Rhythm and Rhymes

Bill Ackman targets Universal Music Group — and it might change your Spotify bill. We break it down, then go record-for-record on Usher vs. Chris Brown. Plus: Red Bull Records shuts down, Kanye's UK ban, Isaiah Rashad's album incoming, TDE's roster problem, rap's "who's next" crisis, and two Tupac songs to close it out.

This week AJ and Antonio go deep on Teddy Riley, the man behind New Jack Swing, Don't Be Cruel, Remember the Time, and No Diggity — and why he still doesn't get the credit he deserves. They review Omah Lay's long-awaited sophomore album Clarity of Mind, break down the Unknown T and AJ Tracey collab, react to Leon Thomas performing on a Delta flight, and share their takeaways from the S...

Subscribe to Rhythm FM: 👉 https://tinyurl.com/dr43zvte AJ and Antonio Hughes discuss how Motown executive Kedar Massenburg coined “neo-soul” as a marketing term to distinguish artists like Erykah Badu, D’Angelo, and Lauryn Hill from 1990s R&B, and why artists such as D’Angelo and Raphael Saadiq rejected the label; they also talk about genre boxing and how categorization affects awards and boo...

🎧 Rhythm FM — DJ Sets & Mixes:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvQ6HdlN59e5fRIcs4E_kSzDh0spqw2o3We tried to guess the Top 10 R&B songs of all time by the numbers — and the list will surprise you. One Dance made it. Happy by Pharrell made it. Are those even R&B? We debate the list, break down why streaming calculations are broken, and get into the Live Nation Ticketmaster settlem...

🎧 Tune into Rhythm FM: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvQ6HdlN59e5Na-MNTaYUPeb8pmhGOpkLSpotify dropped a "New Leaders of Hip-Hop" list — and we've got opinions. On Episode 125, Andre & Antonio break down who made the cut, who got snubbed (JID, we're talking about you), and whether hip-hop is actually being dethroned. Plus: a Foggieraw album review, TI's Urban Legend gets its flowers,...

Subscribe to Rhythm FM: 👉 https://tinyurl.com/dr43zvteOn this episode Hosts AJ Hughes & Antonio Hughes discuss The Legacy of Willie Colón, the origins of salsa, and more. 00:00 Podcast Intro and Loss00:12 Willie Colon Legacy01:42 How Salsa Was Born04:07 Fania Records and Global Reach05:22 Blackness Across the Americas08:50 Willie Colon Song Picks09:55 Tainy Rosita Breakdown10:55 Suenos and La...

🎧 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFItqWQx8ts6Fg_yErvXsrA Exploring global music, culture, and power through conversation. Most people know the name Shyne — but not the story. In this episode of Rhythm & Rhymes , we go back and unpack what actually happened: how Shyne went from being Bad Boy’s next breakout star to taking the fall in one of hip-hop’s most controversial moments, wh...

Subscribe to Rhythm FM: 👉 https://tinyurl.com/dr43zvteRadio for the global diaspora. Is 2026 about to feel like 2016 all over again?-Revisiting the legendary 2016 rap year-Are Drake, Kendrick & J. Cole all dropping this year?-Full breakdown of J. Cole’s The Fall Off-Why Bad Bunny’s halftime show was more political than people realized-LaRussell signing to Roc Nation — smart move or contradict...

Subscribe to Rhythm FM: 👉 https://tinyurl.com/dr43zvteRadio for the global diaspora. New mixes every week.

Streaming gave us access to everything — but at a cost. In this episode, we explore how music became more available than ever while being valued less than ever. From subscription economics to the myth of independence, we break down why most artists can’t win inside today’s systems — and why a few exceptions don’t change the rule. We discuss: Why “everything for $11.99” changed listener psychology...

Are we seeing the results of a 400-year propaganda campaign designed to keep the African diaspora disconnected?

Is AI actually capable of making real, usable music — or does it still miss the feeling? In this episode of Rhythm & Rhymes , we experiment with AI music tools while trying to create a new podcast intro. Some of the results are awful. A few are surprisingly decent. Most still sound unmistakably artificial. From there, the conversation shifts into a deeper hip-hop debate: is Missy Elliott the g...

