Best The 5th Element Podcast Network Podcasts (2024)

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Ep.282 - Levelling Up, Tactical Voting & Social Health 1:12:35

1d ago1:12:35

1:12:35

In a week where: "The Logo" Jerry West dies aged 86. The Oklahoma Supreme Court dismisses Tulsa Race Massacre case, in what was likely the final opportunity for survivors to receive justice. It's been seven years since The Grenfell Tower Fire. Benjamin Netanyahu dissolves the Israeli War Cabinet. The Boston Celtics win the NBA Finals. In the 1st of…

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Ep.270 - 9th Wonder, Part 2 1:31:33

2d ago1:31:33

1:31:33

We finish our five-part miniseries on the Little Brother universe with Part 2 of our 9th Wonder retrospective, looking at a Blog Era Mixtape, a solo album bursting with features, another - albeit odd choice of - Remix album and a Supergroup EP. Capping off a beginner's guide to one of the best "Death, Taxes & (Artist Name) dropping" careers in rece…

1
Ep.281 - Energy Drinks, "Not Like Us" & Memories 1:09:48

8d ago1:09:48

1:09:48

In a week where: TV Doctor Michael Mosley goes missing in Greek island Symi & found dead days later. Israeli forces rescue four hostages from the central Gaza Strip at the expense of 210 Palestinian lives. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is sworn in for a third term. The European Parliamentary Elections go down. Macron dissolves French parliame…

1
Ep.269 - 9th Wonder, Part 1 1:32:37

9d ago1:32:37

1:32:37

With Little Brother now explored, we can now get into the work of the distant 3rd member: Producer 9th Wonder who has spent a couple decades now letting his music do the talking, with many of collaborators in tow. In the first of two parts, we do something a little different and pick out two projects each that exemplify 9th and his legacy. TIMESTAM…

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Ep.280 - "Go On, Be Yourself" W/ Fifidiny 1:17:21

18d ago1:17:21

1:17:21

A new interview for you to step to! For this one we head to Scotland to talk to upcoming singer-songwriter Fifidiny (add that to the "great actual names" list) about her beginnings, how she found her style early on; balancing education, work and the passion; pageantry and of course, her Top 5. Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to t…

1
Ep.268 - Rapper Big Pooh 1:08:44

16d ago1:08:44

1:08:44

We continue our LB miniseries with an exploration into the solo work of Rapper Big Pooh who - unlike Phonte - has dropped a lot of solo work in the past 20 years. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:20) Ben: Dave East x Mike & Keys - APT 6E Big Hit x Hit-Boy & Alchemist - Black & Whites Crimeapple x Big Ghost LTD - Bazuko Charlie: Wretch 32 - Mom…

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Ep.279 - Ultra-Processed Foods & Rain 1:14:40

26d ago1:14:40

1:14:40

In a week where: Ireland, Norway & Spain recognise Palestine as a State. Rishi Sunak FINALLY calls a General Election for 4th July. Super Size Me director Morgan Spurlock dies aged 53. Man United beat Man City in The FA Cup Final. An Israeli air strike in Rafah kills 45 Palestinians & injuries more. In Politics: (12:21) With the General Election FI…

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Ep.267 - Phonte 1:03:46

23d ago1:03:46

1:03:46

After exploring the music & story of Little Brother, it's time to get into the breakaway works. We begin with Phonte who spends the 2010s sporadically dropping works with a style not too distant from LB and with familiar names in tow. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:52) Ben: Juicy J - Mental Trillness 2 Charlie: Halima - EXU Vince Staples - D…

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Ep.278 - "Life Is A Fickle, Fickle Bitch" W/ Wolfgang Valbrun 1:23:01

1M ago1:23:01

1:23:01

Another interview for you to step to! This is one of the most honest interviews I've had so far. Singer-songwriter Wolfgang Valbrun (real name) paints a portrait of himself that is riddled with grey, like the sun shining through thick clouds. We get into his beginnings, living in Paris after wasting away in American suburbia; how he fell into singi…

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Ep.266 - Little Brother 1:18:38

1M ago1:18:38

1:18:38

We head to North Carolina where a trio blooms out of a larger collective to become one of the biggest "if you know, you know" acts of the 00s: Little Brother with Phonte, Big Pooh and for a time, 9th Wonder. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:52) Ben: Rapsody - Please Don't Cry Mach-Hommy - #RICHHAXXHAITIAN A Boogie - Better off Alone Rio Da Yun…

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Ep.277 - Societal Change & LaToya Ruby Frazier 1:08:17

