The Vinyl Collective

This week we sit down with the founder & Editor-In-Chief of "The Floor Magazine", Ope, to discuss the blockbuster release from duo Silk Sonic (consisting of Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars). We get into how well they performed as a duo and the critiques regarding the album's nostalgic themes.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro, Spotlight Series #59: Amaria

(05:17) Ranking albums in 2021 & Spotify Wrapped

(14:28) New releases

(23:39) Ope intro

(29:33) The formation of Silk Sonic, initial thoughts after the release Leave The Door Open

(40:41) Album preconceptions

(49:24) 777, the “karaoke” critique

(58:15) After Last Night, the “parody”  comparison to “DITB”

(01:04:03) Fly As Me, the “formuliac” critique

(01:16:56) Smokin’ Out The Window, the “too clean” critique

(01:27:27) Skate, Blast Off

(01:35:48) Album of the year discussion

(01:43:24) Closing, Now and Then playlist

This week we unpack the burden that hip-hop artists may sometimes carry as a consequence of releasing mature content at a young age.

(00:00) Intro, Spotlight Series #58: Premo Rice

(04:01) New releases (Freddie Gibbs, Earl Sweatshirt, Saba)

(06:02) GRAMMY nominations

(22:32) Intro to Maturity conversation, defining maturity

(27:29) Definition of maturity in hip-hop

(40:46) Pros and Cons of being labelled “mature”

(56:52) Lauryn Hill

(01:05:59) J. Cole

(01:12:27) Fans influence

(01:16:52) Joey Bada$$

(01:23:44) Breaking the Cycle

(01:28:52) Closing, Now and Then Playlist

In light of its 10 year anniversary, we look back at what many consider Drake’s magnum opus in his sophomore album ‘Take Care’. We discuss how the album has aged over the years, and how it set the precedent for the rest of his discography.

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro, Spotlight Series #57: Kara Marni

(05:33) Young Dolph Passing

(06:15) Drake x Kanye best buddies again

(07:44) An Evening with Silk Sonic

(08:17) Nippa’s eponymous EP

(09:36) Kojey Radical’s new single Gangsta

(10:11) Rick Ross - Outlawz (ft. Jazmine Sullivan and 21 Savage)

(11:01) Fana Hues - Pieces

(11:49) Take Care Intro

(17:57) Initial and current thoughts on the album

(31:49) The Weeknd’s influence

(38:14) Worst tracks

(49:44) Favourite tracks

(01:17:49) Classic?

(01:21:33) Closing, Now and Then

This week we review Young Thug’s latest studio album ‘Punk’ and discuss the album highs and lows along with how the theme carries through. (00:00) Intro, Spotlight Artist #56: LOONY

(07:32) Saba’s new single “Fearmonger”

(10:23) Freddie Gibbs’ producer list for upcoming album

(12:00) Arcane (League of Legends) tracklist

(14:12) Smokin’ Out The Window

(17:04) Terrace Martin’s “DRONES” album

(19:31) Kanye’s Drink Champs episode/ Jay Prince apology(?)

(23:33) ASTROWORLD festival

(30:55) Intro to Punk conversation 

(38:16) Rollout, Title and Cover Art

(47:38)  Bubbly

In honour of the one year anniversary of his death, we dedicate this week’s episode to remembering the enigmatic villain of Hip-Hop that is DOOM. We look at his origins, his many characters and the influence he had on the genre.

Timestamps: 

(00:00) Intro, Spotlight Series #55: KwolleM

(07:57) Drake’s birthday

(15:11) Big Sean leaving GOOD Music 

(19:26) Ama Lou

(21:10)Mick Jenkins’ “Elephant in the Room”

(24:49) Anderson .Paak’s independent label “APESHIT” 

(27:48) Intro to DOOM conversation & DOOM’s origins

(34:33) Why do people like DOOM?

(41:02) Viktor Vaughn

(52:00) King Geedorah

(01:00:07) MF DOOM

(01:23:54) “DOOM” at concerts

(01:27:34) Influence

(01:30:50) Closing, Now and Then playlist

This week we sit down with Montreal hip-hop producer Nicholas, known for his production of many tracks from underground legends such as Westside Gunn, Mach Hommy and Roc Marciano. We get into his creative process as well as his influences.

(00:00) Intro, Spotlight Series #54: Joyce Wrice

(07:59) Joy Crookes

(13:04) PinkPantheress

(17:05) Jon’s second public apology

(18:35) Nicholas Craven Intro

(23:38) Childhood influences, album artwork

(27:48) Introduction to producing, production process, independence

(47:52) Working with Mach-Hommy, Roc Marci etc.; getting shouted out by Joe Budden

(01:00:50) UK Scene, plans for the rest of 2021/22

(01:08:56) Closing, Now and Then playlist

This week we take a deep-dive into the age-old question of how much time artists should leave between albums. Are there any exceptions? Is the time given different between genres? Tune in to find out!

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(00:58) Spotlight Series #53: Graft

(06:05) Jon’s apology letter

(07:57) ENNY X Odeal - Bernie Mac

(12:35) JD’s Champion’s League of Everything

(32:00) Intro to discussion

(34:29) Why aren’t people content waiting 2-3 years?

(39:53) The UK culture surround album cycles

(45:23) Examples of those who drop too often or too little

(56:59) Does too often reduce the quality? Does the opposite make you out of touch?

(01:06:05) Expectations for singers compared to rappers

(01:15:12) Grace period after critically acclaimed albums

(01:19:03) How long is too long?

(01:22:37) Closing, Now and Then

This week we get Ore back into the fold to discuss the third album from Hackney's very own NAO. Be sure to check out Ore's work on her website here!

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(03:58) Spotlight Series #52: Ojerime

(08:05) New releases

(08:41) Juls’ new album

(10:56) James Blake’s new album

(14:38) Alchemist new EP

(15:46) Jesy Nelson

(26:30) Tech N9ne x The Rock

(31:15) Oreviews intro

(34:28) NAO background

(48:37) General thoughts on “And Then Life Was Beautiful”

(54:33) Songwriting

(59:58) Antidote

(01:04:56) Woman (ft. Lianne La Havas)

(01:06:49) Features

(01:10:59) Postcards (ft. serpentwithfeet)

(01:14:47) Messy Love

(01:20:22) Title track, album themes

(01:26:16) Burn Out

(01:30:05) Little Giants

(01:31:55) Production

(01:32:39) Wait

(01:35:54) ATLWB’s place in 2021 and in her discography

(01:44:01) Closing, Now and Then

This week we take to Reddit and scrutinise some of the (often wild) takes from Redditors regarding some popular Hip-Hop/R&B topics.

(00:00) Intro

(02:05) Spotlight Series #51: Nicholas Craven

(07:02) Expensive Pain

(12:26) Too Loyal for My Own Good

(17:05) Tope’s No Signal appearance

(19:51) Summer Walker announces “Still Over It”

(22:36) TVC vs. Reddit

(01:27:52) Closing, Now and Then playlist

It’s our first birthday this week! So, we brought in editor-in-chief of Gen B Magazine Thandie and Slime Talk’s co-host Mikes to go over some of our favourite TVC moments thus far and have a roundtable discussion surrounding hiphop and R&B in 2021 

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(20:35) A2 

(30:31) Mariah The Scientist 

(43:44) UK R&B 

(56:01) Rapper/Producer combinations 

(01:10:18) Greselda 

(01:20:48) Was R&B weak this year?/SZA