Gems Podcast with Shom

The Brazilian Record Plug for J Dilla, Madlib & Q-Tip | DJ NutsDJ Nuts found unreleased J Dilla beats on his SP-303.DJ Nuts (Rodrigo Teixeira) is arguably the best-known Brazilian DJ in the world: turntable champion, Brazilian record connoisseur, and the São Paulo beatmaker who connected a generation of hip hop producers (J Dilla, Madlib, Q-Tip, The Alchemist, Kaytranada) to rare Brazilian vinyl.On this episode of GEMS with Shom, Nuts tells the stories nobody else can: J Dilla's final trip to Brazil, the lupus diagnosis he got in São Paulo, and the unreleased Dilla beats Nuts later found on the SP-303 he sold him. He takes us from the birth of Brazilian hip hop alongside Racionais MC's and Marcelo D2, to helping Mochilla bring Brazil's legendary drummers together for Brasilintime, to the Timeless concert that brought Arthur Verocai back, and why Verocai once wanted to sue MF Doom.Plus: eating mushrooms with MF Doom, returning Milton Nascimento's first 7" to him by hand, the real origin of "baile funk," $3,000 Brazilian LPs, European bootleg labels, and his upcoming album with the late Hélcio Milito of Tamba Trio.🎧 Follow for more conversations on beat digging, vinyl collecting, hip hop, jazz, soul, funk, and Brazilian music.Records mentioned: Arthur Verocai (1972) · Célia "Na Boca do Sol" · João Donato "Me Deixa" · O Terço · Emílio Santiago "Bananeira" · Milton Nascimento & Lô Borges "Clube da Esquina" · Pedro Santos "Krishnanda" · José Mauro "Obnoxius" · Gal Costa · Cal Tjader "Aquarius"— Em português —DJ Nuts: O Plug Brasileiro dos Maiores Produtores do Hip HopDJ Nuts (Rodrigo Teixeira) é provavelmente o DJ brasileiro mais conhecido no mundo: campeão de toca-discos, especialista em disco brasileiro e o beatmaker paulistano que apresentou o vinil raro brasileiro a uma geração de produtores de hip hop, como J Dilla, Madlib, Q-Tip, The Alchemist e Kaytranada.Neste episódio do GEMS with Shom, Nuts conta histórias que ninguém mais pode contar: a última viagem de J Dilla ao Brasil, o diagnóstico de lúpus em São Paulo e os beats inéditos do Dilla que ele encontrou anos depois na SP-303 que vendeu pra ele. Do início do hip hop nacional ao lado de Racionais MC's e Marcelo D2, ao Brasilintime com a Mochilla e os grandes bateristas brasileiros, até o show Timeless que trouxe Arthur Verocai de volta, e por que o Verocai quis processar o MF Doom.E mais: devolver o primeiro compacto do Milton Nascimento nas mãos dele, a origem verdadeira do nome "baile funk", LPs de R$10 mil, gravadoras europeias de bootleg e o novo álbum com o saudoso Hélcio Milito, do Tamba Trio.🎧 Siga para mais conversas sobre digging, colecionismo de vinil, hip hop, jazz, soul, funk e música brasileira.

K-Cut of Main Source tells the story behind Breaking Atoms, the 1991 classic that introduced Nas on "Live at the Barbecue," now reissued as the Ultimate Collectors Edition with unreleased tracks, B-sides and remixes.🎧 Stream/buy Breaking Atoms (Ultimate Collectors Edition): https://lnk.site/1/breakingatomsProducer, DJ and record collector K-Cut takes us back to late-80s Queens: forming Main Source with Large Professor and Sir Scratch, late-night sessions with Paul C, signing to Wild Pitch, and hearing themselves on the radio for the first time.In this episode:• The Wild Pitch era and Main Source's first radio play• Paul C's mentorship and the production philosophy behind Breaking Atoms• The second album F*** What You Think with Mikey D• Madonna sampling Main Source on "Human Nature"• Stepping away, and how Rashad Smith brought him back to work with LL Cool J, MC Lyte, Big Pun and more• Digging culture and the records that shaped Golden Era hip hop• The 35th anniversary and the new Ultimate Collectors EditionDrop a Gem on 'Em: Gang Starr • Bob Power • Jadakiss & Sheek Louch👇 What's your favorite Main Source record? Comment below.📀 Subscribe for new full episodes every Thursday on beat digging and record culture.🌍 Dig deeper.#MainSource #BreakingAtoms #KCut #GoldenEraHipHop #VinylCulture #BeatDigging #HipHopHistory #LargeProfessor #ヒップホップ #レコード

Rich Medina, DJ, poet, and Music Director and partner at Miami’s Dante’s HiFi, joins Gems with Shom for a conversation on deep listening, longevity, and a life built around records. A fan favorite from the archive, originally released February 2026, now with a new intro.

