Normally we have an interview with a rapper, producer, or a writer. On this week's episode we are talking to Namir Blade, a performer who rejects such limiting labels and prefers to be referred to as an artist. He just released a new album, Metropolis on Mello Music Group and we are intrigued by his utilization of multiple vocal techniques, his production prowess, and his general swag. In the opening segment we begin to reckon with ELUCID's massive new album I Told Bessie. Demone in particular has some nuanced takes that may help newcomers understand the great MC's unique technique. Perhaps we will delve further into that in the near future. DBRP is a proud part of the Stony Island Audio podcast network.

On this week's episode we run down our favorite rap records of the year so far. We recommend probably a dozen or so albums to listen to if you want to understand what is relevant, what is dope, and what this time period sounds and feels like. Special attention is paid to work by Quelle Chris, billy woods, Earl Sweatshirt, Pusha T, Lekeili 47, Defcee and more. Beat submitted by friend of the program Rob Sonic and we appreciate the contribution. DBRP is a proud part of the Stony Island Audio network, the internet's premier outlet for nuanced discussion of the art of hip-hop.

After a few weeks absorbing the lengthy and complicated new album, we are finally ready to talk about the new Kendrick Lamar record. Hosts Demone, David and Nate each highlight a specific track and we discuss the album's overall themes and place in his stellar discography. After that we have an interview with the rapper formerly known as Icon The Mic King, these days known simply as Mic King, who has a thriving career in marketing and strategy as well as continuing to release bar-heavy music. We dig into his influences, battle history, albums and his interesting digital presence. Beats for this week's show were submitted by Cornerian Flight Academy and friend of the program badgalriedy aka music writer Jack Riedy. DBRP is a proud part of the Stony Island Audio podcast network, home of the recently-announced return of Open Mike Eagle's acclaimed interview show Secret Skin.

DBRP is your go-to source for engaging interviews with the authors of prominent hip-hop books and this week we have a double dose of conversation hot off the presses. First up Lance Scott Walker, author of DJ Screw A Life In Slow Revolution joins us from Texas to discuss his book's intriguing structure and to recommend the definitive Screw track for us relative novices. Then we have a conversation with Paul Cantor, author of Most Dope: The Extraordinary Life of Mac Miller, as well as Paul's long career as a prominent music journalist. We really enjoyed speaking with both of these gentlemen, and talking with them about their process and the initial reaction to their books' announcements shows a heavy skepticism from artists' online fan communities that boils down to one very serious question: Who is allowed to write biographies of artists who are no longer with us? We talk about that a bit in the segments. Beats this week were submitted by K from Father Hoods Podcast and we appreciate the contribution. DBRP (and Father Hoods for that matter) are part of the Stony Island Audio podcast network.

This week's guest is musician, designer, producer, and hip-hop lifer Real Bad Man. We took notice of Real Bad Man a few years ago upon the release of the collaborative album with Boldy James. We later found out that the music is just one component of the overall Real Bad Man project, which is also a well known street wear brand and creative agency. Real Bad Man has released a string of compilations with an impressive array of MCs and will drop another full length album with Boldy shortly. We also chat about our recent visit to LA for an awesome event . DBRP is brought to you by the good people at Stony Island Audio, a hip-hop storytelling podcast network.

Great conversation this week with one of our favorite contemporary artists, the incomparable Quelle Chris. Back again for his second interview with us, and somehow still on the tour that he was on last time we spoke, we are primarily addressing his new album Deathfame. The record is a lamentation about the music industry and the inherent conflicts between art and commerce, but most strikingly, a brilliant hip-hop album from a gifted artist who is conversant in many different styles of songcraft. We also discuss the new Kendrick Lamar song and talk about the live event we are doing in LA soon. DBRP is a proud part of the Stony Island Audio podcast network.

Planet Asia is an absurdly dope and prolific MC who has been an underground mainstay for many years. We were happy to talk to him about some of the many albums and projects he has coming up, his vault of unreleased material, and how you only get to be the new guy and subject to label bidding wars once in a lifetime. In the intro segment Nate and Demone talk new rap releases, effectively recommending some fresh new albums for you to get obsessed with. DBRP is a proud part of the Stony Island Audio podcast network.

This week we are joined by the excellent rapper Wordsworth. He is a hip-hop lifer, a deeply clever MC and an icon of the cypher era. Wordsworth may be best known for a standout verse on Black Star's album and for The Lyricist Lounge Show, a sketch comedy show that was based on the popular live event and compilation series. We chop it up about his writing stye, his older and newer work, and a lot more. In the intro segment Nate and Demone talk about hip-hop TV shows and why so few of them seem to portray the culture accurately. Beats this week are from friend of the program Small Pro and we appreciate the contribution. DBRP is a proud part of the Stony Island Audio podcast network, home to many vital hip-hop shows that deserve your attention.

This week we are speculating about major upcoming rap releases and possibly specious retirement announcements in the first segment. Then we are speaking to two Chicago-based artists who just released a very good record. First up we have a quick check-in with rapper Defcee, and then a longer conversation with producer Boathouse, the two talented artists behind All Debts Public And Private, a new release from Closed Sessions. DBRP is brought to you by Stony Island Audio, a hip-hop podcast network.

This week we are blessed to be joined by returning guests billy woods and Preservation, the duo behind the incredible new album Aethiopes on Backwoodz Studioz. We hold woods in high regard as a writer and honestly think he's the best MC in the game currently so it is always a pleasure to discuss the craft of rhyme writing and the deep references in his work. Preservation may not be a household name even among underground hip-hop heads but he has been involve din some stellar projects over the years and his profile is rising considerably based on his unique sample choices and arrangements. Beats this week were submitted by Toast.Hawaii aka friend of the program Spectacular Diagnostics, make sure to seek out this new work. DBRP is but one facet of the complicated rube goldberg machine known as Stony Island Audio.