Method Man is a unique being. Where people zigged, Method Man zagged. He did things differently and made the most out of every opportunity given. And while his music isn't consistently on the level Method Man is as a lyricist and person, it's an interesting cog in the overall watch that is Wu-Tang history. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:20) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (17:54) Tical - (31:26) Tical 2000: Judgement Day - (46:01) Tical 0: The Prequel - (56:01) 4.21... The Day After - ...
Feb 15, 2022•1 hr 30 min
We're back with Vol. 12 of DITD Bites. Two topics today that are close to each other. Firstly, off the back of our Lighter Note on Joe Rogan, Ben tackles the Spotify side of the story. And Charlie asks the question "is old music killing new music?". TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:19) Rogan/Spotify - (18:03) Old Vs New Music - (49:12) Lighter Note - (1:20:13) Articles featured in the episode: "Spotify vs Musicians: 10 things to read to better understand the debate" By Stuart Dredge MRC/Bil...
Feb 08, 2022•1 hr 28 min
Eric "Eazy-E" Wright was a shrewd operator in everything he did. And though we may not think of him as an early leader in the inevitable evolution of business in Hip-Hop, maybe it's worth seeing Eazy in that lens, although it's very enticing to see his iconic persona and stop there. Weekly Music Roundup - (1:48) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (13:33) Eazy-Duz-It - (36:13) It's On (D̵r̵.̵ ̵D̵r̵e̵) 187um Killa - (52:58) Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton - (1:07:30) Lighter Note - (1...
Feb 01, 2022•1 hr 31 min
It is very easy to see Xzibit as the "Pimp My Ride" guy. But look past the glorious relic of 00s America and you find a rapper that could hang with the best of them, tooled up with top tier lyrics and an unmistakable voice. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:32) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (19:29) At the Speed of Life - (30:49) 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz - (37:26) Restless - (43:32) Man vs. Machine - (53:11) Weapons of Mass Destruction (& Pimp My Ride) - (1:00:34) Full Circle - (1:11:...
Jan 25, 2022•1 hr 32 min
We continue of "Book Of Wu" series with one of the objectively lesser consumed of the group but with one of the most fascinating stories. Join us as we dig into the man that puts the "U" in "Wu": U-God. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundups - (2:14) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (24:23) Golden Arms Redemption - (38:19) Mr. Xcitement - (47:09) Dopium - (52:49) The Keynote Speech - (59:07) Venom - (1:06:27) Lighter Note - (1:12:47) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parti...
Jan 18, 2022•1 hr 21 min
Welcome to a brand new DITD miniseries, Hip-Hop Neighbours. Similar to "Contemporary Cool", we pick an album each to talk about but what's unique about "Hip-Hop Neighbours" is that we pick albums from non-Hip-Hop genres that have some form of connective tissue to Hip-Hop. And in an effort to provide openings for you to explore past your regular tastes, it'll also tell you about how, in some way, all music is connected. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:19) Series Intro - (11:37) Welcome To J...
Jan 11, 2022•56 min
Happy New Year one and all! We kick off the New Year by taking one more quick look back at 2021 and talking about our two favourite albums of '21. TIMESTAMPS: Planet Her - (10:21) Pink Noise - (25:45) We're All Alone In This Together - (37:59) Sometimes I Might Be Introvert - (1:00:53) Lighter Note - (1:18:56) Additional reading - Charlie's Top 10 Albums of 2021 Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us! Music -...
Jan 04, 2022•1 hr 28 min
To end the year, hosts of the various 5EPN podcasts come together to reflect on the year that has been 2021, the podcasts themselves and finish with a fun team exercise. To everyone that has listened to a 5EPN Podcast this year, on behalf of everyone in the 5EPN, we thank you for your listenership, your time and we hope we can join you as you begin your journey through 2022. The music was "Nothing But Luv" by aso. Thanks to Chillhop Music for the ability to use. Be sure to peep the other Podcast...
Dec 31, 2021•1 hr 10 min
We finish 2021 with our 2nd chapter of "The Book Of Wu" (which hasn't been used as a name before so... Trademark pending.) which is all about the enigma, Ason Unique, the Ol' Dirty Bastard. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:14) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (14:22) Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version - (30:19) N☆☆★a Please - (41:54) Further storyline - (49:37) Lighter Note - (1:09:51) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let u...
Dec 28, 2021•1 hr 23 min
We finally begin what we are calling "The Book Of Wu". Basically, retrospectives on the original members of the Wu-Tang Clan, starting with the eldest and the only one to have some form of a career before Wu. GZA, The Genius. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:30) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (11:25) Words from the Genius - (27:15) Liquid Swords - (37:55) Beneath the Surface - (49:06) Legend of the Liquid Sword - (57:36) GrandMasters - (1:09:42) Pro Tools - (1:19:50) Lighter Note - (1:3...
