The post Nas, Clickbait, and Relevance appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

After the release of the Drake and 21 Savage collaboration, “Her Loss,” Fresh and Confucius try and figure out if Drake is outgrowing his subject matter.

They also talk about anti-semitic comments by Kyrie Irving and Kanye and explore the issue of black ownership.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about Wiz Khalifa’s 2nd album, the connection between John Legend and Lauryn Hill,  how Omar Epps got the part in Juice, and more.

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that Foxy Brown is overrated.

Confucius talks about the recent midterm election in Confucius Reads the News.

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In this relatively somber episode of The Breaks, Fresh and Confucius reflect on the untimely passing of Migos co-founder Takeoff. But a bigger, two-part discussion lies behind all the fond memories. What does this mean for the longevity of hip-hop artists and why are white people so quick to scapegoat the genre when tragedy strikes?

Hip Hop Facts fills you in on plenty of Migos trivia plus Paul Mooney’s role on In Living Color.

Just in time for Election Day, Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion pleads rappers to stay directly out of partisan politics…lookin’ at you, Killer Mike.

Lastly, Confucius Reads the News about Elon Musk’s Twitter changes, Drake & 21 Savage’s new collaboration, and the latest punches from Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice Roberts.

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Kanye West has made more than his fair share of outrageous headlines this past week, leading Confucius and Fresh to wonder…why continue to cap for unhinged creatives past their point of no return?

And when it comes to the current generation of younger rappers who seemingly can’t dress themselves, is it generational taste, or just objectively gaudy?

Hip-Hop Facts features tidbits on DJ Premier, Lil Jon, and Frank Ocean plus anecdotes on 8 Mile, Men in Black, and more.

Fresh’s latest Unpopular Opinion makes it clear: put Nicki Minaj alongside her rapper peers instead of atop the pop pedestal.

Finally, Confucius Reads the News on Steve Bannon’s prison sentence, Nick Cannon’s latest kid, Elon Musk’s Twitter purchase, and Rihanna’s new single.

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Inspired by yet another Rolling Stone article, Confucius and Fresh kick off this week’s episode with a discussion on how Hip-Hop’s increasing commercialization affects its cultural relevance.

As the Nicki v. Cardi spat continues, the fellas talk up the importance of women in Hip-Hop, especially when it comes to lyrical effect on men.

Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion suggests cities ought to stop “adopting” artists as their own asset, before Confucius Reads the News about Kanye West and Parler, Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Program, and Jay-Z’s Bacardi lawsuit.

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In this episode, Confucius and Fresh break down what happened to R&B as a dominating force before debating whether or not Austin City Limits Music Festival has “gotten better” at showcasing rap in recent years.

On Hip-Hop Facts you’ll hear about Lil Jon’s double distribution of the “Yeah” instrumental, birthday boy Ginuwine’s real name, and the first of many Belly film trivia tidbits.

Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion goes meta when he defends the significance of The Breaks itself for playing local artists.

And no news from Confucius this week; Instead he talks up his headliner comedy gig this Wednesday at The Pershing, hosted by Fresh!

The post R&B’s Diminishing Dominance appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

In this week’s edition of The Breaks, Fresh and Confucius kick off the conversation with a reflection on what it means to be “blackballed” and if it truly continues to exist in the current industry climate.

The fellas move on to a debate about whether or not Cardi B is overrated compared to Nicki Minaj, especially in terms of collaborating with fellow female artists.

On Hip-Hop Facts you’ll learn about some unexpected writing credits, the anniversaries of Loud Records, Def Jam South, and beef at the 2012 BET Hip-Hop Awards.

Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion puts a spin on the discourse between DJ Akademiks, LL Cool J, and others about how much credit hip-hop pioneers deserve in light of not warning new generations about the perils of the industry.

Finally on Confucius Reads the News, get a recap of the latest headlines on Kanye West, Harry Styles, N.O.R.E., and Donald Trump.

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Megan Thee Stallion and NBA YoungBoy both have plenty of pull in their own right, but what about head-to-head? Confucius and Fresh kick off the show with a debate on crowd density, taste demographics, and more.

As part of their ongoing discussion on once-important vehicles in the digital age, Fresh and Confucius compare viewpoints on the seemingly diminished power of music videos nowadays.

On Hip-Hop Facts you’ll learn about producer Teddy Riley, some behind-the-scenes anniversary facts for Aquemni, KRS-One’s lack of control over Criminal Minded, early Screw tape appearances, and more.

Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion puts a pessimistic spin on the voice of Native Black Austinites while Confucius Reads the News about Coolio’s passing, a recent Biden rally, A$AP Rocky’s mosh pit despair, and the latest legal updates for Gunna.

The post Megan v. YoungBoy: Who Commands a Bigger Crowd? appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Confucius and Fresh discuss why some artists are so selfish and delusional. Then they try and nail down what makes an album a “classic.”

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about how Prodigy and Busta Rhymes almost ended up with the beat for Jay-Z’s “U Don’t Know,” what happened when Michael Jackson met Princess Diana, how the Lox almost got signed by Suge Knight, and more!

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that hip-hop is dead.

Confucius talks about the death of PnB Rock, Lindsay Graham’s proposed 15-week abortion ban, Cardi B’s plea deal, and more on Confucius Reads the News.

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Confucius and Fresh debate whether Outkast and Wu-Tang are still relevant to hip-hop culture. Then they discuss the phenomenon of people in Austin music faking it until they make it.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about how J. Cole almost got signed to G-Unit, why Lil Wayne didn’t curse on his first record, how MF Doom came up, and more.

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that people have been too hard on Elvis.

Confucius talks about the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the ruling by a Texas judge that employers don’t have to cover anti-Aids medication, Ukraine’s recent tweet quoting Pusha T, and more!

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