Legendary production team Da Beatminerz are back with their first full length album in 20 years! The album is called “Stifled Creativity” and it features iconic artists such as De La Soul, KRS-One, Pharoahe Monch and Ras Kass alongside folks like Rasheed Chappell, Mickey Factz, Stahhr, and Bishop Lamont. We talked with Mr. Walt and DJ Evil Dee about their approach to making this album, some of the stories behind the collaborations, and how their history in the game has brought them this far. The...
Jul 10, 2024•1 hr 25 min
Stas THEE Boss is a producer and a rapper and a radio host and a DJ and some other things that we're probably missing. Most recently she is the composer of the music featured in dream hampton's latest documentary film "It Was All a Dream". Stas joined us to talk about this assignment along with a bunch of other rap related things including her album pick for this episode - "Supa Dupa Fly" by Missy Elliott. Stream and purchase Stas THEE Boss music here: https://stastheeboss.bandcamp.com...
Jun 26, 2024•45 min
S!LENCE is from Brooklyn (actually from there) and he has a new project called "Aguadura". He describes it as the spiritual sequel to his 2021 release "mutatis mutandis" and we talked with him about some of the themes from the album. Then we discuss his album pick for this episode - "The Mouse and The Mask" from DANGERDOOM. Purchase "Aguardura" here: https://www.breakallrecords.world/product/aguadura...
Jun 12, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Hip hop and jazz music have an intimate relationship. That’s been true since the beginning. Our next guest is Shabaka Hutchings and while he might be a jazz musician, he is also a hip hop head who thoughtfully integrates his preferences into his most recent project “Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace”. The album is also his first as a flute player, an instrument he went to exceptional lengths to become familiar with. He is joined on the project by incredible artists such as Saul Williams...
May 29, 2024•1 hr 9 min
Ronesh (rapper/producer) recently released a project featuring 25 different emcees including artists like Open Mike Eagle, Che Noir, Defcee, Big $ilky, and Myka 9. The album is called "Lead the Orchestra" and Ronesh produced all 12 tracks while contributing vocals to the song "Galaxy Brain". We spoke with Ronesh about the task of assembling this project and then we discussed his album pick for this episode - "To Tha X-Treme" from Devin the Dude. Stream and purchase "Lead the Orchestra" here: htt...
May 15, 2024•58 min
L.A.'s Rhys Langston joins us to talk about his new project entitled "Polyglot on Chloroform". It's produced entirely by Steel Tipped Dove, who also engineered and mixed the project, taking control of aspects of the album creation process that Rhys typically prefers to handle himself. We talked to Rhys about giving over this control, the album's loose concept, and loads more. Then we discuss his album pick for this episode - "Labcabincalifornia" from The Pharcyde. Stream and purchase "Polyglot o...
May 01, 2024•1 hr 6 min
We’re joined by Cakes Da Killa to talk about his new project “Black Sheep” which features Cakes rhyming over a diverse array of sound. We asked Cakes about the influence and inspiration that house music provided for the album, the freedom that he’s found in not giving a fuck, the comfortable creative relationship he has with producer Sam Katz and much more. Then we discuss his album pick for this episode - “Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front” by Busta Rhymes. Stream and purchase "Blac...
Apr 17, 2024•45 min
Oslo based producer Ol' Burger Beats released "74:Out of Time" in February on Coalmine Records. Each track on the project was produced at 74 beats per minute and is deeply inspired by the jazz records of 1974. It's a unique concept with an impressive list of guest emcee's including lojii, Ill Camille, Vic Spencer, billy woods, Pink Siifu, YUNGMORPHEUS, Quelle Chris, Gabe 'Nandez, and Fly Anakin. We spoke with Ol' Burger Beats about the inspiration for this project and his approach to working wit...
Apr 03, 2024•49 min
NAHreally and The Expert have teamed up for an album called "BLIP" that is set to be released by Rucksack Records on March 29th. We spoke to them about the simple yet powerful lyrics/sounds on this project and discussed the process they used to create one of the most relatable albums we have heard in recent memory. Then we discuss their album pick for this episode - "6 Feet Deep" from Gravediggaz. Purchase "BLIP" here: https://theexpert.bandcamp.com/album/blip...
