Brooklyn Props Podcast

On this extra special episode we talk to Griddy's father about growing up in Scotland, traveling the world and experiences immigrating to the United States.

We did a joint show with Effwhutuheard Radio. Join the Brooklyn Props crew, Wolf of BK and DJ Tay Ferg as we comment on some previous shows. Everything form gentrification to the current goth-rap trends. You can find Effwhutuheard Radio on iTunes.

This week the crew welcomes DJ Still Life, creator of Str8 West Coastin, a West Coast hip-hop party hosted in Brooklyn every summer. We talk about how Still Life got started DJing in California, and how legendary crews like the Beat Junkies and Invisibl Skratch Piklz inspired him. Then we switch gears to discuss his experiences DJing in NYC over the last decade. We get into minutiae of planning and hosting your own party, including how to find the right venue, dealing with food vendors, the role of marketing/advertising, and finding the right mix of music, vibes, and frequency that can help make the party a success. If you are in Brooklyn on Saturday, August 19, drop by Project Parlor in Bed-Stuy for the final Str8 West Coastin party of the summer.

This episode we are joined by A$AP Rocky collaborator, sound engineer, producer, and composer Daniel Lynas. We talk about his start as a performer, the advantages of going to school in NYC, and what contributed to his early success. We then get technical and talk about his love for loud speakers, Wurlitzer organs, and the importance of studio room dynamics. Lynas also gives us his favorite production plug-ins as well as the hierarchy of studio equipment and what you should spend money on for your bedroom set-up. Afterwards we talk about working with artists: the best ways to collaborate, developing your composition, and when you should stop a session. We close out by talking to Lynas about his personal projects, balancing personal creativity and creativity-for-hire, and how he started working with A$AP Rocky. All that plus "Despacito," Kendrick dominating, woke Jay-Z, reverb, Lord Alfred, and we try to answer the the question: What does DJ Khaled actually do? To contact Lynas and inquire about recording/engineering/composition, email him at daniel.lynas@gmail.com. 

Most hip-hop fans are familiar with XXL's annual "Freshman" class of up-and-coming rappers. As rap music--and its fans--get older, we thought it would be fun to discuss which rappers are part of the Sophomore, Junior and Senior classes. In this episode, we try to answer the following questions: What does it it take to become an Upperclassmen? What keeps hip-hop Freshman from moving on to the next class and into long-term success? What does a mature hip-hop career look like? Whose next to graduate? We also highlight a documentary that served as an inspiration for this episode: "Adult Rappers." The film features older, independent hip-hop artists discussing what it's like to continue to follow their dreams of making music in their 30s, 40s and 50s. Definitely check it out--it will give you a totally new perspective on the work it takes to be a working artist. The hour-long film can be viewed on YouTube and Vimeo.   Lastly, we give a quick shoutout to Camp Brooklyn Fund, a nonprofit that raises money to send low-income kids living in Brooklyn to summer camp in Upstate New York. It's a great organization that helps kids get out of the city and into nature. Michael from Camp Brooklyn joins us in the beginning of the episode to talk about their latest fundraising initiatives: a gala and silent auction. Visit CampBrooklyn.org for more info. Thanks to our special guests, Michael and Marques, for coming on the show.   

This episode is dedicated to conscious rap. We explore the different definitions of conscious rap, where it started, political vs. non-political conscious rap, and how modern rappers have evolved these ideals. We also talk about some our favorite current conscious rappers.

   This episode we are joined by the writer, producer and cast of the short film "Harlem Love." We spoke to the independent filmmakers about their entire production process, from writing the script and casting the roles, to developing the set and costumes designs and filming in NYC. We also talked about full-length films vs. short films, navigating the film festival circuit and how to successfully raise money on the fundraising site Indiegogo. thanks to Richard Joseph, Nadhege Ptah, Yvette Joseph, and Curtis L. Williams for coming on the show. Follow https://twitter.com/harlemlovefilm for more info on the film!

