Tanya Morgan, as the title of one of their mixtapes states, is a rap group. Von Pea and donwill have been putting out classics since their 2006 debut Moonlighting. They’ve gone through successes, failures, lineup changes (original member Ilyas left in 2012), and more while continuing to reach for new sounds and concepts. Their most recent release is the EP 12 Minutes at Karriem’s. We talked to the group about touring disasters, childhood friendships, Google Maps, that time donwill almost ended up on Cops, and much, much more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/94/ for full show notes and comments.
We speak to the rapping team at the head of the powerful rap/rock group ¡Mayday! – Ben “Wrekonize” Miller and Bernardo “Bernz” Garcia. Since the early 2000s, the band has been delivering powerful music to a growing legion of fans. That fan base was dramatically increased when the Miami group teamed up with Tech N9ne’s Strange Music label a few years ago. The most recent album released by the hardworking collective is a joint project with West Coast legend Murs called, appropriately enough, Mursday.
Wrek and Bernz talk about their career and songwriting process, but also find time to discuss their famous relatives, partying with Lil Wayne, and which group member is best with a slow cooker.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/93/ for full show notes and comments.
Lisa Cortés lives up to her self-description as a “hip-hop Zelig.” She began her career in 1986 as one of the first employees of a then-tiny record label called Def Jam. From there, she went on to manage legendary producers; discover hit rap, reggae, and r&b acts; and even run a label herself.
After her time in the music industry came to an end, Lisa re-invented herself as a successful film producer, starting at the bottom and working her way up to playing a key role in the Oscar-winning movie Precious: Based on the Novel “Push” by Sapphire. She is currently producing, writing, and directing a number of fascinating film projects, which we discuss here.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/92/ for full show notes and comments.
Robert “Rocky” Ford Jr. got his start at Billboard in the 1970s. A busy nightlife (and a chance encounter on a Queens bus) led him to Russell Simmons and NYC’s burgeoning hip-hop scene. Rocky gave the genre its very first mainstream coverage with his 1978 article “B-Beats Bombarding Bronx.” From there, it was a quick move to writing and producing hits for Simmons’ good friend Kurtis Blow – and then for Full Force, Hi-Five, and even Tom Hanks!
We talk to Ford about writing hits like “The Breaks,” his relationships with Simmons and one-time roommate Nelson George, and why he cast Full Force as House Party’s villains. Ford did it all in the 1970s and 80s, and shares his story here.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/91/ for full show notes and comments.
Shea Serrano is a Houston-based writer and illustrator whose funny, insightful work on rap, sports, and even action movies has appeared almost everywhere – you undoubtedly saw his brilliant holiday piece Three Wise Migos. In addition, he wrote Bun B’s Rapper Coloring and Activity Book and created the viral Tumblr sensations Drake-ing Bad and Sex Questions From Seventh Graders.
We spoke to Serrano about his life and career, why ‘94 will always be r&b’s peak year, and why he’s okay with you loving J. Cole, even if you’re wrong.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/90/ for full show notes and comments.
This week, we sit down with Harlem’s own Smoke DZA and Bluntsmoker, a member of his R.F.C. crew. They’ve just released an album called The Outsiders. Talking in a studio just down the block from DZA’s native “911” (Harlem’s 119th Street), we discuss how Harlem has changed, the overlap between pro wrestling and hip-hop, how his style and voice have mutated over the years, and tons more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/89/ for full show notes and comments.
Our interview with the enigmatic Divine Styler starts with him present, via his DJ father, at the very beginnings of hip-hop. He then became a part of Ice-T’s Rhyme Syndicate crew, which included a pre-House of Pain Everlast. His second album, Spiral Walls Containing Autumns of Light, drastically expanded the range of what a hip-hop artist could do with its spoken word-industrial-rock hybrids.
His latest record Def Mask comes after a 15-year hiatus. From NYC park jams to getting arrested the day after signing a record deal to having a front-row seat for “Jump Around“‘s massive success to pushing musical boundaries to making pilgrimages to Mecca, Divine Styler shares his whole fascinating story.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/88/ for full show notes and comments.
This week, we celebrate the new year by bringing you an improved, remixed version of our talk with Ron Isley. Isley is the legendary lead singer of The Isley Brothers, and a soul music icon who has been a vital force in popular music for over half a century.