From his early years in New Jersey to becoming one of the most respected DJs and cultural voices of his generation, Rich reflects on a career shaped by curiosity, discipline, and intention. We get into legendary residencies, global travel, poetry, education, mentorship, and what it takes to stay a lifelong student of music.

A central thread is Dante’s HiFi, Miami’s Japanese-inspired listening room. We explore listening-bar culture, jazz kissa traditions, album-focused listening, and why slowing down to truly hear music feels more necessary than ever.

In the Drop a Gem on ’Em segment, Rich shares insight on records, listening, and moving with purpose across decades.

🎙 In this episode:

• DJing as storytelling
• Jazz kissa and listening-bar culture
• Dante’s HiFi
• Poetry, academia and mentorship
• Longevity and creative survival
• The power of deep listening

This one’s for DJs, diggers, music lovers, and anyone looking for a more intentional relationship with sound.

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DJ Khalil, 3X Grammy-winning producer and half of Self Scientific, breaks down his journey from DJing house parties in LA to producing for Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Clipse, Kanye West, Anderson .Paak and Aloe Blacc.

He grew up the son of NBA All-Star Walt Hazzard, surrounded by jazz, soul and his dad’s record collection. He met Dr. Dre as a kid at a party his parents threw, and years later Dre remembered him and signed him to Aftermath. In between: sneaking his dad’s records to loop up beats, recording a demo at Ice-T’s house with Kool Keith and Diamond D, and pressing his own records with Self Scientific during LA’s independent hip hop wave.

In this episode:

• Sampling prog rock, Brazilian music and jazz fusion when everyone else sampled soul
• Moving from the ASR-10 to Reason, and how Dre taught him to use space
• How “I Made It” landed on Jay-Z’s Kingdom Come after the album was already mastered
• The stories behind “Kush,” “Kinda Like a Big Deal,” “County Building Blues,” “Heart Don’t Stand a Chance” and “The Man”
• Working with 50 Cent, Sha Money XL and the G-Unit era
• Eminem’s Recovery
• Why great producers know their role, and why he still learns from young producers

GEMS with Shom is a show about beat digging, records, production and other things.

Subscribe for more conversations with the producers, DJs and diggers who shaped the music.

#DJKhalil #DrDre #Eminem #JayZ #HipHopProducer #BeatDigging #MusicProduction #GEMSwithShom

This episode of Gems with Shom features Lord Jamar: founding member of Brand Nubian, producer, DJ, actor, and lifelong artist.From DJing house parties in New Rochelle to producing In God We Trust, developing Dead Prez, working with the Boot Camp Clik, and transitioning to acting with fantastic performances on HBO's Oz, Lord Jamar has built an extraordinary career around records, loops, and an unshakable belief in himself.Lord Jamar and Shom get into the story behind that journey: growing up on his mother's 45s, collecting breakbeat tapes from the city, learning to hear loops from Grand Puba, forming Brand Nubian with Sadat X with no demo and no group name, and teaching himself to produce by reading the MPC manual.🎙 In this episode, we dive into:- His mother's 45s, breakbeat tapes, and the records that shaped his ear- Starting as a DJ at 12 and learning to cut by studying tapes and TV clips- How Grand Puba taught him to find the magic part of a record- Forming Brand Nubian and recording their first song at Jazzy Jay's studio- The making of One for All, a five-mic classic- Why a beat invoice led him to buy an MPC 60 and produce In God We Trust himself- Working with Diamond D on "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down"- The digging story behind "Wake Up (Reprise in the Sunshine)"- The original version of A Tribe Called Quest's "Show Business"- Producing for Heltah Skeltah, OGC, and Buckshot- Developing Dead Prez as artists- Landing a role on Oz as Supreme Allah- Picking records by their cover art and digging in the digital eraLord Jamar also shares incredible stories from a lifetime in hip-hop, from pushing his turntables down Main Street in a shopping cart to turning down a spot as an extra on Oz because he knew he'd be back with a real role.The conversation goes deep into how a DJ becomes a producer, why everybody hears loops differently, what it takes to stay creative across decades, and why you have to believe you've already won in order to win.From New Rochelle house parties and Sadat X's father's record collection to classic albums and prestige television, Lord Jamar's story is ultimately about what happens when self-belief meets a great ear for records.For fans of Lord Jamar, Brand Nubian, Sadat X, Grand Puba, Diamond D, A Tribe Called Quest, Dead Prez, Boot Camp Clik, golden era hip-hop, beat digging, sampling, hip-hop production, and deep music conversations, this is a real gem.Subscribe to Gems with Shom for weekly conversations with the DJs, producers, collectors, artists, and cultural figures behind the records.#LordJamar #GemsWithShom #BrandNubian #BeatDigging #HipHopProduction #RecordCollecting #SadatX #GrandPuba #DeadPrez #GoldenEraHipHop🎙️ A show about beat digging ... records, production & other things ✨ Celebrating the art of beat digging 🎶 Jazz | Soul | Hip Hop | Global Sounds ⬇️ Full episodes & clips weekly 👉 Subscribe & listen: linktr.ee/shomghosh#beatdigging #vinylcollecting #records #hiphop #jazz #soul #funk #raregroove #production#レコードディギング #レコードコレクター #ビートディギング #ヒップホップ #ジャズ #ソウル #ファンク #日本