What is it about modern producers that makes them as marketable as performing artists? The crew unpacks this and other questions as we talk about how the role of the producer has evolved into a tastemaker for the music industry. Topics include: The difference between producers like Puffy and DJ Premier, what makes a producer hot, and defining "traditional" hip-hop production and what it sounds like. We also provide a sonic exploration of the genesis of Atlanta's beats that links MC Shy D to Young Thug. We close the show with the King of TV, and talk about Atlanta, one of our new favorite TV shows. Thanks to BrooklynRadio.com and Brickhaus Studios. P.S. Don't do it, Delores!    

This podcast is for the sports fans. We open the show with the NFL and the Josh Norman situation: Is he out of position? Overpaid? Then we talk about the best of the young quarterbacks in the league (aka Goff vs. Wentz) [6:00]; Belichick getting it done; Darrelle Revis; and the best receivers in the league. [14:00] We also pour one out for Jameis Winston (#all.I.do.is.Winston) [18:00]. We then shift gears to the NBA [20:45] and go into the stories of the upcoming season. We dive into Dwight Howard and the Atlanta Hawks: Will they change their system to fit new personal? Then we turn to the Chicago Bulls [25:00]: Whose team is it? Was bringing in new coach Fred Hoiberg last year a good move? We move on to the Washington Wizards: Do John Wall and Bradley Beal have issues with each other? [28:00] We round out the Eastern conference with the Milwaukee Bucks and Black Porzingis! We then turn [31:00] to the Western Conference and talk about whose up next for the San Antonio Spurs; the Minnesota Timberwolves and their ceiling [33:00]; and the Portland Trail Blazers and if they will evolve into a consistent playoff team. We then spotlight Carmelo Anthony and James Harden, and the questions surrounding these stars going into the season [35:00]. Lastly, we talk about NBA League Pass and give you the best games for the first half of the season [39:00]. We close with some King of TV and the Emmys [52:00]. All that plus Antonio Brown, business Romo, the Betrayal Bowl and graphic packages. Go for it! Thanks to BrooklynRadio.com and The Brickhaus for the support! #blackporzingis 

Just the crew on this one. We open with our [MUSIC] segment and get into the controversy surrounding Frank Ocean's recent split with the Universal Music Group. We discuss the events that led up to the split, identify the stakeholders involved, talk about where all the money goes, the larger legal issues, and how this may change the way labels finance and promote artists. Then we get into our [SPORTS][39:00] segment, where we talk college football and the waning SEC, comebacks, Derrick Rose, Tebow's new career prospect, boxing (Griddy with the call), the NFL and Tony Romo (sorry, Charlie), and the best of current sports documentary. All that plus Terrence Malik, Britney Spears and ITT. Check for The Stranger Things mix here (the stream jumps because of some technical issues). Thanks to BrooklynRadio.com and Brickhaus Studios. Grime dem boys! #legalissues,  *The Derrick Rose Confidence Tape mentioned in this episode was created prior to the release of the grand jury testimony. We are in no way encouraging or endorsing the behavior described in the transcripts. I am just a Knicks fan, trying to get hype for the pre-season.  

Today we interview a member of the Brooklyn Radio podcast family, Leschea, creator and host of the Leschea Show. We talk about her experiences growing up in Bed-Stuy, how she went from singing in talent shows to touring with artists, and her relationship with Warner Brothers record label [12:30]. We also get into the creation of her podcast [25:00], some behind-the-scenes insight regarding her legendary interviews, and how her and co-host Danny Love use their differences in race, gender, and age to create show content [1:01:00]. We close the show with some special "King of TV" recommendations for Leschea and an impromptu segment, which started out as a story about a lost ring and ended with major revelations! What can we say: Leschea is a good interviewer. All that plus liquid soap vs. bar soap, the genius of Breaking Bad, internet shopping, and Charles Oakley the cook. Make sure to check for the Leschea Show, live on Periscope every Sunday at 11AM or on BrooklynRadio.com every Tuesday. Thanks to @baghdiddy and Brickhaus Studios for the help.     

