In Episode 101 of the Rhythm & Rhymes Podcast, host AJ Hughes explores the global music landscape and asks the question: who really runs it — YouTube or Spotify?

AJ breaks down why Spotify may never reach one billion users, while YouTube already dominates across Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. He also highlights new music from Skepta & Fred Again.., Odumodublvck, Stormzy, Zlatan, and rising UK talent LeoStayTrill.

The conversation dives into surprising YouTube streaming stats — including Doechii’s placement above Drake and Rema — and what they reveal about how we measure true artist popularity. The episode closes with shout-outs to Gunna and Burna Boy and fresh track recommendations.

🎧 Subscribe and follow Rhythm Ryans for more global music insights and new sounds every week.

🎧 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFItqWQx8ts6Fg_yErvXsrAFor our 100th episode, we go big: asking whether Pan-Africanism through music is too idealistic, or if the diaspora can truly unite. We start with a raw conversation on doing business within the Black community, the uphill battle of bridging cultural gaps, and how ignorance and education shape music’s global reach. From there, we dive into Chance the Rapper’s Black Star Line project, why house music is back in the spotlight, and standout drops from Kaytranada, Mahalia, and more. We also reflect on two years of building R&R, the lessons learned, and what hitting 100 episodes means for the future.00:00 Timestamps00:40 Is Pan-Africanism Too Idealistic? Diaspora Division vs. Unity06:10 Music as a Bridge: Amapiano, Afrobeats, and U.S. Hip-Hop Crossovers13:00 Chance the Rapper’s Black Star Line Review17:40 Kaytranada's Surprise Project & Black House Legacy21:20 New Music: Mahalia's Lover Girl, K Camp’s KISS 6, Kal Banks’ Producer Tape27:45 Reflections on 100 Episodes: Lessons, Consistency, and the R&R Vision34:00 Songs of the Week

South Africa’s “Coloured” identity and the U.S. term “Colored” aren’t the same. We unpack the Tyla discourse, why first-week sales don’t equal real fandom, and the cost of context collapse. Plus: Gunna’s new project, Skillibeng’s sharp drop, JID’s God Don’t Like Ugly, our Three Step obsession, and fan-owned royalties (Stradebase).

Chapters00:00 Cold open01:07 Tyla’s EP sales, cultural misunderstandings & colorism08:38 Royalties, superfans & new label math12:26 New music: Gunna, Skillibeng, JID20:30 Upcoming topics & Songs of the Week24:10 Close + Ep 100 Def Jam→Afrobeats tease

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00:00 Timestamps02:17 Drake's Influence and Cultural Impact13:00 US Dominance in Global Streaming26:06 50 Cent's Legal Moves27:08 New Music Releases and Reviews28:15 Discussing The Clipse Album28:59 Effort in Album Creation30:01 Favorite Tracks and Features33:04 Odeal's EP and Afrobeats Influence35:15 Exploring Amapiano Music37:53 Givēon and R&B Authenticity41:56 J Balvin and Reggaeton Mixtapes43:21 Upcoming Topics and Sign Off

Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFItqWQx8ts6Fg_yErvXsrAThe guys dive into the evolution of music videos and whether anyone actually dances in clubs anymore. They also break down new EPs from Blasst and Naomi Sharon, discuss Yamaha's 50million investment in music startups, and ract to that Red Bull freestyle featuring Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul, and Big Sean. Plus, a little fashion roasting to kick things off.Timestamps:00:00 Episode 89 Intro & Outfit Roasts01:26 Discussion on Music Video Evolution & Club Culture05:03 New Music: Blasst's "Unreleased" EP & Naomi Sharon's "The Only Love We Know" EP11:59 Yamaha's Investment in Music Startups14:01 Joey Bada$$, Ab-Soul, & Big Sean's Red Bull Freestyle & Red Bull's Content Strategy

UK Garage wasn’t just music — it was rebellion.Born in the basements and pirate radio towers of London, UK Garage emerged from Black British struggle and Caribbean sound system culture. It defied the industry, took over the charts, and laid the foundation for Grime, Drill, and more.In this episode of The Black Atlantic series, we trace how UK Garage rose from underground resistance to global force — and how the system tried to erase it.00:00 Introduction00:34 Born British, Treated Foreign02:13 By Any Means: The Pirate Radio Revolution03:55 The Rise: From Side Room to Main Stage05:00 Crossover Chaos07:12 Policed Beats, Suppressed Scenes09:56 Two Dialects of Rebellion11:04 Conclusion#UKGarage #BlackAtlantic #RhythmAndRhymes #BlackBritishMusic #PirateRadio #JungleMusic #Grime #CraigDavid #SoSolidCrew #BritishCulture #SoundSystemCulture #DiasporaMusic #UndergroundMusic #MusicDocumentary #BlackMusicHistory #CultureNotGenre

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We recap recent UK concert energy and spotlight Nigerian rising star Shallipopi. From London club nights to global crowd differences — this is a full cultural download.

UK music culture, Shallipopi, Nigerian artists, London concerts, Amapiano UK, Afrobeats diaspora

In this episode of Rhythm & Rhymes, we make the case: Chris Brown is our generation’s Stevie Wonder.We get into:-Why Breezy’s legacy is undeniable-The repetitive wave hitting Afrobeats (and how to fix it)-Summer anthem droughts in 2024-JID’s pre-album EP with Eminem-Live Nation’s decline + Spotify/Netflix’s live music play-Who gets to claim “Black culture”? (Eminem, the ghetto, and whiteness)Plus: new music from JT, Odeal, RMC Mike, and a slept-on dancehall gem.🎵 Songs of the week:Antonio:“You Feel Me” – Larry June, Cardo, E-40“Bragging Rights” – RMC MikeAJ: “Yabo/Semi” – Masego“Big Casava” – DahLin Gage00:00 Intro00:24 Bnxn Releases "Captain"01:18 Trends in Afrobeats06:59 Song of the Summer Debate14:30 Debating the Current State of Male R&B15:00 New Music15:45 JID's Pre-Album Release and Eminem's Feature18:10 Netflix and Spotify Collaboration20:14 Live Nation's Decline and Market Shifts24:29 Addressing Comments on Eminem and Black Culture27:29 Weekly Song Recommendations

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We debate our Top 5 Chicago rappers — from drill to soul to lyrical legends. Which artists define the city’s story today?

Chicago rappers, Top 5 rap lists, drill music, Chance the Rapper, Chief Keef, Common, Midwest hip hop