub-genres. There is a feeling among our hosts that there are not as many well-curated compilations as there used to be. Enter this week's guest, radio host, TV presenter and all around hip-hop head Peter Rosenberg. Real Late, a compilation executive produced by Rosenberg, was released earlier this year and features a lot of great rappers from several different eras of gritty street rap. Rosenberg joins...
Jul 15, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 178
We are honored to be joined this week by a true legend in hip-hop, the gracious and gregarious DMC. As part of the pioneering rap group Run-DMC, he traveled the world, made era-defining hit records, and brought hip-hop to the masses. Now we are so pleased that DMC had some time to sit down and talk to us about the legacy of super producer Larry Smith, the lasting power of Christmas in Hollis, the story behind the anthem Sucka MCs, and so much more. This is one of the best and most rewarding inte...
Jul 08, 2021•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 177
This week we have two great interviews for you. First up we check in with our friend Jeff Weiss about his writing, his stewardship of the blog Passion of the Weiss and The Land Magazine, and his role as label head for the influential indie label POW Recordings. Jeff is funny, self-effacing, and deeply insightful about music and culture and a pleasure to talk to. Next up we have an interview with East Cleveland rapper Kipp Stone. His EP Faygo Baby is one building block of what we are predicting w...
Jul 01, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 176
With heavy hearts we gather today to memorialize a truly great MC, Gift of Gab of Blackalicious. We are massive fans of this tongue-twisting and insightful rapper, and we are deeply sorry for his recent passing. We are here to remember Timothy Parker's artistry, charisma, and immense skill as a lyricist and to pay tribute by sharing some memories of his presence. His music had an immense impact on all of us and we will continue to try and help spread the word about his larger-than-life mic prese...
Jun 27, 2021•54 min
Hard to believe, but this year is halfway over. There have been some great underground rap records released and our three hosts discuss the best of what we have listened to thus far. Then we have an interview with rapper Psalm One about her influences, writing style, and much much more. Psalm first turned heads with her excellent debut, The Death of Frequent Flyer, primarily produced by friend of the program DJ Albert Jenkins, formerly known as Overflo, and has continued to release music, videos...
Jun 24, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 175
This week we are joined at the roundtable by our friend King Most. He recently released The Triangle, a collaborative EP with rapper Siddiq and DJ Spiñorita. He has also worked with rapper Jay Worthy and hosts DJ culture podcast Opening Set but is perhaps best known for his creative dance floor-focused DJ edits and remixes. Next up we have a great interview with Esoteric, longtime MC and hip-hop obsessive. Familiar to many fans from the underground duo 7L & Esoteric, more recently he has col...
Jun 17, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 174
This week we have an interview with Chicago's Defcee, a deeply lyrical MC who just released a project with prolific producer August Fanon called We Dressed the City with Our Names. Defcee is a student of hip-hop culture, an educator, as well as a poetic rapper who puts a lot of care into his rhymes and we really enjoyed talking with him. In the opening segment our three hosts break down album of the year contender Pray For Haiti from Mach-Hommy. We also discuss some of our favorite rappers from ...
Jun 10, 2021•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 173
We are joined this week by Masta Ace, a veteran MC and gifted storyteller. We touch on The Juice Crew's legacy, his experience working with MF DOOM, and his predilection for writing concept albums. Our hosts also discuss their favorite hip-hop posse cuts and take listener feedback on the question of the week, which hip-hop crew had the most memorable military imagery. DBRP is a proud part of the Stony Island Audio podcast network.
Jun 03, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 172
Aceyalone's masterpiece A Book Of Human Language is a special record and we are excited to analyze its music, lyrics, and impact this week alongside an in-depth interview with the album's producer, the extremely talented Mumbles. Even the biggest fans of this epic underground concept album will glean new information about its making from Mumbles. Our three hosts also reflect on their personal experiences reading from the Book of Human Language and break down key tracks. DBRP is a proud part of t...
May 27, 2021•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 171
Edo. G is a hip-hop survivor, a great example of an artist who has been active for over 30 years. From his 1991 debut Life of a Kid In The Ghetto with hits like I Got To Have It and Be A Father To Your Child to the new album with MC/producer Insight titled Innovates, Edo. has been a constant presence in the hip-hop ecosystem. Here he discusses all of that and more with our three hosts. We also talk about what qualities an artist needs to have to maintain longevity in this volatile game. DBRP is ...
May 20, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 170
What's a rap line that made you literally laugh out loud? That's our question of the week. We also have a conversation with the hilarious and skilled Detroit rapper Bruiser Wolf. His debut album Dope Game Stupid is one of our favorite releases of the year so far and a major statement from Danny Brown's Bruiser Brigade crew. Please be advised that the sound on the interview is a little shaky, we were dealing with some connectivity issues but feel that the content is worthwhile regardless. DBRP is...
May 13, 2021•48 min•Ep. 169
This week we speak with one of the most intriguing and productive artists in contemporary hip-hop, the enigmatic Pink Siifu. Whether rapping, producing, singing, or leading his ripping punk band, Siifu is always making high level, interesting and at times challenging music. Here he joins us to discuss his influences, his post-quarantine plans, and his various projects including the recently dropped Negro Deluxe. At the top of the show the fellas discuss the legacy of the dearly departed Shock G ...
May 06, 2021•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 168
This week we have a great conversation with hip-hop producer RJD2. We discuss his influences, his musical journey and his time on influential underground hip-hop label Def Jux. RJ is an extremely nice guy, very easy to talk to, and was generous with his time, even taking a moment to talk about some of the analog synths in his studio. DBRP is a proud part of the Stony Island Audio podcast network.
Apr 29, 2021•1 hr 11 min
This week we have an amazing interview with Vast Aire, one half of the legendary underground hip-hop duo Cannibal Ox. The 20th anniversary of the Ox's epochal album The Cold Vein is fast approaching. We linked with Vast while he was in the recording studio mixing down new music and he shared insights on The Cold Vein, Def Jux, his rhyme partner the brilliant Vordul Mega, and a lot more. It's a good time, tap in and enjoy. DBRP is a proud part of the Stony Island Audio podcast network.
Apr 22, 2021•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 166