The Isley Brothers first reached the charts with the 1959 hit “Shout,” and had an amazing run all the way through 1983’s oft-sampled “Between the Sheets.” Ron’s career was revitalized by a series of collaborations with R. Kelly starting in 1996, including 2001’s memorable hit “Contagious.” His most recent solo album, released right around the time of this conversation, was This Song Is For You, which featured the single “Dinner and A Movie.”
We talked to Ron about his whole career, from his early years singing gospel straight through to today, with stops in Motown, his influential songs of the 1960s and 70s, the inside scoop on working with R. Kelly, and lots more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/87/ for full show notes and comments.
Our 2nd annual Christmas episode features former Def Jam exec and noted Christmas music obsessive Bill Adler. We discuss the 30th anniversary edition of his yearly Christmas mix (available EXCLUSIVELY from us — visit here) and his part in the new holiday music documentary Jingle Bell Rocks.
We also find time to talk about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, protest movements past and present, and plenty more. Happy holidays from The Cipher! Again, you can listen to Bill Adler’s 30th anniversary Xmas Jollies mix ONLY on our Soundcloud page.
P.S. We’re honored to have been chosen as one of Slate’s “Best Podcasts About Music” this year. You can see the complete list here. And, as mentioned in the show’s introduction, you can find Cornell University’s online exhibit of Bill’s Def Jam materials on the university’s website.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/86/ for full show notes and comments.
Most people know author Adam Mansbach from his 2011 “children’s book for adults,” Go the Fuck to Sleep. It became a sensation and led to readings by Werner Herzog and Samuel L. Jackson, a movie deal, a popular GTFTS-themed Obama ad, and countless morning show appearances. Now he returns with a sequel, You Have to Fucking Eat — a funny and realistic take on a whole new parenting challenge.
Regular listeners know that Adam does much more than write books with curses in the title. We discussed his literary novels and life in jazz in our first talk. This time, we talk screenwriting, thrillers, middle grade books, and the best child rappers of all time.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/85/ for full show notes and comments.
This week, we have an epic sit-down with producer 88-Keys. 88 got his start as a teenager, choosing samples for groups like A Tribe Called Quest while working for a record dealer. He easily moved from there into production, and was a key voice in underground hip-hop during the Rawkus Records heyday. His work on albums by Black Star, Mos Def (now Yasiin Bey), and others helped cement the sound of the era.
88 has continued to make music for everyone from Beanie Sigel to Macy Gray, in addition to releasing his own solo album, The Death of Adam, in 2008. In recent years, his name made headlines again when he produced the hit song “No Church in the Wild” for Jay Z and his longtime best friend Kanye West.
We talked to 88 about his past, present, and exciting future, including his Locksmith Music label.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/84/ for full show notes and comments.
Live from Bed Stuy’s Restoration Plaza, we bring you a very special event with Buddha Monk and Mickey Hess, authors of a new biography of the Wu’s Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Occurring only blocks from Dirty’s childhood home, this conversation features not only the authors, but also special appearances from the Wu member’s family and friends. Buddha Monk was Dirty’s close friend since they were children, and had a front row seat to the artist’s rise and fall. His book, co-written with Rider professor Mickey Hess, is The Dirty Version: On Stage, In the Studio, and In the Streets With Ol’ Dirty Bastard, published by Harper Collins. You can buy it here.
If you like this episode, be sure to check out our recent article on the Wu for Radio.com
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/83/ for full show notes and comments.
Nino Bless got his start in the NYC mixtape scene in the mid to late 2000s. He first came to many fans’ attention with a killer verse on Joe Budden’s 2008 song “Slaughterhouse.” From there, he released a string of increasingly personal and powerful projects that revealed a true artist with a unique vision. His R.O.A.M. series of records, three albums deep, are complex, varied, and like nothing else out there. His latest project is Illuminati Reject.
We talked to “the Chomsky of Ebonical speech” about getting encouragement from your idols; how he made “Rhyme of the Year (MK Ultra),” his epic “response to the response” to Kendrick Lamar’s “Control” verse; how New York City has changed; how Drake is truly the realest rapper out; and much more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/82/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode, we have a truly great conversation with Sage Francis. Rising up out of the battle-rap and poetry slam scenes in the late 1990s, Sage first came to many fans’ notice with his incredible 2002 debut album Personal Journals. That started a non-stop grind of running his own record label while putting out five albums and doing countless tours over the next eight years. After 2010’s Li(f)e, he took a four-year hiatus from recording and touring — one that ended with this year’s Copper Gone.
