"What's Good?" W/ Charlie Taylor

In November 2016, I conducted my first interview for The 5th Element. The people I talked to are the people I talk to for this personally special episode. Brothers JFlames & ASON had me in person - at their home - to chop it up after nearly seven years. We don't get too much into what has happened for them since then, but instead we get into a wide-ranging conversation about artistry, where Hi...

For this interview we talk to a Queer Songwriter - hailing from North Bronx, NY - whose recently gone out to make a career of his own after years of being in the song writing meat grinder. YawnyBlew comes through to talk about his beginnings, the song writing machine, how he found safe spaces as a Queer artist; his new work and, of course, his Top 5. Thank you for listening! If you want to contrib...

In a week where: The Biden Administration to forgive $39 Billion in student debt.  Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic for Wimbledon; 2nd Major title.  Victoria pulls out of hosting 2026 Commonwealth Games.  Sunak plans to crackdown on "rip-off" degrees.  Police searched a Las Vegas house in connection with the murder of Tupac Shakur. In the 1st of two Film segments: (4:38)  SAG-AFTRA have joined...

In a week where: UK Government loses legal challenge over giving WhatsApp messages to COVID inquiry. Meta releases Threads.  The average world temperature reaches highest mark in 4 decades of recordkeeping. France bans fireworks outside authorised public displays during the Bastille Day holiday weekend. A BBC presenter is suspended for allegedly paying for explicit photographs from a young person....

We have a special WG interview for you to enjoy! Last month, I 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, I was also given the opportunity to interview the director and lead actors of the show. So - in an episode that's split into two - the 1st half is a one-on-one wi...

In a week where: The five victims in the OceanGate sub implosion will be honoured with two museum ceremonies. Russian PMC Wagner Group stage a one-day mutiny.  A new suspect is named in Stephen Lawrence murder. Home Office declare it costs £63K more to remove migrants than keep them. Senior doctors in England vote to strike over pay. In Film: (6:46) "Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse has been ou...

For this Long Read, we head to The Atlantic for "A Blueprint For Black Liberation" by Dara Mathis. The piece traces Dara's roots in a Detroit Christian Pan-African commune that is long gone physically but the teachings remain within the many that grew up in it. Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, whether it be sending me questions or voicing your opinion in any way, pee...

For this Long Read, we head to The Conversation for "Invisible Windrush: how the stories of Indian indentured labourers from the Caribbean were forgotten" by María del Pilar Kaladeen. The story tells of Kaladeen's father, brothers and the many Indian-Caribbeans that are seldom mentioned in dialogue about the Windrush Generation. Thank you for listening! If you want to contribute to the show, wheth...

In a week where: American East Coast is plunged in smoke after a wildfire in Canada.  Donald Trump is indicted for federal crimes. Boris Johnson steps down as MP.  Unabomber Ted Kaczynski, dies in prison aged 81 by suicide. Silvio Berlusconi dies aged 86. In Environment: (5:26) A couple of episodes ago I talked about how recycling plastics aren't cutting it , so I thought I would update with a pie...

In a week where: An Indian official is suspended after draining an entire reservoir to retrieve his phone.  A train crash in India kills more than 280 and injures at least 900. Manchester City win the FA Cup. Universal Basic Income of £1,600 will be trialled for 30 English residents. The PGA "merges" with Saudi-owned LIV Golf. In Tech: (5:24) I've recently gotten into alternative applications that...

In a week where: Tina Turner dies aged 83. Ron DeSantis confirms he's running for US Presidency. Erdoğan wins the Presidential runoff.  Chipmaker Nvidia cracks $1 Trillion in market value.  A large scale drone attack hits Moscow. In Environment: (8:11) Every day I throw something into the pink recycling bag or some form of recycling bin, thinking that the more that goes into that pink bag, the bet...

In a week where: NFL player, actor & activist Jim Brown dies aged 87. Study by One Earth concludes that Fossil Fuel firms owe $209B a year in climate reparations. Italy's Mt Etna erupts.  Carmelo Anthony announces his retirement. The Tories have now been in power longer than "New Labour". In the 1st of two Politics segments: (8:11) The National Conservatism Conference has been and gone, provid...

In a week where: Eurovision comes and goes. The Turkish Presidential election goes to a runoff.  The BAFTA TV Awards go down. Vice files for bankruptcy. World likely to breach 1.5°C climate threshold by 2027. In Society: (8:04) During the Coronation weekend, there was a unprecedented amount of arrests made that wouldn't have been lawful even a fortnight before the Coronation. But now, with new law...

