The Casual Genius Podcast

J. Mac and Ryder break down their picks for the top 10 songs of 2024 including tracks from Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, Zach Bryan, SZA, Snoop Dogg and more!

2024 has been a memorable year of music with some the biggest stars releasing new music. Check out which albums, songs, and artists we played most this year as we break down our 2024 Spotify Wrapped!

Jaden & Ryder break down the final album from the late artist Juice WRLD. Does it measure up to his best work? Is it a good tribute to his life? Tune in to find out!

Surprise! Kendrick recently surprise dropped his new album: GNX! Check out our full breakdown on the production, lyrics, vocals, features, and much more!

In a world full of Yeats and Cartis, Cordae is a rapper that has stayed true to the lyrical styles popularized by a past generation of rappers. On this episode, J. Mac & Ryder breakdown his newest project: Crossroads and discuss where Cordae sits among today’s best rappers.

Grammy award winning artist Tyler, The Creator is back with his highly anticipated project: CHROMAKOPIA. Check out our full breakdown on the album and where it ranks among the best albums of this year!

J. Mac and Ryder are back with a movie review this week, discussing the latest installment in Sony Spider-Man character franchise: Venom: The Last Dance.

This week J. Mac & Ryder break down who the top 4 rapper from each of the recent decades are (90s, 00s, 10s, 20s). Check out which artists made the cut!

J. Mac & Ryder break down the newest album, Beautifully Broken, by last year’s Best New Artist at the CMAs: Jelly Roll. Tune in to hear who rated the album as one of the best year and who thinks one of the collaborations on the album is being massively overrated.

Last year, Toosii was a favorite artist of ours on the show and even took home the award we gave for Best New Artist for his innovative sound and style in the melodic rap world. With high hopes, Ryder breaks down the exciting young artist’s second album: Jaded. (00:25) - Thoughts on Toosii (01:54) - Instrumentals/Production (02:42) - Vocal Performance (04:01) - Lyrics (05:11) - Album Concept/Theme...

In light of the highly anticipated sequel of Todd Phillips & Joaquin Phoenix’s Joker movie, Lady Gaga has released a concept album about her character in the film: Lee Quinzel aka Harley Quinn. Tune in to join us in breaking down the glitzy, glamorous, and deranged musical adventure. (02:30) - Thoughts on Lady Gaga (04:36) - Instrumentals/Production (07:34) - Vocal Performance (10:00) - Lyrics (13...

With Eminem releasing his first album in 4 years and again receiving mixed reviews (including our own), Jaden & Ryder decide to sit down and rank each of his albums from worst to best including their favorite and least favorite tracks along with which of Eminem’s songs are the most underrated in his catalogue. (02:10) - Jaden’s Ranking of Eminem’s Albums (24:25) - Ryder’s Ranking

After several months of covering music, J. Mac & Ryder discuss one of the biggest blockbuster movies of the summer, Ryan Gosling & Emily Blunt’s Fall Guy. Tune in to hear who is finally over their hatred of Ryan Gosling and who has been playing the soundtrack on repeat! (00:55) - Spoiler Free Review (05:04) - Plot (08:40) - Writing/Dialogue (11:42) - Visuals (15:58) - Audio/Soundtrack (18:29) - Ch...

Everyone’s favorite pop/rap sensation Post Malone has finally dropped his long hinted at country debut, F-1 Trillion. Grab your boots and cowboy hats, because this week J. Mac & Ryder discuss the album from top to bottom including a song that may be the best Post Malone’s ever written. (00:58) - Thoughts on Post Malone (03:55) - Instrumentals/Production (05:46) - Vocal Performance (08:56) - Lyrics...

This week Jaden & Ryder breakdown the newest album from the highly regarded rapper/producer, JPEGMAFIA. Tune in to hear where this album ranks among this year’s best as well as whether or not Jaden thinks JPEG is currently a better rapper than Eminem! (00:33) - Thoughts on JPEGMAFIA (02:55) - Instrumentals/Production (07:01) - Vocal Performance (10:11) - Lyrics (14:33) - Album Concept/Theme (17:01...

Coming off of what many considered his worst musical endeavor (Vultures 1) and in only slightly less hot water regarding his highly controversial public statements and behaviors, Kanye West and his longtime collaborator Ty Dolla $ign have released their (mostly finished) follow up album: Vultures 2. (00:59) - Thoughts on Vultures 1 (02:37) - Instrumentals/Production (04:06) - Vocal Performance (05...

Throughout his career, Donald Glover/Childish Gambino has proven to be one of, if not the most, talented entertainers of the 21st Century. Upon finishing his “side quests” (including Emmy award winning TV series Atlanta and Mr. & Mrs. Smith and appearing in the Star Wars and MCU franchises) he has returned to making music for his final album under the Gambino alter ego: Bando Stone and The New Wor...

Since the dawn of man there have been only two things worthy of being considered absolutes: death, and Eminem dropping a controversial album. This week J. Mac & Ryder break down the record breaking artist’s newest album: The Death of Slim Shady. (01:29) - Thoughts on Eminem’s Discography (05:08) - Instrumentals/Production (08:43) - Vocal Performance (13:16) - Lyrics (21:34) - Album Concept (28:06)...

This week Jaden & Ryder break down Lil Yachty and James Blake’s collab album Bad Cameo. Check out their thoughts on the best and worst tracks as well as where this album ranks among the best of the year! (00:48) - Thoughts on Lil Yachty and James Blake’s Discographies (04:12) - Instrumentals/Production (07:18) - Vocal Performance (10:11) - Lyrics (13:01) - Tone & Flow of the Album (17:06) - Featur...

They’ve been called the modern Nickelback by some and for others, they’ve been a mainstay in their music rotation for 12 years. This week Jaden & Ryder breakdown the newest album, LOOM, from the highly divisive band: Imagine Dragons. They also briefly cover their thoughts on the albums released by Jxdn and Lupe Fiasco. (00:41) - Reviewing Jxdn & Lupe Fiasco’s albums (11:18) - Instrumentals/Product...

Jaden & Ryder are back reviewing music this week with the release of the album Hardstone Psycho from everybody’s favorite trap/r&b genre bending vocalist: Don Toliver. They tap in trap/hip-hop expert and former guest star on the Travis Scott episode, Asher Swiss, for some assistance in breaking down the project. (04:10) - Instrumentals/Production (10:12) - Vocal Performance (17:00) - Lyrics (23:14...

This week, Jaden and Ryder breakdown some of their least favorite movie sequels, or at least sequels that ruined the original movie. Tune in to hear which films made their picks!

Jaden & Ryder return for another album review, this time to discuss the new Vince Staples album Dark Times. The album has already been making waves in the hip hop community with some regarding it as a top hip hop project of the year. Tune in to hear us breakdown each aspect of the album and where it ranks among this year’s rap albums! (03:42) - Instrumentals/Production (06:13) - Vocal Performance...

Did you know our very own cohost J. Mac makes music? In fact, this week Ryder sits down to interview him and his fellow Vegas rapper and collaborator Dirty Mike. They discuss their upcoming album Out of the City while Ryder plays couple’s therapist. Tune in to check it out!

Jaden and Ryder are back with an episode reviewing the fully finished and rereleased Childish Gambino album Atavista (formerly known as 3.15.20) (04:20) - Instrumentals/Production (08:40) - Vocal Performance (12:42) - Lyrics (15:05) - Theme/Concept (18:39) - Featured Artists (22:20) - Enjoyment/Replay Value