Diggin' In The Digits

Del The Funky Homosapien (Or Del Tha Funkee Homosapien; pick a lane) is a mainstay in the "Alternative" and Independent Hip-Hop scene. His voice is one of the most unique and always delivers when the word "Feat." is next to his name. But does his solo discography tell us anything new about his artistry? Weekly Music Roundup - (0:52) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) Lizzie Berchie - Am I An Adult Y...

For the 20th Bites, we switch it up a little and talk about a TV show! After nearly 12 years, a hiatus and two versions, Top Boy is done after five seasons. We talk about the show in as many angles as possible. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:02) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) Ehua - Clouds Heather Victoria - I Can't Make This Up Khazali - Born For This  Jalen Ngonda - Come Around and Love...

Hieroglyphics hold a very interesting spot in Hip-Hop history. A collective that has been around for a couple decades now but still have a "if you know, you know" essence to them. From their merch to the music, Hiero stay ever-present but still hold some mysticism to the average Hip-Hop fan. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:47) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) A-F-R-O - AFRODEEZIAK (EP) 38 Sp...

For this edition of Hip-Hop Neighbours, we get into two 00s classics in Craig David's "Born to Do It" and Gnarls Barkley's "St. Elsewhere". TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:05) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) Smoke DZA & Flying Lotus - Flying Objects Blu & Real Bad Man - Bad News Xenia Manasseh - LOVE / HATE Pt. 1  9th Wonder - Zion IX Fay Victor - Blackity Black Black Is Beautiful I...

Souls of Mischief are the rare group that - after 30 years - are still together and going strong. Along with a seminal Hip-Hop track and a relatively consistent discography overall, it's no wonder why Souls have kept a really dedicated fanbase. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:02) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) D2x - Hotel 1105 Digga D - Back to Square One Burna Boy - I Told Them… DJ Muggs...

Immortal Technique is an essential artist to listen to. He stays ever-present with constant touring and putting his Leftist lyrics to the sword, genuinely doing work for people in the world that need it. And that's not even getting into some of the most vivid storytelling you'll ever hear.  TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (00:50) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) Quavo - Rocket Power Giggs - Zer...

In a very special DITD Bites, we get into Lizzo, Tory Lanez getting 10 years; REASON & Moosa's debate on wax and Hip-Hop turning 50.   TIMESTAMPS:  Weekly Music Roundup - (1:24) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) REASON - Porches Backwood Sweetie - Ancestral Aspect Noname - Sundial Fredo - Unfinished Business CLIP - APPETIZER PGF GlizzyMoe - Rapping & Drilling YTB Fatt - Who is Fatt Gloss Up...

Whilst the stories of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and - for different reasons - Eazy-E are thoroughly documented, the story of MC Ren is something different from the others. From his embrace of Islam & the Nation of Islam, to his content that presents a conflicting and kind of gross persona; Ren is a voice that is unmistakable and truly earns him the "Villain" moniker, for better or worse. TIMESTAMPS: W...

The legacy of N.W.A runs so deep in Hip-Hop that it's hard to say something fresh about it; but their music still connects Ren, Cube, Eazy, Dre, Yella & Arabian Prince together into a fascinating tapestry of collaborations, collective vision; beef and now acknowledgement that N.W.A was one of the most talented groups in Hip-Hop history. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:27) (Ben = Bold / C...

It can be said that Masta Ace is underrated in many facets of the music but one that needs to be hailed forever is his unique long-form storytelling. Since "The Symphony", Masta Ace has continued to put his life on wax in a way nobody else in Hip-Hop has done: With detail and heart. Weekly Music Roundup - (2:13) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) Cherise - Calling Mahalia - IRL Nas & Hit-Boy - M...

It's time for another Hip-Hop Neighbours, highlighting non-Hip-Hop albums that Hip-Hop fans can get into. For this one, we get into the work of Gil Scott-Heron and Chase & Status. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:46) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) Adrian Younge & Tony Allen - Tony Allen JID018 Cookin Soul - Whateva, Vol. 5  Kota The Friend - Protea  Melonyx - Soul Glow P Money - Mon...

In this chunky episode, we get into the work of The Roots where whilst we would make an effort to bomb through discographies for the sake of time, we simply couldn't for The Roots because they seemed to depart from their past album nearly every time. The subtle switches in their music over time would end up creating a wide reach. From "Jam Session" Hip-Hop to dense concept albums, it was certainly...

