In our last episode of 2023, we do what we always do at the end of the year - a round-up! We assess the year that was, choosing our favourite albums, rappers and producers. 

We also name the rappers who surprised us the most, our most disappointing albums of the year and our favourite non-rap albums. We have enough time to make our predictions for 2024 and hear from you on what you think the new year will bring the genre of rap.

As always, we want to thank you for your continued support throughout 2023 - we’re truly grateful to every fan, listener and viewer.

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Music:

Larry June & The Alchemist - Porsches In Spanish (Instrumental)

This week we're joined by award winning rapper, podcast producer and one half of the Breaking Atoms Podcast, Chris Mitchell.

We go back to 2018 to evaluate Nas' album Nasir, produced by Kanye West, and our thoughts on the project five years later.

Back in our fantasy booking bag, we imagine what hip-hop would look like if Busta Rhymes was a member of A Tribe Called Quest, and what the futures of both Busta and Tribe would be.

We wrap up by naming our favourite unreleased albums in hip-hop history. There's enough time for some Drake hate, wrestling references and more!

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Twitter: https://twitter.com/IAmKinetik

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Music:

Busta Rhymes - Still Shining

Nas - Not For Radio

Nas - Cops Shot The Kid

Nas - Bonjour

Freddie Gibbs & Madlib - Education (ft. Mos Def & Black Thought)

Busta Rhymes - Everything Remains Raw

A Tribe Called Quest - Stressed Out (ft. Faith Evans)

This week, we get into our fantasy booking bag once again and head to 2007, when Kanye West and 50 Cent were engaged in the sales battle of the century. We imagine hip-hop if 50 won that battle, his legacy, and the fate of Ye. 

We assess the gift and the curse of being signed to another rapper, name our favourite hip-hop jewellery of all time, share what we’ve been listening to, and more!

What we've been listening to:

Peter

Nas - Magic 3

Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music

Half A Mil

Diddy - The Love Album: Off The Grid

Moe

Diggin’ In The Crates Crew

Mobb Deep

DJ Clue

Yemi

Mike, Wiki & The Alchemist - Faith Is A Rock

Headie One & K-Trap - Strength To Strength

Cleo Sol - Heaven

A Tribe Called Quest - Beats, Rhymes & Life

Music: 50 Cent - Many Men (Instrumental)

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Your boys are back! This week we dissect the current state of rap following the news that a rap single/album has failed to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in 23 years, as well as recent comments from Ebro Darden that labels are now deprioritising signing rappers in favour of African and Latin artists. What is to blame for this shift? Does mainstream hip-hop need a reset?

Later, we examine the growing trend of rappers and producers selling their masters, including the likes of RZA, Pusha T and Future, and what that means for the game. We then name some of our favourite artists' album that have aged the worst. We got into what we've been listening to this week, chop up hip-hop 50 and more!

DISCLAIMER: this episode was recorded before the news broke out that Doja Cat's 'Paint The Town Red' landed at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 2023, becoming the first rap single to do so since August 2022.

What we've been listening to:

Peter

Phabo - Don't Get Too Cozy

Yussef Dayes - Black Classical Music

Don Toliver - Life of a Don

Moe

Skepta

URL Summer Madness

RBE

Yemi

Jordan Ward - FORWARD

Mick Jenkins - The Patience

Blanco - Rebourne

Digga D - Back To Square One

Travis Scott - UTOPIA

Music: LL Cool J - Doin It (Instrumental)

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This week we're joined by Hamza Riaz, a UK-based journalist, writer and Editor In Chief of Mic Cheque, an online publication that bridges the gap between British and American hip hop.

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/

https://www.tiktok.com/@speechdebelle1

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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