Diggin' In The Digits

In a low-key iconic* episode of DITD, we do another Volume of Hip-Hop Neighbours, (which is mistakenly called by a former name throughout the episode) going off our mini-convo about Calvin Harris last week. This pretty much goes off the rails immediately, turning into a heated debate about Harris' discography. So for those that love the rare moments we debate, here you go. *This episode officially...

With the long-awaited 2nd Black Star album on the horizon, we thought it would be a good opportunity to look back at the first album and how Talib Kweli and then named Mos Def managed to produce one of the crown jewels of Hip-Hop. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:23) ( Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)   Wet Leg - Wet Leg Swedish House Mafia - Paradise Again Tee Grizzley - Half Tee Half Beast J...

On the 11th of April 2019, we began this little Hip-Hop centred Podcast. And whilst we have evolved from what we initially sought it to be, we have not missed a week since. For this anniversary special, we reflect on the three years, the past year, participate in a questionnaire so you guys can get to know us on a more personal level and we finish with a game we tried out last year with a great re...

On this episode of DITD: Our 13th edition of DITD Bites. Talking about the future of Hip-Hop, why DJ Drama is a legend & DJ Khaled is, DJ Khaled. And our three favourite music scenes going on right now. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (2:16) ( Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics ) Red Hot Chilli Peppers - who cares Dreavmille - D-Day Blaq Chidori & Ayo Shamir - Journey into Mystery C-Scriptu...

Foxy Brown was one the rawest talents ever seen in Hip-Hop. Who else could do Mafioso bars, luxury bars & sexual bars? Her three official albums deserve praise but it can't be overlooked how short her peak actually was when it could've been so much more. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:27) ( Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics ) Latto - 777 Sonic Youth - In Out In Koffee - Gifted Nigo - I Kno...

In a modern context, it's hard to find the entirety of Yo-Yo's music. You won't even find her name in the Wikipedia "list of people from Compton, California" even though she was one of the first females from the West Coast to be a rapper of note, pushing lyrics rooted in Womanism. And it's because of these facts and more that we cover the likes of Yo-Yo. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:11) (...

The story of Lil' Kim is one of the most rinsed in Hip-Hop history. But somehow, there is always something to discover when it comes to the story of Kim and especially when it comes to her music. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:46) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) Dave East - HDIGH Benny The Butcher - Tana Talk 4 Kid Abstrakt - Higher Vibration (EP) The Other Guys - Winter In Analog: Season...

The story of The Real Roxanne is forever attached to the subject of the last episode, but for someone that was brought into a beef of somebody's design, we got two very good albums out of it. And that alone deserves it's own dive. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:21) ( Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics ) King Von - What it Means to be King DaBaby & YoungBoy - BETTER THAN YOU BlaQ Chidori - W...

The career and life of Roxanne Shanté is a microcosm of being a female. You're talented, you're confident and you get punished for it every step of the way. For the first of five retrospectives on females in Hip-Hop during Women's History Month, we look at Shanté, the first woman in Hip-Hop to pop off. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:56) (Italics = Ben / Bold = Charlie / Bold & Italics =...

Virginia Beach-based brother duo Clipse, No Malice & Pusha T were a significant piece of the small-but-influential alumni of Hip-Hop artists based in the state of Virginia. Tying themselves to The Neptunes, Clipse became a 2000s essential to look out for.   TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:18) Big K.R.I.T. - Digital Roses Don’t Die Yeat - 2 Alive Curren$y & The Alchemist - Continuance...

Method Man is a unique being. Where people zigged, Method Man zagged. He did things differently and made the most out of every opportunity given. And while his music isn't consistently on the level Method Man is as a lyricist and person, it's an interesting cog in the overall watch that is Wu-Tang history. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:20) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (17:54) Tical -...

We're back with Vol. 12 of DITD Bites. Two topics today that are close to each other. Firstly, off the back of our Lighter Note on Joe Rogan, Ben tackles the Spotify side of the story. And Charlie asks the question "is old music killing new music?". TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:19) Rogan/Spotify - (18:03) Old Vs New Music - (49:12) Lighter Note - (1:20:13) Articles featured in the episode...

Eric "Eazy-E" Wright was a shrewd operator in everything he did. And though we may not think of him as an early leader in the inevitable evolution of business in Hip-Hop, maybe it's worth seeing Eazy in that lens, although it's very enticing to see his iconic persona and stop there. Weekly Music Roundup - (1:48) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (13:33) Eazy-Duz-It - (36:13) It's On (D̵r̵.̵ ̵D̵r̵...