In a week where: The English Local Elections goes down.  Napoli win Serie A for the first time in 33 years. The WHO declare COVID-19 no longer a global health emergency. Coronation happened.  A federal jury in a civil trial found Donald Trump liable for sexual abuse. In Politics: (7:10) Depending on who you are, the Coronation that went down this past weekend was either a nice event full of pagean...

In a week where: Jerry Springer dies aged 79. A massive fire erupted at an oil depot on the Crimean Peninsula over the weekend.  "The Super Mario Bros. Movie" passes $1B at global box office. Writers Guild of America members go on strike after failing to reach new compensation deal with TV and film producers. Labour is set to abandon its promise to scrap university tuition fees in England. In Poli...

In a week where: Dominic Raab resigns as Deputy PM.  It's been 30 years since the murder of Stephen Lawrence.  India passes China to become most populous country. Joe Biden announces 2024 presidential run.  Harry Belafonte dies aged 96. In Politics: (7:40) Ever since Thatcher came into government, every subsequent government - even the Labour ones - have taken from her foundations. It's frankly de...

In a week where: Jazz Pianist Ahmad Jamal dies aged 92. The Dominion/Fox News trial is settled after day one of the trial. Over 100 Animal Rights protestors delay the Grand National. Just Stop Oil protester disrupts the World Snooker Championship. Frank Ocean dupes his fans once again with a lacklustre Coachella performance. In the 1st of an all Music episode: (6:24) "Hip-Hop Media" is a term that...

In a week where: Cancer and heart disease vaccines ‘ready by end of the decade’.  Jon Rahm wins The Masters. Classified US Intelligence documents leak on Discord servers.  NBA Playoffs begin.  Reggae Sound System Pioneer Jah Shaka dies. In Society: (9:40) Trans people are facing continued static from all corners of society. It's very obvious that it's risen significantly in recent years, but 156%...

In a week where: Trump is indicted. Oscar Pistorius and Charles Bronson are denied parole. Connecticut and LSU win NCAA National Basketball championships. TikTok fined £12.7 million for UK Data Protection Breaches. Finland becomes 31st member of NATO. In TV: A friend asked me to watch Donald Glover's new show "Swarm". Whilst it's certainly something to evoke an opinion, I can't quite shake off and...

In a week where: World Athletics bans transgender women from competing in international track and field competitions. France has multiple protests go violent after Macron's forced pension age rise. Jonathan Majors is arrested in New York for Alleged Assault.  TikTok CEO is grilled for over five hours by US Congress. Humza Yousaf wins the Scottish National Party leadership contest. In Politics: (13...

In one of the more free-flowing interviews I've had so far, I talk with California born & raised MC - The DU Goddess - Mystic. We talk about her beginnings, her roots as a talented artist and then go on several fascinating tangents including the words "Influencer" & "Content" and what they mean; what Hip-Hop @ 50 means to her, how her albums speak to her growth as a woman and, of course, h...

In a week where: Sunak & Macron announce a new detention centre in France.  Russia attack Ukraine with hypersonic missiles.  BBC suspend Gary Lineker after his tweets criticising new Tory immigration plan. The Oscars came and went. Dick Fosbury - High Jump innovator & Olympic champion - dies aged 76. In Politics: (10:00) With #GaryGate taking over the news, it's important to focus on the m...

In a week where: Jazz Saxophonist Wayne Shorter dies aged 89. Matt Hancock's WhatsApp texts are leaked. Boris Johnson has put his father, Stanley, forward for a knighthood.  70 Year Old Charles Bronson goes for a parole hearing.  UK Government announce immigration overhaul. In Politics: (9:20) The new immigration bill being argued within Parliament has - to say the least - ruffled feathers... Pote...

In a week where: R Kelly & Harvey Weinstein rack up more prison time.  James Bond books are being rewritten in sensitivity measures. UK & EU finally agree on a NI Protocol deal.  A 6.2 magnitude earthquake happens off coast of Papua New Guinea.  Over 20 people die in Greece after two trains collide head on. In Media: (12:20) Awards culture is rife in nearly all walks of life. But when you...

In a week where: Bruce Willis is diagnosed with Dementia.  Facebook & Instagram will implement a paid verification feature a la Twitter Blue. Turkey & Syria are hit with two more earthquakes.  Its been a year since the Ukraine-Russo war began. Malcolm X's family to sue the CIA, FBI and NYPD for $100M over his assassination.  In Books: (7:28) This past week saw a fresh moral panic over fres...