1M ago1:08:17

1:08:17

In a week where: Two elderly Just Stop Oil protesters are charged after attempting to break into the Magna Carta. The BAFTA TV Awards go down. Northern Lights shine across the UK, US & Canada. Egypt joins South Africa's ICJ Genocide case. Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" debuts at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100. In Sports: (12:42) My thirst for the Summe…

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Ep.265 - Ras Kass 1:17:04

1M ago1:17:04

1:17:04

Ras Kass presents a discography that is vast, two iconic albums in the 90s, then a litany of mixtapes in the 00s and then continuing his consistent output in the 10s with a return to studio albums. So with such a gap between his 2nd & 3rd solo albums, does his story provide context? TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:42) Ben: Conway the Machine …

1
Ep.276 - Students v Police, Tastemaking & Kendrick v Drake 1:11:19

2M ago1:11:19

1:11:19

In a week where: Harvey Weinstein to face retrial after a New York appeals court overturned his 2020 rape conviction last week. US & UK students occupy University campuses to varying degrees of state response. Scottish First Minister & SNP leader Humza Yousaf steps down, John Swinney replaces. Israel vote unanimously to close local operations of Al…

1
Ep.264 - Ice-T, Part 2 1:02:10

1M ago1:02:10

1:02:10

We return for Part 2 of our retrospective of Ice-T, where we left him off the back of his legendary four album run and the "Cop Killer" controversy; where would Ice take his art as he leaned more and more into other forms of media? TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:53) Ben: LeeV - Shadow Demon Boldy James - Trapper's Alley Partynextdoor - 4 Ahm…

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Ep.263 - A Pioneer's Perspective W/ MC Bushkin 1:20:36

2M ago1:20:36

1:20:36

In conjunction with "What's Good?", this is a special DITD episode where Charlie heads to West London to talk with Garage pioneer and co-founder of Heartless Crew: MC Bushkin. In anticipation of his film "The Story So Far" premiering @ Genesis Cinema the same day this episode drops, Bushkin talks his beginnings, notable moments in his Heartless Cre…

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Ep.275 - "Peace, Love & Pum Pum" W/ MC Bushkin 1:24:20

2M ago1:24:20

1:24:20

In a special DITD/WG double drop, I talk to an objective legend and pioneer in modern British music. MC Bushkin - founding member of Heartless Crew, a trio that shifted the culture during the 90s and early 00s - invites me to his studio in Acton, West London to talk about his beginnings, the history he was a part of; his new film that premieres on …

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Ep.274 - "Herald The Movement" W/ Boy Blue's Mikey J 49:04

2M ago49:04

49:04

In a slightly shorter but just as special interview, I head to Barbican to talk to co-founder of UK’s leading hip-hop dance theatre company Boy Blue and composer/producer Michael "Mikey J" Asante in anticipation for Boy Blue's new show "Cycles". With Hip-Hop as an accidental throughline for the interview, we talk his beginnings, starting a dance co…

1
Ep.262 - Hip-Hop Neighbours, Vol. 11 1:00:51

2M ago1:00:51

1:00:51

For this Hip-Hop Neighbours - linked to our Ice-T exploration - we cover the self-titled album Body Count and we also get into the first album from the UK based collective SAULT: "5". TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:57) Ben: Backwood Sweetie - Burn One Berner - The Farmer's Market Gangrene - Heads I Win, Tails You Lose Hus KingPin - In a Stat…

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Ep.273 - "We're Going To NY In Three Months" W/ Nicholson. 1:02:37

2M ago1:02:37

1:02:37

Another interview for you to step to! For this one I talk to a former band member turned solo dual threat in Nicholson. (Full stop optional) We get into his beginnings, his exposure to multiple communities growing up; going to France, America and now residing in Brighton; his EP that put me onto him and of course, his Top 5. My EP list from last ye…

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Ep.272 - O.J. Simpson & The Unknown 1:01:51

2M ago1:01:51

1:01:51

In a week where: OJ Simpson dies aged 76 after cancer battle. Seven dead in a knife attack at Sydney's Bondi Junction shopping centre. UK returns 32 looted Ghana artefacts after 150 years. Iran dares the US & Israel to start WW3. A stabbing attempt goes down in a Sydney church, four are injured. In the 1st of two Life segments: (4:21) So O.J. Simps…

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Ep.261 - Ice-T, Part 1 1:31:29

