There are few people who have contributed as much to hip-hop culture and received as little recognition as our guest this week, Breakbeat Lou. He was born in the Bronx, steeped in hip-hop culture from the moment it was created, and eventually went on to develop a record series called Octopus Breaks. That series morphed into the mighty Ultimate Breaks & Beats, a hugely formative series for DJs, Producers, and listeners to familiarize themselves with the canonical breaks, or open drum parts, o...
May 30, 2024•59 min•Ep. 303
This week we are going to the movies... actually we're discussing rap portrayals in the movies, a somewhat fraught subject. We were inspired to think about rap on the silver screen by our guest, Marv Won. Among other accolades, Marv was famously part of the movie 8 Mile. We enjoyed our conversation with this Detroit battle rap mainstay who recently signed with Mello Music Group and has a new album entitled "I'm Fine, Thanks For Asking. " One of the highlights of our chat was Mar's lightning-quic...
May 23, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 302
"you can tell that the East Bay was his home." Spice One doesn't have the wealth and accolades that some of his West Coast contemporaries like E-40, Too Short, and Snoop have, but he has maintained every bit of his respect in the rap game for over 30 years. The Hayward, California rapper came to prominence in the early nineties, pioneering a dark new gangster arch type that is still mimicked today. Tune in to hear him talk about rolling with Tupac, almost being cast in a major motion picture, an...
May 16, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 301
So it's come to this... A Dad Bod Rap Pod mailbag episode. We are celebrating our 300th episode by fielding questions from some people we respect. Show hosts Demone Carter, David Ma and Nate LeBlanc are extremely grateful to have met and interacted with so many talented and cool people over the past few years and we reached out to a few of them to send in some open-ended questions about hip-hop music and culture. Underground rap luminaries such as rappers Open Mike Eagle, Illogic, Rob Sonic, and...
May 09, 2024•2 hr•Ep. 300
Chuck Strangers has been making noise from the Pro Era to the current era. Originally known primarily as a producer, Chuck is also nice on the mic and has released several acclaimed solo albums. Today he joins Dad Bod Rap Pod hosts Demone Carter, David Ma, and Nate LeBlanc to discuss his most recent album, A Forsaken Lover's Plea. It's more fun than it sounds. We discuss his Brooklyn rap Mt. Rushmore, the absurdity of modern vinyl culture, his friendship with underground man of mystery Ka, and t...
Apr 25, 2024•58 min•Ep. 299
Who does't like a good spin-off? Last season we piloted a first of its kind (we think) podcast that deals with the precarious intersection between Rap music and sex/relationships.It's called Talk Like Sex. This week DBRP host DEM ONE and full time producer part time sex therapist Blockhead have a wide ranging conversation about music and the age old question "To Eat Or Not To Eat" They answer questions from fans and relate about their own experiences as men of a certain age. Special guest contri...
Apr 18, 2024•49 min
This week we are taking our talents into the sporting realm. DBRP hosts Nate LeBlanc, Demone Carter and David Ma are joined for an interesting conversation with DJ D-Sharp, a Bay Area stalwart who has new music out now. However, he also has a "day job" as the in-arena DJ for the Golden State Warriors, the best basketball team in the world. We discuss his history as an in-demand tour DJ for many prominent acts including a long stint with one of our favorites, Blackalicious. We enjoyed chatting wi...
Apr 11, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 298
Cavalier is a little bit of a mysterious figure in the modern rap ecosystem. He was raised in Brooklyn, now located in New Orleans, with significant time spent in Oakland along the way. He has worked extensively with DBRP fave Quelle Chris, collaborating on 2023's excellent Black Cottonwood album. We have been wanting to speak to Cav since 2018's Private Stock was released, which we consider to be one of the strongest albums of the modern era. He will have the chance to top that shortly, when hi...
Apr 04, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 297
Now that we've been around for a number of years, we've had the chance to interact with rappers and producers at various stages of their careers. Sometimes we catch people on the ascent, still forging their legacy, and sometimes we speak to legends whose time influencing the culture is likely behind them. And sometimes, we engage with early-career artists right as they begin to level up and make a name for themselves to a wider audience. We have seen this happen with friends of the program like ...
Mar 28, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 296
Dad Bod Rap Pod is experiencing a little bit of redemption this week. A few years ago, right around the time we were starting to interview guests on the show, we had scheduled a chat with a newcomer to the underground rap scene, a cat who rapped equally well in English and Spanish, with an impressive vocabulary and a deft hand with storytelling raps. That dude was Crimeapple, and we were huge fans of his Perfect EP series. We got on the line, but only for a few minutes, when his phone died and w...
