The Rap Soul Podcast

What song introduced you to your favorite artist? On “The First Time I Heard…,” 12Kyle revisits his earliest memories of discovering music.

From Nas’s verse on Main Source’s “Live at the Barbeque” to the Rakim/Eric B. mix-up and the Southern pride inspired by OutKast, these personal stories explore how a first listen can become a lifelong connection.

Plus: the surprise of discovering Melle Mel’s voice on Chaka Khan’s “I Feel for You.”

Listen, share with a music-loving friend, and tell us: which artist’s first impression has stayed with you?

🎧 Listen to “The First Time I Heard…” on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or watch on YouTube.

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Who has the catalog to challenge New Edition in a 20-round Verzuz battle?

On The Rap Soul Podcast, 12Kyle and eclectik debate matchups involving SWV, Guy, The Gap Band, New Kids on the Block, and Wu-Tang Clan. They weigh the hits, the stage presence, and whether the right crowd could change the outcome.

Listen in, then tell us: Who would you put against New Edition—and what song should open the battle?

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Andre 3000 didn’t switch up. He grew. 🎤🔥

On this episode of The Rap Soul Podcast, we go back to OutKast’s Aquemini and one of Andre 3000’s most revealing performances — “Return of the ‘G.’”

By 1998, people were questioning everything about Andre — the clothes, the lifestyle changes, the direction of OutKast and whether he was still the same MC.

Andre had an answer.

“Return of the ‘G’.”

We break down what inspired the record, what Andre was responding to, why the verse still hits, and why Andre 3000 remains in the greatest-MC conversation.

Plus…

🎤 Did OutKast really change — or did they simply grow?

🔥 How good was Andre 3000 at his peak?

👀 Why were people so bothered by Andre being different?

💿 And will we ever hear another OutKast album?

Verse of the Week: Return of the “G” – Andre 3000

🎧 The Rap Soul Podcast

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify & YouTube.

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#TheRapSoulPodcast #Andre3000 #OutKast #ReturnOfTheG #Aquemini #HipHop #HipHopHistory #90sHipHop

The 90s gave us some of the greatest R&B albums ever made. 🔥

But which ones are YOUR favorites?

On this episode of The Rap Soul Podcast, Britt and I each picked 10 of our favorite R&B albums from the 90s—and the memories, stories, disagreements, and surprises started immediately. 😂

These aren't necessarily the “greatest” albums. These are the albums that WE loved, played repeatedly, and still go back to today.

🎙️ OUR 10 FAVORITE R&B ALBUMS OF THE 90s

What 90s R&B album absolutely HAS to be on your list?

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
📺 Watch now on YouTube

https://therapsoulpodcast.riverside.com

Before streaming made every song instantly available, listening to music was an experience. We visited record stores, studied album covers, read liner notes, played cassette tapes from Side A to Side B, shared music with friends, requested radio dedications, and waited for music videos to premiere.

In this episode of The Rap Soul Podcast, 12Kyle revisits the unforgettable rituals surrounding music in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. He also examines viral music commentary, manufactured hot takes, respect for music legends, and what today’s listeners may have lost in exchange for convenience.

What do you miss most about the old-school music experience?

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🔥 RUN DMC vs NWA — WHO HAD THE BIGGER INFLUENCE ON HIP-HOP? 🎤

This debate is tougher than you think.

RUN DMC helped take hip-hop mainstream. MTV. Adidas. Fashion. Branding. They helped show the world that hip-hop wasn't a fad.

Then NWA came along and changed the sound, attitude and subject matter of rap—and their influence can still be heard in hip-hop today.

So how do you measure influence?

🌎 Who made hip-hop bigger?

🔥 Who changed the sound more?

🌳 Which group has the stronger hip-hop family tree?

My take?

RUN DMC made hip-hop bigger.
NWA made hip-hop harder.

RUN DMC opened the front door. NWA remodeled the house.

But I want YOUR answer...

👇🏾 Who had the bigger influence on hip-hop: RUN DMC or NWA?

🎙️ The Rap Soul Podcast

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
📺 Watch on YouTube

#TheRapSoulPodcast #RunDMC #NWA #HipHop #HipHopHistory #OldSchoolHipHop #RapMusic #HipHopCulture #12Kyle

DMX was one of the biggest stars hip-hop had ever seen.

But “Slippin’” wasn't really about the superstar.

It was about Earl Simmons.

The child who experienced pain. The man who battled addiction. The person who kept falling but kept trying to get back up.

That's what makes “Slippin’” such a powerful record. DMX wasn't just rapping about pain.

He made you feel it.

On this episode of The Rap Soul Podcast, I break down “Slippin’” and why it remains one of the most honest and revealing records DMX ever made.

The Rap Soul Podcast

Listen now on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
Watch on YouTube

Nipsey Hussle was bigger than the music. 💙🏁

He was an artist. An entrepreneur. A businessman. A community builder. And most importantly, a man who understood the power of ownership and legacy.

On this episode of The Rap Soul Podcast, I review The Marathon Don't Stop: The Life and Times of Nipsey Hussle by Rob Kenner and talk about what the book taught me about the man behind the music.

From his early hustle and independent mindset to the $100 Crenshaw mixtape, community investment, ownership, and the true meaning of “The Marathon Continues”—there's a lot we can learn from Nipsey's journey.

The marathon wasn't just about surviving. It was about building something that could outlive you.

🎙️ The Rap Soul Podcast

🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify
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Which rapper had the strongest TWO ALBUM run in hip hop history?

I put 16 popular hip hop artists into a randomized tournament bracket and debated every matchup until only ONE was left standing.

Nas?
Outkast?
Biggie?
Jay-Z?
Kendrick?
Tribe?

Some of these matchups were impossible.

Listen to the full debate and tell me where I got it wrong.

🎧 The Rap Soul Podcast

🎤 Live music hits different.

Some concerts become unforgettable memories, while others become the ones you wish you'd never missed.

In this episode of The Rap Soul Podcast, I share the 10 artists who gave me unforgettable live concert experiences—and the two legendary artists I still regret never seeing.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.