It's just the crew on this one. We open the show with [SPORTS] and talk about the issues surrounding the Rio Olympics and how we feel this may effect the athletes, as well as, those in attendance. Is there doo-doo in the water? Are athletes getting robbed? Should you watch Olympic basketball? Afterwards we get into our [CULTURE][19:35] segment where we talk about The Rub's 14th Anniversary dance party and the next wave of music-industry focused television shows [25:00], including Vinyl, Roadies, Empire, Nashville, and the upcoming The Get Down and ATL. Topics include how "real" these shows are, why the music industry can be a compelling storytelling platform, the power of soundtracks, what music supervisors do, the business of synchronization rights and the role of nostalgia. We close the show with our [MUSIC][1:03:00] segment, where we give you some recommendations to get your summer moving. All that, plus obligatory Knicks talk, Hamilton and Time Square The Musical! Thanks to BrooklynRadio.com and the Brickhaus. Props to King Capo and shouts to Aruba!  

Our guest for this episode is Masta Ace. From his first appearance on "The Symphony" (1988), to his most recent release, The Falling Season, Ace has consistently made great music. His verses are always intentful, and his albums are filled with songs with meaning. He is a true Brooklyn emcee; more wit, more skill and less rah-rah. Intelligent and gifted in the art of story telling, his solo albums are a mixture of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Lee Daniels and David Simon. Pure cinema. We cover a lot of territory in this episode, including Ace's experiences with different record labels, how he finds out about new music, The World's Famous Supreme Team, neighborhood battles, Marley Marl and how a rap contest at a roller skating rink started everything. But it wasn't all hip-hop: We also talk about Ace's stint as a high school football coach and the importance of youth sports. Additionally, Ace's wife, Leschea, talks about working with her husband on creative projects, why she started her own podcast, and how she met her show's co-host, Danny Love. Lots and lost of stories. And we mange to even say some positive things about the Knicks. It was a great time! If you haven't already, definitely check out Ace's trilogy (Disposable Arts, A Long Hot Summer, The Falling Season) as well as the latest single, "Y.B.I. (Young Black Intelligent)" featuring Pav Bundy and Hypnotic Brass Ensemble. For entertainment and culture news, watch the live broadcast of the Leschea Show every Sunday morning on Facebook and Periscope @lescheashow.     

The whole crew is back on this episode. We open the show with [SPORTS][4:05] and commemorate the great Muhammad Ali. Griddy shares some of his favorite stories about the boxing legend as we go into his history as an athlete, as a leader and as a once-in-a-lifetime personality. We also talk a little basketball [26:00] and give our take on The Finals, possible Knicks woes, the Orlando Magic, Kevin Durant, the basketball vs. soccer playing schedule, and Kevin Love. We close the episode with [CULTURE][47:10] and our first "King of TV" segment for the summer. We got picks to get your Netflix right. Thanks to Brooklyn Radio, Lynas and all of ya'll for listening. 

Leaner and meaner. It's just the boys on this one.  We open the show with [SPORTS] and discuss Mayweather v. Mcgregor [1:20]. The rumors, the facts and all in between. We then talk a little baseball, some Knicks and move into our [CULTURE] segment where we get into the Streaming Wars [13:40].  We discuss the major and minor music streaming services, how artists are getting paid (or not) and the future of these types of services. We end the episode with our [MUSIC] segment and speak on the possible ramifications of the shooting involving Troy Ave and how it may impact future hip-hop performances in NYC [35:30]. We hope all those harmed during the incident fully recover and hope that the hip-hop community can move on. Thanks to Brooklyn Radio, all our listeners. Special thanks to Linus for holding it down and Solace for the help! Backhand springs for life. *Maino and Uncle Murda were NOT on stage during the shooting according to statements made after the recording of this episode. Our apologies to both of them. And run with that Heard U! 

