ATTENDEES GENG PTP, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business Go over top 25 albums of 2021 highlighting what separated these projects from others. Each of us should talk about something we’d like to see more of in 2022 music. NOTES 1.Ka-A Martyr’s Reward 2. Little Simz-Sometimes I Might Be Introvert 3. Sault-Nine 4. Curly Castro-Little Robert Hutton 5. Isaiah Rashad-The House is Burning 6. Armand Hammer x Alchemist-Haram 7. Raquel Rodriguez-Sweet Side 8. PremRock-Load Bearing Crow’s Feet ...
Mar 20, 2022•2 hr 40 min
ATTENDEES GENG PTP, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney AGENDA New Business Talk with GENG PTP about the year in PTP: Lungs, Phiik & S!lence, and the art of showcasing young talent. Discuss Dan’s AOTY list picks 50-26. Instead of honorable mentions let’s shout out the inventive albums that set the tone for this year. NOTES 26. NCL-™ x DooF-Swamp Phonk 27. Lukah-Why Look Up, God’s in The Mirror 28. Cities Aviv-The Crashing Sound of How It Goes 29. Nappy Nina, J Words-Double Down 30. AJ Suede-Avada Ke...
Mar 18, 2022•1 hr 59 min
Darko The Super came through to play some jams! Buy his new album with Height Keech called You Gotta Have Friends https://heightkeech.bandcamp.com/album/you-gotta-have-friends
Mar 13, 2022•1 hr 3 min
ATTENDEES Timepiece, MIGHTYHEALTHY, Daniel Olney AGENDA New Business Talk about the Good, Bad, and The Ugly of production in hip hop this year. Talk about how things might change in the coming year. NOTES What sounds worse in 2021 a boring pop rap beat or a boring underground rap beat? Why? What 2021 album's production shocked you most on the first listen? Who was the most ripped off(emulated if we are being nice) producer this year? Drums! Not enough? Too much? Why are we always arguing about d...
Mar 09, 2022•1 hr 49 min
One of the most important producers of 2021 Brainorchestra's new album Big Brain stars him as primary voice, producer, as well as mixing and mastering. It's an effort worthy of in depth conversation and Dan-O digs in on the process results and journey along the way.
Mar 05, 2022•53 min
ATTENDEES SonRaw, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business Talk to SonRaw about the album Trilogy by Council of The Gods . How he became involved with producing and rapping on it. Talk about Silk Sonic-An Evening with Silk Sonic, Jedi Mind Tricks-The Funeral and The Raven, and Fielded-Young Medusa. How do these albums speak to (or in opposition to) trends in 2021 music? Intro and Outro are from Disco Vietnam's album House Rabbi Vol. 3: Aztec Synagogue-https://discovietnam.bandcamp.com/alb...
Mar 03, 2022•2 hr 6 min
ATTENDEES Big Flowers, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business ● Discuss the progression over two projects by NCL-TM & DøøF: Hoodrat Noir to Swamp Phonk. ● Discuss the changing nature of the album, song lengths, total run times and the difference sequencing makes.
Feb 24, 2022•1 hr 36 min
ATTENDEES Sleep Sinatra, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney AGENDA New Business ● Talk to Sleep Sinatra about the rollercoaster year he has had and the steps up in acclaim under Sleep Gloriously & DIVINENATION. ● Discuss what makes an album “dark” and the right way to ingest it. ● Analyze Lukah-Why Look Up, God’s In The Mirror and Redman-Dare Iz A Darkside to discuss dark albums now and in the 90s era. Intro and Outro bumper music by NCL-TM. Purchase his music here: https://uncletim.bandcamp.com/...
Feb 18, 2022•1 hr 31 min
ATTENDEES Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business ● Flow changes in rap the way human language changes. It never stops changing. By the time a new cadence, flow, or vocal inflection gets deemed “not hip hop” it’s already running the charts. Let’s talk about how flow has changed generally over these years from pop rap to underground. ● Discuss Teller Bank$-The Part & Parcel as well as L’esprit by ToBy and how they relate to 2021 flow. Intro and Outro bumper music is by NCL-TM from the...