Mar 20, 2024•1 hr 17 min
Cavalier joins us as he prepares to release his new full length album "Different Type Time" on Backwoodz Studioz. It's been five years since his previous solo release and Cav talked with us about what has contributed to the time between projects, how he came to partner with Backwoodz on the new release, some of the collaborators we can expect to hear on the album, and the unique nature of this particular project. Plus, we talked about his joint project with Quelle Chris "Black Cottonwood", his "...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr 25 min
Angry Blackmen is a duo from Chicago who released their latest project "The Legend of ABM" in late January. The project has a unique industrial sound, equally inspired by Nine Inch Nails as it was by the Bomb Squad, over which Brian and Quentin spit urgent bars about their personal lives and larger social struggles. We spoke with the duo about the process of writing this project, their success in balancing the political and the personal, and much more. Then we'll talk about a project from anothe...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 16 min
Reef the Lost Cauze has a new album called "The Triumphant" and he says that it is the album that he has been trying to make for years. He joined us to talk about the intentional approach he took towards writing and recording it. He described the sometimes painful process he went through to write it and the emphasis that he placed on giving his audience a variety of narratives and perspectives. And he discusses the resilience and hope that is woven throughout the project. We're gonna talk about ...
Feb 07, 2024•1 hr 20 min
H31R (maassai and JWords) have teamed up for two innovative and original projects, the most recent being "HeadSpace" which was released in November of last year. It's a genre bending reflection on a transitional period in both of their lives and the duo was kind enough to join us to talk about the album. An Aquarius and Gemini themselves, H31R also chat with us about their album pick for this episode - "Aquemini" from Outkast. Stream and purchase "HeadSpace" here: https://h31r.bandcamp.com/album...
Jan 24, 2024•52 min
Q No Rap Name and Philth Spector are two beat makers based in Philadelphia who also co-host the Philly chapter of Flipabeatclub (FABC) which holds monthly meet ups at Cratediggaz Records at 711 S. 4th St. FABC has become a nationwide movement with chapters in Sacramento, Toronto, L.A., Washington D.C., Bay Area, Austin, Chicago, and Dallas. Q and Philth talked with us about how the Philly chapter got started and shared some of their experiences in building knowledge and networks. We also talke...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr 11 min
CineMasai (Dyaln Green), host of the Reel Notes podcast, joins us to talk about some of our favorite albums of 2023. We each picked three albums to focus on and discussed what made them our favorites. Pretty straightforward. For all things related to Reel Notes and Dylan's writing follow this link: https://linktr.ee/CineMasai
Dec 27, 2023•1 hr 52 min
lojii has been outside doing this rap thing for years and yet he feels like he's just getting started. That's the essential message that runs through his latest project "$TARTER_PACK" produced entirely by Alexander Spit. lojii joined us to explain why he's looking to the past just as much as he's looking toward to the future. Along the way he shares stories from the projects creation (including a great story about Pink Siifu's involvement). Then we discuss his album pick for this episode - "Tica...
Dec 13, 2023•1 hr 20 min
Oliver Rothstein is an MC from Philadelphia who embodies the city's grit, struggle, and determination. He has a new album called "The Philadelphian" that captures the struggle and beauty that exists in Philly and he joined us to talk about this project. Then we discuss the project that he picked for this episode - the first mixtape chosen on our show - "The Ghost in the Shell" by Styles P. Stream and purchase "The Philadelphian" here: oliverrothstein.bandcamp.com/album/the-philadelphian...
Nov 29, 2023•56 min
DJ Haram has pushed the boundaries of traditional dance, noise, and hip hop music her entire career. Whether as a part of 700 Bliss (with Moor Mother) or producing tracks for Armand Hammer, or creating and releasing music as a solo artist, Haram has always given us something dynamic and powerful to stretch our ears. She joins us as she anticipates the release of a two track EP in December called "Handplay" and talks with us about the perspective behind this music, her work with Armand Hammer, an...
Nov 15, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Kipp Stone has a new project called "66689 Blvd Prequel" that is as raw and emotionally vulnerable as they come. He joined us to talk about the process of freestyling, writing, and recording this album as well as giving some insight into the album's themes. Then we discuss Kipp's album pick for this episode - "Fantastic Vol. 2" from Slum Village. To stream and purchase "66689 Blvd Prequel" go here: closedsessions.bandcamp.com/album/66689-blvd-prequel...
Nov 01, 2023•1 hr
Roper Williams is the NJ based production duo who has worked with artists such as Your Old Droog, Navy Blue, YL, AKAI SOLO, and Fatboi Sharif. They've got a new project out called "Infinite Victory Loop" and it features the previously mentioned YL, AKAI SOLO, and Fatboi Sharif along with Pootie. We talked with Roper about this project, his process, his relationships with these artists and his album pick for this episode - Snoop Doggy Dogg's debut album "Doggystyle". You can stream and purchase "...
