It may not always be the words that impact us; rhythms and beats are also very influential in our personal reasoning for turning towards certain styles of music. And it may not even be a certain lifestyle or background that an artist is singing or rapping about that we can connect with; it may be an overarching message or a situational need that draws our attention to certain artists, songs, and rhythms. Ahead of us, we have a special episode of “Rhythms of the Game”. I got the opportunity to sit down with one of my best friends, Xavier Jones, and ask him about his athletic journey and the rhythms that spoke into it. Now, X and I have always talked about doing a podcast together, but nothing ever came of it, we just kept it as a hypothetical. Now, we finally got around to sitting down and pressing record on an idea that we’ve had on the back burner for over a year now. It’s time to sit back, relax, and dive into Xavier Jones’s Rhythms of the Game.

We've talked about the history of the rap game and what went into shaping and molding the game into what it is today. Now it's time to take a deeper look at how the game shapes athletes. Athletes can take away the same amount if not more from rap music than what the common person can. To help us understand this concept better, I reached out to a good friend and mentor of mine, Kaleb Leach. Kaleb has a crazy and inspiring journey; one that saw him go through playing college football, playing in other countries, journeying to multiple countries, coaching in Europe, creating the largest news and media outlet for American Football in Europe, and now being a Scout in the NFL; all the while holding fast to key themes and messages of his life and journey that were echoed in the music that he listened to. It’s time to sit back and relax as we dive into Kaleb Leach’s Rhythms of the Game. 

History has always fascinated me. It has a way of giving us a glimpse into our collective past, shaping our present, and influencing our future. Despite being a subject taught in schools and universities, history is much more than just dates and events; it's a treasure trove of human experiences, struggles, triumphs, great battles, stories and much much more. Today we take a look into the history of hip-hop and rap music, going all the way back to Spirituals. Join me as I talk with Dr. Theon Hill, associate professor of Communication at Wheaton College, on the impact and meaning of the spirituals on modern day rap music.

Music. One of the most pervasive and influential styles of art and entertainment of our modern world. What happens when we decide to take a deeper look at music and how it shapes and forms us and our modern society? What if we were to hone in on one specific genre and dive into how it has impacted the culture around us? Welcome to Rhythms of the Game, a podcast where we'll be looking at how the world of hip-hop intersects with culture and athletics. Whether you're a sports fan or a hip-hop fan, this is place to be! In this introductory episode, get a feel for the host, Parker Rogers, and his vision for Rhythms of the Game!