2M ago1:31:29

1:31:29

We stay in the West Coast AND the late 80s/early 90s to do a two-parter on one of the most authentic voices to ever represent Hip-Hop: Ice-T. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:55) Ben: NappyHigh - Burgundy Future x Metro Boomin - We Still Don't Trust You Charlie: DRAGG - Mixed Feelings NappyHigh - Burgundy Nia Archives - Silence Is Loud Terri W…

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Ep.271 - Black Cowgirls & COWBOY CARTER 1:20:34

2M ago1:20:34

1:20:34

In a week where: Former supreme court judges say UK arming Israel breaches international law. Taiwan suffers 7.2 magnitude earthquake, the biggest earthquake in 25 years. Magnitude 4.8 earthquake strikes New York region. It's been six years since the Windrush Scandal came to light. Peter Higgs, physicist who discovered Higgs boson, dies aged 94. In…

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Ep.260 - DITD 5th Anniversary Special 1:39:45

2M ago1:39:45

1:39:45

This week, we celebrate DITD's 5th birthday with a pop quiz from Ben, thoughts on the Pod in general and yes, we talk about the Cole response to Kendrick. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:46) Ben: J.Cole - Might Delete Later GloRilla - Ehhthang Ehhthang Chris Patrick - The Calm Doja Cat - Scarlet 2 Claude Charlie: Dizzy Wright - Harsh Reality …

1
Ep.270 - Legalising Weed & Rejection Letters 1:08:10

3M ago1:08:10

1:08:10

In a week where: Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for orchestrating $8bn fraud. Actor Louis Gossett Jr dies aged 87. Google Podcasts is getting shut down. GMail turns 20. Scotland implements new "Hate Crime Law". In Work: (5:07) Something that I and a ton of my peers are going through is a new way of finding work, and it's a bitch …

1
Ep.259 - Paris 1:35:55

3M ago1:35:55

1:35:55

After exploring The Conscious Daughters last week, it seemed fitting to explore the career of their biggest advocate and one of the most controversial voices in 90s Hip-Hop: Paris. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:01) Ben: Beyoncé - COWBOY CARTER Bfb Da Packman - Forget Me Not Rico Nasty - HARCORE DR3AMZ Roc Marciano - Marciology Charlie Paolo…

1
Ep.269 - Diane Abbott & Operation Legacy 1:02:14

3M ago1:02:14

1:02:14

In a week where: Ireland’s PM Leo Varadkar announces resignation. Russian and Belarusian athletes barred from 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremonies. US DOJ file an antitrust lawsuit against Apple. Video emerges of quadriplegic Neuralink patient playing Chess with his mind. Over 140 people are killed at a concert in Moscow. In Politics: (6:29) So n…

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Ep.258 - Women's History Month '24 - The Conscious Daughters 1:06:26

3M ago1:06:26

1:06:26

To finish our Women's History Month celebrations, we stay in the West Coast to talk about a duo that oozed chemistry and confidence, only to be washed out by the industry changing direction. We talk The Conscious Daughters. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:48) Ben: Future x Metro Boomin - WE DON'T TRUST YOU SiR - HEAVY Elbow - Audio Vertigo Jo…

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Ep.268 - TikTok "Ban", Ghostbots & Uber Eats 1:16:44

3M ago1:16:44

1:16:44

In a week where: Tory Donor Frank Hester takes news cycle after comments on Labour MP Diane Abbott. Vladimir Putin wins Russian Presidential election. Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Shania Twain, and SZA headline Glastonbury. Vybz Kartel has his murder conviction overturned. Laura Kenny, Britain’s most successful female Olympian, retires from cycling. In the …

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Ep.257 - Women's History Month '24 - Marvaless 1:24:57

3M ago1:24:57

1:24:57

We continue our WHM celebrations with a trip to the West Coast, but not Oakland or Los Angeles. For the first time, we head to Sacramento for the story of Marvaless and the litany of Sac Town representers that come with her through her discography. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:56) Ben: yeat - 2093 Kembe x Hippie Sabotage - Sleep Paralysis …

1
Ep.267 - Kenyan Femicide, DRC & Frantz Fanon 1:01:11

3M ago1:01:11

1:01:11

In a week where: Former PM Theresa May steps down as MP. Joe Biden takes aim at Trump & lightly criticises Israel in energetic SOTU speech. Documents show MoD paid millions into Saudi account amid BAE corruption scandal. ‘Dragon Ball’ creator Akira Toriyama dies at 68. A Ramadan Mubarak to all! In the first of two Society segments: (8:15) An abnorm…

