In this throwback episode featuring PremRock we spoke with the Wrecking Crew member and Backwoodz veteran in June of 2022 about his collaborative project with Ockham’s Blazer, a jazz heavy genre bender. We also discussed his previous solo project “Load Bearing Crow’s Feet”. Then we talked about his album pick for this episode - “As the World Burns” from the Arsonists.

Purchase Prem's new album "Did You Enjoy Your Time Here...?" at this link: https://backwoodzstudioz.com/collections/premrock-did-you-enjoy-your-time-here

Damon Locks joins us to talk about his new album “List of Demands,” a project that blurs the lines between poetry, hip hop, jazz, and experimental music. We’ll talk about the work that went into this project, the optimism and beauty it demands, and much more. Then we’ll talk about Damon’s album pick for this episode - Mixmaster Mike’s deluxe release “Return of the Cyklops”.

Stream and purchase "List of Demands" here:

https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/list-of-demands

DJ/activist/educator/Philly ambassador Cosmo Baker joins us to talk about life as a DJ in 2025, his recent Book Club gatherings (featuring authors such as Marcus J. Moore and Dan Charnas), the history of The Remedy (a joint venture with Rich Medina) and much more. Then we’ll discuss his album pick for this episode - the Soulquarian era classic “Voodoo” by D’Angelo.

Find all things Cosmo Baker related here: cosmobaker.com

Queen Herawin of the Juggaknots is about to drop her first solo project since 2019's "The Space Between Us". The album is called "Awaken the Sleeping Giant" and has been years in the making. It finds Herawin confronting the many emotions she has experienced in bringing these songs to life. She candidly spoke with us about mental health, creativity in its various forms and much more. Then we get into her album pick for this episode - “The Great Adventures of Slick Rick”.

Stream and purchase "Awaken the Sleeping Giant" here:

https://queenherawin.bandcamp.com/album/awaken-the-sleeping-giant

Hester Valentine joins us to talk about his 2024 output, which includes the projects "Valenta" and "make me, make me". Then we discuss his album pick for this episode - "N***a Please" by Ol' Dirty Bastard.

Stream and purchase Hester's music here:

https://blackval.bandcamp.com/

https://mimizuizuru.bandcamp.com/album/valenta

https://wearethekarmakids.bandcamp.com/album/i-cant-cut-your-hair

We're joined by director Jacob Rosenberg whose work you’ve likely seen without even knowing it. His new book is called “RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES” and is “an immersive, decade long journey capturing the vibrancy of skate and hip hop culture from ‘88 to ‘98”. It documents much of Rosenberg’s work in film, photography, and journalism during this key period of his career and features notable names such as Chuck D, the Hieroglyphics Crew, De La Soul, Mike Carroll, Sean Sheffey, Sal Barbier and many more. We’ll talk with Jacob about this book and the stories associated with it, as well as his album pick for this episode - “No Need for Alarm” by Del the Funky Homosapien.

Purchase "RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES" here:

https://www.jacobrosenberg.tv/shop

We talked with the Chicago based producer Spectacular Diagnostics about the three projects he released in 2024 - the instrumental album “If You Feel Like a Lost Soul”, the guest heavy “Appetites” and his latest collaboration with Kid Acne “TOTEMIC TEMPLATE (Edna & Friends Vol. 1)”. Then we discuss his album pick for this episode - DJ Shadow’s undisputed classic “Endtroducing”.

Stream and purchase Spectacular Diagnostic's music here:

https://spectacular-diagnostics.bandcamp.com

In this throwback episode from Feb. 2023, Open Mike Eagle joins us following the release his album “Component System With The Auto Reverse”. We started our conversation with some discussion about his live performances since the album’s release. Then we used elements from the album to discuss larger themes - The importance of his relationships with his peers and his admiration of their skills. The overarching goal of his writing as being present to his own thoughts and experiences. The inherent value he sees in everyone as individuals and how that contributes to his creative endeavors. And we wrapped our conversation by discussing Busta Rhymes’ solo debut and the impact it had on Mike as a fan.

You can stream and purchase "Component System With The Auto Reverse" here: openmikeeagle.bandcamp.com

Donwill, host of The Almanac of Rap and one half of Tanya Morgan, joins us to talk about some of our favorite albums of 2024. We each picked three albums to focus on and we discussed what made them our favorites. Nothing fancy.

All things Donwill can be found here:

https://www.donwill.me

In this throwback episode from November of 2022, Nebraska native Sleep Sinatra joined us to talk about his release, the Ohbliv produced album "Shadow Self". Sleep discussed the concept behind "Shadow Self" and gave us the story behind his collaboration with Ohbliv. He also talked about the production that he contributed to the debut self-titled album from ManDaMyth and offered some insight into the history of the Black arts in Nebraska. Then we discussed his album pick for this episode - the 1998 debut album from Big Pun,  "Capital Punishment".