Gems Podcast with Shom

The Brazilian Record Plug for J Dilla, Madlib & Q-Tip | DJ NutsDJ Nuts found unreleased J Dilla beats on his SP-303.DJ Nuts (Rodrigo Teixeira) is arguably the best-known Brazilian DJ in the world: turntable champion, Brazilian record connoisseur, and the São Paulo beatmaker who connected a generation of hip hop producers (J Dilla, Madlib, Q-Tip, The Alchemist, Kaytranada) to rare Brazilian vin...

K-Cut of Main Source tells the story behind Breaking Atoms, the 1991 classic that introduced Nas on "Live at the Barbecue," now reissued as the Ultimate Collectors Edition with unreleased tracks, B-sides and remixes.🎧 Stream/buy Breaking Atoms (Ultimate Collectors Edition): https://lnk.site/1/breakingatomsProducer, DJ and record collector K-Cut takes us back to late-80s Queens: forming Main Sourc...

Rich Medina, DJ, poet, and Music Director and partner at Miami’s Dante’s HiFi, joins Gems with Shom for a conversation on deep listening, longevity, and a life built around records. A fan favorite from the archive, originally released February 2026, now with a new intro. From his early years in New Jersey to becoming one of the most respected DJs and cultural voices of his generation, Rich reflect...

DJ Khalil, 3X Grammy-winning producer and half of Self Scientific, breaks down his journey from DJing house parties in LA to producing for Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Clipse, Kanye West, Anderson .Paak and Aloe Blacc. He grew up the son of NBA All-Star Walt Hazzard, surrounded by jazz, soul and his dad’s record collection. He met Dr. Dre as a kid at a party his parents threw, and years...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Lord Jamar: founding member of Brand Nubian, producer, DJ, actor, and lifelong artist. From DJing house parties in New Rochelle to producing In God We Trust, developing Dead Prez, working with the Boot Camp Clik, and transitioning to acting with fantastic performances on HBO's Oz, Lord Jamar has built an extraordinary career around records, loops, and an...

DJ Rhettmatic is a battle champion, producer, member of the Visionaries, and founding member of the legendary Beat Junkies. In this episode of Gems with Shom, Rhettmatic discusses his Filipino American roots, LA’s early hip-hop scene, DJ battles, production, and the rise of the Beat Junkies. He also shares stories about J Dilla’s final European tour and the creative connection between Dilla and Ma...

This episode of Gems with Shom features DJ Serious — DJ, producer, record collector, creator of the acclaimed albums Dim Sum and Cold Tea, and one of the founding members behind CrateryCon. Ahead of CrateryCon 2026, DJ Serious and Shom get into a lifetime spent deep in records, hip-hop, DJ culture, production, and the underground. DJ Serious traces his journey from discovering hip-hop and skate cu...

Jake One joins Gems with Shom for a deep conversation about beat digging, record collecting, sampling, and a legendary career producing for some of the biggest names in music. From digging through dollar bins in Seattle to producing records for Jay-Z, Drake, J. Cole, Rick Ross, Dr. Dre, The Weeknd, De La Soul, MF DOOM, 50 Cent, Freeway and many more, Jake One has built an extraordinary career arou...

Following the incredible response to our recent episode with KON, we’re going back into the Gems with Shom archives for one of our favorite conversations — with DJ Amir, the other half of the legendary KON & Amir. Amir is a DJ, producer, record collector, cultural historian, and founder of 180 Proof Records. Alongside KON, he helped define an era of beat digging through the legendary On Track...

This episode of Gems with Shom features KON - legendary DJ, record collector, producer, and one half of KON & Amir of the famed On Track series that are core to the world of beat digging. From growing up in Boston and witnessing hip-hop culture take shape in New York to digging for rare records around the world, KON has built a life around music, discovery, and an extraordinary ear. KON and Sh...

Dante Ross joins GEMS with Shom. A legendary A&R, producer, beat digger, author, and storyteller, Dante Ross helped shape some of the most important music of hip-hop’s golden era. From De La Soul, Queen Latifah, Brand Nubian, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Busta Rhymes, MF DOOM, ODB, Everlast, Del the Funky Homosapien, Leaders of the New School, and many more, Dante’s ear, taste, and creative inst...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Nashiem Myrick - legendary producer, record collector, and key member of the Hitmen super-producer collective. Also known as your favorite producer’s favorite producer. From crafting timeless records like The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Who Shot Ya,” Capone-N-Noreaga’s “T.O.N.Y.,” Lil’ Kim’s “Queen B,” and Scarface’s “My Block,” Nashiem helped shape the sound of ’90...

