Gary Suarez is a writer and podcaster who founded CABBAGES, a media outlet and podcast dedicated to covering independent artists. A Queens, New York native, Gary has contributed to esteemed publications such as The Quietus, Forbes, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, The New York Times, NPR, and more. In this special two-hour year-end finale, Gary joins us to share his favorite albums of 2024—including standout projects from Cavalier, Roc Marciano, Vayda, and Your Old Droog—and reflect on the journey of launching his own publication and podcast via a newsletter during the pandemic, back when having a Substack wasn’t as common for journalists as having a cellphone. We explore his experiences breaking into music writing in the days when advance copies arrived by USPS, his perspective on covering independent artists, the use of samples in Jersey club and drill music, the “rap trap” that is pain music, and his Top 5 songs of the moment. Come for the year-end album breakdown, and stay for the tangents on cringe vulnerability in hip-hop and the legacy of Jay-Z and more.

Aurielle Sayeh is a mom, creative director, brand consultant, strategist, creator, and DJ based in Los Angeles. A true multi-hyphenate, she shares how she got her start in culture through modeling and DJing in Paris and Amsterdam back in 2013. As an Atlanta native who hustled her way through the global zeitgeist, Aurielle reflects on her journey of tapping into different creative scenes and building relationships and collaborating with brands like Adidas and VFILES. To be in the club—or not to be in the club—north of 30: that is the question. We also dive into topics like patriotism, how it’s kind of like an ex, as well as the differences in creativity between LA and NY. Aurielle talks about her work in the wellness space, while Yash shares his own self-care regimen and more in this soothing episode—arguably the closest thing to a sound bath we’ve ever had.

Yash breaks down the newly released Yak Ballz EP titled 'YOUNG YASHAR' produced by longtime collaborator Mondee. This marks the first official Yak Ballz music in over a decade.

Listen to 'YOUNG YASHAR' HERE

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Cambrian Strong can't be boxed in. The Memphis, TN native and co-CEO of Drumatize Music Group with Tay Keith, whom he also manages, comes on the show to talk about how he figured out being of service in the music industry is the way he would build his brand. He tells us how being an athlete in high school gave him his work ethic and despite having a family who all pursued music as a career, he never saw being an artist as a viable path for himself. Instead he explains that his pursuit of advertising, graphic design, and media lead him to where he is today. He tells about Memphis' love for Gucci Mane and how his relationship with Tay Keith developed. We talk about how they took it from the local scene in the city to the masses with BlocBoy JB's "Look Alive" in just one year as a team and then to the moon. He also gets into how they were early on Sexyy Red which blossomed into a partnership with her team. Tap in for all of the above and much more game on this banger.

Joseph Pepin is a music manager extraordinaire and A&R consultant from New Jersey. He joins us from Austin, Texas where he is based to talk all things music industry related; from his background as a kid enamored by bands and shows happening in Asbury Park to street teaming and managing bands which lead to his days as a plucky A&R at Island Def Jam Mercury. We talk about the differences between being a music manager and an A&R person and how he helps Primary Wave's catalogue music get re-imagined by contemporary artists. He tells us about his management clients including Kumo99 and Goldford, how Johan Lenox adds the sauce to huge songs and albums, and the not so secret weapons that are producers Donny Bravo and Charlie Heat. We talk about him co-founding 'Nowhere Coffee Club' coffee company, the ritual that involves making French Press, and Yash's fastidiousness about barista blend almond milk consistency. Capping off the episode is Joe's Top 5 featuring songs from Quadeca, Jamie XX, Maruja and more.

This week Yash returns with a solo pod mega mix featuring 10 songs to cruise to in your car or commute. Let it rock.

This episode features Yash’s friend, rapper and co-host of 'Call Out Culture' podcast Alaska and producer Steel Tipped Dove. Their new album titled ‘Reverberations of a Dead Man’s Ego’ is out now on Fused Arrow Records. We talk about the relationship between bandcamp and selling merch hand to hand, the divide between what is considered real hip hop vs contemporary rap, Stan Van Gundy’s ball handling, and getting better at rap with age. We go in on day jobs influencing art, how spreadsheets have revolutionized Doves’ process, the album concept’s dark humor, developing a figurative mid-range rap style like Jordan, and that an aging Fat Joe continues to cap in his rap. We wax poetic about the 90's underground rap scene at the Nuyorican Poets cafe in NYC and how certain songs on the album represent the artists and spirit of that time. Dove tells us where he gets his samples from and Alaska lists a few new rappers and pop songs he can rock with and much more. This one is for the heads. All praises due.

Drew Millard is a writer, editor, podcaster (co-host of Nersey) and author of a very good book called 'How Golf Can Save Your Life.' On this episode we delve into his time at VICE's music website 'Noisey' and an unprecedented time of stunt blogging in the blog era. We also get into Drew's new blog called 'Media Events' and his recently posted story that takes a deep dive on The Black Eyed Peas in a way that you or Yash (or anyone) has never seen before. Yash also shares his experience with BIP when they attempted to take it back to the essence on one of their albums and dropped a forgettable dud. We also talk about Drew's book, the game of golf and how it can change your life for better or worse; but mostly for the better after it gets worse. Drew flips the script and questions Yash about his time as a rapper in New York. We also discuss the new Denzel Curry album being indebted to Three 6 Mafia and conclude the show with Drew's Top 5 songs of the moment including highlights from Skrilla, Cavalier, Sematary and more. banger.

Back to our regularly scheduled program. This week we are joined by none other than Kyle Ng, vibe curator, co-founder and creative director of the cutting edge, trippy, music forward, and multi-product clothing brand Braindead. He tells us about his trip to Paris for the Olympics with Oakley and goes on to break down the culture-first ethos of the brand. His passion for indie rock, hardcore and punk is still one of the driving forces behind everything that happens at Braindead and there are no plans to deviate from his personal taste any time soon. From sponsoring Sound and Fury Festival in Los Angeles, to collaborations with Dickies, Magic The Gathering and musicians like Toro Y Moi, Morbid Angel and Devo, Braindead is subverting the subculture. Yash tells him how he discovered the brand after stumbling into an NTS Radio x Braindead event one night out drinking and Kyle breaks down 7 songs he's rocking to right now including bangers from Faye Webster, Big Boy, Clairo, Julia Holter, Thom Yorke and more.

This week Sissòn joins us to talk about some of the influences that shaped his identity and the things that inspire him most. Hailing from Arizona and now based in Los Angeles, Sissòn is a multi-disciplinary artist whose paintings and works have graced galleries and museums worldwide over the past decade. In our conversation, he discusses the intrinsic relationship between art and music in his world, particularly with how he depicts the Black experience. He tells us about Arizona being more gangster than people are aware of, and his personal transition from a life of crime to fine art. From portraying Sociopolitical subjects to capturing the spirit of 4PF on canvas, his range knows no bounds. We talk about how lack of representation in his youth was a driving force in the development of his subject matter, and the overlooked importance of Lil Baby personifying the American dream. He explains how French composer Eric Satie along with Philip Glass provide the soundtracks to concentration, and describes Jay-Z's significance in his life and work. He also breaks down how 'fake humble' is the least genuine form of humility and a lesson he may have learned from Mk.Gee. 

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