Gems Podcast with Shom

This episode of Gems with Shom features Eddie Mac — DJ, founder of The MAC Agency, and the vinyl curator behind DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak).Eddie’s story is a rare one. It starts with growing up in New Jersey surrounded by Motown, soul, and disco records… and leads to decades of DJing, digging, nightlife, and eventually turning a lifelong obsession with vinyl into a global business. We break down...

DJ Rashida joins Gems with Shom for an unforgettable conversation about music, magnetization, and staying true to your taste. From growing up in deeply musical households to being shaped by Atlanta’s 90s underground scene, Rashida shares how DJing became the vehicle that led her to becoming Prince’s longtime DJ — and to a life beyond anything she could’ve planned. We talk Mama’s Crates , record di...

In this episode of Gems with Shom , I’m joined by Fleetgotheat — artist, producer, and one of the biggest voices breaking down classic drum breaks and production techniques on the internet right now. Fleetgotheat built a massive following by sharing drum breaks and beat science without gatekeeping. From breaking down where iconic drums come from, to talking through chopping and sequencing, what st...

This episode of Gems with Shom features J Scienide — Charlotte-raised, Washington, DC transplant, MC / producer, and a true student of music. J Scienide takes us from his earliest days learning through pause tapes and digging through his father’s records… to pressing his first records… to becoming one of the most prolific independent artists in today’s underground. It’s a story about music obsessi...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Eilon Paz — photographer, world traveler, storyteller, and creator of Dust & Grooves , the iconic book that became a global celebration of record culture. From a small desert town in Israel… to hustling as a photographer in NYC during the 2008 recession… to documenting over 300 of the world’s most passionate record collectors… Eilon shares how a personal...

In this episode of Gems with Shom , we sit down with Rob “Late Bloomer” Geddis - professional record buyer at the legendary Princeton Record Exchange, lifelong beat digger, and the man behind those late-night posts that make collectors everywhere say, “What is that record?!” From buying thousands of records a week to navigating basement collections across the Northeast, Rob shares what it really m...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Phonte Coleman — Grammy-nominated rapper, singer, songwriter, filmmaker, actor, and one of the most talented, diverse, and prolific voices of his generation. From Little Brother to The Foreign Exchange , from elite MC craftsmanship to deeply soulful compositions, to film and voice acting, Phonte’s career is a masterclass in evolution and risk-taking. But thi...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Doc Delay — DJ, producer, record dealer, and underground legend whose REM Sleep psych-rock mixtape series opened entire universes for a generation of beat heads. From psych-rock symptoms to Middle Eastern rarities, Doc takes us inside the hidden corners of record culture — the sounds, stories, and chaotic adventures behind some of the wildest records on Eart...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Andrea Galtieri — extraordinary beat-digger, Italian library and soundtrack specialist, and co-founder of Sonor Music Editions , bringing the golden era of Italy’s library and soundtrack music to a new wave of listeners. This music is a beat digging treasure box — heavily sampled and rediscovered by legendary producers like The Alchemist, Madlib, and Oh No ,...

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...