After a hiatus the crew is BACK! We changed studios and changed our format, but have not changed our attitude. We are now splitting the show into segments. For our SPORTS segment, we talk a little NBA, some Johnny Football and suggest some social media rules for athletes. For our CULTURE segment, we recap a recent trip to Atlanta (19:00), and compare the Southern city to Brooklyn in terms of city planning, performance venues and record shops. For our MUSIC segment (34:00), we talk the recent trends in vinyl sales, which vinyl albums are selling and the impact of Record Store Day. We also play a game called "IS THIS RAP OR R&B?" (47:00), where I play some tracks and Griddy and Megatronic try to guess whether the song is rap or r&b. And that is that. Shouts out to BrooklynRadio for the support. Big ups to our podcast brothers at Effwhutuheard, props to BuendiaBK and Linus aka Lord Alfred for holding it DOWN. And thanks to our listeners, all three of ya'll. Put some respek on it.

A cold open to match the Brooklyn weather. From the tundra of NYC, we got a new set-up with the same crew. We comment on recent events such as the lackluster Grammy awards, the NBA All-Star weekend and our breakdown of the television show Empire. We also talk about Joey Bada$$, his latest album B4.Da.$$, and get into the industry behind urban artists. All that plus Kanye vs. Beck, the worst Lionel Richie impression, Cookie and Terrence Howard's hair. Check the full article at brooklynprops.com and get up on The Underachievers. Still impressive!

2014 was a crazy year and we sum it up in under 60 minutes. We talk some Cosby, a bit of Ghostface, and we do our version of album reviews for "The New Classic" and "The Pinkprint." Afterwards the crew gets into the hip-hop artists you should check, groups you may have missed, what the kids are really listening to, and some British people. Another year down. For more on Versos, go here. Special thanks to BrooklynRadio.com and to you for listening! Less Drake, more beer.

On this episode we welcome actor Parisa Fitz-Henley. We talk about getting her start in pageants, living the international model life, working in music videos, and transitioning into film and telelvision. We also get into the grind of being a working actor, including agents and directors, portfolios and auditioning, as well as, how she stays creative. All that plus NO I.D. gets a new job, Jay-Z buys something, Common as a carpenter, Chocolate Skateboards, some Christmas gift ideas for the discerning hip-hop fan and the King of TV's latest recommendations. Thanks to Parisa for coming through, Brooklyn Radio for the support and Frans for working his magic! Follow Parisa on Twitter @ParisaFH. They know better!    

Traum Diggs talks to us about growing up in Brooklyn and how hip-hop was seen on the streets back then, the pedigree of Philadelphia as a home of emcees, finding inspiration and writing from a personal perspective, collaborating with international artists, working with live musicians and staying motivated as an independent artist. All this plus Bobby Shmurda, Def Jam 30th Anniversary concert and some Soundscan news. Thanks to Traum Diggs for showing love. Be sure to check out his website (here) and pick up the “Jazz Hop” release (here). New studio, same people. Thanks for listening! Royals.  

The crew welcomes our first singer-songwriter Timothy Ruiz. Repping New Jersey, Timmy breakdowns the grind of an indepedent singer. We get into his origins, getting started at open mics, developing relationships with clubs, booking gigs and how he stays motivated. We also talk about why Jersey City and why performers should check it, as well as, getting into the differences between rappers and singers and the obstacles they face breaking into the music scene. All that plus the NFL, green sweaters, doo-wop, Red Lobster, gift baskets and the King of TV breaks down why Derek Jeter is just awesome! We close the show with a special in-studio performance by Timothy Ruiz. If you like the music, check out more at Timothy's website (here) or get his EP "Good Shtuff" (here). Special thanks to Ishlabs and Brooklynradio for all the support! Emotions. Google.    

