Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). In Episode 96, I was joined by PremRock who is a prolific artist with a catalog that includes an album full of Tom Waits re-interpretations, a collaborative album with Curly Castro as ShrapKnel, and his latest truly incredible body of work, Load Bearing Crow’s Feet . Prem is the latest artist to join and add to the recent Backwoodz Studioz and Wrecking Crew invasion of guests that have come on the show...
Feb 16, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 96
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). In Episode 95, I was joined by a very special guest with me who has authored two entries into my best of 2021 list, in Never at Peace and Vegas Vic , and is a member of the Wrecking Crew, and a host of the Call Out Culture podcast. He hails from the home of the cheesesteak, and Nick Foles... this man is Philly’s own Zilla Rocca. Zilla delves into how he first got into hip-hop as a fan when he was young...
Feb 09, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 95
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). When it comes to Nas, I feel rap fans are constantly in a state of trying to diagnose his career... figuring out what’s the best situation and collaborators to yield the best results from one of rap’s inarguable brightest talents. So in Episode 94 I was joined by the ever-insightful SonRaw to do continue this long-lasting hip-hop tradition, by discussing Nas' latest album Magic . SonRaw is - writer, DJ...
Feb 02, 2022•54 min•Ep. 94
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING In Episode 93, I was joined by a very special guest with me who has had a particularly affect on me as a brown hip-hop head growing up: Big Baby Gandhi. Hailing from Flushing, Queens, formerly of Heems of Das Racist’s Greedhead label, you may have heard him on his solo work through well-received projects such as, Big F****** Baby , No1 2 Look Up 2 , or We Live in a Society ... or on a track with the Das Racist crew. He is thoughtf...
Jan 26, 2022•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 93
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING In Episode 92, we are pleased to present to you the 2nd Annual Rap Music Plug Podcast Awards! Note: This is a personal view of my favourite music to come out of 2021. There is no implied objectivity with any of the following discussion. Enjoy! Year-end thoughts (0:49). Favourite musical discoveries of the year (7:25). Best Rap in a Supporting Role (12:18). Beat of the Year (14:15). Song of the Year (15:54). Producer of the Year (1...
Jan 19, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 92
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). In Episode 91, I had the utmost pleasure to speak with JWords. She is the producer of Double Down with Nappy Nina, one half of the H31R duo with maassai, who is an artist whose sound spans many styles, from hip-hop, electronic, and drum and bass. JWords is a trailblazer whose style is a taste of the future. I am absolutely certain of it. I hope this interview helps you get acclimated to the next wave. ...
Jan 12, 2022•50 min•Ep. 91
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). Balens Cho showcases that Mach’s album-making skills have really improved here in 2021, which I definitely think can be attributed to him reuniting with Westside Gunn. This influence was clearly felt on Pray for Haiti , and I believe that influence is found here on Balens Cho too, as the album’s flow, consistency, and lyrical focus is on point. Balens Cho is the result of someone who put their 10 000 h...
Jan 05, 2022•12 min•Ep. 90
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). After a stellar 2019 and 2020 that saw Your Old Droog drop his magnum opus, Dump YOD: Krutoy Edition , Droog’s music has been on the decline since then. Thankfully, Space Bar corrects just about every issue I’ve had with Droog’s recent output, through better production, rapping, and guest features. Space Bar ’s beats, although not as captivating as Dump YOD or what was on Jewelry for sure, are much mor...
Dec 29, 2021•12 min•Ep. 89
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). Although I wasn't a huge fan of The Circus , I think Mick really learnt something from creating that album, as it relates to being more concise. Elephant in the Room doesn't overstay its welcome. The songs are refined as hell, with no wasted space, showing his most finely tuned blend of melodic soul singing, and rap. There's a great seamless flow to this album that is accentuated beautifully by the won...
Dec 21, 2021•13 min•Ep. 88
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). On All My Heroes are Cornballs there was such an irresistible earworm effect to me, where so many of the glitches, weird transitions, and short bursts of melody did a great job of creating variety and maintaining my deep engagement. It made for a highly entertaining and colourful listen. But LP! feels significantly more plain and bland by comparison. There is a more live and organic feeling in these in...
