This week, we're joined by Chiedu Oraka, a rapper who has pioneered the rap and grime scene in his hometown of Hull in the North West of England with his music, his label Room 73 and his Lockdown collective.

He talks about growing up as a minority in Hull, bringing a new kind of rap to the city, his place in the scene, his clashes with major labels, why non-London rappers are the best around, new music and more.

Music: Chiedu Oraka - Helly Hansen 5

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This week we're joined by Speech Debelle, a multi-talented rapper, artist, chef and activist who rose to fame in 2009 when she won the UK's most prestigious music award, the Mercury Prize, for her debut album 'Speech Therapy.'

Music: Speech Debelle - Atlantis

https://www.instagram.com/speechdebelle/

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After J Hus' lukewarm reception to his recent comeback single 'It's Crazy,' we discuss whether fans expect too much from artists and how it may affect their opinion of the music (5:01).

This week we're joined by Abiade for a deep dive into the differences between 'elite' rappers and 'GOAT' rappers, a conversation we've been having off the pod for a while now (02:17). We attempt to clarify which MCs fit in which pile. Later, we talk sub-genres in hip-hop and whether classification is still necessary in 2023 (49:23). We then wrap up why choosing our favourite storytelling rap songs (01:12:29).

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This week we have another special guest: Cee Valentina! Cee is a writer, content creator and Social Media Manager of Complex UK and she shares the story of her journey through the creative industry, her favourite rappers and what makes a good social media post.

Later, after recent comments by Trillary Banks, we assess the current state of UK female rap, its biggest names and if its in a healthy state. We then have some fun with our imaginations and make up some fantasy AI song situations we'd love to see.

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This week we're joined by Cashh, a Jamaica-born, UK-based MC who burst onto the rap scene over a decade ago and has overcome personal obstacles to present a fluid and potent mix of rap and dancehall. He has collaborated with everyone from Ghetts and Krept & Konan to Kojey Radical and WSTRN and after being deported back to Jamaica and returning to the UK, he's hungry to pick up where he left off.

This week we're joined Manga Saint Hilaire, one of the most creative and consistent grime MCs of the last decade and one who made his name in one of the genre's most revered crews, Roll Deep, but has evolved to become a tour de force in his own merit.

We get into his early days rapping in youth clubs, joining Roll Deep, the grime scene in its early days and what made it so special, his catalogue, his pet peeves, grime in 2023, his beef with Beyonce and much, much more!

Possibly one of our funniest episodes yet 😂

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This week we're joined Manga Saint Hilaire, one of the most creative and consistent grime MCs of the last decade and one who made his name in one of the genre's most revered crews, Roll Deep, but has evolved to become a tour de force in his own merit.

We get into his early days rapping in youth clubs, joining Roll Deep, the grime scene in its early days and what made it so special, his catalogue, his pet peeves, grime in 2023, his beef with Beyonce and much, much more!

Possibly one of our funniest episodes yet 😂

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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rhymesdimespod

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This week we receive a topic from a fan, exploring whether nepotism is a problem in hip-hop, highlighting artists such as Coi Leray, Jaden Smith, King Combs, Oh No and Diggy Simmons and if they block paths for other artists to find success.

We dissect consumerism in hip-hop and discuss whether the genre needs white consumption in order to thrive, particularly when it comes to live shows and concerts. We name a few rappers who felt immense pressure going into their debut albums, before touching on hip-hop pioneer Melle Mel and his recent comments that have divided the community.

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Billboard's 50 Greatest Rappers of All Time: https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-rappers-all-time/

This week we celebrate the legacy and impact of one of hip-hop's finest female artists, Lil Kim.

Joined by writer, podcaster and cultural commentator Eboni, we get into how we discovered the Queen Bee, how her content and presentation changed the landscape of rap, her underrated catalogue and the path she would create for the likes of Nicki Minaj, Megan Thee Stallion, City Girls, GloRilla and more.

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