We talked to Sage (who was in the midst of a European tour) about what he does and doesn’t owe his fans, how he makes ideas rhyme, what it took to get through hard times and make a comeback, and tons more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/81/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode, we talk to author Brian Coleman. Coleman has written three volumes of what he calls “invisible liner notes” — blow-by-blow accounts of the making of classic hip-hop records from the people who were there. The newest entry in the series is Check the Technique, Vol. 2, which you can (and should!) cop here.
We discuss KMD, the differences between the two emcees in Black Star, the reason Licensed to Ill never made it into his books, why first or second albums are always a group’s best, and plenty more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/80/ for full show notes and comments.
Lisa Leone has lived a life for the ages. She began photographing some of the most important figures in the early days of hip-hop culture (who were also her friends) as a teenager. Then she took some of the best, most revealing photos ever of musical icons like Snoop Dogg, Nas, The Fugees, Mary J. Blige, and tons more. Lisa moved from there into working on music videos, before her career took an unexpected left turn.
She turned a short research photo assignment for a friend into four years working closely with film legend Stanley Kubrick on his final film, Eyes Wide Shut. Then she took that experience and co-directed the iconic documentary on sneakers and sneaker heads, Just for Kicks.
A gorgeous book of Lisa’s hip-hop photos, Here I Am - Photographs By Lisa Leone, is available now. An exhibit of that name is running through January 11th at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. You can view a slideshow of some of her photos over at Complex.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/79/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode, we have a wide-ranging convo with Gene “No Malice” Thornton of Clipse. No Malice (formerly just Malice, before a religious epiphany several years back) and his brother Terrance, a.k.a. Pusha T, form one of rap’s greatest duos. Their smart, vicious raps — often about their real-life experiences dealing cocaine — first brought them to prominence with the massive hit “Grindin’” back in 2002. The group quickly became a critical and commercial favorite, thanks to the brothers’ rhymes and some production help from The Neptunes.
But after some label issues and legal problems, Clipse went on hiatus. No Malice released his solo debut and a memoir, while his brother joined forces with Kanye West. We talk to No Malice about God, going solo, the past (and future) of Clipse, which lyric he regrets most, and more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/78/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode, we have a two-fer. We begin with a really awesome interview with a true West Coast legend, DJ Quik. He has a new album, The Midnight Life, and we talk to him about that, his relationships with longtime collaborators Suga Free and guitarist Robert Bacon, “Hitler microphones,” that time Dr. Dre broke his speakers, and a lot more.
In the second half of the show, we introduce a new artist. Eric Biddines is a Florida-based rapper whose new project, Planet Coffee Bean 2, came to our attention recently. Eric’s futuristic, imaginative, and caffeinated music — and personality — are not to be missed.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/77/ for full show notes and comments.
Welcome to The Cipher! Outside the Lines With Rap Genius has been renamed, rebranded, and improved. We begin the podcast’s new chapter with Strange Music’s favorite “White Rapper,” Rittz. We talked to the Atlanta artist on the day his latest album, Next to Nothing, was released. We spoke about syllable matching, the dark side of partying, how the 1996 Olympics changed everything, and tons more.
Rittz’ fast-rapping style first grabbed fans’ attention on Yelawolf’s “Box Chevy Pt. 3” in 2010, after a decade of grinding in the Atlanta underground. He signed to Tech N9ne’s Strange Music label, where his fast-rapping acrobatics and introspective, painfully honest lyrics fit right in. Next to Nothing continues and improves on his patented style while adding some new twists — including a fair amount of singing, which we talk about during the interview.
Make sure to follow The Cipher on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Most importantly, subscribe, rate, and review us on iTunes.
About the re-launch:
The Cipher is a revamp and continuation of the long-running and critically acclaimed podcast Outside the Lines With Rap Genius. We’ve taken the show outside of the Genius family in order to devote the time and attention necessary to really make it great. For those who loved the podcast previously, we still have the same in-depth conversations, the same questions no one has ever asked before, and the same variety of awesome guests. But we’ve improved everything else — the sound, the look, the format, and more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/76/ for full show notes and comments.