We return after an unanticipated hiatus. The crew covers the recent award shows, summer travels and the 50 vs. Floyd squabble (shots fired!). We also discuss Ferguson and whether hip-hop artists have a responsibility to respond. All that plus roller coasters, brunch, Becky Hamon, Bridgeport, Kevin Durant, Clive Owen and the King of TV breaking down what you should be watching.  

This week the crew is joined by hip-hop group Weekend Money. Ness and Baghdaddy represent the new Brooklyn, an eclectic blend of tradition and innovation. We get into their mutual love of electro and how that led to their first recording session (shouts to Prkr) at The Brickhouse as well as insight into how they create their “future-trap sound,” the meaning of  "associative music" and the challenge of creating sample-free music, their adventures at SXSW and other music festivals, and their approach to distributing music. We also talk about their music video process, their crazy promotion game and how they maximize their social media efforts. That plus flag pants, Japanese women in Timberlands, Hot Sugar, guns, Tallahassee time machines, Riff Raff vs. Ciara, and Fat Tony. These guys were awesome to talk to! You can reach them at weekendmoney.biz. Their new release, Freddie Merkury, is out now! You should grab that, their first release Naked City and some fresh W$ gear to put some Brooklyn in your life. Thanks to Tony, BrooklynRadio.com and Ishlab Studios.

DJ Sakir reminds us of DJs like King Britt and Geology, equal parts soulful and ecletic. She joins the crew on this episode to talk music, art and life. We get into the origins of her creativity and her forthcoming DJ lifestyle brand OHM, how she deals with the male-dominated DJ culture, booking gigs in Brooklyn, growing up in Florida and participating in the Zulu Nation, private events vs. club gigs, and what exactly is "ear intelligence." Plus, we dicuss the Wu-Tang sculpture album, Jay-Z's medallion controversy, Noir Soul, Shazam, Blood, Sweat and Heels, Puerto Rico and The Rocksteady Crew, Idris Elba vs. Questlove, and roman numerals. We close with The King of TV crushing Netflix. Make sure to check DJ Sakir's webpage and get on them mixes! Thanks to BrooklynRadio.com and Ishlabs Studios. Shouts to Buendia Brooklyn, Effwhatuheard podcast and Food Riot!

This week the crew discusses gentrification. We provide context to this complex issue by talking about being priced out of neighborhoods, how class and race define the issue, the benefits of gentrification and some tips for assimilaitng to Brooklyn culture in our Anti-Gentrifier's Guide. All that plus Frank Ocean, Gang Starr, Carmelo and the Knicks, HBO Go, bongos and the King of TV breaking down True Detective. Thanks to BrooklynRadio.com, Ishlabs and Mixcloud! 

The crew is back for the new year and we play catch-up. We talk about the Grammy Awards, the Macklemore controversy, Kanye's influence on the Kendrick/Imagine Dragons mash-up and whether Lorde's win means a return to conscious lyrics. We then talk about what was new for us in 2013. We follow that up with some sports talk, whether defense wins championships, Richard Sherman, will Carmelo stay, prostitutes and new media. All that plus The King of TV, the miracle known as the bluetooth speaker, hats, sharing Netflix, and Dungeons and Dragons. Please note that this was recorded prior to the Super Bowl. Special thanks to Stephen Rafferty for joining us (@metalrafferty), BrooklynRadio.com and Ishlab Studio. Special shout out to the Mello Music Group for bringing the heat in 2013. Be sure to check out their latest releases here. Thanks for listening!

