This episode of Gems with Shom features Pat Van Dyke, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and bandleader whose music bridges jazz, soul, and hip hop. Known for his live recreations of classic rap records and his deep understanding of musicianship, Pat joins Shom for a conversation about the records, rhythms, and ideas that shaped his sound.

Pat and Shom get into growing up in New Jersey, discovering records at a young age, studying jazz, making beats, and how Pat learned to merge live instrumentation with the DNA of sample-based hip hop. They also talk about his recent live replay videos, the producers and records that inspired him, and what he has learned from breaking down hip hop classics by ear.

🎙 In this episode, we dive into:

• Growing up with records, tapes, and early musical influences
• Studying jazz, making beats, and shaping his sound as a producer
• The gear, records, and producers that influenced his ear
• Recreating hip hop classics with live instruments
• What classic hip hop reveals about feel, phrasing, and musicianship

📌 About Pat Van Dyke

Pat Van Dyke is an artist, producer, composer, and session musician based in New Jersey. His work blends jazz harmony, vintage textures, live instrumentation, and hip hop rhythm into a sound that feels both modern and deeply rooted in classic music traditions. Through solo releases, collaborations, and his live replay series, Pat has built a unique lane that connects musicianship with beat culture.

This episode of Gems with Shom features 7L, one-third of Czarface. 7L is the DJ and producer behind Czarface, the cult-favorite hip-hop supergroup formed by 7L & Esoteric and Wu-Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck. Known for sample-based production, comic-book world-building, and a fiercely independent creative path, 7L has helped build one of the most original and enduring underground rap universes in hip-hop.

In this conversation, 7L and Shom go deep on records, radio, early DJing, obscure samples, underground touring, collaboration, and the long road from Massachusetts mixtapes to Red Rocks and beyond.

We discuss:
• Growing up in Massachusetts and discovering hip-hop through MTV, tapes, and roller rink DJs
• Learning to DJ, making mixtapes, and building an early production process from scratch
• The early 7L & Esoteric years, college radio, indie vinyl, and underground rap in the 90s
• Digging culture, rare records, trial and error, and the records that shaped his ear
• How Czarface came together with Inspectah Deck
• Building a cult following through music, comics, collectibles, and world-building
• Collaborating with MF DOOM, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Kool Keith, and more
• Why staying weird helped sustain a long career
• Why authenticity, curiosity, and consistency still matter in underground music

7L is a Massachusetts-raised DJ and producer whose career stretches from the independent underground rap scene of the 1990s to major collaborative projects in the modern era. Before Czarface, he built his name through 7L & Esoteric, DIY vinyl releases, college radio, and relentless digging and touring. As one-third of Czarface, he helped shape a group that became far more than a rap act. It became a full creative universe rooted in hip-hop, comics, artifacts, and cult loyalty. The group’s major collaborative releases include Czarface Meets Metal Face with MF DOOM in 2018, Czarface Meets Ghostface with Ghostface Killah in 2019, and Super What? with MF DOOM in 2021.

In this episode of Gems with Shom, I sit down with John Morrison — author, journalist, DJ, and sample-flipper from Philadelphia — for a conversation on hip-hop culture, record digging, and the evolution of music and ideas.

John’s journey starts in Philadelphia, coming up in a deeply competitive freestyle and battle rap scene. Those early experiences shaped his approach to music, performance, and creativity.

He later transitioned into writing, building a career as a journalist across platforms like NPR and beyond. We talk about how writing about music changed the way he listens, and how understanding samples, production, and context provides a deeper perspective on the culture.

A key theme in this conversation is the role of politics in art. John reflects on a time when hip-hop carried clear perspectives — when artists engaged with the world and pushed listeners to think. Today, that layer often feels less present. This isn’t about agreement or disagreement, but about the importance of having a point of view.

We also discuss Philly’s influence, beat making as a lifelong practice, the connection between hip-hop and jazz, and why digging and context still matter.

A conversation about music, culture, and really listening.

Diallo Riddle: Music, Comedy & Storytelling | Best Of Episode

One of the most requested episodes of Gems with Shom is back.