From Broadway stars to legendary DJs to the best of the battle rappers, OTL has hosted a spectrum of voices — each with an individual story to tell. This episode takes us through the very best of OTL — its highs and lows, its most memorable soundbites, and its most resounding voices. Join us as we take you through Part 2 of OTL’s best.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/75/ for full show notes and comments.
From Broadway stars to legendary DJs to the best of the battle rappers, OTL has hosted a spectrum of voices — each with an individual story to tell. This episode takes us through the very best of OTL — its highs and lows, its most memorable soundbites, and its most resounding voices. Join us as we take you through Part 1 of OTL’s best.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/74/ for full show notes and comments.
This week, we talk to Christopher Jackson, one of the lead actors in Broadway’s ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’, the musical based on Tupac’s legacy. When ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’ first hit Broadway, it was marketed as not just a story about Tupac’s music, but as a story about love — and that’s just what it is, a story about love within a world similar to that which Tupac lived, experienced, and rapped about. The play tackles issues such as gun violence, poverty, and racism head-on — all through the lens of a community that feels its pains together. ‘Holler’ is a play that fights against Broadway’s increasingly homogenized landscape, daring to tell a story that doesn’t fit into the cookie cutter Broadway mold.
We talked to Broadway vet Christopher Jackson, Vertus in the production, about Broadway’s changing landscape, the significance of co-star Saul Williams’ work as a slam poet and actor, the cultural relevance of Pac, and how ‘Holler”s reviews revealed an ugly truth about Broadway culture today.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/73/ for full show notes and comments.
This week, we talk with Todd Kreidler, the writer behind the Broadway musical based on the life and music of 2pac, ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’. Kreidler was tasked with taking on the legacy of legendary MC 2Pac Shakur, an initially daunting prospect. Through his use of 2Pac’s songs, spirit, and description of the world around him, Kreidler crafted a musical that doesn’t shy away from tough topics, that tackles issues such as gun violence and racism head on — through the lens of a community that fights against outside pressure together, that feels its pains together. Kreidler saw the musical as a chance to take the “I” away from the music and take a look into the universe of characters that lived within 2pac’s songs. Comparing 2Pac to Shakespeare, Kreidler spoke of the worlds 2Pac created with his lyrics — ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’ gets the chance to give pieces of 2Pac’s dialogue and story to many characters, building a community around them similar to the one 2Pac himself got to experience and absorb in his own life
We talk with Kreidler about the process of writing the play, the similarities between Pac and Shakespeare, why certain songs were chosen and certain songs left out, and more
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/72/ for full show notes and comments.
Saul Williams is man who can wear many hats: actor, rapper, poet. For Williams, the line was never cut between fields; instead, he was always trying to blend, to collaborate, to draw from one medium to influence another. In third grade, Williams was rapping in Shakespearean English and French — simply because that’s what he was learning in school. By the time he was 16, he was writing one of the first hip hop operas — or “hip hopera”. Williams most recent role sees him taking on the legacy of Tupac Shakur in the Broadway musical, ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’, based on the songs of the legendary MC. The musical doesn’t shy away from tough topics, tackling issues such as gun violence and racism head on — through the lens of a community that fights against outside pressure together, that feels its pains together.
We talked to Williams about the influence Pac had on him, his role in ‘Holler’, rhymes, racism, home grown terrorism, when comes the time to stop “turning the other cheek”, and much more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/71/ for full show notes and comments.
YC the Cynic is a constantly changing MC. “You’re Welcome”, his first mixtape in 2010, saw YC rapping over classic New York beats — exploring the lineage of rappers that came before him. By the time he released his next mixtape, “Fall Forward”, the following year, the rapper was already exploring and defining a new space for himself. Containing mostly original production, “Fall Forward” allowed YC to experiment, delving into complex, diverse, and imaginative flows, both in rhyme and subject matter. “Fall Forward” proved to be the breakout tape for YC, the success riding off the project pushing him further towards bigger collaborations and bigger stages. A founding member of the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective, YC has traveled with the group in the context of music, social justice, and community engagement alike, weaving the three into a tandem mission.
His newest project, “GNK”, sees YC engaging with some of the themes he does best: the complex associations behind certain uses of language and how speaking through different perspectives can be equally personal and universal.