Dec 15, 2021•16 min•Ep. 87
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). In Episode 86, we are joined by a true lyrical tactician, teacher, and newest signee of the ever-impressive Backwoodz Studioz label, Defcee. Defcee discusses being embraced by the Chicago hip-hop community as an outsider, and what he appreciates about the Chicago scene (4:01). Defcee opens up about the reasoning behind taking a break from music, following 2015's Damn Near Grown (26:30). Defcee details ...
Dec 08, 2021•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 86
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). In Episode 85, we are joined by Virginia's effortlessly funny, multi-talented, rapper, producer, skater, and model, DøøF. On the heels of his tremendously dope new album with NCL-TM, SWAMP PHONK , he has dropped straight heat for the past year. His work includes his previous collaboration with NCL-TM, Hoodrat Noir , as well as Radioactive Spinach with none other than the talented Graymatter. Getting to...
Dec 01, 2021•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 85
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). Speaking with GENG PTP, aka King Vision Ultra, was a deeply rich and knowledgeable journey into hip-hop culture, and the coalition of hip-hop that he builds with, from a man who clearly treats the art form with the utmost respect that it deserves. There is a lot to learn and engage with in this conversation, so sit back and enjoy! GENG breaks down the reasoning behind his strong affinity towards hip-ho...
Nov 24, 2021•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 84
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). In a myriad of different ways, Half God explores Wiki's home of New York through multiple angles, giving the listener a consistent thematic backdrop to discuss every way the city influenced and shaped the man he is today. By discussing New York's deep hip-hop roots, gentrification, and growing up as a child in such a busy and often chaotic city. All in all, giving us his most focused and developed lyri...
Nov 18, 2021•17 min•Ep. 83
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). As he has done on many Westside Gunn albums in the past, AA Rashid provides some words of wisdom at the beginning of both sides, but I want to key in on what he did on Side B. This was probably my favourite contribution of his to-date, because it applied so well to Westside Gunn as an artist. Rashid speaks about revolutionizing, shifting the paradigm... and what has Westside Gunn, BUT shift the paradig...
Nov 11, 2021•17 min•Ep. 82
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). After their self-titled studio album debut, with features from the likes of Freddie Gibbs, Rico Nasty, JPEGMAFIA... the sky was seemingly the limit for Injury Reserve. But then during a chaotic June 2020 for us all, tragedy hit the group as Groggs passed away for unknown reasons. When this happened, I like many I assume, thought this was the end of the group's run. No more music was to come from Injury...
Nov 10, 2021•12 min•Ep. 81
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). The Backwoodz Studioz invaision continues in Episode 80, as we are joined by fiery lyricist, Curly Castro. Castro has been on a tremendous run in recent years, from his collaborative LP with PremRock, ShrapKnel , his scorching-hot feature on Armand Hammer's Haram , to his powerful Bobby Hutton-inspired record , Little Robert Hutton . Curly's perspective on how it feels being part of the impactful Backw...
Nov 03, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 80
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). In a very special Episode 79, we host our first Backwoodz Studioz member, producer/engineer/mixer/masterer, sound mastermind Steel Tipped Dove. Dove is a phenomenal artist, who has graced the best works in hip-hop, from Haram and BRASS , to his own work in 2021's great Call Me When You're Here LP. De-mystifying what audio engineering, mixing, and mastering actually means (2:49). Steel Tipped Dove's vie...
Oct 27, 2021•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 79
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). It would've been easy for Lukah to rest on his laurels after a very successful When the Black Hand Touches You , and just make another version of that album... but this isn’t When the Black Hand Touches You Part 2, or Chickenwire Part 2 either. If Black Hand sounded like soul food, Why Look Up literally sounds like the absence of food. On this album, there is nothing but pure hunger. Unlike the more wi...
Oct 21, 2021•24 min•Ep. 78
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). UK's Little Simz released the GREY Area back in 2019, which was a very thoughtful album. However, her perspective felt, as the title would suggest, not fully realized and fleshed out… like she was still working things out, and was more combustible as a result. Sometimes I Might Be Introvert on the other hand, sounds like someone who has gone through those mental struggles, and came out the other side. ...