In this conversation, I sit down with Diallo Riddle — actor, writer, director, DJ, and host of The One Song Podcast — for a wide-ranging discussion on music, comedy, and storytelling.

From DJing in college to working on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon — including the iconic “Slow Jam the News” with President Obama — Diallo shares stories from across his career and how those experiences shaped his creative perspective.

We also go deep into music.

From sampling and beat digging to the influence of ’90s hip hop, Diallo breaks down how great songs work — where they come from, why they last, and how they connect across genres and eras.

This is a conversation about more than music — it’s about understanding it.

In this episode:
• DJing in college and early influences
• Working on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
• The origins of The One Song Podcast
• Sampling, beat digging, and ’90s hip hop
• Why great music is meant to be studied, not just heard

If you’re into music, culture, and creative storytelling — this is a good one.

Why do STLNDRMS’ drums hit different? This is the story behind the sound.

STLNDRMS — DJ, producer, curator, and Founder/Creative Director — joins Gems with Shom for a conversation on beat culture, creative independence, and building a life through music.

From Detroit roots to a global upbringing across Europe and Japan, STLNDRMS shares how early exposure to records, hip-hop, and Black music shaped his sound and set him on a path of lifelong creation.

We explore his journey from early production and recording to touring, building community, and ultimately transitioning into full-time music — creating multiple revenue streams through drum kits, events, photo and video production, streaming, and creative direction.

At the center of it all is consistency and community — from early live streams that connected him with key figures in beat culture, to collaborating with artists and mentors around the world.

We also dive into:

• Crafting elite drum sounds and signature drum kits
• Analog recording techniques and studio philosophy
• The balance between art and business in a creative career
• Beat culture, live performance, and global community
• Lessons from DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Playlist Retreat
• Building consistency and creating your own lane

This is a conversation about discipline, creativity, and longevity — and a real look at what it takes to turn passion into something sustainable.

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#BeatCulture #DrumKits #MusicProduction #DJCulture #CrateDigging #GemsWithShom

STLNDRMS: Elite Drums, Consistency, and Community

A DJ and record collector with an incredible archive of rare vinyl, Shima brings a deep knowledge of music, culture, and the art of digging. The conversation covers digging in Japan, the collector’s mindset, and the transition from being a bedroom DJ to playing for crowds.

From growing up as a fourth-generation Japanese American in California surrounded by music to discovering hip-hop, Shima reflects on the early influences that shaped his ear and set him on a lifelong path of collecting.

We explore his journey through underground hip-hop, mixtape culture, and college radio, as well as his experiences digging in Japan, from searching for rare records to feeling at home in record stores across Tokyo and beyond.

We explore:

• Growing up in Sacramento and discovering hip-hop
• Underground hip-hop, mixtape culture, and early influences
• Digging in Japan and global record culture
• The collector’s mindset and what separates DJs from collectors
• Record rarity, first pressings, and long-term value
• “Putting up stats” and documenting rare finds
• And more

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In this episode of Gems with Shom, I sit down with Jay Stewart — music executive, DJ, exhibit curator, and founder of one of the most fascinating hip-hop artifact collections in the world: The Jay Stewart Collection.

Jay’s story begins in Queens, New York, growing up during the golden era of hip-hop and the early foundations of the culture. From there, he built a remarkable career across the music industry.

Jay worked as a promotional rep at Rawkus Records, helping break artists like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Big L, before moving into major label marketing roles at MCA, Geffen, Interscope, and Universal. Along the way, he helped promote albums from artists like Common, The Roots, Mary J. Blige, and Blink-182.

Over the years, he quietly built an incredible archive of rare hip-hop promotional posters, memorabilia, and artifacts — items that once lived in record stores, radio stations, and label offices during the golden era of physical music culture.

Today, that archive has become The Jay Stewart Collection, a traveling exhibit celebrating hip-hop’s visual and promotional history. Pieces from his collection have even appeared in the Sotheby’s Hip Hop Auction, placing these artifacts alongside fine art and cultural history.