Bobbito Garcia, aka Kool Bob Love, joins GEMS with Shom. A legendary DJ, author, filmmaker, ballplayer, radio host, announcer, entrepreneur, and cultural storyteller, Bobbito has spent decades shaping taste across hip-hop, basketball, sneakers, records, radio, film, and New York culture. In this conversation, Bobbito discusses storytelling, authenticity, social activism, family, music, basketball,...

DJ Day joins GEMS with Shom. A producer, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, turntablist, and deep record collector, DJ Day has built a sound rooted in hip-hop, jazz, funk, soul, electronic music, live instrumentation, and sampling. In this conversation, DJ Day discusses growing up in Palm Springs, discovering records through his family, teaching himself how to make pause tapes, diving into turntablism, bu...

This best of episode of Gems with Shom features Phonte Coleman. One of our most popular episodes ever. Phonte is a grammy-nominated rapper, singer, songwriter, filmmaker, actor, and one of the most talented and versatile artists in modern music. From Little Brother to The Foreign Exchange, from razor-sharp MC storytelling to lush, soulful compositions, Phonte’s career stands as one of the most con...

Marco Polo joins Gems with Shom. From Toronto to New York, Marco Polo has built a career as one of underground hip-hop’s most respected producers, working with legends including Masta Ace, Rakim, KRS-One, Talib Kweli, Kool G Rap, Sean Price, Buckshot, Large Professor, Westside Gunn, DJ Premier, and more. In this conversation, Marco discusses his journey from Toronto beatmaker to producer, moving t...

Cosmo Baker joins GEMS. Known globally as one of the world's premier DJs, Cosmo discusses growing up in Philadelphia, discovering hip-hop, developing his craft behind the turntables, moving to New York during one of the greatest eras in music, The Rub, the Scratch DJ Academy, record collecting, vinyl, traveling the world, and why curiosity and learning have remained at the center of his life a...

Hakim Tafari joins GEMS. From sound system culture in the UK to hip-hop, soul, spiritual jazz, DJing, running, Buddhism, and mindfulness, Hakim Tafari has lived a life shaped by music, movement, art, and transformation. In this conversation, Hakim discusses growing up in England with Jamaican roots, discovering hip-hop, traveling to Brooklyn, DJing, making music, and finding refuge in records, sou...

Aki of Cosmos Records joins GEMS. In the world of beat digging, Cosmos Records is considered one of the greatest record stores in the world. Based in Toronto, Cosmos Records has become a destination for DJs, producers, beat diggers, record collectors, and music lovers looking for rare grooves, breaks, soul, jazz, Brazilian records, Cuban records, Latin records, 45s, and the records behind the reco...

On this episode of GEMS, I sit down with producer, DJ, and songwriter Maneesh on the Beat. You may know Maneesh from his work with Drake, J. Cole, Giveon, Rihanna, Travis Scott, Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa, Calvin Harris, and many more. We explore his journey from Toronto turntablist to producer, the stories behind Drake's "Shebang" and "Make Them Cry," working with OVO, develo...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Waxvillain, a Seattle-based record collector, interviewer, content creator, and A&R for Fraternity Music Group Records. Waxvillain and Shom get into his journey from hip-hop fan and beatmaker to one of the most passionate voices in the rare soul community. The conversation explores sampling, record digging, Wax Poetics, Amsterdam record culture, Brazilia...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Mikey D , the Queens MC, battle rapper, and member of Main Source and LA Posse. Mikey D and Shom get into his early years coming up in Laurelton, Queens, discovering rap, and building his reputation as one of Queens’ most respected battle MCs. The conversation explores LA Posse, working with the legendary Paul C, joining Main Source, the New Music Seminar Ba...

This episode of Gems with Shom features DJ Flipout, a legendary DJ, producer, radio host, beat digger, and one of Canada’s most respected 45 collectors. Flipout and Shom get into his incredible journey through music, from growing up around Portuguese records, AM radio, and early hip-hop videos to becoming a teenager on the radio, a rapper, dancer, producer, and eventually one of the defining DJs o...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Haas G, aka Fantom of the Beat, the legendary producer, MC, and one half of the hip-hop group UMC’s. Haas G and Shom get into his early years coming up in Staten Island, forming UMC’s, beat digging, and creating classic records like “Blue Cheese” and “One to Grow On” from the Fruits of Nature album. Haas also breaks down his journey from rapper and producer...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Nicolay , Grammy-nominated producer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and one half of The Foreign Exchange alongside Phonte. From growing up in Utrecht and discovering Prince, to playing in funk bands, studying musicology, making beats after work, and connecting with Phonte on the Okayplayer message boards, Nicolay’s story is one of timing, originality, and...