Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Gems Podcast with Shom

Rich Medina, DJ, poet, and Music Director and partner at Miami’s Dante’s HiFi, joins Gems with Shom for a conversation on deep listening, longevity, and a life built around records. A fan favorite from the archive, originally released February 2026, now with a new intro.

From his early years in New Jersey to becoming one of the most respected DJs and cultural voices of his generation, Rich reflects on a career shaped by curiosity, discipline, and intention. We get into legendary residencies, global travel, poetry, education, mentorship, and what it takes to stay a lifelong student of music.

A central thread is Dante’s HiFi, Miami’s Japanese-inspired listening room. We explore listening-bar culture, jazz kissa traditions, album-focused listening, and why slowing down to truly hear music feels more necessary than ever.

In the Drop a Gem on ’Em segment, Rich shares insight on records, listening, and moving with purpose across decades.

🎙 In this episode:

• DJing as storytelling
• Jazz kissa and listening-bar culture
• Dante’s HiFi
• Poetry, academia and mentorship
• Longevity and creative survival
• The power of deep listening

This one’s for DJs, diggers, music lovers, and anyone looking for a more intentional relationship with sound.

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#RichMedina #GemsWithShom #DantesHiFi

DJ Khalil, 3X Grammy-winning producer and half of Self Scientific, breaks down his journey from DJing house parties in LA to producing for Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Clipse, Kanye West, Anderson .Paak and Aloe Blacc.

He grew up the son of NBA All-Star Walt Hazzard, surrounded by jazz, soul and his dad’s record collection. He met Dr. Dre as a kid at a party his parents threw, and years later Dre remembered him and signed him to Aftermath. In between: sneaking his dad’s records to loop up beats, recording a demo at Ice-T’s house with Kool Keith and Diamond D, and pressing his own records with Self Scientific during LA’s independent hip hop wave.

In this episode:

• Sampling prog rock, Brazilian music and jazz fusion when everyone else sampled soul
• Moving from the ASR-10 to Reason, and how Dre taught him to use space
• How “I Made It” landed on Jay-Z’s Kingdom Come after the album was already mastered
• The stories behind “Kush,” “Kinda Like a Big Deal,” “County Building Blues,” “Heart Don’t Stand a Chance” and “The Man”
• Working with 50 Cent, Sha Money XL and the G-Unit era
• Eminem’s Recovery
• Why great producers know their role, and why he still learns from young producers

GEMS with Shom is a show about beat digging, records, production and other things.

Subscribe for more conversations with the producers, DJs and diggers who shaped the music.

#DJKhalil #DrDre #Eminem #JayZ #HipHopProducer #BeatDigging #MusicProduction #GEMSwithShom

This episode of Gems with Shom features Lord Jamar: founding member of Brand Nubian, producer, DJ, actor, and lifelong artist.From DJing house parties in New Rochelle to producing In God We Trust, developing Dead Prez, working with the Boot Camp Clik, and transitioning to acting with fantastic performances on HBO's Oz, Lord Jamar has built an extraordinary career around records, loops, and an unshakable belief in himself.Lord Jamar and Shom get into the story behind that journey: growing up on his mother's 45s, collecting breakbeat tapes from the city, learning to hear loops from Grand Puba, forming Brand Nubian with Sadat X with no demo and no group name, and teaching himself to produce by reading the MPC manual.🎙 In this episode, we dive into:- His mother's 45s, breakbeat tapes, and the records that shaped his ear- Starting as a DJ at 12 and learning to cut by studying tapes and TV clips- How Grand Puba taught him to find the magic part of a record- Forming Brand Nubian and recording their first song at Jazzy Jay's studio- The making of One for All, a five-mic classic- Why a beat invoice led him to buy an MPC 60 and produce In God We Trust himself- Working with Diamond D on "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down"- The digging story behind "Wake Up (Reprise in the Sunshine)"- The original version of A Tribe Called Quest's "Show Business"- Producing for Heltah Skeltah, OGC, and Buckshot- Developing Dead Prez as artists- Landing a role on Oz as Supreme Allah- Picking records by their cover art and digging in the digital eraLord Jamar also shares incredible stories from a lifetime in hip-hop, from pushing his turntables down Main Street in a shopping cart to turning down a spot as an extra on Oz because he knew he'd be back with a real role.The conversation goes deep into how a DJ becomes a producer, why everybody hears loops differently, what it takes to stay creative across decades, and why you have to believe you've already won in order to win.From New Rochelle house parties and Sadat X's father's record collection to classic albums and prestige television, Lord Jamar's story is ultimately about what happens when self-belief meets a great ear for records.For fans of Lord Jamar, Brand Nubian, Sadat X, Grand Puba, Diamond D, A Tribe Called Quest, Dead Prez, Boot Camp Clik, golden era hip-hop, beat digging, sampling, hip-hop production, and deep music conversations, this is a real gem.Subscribe to Gems with Shom for weekly conversations with the DJs, producers, collectors, artists, and cultural figures behind the records.#LordJamar #GemsWithShom #BrandNubian #BeatDigging #HipHopProduction #RecordCollecting #SadatX #GrandPuba #DeadPrez #GoldenEraHipHop🎙️ A show about beat digging ... records, production & other things ✨ Celebrating the art of beat digging 🎶 Jazz | Soul | Hip Hop | Global Sounds ⬇️ Full episodes & clips weekly 👉 Subscribe & listen: linktr.ee/shomghosh#beatdigging #vinylcollecting #records #hiphop #jazz #soul #funk #raregroove #production#レコードディギング #レコードコレクター #ビートディギング #ヒップホップ #ジャズ #ソウル #ファンク #日本

DJ Rhettmatic is a battle champion, producer, member of the Visionaries, and founding member of the legendary Beat Junkies.

In this episode of Gems with Shom, Rhettmatic discusses his Filipino American roots, LA’s early hip-hop scene, DJ battles, production, and the rise of the Beat Junkies. He also shares stories about J Dilla’s final European tour and the creative connection between Dilla and Madlib.

A deep conversation about DJing, beat digging, records, production, and a lifetime devoted to hip-hop.

Subscribe to Gems with Shom for more conversations about beat digging, records, and music production.

#DJRhettmatic #BeatJunkies #JDilla #Madlib #Turntablism #HipHop #BeatDigging #GemsWithShom

This episode of Gems with Shom features DJ Serious — DJ, producer, record collector, creator of the acclaimed albums Dim Sum and Cold Tea, and one of the founding members behind CrateryCon.

Ahead of CrateryCon 2026, DJ Serious and Shom get into a lifetime spent deep in records, hip-hop, DJ culture, production, and the underground.

DJ Serious traces his journey from discovering hip-hop and skate culture to getting his first turntables, becoming a working DJ, producing records, hosting college radio, throwing underground parties, and eventually releasing Dim Sum and Cold Tea.

The conversation also gets into the evolution of record digging and how DJ Serious eventually found his way back to collecting through Cratery — developing an even deeper appreciation for overlooked music, complete songs, and records that might otherwise disappear between the cracks.

🎙 In this episode, we dive into:

• Record digging, DJ culture, production, and underground hip-hop
• Dim Sum, Cold Tea, and DJ Serious’ evolution as a producer
• Working with Masta Ace and touring Europe with A-Trak
• College radio, underground parties, record stores, and creating your own platform
• Cratery, deep record knowledge, and rediscovering the excitement of digging
• CrateryCon and building a community around records, DJs, collectors, and music discovery
• Why overlooked Canadian records have become one of DJ Serious’ latest digging obsessions

DJ Serious also shares stories about working in record stores, opening his own shop Daily Operation, playing the Jazz Cafe, DJing for Lee “Scratch” Perry, stepping away from collecting, discovering photography, and eventually being pulled back into the record world.

And, of course, we Drop a Gem on ’Em — getting into Gene McDaniels, Eddie Hazel, Mighty Ryeders, Masta Ace, Clear, Run-DMC, Pete Rock, Ultimate Breaks & Beats, and some serious record knowledge along the way.

The episode also looks ahead to CrateryCon 2026, taking place September 24–27, where collectors, DJs, producers, and serious music heads come together for a weekend built around records and digging. Gems with Shom will also be there for its first live episode, featuring Gene Brown with an appearance from Jake One.

For fans of record digging, hip-hop, DJ culture, rare records, production, Cratery, underground music, and deep music conversations — this is a real gem.

Subscribe to Gems with Shom for weekly conversations with the DJs, producers, collectors, artists, and cultural figures behind the records.

#GemsWithShom #DJSerious #RecordDigging #HipHop #CrateryCon #RecordCollecting #Cratery #Vinyl #DJCulture #UndergroundHipHop #MusicProduction

Jake One joins Gems with Shom for a deep conversation about beat digging, record collecting, sampling, and a legendary career producing for some of the biggest names in music.

From digging through dollar bins in Seattle to producing records for Jay-Z, Drake, J. Cole, Rick Ross, Dr. Dre, The Weeknd, De La Soul, MF DOOM, 50 Cent, Freeway and many more, Jake One has built an extraordinary career around records, samples, and an incredible ear.

Jake and Shom get into discovering samples in his parents’ record collection, learning the art of digging alongside Seattle legend Supreme La Rock, making the influential Conmen mixtapes, and traveling across North America hunting for records before becoming one of hip-hop’s most respected producers.

They also get into working with Dr. Dre, the story behind Rick Ross and Jay-Z’s “3 Kings,” making “Rock Co.Kane Flow” with De La Soul and MF DOOM, producing for Drake and J. Cole, and Jake’s evolution beyond hip-hop through Tuxedo.

Jake shares stories from a lifetime of digging and making beats — from traveling with almost no money in search of records to hearing Funkmaster Flex drop bombs on “3 Kings” in New York and realizing his career had reached another level.

The conversation goes deep into how digging develops your ear, what separates a great beat from a great record, the producers who influenced Jake, and why collecting records remains an essential part of his creative process decades into his career.

From Seattle record stores and underground mixtapes to some of the biggest records in hip-hop, this is the story of what can happen when an obsession with records becomes a lifetime of making them.

Follow Gems with Shom for weekly conversations with the DJs, producers, collectors, artists, and cultural figures behind the records.

#JakeOne #GemsWithShom #BeatDigging #HipHopProduction #RecordCollecting

Following the incredible response to our recent episode with KON, we’re going back into the Gems with Shom archives for one of our favorite conversations — with DJ Amir, the other half of the legendary KON & Amir.

Amir is a DJ, producer, record collector, cultural historian, and founder of 180 Proof Records. Alongside KON, he helped define an era of beat digging through the legendary On Track series, introducing a generation of listeners to obscure soul, funk, jazz, rare grooves, and the original records sampled by some of hip-hop’s greatest producers.

From growing up in Boston to working at Fat Beats and Wax Poetics, Amir’s journey runs through the heart of beat-digging and record-collecting culture.

🎙 In this episode, we dive into:

• KON & Amir, On Track, rare samples, and the art of beat digging
• Kings of Diggin’, DJ Muro, and the global culture of record collecting
• Working at Fat Beats and Wax Poetics
• Digging scenes from Japan to Berlin
• Stories from a lifetime around legendary collectors, DJs, and producers
• Amir’s reflections on J Dilla
• Reviving Detroit’s Strata Records through 180 Proof Records
• Jazz, reissues, preservation, and keeping overlooked music alive

Through 180 Proof Records, Amir has continued the same spirit of discovery that made On Track essential — digging into musical history, uncovering overlooked records, and bringing incredible music back into circulation.

From hip-hop samples and rare records to Detroit jazz and digging around the world, Amir’s story is ultimately about discovery, preservation, and a lifetime devoted to music.

If you discovered Gems with Shom through the KON episode, this is the other side of the story.

Subscribe to Gems with Shom for weekly conversations with the DJs, producers, collectors, artists, and cultural figures behind the records.

#GemsWithShom #DJAmir #KONAndAmir #OnTrack #BeatDigging #RecordCollecting #JDilla #RareGroove

This episode of Gems with Shom features KON - legendary DJ, record collector, producer, and one half of KON & Amir of the famed On Track series that are core to the world of beat digging.

From growing up in Boston and witnessing hip-hop culture take shape in New York to digging for rare records around the world, KON has built a life around music, discovery, and an extraordinary ear.

KON and Shom get into the story behind KON & Amir and the legendary On Track series, which introduced a generation of listeners to obscure soul, funk, jazz, disco, and the original records sampled by some of hip-hop’s greatest producers.

The conversation follows KON’s journey from hip-hop and beat digging into disco, re-edits, remixes, house music, and production — including The Vision with Ben Westbeech and “Heaven,” Saturday Love with Fiorious, and a career that has taken him from Boston to Brazil and beyond.

🎙 In this episode, we dive into:

• KON & Amir, On Track, rare samples, and the art of beat digging
• Growing up around Boston hip-hop and witnessing the culture develop in New York
• Producing, remixing, re-editing, and the transition from hip-hop into disco and house
• The Vision, “Heaven,” Saturday Love, and KON’s evolution from hip-hop into disco and house
• Record collecting, musicianship, production, and why making a great record is about more than making a great beat

KON also shares incredible stories from a lifetime in music — playing an early show with KMD and Gang Starr, his connection to Boston hip-hop, meeting musical heroes, digging around the world, and the experiences that shaped his ear.

The conversation also takes a deeply personal turn as KON reflects on facing cancer, undergoing a bone marrow transplant, and returning cancer-free with a renewed appreciation for music, creativity, and the relationships he has built along the way.

From rare sample sources to dance floors around the world, KON’s story is ultimately about where a lifetime of listening can take you.

For fans of KON & Amir, On Track, beat digging, rare records, hip-hop samples, disco, soul, funk, house music, record collecting, production, and deep music conversations — this is a real gem.

Subscribe to Gems with Shom for weekly conversations with the DJs, producers, collectors, artists, and cultural figures behind the records.

#GemsWithShom #KON #KONAndAmir #OnTrack #BeatDigging #RecordCollecting #HipHop #Disco #RareGroove #SoulMusic #Funk #HouseMusic #MusicProduction

Dante Ross joins GEMS with Shom.

A legendary A&R, producer, beat digger, author, and storyteller, Dante Ross helped shape some of the most important music of hip-hop’s golden era.

From De La Soul, Queen Latifah, Brand Nubian, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Busta Rhymes, MF DOOM, ODB, Everlast, Del the Funky Homosapien, Leaders of the New School, and many more, Dante’s ear, taste, and creative instincts have touched records and artists that continue to define the culture.

In this conversation, Dante discusses growing up on the Lower East Side, hearing salsa, funk, soul, disco, punk, new wave, and early hip-hop in New York, and understanding how the energy of downtown New York helped shape hip-hop history.

We talk about his early days in A&R, working with De La Soul, Queen Latifah, Brand Nubian, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Busta Rhymes, MF DOOM, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and the artists who changed rap music forever.

Dante also shares stories about beat digging, rare records, sample culture, producing, library records, digging in Europe and Japan, the lessons he learned from Grand Puba, Prince Paul, 45 King, Red Alert, and others, and why knowledge, taste, honesty, and being teachable still matter.

We also discuss his book Son of the City, his life as a writer, storytelling, reinvention, and what it means to keep contributing to culture across different chapters of life.

GEMS is a show about beat digging, records, production, and other things.

Subscribe for more conversations on music, creativity, records, culture, and the deeper stories behind the DJs, producers, artists, executives, collectors, and cultural figures who shape the sound.

Full episode available now.

This episode of Gems with Shom features Nashiem Myrick - legendary producer, record collector, and key member of the Hitmen super-producer collective. Also known as your favorite producer’s favorite producer.From crafting timeless records like The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Who Shot Ya,” Capone-N-Noreaga’s “T.O.N.Y.,” Lil’ Kim’s “Queen B,” and Scarface’s “My Block,” Nashiem helped shape the sound of ’90s hip-hop and R&B.Born in Jamaica, Queens, raised on a deep record collection, and forged in New York’s studios, Nashiem represents the perfect balance of ear, emotion, and engineering - a producer who could find samples, build drums, and elevate every artist he touched.🎙 We dive into:• The making of Who Shot Ya - from the Keith Murray promo to Biggie’s version• Teaching Havoc the 950 sub-bass trick that shaped Shook Ones Pt. II• Creating T.O.N.Y., Queen B, and What You Want with Total & Mase• Digging in Sound Library, A-1, and digging with Pete Rock & Large Pro• Sending Kanye the “Blood on the Leaves” through Carlos Brody• Working within the Hitmen’s collaborative system - the supergroup of sound• His relationships with other Queens hip-hop legends🌍 Featured artists & crews:Mary J. Blige | The Notorious B.I.G. | Capone-N-Noreaga | Lil’ Kim | Scarface | The LOX | Mobb Deep | Pete Rock | Q-Tip & Tribe | Large Professor | Kanye West📸 Follow: ⁠instagram.com/gems.podcast⁠🔖 Hashtags#GemsWithShom #NashiemMyrick #Hitmen #WhoShotYa #TONY #QueenB #MyBlock #MaryJBlige #MyLife #TheNotoriousBIG #LilKim #Scarface #CaponeNNoreaga #TheLOX #MobbDeep #PeteRock #LargeProfessor #KanyeWest #HipHopHistory #BeatDigging #CrateDiggers #VinylCommunity #QueensNY #ProducerLife #SampleCulture #MusicCulture #CreativeJourney #StayInspired #GemsPodcast #ClassicHipHop #KanyeWest

Bobbito Garcia, aka Kool Bob Love, joins GEMS with Shom.

A legendary DJ, author, filmmaker, ballplayer, radio host, announcer, entrepreneur, and cultural storyteller, Bobbito has spent decades shaping taste across hip-hop, basketball, sneakers, records, radio, film, and New York culture.

In this conversation, Bobbito discusses storytelling, authenticity, social activism, family, music, basketball, and the importance of never creatively compromising for attention, reach, or sales.

We talk about his father’s record, Ray García y Su Charanga, Lord Sear’s “Alcoholic Vibes,” Gil Scott-Heron, MF DOOM, Rhymes Like Dimes, and the cultural moments that continue to ripple decades later.

Ray García y Su Charanga single:
https://www.fatbeats.com/products/ray-garcia-y-su-charanga-la-charanga-de-garc-a-b-w-para-ti-opaque-white-7?_pos=1&_psq=ray+gar&_psid=a8e01b827&_ss=e

We also discuss Bobbito’s films Rock Rubber 45s, Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives, and Doin’ It In The Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NYC.

Learn more:

Rock Rubber 45s
www.rockrubber45s.com

Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives
www.stretchandbobbito.com

Doin’ It In The Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NYC
www.doinitinthepark.com

GEMS is a show about beat digging, records, production, and other things.

Subscribe for more conversations on music, creativity, records, culture, and the deeper stories behind the DJs, producers, artists, collectors, and cultural figures who shape the sound.

Full episode available now.

DJ Day joins GEMS with Shom.

A producer, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, turntablist, and deep record collector, DJ Day has built a sound rooted in hip-hop, jazz, funk, soul, electronic music, live instrumentation, and sampling.

In this conversation, DJ Day discusses growing up in Palm Springs, discovering records through his family, teaching himself how to make pause tapes, diving into turntablism, building with the Innernational Crew, and developing a musical style shaped by samples, loops, breaks, and feeling.

We talk about his albums The Day Before, Land of 1000 Chances, Life After You, and Náufrago with Thes One, along with his work as a producer, remixer, DJ, and global touring artist.

GEMS is a show about beat digging, records, production, and other things. Subscribe for more conversations.

Full episode available now.

This best of episode of Gems with Shom features Phonte Coleman.

One of our most popular episodes ever. Phonte is a grammy-nominated rapper, singer, songwriter, filmmaker, actor, and one of the most talented and versatile artists in modern music. From Little Brother to The Foreign Exchange, from razor-sharp MC storytelling to lush, soulful compositions, Phonte’s career stands as one of the most consistent and quietly influential in post-millennial hip-hop and R&B.But this conversation isn’t a typical interview.Instead, Phonte and Shom riff, break down records, swap stories, and explore the creative philosophy that has shaped his evolution across two decades. It’s funny, honest, and full of gems for artists, fans, and anyone navigating their own reinvention.🎙 In this episode, we dive into:• Little Brother to The Foreign Exchange — the collaborations that shaped his sound• The Art of Reinvention — why your best work might still be ahead• Evolution in Real Time — balancing music, acting, film & voice work• Being a lifelong student — curiosity, humility, and learning new crafts• Deep crates & DJ culture — the music that shaped his ear• Maturity & honesty in songwriting — making music for real life• DIY for life — how Phonte navigates the entertainment business• The joy of rediscovery — why he loves being surprised by music📌 About PhonteA North Carolina native, Phonte built his legacy as one-third of Little Brother, a pioneering group in the alternative hip-hop movement of the 2000s. He later co-founded The Foreign Exchange with producer Nicolay, earning a Grammy nomination for “Daykeeper.” His solo work — from Charity Starts at Home to Pacific Time 2 — showcases one of the most dynamic voices in modern Black music. Beyond music, he writes, acts, produces, and contributes to film and TV projects including Sherman’s Showcase, The Breaks, and Sesame Street.📸 Follow:IG: instagram.com/gems.podcastYouTube: @GemsPodcastListen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts#Phonte #PhonteColeman #LittleBrother #ForeignExchange #HipHopHistory #SoulMusic #GemsWithShom #GemsPodcast #RapperLife #SingerSongwriter #MusicEvolution #CreativeJourney #Reinvention #ArtistLife #DeepCuts #ProducerLife #MusicCulture #HipHopLegends #NeoSoul #StayInspired

Marco Polo joins Gems with Shom.

From Toronto to New York, Marco Polo has built a career as one of underground hip-hop’s most respected producers, working with legends including Masta Ace, Rakim, KRS-One, Talib Kweli, Kool G Rap, Sean Price, Buckshot, Large Professor, Westside Gunn, DJ Premier, and more.

In this conversation, Marco discusses his journey from Toronto beatmaker to producer, moving to New York, interning at The Cutting Room, learning from Ayatollah, creating Port Authority, and building a sound rooted in hard drums, samples, records, and classic hip-hop.

We also discuss the evolution of his production style, from sample-based beats to full compositions, library music, soundtrack influences, synthesizers, drum programming, sound design, and his new project The Many Moods of Marco Polo: Blooming Hits, Vol. 1.

Marco shares stories about Masta Ace, DJ Premier, Nas, Rakim, Large Professor, Westside Gunn, Pete Rock, J Dilla, Akai, MPCs, Port Authority, Nostalgia, and the challenge of making old sounds feel new again.

In the Drop a Gem on ’Em segment, we discuss ESG, Bob James, Westside Gunn, Main Source, Pete Rock, Guru, Kenny Burke, Lords of the Underground, library records, international digging, and more.

GEMS is a show about beat digging, records, production, and other things.

Subscribe for more conversations on music, creativity, records, culture, and the deeper stories behind the producers, DJs, artists, and collectors who shape the sound.

Full episode available now. #MarcoPolo

Cosmo Baker joins GEMS.

Known globally as one of the world's premier DJs, Cosmo discusses growing up in Philadelphia, discovering hip-hop, developing his craft behind the turntables, moving to New York during one of the greatest eras in music, The Rub, the Scratch DJ Academy, record collecting, vinyl, traveling the world, and why curiosity and learning have remained at the center of his life and career.

We explore the art of DJing, what makes a great selector, developing a musical identity, discovering records through sampling, the evolution of music culture, and why the pursuit of knowledge never ends.

In the Drop a Gem on Em segment we discuss Jackie Wilson, Ernie Hines, Ohio Players, Gang Starr, Roy Ayers, Sly Stone, The Roots, J Dilla, Slum Village, house music, sampling, Philadelphia DJ culture, books, and much more.

#Gemswithshom #CosmoBaker #DJ #BeatDigging #RecordCollecting #Sampling #Philadelphia #HipHop #MusicHistory #OpenFormat

Hakim Tafari joins GEMS.

From sound system culture in the UK to hip-hop, soul, spiritual jazz, DJing, running, Buddhism, and mindfulness, Hakim Tafari has lived a life shaped by music, movement, art, and transformation.

In this conversation, Hakim discusses growing up in England with Jamaican roots, discovering hip-hop, traveling to Brooklyn, DJing, making music, and finding refuge in records, sound system culture, and community.

We talk about how music became a path into deeper questions of identity, spirituality, health, healing, and survival.

Hakim shares his journey through Rastafarianism, the Five Percent Nation, Buddhism, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, running, trail running, visual art, modeling, and the mind-body practices that helped him rebuild his life.

We discuss the spiritual power of music, including Alice Coltrane, John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, spiritual jazz, Black liberation, reggae, sound system culture, and the records that shaped his worldview.

In the Drop a Gem on ’Em segment, we discuss Eugene McDaniels, Cal Tjader, Phil Ranelin, Henry Franklin, Alice Coltrane, John Coltrane, Les McCann, RAMP, Lonnie Liston Smith, Rudolph Johnson, Gang Starr, and more.

GEMS is a show about beat digging, records, production, and other things.

Subscribe for more conversations on music, creativity, records, culture, and the deeper stories behind the artists, DJs, producers, and collectors who shape the sound.

Full episode available now.

#HakimTafari #GEMSWithShom #GEMSPodcast #SpiritualJazz #HipHop #Mindfulness #Buddhism #SoundSystemCulture #Reggae #SoulMusic #DJCulture #BeatDigging #RecordCollecting #AliceColtrane #JohnColtrane #ALoveSupreme #RunningCulture #MindBodyConnection #TaiChi #QiGong

Aki of Cosmos Records joins GEMS.

In the world of beat digging, Cosmos Records is considered one of the greatest record stores in the world.

Based in Toronto, Cosmos Records has become a destination for DJs, producers, beat diggers, record collectors, and music lovers looking for rare grooves, breaks, soul, jazz, Brazilian records, Cuban records, Latin records, 45s, and the records behind the records.

Aki discusses growing up between Tokyo and Toronto, learning the record trade through Japanese dealers and buying trips, working at Play De Record, opening Cosmos Records, building taste over decades, and why knowledge, humility, quality, and time matter in record collecting.

We also discuss how hip-hop taught a generation about samples, breaks, rare grooves, and music history.

From Madlib and MF DOOM digging through Brazilian records, to Prince visiting the shop, Jude Law searching for Sabu Martinez, Pete Rock digging in the warehouse, and J Dilla stories from the floor, Aki shares the history behind one of the most respected record stores in the world.

In the Drop a Gem on ’Em segment, we discuss Madlib, MF DOOM, Pete Rock, Large Professor, J Dilla, Prince, Jude Law, Sun Ra, S.O.U.L., Cymande, WEE, Brazilian records, Cuban records, sample records, DJ records, record store culture, and more.

GEMS is a show about beat digging, records, production, and other things.

Full episode available now.

On this episode of GEMS, I sit down with producer, DJ, and songwriter Maneesh on the Beat.

You may know Maneesh from his work with Drake, J. Cole, Giveon, Rihanna, Travis Scott, Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa, Calvin Harris, and many more.

We explore his journey from Toronto turntablist to producer, the stories behind Drake's "Shebang" and "Make Them Cry," working with OVO, developing his sound, and what it took to keep going through years of rejection before finding success.

In the Drop a Gem on Em segment we discuss J Dilla, Diamond D, Gang Starr, Hieroglyphics, Luther Vandross, the Isley Brothers, record collecting, DJ culture, and the records that shaped his creative perspective.

A conversation about persistence, creativity, music, and trusting your own ear.

#Drake #Shabang #MakeThemCry #ManeeshOnTheBeat #Giveon #BeatDigging #RecordCollecting #ProducerLife #Podcast #GEMSPodcast #GEMSwithShom

This episode of Gems with Shom features Waxvillain, a Seattle-based record collector, interviewer, content creator, and A&R for Fraternity Music Group Records.

Waxvillain and Shom get into his journey from hip-hop fan and beatmaker to one of the most passionate voices in the rare soul community. The conversation explores sampling, record digging, Wax Poetics, Amsterdam record culture, Brazilian music, indie soul, lost soul, and the records that shaped his life.

They also discuss how the pandemic changed his relationship with music, the rise of Waxvillain, building community through records, and why soul music continues to resonate with collectors and listeners around the world.

🎙 In this episode, we dive into:

• Growing up on hip-hop, discovering samples, and learning through records
• Dilla, MF DOOM, Madlib, beatmaking, and the path to record collecting
• Rare soul, indie soul, lost records, and the art of digging
• Wax Poetics, Fraternity Music Group, reissues, and music community

We also talk about Gil Scott-Heron, Brian Jackson, Tim Maia, The Sacred Souls, Penrose Records, Action Bronson, Alchemist, Amsterdam digging culture, and the emotional connection that great records can create.

For fans of rare soul, record collecting, beat digging, Dilla, MF DOOM, Madlib, soul music, vinyl culture, and deep music conversations, this is a real gem.

This episode of Gems with Shom features Mikey D, the Queens MC, battle rapper, and member of Main Source and LA Posse.

Mikey D and Shom get into his early years coming up in Laurelton, Queens, discovering rap, and building his reputation as one of Queens’ most respected battle MCs.

The conversation explores LA Posse, working with the legendary Paul C, joining Main Source, the New Music Seminar Battle for World Supremacy, and stories about LL Cool J, MC Shan, Kool G Rap, and Melle Mel.

🎙 In this episode, we dive into:

• Growing up in Laurelton, Queens
• Battle rap and the New Music Seminar
• LA Posse and Paul C
• Joining Main Source
• LL Cool J, MC Shan, Kool G Rap, and Queens legends
• Creativity, authenticity, and leading a life focused on music over the years

For fans of battle rap, Main Source, LA Posse, Paul C, Queens hip-hop, golden era rap, and deep hip-hop culture, this is a real gem.

This episode of Gems with Shom features DJ Flipout, a legendary DJ, producer, radio host, beat digger, and one of Canada’s most respected 45 collectors.

Flipout and Shom get into his incredible journey through music, from growing up around Portuguese records, AM radio, and early hip-hop videos to becoming a teenager on the radio, a rapper, dancer, producer, and eventually one of the defining DJs of Vancouver’s hip-hop scene.

The conversation explores his deep roots in Canadian radio, including The 5 O’Clock Traffic Jam, his early work on college and commercial radio, and how he built a decades-long career through curiosity, taste, and a lifelong commitment to DJing.

They also dive into record digging, sample culture, 45s, De La Soul, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Nardwuar, The Alchemist, Mad Child, and Vancouver hip-hop history.

🎙 In this episode, we dive into:

• Vancouver hip-hop, Canadian radio, and Flipout’s early DJ roots
• Record digging, 45s, samples, and musical memory
• Rapping, dancing, producing, and coming up through the local scene
• The 5 O’Clock Traffic Jam and a life built through radio
• Stories about De La Soul, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Nardwuar, The Alchemist, Mad Child, and more

This episode of Gems with Shom features Haas G, aka Fantom of the Beat, the legendary producer, MC, and one half of the hip-hop group UMC’s.

Haas G and Shom get into his early years coming up in Staten Island, forming UMC’s, beat digging, and creating classic records like “Blue Cheese” and “One to Grow On” from the Fruits of Nature album. Haas also breaks down his journey from rapper and producer to becoming a two-time Grammy-nominated, Billboard, RIAA Double Platinum and Gold-certified hitmaker.

The conversation explores Staten Island’s early hip-hop foundation, UMC’s and their place in hip-hop, the connection between UMC’s and the Wu-Tang era, producing Ghostface Killah and Raekwon’s “Apollo Kids,” creating Lil’ Kim and 50 Cent’s massive hit “Magic Stick,” and working with artists like Busta Rhymes, Inspectah Deck, Sadat X, and more.

For fans of sample-based production, beat digging, Wu-Tang history, UMC’s, Lil’ Kim, 50 Cent, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Busta Rhymes, and deep hip-hop culture, this is a real gem.

This episode of Gems with Shom features Nicolay, Grammy-nominated producer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and one half of The Foreign Exchange alongside Phonte.

From growing up in Utrecht and discovering Prince, to playing in funk bands, studying musicology, making beats after work, and connecting with Phonte on the Okayplayer message boards, Nicolay’s story is one of timing, originality, and deep musical curiosity.

But this conversation isn’t a typical interview.

Nicolay and Shom go deep on The Foreign Exchange, J Dilla, Prince, D’Angelo, Slum Village, keyboard beats, musical space, and the creative risks that helped shape albums like Connected and Leave It All Behind.

They also explore authenticity in the age of AI, the future of music technology, and why human feeling still matters most in soulful music.

#Nicolay #TheForeignExchange #ForeignExchange #Phonte #JDilla #Prince #Okayplayer #Connected #LeaveItAllBehind #DAngelo #Voodoo #SlumVillage #Soulquarians #NeoSoul #HipHopHistory #SoulMusic #BeatMaking #MusicProduction #ProducerLife #GemsWithShom

This episode of Gems with Shom features Cherrystones, a musician, international DJ, soundtrack composer, compiler, private record dealer, and long-running NTS Radio host with one of the deepest ears in underground music.

Cherrystones and Shom get into UK digging culture, Jazzman Records, Camden Market, library music, Italian horror soundtracks, Goblin, Fantastic Planet, Japanese film music, Den Bosch record fair, and the emotional stories attached to rare records.

The conversation also explores his unconventional upbringing between London and Wales, discovering punk, hip-hop, jazz, psych, and rare groove, and how music became a grounding force throughout his life.

🎙 In this episode, we dive into:

• UK digging culture, Jazzman Records, and the world of private record dealing
• Library records, rare European finds, and the search for unusual samples
• Italian horror soundtracks, Goblin, film cues, and darker musical moods
• NTS Radio, record fairs, collecting originals, and music as a healing force

DJ Agile joins Gems with Shom for a conversation on BrassMunk, producing “Heaven” for Nas, film and television work, and how DJing opened up a whole new chapter in his career. They also get into sync, Dilla, Kardinal Offishall, nightlife, and Agile’s new single, “Between The Sheets” ft. Ray Robinson.

This episode of Gems with Shom features Pat Van Dyke, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and bandleader whose music bridges jazz, soul, and hip hop. Known for his live recreations of classic rap records and his deep understanding of musicianship, Pat joins Shom for a conversation about the records, rhythms, and ideas that shaped his sound.

Pat and Shom get into growing up in New Jersey, discovering records at a young age, studying jazz, making beats, and how Pat learned to merge live instrumentation with the DNA of sample-based hip hop. They also talk about his recent live replay videos, the producers and records that inspired him, and what he has learned from breaking down hip hop classics by ear.

🎙 In this episode, we dive into:

• Growing up with records, tapes, and early musical influences
• Studying jazz, making beats, and shaping his sound as a producer
• The gear, records, and producers that influenced his ear
• Recreating hip hop classics with live instruments
• What classic hip hop reveals about feel, phrasing, and musicianship

📌 About Pat Van Dyke

Pat Van Dyke is an artist, producer, composer, and session musician based in New Jersey. His work blends jazz harmony, vintage textures, live instrumentation, and hip hop rhythm into a sound that feels both modern and deeply rooted in classic music traditions. Through solo releases, collaborations, and his live replay series, Pat has built a unique lane that connects musicianship with beat culture.

This episode of Gems with Shom features 7L, one-third of Czarface. 7L is the DJ and producer behind Czarface, the cult-favorite hip-hop supergroup formed by 7L & Esoteric and Wu-Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck. Known for sample-based production, comic-book world-building, and a fiercely independent creative path, 7L has helped build one of the most original and enduring underground rap universes in hip-hop.

In this conversation, 7L and Shom go deep on records, radio, early DJing, obscure samples, underground touring, collaboration, and the long road from Massachusetts mixtapes to Red Rocks and beyond.

We discuss:
• Growing up in Massachusetts and discovering hip-hop through MTV, tapes, and roller rink DJs
• Learning to DJ, making mixtapes, and building an early production process from scratch
• The early 7L & Esoteric years, college radio, indie vinyl, and underground rap in the 90s
• Digging culture, rare records, trial and error, and the records that shaped his ear
• How Czarface came together with Inspectah Deck
• Building a cult following through music, comics, collectibles, and world-building
• Collaborating with MF DOOM, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Kool Keith, and more
• Why staying weird helped sustain a long career
• Why authenticity, curiosity, and consistency still matter in underground music

7L is a Massachusetts-raised DJ and producer whose career stretches from the independent underground rap scene of the 1990s to major collaborative projects in the modern era. Before Czarface, he built his name through 7L & Esoteric, DIY vinyl releases, college radio, and relentless digging and touring. As one-third of Czarface, he helped shape a group that became far more than a rap act. It became a full creative universe rooted in hip-hop, comics, artifacts, and cult loyalty. The group’s major collaborative releases include Czarface Meets Metal Face with MF DOOM in 2018, Czarface Meets Ghostface with Ghostface Killah in 2019, and Super What? with MF DOOM in 2021.

In this episode of Gems with Shom, I sit down with John Morrison — author, journalist, DJ, and sample-flipper from Philadelphia — for a conversation on hip-hop culture, record digging, and the evolution of music and ideas.

John’s journey starts in Philadelphia, coming up in a deeply competitive freestyle and battle rap scene. Those early experiences shaped his approach to music, performance, and creativity.

He later transitioned into writing, building a career as a journalist across platforms like NPR and beyond. We talk about how writing about music changed the way he listens, and how understanding samples, production, and context provides a deeper perspective on the culture.

A key theme in this conversation is the role of politics in art. John reflects on a time when hip-hop carried clear perspectives — when artists engaged with the world and pushed listeners to think. Today, that layer often feels less present. This isn’t about agreement or disagreement, but about the importance of having a point of view.

We also discuss Philly’s influence, beat making as a lifelong practice, the connection between hip-hop and jazz, and why digging and context still matter.

A conversation about music, culture, and really listening.

Diallo Riddle: Music, Comedy & Storytelling | Best Of Episode

One of the most requested episodes of Gems with Shom is back.

In this conversation, I sit down with Diallo Riddle — actor, writer, director, DJ, and host of The One Song Podcast — for a wide-ranging discussion on music, comedy, and storytelling.

From DJing in college to working on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon — including the iconic “Slow Jam the News” with President Obama — Diallo shares stories from across his career and how those experiences shaped his creative perspective.

We also go deep into music.

From sampling and beat digging to the influence of ’90s hip hop, Diallo breaks down how great songs work — where they come from, why they last, and how they connect across genres and eras.

This is a conversation about more than music — it’s about understanding it.

In this episode:
• DJing in college and early influences
• Working on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
• The origins of The One Song Podcast
• Sampling, beat digging, and ’90s hip hop
• Why great music is meant to be studied, not just heard

If you’re into music, culture, and creative storytelling — this is a good one.

Why do STLNDRMS’ drums hit different? This is the story behind the sound.

STLNDRMS — DJ, producer, curator, and Founder/Creative Director — joins Gems with Shom for a conversation on beat culture, creative independence, and building a life through music.

From Detroit roots to a global upbringing across Europe and Japan, STLNDRMS shares how early exposure to records, hip-hop, and Black music shaped his sound and set him on a path of lifelong creation.

We explore his journey from early production and recording to touring, building community, and ultimately transitioning into full-time music — creating multiple revenue streams through drum kits, events, photo and video production, streaming, and creative direction.

At the center of it all is consistency and community — from early live streams that connected him with key figures in beat culture, to collaborating with artists and mentors around the world.

We also dive into:

• Crafting elite drum sounds and signature drum kits
• Analog recording techniques and studio philosophy
• The balance between art and business in a creative career
• Beat culture, live performance, and global community
• Lessons from DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Playlist Retreat
• Building consistency and creating your own lane

This is a conversation about discipline, creativity, and longevity — and a real look at what it takes to turn passion into something sustainable.

Listen, rate, and subscribe.

#BeatCulture #DrumKits #MusicProduction #DJCulture #CrateDigging #GemsWithShom

STLNDRMS: Elite Drums, Consistency, and Community

A DJ and record collector with an incredible archive of rare vinyl, Shima brings a deep knowledge of music, culture, and the art of digging. The conversation covers digging in Japan, the collector’s mindset, and the transition from being a bedroom DJ to playing for crowds.

From growing up as a fourth-generation Japanese American in California surrounded by music to discovering hip-hop, Shima reflects on the early influences that shaped his ear and set him on a lifelong path of collecting.

We explore his journey through underground hip-hop, mixtape culture, and college radio, as well as his experiences digging in Japan, from searching for rare records to feeling at home in record stores across Tokyo and beyond.

We explore:

• Growing up in Sacramento and discovering hip-hop
• Underground hip-hop, mixtape culture, and early influences
• Digging in Japan and global record culture
• The collector’s mindset and what separates DJs from collectors
• Record rarity, first pressings, and long-term value
• “Putting up stats” and documenting rare finds
• And more

Listen, rate, and subscribe.

In this episode of Gems with Shom, I sit down with Jay Stewart — music executive, DJ, exhibit curator, and founder of one of the most fascinating hip-hop artifact collections in the world: The Jay Stewart Collection.

Jay’s story begins in Queens, New York, growing up during the golden era of hip-hop and the early foundations of the culture. From there, he built a remarkable career across the music industry.

Jay worked as a promotional rep at Rawkus Records, helping break artists like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Big L, before moving into major label marketing roles at MCA, Geffen, Interscope, and Universal. Along the way, he helped promote albums from artists like Common, The Roots, Mary J. Blige, and Blink-182.

Over the years, he quietly built an incredible archive of rare hip-hop promotional posters, memorabilia, and artifacts — items that once lived in record stores, radio stations, and label offices during the golden era of physical music culture.

Today, that archive has become The Jay Stewart Collection, a traveling exhibit celebrating hip-hop’s visual and promotional history. Pieces from his collection have even appeared in the Sotheby’s Hip Hop Auction, placing these artifacts alongside fine art and cultural history.

In this conversation, we explore Jay’s journey through the music industry, the lost art of physical music promotion, and why preserving hip-hop’s visual history still matters today.

🎧 Drop a Gem On ’Em segment includes:
Kenny Burke • M.O.P. • Big L • Mos Def • MF DOOM • J Dilla • Tribe Called Quest • Prodigy & Alchemist • Kid Cudi • Nonchalant

Wyldeflower, radio host, DJ, and experiential producer, joins the show for a conversation on records, radio, travel, and the rituals that shape her life.

From growing up in Los Angeles surrounded by mariachi to discovering Wu-Tang Clan and the deeper worlds of jazz, soul, and Brazilian music, Wyldeflower reflects on the experiences that shaped her ear.