In a change of pace from usual DITD proceedings, Charlie was invited to see a play in Theatre Royal Stratford East called "Tambo & Bones", written by West Philly's own Dave Harris. And as you can imagine from the episode title, Charlie was also given the opportunity to interview the director and lead actors of the show. In an episode that's split into two: the 1st half is a one-on-one with dir...

The story of Canibus is probably the best suited for a podcast built on retrospectives such as this. Whilst his music can easily be passed off as "rapper has verbal diarrhoea", the storyline combined with selected songs really highlight how misunderstood Canibus is as a rapper, entrepreneur and person. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:27) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) Miles. - Everywhere a...

On the 18th edition of DITD Bites: Tyler, The Creator hopped on Rap Radar recently and made some interesting quotes that we wanted to unpack. So we do that, getting into his beef with playlists, "Rap Twitter" and his past work. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:57) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) Marquis Hill - Rituals + Routines Charlie Smarts & DJ Ill Digitz - Charlietape Hit-Boy &...

After 10 chapters, we've finally reached the conclusion of our "Book Of Wu" series. If you haven't spun the series, feel free to spin all 12 episodes here .  For the final chapter, we look at the Wu albums and the group as a unit.  TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (0:52) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) WIINSTON - THE LAST DAYTONA 7xvethegenius & DJ Green Lantern - The Genius Tape Janelle Mo...

Happy June! We're nearly halfway through the year, which means it's time for our Mid-Year Report! How the 50th Year of Hip-Hop has been faring, what albums we rate so far an other general discussion. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:17) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) ECKOES - Fractals Mnelia - Closure Tapes K.Zia - Kintsugi Heart McKinley Dixon - Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?  Green Kanine - Tw...

Houston's Chamillionaire was a child of 8 Ball & MJG, UGK and Geto Boys. His single "Ridin" was one of the most ubiquitous songs of the 00s. But after a couple of albums and a bevvy of mixtapes, Chamillionaire's story gets much more interesting when you look at his entrepreneurial track record. Weekly Music Roundup - (1:37) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) KYE - Ribena Monaleo - Where The Flow...

After covering Pras last week, we thought it was a good a time as any to look into the Fugees member that seems to have no issue in dropping music on a consistent basis. With nine studio albums, Wyclef Jean has used his many tastes to create a fascinating musical tapestry of himself, to varying degrees of success. Weekly Music Roundup - (1:42) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) Tora-i - & what e...

Pras has been in the news in recent years, but not for anything music related. So since he was formally found guilty in a foreign influence case, now seems a good a time as any to listen to the music and wonder how in the hell did Pras go from Fugees to illegal bankrolling?! Weekly Music Roundup - (1:22) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics)  Kuzco - I Vibe, She Vibes Amadeus360 - The MPC Jedi Klwn cat...

All answers begin with a question and sometimes that question needs to be blunt. But never fear, we try and break the question down as only we can. It's not a question that caters for a straight "yes" or "no", but a conversation starter for what is probably the least music-based episode yet. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:16) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) siegfried komidashi - the mundan...

For the 17th edition of DITD Bites we get into the AI Music debate and the concept of Video Essays/Documentaries, asking WHY do people like Trap Lore Ross make the videos they make. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:35) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) Aaron Taylor - HAVE A NICE DAY! Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad & Lonnie Liston Smith - Lonnie Liston Smith JID017 Nines - Crop Circle...

When you look at Jim Jones' career, it's one of hard work and dedication to squeezing every benefit out of a deal. But hard work only gets you so far... Hard work can't get you a good solo discography and Jim Jones is an outstanding example of that. TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (01:14) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) redveil - playing w/ fire Kid Abstrakt & Leo Low Pass - Believe Dell N...

For the 10th edition of Contemporary Cool: We get into the works of Tink's 2013 tape "Winter's Diary 2: Forever Yours" and August Greene (Common, Robert Glasper & Karriem Riggins) TIMESTAMPS: Weekly Music Roundup - (1:00) (Ben = Bold / Charlie = Italics) Kay Young - We Meet At Last ENNY - We Go Again  Venna - EQUINOX Terri Walker - MY LOVE STORY Dinner Party - Enigmatic Society Joby Jay - LOVE...

Four years ago on April 10th, Diggin' In The Digits began. Since that Tuesday, we have dropped an episode every Tuesday. We've never missed a drop and have learnt so much over those four years. We celebrate with a reflection, our favourite episodes in the past year; an existential question linked to Hip-Hop's upcoming 50th birthday and we bring back Deadpan Recitals. Thanks for spinning as we cont...