It is very easy to see Xzibit as the "Pimp My Ride" guy. But look past the glorious relic of 00s America and you find a rapper that could hang with the best of them, tooled up with top tier lyrics and an unmistakable voice. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:32) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (19:29) At the Speed of Life - (30:49) 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz - (37:26) Restless - (43:32) Man vs....

We continue of "Book Of Wu" series with one of the objectively lesser consumed of the group but with one of the most fascinating stories. Join us as we dig into the man that puts the "U" in "Wu": U-God. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundups - (2:14) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (24:23) Golden Arms Redemption - (38:19) Mr. Xcitement - (47:09) Dopium - (52:49) The Keynote Speech - (59:07) Venom -...

Welcome to a brand new DITD miniseries, Hip-Hop Neighbours. Similar to "Contemporary Cool", we pick an album each to talk about but what's unique about "Hip-Hop Neighbours" is that we pick albums from non-Hip-Hop genres that have some form of connective tissue to Hip-Hop. And in an effort to provide openings for you to explore past your regular tastes, it'll also tell you about how, in some way, a...

Happy New Year one and all! We kick off the New Year by taking one more quick look back at 2021 and talking about our two favourite albums of '21. TIMESTAMPS: Planet Her - (10:21) Pink Noise - (25:45) We're All Alone In This Together - (37:59) Sometimes I Might Be Introvert - (1:00:53) Lighter Note - (1:18:56) Additional reading - Charlie's Top 10 Albums of 2021 Thanks for listening. Below are the...

To end the year, hosts of the various 5EPN podcasts come together to reflect on the year that has been 2021, the podcasts themselves and finish with a fun team exercise. To everyone that has listened to a 5EPN Podcast this year, on behalf of everyone in the 5EPN, we thank you for your listenership, your time and we hope we can join you as you begin your journey through 2022. The music was "Nothing...

We finish 2021 with our 2nd chapter of "The Book Of Wu" (which hasn't been used as a name before so... Trademark pending.) which is all about the enigma, Ason Unique, the Ol' Dirty Bastard. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:14) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (14:22) Return to the 36 Chambers: The Dirty Version - (30:19) N☆☆★a Please - (41:54) Further storyline - (49:37) Lighter Note - (1:0...

We finally begin what we are calling "The Book Of Wu". Basically, retrospectives on the original members of the Wu-Tang Clan, starting with the eldest and the only one to have some form of a career before Wu. GZA, The Genius. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:30) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (11:25) Words from the Genius - (27:15) Liquid Swords - (37:55) Beneath the Surface - (49:06) Leg...

We get into one of our most debated & enlightening DITD Bites yet. Talking end of year lists before the year even ends, Adele allegedly jacking from an independent artist and what constitutes a 'rapper'. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (2:16) End of year lists - (21:50) Adele jacking? - (40:10) What is a 'rapper' - (54:43) Lighter Note - (1:26:58) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social...

One conversation that is considered consensus is that Dr. Dre's "The Aftermath" is, to put it lightly, not good. It's gotten to the point that you hear the negative thought about it and will most likely never spin it. So, we did the opposite, went ahead and listened to it. So is it really as bad as people say? TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:05) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (16:25) Tra...

After doing Slum Village last week, it was easy to be like Ben and go into this episode on eLZhi thinking that you would get the same stuff you heard on SV records, for better or worse. But this is why solo careers are exclusive from group endeavours. Especially so in this case because solo eLZhi is a whole different kettle of fish. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:15) Topic Intro/Ben's Resea...

Slum Village is a group that has gone through many many lineups to the point where it's frankly surprising that so much change didn't dramatically affect the end product. So what can we owe the consistency to? And are there actual Slum Village fans or fans of J Dilla that just listen to SV as part of Dilla's universe? TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:32) Topic Intro - (17:45) Dilla Era - (27:...

It's time for another Contemporary Cool where we highlight albums from the past 10 years that deserve some shine. For this edition we get into the works of Janelle Monáe, Yugen Blakrok, CyHi Da Prynce & Blue Lab Beats. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:07) The ArchAndroid - (13:50) Return of the Astro-Goth - (37:45) Black Hystori Project - (54:19) Xover - (1:08:41) Thanks for listening. Be...