Diggin' In The Digits

Four years ago on April 10th, Diggin' In The Digits began. Since that Tuesday, we have dropped an episode every Tuesday. We've never missed a drop and have learnt so much over those four years. We celebrate with a reflection, our favourite episodes in the past year; an existential question linked to Hip-Hop's upcoming 50th birthday and we bring back Deadpan Recitals.

Thanks for spinning as we continue our journey.

TIMESTAMPS:

Weekly Music Roundup - (1:43) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• GQ - For Good Measure
• C.S. Armstrong - THE SOUTHWESTERN EP
• Chelsea Reject - Bubble Grl
• Che Lingo - Coming Up For Air
• Shame Gang - Better Late Than Never
• Vic Spencer - If George Bush Was Cool
• Brandee Younger - Brand New Life
• Planet Giza - Ready When You Are
• Rae Sremmurd - SremmLife 4
• NF - HOPE
• Rittz - MellowLOvation Music
• Curren$y x Jermaine Dupri - For Motivational Use Only Vol. 1
• Meyhem Lauren x Madlib & DJ Muggs - Champagne for Breakfast

Anniversary reflections & favourite episodes - (19:34)
Has Hip-Hop evolved? - (49:17)
Deadpan Recitals - (1:26:41)

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) - @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 this edition of "the real HHN" where we explore projects just outside of the Hip-Hop purview, we get into the works of Bryson Tiller's "T R A P S O U L" and Gorillaz' "Plastic Beach".

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:41) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• Royce Da 5'9" - The Heaven Experience
• 38 Spesh - Gunsmoke
• Ric Wilson, Chromeo & A-Trak - CLUSTERFUNK
• Dizzy Wright - Live at Daddy Macs
• Chloe - In Pieces
• B. Cool-Aid - Leather Blvd.
• Mistah F.A.B. - EYE AM
• Juicy J - Mental Trillness
• DJ Drama - I’m Really Like That
• Tyler, The Creator - CMIYGL Estate Sale
• Matt Ox - Alox
• Larry June x Alchemist - The Great Escape
• Lakecia Benjamin (Live)
• ECKOES & Erika (Live)

Plastic Beach - (21:10)
T R A P S O U L - (38:03)
Lighter Note - (56:00)

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) - @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 finish off our Women's History Month celebrations with an artist that was so close to blowing up - but with a shelved 2nd album - lost steam. It seems that whenever a female shows talent with a solid first album, it still doesn't solidify their foundations. But through it all, Rah Digga continues to shine regardless of the industry pulling the rug from under her.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:14) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• Lana Del Rey - Did you know that there's a tunnel under Ocean Blvd
• Depeche Mode - Memento Mori
• ICECOLDBISHOP - Generational Curse
• BIGBABYGUCCI - Colors
• 6LACK - Since I Have a Lover
• Hit-Boy - SURF OR DROWN
• Kool Keith - Serpent
• JPEGMAFIA X DANNY BROWN - SCARING THE HOES
• Yaya Bey - Exodus the North Star
• Adanna Duru - NAPPY HOUR
• Lady Shocker - The General
• Aza Lineage - Kingston To Cali
• Kota The Friend & Statik Selektah - To See A Sunset
• Arrested Development - On The Cutting Room Floor

Topic intro/Ben's Research House - (24:59)
Dirty Harriet - (38:02)
Everything Is a Story: The Missing Link? - (50:47)
Classic - (55:38)
WHM Debrief/Lighter Note - (1:07:19)

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) - @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 third WHM retrospective, we look at another one-and-done artist in Sweet Tee; with an additional conversation on the unique place 80s Hip-Hop artists are historically.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (0:49) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• Nix Northwest - Xin's Disappearance
• M83 - Fantasy
• U2 - Song’s of Surrender
• 100 Gecs - 10,000 Gecs
• Unknown Mortal Orchestra - V
• EST Gee - Mad
• Lil Pump - Lil Pump 2
• Princess Nokia - I Love You But This Is Goodbye

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (10:29)
It's Tee Time - (18:33)
Lighter Note - (47:03)

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) - @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 continue our Women's History Month celebrations with a look at the one & done work of Ms. Melodie: The first lady of BDP and an essential cog in the lives of many, including KRS-ONE & Big Daddy Kane.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:09) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• Nathan Kawanishi - Splashes Of Ink (Antithesis) 
• Tank and The Bangas - Pretty Poems
• The Hoodies - What Pressure Makes
• Nia Archives - Sunrise Bang Ur Head Against Tha Wall
• Murs - speak n spell
• Musiq Soulchild & Hit-Boy - Victims & Villains
• NappyHigh & Memnoc - 93Gold
• Fever Ray - Radical Romantics
• Puff 100 x E Mozzy - Clockwork
• Bones - The Witch & The Wizard
• Zaytoven - Street Credentials
• Malik Montana - Adwokat Diabla
• Iayze - Reverence
• eBK Young Joc - Hotboiiz 4
• G Perico - Hot Shot
• Miley Cyrus - Endless Summer Vacation
• August Alsina - Myself
• Conway - Pain Provided Profit
• Jim Jones - Back in my Prime

