📺 Watch this breakdown on YouTube Dissect's Cole Cuchna breaks down Kendrick Lamar’s innovative 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show — scene by scene, lyric by lyric, symbol by symbol — to reveal a powerful narrative about the Black American experience throughout history. This is not a standard recap. This is a forensic analysis of every detail: the set design, the wardrobe, the major and minor characters, the color palette, the set list, and the cultural commentary embedded in Kendrick’s show. From t...
Apr 22, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 14Ep. 10
We're taking a few weeks off Dissect's Cole Cuchna is joined by The Ringer's Charles Holmes to discuss Kendrick Lamar's GNX and debate it's best song. There's GNX background and trivia, lyrical breakdowns, and best song nominations. They also discuss the Kendrick x Drake battle songs to see whether any of Kendrick's battle tracks make the cut. Last Song Standing is an annual show on the Dissect podcast feed that attempts to crown an artist's greatest song of all time by debating their way throug...
Apr 15, 2025•2 hr 54 min•Season 14Ep. 9
Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Purple Hearts." As the final song of Disc 1, "Purple Hearts" represents a critical juncture in the album where Kendrick calls on God to guide him through the album's emotionally wrenching second half. Kendrick also receives guidance from Ghostface Killah, who plays a Saint-like role in the story. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kev...
Apr 08, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 14Ep. 9
Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with its eighth track "We Cry Together." We interpret the song as a representation of Eckhart Tolle's concept of the pain-body, an energy field within the body comprised of accumulated, unconfronted trauma and pain. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about ...
Apr 01, 2025•43 min•Season 14Ep. 8
Our season-long examination of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Rich Spirit." Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 25, 2025•42 min•Season 14Ep. 7
Dissect's Cole Cuchna is joined by hip hop journalist Rob Markman to discuss the 10 year anniversary of Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly. Together they reflect on the album's release and reception, its enduring themes, and its legacy. Watch Rob's iconic MTV interview with Kendrick here. Follow Rob Markman on YouTube. Host: Cole Cuchna Guest: Rob Markman Video/Audio Producer: Kevin Pooler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Season 14Ep. 6
Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Rich - Interlude," a track given to controversial rapper Kodak Black. Why? Well, that's exactly the question we attempt to answer. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 11, 2025•51 min•Season 14Ep. 6
Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with a lyrical dissection of "Father Time." Kendrick confronts the mask of masculinity he inherited from his father and realizes he must transcend the toxic elements or risk passing them on to his own children. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ...
Mar 04, 2025•50 min•Season 14Ep. 5
Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Die Hard." After establishing the capacity for evil in all human beings on the previous song, "Die Hard" posits that the opposite must be true: that we all have the capacity for good, too. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...
Feb 25, 2025•37 min•Season 14Ep. 4
Our season-long dissection of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with a lyrical analysis of "Worldwide Steppers." New episodes release every Tuesday. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:25 Episode 2 Recap 01:21 "Worldwide Steppers" Intro Analysis 03:33 Meaning of "oklama" 07:25 Significance of Name Order 10...
Feb 18, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 14Ep. 3
We continue our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers with its second track "N95." Kendrick critiques the various masks we wear to fabricate our identities in our performance of self on the world's stage. New episodes of Dissect release every Tuesday. Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices....
Feb 11, 2025•56 min•Season 14Ep. 2
Dissect host Cole Cuchna shares his initial thoughts and analysis on Kendrick Lamar's Halftime performance at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 10, 2025•41 min•Season 14Ep. 1
Dissect's first VIDEO season is an 18-episode analysis of Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. After revisiting Kendrick's years-long public hiatus leading up to its 2022 release, today's episode dissects the album's opening track "United In Grief" - a song that sets up every major theme explored on the album. New episodes every Tuesday. Shop limited Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Add...
Feb 04, 2025•58 min•Season 14Ep. 1
Season 13 of Dissect begins Tuesday, February 4th. A VIDEO version of the podcast will be available on Spotify and YouTube. However, Dissect remains an audio-first experience, and has not changed from its original format. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 28, 2025•1 min
Dissect's Cole Cuchna breaks down the title, themes, and sequencing of Mac Miller's Balloonerism - a surreal exploration of mortality, addiction, and purpose. Cole dissects each song, explores the psychedelic influences of The Beatles, and places special emphasis on the album's final song "Tomorrow Will Never Know." Dissect Season 13 will premiere February 4th. Follow @dissectpodcast for clues leading up to the album reveal. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 21, 2025•2 hr 32 min•Season 13Ep. 17
Cole and Cam award their favorite music of the year across a number of categories, including Favorite Album, Favorite Song, Favorite Underground Album, Most Surprising Album, and many more. Listen to the playlist of songs featured in this episode here. Host: Cole Cuchna Guest: Camden Ostrander Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Dec 17, 2024•2 hr 44 min•Season 13Ep. 16
Dissect's Cole Cuchna is joined by Touré, King Green, and James Francis to reflect on the historic year in hip hop. They begin by revisiting the Drake and Kendrick battle, nominating their favorite song, lyrics, and quotable that came from the beef. Then they award and dissect their favorite rap lyrics of the year before closing out the show with their favorite song and album of 2024. Follow Toure, King Green, and James Francis, and check out the Rap Latte podcast. Learn more about your ad choic...
