Who knew the story behind hip-hop's biggest tragedy would also ignite one of the most memorable moments in the genre?

This month on ThrowBLKs, we're hitting the time machine to revisit a highly competitive era as two emcees begin their legendary careers as egos clash throughout the city. Hear how Nas' game-changing debut "Illmatic" influenced another 1994 rap classic, leading Ghostface and Raekwon to call out The Notorious B.I.G. -- the incomparable rookie that was very close to another rising talent in Brooklyn named Jay-Z. As years pass, Jay-Z and Nas both become involved in the controversial beef with B.I.G. and 2Pac, both receiving individual disses from the two legends. Unfortunately, tensions lead to deaths that left a very empty throne for the taking. Rap fans witnessed many years of sneak disses and competitive jabs between Nas and Jay-Z, setting a slow burn for the release of two albums that changed both artists' careers: 'The Blueprint' and 'Stillmatic'.

Hear our track-by-track relisten of both albums to share why their showdown still runs conversations today, including our favorite moments between the projects, a retrace of how the battle was viewed within New York City and the parallel's between 2024's clash between Kendrick Lamar and Drake.

🔊 Tune in every month on Patreon as ThrowBLKs covers more of our favorite albums from different eras in music -- all genres are on the table! As a patron, you'll be able to enjoy these bonuses early before they're released for all listeners.

Wedding rings and Tootsies wings -- what other better combo is there?

This week on 'Don't Steal This Podcast', we take the "love is blind" theory to entirely new heights. J5 introduces the Printers to his new reality obsession with the latest season of 'Married at First Sight' on Peacock. As matchmakers arrange strangers to meet for the very first time at the altar, we only have one question: how do we get MC on this show? Hear how they prepare for the possible reality debut, circling back to the treatment of one of the most notable members of 'The Real World' in a much different time! Also tune in to hear all the excitement that awaits the final two ThrowBLKs of 2025 in 'The Blueprint vs. Stillmatic' and 'Purple Haze', quick thoughts on the 2026 GRAMMYs nominations and the anticipation of this year's Spotify Wrapped / Apple Music Replay releases.

This year's BlkPrint Halloween special features a ThrowBLKs episode for the very first time, and this classic definitely fits the theme!

We've covered a wide range of nu-metal throughout 2025's incredible library, but we haven't formally introduced you to the originators -- or in their words, the leaders. Never have we had a chance to review a five-time platinum album that dominated MTV so bad, TRL had to begin retiring music videos! Today, we'll be recording our latest installment of retro reviews to honor the story of Jonathan Davis and what many consider as the magnum opus from his legendary band KoRn, 'Follow The Leader'. Hear our favorite moments in one of nu-metal's most important albums, dominated by the influence of the Triple X Generation (Ice Cube's words, not ours!), the frustrations that come with feeling like industry prostitutes, a diss track that Jonathan touts as "the worst song ever" and the unmatched self-reflection from the notorious KoRn frontman.

🔊 Tune in every month on Patreon as ThrowBLKs covers more of our favorite albums from different eras in music -- all genres are on the table! As a patron, you'll be able to enjoy these bonuses early before they're released for all listeners.

If we mysteriously disappear this month, just know the Swifties did it -- we're tellin!

This week on 'Don't Steal This Podcast', J5 and MC set new feng shui in BlkPrint Studios with some new Halloween umbeyonce, spooky nights at the movies and the terror that spreads throughout your local Target. Hear our promise to Meelz to touch grass for The A Show's '4K+1 Run', along with our mixed thoughts on 'HIM' and J5's month-long marathon of 'Hooptober' horror films -- just don't judge the Letterboxd finesse. We also chat about the legitimacy of the music industry vinyl exploit, Taylor Swift's Billboard takeover (quote fingers), very early 2026 ThrowBLKs placements and a special RIP to a legend in soul music, D'Angelo.

One of rap's realest rivalries creates a motion picture with a plot twist nobody saw coming!

This month on ThrowBLKs, J5 and MC finally get a chance to pay respects to the Trap God himself in our look back at one of the greatest "Gangsta Grillz" mixtapes of all time. Before he was viewed as Atlanta's Most High, he was an underground artist that sparked a civil war and faced a murder case in his hip-hop rookie year. Hear our teenage viewpoints within the immediate rise of Guccimania and the fallout between Jeezy and DJ Drama that lead to the start of an incredible mixtape trilogy.