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (23:47)
Diva - (33:04)
Tangential convo about language - (50:00)
Lighter Note - (1:00:08)

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) - @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 begin our Women's History Month celebrations with the First Lady of No Limit: Mia X. Her music was unmistakably 'No Limit' but when looking past the hits, came some of the best creative cuts of the 90s.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (0:47) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• 9th Wonder - ZION VIII
• slowthai - UGLY
• Neak - Die Wurzel
• Female All-Stars - Fa To The World
• Che Noir & Big Ghost Ltd - Noir Or Never
• Masego - Masego
• Verbz, CAPRIISUN & Mr Slipz - Shore Connects
• Adi Oasis - Lotus Glow
• Yazmin Lacey - Voice Notes
• Creed III: The Soundtrack
• Kenny Mason - 3
• Zaybang - Better Off Alone
• Young Nudy - Gumbo
• Mach-Hommy x Tha God Fahim - Notorious Dump Legends 2
• Don Toliver - Love Sick
• Foolio - Final Destination
• The Weeknd - Live at SoFi Stadium
• Macklemore - BEN
• Nyokabi Kariuki - Feeling Body

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (25:43)
Good Girl Gone Bad - (34:53)
Unlady Like - (44:20)
Mama Drama - (52:48)
Lighter Note - (1:04:52)

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) - @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 boot up Contemporary Cool once again and for Volume 9 we look at the barely talked about work "7 Days Of Funk" and the blueprint for collective collaboration in The Silhouettes Project.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:42) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• New Sector Movements - These Times 
• Vic Spencer & 38 Spesh - Greenthumbs Meets Trigger Fingers
• Gorillaz - Cracker Island
• Braxton Cook - Who Are You When No One Is Watching?
• Logic - College Park
• Yeat - AfterLyfe
• Suicideboys x Shakewell - Shameless Suicide
• Key Glock - Glaucoma 2
• Blac Youngsta - Bank Appointment
• Sada Baby - SHONUFF
• Payroll Giovanni - Ghost Mode

7 Days Of Funk - (15:38)
The Silhouettes Project - (34:59)
Lighter Note - (1:02:49)

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) - @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 continue with Part 2 of our RZA retrospective with a look at his solo work which - whilst it may deliver less than desired - is an interesting creative wrinkle to one of the most versatile artists of his generation.

Weekly Music Roundup - (1:05) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• Hi-Tek - Panorama Apartments (1994 Mpc 60ii)
• Wesley Joseph - GLOW
• Nappy Nina - Mourning Due
• Kelela - Raven
• Bktherula - LVL5 P1
• Abra Cadabra - Where The Shooters Be 2
• Tony Yayo - The Loyal
• Mistah FAB - The Hyphy Era

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (9:43)
Bobby Digital in Stereo - (13:12)

Digital Bullet - (28:40)

Birth of a Prince - (42:00)

Digi Snacks - (51:23)

'Bobby Digital And The Pit Of Snakes' & 'Digital Potions' - (58:41)
Lighter Note - (1:13:32)

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) - @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 reach the last solo retrospective of Wu-Tang Clan members, finishing with the leader of it all: RZA. In the first of a two-parter, we talk about RZAs leadership as the head of the Wu dragon and his unprecedented production run.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:49) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• Coldxman - Amor Fati
• Nejma Nefertiti & Zenati - Rapoeira (EP)
• Backwood Sweetie - Sweetie Skrewed By DJ 3AM
• BigXthaPlug - AMAR
• The Vitamin Cea - What A Day
• Liv.e - Girl in the Half Pearl
• Lance Skiiwalker - Autodidactic
• Bawo - Legitimate Cause (EP)
• Monster Florence - Master System
• Horseshoe GANG 
• Shy Glizzy - Flowers
• Sierra Kid - keep it to yourself
• Shady Blu - Topic of Discussion
• Hus KingPin - A Poem in Ten Books
• Baby Stone Gorillas - The Military
• Kash Doll - Back on Dexter

The Conversation - (26:51)
Lighter Note - (1:18:38)

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) - @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

Off the back of Lil Yachty's new album, he made a comment about "wanting to be seen as an artist". This led to responses like this. We broke down the multi-layered conversation that is decades old and spans genres: Labels, eras, the leaders of said eras and what happens when they do something different.

200 episodes without missing a drop, thanks for being on this journey with us.

Charlie's 2018 piece on the subject.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:16) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• K.Keed - Tx3 II (EP)
• Evil Needle & Misha - ChillHop Beat Tapes:
• Bishop Nehru - Nehruvian Tuesdays: Volume 3
• Onoe Caponoe - Concrete Fantasia
• Jehst - Mork Calling Orson
• 2KBABY - Scared 2 Love
• Young Jr - Thug Child
• Wale the Sage - Running From Time
• jonatan leandoer96 - Sugar World
• Kevin Gates - The Luca Brasi Story A Decade Of Brasi
• 30 Deep Grimeyy - Let Me In
• Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy

The Conversation - (10:36)
Lighter Note - (1:08:06)

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) - @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