Dec 10, 2024•2 hr 54 min•Season 13Ep. 15
Alongside Rhymesayers Entertainment, Dissect is honored to premiere an unreleased interview with MF DOOM as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of MM..FOOD. Recorded in 2004 just weeks before FOOD's release, the interview spanned DOOM's entire career, including his origins as Zev Love X, his approach to writing and production, and thriving as an independent artist. Shop MM..FOOD (20th Anniversary Edition) Listen to MM..FOOD (20th Anniversary Edition) Interviewed by Kevin Beacham Produced by...
Dec 03, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 13Ep. 14
Cole and Femi discuss their first impressions of Kendrick Lamar's GNX. After sharing their first listen experience, they dissect the album's themes, concept, and provide extensive analysis on two key tracks: 'wacced out murals' and 'reincarnated.' *Recorded 11/25/24. "Squabbled Up" video released during recording so it was not discussed. Host: Cole Cuchna Guest: Femi Olutade (Dissect S5 co-author) Audio Producer: Kevin Pooler Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Nov 26, 2024•2 hr 16 min•Season 13Ep. 13
Cole and Cam share their first impressions of Tyler The Creator's CHROMAKOPIA. They discuss the album's themes and sound, share their favorite moments and features, and attempt to dissect the meaning of the project's title and concept. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 31, 2024•2 hr 31 min•Season 13Ep. 12
The rollout for Tyler The Creator's Chromakopia has been a masterclass in world building and fan engagement. Cole dissects the various video snippets, album title, and character, and speculates on possible album themes and concepts ahead of its release on October 28th. Next week, Cole will return to give his first impressions on the album. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 25, 2024•45 min•Season 13Ep. 11
Doechii joins the show to breakdown her new project "Alligator Bites Never Heal" (TDE Records). Cole and Doechii discuss the meaning behind its title and artwork, dissect some of its best lyrics, and Cole even gets to pitch her one of his wild musical conspiracy theories. Did you enjoy the convo? Let us know if you'd like to hear more artist interviews on Dissect! Hit us up @dissectpodcast on Twitter or Instagram. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Oct 08, 2024•1 hr 21 min•Season 13Ep. 10
Cole dissects Kendrick Lamar's new song unofficially titled "Watch The Party Die" and theorizes about the possibility of new album coming soon as soon as Friday the 13th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 12, 2024•41 min•Season 13Ep. 9
There's more to it than you think. Cole dissects the many references and subliminal messages in Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl announcement video. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 10, 2024•45 min•Season 13Ep. 8
The moment is here. After revisiting their entire discography over 6 episodes, Cole and Charles finally crown OutKast's Last Song Standing: the greatest OutKast song of all time. Let us know your OutKast list by filling out the template at @dissectpodcast on Twitter or IG. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles Audio: Kevin Pooler Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 20, 2024•2 hr 44 min•Season 13Ep. 7
Our journey to crown the greatest OutKast song of all time continues with the duo's classic album Aquemini. Cole and Charles discuss its creation and release, quiz each other with album trivia, and then nominate which songs should be in contention for OutKast's all time best. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles Audio Engineer: Kevin Pooler Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 13, 2024•2 hr 54 min•Season 13Ep. 6
Our journey to crown the greatest OutKast song of all time continues with an episode dedicated to Big Boi. First we cover his 2003 album Speakerboxxx and then nominate our favorite Big Boi features and solo album cuts. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Guest/Producer: Justin Sayles Audio Editing: Kevin Pooler Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Aug 06, 2024•2 hr 43 min•Season 13Ep. 5
The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown OutKast's best song ever with a special episode dedicated to Andre 3000. First, Cole and Charles revisit Andre's 2003 "solo" album The Love Below, then cover Andre's incredible catalog of feature verses. Hosts: Cole Cuchna, Charles Holmes Producer, Guest: Justin Sayles Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 30, 2024•2 hr 11 min•Season 13Ep. 4
Cole and Cam share their thoughts on Childish Gambino's new album (and soon to be film) Bando Stone & The New World. They cover the album's rollout, its exploration of genre, initial thoughts on its concept, and name their Top 3 favorite moments on the album so far. At the end of the episode, they also share their favorite albums of 2024 so far. Host/EP: Cole Cuchna Guest: Camden Ostrander Audio Engineer: Kevin Pooler Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices...
Jul 25, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Season 13Ep. 3
The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown OutKast's best song ever with the duo's 1994 debut Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik. Cole and Charles discuss the history of the album, quiz each other with trivia, and nominate the songs they feel should be in contention for OutKast's all time best. Hosts: Cole Cuchna, Charles Holmes Producer, Guest: Justin Sayles Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jul 23, 2024•2 hr 45 min•Season 13Ep. 3