We spoke to the Cynic about bearing the cross of the Bronx, New York hip hop, gentrification, the similarities behind “profit” and “prophet”, what does it mean to pay homage, the many voices behind “GNK”, and more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/70/ for full show notes and comments.
Gangsta Boo joined Three 6 Mafia when she was only a teen. To this day, she is still the first and only female member of the group. After a successful run with the group, she left and embarked upon a flourishing solo career. One of the most active and consistent MCs in the game, Gangsta Boo has worked with some of the South’s best over the course of her career. Memphis born and bred, her sound will be forever engrained in the traditions and classic sound of the city. Honest, hard-hitting, and forever unafraid of her competition, Gangsta Boo has a sound that will continue to be influential for years to come. These days, you can find her working on a new project, Witch, with fellow MC La Chat and producer DJ Paul.
We talked how the Memphis sound is taken without homage paid, the influence of bounce music on her own style, the origins of “get your broke ass out of the club”, some of her most iconic lines, and more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/69/ for full show notes and comments.
Grand Mixer DXT’s invention of the turntable as a musical instrument changed hip hop forever. His background as a jazz drummer gave him not just great rhythm, but inspired him to use the turntables to create pitch. These kinds of innovations brought DXT to the attention of Herbie Hancock, who used the DJ in his 1983 album Future Shock. The single from that album, “Rockit”, launched DXT to worldwide attention. He toured all over the world with the Rockit band, and continued innovating with the turntables. Since those days, DXT has continued being a influential DJ and artist. Most recently, DXT and a group of pioneering DJs were inducted into Hollywood’s Rock Hall of Fame.
We talk with DXT at Rap Genius’ office in Brooklyn. About 40 minutes into the conversation, DXT is joined by Infinity Emcees member Rahiem, who has worked with DXT for decades. We talked New York DJ history, what the turntable did to hop hop, Herbie Hancock and “Rockit”, and much more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/68/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode of OTL is a special one. We got the incredible opportunity to sit down with the Don, Nas, to engage him in a back and forth about his iconic album, Illmatic. The debut album of Nas and a landmark album in both its regional scene and in the overarching hip hop landscape, Illmatic is a work that continues to hold the same poignance, genius, and relevance today.
Hosted by OTL host Shawn Setaro and Nicole Otero at the Rap Genius Ranch at South by Southwest, the conversation included questions from the hosts themselves, RG users, and even members from the audience who were able to participate in their own Q&A. Nas answered candidly with answers that inform some of the deepest thematic chords that run throughout the album, along with stories of his childhood and come up in the Queensbridge, New York.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/67/ for full show notes and comments.
Longtime listeners to the show will recall Pharoahe Monch as OTL’s first three-peat guest, first appearing on the show in July 2012. This time, we sat down with Pharoahe and his manager Guy Routte to talk PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Pharoahe’s new album that’s dropping today. With a desire to continue exploring themes of violence, peace, war, and recovery as well as exploring his own dealings with mental health, Pharoahe transformed what was originally supposed to be an EP into a full length album following his last album, W.A.R. (We Are Renegades).
PTSD is at once a very personal and a very removed project. Pharaohe speaks for many people beyond himself through PTSD, slipping into different narrators to communicate larger issues of dealing with trauma in multiple spheres — in marginalized black communities, in war veterans, and in his own life. The narrator of the record splits into multiple layers — a PTSD riddled veteran grappling with problems of love and drugs and Pharoahe talking about his own career and personal life.
We talked PTSD, how the hip hop genre has changed, how mental health affects the black community, themes of gun violence, sanity and insanity, dealing with depression, the musical and thematic evolution of Pharaohe’s style, and whether or not PTSD is actually Pharaohe’s last full-length album.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/66/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode, we talk to one of hip hop’s most honored rappers — Rakim Allah, the God MC. Rakim was only a teenager when he broke into the New York rap scene as part of famed Golden Era duo Eric B & Rakim, with Eric B sampling and mixing, Rakim as the MC. From the MC’s beginning, he was influential — credited with creating the technique of internal rhyming in rap music. While his Long Island neighbors in Public Enemy were setting the stage with black nationalism in rap, Rakim, a member of the Five Percent Nation of Islam, explored a mindful spirituality of his own.