Mar 21, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 295
We here at Dad Bod Rap Pod like nothing more than when an established artist takes a big swing, and makes an ambitious record outside of their comfort zone. That is certainly the circumstance that our guests this week find themselves in. For their first collaborative project, entitled Temple Needs Water Village Needs Peace, Memphis rapper Lukah and LA-based producer Real Bad Man have cooked up a compelling exploration of history and myth. The album, out March 29th, with some exclusive snippets d...
Mar 14, 2024•1 hr 40 min
This week's Dad Bod Rap Pod episode revolves around the under-discussed golden era rap group X Clan and contains an insightful interview with the group's leader, Brother J. The Grand Verbalizer is a contemporary of groups like The Jungle Brothers but has had a different career path, as he has balanced music-making with deeply involved community work for decades. In the intro segment DBRP hosts Demone Carter, David Ma and Nate LeBlanc reflect on their fandom of X Clan and Brother J's later projec...
Mar 07, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 293
Many times we have had guests that we consider to be proverbial brothers, but I'm pretty sure this is the first time we have interviewed literal siblings. Of course we're referring to Brooklyn's finest, the production duo of DJ Evil Dee and Mr. Walt, collectively known as Da Beatminerz. This was a great conversation, as the hilarious, gregarious brothers have been involved in so many classic hip-hop moments and releases. We get deep on Soundbombing, Smif N Wessun, the division of labor among the...
Feb 29, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 292
It's quite rare for us to be able to talk to a true pioneer in the rap game, especially one so vital and engaged as the legendary Schoolly D. We were able to get some time with the literal father of gangster rap to talk about his self-drawn album art, his influence on the genre, his work in TV, his diet, and so much more. DBRP hosts David Ma, Nate LeBlanc and Demone Carter have been longtime fans of Schoolly's work and have referenced his seminal tracks (and the Edan song "Schoolly D Knew The Ti...
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 291
Dad Bod Rap Pod is back after our brief winter break. This week we have a great interview with returning guest Bruiser Wolf. Since bursting onto the scene as part of Danny Brown's Bruiser Brigade a few years ago, Wolf has carved out a unique lane for himself with a lilting, melodic flow comprised of off kilter couplets and observational wordplay that can skew either funny, enlightening, or devastating. His last record, Dope Game Stupid, is a cult classic and a favorite of ours, something we ofte...
Feb 15, 2024•54 min•Ep. 290
It's not the heat its the dust.... This is it y'all. Part 2 of the DBRP 50 year-end extravagangsta. The last episode of 2023! This week the bros dissect the Top 25 songs that make up the whole DBRP vibe. Thanks to all those who rocked with us this year. The three bad brothers you know so well are gonna take a break and return February 2024.Cheers! If you like what you hear please like, rate, review, and subscribe on your platform of choice. If you really down with the team please subscribe to ou...
Dec 21, 2023•2 hr 29 min•Ep. 290
With this being the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop and all the bros figured it was time to put together a Top 50 list of some sort. In lieu of talking about the same amazing but over-discussed rap songs/albums they thought it would be cool to list the top 50 songs that make up the DBRP aesthetic. Because 6th years in Dad Bod Rap Pod has become a staple podcast with fans of a certain age and sensibility. This part one of two part jammy jam. Happy 50th to Hip Hop and long live Dad Bod Rap Pod! If you...
Dec 14, 2023•2 hr 20 min•Ep. 288
but when it come to nights like this.... To conclude the 93' Retro series the bros talk about arguably the most perfect rap album of all-time A Tribe Called Quest's Midnight Marauders. Coming off the commercial and artistic triumph that was Low End Theory many wondered if Tribe could raise the bar yet again. Nate, Dave, and DEM talk about their favorite joints from this nocturnal masterpiece. In a year where rap music delivered several classic album Midnight Marauders still stands alone. If you ...
Dec 07, 2023•54 min•Ep. 287
This is a dedication to you wack emcees...... Del's second album, No Need For Alarm, was a departure of sorts from his debut LP, I Wish My Brother George Was Here. Eschewing the Ice Cube/George Clinton funk aesthetic, Del went deep into his backpack and pulled a record for the ages. The head of the Hiero Voltron launched a full-scale attack on inferior rappers over raw no-nonsense beats. This week, the bros reflect fondly on an album that lives in their collective DNA. If you like what you hear ...
Nov 30, 2023•58 min
As you reflect on gratitude, colonialism, and cranberry sauce enjoy this Patreon Freeview of Nate Le Blanc's radio show Fly Sporadic. Our Patreon subscribers know that Nate drops these themed (or non themed) music mixes every so often. Just one the perks of membership when you join the Dad Bod Rap Pod Patreon. You can get Fly Sporadic, Demone's playlist series DEM'S GEM's, special podcast segments (like our Wu Tang post game), and much, much, much. Patreon.com/dadbodrappod ($5 a month is nothing...