Oct 20, 2021•15 min•Ep. 77
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). In Episode 76, the remarkably honest and talented Teller Bank$ joined the show for a conversation that will surely make it clear why this Iowa artist is worth checking out. How Teller developed his voice and recognized that this unique delivery could work (2:47). Why Teller gravitates towards Ed Glorious' production (18:25). How Teller crafted the concept and narratives in The Grotesque & Beautiful...
Oct 13, 2021•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 76
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of my personal diatribe (0:49). Beginning of the core review (16:00). I was close to not even reviewing Donda , given the recent nonsense surrounding DaBaby and Manson's involvement with the album. But I couldn’t get over that it would be so incredibly inauthentic, if I actually didn't talk about a brand new full-length Kanye album... because Kanye’s music has played a huge part in my life. And so, if I was going to talk...
Oct 06, 2021•43 min•Ep. 75
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). In Episode 74, we were joined by talented rapper, producer, visual artist, and rolling paper creator, Lync Lone. Lync first discussed the aspirational aspects of Lync's music, and how being a rapper was his dream since day 1 (2:07). The key influences that helped Lync develop his style (2:58). Lync talks about how his distinctly cool and chill rapping style developed over the years (12:13). Lync detail...
Sep 29, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 74
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). In Episode 73, we had the pleasure to welcome Chicago's own rapper, producer, DJ, TV host, greenSLLIME to the show. How SLLIME's magnetic personality of sorts developed over the years (3:51). What inspired greenSLLIME to get into hip-hop when he was younger (7:01). SLLIME details partnering with SolarFive to open the 406 studio in Chicago, and the thought-process behind taking this bold move (12:26). S...
Sep 22, 2021•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 73
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). Drake's Certified Lover Boy reeks of stagnation. Stagnation in the tired song topics and formulas, where the listener has heard different versions of just about every single song here. And although more of a good thing can be... a good thing... the 6 God is doing the same thing with some of the least inspired performances of his entire career. This stagnation is all but validated by the fact that many ...
Sep 14, 2021•22 min•Ep. 72
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). Ka is one-of-one, and is easily one of the best lyricists in the game. With Ka albums, the commonality to them all is that Ka is consistently committed to giving the listener true wisdom that come from a place of tried and true lived experience... with A1 level wordplay, with clever turns of phrase in almost every line. The lyrical detail he brings makes every situation he paints feel remarkably surrea...
Sep 09, 2021•16 min•Ep. 71
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). Boldy James continues on his hot streak with his latest Bo Jackson album, which features production from the legendary Alchemist once again. Boldy is in top-form, blending his blunt and cold delivery with evocative imagery in his street tales that give Bo a strong sense of surrealism. However, it is the legend in this case, The Alchemist, that doesn't hold up his end of the bargain to the best of his a...
Sep 08, 2021•18 min•Ep. 70
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Beginning of Episode (0:49). Making hip-hop music well into your 40s and 50s is an astonishing feat to accomplish on its face, especially within a genre where many of the greats have sadly passed away. Legends in Black Thought, Jay-Z and Nas are not only still breathing... but are still making music at the forefront of the hip-hop scene. With Nas, his technical ability is still mostly intact, but with most or all of Nas records po...
Sep 01, 2021•19 min•Ep. 69
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Skip intro (0:49). What’s wild about my feelings on GUMBO'! ... is that it's the kind of album that I don’t typically like. Yes, surely the individual parts of this are all things I love. I love soul and jazz infused hip-hop, and thoughtful lyricism. However, more than most people, I really value cohesiveness, a sense of structure… and this album is absolutely all over the place. But somehow some way, Pink Siifu made it all flow l...
Aug 26, 2021•15 min•Ep. 68
Video animation by: Big Flowers Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Skip intro (0:49). The title of this album initially suggested to me that this would be a very urgent and emotionally visceral album. Instead, Isaiah Rashad is like that character in the burning house meme. Isaiah is genuinely so calm and relaxed on this album, while being enveloped in significant turmoil that is going on in his personal life. I'm really happy for Zay. It seems like he's genuinely in such a better place mentally.....
Aug 25, 2021•16 min•Ep. 67