DJ Rhettmatic is a battle champion, producer, member of the Visionaries, and founding member of the legendary Beat Junkies.

In this episode of Gems with Shom, Rhettmatic discusses his Filipino American roots, LA’s early hip-hop scene, DJ battles, production, and the rise of the Beat Junkies. He also shares stories about J Dilla’s final European tour and the creative connection between Dilla and Madlib.

A deep conversation about DJing, beat digging, records, production, and a lifetime devoted to hip-hop.

Subscribe to Gems with Shom for more conversations about beat digging, records, and music production.

#DJRhettmatic #BeatJunkies #JDilla #Madlib #Turntablism #HipHop #BeatDigging #GemsWithShom

This episode of Gems with Shom features DJ Serious — DJ, producer, record collector, creator of the acclaimed albums Dim Sum and Cold Tea, and one of the founding members behind CrateryCon.

Ahead of CrateryCon 2026, DJ Serious and Shom get into a lifetime spent deep in records, hip-hop, DJ culture, production, and the underground.

DJ Serious traces his journey from discovering hip-hop and skate culture to getting his first turntables, becoming a working DJ, producing records, hosting college radio, throwing underground parties, and eventually releasing Dim Sum and Cold Tea.

The conversation also gets into the evolution of record digging and how DJ Serious eventually found his way back to collecting through Cratery — developing an even deeper appreciation for overlooked music, complete songs, and records that might otherwise disappear between the cracks.

🎙 In this episode, we dive into:

• Record digging, DJ culture, production, and underground hip-hop
• Dim Sum, Cold Tea, and DJ Serious’ evolution as a producer
• Working with Masta Ace and touring Europe with A-Trak
• College radio, underground parties, record stores, and creating your own platform
• Cratery, deep record knowledge, and rediscovering the excitement of digging
• CrateryCon and building a community around records, DJs, collectors, and music discovery
• Why overlooked Canadian records have become one of DJ Serious’ latest digging obsessions

DJ Serious also shares stories about working in record stores, opening his own shop Daily Operation, playing the Jazz Cafe, DJing for Lee “Scratch” Perry, stepping away from collecting, discovering photography, and eventually being pulled back into the record world.

And, of course, we Drop a Gem on ’Em — getting into Gene McDaniels, Eddie Hazel, Mighty Ryeders, Masta Ace, Clear, Run-DMC, Pete Rock, Ultimate Breaks & Beats, and some serious record knowledge along the way.

The episode also looks ahead to CrateryCon 2026, taking place September 24–27, where collectors, DJs, producers, and serious music heads come together for a weekend built around records and digging. Gems with Shom will also be there for its first live episode, featuring Gene Brown with an appearance from Jake One.

For fans of record digging, hip-hop, DJ culture, rare records, production, Cratery, underground music, and deep music conversations — this is a real gem.

Subscribe to Gems with Shom for weekly conversations with the DJs, producers, collectors, artists, and cultural figures behind the records.

#GemsWithShom #DJSerious #RecordDigging #HipHop #CrateryCon #RecordCollecting #Cratery #Vinyl #DJCulture #UndergroundHipHop #MusicProduction

Jake One joins Gems with Shom for a deep conversation about beat digging, record collecting, sampling, and a legendary career producing for some of the biggest names in music.

From digging through dollar bins in Seattle to producing records for Jay-Z, Drake, J. Cole, Rick Ross, Dr. Dre, The Weeknd, De La Soul, MF DOOM, 50 Cent, Freeway and many more, Jake One has built an extraordinary career around records, samples, and an incredible ear.

Jake and Shom get into discovering samples in his parents’ record collection, learning the art of digging alongside Seattle legend Supreme La Rock, making the influential Conmen mixtapes, and traveling across North America hunting for records before becoming one of hip-hop’s most respected producers.

They also get into working with Dr. Dre, the story behind Rick Ross and Jay-Z’s “3 Kings,” making “Rock Co.Kane Flow” with De La Soul and MF DOOM, producing for Drake and J. Cole, and Jake’s evolution beyond hip-hop through Tuxedo.