Eric B & Rakim released 4 albums together, including Paid in Full, Follow the Leader, Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em, and finally Don’t Sweat the Technique. Their perhaps most famous album, Paid in Full, is credited with revolutionizing what old school rappers had done before them. Rakim led what one NY Times writer called “a quiet musical revolution, introducing a soft-spoken rapping style”. In 1993, he and Eric B. split up, Rakim changed record companies, and after four years of silence, he embarked upon a solo career, releasing 4 albums. His most recent album, released in 2009, The Seventh Seal grapples with many emotions: optimism about President Obama’s election, mixed with the struggles of people losing jobs and homes.
We talked to the legendary MC about some of his most famous lines, his experience growing up in a musical home, breaking into the NY rap scene from Long Island, triple stage darkness, writing rhymes in graffiti, and much more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/65/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode, we talk to Dan Charnas, industry veteran, prolific music journalist, screenwriter, and most recently author of The Big Payback, the definitive history of hip hop business. Charnas began in the mailroom of the seminal rap label Profile Records, eventually becoming Rap A&R and Promotion Manager — working on projects from Run-D.M.C., Dana Dane, Special Ed, Rob Base, Special Ed and DJ Quik. He was one of the first writers for The Source, part of the movement to create hip hop journalism. He was hired by Rick Rubin to run the rap department of his new Warner Bros joint venture, American Recordings. He went on to play many more roles within and surrounding the hip hop industry, getting deeply involved in projects including Sir Mix-A-Lot’s double-platinum single “Baby Got Back”, DJ Kool’s gold anthem “Let Me Clear My Throat,” and Chino XL’s acclaimed “Here To Save You All”.
As an incredibly talented writer and incredibly savvy man, Charnas set out about 4 years ago to begin constructing a complete history of hip hop business. What began as a potential news article quickly took a life of its own and this year he finally saw the completion of his work, acclaimed by the New York Times as “epic” and by Forbes as “a mature, Pulitzer-worthy work, an integral account of essential urban history”. The book contains detailed accounts of major transitions and deals made within the hip hop industry that would shape the music landscape for years to come.
We talk the dichotomy between being rich and being real, black capital in America, Bronx based beat hip hop vs. DJ Hollywood’s “club rap”, and more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/64/ for full show notes and comments.
Hailing from Harlem, Loaded Lux is considered a true pioneer and legend in battle rap. Lux grew up surrounded by battle rap culture, where cyphers were popping off around every corner in Harlem. He began his professional battle rap career featured on the early SMACK DVD’s in the mid 2000’s, and went on to go undefeated 7 weeks straight on 106 & Park’s Freestyle Friday to be inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2007. He released his mixtape “You Gon’ Get This Work” in 2013 after his famous slogan, and is prepping his sophomore album set to release in 2014.
Loaded Lux is no ordinary battle rapper, counting Jay Z, Diddy, and Busta Rhymes as fans. His powerful delivery, nasty wordplay, and deep bars that cut into his opponents have racked him up countless wins — most notably in a recent high stakes battle against Hollow.
We talked why successful people love competition, the magic of history, the Black Panthers, Harlem’s battle rap scene, Illmind, and more with Lux.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/63/ for full show notes and comments.
Beginning with a hometown crew and a particular style of chopped and screwed remixes, Michael Watts successfully turned regional mix tape distribution into a record label empire - turning the national hip hop scene onto the Houston rap community. As we heard from our talk with Houston Rap author Lance Scott Walker, the Houston rap landscape is an incredibly rich one - widely defined by the rappers, producers, and DJs who have never and will never truly leave the city. No one knows that better than Watts.
We talked to the legendary DJ, founder and CEO of Swishahouse Records about the origins of chopped and screwed music, his “fuck action” mixtapes, the hype behind Mike Jones, the beginnings of Swishahouse, and much more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/62/ for full show notes and comments.
We talk to author Robert Greene, who’s famous bestseller, The 48 Laws of Power, took ideas from students of legends like Machiavelli and Sun Tzu, and distilled their teachings into simple principles anyone can follow. The book became beloved by rappers like Jay Z, Kanye West, and even 50 Cent, who loved Greene’s work so much that the two ended up writing a book together.
