Diggin' In The Digits

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

In a DITD/WG double up, I talk to DJ & author Amani Roberts off the back of his book The Quiet Storm. In this talk, we get to know his background, his roots in DJing; how the book originated from a thesis, R&B and Hip-Hop groups; African-American Media and we finish off with a Lighter Note and a Top 5! 

Don't say I don't spoil you!

Weekly Music Roundup:
Charlie:

• Vic Spencer - Inspire Your Idols
• Dua Saleh - Of Earth & Wires
• Nick Grant - Smile 
• Nappy Nina & Swarvy - Sow & So
• Tank And The Bangas - The Last Balloon
• Brother Wallace - Electric Love 
• Jasmine Myra - Where Light Settles
• Psyché - Psyché II 

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

After covering Organized Konfusion last week & Pharoahe Monch the week before, we finish our OK explorations with the other half of the duo: The unsung Prince Po. 

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

• Action Bronson - Planet Frog
• Kneecap - FENIAN
• Cookin soul x Estee nack - AL-ANDALUS
• Tiga - Hot Life
• Little Simz- Sugar Girl
• Foo Fighters - Your Favourite Toy

Charlie:

• Blue Lab Beats - The Blue Lab Beats Show
• Little Simz - Sugar Girl
• Mr. Williamz & Reggae Roast (not Toast!) - We Run The Scene
• JWords - Sound Therapy
• Denzel Himself - Neighbourhood
• Action Bronson - Planet Frog
• AZ - Doe Or Die III
• RADIOHOP - HARD TO HANDLE

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (14:24)

The Slickness - (19:57)

(Couldn't find Prettyblack online unfortunately)

Saga of the Simian Samurai - (30:13)

Animal Serum - (39:15)

Lighter Note - (47:24)

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

After exploring Pharoahe Monch last week, we now get into his pre-solo life with Prince Po as the duo Organized Konfusion. Three albums with unfaltering production, dexterous lyrics and flows that need to be heard to truly understand how good these two were as a rap duo.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:01)
Ben:

• Isaiah Rashad - IT'S BEEN AWFUL
• Billy Danze - The Answer
• NEMS - I Should Boom You

Charlie:

• India Shawn - Subject To Change
• Tiara Thomas - Make It Make Sense
• Curren$y, Wiz Khalifa & Harry Fraud - Roofless Records For Drop Tops: Disc 1
• Curren$y, Wiz Khalifa & Harry Fraud - Roofless Records For Drop Tops: Disc 2
• Oddisee & Heno. - From Takoma With Love
• Opek - TRAFO
• Isaiah Rashad - IT'S BEEN AWFUL
• Kehlani - Kehlani

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (19:17)
Organized Konfusion - (20:25)
Stress: The Extinction Agenda - (39:41)
The Equinox - (51:46)
Lighter Note - (1:05:31)

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

If you're like most people and only familiar with Pharoahe Monch when "Simon Says" is played, you're actually missing one of the clearest paths of evolution from a rapper in terms of subject matter and maturity as an artist.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:20)
Ben:

• Blu & Exile - Time Heals Everything
• Kehlani - Kehlani
• Akon - BEAUTIFUL DAY
• REASON - Moving Towards Love_PINK

Charlie:

• Joya Mooi - All The Things
• Jordan Rakei - Between Us
• Agnes Nunes - Novela
• Mary Ann Alexander - Love Or A Lesson
• Olivia Escuyos - Yours Truly
• Guvna B - This Bed I Made
• April + Vista - Traditional Noise
• Jai'Len Josey - Serial Romantic
• REASON - Moving Towards Love_PINK
• Anthony Joseph - The Ark

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (16:09)
Internal Affairs - (22:10)
Desire - (38:59)
W.A.R. (We Are Renegades) - (51:22)
P.T.S.D: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - (59:43)
Lighter Note - (1:11:46)

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

RZA has always been a busy man and it was no different in the 90s where he featured in supergroup Gravediggaz - birthed by at-the-time veteran of the industry Prince Paul - unleashing a Horrorcore group with an essential debut, only for the 2nd & 3rd albums to change up in subject matter and in the end only containing Poetic & Frukwan that kept the group alive.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (0:56)
Ben:

• NugLife - The Beat Dispensary 4
• Red Cafe - Once in a Red Moon
• Hus KingPin - THREESOME 6
• Flee Lord - Everything I Never Said
• BTS - ARIRANG
• U2 - Easter Lily EP
• M.I.A. - M.I.7
• Yaya Bey - Fidelity

Charlie:

• Adrian Younge - Younge 
• Jesirae - Mama It's A Renaissance 
• S. Fidelity - Guess I'll Never Learn
• Hollie Cook - Shy Girl In Dub! 
• Yaya Bey - Fidelity 
• Protoje - The Art of Acceptance
• Blu & Exile - Time Heals Everything

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (16:16)

6 Feet Deep - (22:09)

The Pick, the Sickle and the Shovel - (32:00)

Nightmare in A-Minor - (43:21)

Lighter Note - (54:17)

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 finally get to Part 2 of our J. Cole retrospective. (Listen to Part 1 here) Whilst the first half of his discography speak for themselves, Cole finishes his stretch of solo albums with a litany of appearances outside of the albums that unfortunately colour his works, culminating in a discography that - whilst unmistakably Cole - is riddled with artistic potholes. 

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (0:58)
Charlie:

• Xzibit, B-Real & Demrick - This Thing Of Ours
• Arima Ederra - A Rush To Nowhere 
• TrueMendous & Bear. - Break Offline, Before I Have a Breakdown Online
• Wesley Joseph - Forever Ends Someday
• SURF GANG - POMPEII // UTILITY 
• Raye - THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE.

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (10:54)
4 Your Eyez Only - (13:09)
KoD - (26:14)
The Off-Season - (37:39)
The Fall Off - (47:37)
Lighter Note - (1:09:43)

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

On April 10th, we celebrated our 7th anniversary! To celebrate - emphasising the education we've given ourselves over the years - we picked seven albums that we probably would've never spun if it weren't for the Podcast.

Happy birthday to us! And whether you've been here for this episode, the first or any in between, we appreciate you.

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

• underscores - u
• Cal Scruby - The Devil You Know
• Cal Scruby - The Devil You Don't
• Robyn - Sexistential
• RAYE - THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE

Charlie:

• Ego Ella May - Good Intentions 
• Arlo Parks - Ambiguous Desire 
• SoulChef - Raw Silk
• Thundercat - Distracted
• Alex Isley - When The City Sleeps

Ben's 1st Pick - (16:30)
Charlie's 1st Pick - (20:10)
Ben's 2nd Pick - (22:43)
Charlie's 2nd Pick - (26:28)
Ben's 3rd Pick - (29:56)
Charlie's 3rd Pick - (32:23)
Ben's 4th Pick - (36:13)
Charlie's 4th Pick - (39:31)
Ben's 5th Pick - (44:06)
Charlie's 5th Pick - (46:51)
Ben's 6th Pick - (51:00)
Charlie's 6th Pick - (54:36)
Ben's 7th Pick - (59:20)
Charlie's 7th Pick - (1:02:21)
Lighter Note - (1:09:57)

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