Jake shares stories from a lifetime of digging and making beats — from traveling with almost no money in search of records to hearing Funkmaster Flex drop bombs on “3 Kings” in New York and realizing his career had reached another level.

The conversation goes deep into how digging develops your ear, what separates a great beat from a great record, the producers who influenced Jake, and why collecting records remains an essential part of his creative process decades into his career.

From Seattle record stores and underground mixtapes to some of the biggest records in hip-hop, this is the story of what can happen when an obsession with records becomes a lifetime of making them.

Follow Gems with Shom for weekly conversations with the DJs, producers, collectors, artists, and cultural figures behind the records.

#JakeOne #GemsWithShom #BeatDigging #HipHopProduction #RecordCollecting

Following the incredible response to our recent episode with KON, we’re going back into the Gems with Shom archives for one of our favorite conversations — with DJ Amir, the other half of the legendary KON & Amir.

Amir is a DJ, producer, record collector, cultural historian, and founder of 180 Proof Records. Alongside KON, he helped define an era of beat digging through the legendary On Track series, introducing a generation of listeners to obscure soul, funk, jazz, rare grooves, and the original records sampled by some of hip-hop’s greatest producers.

From growing up in Boston to working at Fat Beats and Wax Poetics, Amir’s journey runs through the heart of beat-digging and record-collecting culture.

🎙 In this episode, we dive into:

• KON & Amir, On Track, rare samples, and the art of beat digging
• Kings of Diggin’, DJ Muro, and the global culture of record collecting
• Working at Fat Beats and Wax Poetics
• Digging scenes from Japan to Berlin
• Stories from a lifetime around legendary collectors, DJs, and producers
• Amir’s reflections on J Dilla
• Reviving Detroit’s Strata Records through 180 Proof Records
• Jazz, reissues, preservation, and keeping overlooked music alive

Through 180 Proof Records, Amir has continued the same spirit of discovery that made On Track essential — digging into musical history, uncovering overlooked records, and bringing incredible music back into circulation.

From hip-hop samples and rare records to Detroit jazz and digging around the world, Amir’s story is ultimately about discovery, preservation, and a lifetime devoted to music.

If you discovered Gems with Shom through the KON episode, this is the other side of the story.

Subscribe to Gems with Shom for weekly conversations with the DJs, producers, collectors, artists, and cultural figures behind the records.

#GemsWithShom #DJAmir #KONAndAmir #OnTrack #BeatDigging #RecordCollecting #JDilla #RareGroove

This episode of Gems with Shom features KON - legendary DJ, record collector, producer, and one half of KON & Amir of the famed On Track series that are core to the world of beat digging.

From growing up in Boston and witnessing hip-hop culture take shape in New York to digging for rare records around the world, KON has built a life around music, discovery, and an extraordinary ear.

KON and Shom get into the story behind KON & Amir and the legendary On Track series, which introduced a generation of listeners to obscure soul, funk, jazz, disco, and the original records sampled by some of hip-hop’s greatest producers.

The conversation follows KON’s journey from hip-hop and beat digging into disco, re-edits, remixes, house music, and production — including The Vision with Ben Westbeech and “Heaven,” Saturday Love with Fiorious, and a career that has taken him from Boston to Brazil and beyond.

🎙 In this episode, we dive into:

• KON & Amir, On Track, rare samples, and the art of beat digging
• Growing up around Boston hip-hop and witnessing the culture develop in New York
• Producing, remixing, re-editing, and the transition from hip-hop into disco and house
• The Vision, “Heaven,” Saturday Love, and KON’s evolution from hip-hop into disco and house
• Record collecting, musicianship, production, and why making a great record is about more than making a great beat

KON also shares incredible stories from a lifetime in music — playing an early show with KMD and Gang Starr, his connection to Boston hip-hop, meeting musical heroes, digging around the world, and the experiences that shaped his ear.

The conversation also takes a deeply personal turn as KON reflects on facing cancer, undergoing a bone marrow transplant, and returning cancer-free with a renewed appreciation for music, creativity, and the relationships he has built along the way.

From rare sample sources to dance floors around the world, KON’s story is ultimately about where a lifetime of listening can take you.

For fans of KON & Amir, On Track, beat digging, rare records, hip-hop samples, disco, soul, funk, house music, record collecting, production, and deep music conversations — this is a real gem.

Subscribe to Gems with Shom for weekly conversations with the DJs, producers, collectors, artists, and cultural figures behind the records.

#GemsWithShom #KON #KONAndAmir #OnTrack #BeatDigging #RecordCollecting #HipHop #Disco #RareGroove #SoulMusic #Funk #HouseMusic #MusicProduction