This week we are joined by DJ Ayres, co-owner of T&A Records and co-founder of The Rub, one of the longest running and arguably best dance parties in New York City. We talk about his start in Mississippi, the mid-nineties music scene in New York, building with Mark Ronson, Darshan Jesrani (Metro Area), and Dan Bayless (Escort) in college and how that influenced his career. Plus: How The Rub was started and the art of 'going in' and bringing the heat as a DJ, developing an audience and engaging the crowd, linking up with Turntable Lab and creating a movement. We also discuss the start of T&A Records and the origins of Moombaton (shouts to Dave Nada!), building a roster and making moves as a DJ-run label, ghost producers and EDM music, and why he started the Small Talk podcast. All that, plus dust and The Roots, Iverson, Marco Polo, Childish Gambino, Wale, Beyonce, catfish and December album recommedations. Thanks to DJ Ayres, it was a blast! He can be reached on Twitter @djayres or at djaryres.com. Aspiring producers, please be sure to check out the Beautiful People remix contest (more info here). Thanks to BrooklynRadio and Ishlabs.

This week brings rap duo Tanya Morgan to the studio to talk about their new album Rubber Souls. Rappers Donwill and Von Pea talk about working with producer 6th Sense, writing to beats versus writing free verse, balancing solo work and group work, collaborating with a Who's Who of underground hip-hop, Von's mixing and mastering skill, Don's movie thing with Wyatt Cenac and the origin of The Lessondary. Don and Von also provide an inside look at how Converse is helping artist in New York, share some tales of Blu and Exile and the fate of Chance the Rapper. All that, plus Kendrick Grammy predictions, Eminem breaks another record, the King of Television and what you should be listening to now. Thanks to Donwill and Von Pea for making this a great episode! Get their new album, Rubber Souls, available now. Be sure to check out the latest visuals from that album as well (Never to Much, Pick it Up). Special thanks to Brooklynradio.com and Ishlabs Studios. 

This week's episode welcomes the Buendia Brooklyn/INK crew to discuss Latinos and Hip-Hop. Comprised of several New York-based Latin and Latin-American artists, as well as Rack and T-Killa (founder of INK) fresh out of Mexico, the Buendia/INK crew provides key insight into Spanish-language hip-hop. We get into the stereotypes, how the music translates across the numerous countries in Central and South America, and performaning in front of non-Spanish-speaking audiences. Then we do the first-ever cypher on the show and close with a special showcase from the Buendia/INK crew! All that, plus the five hip-hop albums you should consider this fall. Thanks to T-Killa, Rack, Versos, Mauro, Mr. Phillips, Timothy Ruiz, Kortezau, Reko, Kombate, Rapy and Danny for making this a special episode. Thanks to Raul for the translation help and Reko and Kombate (Enemies from the Underground) for providing the beats. Props to Ishlabs Studios and BrooklynRadio.com. 

Fall is here and the crew is back talking masculinity. Really? Really. We cover college football and whether the recent string of blowouts is good for the game. Then it is NFL time, where we comment on the recent rule changes and declare our favorite teams. Afterwards, Griddy breaks down the Mayweather fight and provides insight on how the lack of competition could impact Floyd's future bouts. Then we discuss Mister Cee and his resignation, Drake vs. Wu-Tang and the evolving representation of masculinty in hip-hop music. All that plus October release dates, DMX vs. the Carters, a real rap "battle" and the King of TV! Special thanks to Ishlabs and BrooklynRadio.com and props to our extended fam Buendia Brooklyn and the Effwhutuheard Radio.

The crew is back at Ishlabs to recap the summer. We start with the most successful albums of the summer, giving props to Big Sean, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Jay-Z and Kanye. We also talk about the song of the summer ("Blurred Lines") and the Robin Thicke vs. the estate of Marvin Gaye legal controversy. If you haven't listened to the Big Sean "Control" single you should check it because we go in on the Kendrick verse that has every rapper in the world writing response tracks. We get into whether it is a diss or a call to arms? After some real bad K.Dot impressions, we review the MTV Video Music Awards. Everything from Miley's Asian man butt to Justin Timberlake's epic performance. Is MTV relevant to thirty-plus hip-hop heads? Listen and find out! All that plus One Direction vs. Brooklyn, Brooklyn as the new Seattle and whether hispter hood is the new grunge. Is 2 Chainz really Dave Chappelle? What is up with Drake and tank-tops? Are Joey Fatone and Chipotle made for each other? Special thanks to our listeners from Brooklyn Radio and Mixcloud. Props to our extended fam Buendia Productions, the EFFWHUTUHEARD podcast, Brooklyn Stable and the Combat Jack Radio Show! Who shot ya, mate!!!

