Dad Bod Rap Pod

This week we are joined by prolific rapper, producer, writer and podcaster Blueprint. Print is a foundational figure in the independent rap world, from his work in groups Soul Position and Greenhouse to his vast solo catalog. He has also written multiple books and hosts the phenomenal podcast Super Duty Tough Work right here on Stony Island. SDTW is a forum for Print and frequent collaborator Illo...

Hey everybody. Today we have a quick mini-episode wrapping up our recent trip to Boise, Idaho for the Treefort Music Fest. We talk about some of the acts we saw and our general impressions of the overall experience of traveling given current circumstances and more. We also have a brief interview with Treefort publicist Marissa Lovell, who describes some of the hard work that goes into planning, bo...

We recently had the pleasure of attending the Treefort Music Festival in Boise, Idaho, an annual event bringing an eclectic musical lineup as well as discussions, food, beer, and much more. We had a great time at the fest and one of the highlights was getting to have a conversation with Open Mike Eagle and Video Dave. Mike owns our podcast network Stony Island and we have interviewed him several t...

This week we bring you an extravagangsta, our attempt to reckon with the complicated legacy of one of hip-hop's greatest collectives, N.W.A. It is impossible to tell the story of rap music without talking about the controversies, personalities, and most importantly, the music of N.W.A. In the first segment we view their music through a contemporary lens, parsing what works, what doesn't, highlight...

Yoooo. This week we have a quick segment talking about some new music then a great chat with the prolific rapper Blu. We interviewed Blu and frequent collaborator Exile last year about their excellent jazz-influenced album Miles. This week he's back to discuss several new projects and his overall approach to how me makes and presents his music. Beats this week were submitted by Darko The Super and...

If you've been a hip-hop fan long enough, you've been to a few wack shows. Maybe it was too many dudes on stage. Maybe the artist was beefing with the sound man. Maybe someone was rapping over their own vocals. Maybe somebody got too drunk. It happens. However, with the right perspective, you don't have to let it ruin your night. Our three hosts recall less-than-stellar shows as both fans and perf...

This week our attention turns to record stores, record collecting, and the art of the come-up. Dave, Demone & Nate share a few digging stories, talk about the state of the record collecting game, and discuss the limits of sample snitching in hip-hop media. After that we have a lovely chat with consummate b-boy, gifted producer and recording artist DJ Format. We have been fans of Format's records a...

What is the rap album of the summer? We share our picks as well as some listener feedback sourced from Twitter. That conversation inevitably leads to a deeper examination of the seasonality of music and how we decide when to listen to certain albums. Then we have a great talk with MC The Last Emperor. Perhaps best known for his underground classic cut "Secret Wars" where he imagines a battle betwe...

This week we're chatting about new records from Isaiah Rashad, Nas, and past DBRP guests Homeboy Sandman and Pink Siifu that have been released recently. Next up we have a great interview with duo Tanya Morgan. Donwill and Von Pea are veterans of the underground rap scene with an impressive discography of work together as a group and as solo artists. We get into all of that here, with an emphasis...

This week we have a conversation with Declaime aka Dudley Perkins. This Oxnard-born MC recently released an album of his early collaborative tracks with the great producer Madlib. As Dudley Perkins, he also has a full career as a self-taught singer over very funky production. He is currently focusing a lot of his effort on building up the artists on his label, and we get into all of this and more....

This week we are touching on the subject of gentrification as it relates to rap music and specifically a few recent albums that directly discuss displacement. We are big fans of Skyzoo's most recent release All The Beautiful Things, which describes the changing nature of a Brooklyn neighborhood in vivid detail. Skyzoo possesses one of hip-hop's most gifted pens, and he joins us this week to talk a...

Bonus episode! We spoke with Joseph Patel, the producer of the must-see film Summer of Soul! SoS is a ray of sunshine filled with incredible performances of Soul, Jazz, Latin music, Gospel, and so much more. People are already calling it one of the best concert films ever made. Joseph and Director Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson bring a hip-hop energy to the pacing and editing of this important histori...

Once again we find ourselves mourning one of our heroes. This is the first episode we've recorded since hip-hop icon Biz Markie passed away over the weekend. Biz's music and presence is extremely important to us and we will deeply miss his presence here on Earth. RIP Marcel "Biz Markie" Hall, a unique, funny, and deeply funky person who brought entertainment to so many. Next up we have a great int...