Feb 07, 2022•1 hr 25 min
Freemusicempire 2021 MVP Raphy of BRUISER BRIGADE came on for a full length sit down. An incredible journey from DJ to top producer, Raphy talks about the different ways the Brigade works and how these game changing albums (Dope Game $tupid & Santa Barbara) came together. His joy and passion is infectious so GET SOME! Intro and Outro bumper is from the album Swamp Phonk by NCL-TM and DøøF. Listen to it here: https://safdoofus.bandcamp.com/album/ncl-d-fus-2-swamp-phonk...
Feb 05, 2022•1 hr 5 min
AGENDA New Business ● Talk to Kathy Iandoli about her 2019 book God Save The Queens and 2021 book Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah. We should ask her perspective on how the rules of engagement have changed for women in hip hop’s public space. ● Discuss the only released solo album from Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes. What could her career have been if this got a US release in 2001-2002? What should her artistic legacy be? Intro and outro music is by NCL-TM (Captain and Chandler from the album Morgan)...
Feb 02, 2022•1 hr 41 min
ATTENDEES Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business ● Talk about Metamorphosis the 2015 album by Queen Herawin in terms of strengths and importance. Why should someone who has never heard this, listen? ● Discuss anyone in 2021 who might be influenced or carrying the same energy forward. Intro song is Slime Outro song is Mia both by NCL-TM off his album Pussy Galore.
Jan 23, 2022•1 hr 4 min
AGENDA New Business ● Celebrate Call Out Culture, talk about specific episodes that were benchmarks in visibility/audience building. The necessary change where rappers get to talk about music and make it, how that has affected their careers. ● Talk about 50 Cent’s 2003 album Get Rich or Die Tryin’ . Some people say it is a classic album, others say it has the best hooks in rap. Cutting through nostalgia and marketing...what is it really? QUESTIONS ● Did 50 Cent’s relationship with Eminem change ...
Jan 17, 2022•52 min
ATTENDEES ChumZilla, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business ● Talk to ChumZilla about how the concept for Sons of Andre came together and how he adjusted after the loss of Scorcese. ● Look at Sons of Andre-Dungeon of Doom as a project. What are the best parts of it? What is the legacy of Scorcese and Insubordinate Records?
Jan 05, 2022•1 hr 35 min
Dan-O from Freemusicempire got to talk to the artist who constructed his favorite album of 2021. Premrock achieved another level of personal best with his project Load Bearing Crow's Feet. Before talking about the album Dan-O discusses the relationships and lessons learned that got Prem where he is. Talking to Premrock makes you feel smarter!
Dec 26, 2021•1 hr 41 min
ATTENDEES Rich Jones, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney AGENDA New Business ● Talk to Rich Jones about his EP Blue Beach , following up his last LP How Do You Sleep At Night ? What is the best case scenario for an EP release? ● Analyze Blue Beach by Rich Jones, Monk by GreenSLLIME, and If Orange Was A Place by Tems. Do they leave you wanting more from the artist?
Dec 23, 2021•1 hr 45 min
A one of a kind talent leapfrogging between genres and expectations Fielded has created a unique position for herself on Backwoodz Studioz alongside underground raps most ferocious names. Fielded's newest release Young Medusa is completely different from past work but as Dan-O discussed with her, she is used to that and we should be as well. This interview is 120% of expectations.
Dec 18, 2021•1 hr 41 min
ATTENDEES Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business ● Define “impact” and talk about the different ways an artist can create “impact” for their release (shock, agitation, secrecy, innovation). ● Discuss whether Lil Nas X-Montero and Moor Mother-Black Encyclopedia of The Air deliver on the impact they made for their audiences.