In this conversation, we explore Jay’s journey through the music industry, the lost art of physical music promotion, and why preserving hip-hop’s visual history still matters today.

🎧 Drop a Gem On ’Em segment includes:
Kenny Burke • M.O.P. • Big L • Mos Def • MF DOOM • J Dilla • Tribe Called Quest • Prodigy & Alchemist • Kid Cudi • Nonchalant

Wyldeflower, radio host, DJ, and experiential producer, joins the show for a conversation on records, radio, travel, and the rituals that shape her life.

From growing up in Los Angeles surrounded by mariachi to discovering Wu-Tang Clan and the deeper worlds of jazz, soul, and Brazilian music, Wyldeflower reflects on the experiences that shaped her ear.

She also shares stories about her friendship with legendary Brazilian composer Arthur Verocai, and how his music, and the broader world of Brazilian sound, continues to inspire beat diggers, collectors, and musicians.

We explore her journey through the LA creative scene, working alongside communities like Mochilla, Art Don’t Sleep, and Dublab, and how those experiences led her to the airwaves at KCRW, where she continues to champion new and classic sounds from around the world.

We explore:

• Growing up in Los Angeles and discovering hip-hop, punk, and global music
• Finding her voice through DJing, radio, and experiential production
• Record digging trips across Brazil and the thrill of finding rare vinyl
• Traveling the world through music, from Rio and São Paulo to Japan
• The ritual and philosophy behind collecting and playing records

In our “Drop a Gem on ’Em” segment, we touch on:

• Gal Costa
• Alice Coltrane
• Sun Ra
• Funkadelic
• Roy Ayers
• D’Angelo
• Sly & The Family Stone
• And many more

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We sit down with K-Cut of Main Source — producer, DJ, and record collector — for a conversation on the origins of Main Source, the making of the classic album Breaking Atoms, his evolution as a producer, digging culture, and what comes next.

From growing up between Queens and forming Main Source alongside Large Professor and Sir Scratch, K-Cut takes us back to the origins — late-night studio sessions working with Paul C, and building what would become one of the most important albums of the Golden Era: Breaking Atoms.

We explore:

• The early Wild Pitch era and hearing Main Source on the radio• Mentorship under Paul C• The group’s evolution and the second album Fuck What You Think with Mikey D• Reinvention and finding a new wave of success

K-Cut opens up about stepping away from the spotlight and how producer Rashad Smith helped bring him back into the fold, leading to work with LL Cool J, MC Lyte, Big Pun, and more.

We close with the next chapter: new Main Source music arriving around the 35th anniversary of Breaking Atoms.

In our “Drop a Gem on ’Em” segment, we touch on:

• Gang Starr• Bob Power• Jadakiss & Sheek Louch

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In this episode of Gems with Shom, a show about beat digging, records, and other things, we sit down with Jaeki Cho, ex rap journalist turned world traveler and founder of Righteous Eats and Creators Lunch, for a wide ranging conversation on rap media, world travel, and cultural identity. Jaeki reflects on growing up in Queens in the late 90s, discovering hip hop before the algorithm era, and entering rap journalism at XXL Magazine during the final years of print media. We discuss storytelling, revision, media literacy, and why journalistic rigor still matters in today’s fast moving media landscape.

As always, the conversation connects back to beat digging and record culture. From Mobb Deep and Wu Tang Clan to jazz samples and global sound exploration, we explore how hip hop sampling opened the door to deeper musical discovery and how digging through records becomes a gateway to understanding history, migration, and identity.

The conversation expands into world travel, from Mongolia to Morocco, Singapore to Istanbul, and how movement across borders reshapes identity. Jaeki breaks down his concept of “third culture,” the remixing of global identities, and why community matters more than ever in a fragmented digital age.

We also dive into:

Mobb Deep, The Alchemist, and Wu-Tang Clan
Sampling as cultural exchange
Record collecting as connection
Running marathons as discipline
Racism abroad and perspective at home
Why storytelling is more important than ever

This is a conversation about hip hop and beat digging, but it is also about global travel, media, philosophy, and building something meaningful.

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