She also shares stories about her friendship with legendary Brazilian composer Arthur Verocai, and how his music, and the broader world of Brazilian sound, continues to inspire beat diggers, collectors, and musicians.

We explore her journey through the LA creative scene, working alongside communities like Mochilla, Art Don’t Sleep, and Dublab, and how those experiences led her to the airwaves at KCRW, where she continues to champion new and classic sounds from around the world.

We explore:

• Growing up in Los Angeles and discovering hip-hop, punk, and global music
• Finding her voice through DJing, radio, and experiential production
• Record digging trips across Brazil and the thrill of finding rare vinyl
• Traveling the world through music, from Rio and São Paulo to Japan
• The ritual and philosophy behind collecting and playing records

In our “Drop a Gem on ’Em” segment, we touch on:

• Gal Costa
• Alice Coltrane
• Sun Ra
• Funkadelic
• Roy Ayers
• D’Angelo
• Sly & The Family Stone
• And many more

Listen, rate, and subscribe.

We sit down with K-Cut of Main Source — producer, DJ, and record collector — for a conversation on the origins of Main Source, the making of the classic album Breaking Atoms, his evolution as a producer, digging culture, and what comes next.

From growing up between Queens and forming Main Source alongside Large Professor and Sir Scratch, K-Cut takes us back to the origins — late-night studio sessions working with Paul C, and building what would become one of the most important albums of the Golden Era: Breaking Atoms.

We explore:

• The early Wild Pitch era and hearing Main Source on the radio• Mentorship under Paul C• The group’s evolution and the second album Fuck What You Think with Mikey D• Reinvention and finding a new wave of success

K-Cut opens up about stepping away from the spotlight and how producer Rashad Smith helped bring him back into the fold, leading to work with LL Cool J, MC Lyte, Big Pun, and more.

We close with the next chapter: new Main Source music arriving around the 35th anniversary of Breaking Atoms.

In our “Drop a Gem on ’Em” segment, we touch on:

• Gang Starr• Bob Power• Jadakiss & Sheek Louch

Listen, rate, and subscribe.
📀 New episodes weekly
🌍 Dig deeper

In this episode of Gems with Shom, a show about beat digging, records, and other things, we sit down with Jaeki Cho, ex rap journalist turned world traveler and founder of Righteous Eats and Creators Lunch, for a wide ranging conversation on rap media, world travel, and cultural identity. Jaeki reflects on growing up in Queens in the late 90s, discovering hip hop before the algorithm era, and entering rap journalism at XXL Magazine during the final years of print media. We discuss storytelling, revision, media literacy, and why journalistic rigor still matters in today’s fast moving media landscape.

As always, the conversation connects back to beat digging and record culture. From Mobb Deep and Wu Tang Clan to jazz samples and global sound exploration, we explore how hip hop sampling opened the door to deeper musical discovery and how digging through records becomes a gateway to understanding history, migration, and identity.

The conversation expands into world travel, from Mongolia to Morocco, Singapore to Istanbul, and how movement across borders reshapes identity. Jaeki breaks down his concept of “third culture,” the remixing of global identities, and why community matters more than ever in a fragmented digital age.

We also dive into:

Mobb Deep, The Alchemist, and Wu-Tang Clan
Sampling as cultural exchange
Record collecting as connection
Running marathons as discipline
Racism abroad and perspective at home
Why storytelling is more important than ever

This is a conversation about hip hop and beat digging, but it is also about global travel, media, philosophy, and building something meaningful.

Listen, rate, and subscribe.
📀 New episodes weekly
🌍 Dig deeper

Double Peas joins Gems with Shom for a wide ranging conversation on vinyl collecting, deep soul culture, private press records, and what she calls “record energy.”Born in Santiago, Chile and raised in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley, Double Peas traces her journey from a music-filled immigrant household to the underground LA scene of the early ’90s—where house music, acid jazz, hip-hop, jungle, and Detroit techno shaped her ear long before she stepped behind the turntables.Starting as a bedroom DJ, she evolved into a respected vinyl DJ and serious record collector. We explore her move to Las Vegas, building grassroots Funk & Soul parties, and becoming a working vinyl DJ on the Vegas Strip.A major theme of this episode is record energy—the vibe a vinyl record carries based on ownership, history, and lineage. From deep soul “daggers” and rare 45s to regional records and sampling culture, this conversation dives into preservation, community, and staying original in a digital era.In the Drop a Gem on ’Em segment, Double Peas shares personal classics—from jazz and modern soul to rare private press cuts—and reflects on why continuity matters more than clout.🎙 In This Episode:Vinyl collecting & beat digging cultureDeep soul, sweet soul & private press recordsFrom bedroom DJ to vinyl on the Vegas StripRecord trading as currency & communityPortable turntables & analog preservationIntroversion, confidence & growth through musicWhy people matter more than recordsIf you’re into vinyl records, DJ culture, crate digging, rare soul, sampling history, and deep listening, this episode is for you.👉 Subscribe for weekly conversations on beat digging, records, and other things.

Rich Medina joins Gems with Shom for a wide-ranging conversation on deep listening, longevity, and building a life rooted in sound, culture, and purpose.

From his early years in New Jersey to becoming one of the most respected DJs and cultural voices of his generation, Rich reflects on a career shaped by curiosity, discipline, and intention. The conversation spans legendary residencies, global travel, poetry, education, mentorship, and the mindset required to remain a lifelong student of music.

A central thread of the episode focuses on Dante’s HiFi, Miami’s Japanese-inspired listening room, where Rich serves as Music Director and partner. We explore listening-bar culture, album-focused listening, and why slowing down to truly hear music feels more necessary than ever.

In the Drop a Gem on ’Em segment, Rich shares insight on records, listening, and moving with purpose across decades.

🎙 Topics include DJing as storytelling, jazz kissa culture, longevity, creative survival, academia, and the power of deep listening.

This episode is for DJs, diggers, music lovers, and anyone seeking a more intentional relationship with sound.

In this episode of Gems with Shom, we sit down with DJ YNOT—DJ, lifelong beat digger, and owner of Lucky Records Miami—for a wide-ranging conversation that’s equal parts hilarious, introspective, and packed with deep beat-digging knowledge.

Tony walks through his journey from late-’90s DJing and underground hip-hop shows to club residencies, opening for legends, and ultimately stepping away from nightlife to build one of Miami’s most respected and popular record stores. Along the way, the stories are wild, honest, and genuinely funny—misadventures in DJ life, near-miss moments, and the kind of behind-the-scenes experiences you only get from someone who’s really lived it.

He breaks down what it actually takes to find records in 2026, why digging is harder (and more competitive) than ever, and how he’s not a customer—he’s a record dealer and store owner. From Miami soul history to legendary samples, from dollar-bin gems to grail-level records, this is knowledge you won’t find anywhere else.

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on beat digging, records, and other things.

#GemsWithShom

#DJYNOT

#LuckyRecordsMiami

#VinylCulture

#RecordDigging
#BeatDigging
#HipHopCulture
#DJLife
#RecordStoreLife
#MiamiMusic
#CrateDigging
#VinylCommunity
#MusicPodcast
#HipHopPodcast
#VinylPodcast

In this episode of Gems with Shom, Shomit sits down with Mr. Thing—legendary UK DJ and producer—for a conversation on digging culture, focus, and staying inspired.

Mr. Thing traces his journey from growing up outside London and discovering hip-hop, to winning DMC battles and building the legacy of Scratch Perverts. He shares the reality behind the wins—long practice days, creative sacrifice, and the importance of consistency when momentum disappears and later returns.

A major part of the conversation dives into UK library records—KPM, De Wolfe, Bruton, Conroy, and more—how he first discovered them, why they’re so sample-ready, and what separates surface-level digging from true replay-value records.

We also explore his work with BBE, including the pivotal Kings of Hip Hop release alongside DJ Premier, and how BBE helped shape a defining chapter of his career. Mr. Thing also discusses more recent projects, including the widely loved Surprise Chef mixtape.

Topics include:
• UK library records
• Turntablism, DMCs & Scratch Perverts
• Rare groove, digging philosophy & replay value
• Inspiration, discipline & longevity in music

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on beat digging, records, and other things.