Dec 15, 2021•1 hr 21 min
ATTENDEES Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business ● Talk about three releases: Lady Blackbird-Black Acid Soul, Kacey Musgraves-Star-Crossed, and Yebba-Dawn in terms of executing an important album with a great voice. ● Discuss how other elements (writing, instrumentation, song/album themes) get conducted around a show stopping voice. What do these albums do well or miss?
Dec 09, 2021•1 hr 29 min
ATTENDEES Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business ● Discuss the reception and reaction around major releases this year including Donda and Certified Lover Boy . Beyond whether the albums have been up to par, fan reaction to these releases seems utterly broken. What do you people actually want? ● Talk about the specifics of Little Simz- Sometimes I Might Be Introvert and Certified Lover Boy . What are the strengths and opportunities for each album?...
Dec 02, 2021•1 hr 35 min
A free flowing conversation about Young Dolph, capitalism, the justice system, as well as Griselda in present and future.
Nov 27, 2021•1 hr 30 min
ATTENDEES Defcee, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business ● Talk about what makes one emcee one producer albums special. Ceenick and We Dressed The City In Our Names are good examples, we’ll talk to Defcee about those. ● Analyze Horned Monk by August Fanon and Iceberg Theory as well as Bo Jackson by Alchemist and Boldy James.
Nov 24, 2021•1 hr 42 min
ATTENDEES Pecue, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney AGENDA New Business ● Talk to Pecue about his approach to the cover art he’s done this year for Brainorchestra, Wrecking Crew, Midaz The Beast, and more. ● Discuss our favorite album covers of 2021 and what makes them work so well
Nov 13, 2021•1 hr 44 min
AGENDA New Business ● Talk about the MC archetype of “The Ringmaster” an MC type that never fully embraces the lyrical supremacy mission but organizes albums to a legendary entertainment level. Who are other examples? ● Study the three formative Master P albums: The Ghetto’s Tryin’ To Kill Me!, Ice Cream Man, and Ghetto D. Analyze the formation of the Ringmaster skills. ● Talk about the influence P’s run had on hip hop.
Nov 04, 2021•1 hr 43 min
Lord Juco is relentless. Always releasing projects: eps, singles, albums but this new one is a real culmination. From the production to the verses and guest verses Raised Right is a momentous step forward for the Toronto MC. Dan-O got to talk to his favorite Canadian MC about Guy Ritchie!
Oct 29, 2021•53 min
ATTENDEES Tokyo Cigar, Big Flowers, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business ● Discuss Ka’s new album: A Martyr’s Reward in terms of strengths and growth. Also, in terms of where it sits in the story of 2021 music. ● Talk about Ka’s place in the history of this music and how this album shifts that.
Oct 29, 2021•1 hr 49 min
ATTENDEES Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business ● Discuss Hit Boy x Nas newest release King’s Disease 2 and how it fits next to the original.
Oct 19, 2021•1 hr 28 min
ATTENDEES Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business ● Talk about what Isaiah Rashad means to TDE as a label and rap in general. Will the market make space for all of these albums? Should it? ● Assess Isaiah Rashad-The House is Burning, Tink-Heat of The Moment, and Gabe Nandez-Seven.
Oct 19, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Curly Castro has always been focused on being the best rapper. After years of work he's coming off an amazing Armand Hammer x Alchemist feature on Haram. His new album Little Robert Hutton is focused and impactful. An unrelenting concept album that never ceases to surprise and bring the best out of everyone. Dan-O talks to him about the history that grounds the album and how it effects us today as well as the elite contributions from others on the project.
Oct 19, 2021•1 hr 31 min
ATTENDEES Dylan Green, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins AGENDA New Business ● July 23rd felt like a loaded release week, Dylan Green (curator of the #NuMusiqueFriday newsletter) will walk us through his favorite three releases of the week: EST Gee- Bigger Than Life or Death , Ken Car$on- Project X , and Dave- We’re All Alone in This Together . We will talk about what captured his attention about these. ● We will talk about Kanye and what projects that haven’t come out yet we think will hit very hard....
Oct 12, 2021•1 hr 44 min