Dec 21, 2021•1 hr 46 min
We get into one of our most debated & enlightening DITD Bites yet. Talking end of year lists before the year even ends, Adele allegedly jacking from an independent artist and what constitutes a 'rapper'. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (2:16) End of year lists - (21:50) Adele jacking? - (40:10) What is a 'rapper' - (54:43) Lighter Note - (1:26:58) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us! Music - "Pizza ...
Dec 14, 2021•1 hr 30 min
One conversation that is considered consensus is that Dr. Dre's "The Aftermath" is, to put it lightly, not good. It's gotten to the point that you hear the negative thought about it and will most likely never spin it. So, we did the opposite, went ahead and listened to it. So is it really as bad as people say? TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:05) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (16:25) Track-by-track Breakdown - (40:43) Lighter Note - (1:15:45) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social ...
Dec 07, 2021•1 hr 32 min
After doing Slum Village last week, it was easy to be like Ben and go into this episode on eLZhi thinking that you would get the same stuff you heard on SV records, for better or worse. But this is why solo careers are exclusive from group endeavours. Especially so in this case because solo eLZhi is a whole different kettle of fish. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:15) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (13:48) The Preface - (28:42) Elmatic - (38:45) Lead Poison - (52:10) Seven Times Down E...
Nov 30, 2021•1 hr 32 min
Slum Village is a group that has gone through many many lineups to the point where it's frankly surprising that so much change didn't dramatically affect the end product. So what can we owe the consistency to? And are there actual Slum Village fans or fans of J Dilla that just listen to SV as part of Dilla's universe? TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:32) Topic Intro - (17:45) Dilla Era - (27:00) Elzhi Era - (43:55) Post-Villa Manifesto - (58:23) Lighter Note - (1:15:13) Thanks for listening...
Nov 23, 2021•1 hr 24 min
It's time for another Contemporary Cool where we highlight albums from the past 10 years that deserve some shine. For this edition we get into the works of Janelle Monáe, Yugen Blakrok, CyHi Da Prynce & Blue Lab Beats. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:07) The ArchAndroid - (13:50) Return of the Astro-Goth - (37:45) Black Hystori Project - (54:19) Xover - (1:08:41) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting ...
Nov 16, 2021•1 hr 37 min
It's practically consensus that AZ is one of the most overlooked lyricists in Hip-Hop history. But why is that? Is it for cynical reasons or is it simply because his best stuff is just that damn good? We go through his album discography and find an answer. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundups - (1:16) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (20:04) Doe Or Die - (29:48) Pieces of A Man - (39:47) 9 Lives & Aziatic - (42:55) A.W.O.L - (54:24) The Format - (1:02:44) Undeniable - (1:09:43) Legendary - (1...
Nov 09, 2021•1 hr 44 min
On the 10th DITD Bites, we talk about dudes going out of their way to say they don't listen to female artists; asking whether TikTok is ushering in a new version of Ringtone Rap and asking whether cover art has gotten worse or not. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:29) Females Vs The "keep it lol" dudes - (24:25) Ringtone Rap 2.0 - (39:11) Cover Art - (57:25) Lighter Note - (1:25:19) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you...
Nov 02, 2021•1 hr 29 min
For the final instalment of our '21 UKBHM celebrations, we peep every album from the Godfather of Grime, Wiley. (With one omission that will be made clear at the end.) TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:55) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (19:54) Treddin' on Thin Ice - (28:57) Da 2nd Phaze - (36:38) Playtime Is Over - (40:00) Grime Wave - (44:28) See Clear Now - (47:15) Race Against Time - (50:36) 100% Publishing - (54:35) Evolve or Be Extinct - (58:30) The Ascent - (1:01:52) Snakes & ...
Oct 26, 2021•1 hr 33 min
Akala is arguably one of the most intelligent people in this world we call Hip-Hop. From the lyrics to the concepts, to the lectures & books outside of the music. It's hard to even encapsulate how deep his philosophical brain goes in the music, but we give it a damn good go. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:50) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (19:18) It's Not A Rumour - (30:17) Freedom Lasso - (41:27) DoubleThink - (50:52) The Thieves Banquet - (1:00:15) Knowledge Is Power II - (1:09...
Oct 19, 2021•1 hr 33 min
There are those artists that are right on the frontlines of cultural phenomena. But there aren't many that have been in several like Skepta. From the growth of Grime, to the gold rush of the late 00s/early 10s, to the complete cultural reset of Black British music. Skepta was there for all of it. Weekly Music Roundup - (1:40) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (13:11) Greatest Hits - (23:09) Microphone Champion - (32:52) Doin' It Again - (41:39) Konnichiwa ( More thoughts on the album on "Contem...