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Ep.256 - Women's History Month '24 - Hurricane G 1:04:07

3M ago1:04:07

1:04:07

Continuing our WHM celebrations during the month of March, we get into another artist with one solo album, no longer with us after her passing in 2022: Hurricane G TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup: (1:17) Ben: MIKE - Pinball ScHoolboy Q - Blue Lips Cookin Soul x Raz Fresco - Bakin' Soul Kaiser Chiefs - Easy Eighth Album MGMT - Loss of Life KYLE - S…

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Ep.266 - MILLENIALS! WE'RE RICH!* 1:07:39

4M ago1:07:39

1:07:39

*We're not... In a week where: Two men are convicted of killing Run-DMC's Jam Master Jay, nearly 22 years after murder. George Galloway wins Rochdale by-election. Raye wins a record-breaking six BRIT Awards. France becomes first country to make abortion a constitutional right. Happy Women's History Month! In the first of a Byline Times Politics dou…

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Ep.255 - Women's History Month '24 - Sister Souljah 57:36

4M ago57:36

57:36

Happy March one & all! You know what that means... Women's History Month on DITD is back and to kick off this year's set, we begin with the one & done Sister Souljah who took the political climate of her time to produce one of the most honest & politically scathing records in Hip-Hop history. No timestamps for this episode as we don't have a WMR or…

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Ep.265 - NBA All-Star Game, Saul Leiter & Cymande 59:58

4M ago59:58

59:58

In a week where: Dani Alves sentenced to four and a half years in jail over sexual assault Shamima Begum loses appeal against removal of British citizenship. The Russo-Ukraine War enters its third year. Russia returns body of deceased opposition leader Alexei Navalny to family. Active Duty US Air Force member Aaron Bushnell live streams self-immola…

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Ep.254 - Hip-Hop Neighbours, Vol. 10 (Live From London) 1:03:45

4M ago1:03:45

1:03:45

LIVE FROM LONDON, we get into one special work from a true "If you know, you know" group: Cymande. We also get the low down on Ben's 1st week in London. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:39) Charlie: Jordan Mackampa - WELCOME HOME, KID! dreamcastmoe - MOLLY'S SON The Silhouettes Project - The Silhouettes Project, Vol. 2 Joel Ross - nublues Kele…

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Ep.264 - "You Cannot Box Me In" W/ Lams 1:18:34

4M ago1:18:34

1:18:34

An interview for you to step to! For this one, I talk to up & coming artist Lams whose background in poetry & triad of British, Nigerian & Muslim identifiers create a multi-faceted worldview that will surely be a foundation for a career (in my eyes) only just beginning. We get into her beginnings, her writing background; gatekeeping and of course, …

1
Ep.253 - Public Enemy (#3) 57:55

4M ago57:55

57:55

We finish our Public Enemy three-parter with their most recent output with more friction from the inside and the outside but somehow, Public Enemy still continue to drop and tour the world; never dead, never deterred. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:00) Ben: Yeat - 2093 Conway x Big Ghost - Speshal Machinery the Chronic Edition 2nd Generation…

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Ep.263 - Gerontocracy, Stuart Hall & Shepherd's Bush Market 1:04:12

4M ago1:04:12

1:04:12

In a week where: 1. Benjamin Netanyahu rejects Hamas' three-stage, 135 day ceasefire deal. 2. Kier Starmer announces scrapping of £28B Green investment. 3. Junior doctors in England to strike again after pay talks break down. 4. Prince Harry awarded 'substantial' additional damages in his claim against Mirror Group. 5. World Marathon record holder …

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Ep.252 - Public Enemy (#2) 1:35:12

4M ago1:35:12

1:35:12

In our 2nd part of the Public Enemy retrospective, we see how PE should have imploded and become one of the many groups in the 90s to break up; but not only did they not break up, they kept dropping (to mixed results) and predicting the future of the music industry still to come to fruition. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:09) Ben: Little Sim…

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Ep.262 - "Loaned" Loot, Devolution & Facebook @ 20 1:03:40

5M ago1:03:40

1:03:40

In a week where: Northern Ireland approve power share after nearly two-year long DUP boycott. Lewis Hamilton will join Ferrari in 2025. Universal Music Group stops licensing its music to TikTok. Joe Biden announces sanctions against Israeli settlers in West Bank. "Rocky" & "Predator" actor Carl Weathers dies aged 76. In History: (9:47) The Victoria…

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Ep.251 - Public Enemy (#1) 1:21:19