Hip-hop compilations are vital vehicles for helping audiences understand far-flung scenes and sub-genres. There is a feeling among our hosts that there are not as many well-curated compilations as there used to be. Enter this week's guest, radio host, TV presenter and all around hip-hop head Peter Rosenberg. Real Late, a compilation executive produced by Rosenberg, was released earlier this year a...

We are honored to be joined this week by a true legend in hip-hop, the gracious and gregarious DMC. As part of the pioneering rap group Run-DMC, he traveled the world, made era-defining hit records, and brought hip-hop to the masses. Now we are so pleased that DMC had some time to sit down and talk to us about the legacy of super producer Larry Smith, the lasting power of Christmas in Hollis, the...

This week we have two great interviews for you. First up we check in with our friend Jeff Weiss about his writing, his stewardship of the blog Passion of the Weiss and The Land Magazine, and his role as label head for the influential indie label POW Recordings. Jeff is funny, self-effacing, and deeply insightful about music and culture and a pleasure to talk to. Next up we have an interview with E...

With heavy hearts we gather today to memorialize a truly great MC, Gift of Gab of Blackalicious. We are massive fans of this tongue-twisting and insightful rapper, and we are deeply sorry for his recent passing. We are here to remember Timothy Parker's artistry, charisma, and immense skill as a lyricist and to pay tribute by sharing some memories of his presence. His music had an immense impact on...

Hard to believe, but this year is halfway over. There have been some great underground rap records released and our three hosts discuss the best of what we have listened to thus far. Then we have an interview with rapper Psalm One about her influences, writing style, and much much more. Psalm first turned heads with her excellent debut, The Death of Frequent Flyer, primarily produced by friend of...

This week we are joined at the roundtable by our friend King Most. He recently released The Triangle, a collaborative EP with rapper Siddiq and DJ Spiñorita. He has also worked with rapper Jay Worthy and hosts DJ culture podcast Opening Set but is perhaps best known for his creative dance floor-focused DJ edits and remixes. Next up we have a great interview with Esoteric, longtime MC and hip-hop o...

This week we have an interview with Chicago's Defcee, a deeply lyrical MC who just released a project with prolific producer August Fanon called We Dressed the City with Our Names. Defcee is a student of hip-hop culture, an educator, as well as a poetic rapper who puts a lot of care into his rhymes and we really enjoyed talking with him. In the opening segment our three hosts break down album of t...

We are joined this week by Masta Ace, a veteran MC and gifted storyteller. We touch on The Juice Crew's legacy, his experience working with MF DOOM, and his predilection for writing concept albums. Our hosts also discuss their favorite hip-hop posse cuts and take listener feedback on the question of the week, which hip-hop crew had the most memorable military imagery. DBRP is a proud part of the S...

Aceyalone's masterpiece A Book Of Human Language is a special record and we are excited to analyze its music, lyrics, and impact this week alongside an in-depth interview with the album's producer, the extremely talented Mumbles. Even the biggest fans of this epic underground concept album will glean new information about its making from Mumbles. Our three hosts also reflect on their personal expe...

Edo. G is a hip-hop survivor, a great example of an artist who has been active for over 30 years. From his 1991 debut Life of a Kid In The Ghetto with hits like I Got To Have It and Be A Father To Your Child to the new album with MC/producer Insight titled Innovates, Edo. has been a constant presence in the hip-hop ecosystem. Here he discusses all of that and more with our three hosts. We also tal...

What's a rap line that made you literally laugh out loud? That's our question of the week. We also have a conversation with the hilarious and skilled Detroit rapper Bruiser Wolf. His debut album Dope Game Stupid is one of our favorite releases of the year so far and a major statement from Danny Brown's Bruiser Brigade crew. Please be advised that the sound on the interview is a little shaky, we we...

This week we speak with one of the most intriguing and productive artists in contemporary hip-hop, the enigmatic Pink Siifu. Whether rapping, producing, singing, or leading his ripping punk band, Siifu is always making high level, interesting and at times challenging music. Here he joins us to discuss his influences, his post-quarantine plans, and his various projects including the recently droppe...