Before Jaz-O's legacy was watered down to "the guy who put Jay-Z on", Jaz-O had a career of his own and highlights of his own that deserved be looked at with a fresh lens.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:21)
Charlie:

• Chenayder - Outdated 
• Yard Act - You're Gonna Need A Little Music 
• Captains of the Imagination - You Owe Me Tears
• Namesbliss - where's bliss? 
• Mad Skillz - A Hero And A Villain
• Nines - Lost Tapes
• Mellow Mood & Paulo Baldini DubFiles - 7 DUB
• Rico Nasty - RX
• WILLOW - The Thread

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (10:33)

Word to the Jaz - (15:48)

To Your Soul - (25:23)

Kingz Kounty - (35:06)

Lighter Note - (50:42)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

It's our 15th edition of Neighbours where we talk about records that aren't technically Hip-Hop but either share elements or are influential in Hip-Hop circles. This edition, we go full British, getting into a Trip-Hop essential and a Downbeat classic. 

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (0:59)
Ben:

• Rome Streetz - Sock it 2 My Pocket
• Rick Ross - Set in Stone
• Syd - Beard
• Steve Lacy - Oh yeah?

Charlie:

• Nomi. - sweet talk
• JamesThe3rd - Salute
• Adrian Younge - Afro-Disco Makossa
• BackRoad Gee - Live In The Flesh
• Ambré - PEYOTE
• CK The Spitta - Strictly 4 The Underground
• Nia Archives - Emotional Junglist
• Steve Lacy - Oh yeah? 
• Syd - Beard

Dummy - (12:44)
In A Space Outta Sound - (36:43)
Lighter Note - (56:23)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

Initially under the wing of KRS-ONE, the duo Channel Live made minor waves in the mid-90s but due to lack of sonic identity, their three albums all feel drastically different, even if their lyrical content contained a healthy amount of substance & social commentary.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (0:42)
Charlie:

• Olympia Vitalis - Lady Luck
• Jaz Karis - Twenty Something
• GUINEVERE - Kiss The Sun
• Nate Smith, Kiefer, CARRTOONS & Kenneth Blume - FATHERS
• Tenderlonious - Africa/Brass (Live) (Artwork By Charlie!)
• Kelela - new avatar
• Baby Rose - YEARNALISM
• Joe James - The Ends, Never Ends

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (9:21)
Station Identification - (12:46)
Armaghetto - (21:15)
Secret Science Rap - (28:30)
Lighter Note - (38:14)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

We're officially halfway through 2026, so it's time for our Mid-Year report where we take stock of the year so far - from the music dropped to some of the stories that transpired - and look forward to the rest of the year! 

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:02)
Ben:

• Future - The Real Me
• Lance Skiiiwalker - #invite,sessions,only!!

Charlie:

• The Deli - Kaleidoscope
• Alewya - Zero
• Naomi Sharon - No Sleep In Paradise 

Revisiting Hip-Hop Media - (8:45)
Notable Projects So Far - (31:11)
Projects We're Looking Forward To - (1:07:51)
Lighter Note - (1:16:14)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

In our Geto Boys double bill, we now get into the most notable artist in the group: Scarface. One of the least talked about legends in Hip-Hop history where Scarface acolytes can make a case for him being the GOAT. So, does the discography warrant such praise?

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (0:59)
Ben:

• NappyHigh - REDaze

Charlie:

• Gwen Bunn - The Interim, Vol. 1
• Ryder - RYDERHOOD 3
• Nia Smith - Payback Is A Dog
• Common Saints - Age of Illusions
• EAST WEST Honey (Lyric Jones & Wake The Wild) - Nothin' Sweeter
• NappyHigh - REDaze
• Madeon - Victory
• The Offline - Révisé
• The Doppelgangaz - Beats For Brothels, Vol. 9
• BALTHVS - Transmutations
• kwn - and all pride aside 
• RASiDA - POTENTIAL
• Tia Gordon - i asked the stars for this. x
• Zilo - Ready To Bloom
• Kelissa - THE GOOD SIDE OF THINGS
• The League of Rebelz - Jam House
• LOX - The Eight Gates

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (20:11)

Mr. Scarface Is Back - (24:53)

The World Is Yours - (28:06)

The Diary - (33:42)

The Untouchable - (38:43)

My Homies - (43:41)

The Last of a Dying Breed - (46:28)

The Fix - (50:01)

My Homies Part 2 - (53:44)

Made - (1:00:08)

Emeritus - (1:03:14)

Deeply Rooted - (1:10:02)

Lighter Note - (1:12:52)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

Hailing from 5th Ward, Geto Boys went through a few line-ups before settling on the three we consider the full cast: Willie D, Bushwick Bill and Scarface. But a whole lot of music happened in the nearly 20 year run and a whole lot of movement between them and a supporting cast happened as well.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup -(0:50)
Ben:

• Benny the Butcher- The Plugs I Met 2.5
• Hard-Fi - Sweating Someone Else's Fever
• YG - The Gentleman's Club
• T.I. - Kill the King

Charlie:

• Mild Temperance & intrepid.fox - Daydream
• Kaicrewsade - kranberry
• Tierra Whack - WHACK'S MUSEUM
• Jah Version - Gather Round
• Orbital Ensemble - Continua
• PJ Morton - Saturday Night / Sunday Morning 
• Aza Lineage - Rebel Daawta

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (19:14)

Making Trouble - (23:14)

Grip It! On That Other Level - (32:35)

We Can't Be Stopped - (40:59)

Till Death Do Us Part - (52:05)

The Resurrection - (1:01:20)

Da Good da Bad & da Ugly - (1:07:41)

The Foundation - (1:15:01)

Lighter Note - (1:21:57)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

What began as a Grammy Award-winning group out of the gate, Arrested Development - led by rapper/producer Speech - are still the same in their ethos even though many members have come & gone and the mainstream binned them after their sophomore album. Nearly 40 years later, they're still creating accessible Hip-Hop with positive and incisive commentary.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:33)
Ben:

• Death Cab for Cutie - I Built You a Tower

Charlie:

• Awon & The Other Guys - Solidified
• Will Kobus & Mettaworldzeke - it's only as deep as you make it 
• Seu Jorge - The Other Side
• Khrysis - Khrysis On The Boards v.3
• aja Monet - the color of rain

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (8:05)
3 Years, 5 Months and 2 Days in the Life Of... - (11:06)
Zingalamaduni - (18:02)
Heroes of the Harvest - (22:23)
Among the Trees - (24:52)
Since the Last Time - (28:13)  
Strong - (31:00)
Standing at the Crossroads - (34:08)
Changing the Narrative - (36:06)
This Was Never Home - (39:29)
Craft & Optics - (42:36)
Don't Fight Your Demons - (46:58)
For the Fkn Love - (49:09)
Bullets In The Chamber - (53:57)
Adult Contemporary Hip Hop - (56:39)
Lighter Note - (1:02:38)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

Goodie Mob is one of those interesting entities that make you ask yourself: Do I like [artist] evolving their sound & style? When it comes to Goodie Mob, for Ben it's yes, for Charlie, it's no. Who's right?*

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (0:57)
Ben:

• Vince Staples - Cry Baby
• Genesis Owusu - RESDTAR WU
• Broken Social Scene - Remember the Humans
• Modest Mouse - An Eraser and a Maze
• Skrillex - SOMA

Charlie:

• Konyikeh - Cinere
• Latanya Alberto - Seen
• Charlie Hunter, Corey Fonville, Andrew Randazzo & DJ Harrison - Space Bomb
• Lakecia Benjamin - We Dream
• Sparklmami - in this body 

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (9:22)

Soul Food - (12:44)

Still Standing - (23:02)

World Party - (32:34)

One Monkey Don't Stop No Show - (38:29)

Age Against the Machine - (45:26)

Survival Kit - (54:00)

Lighter Note - (1:02:50)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

*We both are.

The duo of Blu & Exile came together out of orbiting similar circles in an 00s Underground that didn't have a 1 MC, 1 Producer duo of note. They in turn created a cult classic out the gates. Now - after an eight year hiatus in the middle - they're creating what could be considered their best work.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:00)
Ben:

• JPEGMAFIA - Experimental Rap
• Neurosis - An Undying Love for a Burning World
• Digitalism - Optimism
• Boards of Canada - Inferno

Charlie:

• Evidence & Monday Night - Football
• Sylvan LaCue - Hoarding: A Memoir by Sylvan LaCue
• 38 Spesh - 8 Shots
• Harvs Le Toad - Between Lilypads
• heavensouls - westside trapped
• Jada & S14H - THE ZENITH
• Jon Onabowu - Now's The Time 
• IYAMAH - chapter five
• Jalen N'Gonda - Doctrine of Love
• Vince Staples - Cry Baby
• Labrinth - COSMIC OPERA ACT II

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (19:54)

Below the Heavens - (26:03)

Give Me My Flowers While I Can Still Smell Them - (43:28)

Miles: From an Interlude Called Life - (52:25)

Love (the) Ominous World - (1:04:50)

Time Heals Everything - (1:10:07)

Lighter Note - (1:17:02)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

For our 19th edition of Contemporary Cool, we get into the third instalment of Kid Cudi's "Man On The Moon" series and the most Bomb Squad sounding album from Chuck D in decades.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (0:51)
Ben:

• Drake: ICEMAN, MAID OF HONOUR & HABIBTI

Charlie:

• A-F-R-O - Blood Rain
• Valtteri Laurell & Ricky-Tick Big Band - Visions of Dilla
• Sonedo - From Here On Out
• Solene - Femme Fatale 
• Cosima - Outsider Music Vol. 1: you don't know what you want, do you?
• JuJu Rogers - Pink Guitars, Spaceships N Voodoo Dolls
• Thee Marloes - Di Hotel Malibu
• Alsogood - 1000 Smiles
• Nightmares On Wax & Adrian Sherwood - In A Space Outta Dub

Man On The Moon III: The Chosen - (12:30)
Chuck D Presents Enemy Radio: Radio Armageddon - (31:44)

Lighter Note - (48:03)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence