ATTENDEES

blackchai, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

AGENDA

New Business

• Discuss the general welfare of underground hip hop that challenges existing and accepted systems of thought.  
• Discuss the journey from Year Wandering to OTHERWISE A BLUR in detail. intro and outro by andrew

ATTENDEES

Jazmine Alvarado, Ricky Cerezo, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

AGENDA

New Business

• Discuss the formation of the group and linking w/ Big Crown Records. 

• Discuss Forever & Ever in depth. 

intro and outro music by andrew

ATTENDEES

Nacho Picasso, Televangel, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

AGENDA

New Business

• Discuss the process of making this album since we haven’t had a solo Nacho album since 2019. What adjustments were made? 

• Discuss Jesse’s Revenge in depth. 

intro and outro by andrew

Dylan Green, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins

• December 2021 Alicia Keys released 93 minutes of music(KEYS) and then reissued it in July(KEYS II). Why?! Why is no one talking about it?
• Where does Alicia Keys fit in the history of music? Is this the best Alicia timeline of all the possible timelines?

Intro and Outro by Disco Vietnam off House Rabbi 12

John Morrison, Zilla Rocca, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Discuss our relationship to The Roots and the legacy of Black Thought. What changed that made Thought want to pursue a solo career legacy? Is it working? Should he have done it earlier?

Discuss the new album Cheat Codes by Black Thought and Danger Mouse.

Intro and outro music by Strategy from the upcoming project Graffiti in Space due for release 01/17/2023

Small Professor, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins

Special guest Torito!

• Talk to Small Professor about the selection process of who he works with.
• Talk to SMall Professor about his 2022 releases: Hundred Year Darkness w/ AJ Suede, Soiled w/ Torito, Mudslide w/ Vic Spencer,  and Sedale Threat by Wrecking Crew (Curly Castro, Zilla Rocca, Small Pro, PremRock).
• Discuss the SMALL PROFESSOR classic Never At Peace by Career Crooks.

Intro and Outro from Prince Jawns 

Sean Kantrowitz, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins

• Talk to Sean about the genesis of the ‘Making Illmatic’ podcast series and the most cantankerous episodes.
• Discuss Jay-Z misconceptions

Spanish Ran, Bloo Azul, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins

• Talk about the coming together and roles of The Church collective and how Bloo and Ran built from that.
• Discuss Bloo Moon EP and Once In A Bloo in depth.

Intro and Outro music from the Bloo Azul x Spanish Ran album-Once In A Bloo. 

Psalm One, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins

• Talk about the process of writing Her Word Is Bond and its reception.
• Discuss the goals for upcoming solo album Bigg Perm with Custom Made.
• Spend some time ruminating on the lessons learned over the course of a very unique journey.

Intro and Outro music by klwn cat off his new album Vox in Rama dropping 10/31 

Namir Blade, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins

• Talk about the differences between Metropolis and previous albums? How did those changes optimize the experience of the album?
• Talk about the courage it takes to pursue optimizing your career whether others understand the direction or not.
• Discuss the albums of Namir Blade in detail.

Intro and Outro music directly from Metropolis. Buy it because it RULES! 

Hype,Keith Rollins,Daniel Olney

• Discuss what goes into the process of making a debut album using Talk Nice To Me as an example.
• Breakdown Hype’s debut Talk Nice To Me in terms of strengths and what aspects Hype would like to develop in the future.

Intro and Outro music by DJ Preservation off 1974

Rich Jones, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Talk to Rich Jones about his new album w/ Iceberg Theory Smoke Detector.
• Discuss albums: Drill Music in Zion by Lupe Fiasco, Crunkstar by Duke Deuce, and Forest In The City by UMI.

   Intro and Outro music directly from Smoke Detector BUY IT! 

Elucid, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Discuss the artistic progression from Save Yourself to Don’t Play It Straight to I Told Bessie.
• Discuss and analyze I Told Bessie.

Intro and Outro music by Brainorchestra from his album Live & Direct 

ATTENDEES

Curly Castro, PremRock, Controller 7, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

AGENDA

New Business

• Discuss the evolution from the debut to Metal Lung to Nobody Planning To Leave and the format of ShrapKnel. 

• Talk about Nobody Planning To Leave in detail. 

intro and outro by andrew

Kam Thandi, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins

• Discuss themes and storylines in 2022 music and how our listening has changed in this era of heightened positive musical content.
• Go over Dan’s AOTY list as it stands

Intro and Outro music by The Expert from the album The Overview Effect w/ Jermiside

*MUST LISTEN*

Brian Ennals, Infinity Knives, Daniel Olney

• Talk about the progression from Rhino XXL to King Cobra and how the project goals changed.
• Discuss King Cobra in depth and all the different forms it takes throughout the 17 song journey.

Intro and Outro directly from King Cobra. 

Patreon is here for those that desire it. 

Lungs/Lonesword, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Discuss the GRIP collective and balancing group with solo projects.
• Discuss recent projects: The Birth of Lonesword, Where are The Bugs?!, and Alone on Mars.

Intro and Outro beats by NCL-TM from KOFFi

Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins, Dash Lewis

• Talk about the 2022 return of giant sized popular event rap album (Pusha T, Kendrick) and the show it has cast over more indie rap albums.
• Talk about ibliss-Raja’s Sun, Leikeli47-Shape Up, and Big Cheeko-Block Barry White.

Intro and Outro is from Small Professor's project Church Jawns. 

PremRock, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Talk to PremRock about Ockham’s Blazer and the persistent drive to make a new project unlike any you’ve done before.
• Discuss the progression of Quelle Chris given his AOTY contender DEATHFAME.

Intro and Outro music by Small Professor from the album Soiled with Torito. 

Fleetwood DeVille, Daniel Olney

• Talk about the act of disclosing real peoples information in a song and the potential ramifications/problems.
• Discuss specific examples

• Romantic version-Drake innovated the disclosure of an ex’s first name “Courtney from Hooters on Peachtree” from Nothing Was The Same. In the purest business sense this acted as an easter egg for the listener that built intrigue. The day a Drake album came out fans hit the internet to find out who this was and dig for details.
• Street version-countless versions of rappers disclosing the plug names/details to bank on the dramatic criminal story. Authorities are always monitoring hip hop and every detail given is researched and potentially helping a R.I.C.O. case.
• LGBTQ version-Whether its Kendrick giving family details in Auntie Diaries or Jay-z telling his mother's story in Smile off 4:44.  This is taking someone's most private important secret and declaring it to the world. It brings the audience closer to the MC by humanizing them through familial affiliations and nuance but at the end of the day it’s someone else's secret for a reason.

1. This is not a musical critique. We are not starting from the point that Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers is bad or great or anything. Auntie Diaries begs a necessary question about the boundaries of art and personal life that has always been a question and badly needs to continue to be discussed.

Intro and outro music from Fallout: Vault 908 by Brainorchestra

Fleetwood DeVille, Daniel Olney

• Talk about the overall legacy of No Limit Records from a business model and artistic perspective.
• Analyze Young Bleed-My Balls and My Word, Mac-Shell Shocked, Mia X-Unlady Like, and Fiend-There’s One in Every Family.

Intro and Outro music by Ohbliv from Mindgarden. 

Nate Barksdale, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Talk about The Colors I’ve Never Seen and how it will influence the next project.
• Nominate the 2022 R&B Class of The Future!
  

Intro and Outro music by Ohbliv off the album Black Keys Wit Melodies

Juga-Naut, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Discuss Juga-Naut’s development in music and approach to the work.
• Talk about the difference in approach between self-produced work like Situationist and Bem v. Produced by others work like Smoke Filled Rooms with Giallo Point.

Intro and Outro music by Ohbliv from his album Spirit Medicine 

ATTENDEES

Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

AGENDA

New Business

• Discuss important themes and topics related to 2024 music. 

• Unveil new superlative categories and name possible contenders.

intro and outro by andrew

Mantis The Miasma, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins

• Talk about Mantis journey into hip hop and connection to the scene, the music that molded the Mantis!
• Discuss the albums Eastern Medicine, Western Illness Aethiopes (with billy woods) and Days of Dr. Yen Lo (with Ka). Analyze each album as well as the overall sound that makes Preservation special.

Nick Marsh, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins

• Discuss Focus Hip Hop and the editorial vision of what projects to focus on and how.
• Breakdown what is special about Anwar Highsign-Live N*gga Prophesy, Fatboi Sharif x Lonesword-Cyber City Society, Spaceman Jones and The Motherships-Immaculate Conception, and s.al-I Will Guide You Out.

Intro and Outro music by Ohbliv off his album MindGarden

OKnice, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins

• Talk to OKnice about the next level of recognition achieved by his new album Have You Tried Being Happy? and how that was achieved.
• Discuss this week's albums: Koffee-Gifted, Bun-B x Cory Mo-Mo Trill, and Larry June x Jay Worthy x LNDN DRGS-2 P’z In A Pod.

Intro and Outro bumper music from Mindgarden by Ohbliv

Myles Bullen, Daniel Olney

• Talk about the process of creating Mourning Travels and the events that went into it.
• Discuss sequencing, guests, and overall tone of the album. What the experience is supposed to give the listener.

Intro and Outro by Ohbliv from the Rugged Tranquility series here. 

Dan O sits down with one of the hottest underground producers, MIGHTYHEALTHY, and finds out his first beat is on this new album MIGHTYCANNONS with ACE CANNONS. This album is so loud and so fun it deserves the depth and joy in this conversation. Enjoy and buy a sticker pack for the little dun's.

Stik Figa, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Talk to Stik Figa about the necessary elements of altering direction over the course of a long career and how it changes over time.
• Talk specifically about moving from his 2021 album Joyland to 2022’s Heresy.

Intro and outro bumper music by Ohbliv off his album Ohblique 

Old Grape God, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Talk to Old Grape God about being prolific (34 albums!) and creative at the same time. A lot of prolific artists stop experimenting and just stay in a zone. How does OGG define and redefine his musical world being this productive and creative.
• Talk about HOME [sic] in detail and how its reception has been.

Intro and Outro bumper music by Ohbliv off his new project CALEA Z II 

PenPals, Zilla Rocca, PremRock, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Talk about some of the most important things we’ve learned talking to artists, producers, journalists, and fans about music over these hundred episodes.
• Reveal the sick artwork Dan commissioned for State of The Game!(Keith has not seen it) 
• Celebrate our favorite rap verses new and old. These can be verses that shaped our understanding of what rap verses should be or just the hottest bar work we’ve heard.

Lord Kayso,Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Talk to Lord Kayso about the vision behind MOOR CHORES and crafting it into a personal journey.
• Discuss the reception and connection it’s having with listeners and how many people identify with the stories within it.

Intro and Outro music by Ohbliv from the album Spirit Medicine.

Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Talk about how important it is for an artist to curate the listenability of their projects and what can go wrong if that is out of sync.
• As a way to discuss this: analyze 2 Chainz-Dope Don’t Sell Itself, Saba-Few Good Things, and Ivy Sole-candid.

Intro and Outro music is by Disco Vietnam from the House Rabbi series: 

https://discovietnam.bandcamp.com/

ATTENDEES

Supastition, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

AGENDA

New Business

• Discuss the emotional reality of being “your favorite rapper's favorite rapper” and how difficult it has been to stay centered.  

• Discuss Every Last Word and All That Was Left Unsaid in detail.  

intro and outro by andrew

Andrew, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Talk to Andrew about his follow up to 2021’s Pop 1967, The Rain Knows What It’s Doing which came out on Three Dollar Pistol (Zilla Rocca’s label). How has his production evolved? What was the goal of this album and how does the first song (Don’t Let It Get You Down)further that?
• Talk about what we want from a first song and provide examples of songs that achieve those goals.

Intro and Outro music by Disco Vietnam off House Rabbi Vol. 2-Double Chai Chambers

Chong Wizard, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Talk to Chong Wizard about his personal growth as a producer from Midnight Sons w/ Zilla Rocca to The Colors I’ve Never Seen with Nate Barksdale.
• Discuss the foundational elements of Chong Wizard Records and how they developed.

Intro and outro music from Chong Wizards album Blessing Season-https://chongwizard.bandcamp.com/album/blessing-season

Fleetwood DeVille, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins

• Talk to Fleetwood DeVille about Next Love Day and his collaboration with Grindstone Rye & Wine. These 2021 albums are so different from one another, how was the approach built for each?
• Analyze strengths and opportunities within 2022 releases: Sick! By Earl Sweatshirt, Piece of Me by Lady Wray, and Food For Thought by Che Noir.

One of the illest conversations in the history of the series, SolarFive frankly discussed his evolution in multiple musical spaces. Iceberg Theory popped in and added the producer perspective as their newest release Momento Mori deserves accolades and analysis. From the murmur flow to life being more hardcore than any rapper, this talk is fluid fun but dead serious.

Intro is 'Maelstorm' Outro is 'The Wise Men of Chelm' both by Disco Vietnam off House Rabbi Vol. 8

AJ Suede, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Discuss the new release Metatron’s Cube by AJ Suede and Televangel. How does AJ Suede view it within his discography?
• Each party selects 3 albums from 2011 as potential canon-dates.
• Via discussion of the albums we thin down to 1 album per person.

Intro is 'Fire in The Hole' and outro is 'Prism' both by Disco Vietnam from House Rabbi Vol. 8

Defcee, Bloodmoney Perez, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Talk about the construction of Second Hand Accounts and the songs that define it.
• Talk to Defcee and Bloodmoney Perez about why collaborating with Messiah Musik is so special and his rise in music.

intro and outro music by Disco Vietnam from House Rabbi 7

ATTENDEES

Panels, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

AGENDA

New Business

● Talk to Panels about the formation of East Hampton Polo Boys and what it meant to him as well as Scorcese.

● Talk about what the intentions were on Winter Catalogue v. Summer 

● Talk in detail about the strengths and importance of hip hop smacktalk.

ATTENDEES

Five Steez, The Sickest Drama, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

AGENDA

New Business

● Talk about the formation of The Council of The Gods and what each member brings.

● Discuss Quietude, Element of Surprize, Trilogy and future plans in depth.

Zilla Rocca, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Talk about the mission for the new album Never At Peace and the reaction it has gotten.
• Discuss the importance of album sequencing.

Intro bumper is the title track of Never At Peace. Outro is Dame Dash Taught Me. Buy Never At Peace here: 

https://wreckingcrew.bandcamp.com/album/never-at-peace

GENG PTP, Daniel Olney, Keith Rollins

• Go over top 25 albums of 2021 highlighting what separated these projects from others.
• Each of us should talk about something we’d like to see more of in 2022 music.

1.Ka-A Martyr’s Reward

2. Little Simz-Sometimes I Might Be Introvert

3. Sault-Nine

4. Curly Castro-Little Robert Hutton

5. Isaiah Rashad-The House is Burning

6. Armand Hammer x Alchemist-Haram

7. Raquel Rodriguez-Sweet Side

8. PremRock-Load Bearing Crow’s Feet

9. Bruiser Wolf-Dope Game Stupid

10. Shannon and The Clams-Year of The Spider

11. I Self Devine-Rituals of Resilience

12. Cleo Sol-Mother

13. Mach-Hommy-Pray For Haiti

14. Defcee x Messiah Musik-Trapdoor

15. Lukah-When The Black Hand Touches You

16. Janette King-What We Lost

17. Sleep Sinatra x Ed Glorious-Sleep Gloriously

18. Big Flowers-Big Smile

19. Lady Blackbird-Black Acid Soul

20. Pop 1967 by Andrew

21. Jason Griff x Alaska Atoms-Human Zoo

22. Teller Banks x Ed Glorious-The Part & Parcel

23. Aaron Lee Tasjan-Tasjan!Tasjan!Tasjan!

24. Dave-We’re All Alone in This Together

25. Jazmine Sullivan-Heaux Tales

Intro and Outro music by Disco Vietnam off House Rabbi 2: Double Chai Chambers

https://discovietnam.bandcamp.com/album/house-rabbi-vol-2-double-chai-chambers-2

ATTENDEES

Sunmundi, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

AGENDA

New Business

• Discuss moving from the audioscape of Midnight Oil to Lived and Born. 

• Discuss Lived and Born in depth. 

  
  

  intro and outro by andrew

GENG PTP, Keith Rollins, Daniel Olney

• Talk with GENG PTP about the year in PTP: Lungs, Phiik & S!lence, and the art of showcasing young talent.
• Discuss Dan’s AOTY list picks 50-26. Instead of honorable mentions let’s shout out the inventive albums that set the tone for this year.

• 26. NCL-™ x DooF-Swamp Phonk
• 27. Lukah-Why Look Up, God’s in The Mirror
• 28. Cities Aviv-The Crashing Sound of How It Goes
• 29. Nappy Nina, J Words-Double Down
• 30. AJ Suede-Avada Kedavra
• 31. Kacey Musgraves-Star-Crossed
• 32. King Micah The Infamous, MIGHTYHEALTHY-KINGMIGHTY 2
• 33. Zilla Rocca-Vegas Vic
• 34. La Luz-S/T
• 35. Amani-A Constant Condensation
• 36.Tanya Morgan - Don and Von
• 37.Moor Mother-Black Encyclopedia of The Air
• 38.Brijean-Feelings
• 39. IAMGAWD & Doc Da Mindbenda-Hell’s Angels and Heaven’s Demons
• 40.ChumZilla & Scorcese(Sons of Andre)-Dungeons of Doom
• 41.Tyler, The Creator-Call Me If You Get Lost
• 42. Mick Jenkins-Elephant In The Room
• 43. Helado Negro-Far In
• 44.Wally Clark-Banned From All Bars
• 45.Maxo Kream-Weight of The World
• 46.Navy Blue-Navy’s Reprise
• 47.Lil Nas X-Montero
• 48.DAWN-Second Line
• 49.Esther Rose-How Many Times
• 50.Juga-Naut x Giallo Point-Smoke Filled Room

Darko The Super came through to play some jams! 

Buy his new album with Height Keech called You Gotta Have Friends https://heightkeech.bandcamp.com/album/you-gotta-have-friends 

Timepiece, MIGHTYHEALTHY, Daniel Olney

• Talk about the Good, Bad, and The Ugly of production in hip hop this year.
• Talk about how things might change in the coming year.

• What sounds worse in 2021 a boring pop rap beat or a boring underground rap beat? Why?
• What 2021 album's production shocked you most on the first listen?
• Who was the most ripped off(emulated if we are being nice)  producer this year?
• Drums! Not enough? Too much? Why are we always arguing about drums?

Intro and Outro bumper music are songs 4(Channukah II) and 3(Stannis) off House Rabbi Vol. 3-Aztec Synagogue:

https://discovietnam.bandcamp.com/album/house-rabbi-vol-3-aztec-synagogue-2