Greene’s latest book, just out in paperback, is Mastery. It focuses on how one can discover and excel at their “life’s work” — the skill that one is uniquely good at. Greene engages with problems in modern day society, thought, and practice through a multi-disciplinary approach, taking each issue on a variety of playing fields — this multi-faceted perspective is part of what makes his opinions so hard-hitting. We talk that magical 10,000 hours moment when the master bypasses logic, the similarities between Napoleon Bonaparte and 50, the decline of empathy in today’s society, his feelings about that famous Richard Sherman interview, and much more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/61/ for full show notes and comments.
Hempstead, Long Island’s Roc Marciano started his career out learning from the best, working closely with artists like Busta Rhymes and Pete Rock, but went solo in 2010 with the album Marcberg. Since breaking out into the spotlight, Marciano has been praised for his dynamic, soulful production and funny, clever rhymes - just some of the elements to his music that make him successful as a solo act.
We spoke to Roc about his fashion influences (the era of all velour suits, Nike Air Maxes, Pelle Soda Club jackets…), the way he first heard the music that shaped his own, the power of “blend tapes”, and more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/60/ for full show notes and comments.
Lance Scott Walker began his journey to document the Houston rap scene and surrounding culture with photographer Peter Beste in 2004, quickly discovering just how much there was to learn. But Houston rap - and the layers of community and culture that surround it - goes so much beyond the music. The book engages with the community surrounding the music just as much as the music and artists themselves, providing insight into the great changes brought upon some of the city’s most historic neighborhoods through gentrification and how those changes affect the city’s people.
In our conversation with Lance, we talked the significance of the local and national success of groups like Geto Boys, the long lasting influence of DJ Screw, the city’s obsession with syrup, gentrification overtaking old historical neighborhoods, and much more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/59/ for full show notes and comments.
Returning guest Bill Adler is many things — music archivist, gallerist, head of PR for Def Jam at its creative apex — but he’s also a well-known Christmas music nut. After marrying into a Christian family, he started finding the best, most under-appreciated Christmas music he could, and putting it together into a compilation. He’s been sending his Christmas Jollies mixes to family and friends every year since the early 80s.
His mixes, despite having a relatively small circulation, have gotten tons of attention over the years. So we decided to talk to him about seasonal tunes, including his very important role in creating a certain holiday standard. He gave us insight into some key Christmas samples (Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis”, to name one), his own Christmas favorites, and more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/58/ for full show notes and comments.
Complex calls Paul Stewart “an unsung hero of L.A. hip-hop,” and this interview shows just how true that is. From his early days breaking Tone-Loc and Young MC to guiding Coolio and the Pharcyde to the heights of success to overseeing the music in movies like Hustle & Flow, Stewart has seen and done it all, West Coast-style.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/57/ for full show notes and comments.
KRS-One is a hip-hop legend beyond compare. He began his career with the classic Criminal Minded, arguably the album that invented gangsta rap. But after the death of his DJ Scott LaRock, KRS took a different turn and began educating and challenging his audience with classics like “You Must Learn,” “Why Is That?” and “My Philosophy.” KRS discussed his work past and present, Plato’s cave, vegetarianism, wants vs. needs, and tons more.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/56/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode, we talk the best of old-school NYC life and hip-hop with two folks who know it better than almost anybody. MC Serch is best known for his work with 3rd Bass, but has also executive produced classic albums (including a little one called Illmatic), hosted TV shows, and more.
Blake “KEO” Lethem is a true hip-hop Renaissance man. From being an influential graffiti artist to arguably the first white rapper to designing album covers for the likes of MF DOOM, Blake has seen and done it all, and shares much of it with us here. We talk nightlife, stardom, graffiti’s TRUE relationship to hip-hop, and that time Hammer put out a hit on 3rd Bass.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/55/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode of the Cipher, we bring you a talk with Brian Brater, co-founder of Rawkus Records. Rawkus was perhaps the single most important underground record label of the 90s, putting out singles and albums featuring artists like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Company Flow, Pharoahe Monch, Big L, Common, Eminem, and more
Brater tells us about the ups, downs, hits, misses, and the couple big ones that got away. So lace up your Timbs, grab your backpack, and join us as we talk to Brater about hip-hop’s last real golden age
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/54/ for full show notes and comments.