Oct 18, 2023•1 hr 4 min
John Morrison is a writer, DJ, sample flipper, podcast/radio host, and deeply passionate about music history, specifically as it concerns his native Philadelphia. We talked with John about his career as a writer, how it has been informed by his experiences growing up in Philly, and how his own music impacts the way he articulates what he hears from others. Then we get into John's album pick for this episode - "Illadelph Halflife" by The Roots. The instrumental music you hear in this episode was ...
Oct 04, 2023•1 hr 23 min
Defcee joined us to talk about his upcoming project with Messiah Musik called The Golem of Brooklyn. The album is the soundtrack and companion to the book of the same name by Adam Mansbach. Defcee talked with us about working with Adam and Messiah to craft the songs and the meaning that they hold for him as a white Jewish American. This episode really ended up feeling like an intimate conversation about a completely unique and relevant project. The book drops 9/26/23. The album drops 9/29/23. Bu...
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Cise Greeny is a prolific rapper/producer from Corona, Queens. So far this year he has released two full length albums and two beat tapes. We talked with Greeny about these projects, the way he thinks about his prospective audience, and his consistent attempts to keep his childhood alive through his music. Then we discuss Greeny's album pick for this episode - the debut from fellow Queen's natives Lost Boyz - "Legal Drug Money". Stream and purchase music from Cise Greeny here: garmentrygreeny.ba...
Sep 06, 2023•1 hr 6 min
We're talking a lot about singular artists and sounds! Fatboi Sharif and Steel Tipped Dove recently released their collaborative album "Decay" on Backwoodz Studioz. We spoke with them about the creative teamwork that went into the album, the personal aspects of Sharif's writing, and the importance of incorporating sounds from a wide variety of genres. Then we shatter all expectations for our second segment and find ourselves talking about a non-hip hop album for the first time in our history. Sy...
Aug 23, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Chop The Head is an artist and designer from Philadelphia who has worked on designs for some of today's most interesting independent rappers. His detailed drawings have covered releases from Fatboi Sharif, phiik + Lungs, Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon, and Jay NiCe. He's got a design coming as a part of Pink Siifu's re-release of "GUMBO'!" and on top of all that he makes his own beats. We talked with Chop about his history as a designer, the process behind some of his covers and his album pick for this ep...
Aug 09, 2023•54 min
Stik Figa and The Expert released their collaborative album “Ritual” in June. It is a well crafted project that both artists believed was going to be Stik Figa’s last as they were working on it. We talked with them about the creative perspectives they took while writing/producing the album, the dynamics of their working relationship, and what might be lie ahead for Stik. Then we discuss their album pick for this episode - Common’s sixth studio album “Be”. You can stream and purchase “Ritual” her...
Jul 26, 2023•1 hr 32 min
Desde is an emcee from Brooklyn who you may remember from KING VISION ULTRA's "SHOOK WORLD" earlier this year. Desde recently released a beautifully crafted project called "Tongue Original" that they describe as their most confident yet. We sat down with them to discuss its creation, the affirmations it contains, and Desde's attempts to spread love simply by being themselves. Then we chat about Desde's album pick for this episode - a project that is as equally self-affirming as "Tongue Original"...
Jul 12, 2023•58 min
Multi-talented artist Video Dave and producer Controller 7 join us prior to the release of their collaborative album “ArticulatedTexTiles”. We discuss some of the behind the scenes moments that went into the album. The way Controller 7 sampled Dave’s IG stories. The way Dave had to write several versions of “ThePlugTune” to get the De La acknowledgment just right. The album is full of details and catchy hooks and the duo gave us a glimpse of how it all came together. Then we talk about their alb...
Jun 28, 2023•1 hr 22 min
Orko Eloheim and Bigg Jus are Nephlim Modulation Systems. It's been 18 years since their second album "Imperial Letters of Protection" was released and now the duo is back with some more hard truths. They recently released a new single called "War Teacha" as a lead up to what will be the third NMS full-length, which is slated for release later this summer. We talked with these two legendary artists about the new music and then we discuss their album pick for this episode - a live recording from ...
Jun 14, 2023•1 hr 11 min
Gabe 'Nandez latest project is called "Pangea". It was written and recorded during the height of the pandemic, at a time when 'Nandez was enduring personal turmoil and grappling with the collective experience of quarantine. We talked with him about "Pangea" and its theme of collective consciousness while examining some of the unique stories and perspectives that its individual tracks have to share. Then we discuss his album pick for this episode - the second LP from Roc Marciano, the one many fo...
May 31, 2023•57 min