#MrThing
#UKLibraryRecords
#CrateDigging
#BeatDigging
#Turntablism
#ScratchPerverts
#RareGroove
#LibraryMusic
#DJCulture
#HipHopHistory
#VinylDigging
#BBERecords
#DMCBattles
#GemsWithShom

In this episode of Gems with Shom, I’m joined by Supreme La Rock — DJ, producer, label founder, and one of the originators of beat digging culture.From early hip-hop’s formative years to shaping how generations understand break beats, records, and listening itself, Supreme’s story is tied to the DNA of digging. Long before the term “beat digging” existed, he was building his collection through instinct, risk, and an unmatched ear — pulling grails from obscurity and turning overlooked records into foundational beat digging classics.We dive deep into his Seattle roots, early encounters with hip-hop culture, and the philosophy that guided decades of digging: curiosity over trends, feeling over formulas, and trust in the ear. We unpack Conception Records, its role in creating a sound that would later become globally revered, and Supreme’s behind-the-scenes influence on artists and producers — including early connections with J Dilla, before the world fully understood what it was witnessing.This conversation moves through mixtapes, break culture, global travel, vinyl DJing, technology, and the realities of longevity — how staying true to taste, rather than chasing trends, creates work that lasts. Supreme reflects on discovering records that later became grails by listening deeply when others weren’t.This is a masterclass in taste, patience, and the growth of beat digging culture — from someone who helped build the foundation🎙 In this episode, we get into:Growing up with records before “beat digging” had a nameEarly hip-hop, break culture, and learning through movementBuilding Conception Records and documenting an underground soundFinding grails through instinct, not trendsEarly perspectives on J Dilla and recognizing generational talentMixtapes, break science, and educating without gatekeepingVinyl DJing, technology, and adapting without losing identityLongevity, humility, and staying a student of the musicThis episode is for diggers, DJs, producers, and anyone who understands that culture is built quietly, over time, by people who listen harder than everyone else.

#GemsWithShom #SupremeLaRock #BeatDigging #CrateDigging #ConceptionRecords

This episode of Gems with Shom features Eddie Mac — DJ, founder of The MAC Agency, and the vinyl curator behind DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak).Eddie’s story is a rare one. It starts with growing up in New Jersey surrounded by Motown, soul, and disco records… and leads to decades of DJing, digging, nightlife, and eventually turning a lifelong obsession with vinyl into a global business.We break down how Eddie went from college parties and New York club residencies to curating vinyl sets for Anderson .Paak, helping bring all-vinyl DJ culture to the world’s biggest stages.Eddie Mac's life is about longevity, reinvention, mental health, and building infrastructure around what you love.🎙 In this episode, we dive into:• Early DJ years — New Jersey roots, college parties & learning to read a room• Discovering vinyl — crate digging, record pools & the physical relationship with music• NYC nightlife in the late ’90s — residencies, record stores & legendary mentors• Moving to Las Vegas — DJ burnout, anxiety & the moment everything had to change• Founding The MAC Agency — turning relationships into a real business• The MAC Vinyl Collective — building a roster around vinyl culture• Becoming Anderson .Paak’s vinyl curator (DJ Pee .Wee) — how it actually happened• Touring the world — vinyl DJing at the highest level• Passion vs survival — knowing when to pivot without leaving the culture• Why vinyl still matters — ritual, taste, and the thrill of the digThis episode is for DJs, diggers, music lovers, and anyone trying to turn passion into something sustainable — without losing themselves along the way.📸 Follow:instagram.com/gems.podcast🎧 Watch / Listen:YouTube → @GemsPodcastSpotify • Apple Podcasts • everywhere🔖 Hashtags#GemsWithShom #EddieMac #AndersonPaak #DJPeeWee #CrateDigging #BeatDigging #DJLife #MusicBusiness #RecordCollectors #MACAgency #VinylOnly #HipHopCulture #SoulMusic #DJCulture #PassionToBusiness

DJ Rashida joins Gems with Shom for an unforgettable conversation about music, magnetization, and staying true to your taste.

From growing up in deeply musical households to being shaped by Atlanta’s 90s underground scene, Rashida shares how DJing became the vehicle that led her to becoming Prince’s longtime DJ — and to a life beyond anything she could’ve planned.

We talk Mama’s Crates, record digging, anti-gatekeeping, vinyl vs digital, and why authenticity is the real cheat code in music and life.

🎙 This episode explores:
• Becoming Prince’s DJ
• Musical mentorship & magnetizing opportunity
• Crate digging, mixtapes & record-store education
• Mama’s Crates and building community through knowledge
• Taste, ritual, and why deep listening still matters
• Redefining success through purpose & motherhood

For anyone who believes music opens doors — and that the right records can change your life.

In this episode of Gems with Shom, I’m joined by Fleetgotheat — artist, producer, and one of the biggest voices breaking down classic drum breaks and production techniques on the internet right now.

Fleetgotheat built a massive following by sharing drum breaks and beat science without gatekeeping. From breaking down where iconic drums come from, to talking through chopping and sequencing, what started as research and curiosity turned into a global conversation — introducing new generations to the foundations of hip-hop, funk, soul, and beat digging.

We talk about growing up in Chicago, learning music through family record collections, discovering sampling through Nas, Kanye, and soul records, and why drum breaks — and understanding how to use them — still matter today, even in an era where “everything is searchable.”

This is a conversation about ear over equipment, curiosity over gatekeeping, and why sharing information doesn’t dilute culture — it amplifies it.

🎙 In this episode, we get into:
• The rise of Fleetgotheat’s classic drum break series• Chicago roots and early musical exposure• Poetry, writing, and the path into beat-making• Learning production through Ableton + early SoundCloud days• Anti-gatekeeping and knowledge sharing in hip-hop• Why information alone doesn’t replace taste• Drum breaks as history, education, and community

📸 Follow: instagram.com/gems.podcast
🎧 Watch / Listen: YouTube @GemsPodcast + Spotify / Apple / everywhere

#GemsWithShom #Fleetgotheat #DrumBreaks #BeatDigging #HipHopKnowledge #AntiGatekeeping #ProducerCulture #SampleCulture #DrumHistory #VinylCulture

This episode of Gems with Shom features J Scienide — Charlotte-raised, Washington, DC transplant, MC / producer, and a true student of music.

J Scienide takes us from his earliest days learning through pause tapes and digging through his father’s records… to pressing his first records… to becoming one of the most prolific independent artists in today’s underground.

It’s a story about music obsession and building a real career from passion — even when the path isn’t straight.

🎙 In this episode, we get into:

• Charlotte roots and early studio days

• First exposure to beat digging (drum breaks, grandma’s records, dad’s jazz/funk)

• Pause tapes, early beats, and the moment that made him start creating

• The first vinyl milestone - pooling money to press wax and getting an MF DOOM cosign

• The road to finding his lane

• Atlanta and DC chapters, rebuilding, and linking with Kev Brown + the Low Budget family

• The pandemic shift — setting up a home studio, locking in, and flooding the world with projects

• Major cosigns + momentum (Hot 97 / Flex, Rosenberg, global DJ support)

• Static King Records + Fat Beats distribution — turning the vision into infrastructure

• Flashes in the Dark — his latest project with UK producer Giallo Point

• Why the ear matters more than the equipment — and how limitations created his best work

This one’s for anyone who loves digging culture and the real story of how artists build something lasting from the ground up.

📸 Follow: https://www.instagram.com/gems.podcast/
🎧 Watch / Listen: YouTube @GemsPodcast + Spotify / Apple / everywhere

#GemsWithShom #JScienide #UndergroundHipHop #CrateDigging #PauseTapes #Beatdigging #FatBeats #StaticKingRecords #ProducerLife

This episode of Gems with Shom features Eilon Paz — photographer, world traveler, storyteller, and creator of Dust & Grooves, the iconic book that became a global celebration of record culture.

From a small desert town in Israel…
to hustling as a photographer in NYC during the 2008 recession…
to documenting over 300 of the world’s most passionate record collectors…

Eilon shares how a personal photo project transformed into a best-selling book and cultural time capsule. This is a conversation about creativity, community, risk-taking, and building something meaningful from scratch.

🎙 Episode Highlights:
• Origins of Dust & Grooves — how one idea sparked a global movement
• The 6-year journey — 300 collectors, 1,000+ pages, endless stories
• Travel adventures — Suriname, Guyana, Cameroon, Japan, France, Israel
• The turning point — Random House calls (after passing), Questlove reaches out
• Photographing private collections — trust, access & storytelling
• Survival mode → creativity — why risk shaped Eilon’s best work
• His next big project — a global deep dive with top collectors
• Passion, purpose & staying true to the craft

A must-listen for fans of vinyl culture, photography, creativity, and long-form storytelling.

📸 Follow the show: instagram.com/gems.podcast

#DustAndGrooves #GemsWithShom #EilonPaz #VinylCommunity #RecordCollectors #PhotographyLife

In this episode of Gems with Shom, we sit down with Rob “Late Bloomer” Geddis - professional record buyer at the legendary Princeton Record Exchange, lifelong beat digger, and the man behind those late-night posts that make collectors everywhere say, “What is that record?!”