Tune in for our track-by-track analysis of 'The Movie', revisiting the numerous classic jabs from Drama throughout the tape, the street anthems that continued the So Icey phenomenon and the multiple eras that had the chance to blossom from Gucci's unprecedented 2008. How can you fail when you stick by the four pillars of death, mayhem, murder and madness?

Also, speaking of ATL veterans: we give an early look at the next 'DSTP' with J5's review of Young Thug's 'UY SCUTI', including ALL of the internet responses to the controversial songs, interviews and much more!

See how caffeine (and solitary confinement) can fry a man's brain?

On this week's Don't Steal This Podcast, J5 and MC catch the Printers up on the life changing ventures ahead for themselves and for one of their favorite artists in the game! Hear their thoughts on a very rare moment for Young Thug in his insightful interview on Big Bank's 'Perspektives with Bank' podcast. No worries about the drama of leaked phone calls -- we skip that in exchange for this Friday's 'UY Scuti' release and the surprising change we have to take regarding Gunna's innocence. Also tune in for our full experience on this year's Halloween Horror Nights, our favorite moments of the night and the special show ahead when Turnstile touches down in LA in October.

This month on ThrowBLKs, we cover an absolute classic from 2004's defining leaders of pop culture!

Name any rapper, any singer, radio station, TV show from the early aughts -- there's a high chance they were involved with one of hip-hop's biggest (and loudest) producers in the game. Lil Jon built his Atlanta empire into one of the city's biggest sub-genres, dominating his own hometown while becoming a household name across the country. With his Eastside Boyz partners by his side, the group released their final album that lives on as an incredible victory lap for the sound they helped usher (no pun) into the mainstream.

Join J5 and MC as they revisit the early years of Lil Jon's illustrious career, a special quiz on numerous southern classics in their "Crunk Or Not Crunk?" test, along with a full track-by-track retrospective of our favorite moments, verses and records from 'Crunk Juice'.

🔊 Tune in every month on Patreon as ThrowBLKs covers more of our favorite albums from different eras in music -- all genres are on the table! As a patron, you'll be able to enjoy these bonuses early before they're released for all listeners.

Sorry for the wait, ladies and gentlemen -- we're producing blockbuster scripts!

J5 and MC return from an all-timer ThrowBLKs for an all-new episode of Don't Steal This Podcast as the summer winds down. They celebrate the good news MC shares in his next chapter, discussing the importance of staying true to your purpose and navigating the beauty that comes with life changes. After, we jump into our gaming bag with our thoughts on the military 'Battlefield' gatekeepers, Sony's dishonorable 'Spider-Man' choice and the call for rehab as 'NBA 2K26' touches down in two weeks.

Also tune in for our very first preview on this month's ThrowBLKs for Lil Jon's 'Crunk Juice', the revival of Atlanta's classic genres on Metro Boomin's latest, Young Thug's questionable choices following Gunna's 'Last Wun' and the new pop star controversy as 'K-Pop Demon Hunters' put belt to ass.

We're joined by special guest A Plus to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Future’s 'DS2' — the album that turned a comeback into a legacy. From the fallout of 'Honest' to the Dubai arrest of DJ Esco that sparked a creative reset, we break down the highs, lows and lasting impact of one of hip-hop’s most influential albums ever.

This month’s ThrowBLKs dives into Plies' debut album 'The Real Testament' and the gritty, unforgettable voice that helped define the Gunshine State!

From football fields to Fort Myers blocks, Plies’ path to rap stardom was anything but traditional, built alongside the dream of his brother Big Gates. Tune in to hear the initial "silent investments" he made toward the birth of Big Gates Records, leading to his first deal with Slip N Slide Records and the mixtapes that would spread like wildfire across the state of Florida. We also chat about the controversial night in Gainesville that halted his mainstream start with Atlantic Records, along with the numerous attempts at singles that would eventually lead to his breakthrough feature on DJ Khaled's "I'm So Hood" and the single with another Florida legend that would birth one of hip-hop's greatest love songs.

Enjoy our track-by-track retrospective on the August 2007 release of 'The Real Testament' through our favorite records, the sections we would swap out to make an all-time classic debut and much more.