Everyone wraps their year in music the same way:Top artists. Top songs. Top albums. For this episode of Rhythm & Rhymes, we decided to flip it. Instead of ranking music, we broke the year down by listener identity. If you love lyricism, this one sounds different than if you live in the club. If you’re deep into Amapiano, your year felt different than someone playing drill every day. And if you...

Music is officially a global sport. In Episode 115 of Rhythm & Rhymes, we explore the growing globalization of music — from major label expansion into Africa and emerging markets, to The Weeknd’s reported $1B catalog deal , and what it reveals about music as an asset class. We also react to recent releases from 21 Savage, Conway the Machine, J Hus , and highlight movements within Amapiano , wh...

Your Spotify Wrapped might not be telling you the truth — and in this episode we explain why. We break down the hidden metric behind Wrapped (weighted streams), how 30-second listens distort your rankings, and why your true top artists might look completely different once you recalculate them. We also get into the Jorja Smith AI impersonation scandal, Asake’s viral “fake dreads” moment, Leon Thoma...

Episode 113 — This week, we react to the wild news that 50 Cent is executive producing the new Diddy trial documentary for Netflix. How did he get the footage? Why would Diddy’s team approve this? We break down the business, the beef, and the strategy behind it. We also dive into Suno AI generating a full Spotify catalog every two weeks, what AI really means for music creators, and why Spotify is...

Episode 112 | Rhythm & Rhymes This week we get into Tyler, The Creator being named Apple Music’s Artist of the Year — did he really earn it, or were there stronger contenders? We also break down the UK’s proposed ban on ticket resale markups, Chicago Juke making a comeback, and some of the best new drops of the week: Tems, Odeal, Aya Nakamura, DBN Gogo & more. Chapters: 0:00 Thanksgiving P...

Episode 111 breaks down Summer Walker’s Finally Over It , Wale’s Everything Is A Lot , and whether Hip-Hop&B is officially back. AJ & Antonio also talk A Boogie’s influence, the state of Black love, rising artists, and whether listeners can still tell the difference between AI-generated and human-made music.

🎧 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFItqWQx8ts6Fg_yErvXsrA

The Rhythm & Rhymes Podcast is back with another cultural deep dive — this time we’re breaking down why the “song of the summer” doesn’t exist anymore and how TikTok changed the entire music economy without boosting streams. We also react to Live Nation’s CEO claiming concerts are “underpriced” , debate whether that’s cap or facts, and talk about the return of house parties as real culture mov...

In Episode 104 of the Rhythm & Rhymes Podcast, AJ & Tone dive into major cultural stories: – Def Jam’s new CEO Tunji Balogun and the label’s pivot toward Afrobeats & global sounds – The Clipse making history as the first hip hop group to perform at the Vatican – Jacksonville’s place in music history + the “Whoomp vs Whoot” controversy of the 90s – Cardi B promoting her upcoming album b...

Spotify monthly listeners only tell part of the story. On this Rhythm & Rhymes Episode 101 clip, we dive into why YouTube is a better gauge for true global popularity — and the surprising names leading the charts. Artists mentioned: Doechii, Drake, J. Cole, Rema, Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, Nicki Minaj. Full episode streaming now.

🎧 Subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFItqWQx8ts6Fg_yErvXsrAIn Episode 103 of the Rhythm & Rhymes Podcast, AJ and Tone break down some of the biggest conversations in global Black music and culture:-Young Thug’s Interview — the trauma in his upbringing, the Gunna fallout, and how the YSL case is being framed in court.-Amapiano’s Identity — is it its own genre, or part of South Africa...

This week on Rhythm & Rhymes, AJ and Tone get into DJ culture — from learning how to DJ at home to the rise of TikTok DJs and what it means for live shows, mashups, and internet-driven music scenes. We also dive into Apple Music’s latest playlist moves, Spotify testing DMs, and Joey Bada$$’s new project. Highlights: • Why TikTok DJs are blowing up • The reality of learning how to DJ with limit...

In Episode 101 of the Rhythm & Rhymes Podcast , host AJ Hughes explores the global music landscape and asks the question: who really runs it — YouTube or Spotify? AJ breaks down why Spotify may never reach one billion users, while YouTube already dominates across Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. He also highlights new music from Skepta & Fred Again.., Odumodublvck, Stormzy, Zlatan...