From buying thousands of records a week to navigating basement collections across the Northeast, Rob shares what it really means to be a full-time record buyer. We get into the chaos and magic of the Utrecht Record Fair in the Netherlands, the global digging community, and why taste, patience, and curiosity matter more than ever.

This episode goes beyond the crates — into identity, loss, discovery, and the lifelong practice of staying inspired.

In this episode:

• Life as a professional record buyer at Princeton Record Exchange

• Utrecht Record Fair stories: characters, chaos & long-lost grails

• Late-night Instagram digging posts and the art of sharing music

• Early years: skateboarding, MTV raps, sample hunting, college radio

• Evolving taste — jazz-rock, psych, folk, library, global vibes

• Knowledge vs. gatekeeping in digging culture

• Why “peace” is the thing he values most today

If you love vinyl culture, beat digging, hip hop, rare grooves, or just hearing two music obsessives talk with passion — this one is for you.

Follow the show: instagram.com/gems.podcast
Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@Gems.Podcast

This episode of Gems with Shom features Phonte Coleman — Grammy-nominated rapper, singer, songwriter, filmmaker, actor, and one of the most talented, diverse, and prolific voices of his generation. From Little Brother to The Foreign Exchange, from elite MC craftsmanship to deeply soulful compositions, to film and voice acting, Phonte’s career is a masterclass in evolution and risk-taking.

But this conversation is different.
Instead of a traditional interview, Phonte and Shom riff, reflect, and break down the music and life lessons that shaped his journey — creativity, growth, and why reinvention isn’t an act… it’s an intentional practice.

What emerges is rare: an honest, funny, deeply human look at an artist who refuses to stop evolving.

🎙 We dive into:

• Little Brother to Foreign Exchange — how collaboration shaped his sound & worldview• The Art of Reinvention — why your best chapter can still be ahead• Evolution in Real Time — music, acting, creativity & risk-taking• The power of being a lifelong student — entering new fields with humility and courage• His deep crates & love for old records — and his passion for DJing• DIY for life — how Phonte navigates the entertainment business on his own terms• The joy of rediscovery — why he still loves learning, listening, and being surprised

This episode of Gems with Shom features Doc Delay — DJ, producer, record dealer, and underground legend whose REM Sleep psych-rock mixtape series opened entire universes for a generation of beat heads.

From psych-rock symptoms to Middle Eastern rarities, Doc takes us inside the hidden corners of record culture — the sounds, stories, and chaotic adventures behind some of the wildest records on Earth.

This one is for the heads — the beat diggers, psych-rock obsessives, sample hunters, and curious newcomers.

• Psych Rock 101 — the symptoms, sounds, backwards guitars, fuzz pedals, tape tricks & stereo experiments that shaped the genre and influenced hip-hop
• REM Sleep — the cult-classic psych-rock mixtape series that producers & DJs literally sampled straight from the CDs
• Record store madness & dangerous digs — foreign imports crawling with insects, unexplained infections, home-based hoards & some of the craziest digging stories you’ll ever hear
• Beat digging in the 90s — DC streets, Richmond warehouses, early eBay hustles, shipping rare heat to Japan & Germany, and the dealer grind that funded his college years
• Middle Eastern & Turkish gems — Barış Manço, Erkin Koray, 45 heat & the cross-continental influences that shaped his ear

#GemsWithShom #DocDelay #PsychRock #REMsleep #BeatDigging #CrateDigging #RecordCollectors #VinylCommunity #TurkishRock #AnatolianRock #MiddleEasternGrooves #BarisManco #ErkinKoray #PsychFunk #RareGrooves #Breaks #SampleCulture #Diggers #VinylOnly #DJCulture #ProducerLife #UndergroundHipHop #DeepCuts #GemsPodcast #MusicCulture #StayInspired #Psychrock #Progrock

This episode of Gems with Shom features Andrea Galtieri — extraordinary beat-digger, Italian library and soundtrack specialist, and co-founder of Sonor Music Editions, bringing the golden era of Italy’s library and soundtrack music to a new wave of listeners.

This music is a beat digging treasure box — heavily sampled and rediscovered by legendary producers like The Alchemist, Madlib, and Oh No, who have turned Italian library records into a new vein of modern hip-hop.

From Goblin’s horror-funk soundtracks to Piero Umiliani’s jazz-psych masterpieces, Andrea breaks down the DNA of Italian library and soundtrack culture — how these once-obscure studio projects shaped global sound, inspired generations of producers, and continue to thrive through sampling and modern reissues.

Artists like JJ Whitefield, The Natural Yogurt Band, and Sven Wunder — inspired by the history of library music — continue to bring new life to the sound today.

Andrea’s journey bridges culture, curation, and community, preserving history while pushing the art of beat digging forward into the future.

🎙 We dive into:
• Sampling culture: how hip-hop producers like The Alchemist, Madlib, and Oh No turned Italian library records into incredible modern beats
• Crate-digging philosophy — from NYC’s Sound Library & A-1 Records to Italy’s record fairs
• Goblin & Dario Argento — from Suspiria to Profondo Rosso to Roller, the sound of cinematic fear & funk
• Incredible Italian library artists — Piero Umiliani, Augusto Martelli, Akada Abali Ba, and the rediscovered master tapes
• The infamous I Marc 4 — Italy’s baddest library session band
• Andrea’s personal connections with the original musicians of the era

🏷 About Sonor Music Editions
Founded in 2013 by Lorenzo Fabrizi, joined by Andrea Galtieri, Sonor Music Editions reissues lost Pop, Jazz, Cinematic Lounge, Funk, Easy Listening & Psychedelic gems from the ’70s/’80s — and builds a new production-library series with emerging artists, keeping the analog spirit alive.

🎧 Listen & explore the soundtrack:
Curated Spotify Playlist

📸 Follow: instagram.com/gems.podcast

🔖 Hashtags
#GemsWithShom #AndreaGaltieri #SonorMusicEditions #ItalianLibrary #ItalianSoundtracks #Goblin #PieroUmiliani #IMarc4 # #StelvioCipriani #AlessandroAlessandroni #EnnioMorricone #DarioArgento #ProfondoRosso #Suspiria #Madlib #OhNo #TheAlchemist #JJWhitefield #TheNaturalYogurtBand #SvenWunder #CrateDigging #VinylCommunity #BeatDigging #LibraryMusic #CinematicFunk #JazzFunk #MondoGroove #RecordCollectors #Italy #Milan #Sicily #SampleCulture #AnalogAesthetic #GemsPodcast #MusicCulture #StayInspired #LibraryRecords

This episode of Gems with Shom features Nashiem Myrick - legendary producer, record collector, and key member of the Hitmen super-producer collective. Also known as your favorite producer’s favorite producer.

From crafting timeless records like The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Who Shot Ya,” Capone-N-Noreaga’s “T.O.N.Y.,” Lil’ Kim’s “Queen B,” and Scarface’s “My Block,” Nashiem helped shape the sound of ’90s hip-hop and R&B.

Born in Jamaica, Queens, raised on a deep record collection, and forged in New York’s studios, Nashiem represents the perfect balance of ear, emotion, and engineering - a producer who could find samples, build drums, and elevate every artist he touched.

🎙 We dive into:
• The making of Who Shot Ya - from the Keith Murray promo to Biggie’s version• Teaching Havoc the 950 sub-bass trick that shaped Shook Ones Pt. II

• Creating T.O.N.Y., Queen B, and What You Want with Total & Mase• Digging in Sound Library, A-1, and digging with Pete Rock & Large Pro• Sending Kanye the “Blood on the Leaves” through Carlos Brody• Working within the Hitmen’s collaborative system - the supergroup of sound• His relationships with other Queens hip-hop legends

🌍 Featured artists & crews:
Mary J. Blige | The Notorious B.I.G. | Capone-N-Noreaga | Lil’ Kim | Scarface | The LOX | Mobb Deep | Pete Rock | Q-Tip & Tribe | Large Professor | Kanye West

📸 Follow: instagram.com/gems.podcast

🔖 Hashtags
#GemsWithShom #NashiemMyrick #Hitmen #WhoShotYa #TONY #QueenB #MyBlock #MaryJBlige #MyLife #TheNotoriousBIG #LilKim #Scarface #CaponeNNoreaga #TheLOX #MobbDeep #PeteRock #LargeProfessor #KanyeWest #HipHopHistory #BeatDigging #CrateDiggers #VinylCommunity #QueensNY #ProducerLife #SampleCulture #MusicCulture #CreativeJourney #StayInspired #GemsPodcast #ClassicHipHop #KanyeWest