Nov 23, 2023•1 hr 23 min
Outkast is perhaps Hip Hop's closest corollary to the Beatles. Their musical journey, commercial success, and geographic origins (the south got something to say) make them a one-of-one rap group. On this week's episode the bros take a walk down memory lane and dissect Outkast's 25 year old classic album Aquemini. Joining the dad bods on the b side of the episode is Fat Tony who shares how this album was huge influence on his artistic development. If you like what you hear please like, rate, revi...
Nov 16, 2023•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 284
It might blow up but it won't go 🎈 For this week's edition of the 1993 Retro Series the bros reflect fondly on De La Soul's 3rd album Buhloone Mindstate. By this point in time De La may have been at the height of their powers. They crafted a masterpiece and reinvented themselves yet again. Nate, Dave, and DEM revel in this classic album and as a special bonus Blockhead hops on to talk about what Buhloone means to him. Blockhead's new album "The Aux" drop November 17th via Backwoodz. If you like...
Nov 02, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 283
Time to Enter The 7th Chamber: In last weeks episode the four man wrecking crew (Nate, Dave, DEM, and DJ Cutso) talked about when the Tao of the WU first found them and their favorite tracks off of this classic album. This week they delve into the best three song runs from the album and consider this blasphemous question: are their skippable tracks on the album?? Tune in for all the high jinx. If you like what you hear please like, rate, review, and subscribe on your platform of choice. If you r...
Oct 26, 2023•46 min•Ep. 282
Wu Tang Aint Nuthin' to Fuck It! Have a song ever had truer title!? 30 years after its release Wu Tang Clan's Enter The Wu Tang (36 Chambers) remains a musical achievement without parallel. The 9 man rap cartel ripped a hole in the fabric of Hip Hop space-time and delivered a masterpiece. Eschewing the polished rap sound for something more guttural and dangerous. In this episode Nate, Dave, DEM, and special guest DJ Cutso talk about when they first heard the Wu Tang and their favorite jams off t...
Oct 19, 2023•49 min•Ep. 281
If you weren't outside then, it's difficult to comprehend how highly anticipated Snoop Dog's first album was. In the era before the internet, the buzz surrounding Doggystyle could have powered a major metropolitan area. The Dr. Dre industrial complex had already delivered The Chronic a year earlier, so there was a notion that with rookie of the year from Long Beach in tow, Doggystyle would be one for the ages. Now, with 30 years of hindsight, we ask the following question: Is this a timeless rec...
Oct 12, 2023•54 min•Ep. 280
Rather be co-dependent than co-defendants.... Armand Hammer's ascent to critical acclaim has neatly paralleled with the existence of this podcast. There is no causation of course but it has been fun to watch woods and E L U C I D's come up in real time. We have also had the privilege of talking to both artists during our 5+ year run. On this special mini-episode of DBRP the bros share their takes on Armand Hammer's new album We Buy Diabetic Test Strips. If you like what you hear please like, rat...
Oct 11, 2023•29 min•Ep. 2795
Don't front you know we got ya open! Hopefully yall have been enjoying or 1993 retro series thus far. This week we examine Black Moon's album Enta Da Stage. Buckshot Shorty, 5 FT, and Evil Dee combined to create a dark and gritty album that spawned a visual aesthetic (two strap backpacks) and a sound that is still relevant today (lo-fi beats that you can study to) Was this a timeless album or an album of its time? The bros are joined by author Adam Mansbach and rapper Defcee to parse through thi...
Oct 05, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 279
It starts as an Eastern European food guide and ends with a shocking prophecy! It's episode 2 of Talk Like Sex. The podcast where two forty-something Hip Hop heads ponder horny questions and dispense advice on intimate relations. In this edition of TLS, DEM, and Blockhead reflect on the institution of marriage, the fool's errand that is double dating, and where sex rap will go next. As a special bonus, a snippet of the Blockhead joint "The Cella Dwellas Knew" featuring Quelle Chris is tucked in ...
Sep 28, 2023•58 min
Freestyle Fellowship is not a rap group. They are a cohort of rap gods who descended from the mountains so that we might know the electric potential of rhyme. Inner City Griots, FF's second album, is a complex and challenging record that did not easily fit in any of the sub-genre boxes of its day. With 30 years of hindsight the bros take a look back Griots and ask the questions of all questions: Is this a timeless album or an album of its time? If you like what you hear please like, rate, review...
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 278
From 93 till, indeed. Extra P said "don't say the years" but in 1993 Souls of Mischief called their own shot and proclaimed their 1993 debut album to be forever and thirty years later they still aint wrong. In this installment of the Dad Bod Rap Pod '93 Retro the bros dissect the album '93 Till Infinity and pose the question of all questions-Is this a timeless record or a record of its time? If you like what you hear please like, rate, review, and subscribe on your platform of choice. If you rea...
Sep 13, 2023•54 min•Ep. 277
