Diggin' In The Digits – Details, episodes & analysis

For a bonus episode, an interview for you to step to! Charlie talks to UK DJ/Production duo The Allergies, talking their beginnings, how they gained/cultivated their taste; their new album "Freak The Speaker" and their Top 5. If you haven't spun a WG interview, here's a good gateway for you!

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Hold Please" & "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

We begin our 2024 edition of our UK Black History Month series with one of UK Hip-Hop's earliest success stories in MC Duke who was the guy in the late 80s, culminating in two albums of varying quality and the American vocal inflections that was plaguing the early years of UK Hip-Hop.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (0:47)
Ben:

• Tara Lily - Speak In The Dark

Charlie:

• Vacatixn - GEMINI FLOW
• Kamaiyah - Before We Party
• 9th Wonder & Give Em Soul - ONE FORTY SEVEN
• A-F-R-O - AFRODEEZEAK 2
• The Hoodies - NOBODY BIGGER THAN WE
• Mysie - CONTROLLA
• Monaleo - Throwing Bows
• Amahla - Enough: The Collection
• Tara Lily - Speak In The Dark
• Bilal - Adjust Brightness
• Nines - Quit While You're Ahead
• TSHA - Sad Girl
• Ezra Collective - Dance, No One's Watching

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (18:55)
Organised Rhyme - (28:47)
Return of the Dread-i - (38:35)
Lighter Note - (51:42)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

The story of Ja Rule is one that can only be described as a contextual nightmare. Whilst we can boil it down to "He had hits then 50 took his soul" and call it a day, there's so much under that surface that deserves a look, including music that perfectly exemplifies how fucking weird the 00s were.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:07)
Ben:

• Mustard - Faith of a Mustard Seed
• Rakim - G.O.Ds NETWORK - REB7RTH
• Ice Spice - Y2k!
• Vic Spencer - The Apes That Was Left Behind
• DJ Muggs x Raz Fresco - The Eternal Now
• Flee Lord - Raised in the Sand
• C Stunna x DJ Drama - Still Stuntin

Charlie:

• Splurgeboys - LOW MAINTENANCE
• Moses Ideka - Working Order
• Brandee Younger - Serenity: A Collection Of Mindful Meditations
• Jayahadadream & Zoutr - Redemption Songs
• Rakim - G.O.Ds NETWORK - REB7RTH
• Daniel Casimir - Balance
• Vic Spencer - The Apes That Was Left Behind

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (14:12)

Venni Vetti Vecci - (22:27)

Rule 3:36 - (32:15)

Pain Is Love - (44:07)

The Last Temptation - (57:00)

Blood in My Eye - (1:02:54)

R.U.L.E. - (1:09:55)

Pain Is Love 2 - (1:17:25)
Lighter Note - (1:28:28)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

The Kid Cudi influence is often stated softly - but in just over a decade - Kid Cudi has changed the game when it comes to subject matter and sound.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (0:58) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• LeeV - LEAVE ME BE
• DUSTY LOCANE - NIGHTMARE ON DA FIFTH
• Lecrae - Church Clothes 4
• Boldy James x Futurewave - Mr. Ten08
• Backwood Sweetie x Furious Stylez - Sweetie Got Stylez
• Skelbeats - That's not my Skeleton
• Killah Priest x Jordan River Banks - Mr. Universe
• SAULT - AIIR
• Apex Zero - Drummer Warrior Storyteller (Part 1)
• 9th Wonder - ZION VII
• SAMSON - Green Roses (EP)
• Pip Millett - When Everything Is Better, I'll Let You Know

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (19:37)
Man on the Moon - (32:52)
Man on the Moon 2 - (42:39)
Indicud - (49:56)
Satellite Flight - (59:44)
Speedin Bullet 2 Heaven - (1:03:50)
PP&DS - (1:14:18)
Man on the Moon 3 - (1:22:11)
Entergalactic & Final thoughts - (1:31:01)
Lighter Note - (1:38:57)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter) - @The5thElementUK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

So now that we're seemingly out of the "Ye" storm, it's a good a time as any to take in maybe the most self-destructive month any public figure has done. This conversations covers a lot of ground and zooms in and out frequently so buckle in.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:23) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• Baby Keem - The Melodic Blue Deluxe
• Duke Deuce - Memphis Massacre 3
• Westside Gunn - 10
• Che Noir - The Last Remnants
• Smino - Luv 4 Rent
• Msanii & The Other Guys - Seasonal Veggies, Vol. 1
• Ghais Guevara - There Will Be No Super-Slave
• Aaron May - Outside Lookin In
• Marlowe - Marlowe 3
• The Brother Moves On - $/He Who Feeds You... Owns You

The Conversation - (19:14)
Lighter Note - (1:27:21)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter) - @The5thElementUK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

To finish our #UKBHM miniseries for another year, we look at an artist in Estelle with realised talent early on, a truly timeless song in her discography - but looking past that - has a truly fascinating discography and career arc that, at this moment in time, feels like a satisfying full circle.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:02) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• Snoop Dogg & DJ Drama - Gangsta Grillz: I Still Got It
• YoungBoy & DJ Drama - Ma I Got a Family
• Jeezy & DJ Drama - Snofall
• Taylor Swift - Midnights
• Awon & Soul.Dope.95 - Infinite Wisdom
• Photay & Carlos Nino - An Offering
• Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler - For All Our Days That Tear The Heart
• Nova Twins - Supernova
• Yard Act - The Overload
• BigXthaPlug - Big Stepper
• Sainte - Vacation
• Loyle Carner - Hugo
• Snoop Dogg & DJ Drama - Gangsta Grillz: I Still Got It
• K.A.A.N - The High Before You Fall
• Vic Santoro - Voice of the Village Mixtape

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (21:48)
The 18th Day - (31:12)
Shine - (41:04)
All of Me - (1:04:15)
True Romance - (1:07:39)
Lover's Rock - (1:15:17)
Lighter Note - (1:26:04)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

Continuing our UKBHM celebrations with a retrospective on one of the most visceral storytellers and lyrical visualisers of the modern era. It took Ghetts 15 years of ups and downs to create his magnum opus but it wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for the unique road he travelled.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:55) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• Lil Baby - Only Me
• G Herbo - Survivor's Remorse Side B
• Central Cee - No More Leaks
• Tee Grizzley - Chapters of the Trenches
• MAVI - Laughing So Hard, It Hurts
• Mach-Hommy x Tha God Fahim - Duck CZN: Tiger Style
• Knowitall x Skip the Kid - Music Saved Me 2
• Reggie B - Tinky's Jam
• FLOHIO - Out of Heart
• TSHA - Capricorn Sun
• Jabee & Blu - I
• Ojerime - Bad Influence
• Jaydonclover - room service? volume one
• Rosewood 2055 - When The Night Calls
• Kabaka Pyramid - The Kalling
• Charlotte Dos Santos - Morfo

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (21:52)
Rebel With A Cause - (42:29)
Ghetto Gospel: The New Testament - (59:01)
Conflict of Interest - (1:07:26)
Lighter Note - (1:27:22)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

We continue our UKBHM celebrations with a retrospective on one of the most authentic voices in music: JME. Along with his brother Skepta, (who we covered last year) JME has become a blueprint for any independent artists that want to do it all with their own imprint.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:02)

• YoungBoy NBA - 3800 Degrees
• G Herbo - Survivor's Remorse Side A
• Quavo & Takeoff - Only Built for Infinity Links
• Cormega - Realness II
• Rich Homie Quan - Family & Mula
• GRIP - 5 & A Fuck You
• Suff Daddy - Basically Sober
• Zyah Belle - Yam Grier
• Sol Messiah - GOD CMPLX
• Blue Note Re:imagined II
• Joyce Wrice - Motive (EP)
• JFlames - JFlames Makes House

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (17:29)
Famous? - (27:11)
Blam! - (33:58)
Integrity> - (43:04)
Grime MC -(55:18)
Lighter Note - (1:13:51)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

Happy October and happy UK Black History Month one & all! This is the third time we're doing this but for those not in the know. To celebrate UKBHM, we do retrospectives of four black UK artists. To kick it off, we go to one of the first female duos, Cookie Crew. A duo that clearly had talent along with pretty good rolodex, but questionable decisions seemed to sour their outlook and make their career short lived.

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (1:57) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• Freddie Gibbs - Soul Sold Separately
• Rome Streetz - KISS THE RING
• Nicholas Craven x Boldy James - Fair Exchange No Robbery
• Prodigy - The Hegelian Dialectic 2
• Baby Tate - Mani / Pedi
• Kid Cudi - Entergalactic
• SoulChef - Moving Forward
• Denzel Curry - Melt My Eyez See Your Future (The Extended Edition) 
• UMI - Forest in the City
• Joya Mooi - What's Around The Corner (Side A)
• Rudi Creswick - Different Forms
• Camilla George - Ibio-Ibio

Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (23:41)
Born This Way - (37:17)
2nd Album & Final Thoughts - (46:33)
Lighter Note - (1:05:49)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence

This episode is a special one for a couple of reasons: 1st, it's our first live recording via Twitter Spaces. 2nd, it was to kick-start our new off-shoot: Prompts. Me, Ben and you guys talking around two specific prompts and letting the conversation go where it goes.

The two Prompts: "What artist with a classic album, has the worst debut album?" and "Who is the best one-album artist?"

TIMESTAMPS:
Weekly Music Roundup - (00:57) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)

• Ransom - This Life Made Me
• LUCKI - FLAWLESS LIKE ME
• Cam'Ron x A Trak - U Wasn't There
• Wifisfuneral - 4 Month Binge Before Revenge
• DaBaby - Baby on Baby 2
• Dess Dior - RAW
• Isatta Sheriff & Koralle - Eat The Kiwi Skin
• Yussuf Dayes - The Yussuf Dayes Experience Live At Joshua Tree
• siegfried komidashi - ACTS I + II
• Protoje - Third Time's The Charm
• Khruangbin & Vieux Farka Toure - Ali
• Makaya McCraven - In These Times
• Chip Wickham - Cloud 10
• The Comet Is Coming - Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam
• Oscar Jerome - The Spoon
• Coops - Lost Soul 2

Prompts - (16:24)
Lighter Note - (1:10:53)

Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to follow for future Prompts!

Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)

HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers
5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUK
5E Community Discord
ChillHop (Twitter) - @Chillhopdotcom
Bonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92

Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:
"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor
In Search of Sauce
Black Women Watch...
5EPN Radio
The Beauty Of Independence