This episode of Gems with Shom features DJ Amir — DJ, producer, record collector, lecturer, and label owner at 180 Proof Records. As one-half of the iconic Kon & Amir , he redefined the art of beat digging through the On Track mixtape series, inspiring generations of collectors. From growing up in Boston to working at Fat Beats and Wax Poetics, DJ Amir’s journey runs through the heart of beat-...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Dan Charnas — bestselling author of Dilla Time , award-winning music and business journalist, record producer, television creator, and Associate Arts Professor at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute. From his early days working in the mailroom at Profile Records , to shaping hip-hop journalism at The Source and authoring the definitive hip-hop history The Big Paybac...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Skeme Richards — DJ, Funk specialist, collector of artifacts, cinephile, and creator of NostalgiaKing.com . A true connector of culture, Skeme blends hip-hop precision with the soul of funk, jazz, and international grooves — all through an analog lens. We explore Philly roots, Rock Steady Crew culture, Blaxploitation soundtracks, deep funk, Anthony Bourdain’...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Stimulator Jones (aka Samuel Jones Lunsford) , a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, producer, DJ & maker of records, an artist devoted to originality and staying true to himself. Crafting a sound that moves effortlessly between beat-heavy instrumentals and soulful R&B grooves, his catalog spans acclaimed projects across several independent...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Oliver Wang — writer, scholar, DJ, collector, museum curator, and author . We explore his lifelong obsession with records — from De La Soul to Cruising J-Town , his book and museum exhibition celebrating Asian American identity through cars, sound, and community. Oliver reflects on crate digging, writing, and how the stories behind records help us understand...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Andre Torres — Founder, Publisher, and Editor-In-Chief of Wax Poetics and Editor-In-Chief of Scratch Magazine , two landmark publications that elevated record collecting and hip-hop journalism. We trace Andre’s journey from discovering beat digging to shaping the culture through a fearless approach. The conversation explores his creative choices, fearless en...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Arcee — writer, artist, and creative director and one of the creators of CrateryCon , the record-collecting convention that’s become a gathering place for beat diggers and music lovers worldwide. We trace Arcee’s journey from pause-tapes at the public library and late-night radio to building lasting connections with producers. The conversation explores: The...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Diallo Riddle, actor, producer, director, and sometimes DJ, whose creative path spans comedy writing, television, music, and podcasting. This hilarious and insightful conversation goes deep into the crates as we explore Diallo’s early days DJing in college, his background in history, and the collaborative spirit fueling his creativity. He reflects on iconic...

This episode of Gems with Shom features House Shoes - DJ, producer, collector and owner of Street Corner Music, a key figure in Detroit’s golden era of hip hop. Known for breaking records and his uncompromising standards, House Shoes shares his journey from Detroit to Los Angeles, becoming one of the most trusted voices in music. We dive into his early memories of DJing at St. Andrew’s Hall, shari...

Other Side of the Game: Inside the Life of a Record Dealer This episode of Gems with Shom features DJ KINETIK aka Secret Sauce Records , a record dealer known for his elusive presence and deep knowledge of global music, who has carved out a unique space in the digging world. In this conversation, KINETIK shares his journey into record dealing, from early influences through to building a business a...

This episode of Gems with Shom features Mike Wallace, producer, DJ, and Library Record expert. Best known for his Theme and Beat series, Mike has also been working to repopularize the genius of Italian soundtrack legend Piero Umiliani. Starting in 2019, he began recording an LP series that reflects his passion for library and film music, while studying instruments like piano, guitar, bass, and per...

MF DOOM’s story is unlike any other in music history. In this episode of Gems with Shom , SKIZ—writer, music producer, and author of The Chronicles of DOOM: Unraveling Rap's Masked Iconoclast [Astra Publishing House] takes us deep into the life of the masked supervillain. From his early days with KMD and the tragedies that nearly ended his career, to his reinvention, the Madvillainy masterpiec...

In this artist profile episode of Gems with Shom , we explore the lost groove of Rhythm of Life (1977), the rare groove classic by James Mason—former guitarist and keyboardist for Roy Ayers’ Ubiquity band. We trace the cult classic’s deep influence on the acid jazz movement, its synth-heavy, soul-infused sound, and its journey from overlooked release to crate-digger essential. Along the way, we un...

This week on Gems with Shom , we’re joined by Phill Most Chill, aka Soulman or as I call him the “record dealer to the stars” of the golden era. A true Hip Hop Renaissance Man, Phill is a rapper, record collector, mixtape DJ, magazine writer, producer, and all around artist. We dig into his unmatched ear for records that make iconic samples, stories from the infamous Roosevelt record conventions,...

This week on Gems with Shom , we travel to the Netherlands to dig deep with Leon. The mind behind Leonscuration and a true connoisseur of deep cuts. We explore his unique perspective on music discovery in the Netherlands, how he built his deep musical knowledge, and his experiences at the legendary Utrecht Record Fair. Leon shares his approach to collecting, reflections on cultural blind spots in...