We have a very special episode of Outside the Lines With Rap Genius for you. It’s been one year almost to the day since Kendrick Lamar’s instant classic good kid, m.A.A.d city was released, and RG’s very own Nicole Otero sat down with K. Dot to get inside the record. Get the behind-the-scenes scoop on what inspired one of the most heralded albums of recent years, straight from the artist himself.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/53/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode, author Adam Mansbach (Go the Fuck to Sleep, Rage Is Back) returns to the show to talk about his new book, a thriller called The Dead Run. He’s joined by Chicago poet Kevin Coval who, in addition to his awesome poetry, also runs the largest youth poetry festival in the nation, Louder Than A Bomb. Join us as we talk rap, race, Judaism, Chief Keef, which KRS album is the greatest, and what “hackles” really are.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/52/ for full show notes and comments.
This show, we bring you Umar bin Hassan of The Last Poets. Umar is a long-running and key member of the legendary group, and we talk to him about everything he’s seen. From his youthful adventures as a shoeshine boy to being forced out of his hometown on pain of death; from being a veritable prince of Harlem to his battles with drug addiction; from Gil Scott-Heron to Miles Davis — we travel through it all.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/51/ for full show notes and comments.
To celebrate fifty episodes of Outside the Lines With Rap Genius, we’re bringing you a very special best-of show. Hear the most fascinating moments of our first fifty episodes. Guests include Nas, RZA, Saul Williams, Big Daddy Kane, Jean Grae, Ron Isley, and TONS more!
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/50/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode, we have a talk with one of hip-hop’s first superstars - Guy Williams, better known as Rahiem (of all the ladies’ dreams), from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The Five took their sound and style from parties in the Bronx to stages all over the world, while having massive, world-changing hit songs like “The Message” and “White Lines.” We talked to Rahiem about his life and times with the Five and afterwards, and got some incredible tales of his, and a whole genre’s, rise to the top
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/49/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode, we bring you an interview with writer T.M. Wolf. Wolf is the author of Sound, one of the most awesome novels we’ve seen in years. Check out an excerpt, annotated by the author, on Rap Genius.
The book tells the story of Cincy, a former grad student who returns to his Jersey shore hometown for a summer and falls in love and into a mystery. But it’s how the book is written that’s a kicker. Wolf uses techniques he learned from hip-hop (layering, repetition with variation, and more) to create a book that looks different from anything we’ve ever seen. Listen to find out more!
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/48/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode, we bring you a talk with one of our favorite up-and-coming emcees, Awkword. This rapper and activist doesn’t just talk about social issues — he has an extensive history of social activism and charity work to go along with his dope, creative rhymes. We talked about all kinds of things, from his unusual rap moniker to his upcoming World View project, a 100% for charity album that has performers from literally all over the world
But even more than his good deeds, it’s his music that brought Awkword to the show. His beats and rhymes hearken back to a pre-Giuliani New York City, and it is this keeping-it-real vibe that has allowed him to collaborate with NYC stars like Joell Ortiz and Sean Price. We talked to him about music, politics, life, and all that good stuff.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/47/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode, we talk to Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ron Isley of the Isley Brothers. Ron and his brothers got their start singing together in the late 1940s, but had their first giant hit with 1959’s “Shout.” They rode an incredible streak of success through their time with Motown, and then revamped their lineup in the 1970s, adding younger members to create classic jams like “It’s Your Thing,” “That Lady,” and “Between the Sheets.” More recently, Ron played “Mr. Biggs” in a series of fantastic duets with R. Kelly. His newest project is Dinner And A Movie.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/46/ for full show notes and comments.
This episode, we talk to hip-hop impresario Michael Holman. Holman was instrumental in bringing the burgeoning culture in Uptown NYC in the late 1970s — the breakdancers, the DJs, the rappers, and the aerosol artists — to a Downtown crowd and, shortly afterwards, to the rest of the world. He wrote books, made short films, hosted TV shows, made albums, managed breakdance troupes, acted in movies, hosted live shows, you name it. Holman also co-founded the band Gray, whose members have included the legendary artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and film director Vincent Gallo.
He is perhaps best known for Graffiti Rock, a TV show he created and hosted in 1984, which was a Soul Train-style show for hip-hop. While it only aired for one episode, its influence is still being felt. In fact, Holman is currently putting together a documentary on the making of Graffiti Rock. You can find out more about the project, and help him make it, here.
See http://theciphershow.com/episode/45/ for full show notes and comments.