5M ago1:21:19

1:21:19

In part one of three, we get into the beginnings of Public Enemy and their first three albums, two of which considered to be consensus classics and some of the most authentically Hip-Hop albums ever made. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:39) Ben: Skelbeats - What goes on in the Dark Lee "Scratch" Perry - King Perry Icewear Vezzo - Live from th…

1
Ep.261 - Hardest Working Generation & Conscription 1:06:07

5M ago1:06:07

1:06:07

In a week where: Alabama executes Kenneth Smith using untested method of nitrogen gas. ICJ orders Israel to take measures to prevent and punish direct incitement of Genocide, but doesn't order ceasefire. Argentinians strike over new President Javier Milei's new legislation. V&A and British Museum to loan Asante gold to Ghana. Federal trial for the …

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Ep.260 - Reparations, Pitchfork & Copyright Lawsuits 1:07:34

5M ago1:07:34

1:07:34

In a week where: The Greenland ice cap is losing an average of 30m tonnes of ice an hour due to the climate crisis, 20% more than previously thought. Japan makes moon contact for the 1st time with "Moon Sniper" mission. Pakistan & Iran agree to ‘de-escalate’ tensions after tit-for-tat attacks. Ron DeSantis drops out of Republican Presidential race.…

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Ep.250 - Kool G Rap & DJ Polo 57:36

5M ago57:36

57:36

TW: Lyrics/talk referencing Sexual Assault. After last episode's foray into the solo career of Kool G Rap, we now look into the work that he did before with DJ Polo: Three albums of ground-breaking work for KGR and his peers. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:31) Ben: Zaddytc - A LOT Fredo Bang - Yes, I'm Sad Elcamino - Here You Go Eldorado Red…

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Ep.259 - Big Pharma, DEI & #Justice4Windrush 1:04:20

5M ago1:04:20

1:04:20

In a week where: Landlords will be forced to fix mouldy homes within 24 hours after tragic death of toddler. A huge ancient lost city is found in East Ecuador. US, UK lead airstrikes against Houthi rebel sites in Yemen. Taiwan elects Lai Ching-te, who rejects China’s territorial claim, as president. People in at least 121 cities in 45 countries acr…

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Ep.249 - Kool G Rap 1:27:36

5M ago1:27:36

1:27:36

Kool G Rap: The ultimate "If you know KGR, you know ball". Whilst KGR never got the commercial success, his legacy as a lyrical pioneer is rooted deeply in your favourites and your favourites' favourite. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:07) Ben: Kid Cudi - INSANO C-Scripture - Penalty of Leadership Teezo Touchdown - How Do You Sleep At Night D…

1
Ep.258 - Arts Funding & Adapting To Winter 1:05:44

6M ago1:05:44

1:05:44

In a week where: Oklahoma 13-year-old believed to be first person ever to beat Tetris. South Africa accuses Israel of Genocide via the ICJ. At least 95 people were killed & more than 210 wounded after a pair of Islamic State bombings at an Iranian cemetery. Head of Britain’s police chiefs says force is ‘institutionally racist’. German Football lege…

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Ep.248 - Big Daddy Kane 1:39:37

6M ago1:39:37

1:39:37

The King Asiatic Nobody's Equal. Brooklynite Big Daddy Kane came through the 80s as one of the best freestylers in the Five Boroughs and once he got with Cold Chillin' and the Juice Crew, Kane would prove that he is one of the most complete rappers of all time. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:56) Ben: Westside Gunn, Conway, Alchemist - Hall &…

1
Ep.257 - Cannabis, Africa; The 90s & Hating 1:04:20

6M ago1:04:20

1:04:20

In a week where: Maine disqualifies Trump from presidential primary ballot. A 7.6 magnitude earthquake hits Japan, tsunami warning follows. Junior Doctors begin 144 hr strike, the longest in NHS history. The nearly 200 strong Jeffrey Epstein list drops. Happy New Year! In the 1st of two Life segments: (10:34) It's only right to kick off the year wi…

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Ep.247 - Contemporary Cool, Vol. 12 1:22:31

6M ago1:22:31

1:22:31

Happy New Year one and all! We hope that your year is full of progression, growth and 52 episodes of DITD! But before we go forward, we look back one more time to 2023, talking about our Top 2 albums of 2023. Ben's No.2 - (3:25) Charlie's No. 2 - (26:20) Ben's No. 1 - (39:08) Charlie's No. 1 - (1:00:11) Lighter Note - (1:11:27) Charlie's Top 10 Alb…

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