The Vinyl Collective

This week we discuss the 'penultimate' album from self-proclaimed boy-band “BROCKHAMPTON” and their artistic growth over the last few years.

Timestamps:

00:00 The Story of Athena and Arachne

02:48 Introvert

15:27 Cordae’s new EP

20:56 Wireless 2021 line-up

30:37 H.E.R.'s new song

32:37 A2’s new singles

34:13 TDE’s return

37:26 Jon’s album challenge

40:52 Artist Spotlight: Karl Benjamin

49:19 Intro to BROCKHAMPTON discussion

54:32 Context to ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE

56:42 Which BROCKHAMPTON members exerted themselves more?

59:15 Kevin Abstract’s place in hip-hop

01:03:20 People looking too deep into lyrics to fit a narrative

01:06:22  Album features

01:12:30 BROCKHAMPTON's incessant need to explore other genres

01:13:32 Album themes

01:14:10 General album discussion

01:44:27 Final Remarks, final album predictions

01:48:06 Closing, Now & Then playlist

This week we’re joined by Creative Director of "The Floor Magazine", host of the "No Signal Super Album" and co-host of "The Playback Podcast" Paula (AKA Narcography) to break down "Lemonade", the conceptual and pivotal sixth album from Beyoncé, in light of its 5-year anniversary.

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

04:15 - Artist Spotlight: Ravyn Lenae

13:09 - Narcography Intro

26:30 - Lemonade: The Necessary Context

37:12 - Breaking down the film/album

01:46:00 - Closing, Now and Then playlist

This week we take a look at the coveted XXL Annual Freshman Class Lists and rank the cohorts from our least favourite to most favourite. Link to the lists broken down by year: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XXL_(magazine)#Annual_Freshman_Class_List

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro 

10:51 - Spotlight Series: Hope Tala

19:41 - Thoughts on the XXL Annual Freshman Class List, overview of each cohort

31:33 - Ranking the Class Lists from worst to best

01:25:14 - Closing thoughts, Now and Then playlist

This week we discuss the years 2016-17 where we saw an unprecedented number of R&B (+ Soul) talents burst into the mainstream. Were there any precursors in the early '10's that could have foreseen the genre's meteoric rise?

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

21:18 - Spotlight Artist: Goya Gumbani

30:39 - The state of R&B/Soul before 2016; What's the difference between neo-soul and neo-R&B?

01:00:10 - Artists birthed during the Renaissance Period

01:45:00 - Closing, Now & Then playlist

This week we’re joined by pianist and artist/producer Hannah V. We discuss her time at the Royal Academy of Music, being on the road with artists such as Rihanna and Jessie as a session musician, and her life as a producer.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro, Artist Spotlight: Eryn Allen Kane

31:08 Hannah V Interview

01:28:25 Closing, Now and Then Playlist

This week we delve into the idea of Alter Egos and why and artist would consider using one during their career. We zoom in our focus on the characters of MF DOOM, Childish Gambino, and Sasha Fierce and ask ourselves whether we all have different egos that we use in everyday life.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & Artist Spotlight: Che Lingo

33:10 Alter Egos discussion

01:33:34 Closing, Now & Then playlist

This week Jon and Tope talk about the recent boom of deluxe records and pull back the curtain on the dark side of the current streaming world, particularly how it has shaped the behaviours of artists and their listeners. Should streaming play such a huge factor in an artists’ sales? 

00:00 Intro: Grammy's recap, Hiatus Kaiyote and Chance return, Artist Spotlight: Jesse James Solomon

28:57 - The Current boom of deluxe albums

50:24 Should streams count towards sales?

01:41:07 - Closing, Now and Then playlist

This week we look at the second studio album from British singer FKA Twigs and how the biblical themes of Mary Magdalene tie into the album’s narrative as well as recent events in her life.

This week we celebrate the five year anniversary of Kendrick Lamar’s 34 minute compilation record composed of loose B-side tracks made during and after the making of his second album “To Pimp a Butterfly”.

00:00 Intro and artist Spotlight: Juls

19:42 untitled unmastered

01:35:08 Closing/ Now & Then playlist

This week we look at some of the most influential hip-hop groups over the last three decades. Other topics include: Ghetts’ latest record “Conflict of Interest”, Bobby Shmurda being out the can and J Hus’s rumoured 26 track record.