Oct 12, 2021•1 hr 36 min
Happy UK Black History Month dear listener! If you weren't about last October, we will spend this month doing retrospectives on black UK artists only and for this episode, we cover a UK artist that went to the US and managed to blend Hip-Hop of the time with the soulful dance Black Brits like Soul II Soul were known for. We cover the career of Monie Love. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:19) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (18:14) Down To Earth - (36:34) In a Word or 2 - (55:46) Final Th...
Oct 05, 2021•1 hr 31 min
It's rare you have a group that doesn't just stick to their morals but go deeper into them as they go. But here's Brand Nubian, dropping critically loved albums throughout the 90s and half of the time without a key founding member. Mix that with the 5 percenter elements & their production chops as a collective and you have a very interesting group. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:52) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (17:11) One For All - (29:19) In God We Trust - (40:38) Everything I...
Sep 28, 2021•1 hr 29 min
This is one of those retrospectives where we thought we were just going to big up one of the least talked about legends in Hip-Hop. But once we got into that discography, we found much more than a great MC. Give more flowers to Redman. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:20) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (16:10) Whut? Thee Album - (25:31) Dare Iz A Darkside - (37:46) Muddy Waters - (46:34) Doc's Da Name 2000 - (55:44) Malpractice - (1:01:41) Red Gone Wild: Thee Album - (1:06:27) Reggie - ...
Sep 21, 2021•1 hr 31 min
This is probably our first retrospective where the artist in question is on the fringe of what is considered "Hip-Hop". But as with all elements of art, it is always worth getting out of our comfort zone now and again. And DJ Shadow is a perfect subject to do so. And his creative narrative isn't too shabby either. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:41) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (12:31) Entroducing..... - (28:18) The Private Press - (41:51) The Outsider - (47:08) The Less You Know, Th...
Sep 14, 2021•1 hr 31 min
In the light of Your Old Droog & Mach-Hommy having words with the likes of lyric hub Genius, Ben has been mulling over how protective (or unprotective) artists are with their work. Potentially causing a slippery slope where the extreme is something like a Yasiin Bey putting out an album in a museum for a limited time, never to be heard again after that. In a world where everyone can make a meme out of the "Certified Lover Boy" artwork, can you be an artist AND not want your stuff out there w...
Sep 07, 2021•1 hr 16 min
We get into Part 2 of our Bad Boy retrospective, getting more testimony from more notable names, and some lesser-known names you may have never heard of before. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:08) Ma$e - (11:43) Faith Evans - (24:16) Dawn Richard & Danity Kane (30:11) 'Lightning Rounds' - (35:18) Sauce Money - (50:20) Final Thoughts - (1:04:35) EDITOR NOTE: We had Lighter Note on Kanye but he dropped the day after we recorded, so it felt a bit pointless to have. Thanks for listening. B...
Aug 31, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Bad Boy Records was a key cog in making Hip-Hop what it is today, for better or worse. But what about the many artists that were under Bad Boy? And how did they fare under it? Was it *really* a family? Or just another label being a label. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:23) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (19:40) Craig Mack - (25:20) B.I.G. - (31:40) Total & 112 - (39:15) LOX & Black Rob - (50:56) Carl Thomas & Shyne - (56:01) Dream & G. Dep (1:05:03) Lighter Note - (1:1...
Aug 24, 2021•1 hr 21 min
The LOX are one of the strongest groups in Hip-Hop history. Their bond is unbreakable, their chemistry is top-tier and their bars throughout their album discography illuminate all of that, even through all the beefs & disputes. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:20) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (11:43) Money, Power & Respect - (24:45) We Are The Streets - (33:45) Filthy America... It's Beautiful - (48:49) Living Off Xperience - (55:54) Lighter Note - (1:06:07) Thanks for listeni...
Aug 17, 2021•1 hr 19 min
It's time for Vol. 4 of "Contemporary Cool". A wide range for this one. Ben picks two albums that go over an hour, whilst Charlie picks two projects that are 20 minutes combined. But there's more to these projects than just how long they are... TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:15) Whack World - (18:15) Dirty Gold - (32:17) 1 Minute Of Your Time - (50:51) Top 5 Dead Or Alive - (1:00:34) Lighter Note - (1:18:02) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be ...
Aug 10, 2021•1 hr 33 min
Biz Markie was not the "Just A Friend" rapper. And he should not be known simply for the sample case. Because Biz Markie was so much more. A multi-talented artist that made music. Funny, inviting, energetic and vulnerable music with great storytelling and underrated sample chops. We do our best in highlighting the unique nature of Biz. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:29) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (20:32) Goin' Off - (30:12) The Biz Never Sleeps - (39:58) I Need A Haircut - (50:00)...
Aug 03, 2021•1 hr 33 min