The crew is back with Brooklyn duo A-Alikes. Having successfully navigated the hip-hop music scene for a decade plus, rappers K and Ness are the real deal. We talk about their history, first connecting at FAMU and living in a house full of emcees and producers, helping start the first Zulu Nation chapter in Tallahassee, maintaining as emcees that talk about class struggle and nutrition in the modern pop-rap music era, some insight on their writing process and what to expect on their new EP, Us Against Them, available June 11th. All that plus summer tour updates, upcoming releases, a random Jam Pony shot-out and an impromptu EPMD verse. For more on A-Alikes, check their website, or on Twitter or at aalikespromo@gmail.com. Make sure to listen to the end of the podcast to hear their latest single, "Whole Life" feat M-1 of dead prez, which is available now on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon. Special thanks to Hard Boiled Records and Guerilla Nation. Props to our extended family Buendia Productions, IshLab Studios and Brooklynradio.com.

We back again. This time we got A&R/Producer for Soul Temple Records and Senior Art Director for Koch/eOne Music Mr. Andrew Kelley (aka Mr. Hat Trick). We get into all things Wu and discuss the sound of the latest Ghostface Killah album "Twelve Reasons To Die." We talk about the amazing Adrian Younge and how he achieved that authentic 'classic' sound, what is Venice Dawn, the origins of the Brown Tape and upcoming Wu-Tang projects. Plus new releases for June, Jamaican butlers and what you can expect to find in Redman's trunk. You can reach Andrew Kelley @andrewkelley47 and be sure to get that new Ghostface album. It is a keeper! Special thanks to our partners Brooklynradio.com and IshLabs. 

We upgraded the sound and are now recording at IshLabs located in downtown Brooklyn. For our inaugural show we discuss influence, in particular, the influence hip-hop has had on us. We talk about the significance of Jay-Z making TIME's Most Influential People in the World list, how hip-hop changed our fashion sense, which eras had the most influence on us and whether hip-hop can remain an influential culture in the modern "rap IS pop music" era. All that, plus hip-hop tour updates for the summer, Rick Ross and Griddy's TV reviews. New studio, same show, more brown liquor. Special thanks to our partners Brooklynradio.com and IshLabs! 

The crew is joined by emcee AllOne (Bruce Pandolfo). He's a writer, a bookworm and a real dope lyricists. We talk about how Epitaph Records got him into hip-hop, his, evolution as a performer, using musicians vs. produced beats, writing in a vacuum, his MegaBus skills and how he got his gets his music out.  That plus, summer hip-hop tours, the richest rapper and a history of the XXL Freshman Class. Get at AllOne at allonevoice@gmail.com and hear his music at allonevoice.bandcamp.com or soundcloud.com/allonevoice. Thanks to brooklynradio.com!

The crew is back with an Afterhours edition of the podcast, which means no topic, just talk. We get into early-bird specials at the 40/40 club, why Blis strongly dislikes Philadelphia and what is happening with Little Wayne. Plus we talk Demigodz and the worst March Madness commentary ever.

We welcome back Stephen Rafferty to talk movies. We start with fim school and his pre-digital education, his first jobs, how digital is changing how things get made and what really goes on when you work with actors. Stephen also talks about what it takes to make it behind the scenes, educates us on Hollywood unions and how you can get fired. Plus Beetleborgs, Baltimore and some shots fired at Will.i.am. Be sure to hit Stephen up on Twitter @metalrafferty 

The crew welcomes Stephen Rafferty, a writer for The Metal Observer, to discuss heavy metal music. This is the best heavy metal episode on a hip-hop podcast ever. We get into the origins of the music, the difference between Black Metal and Death Metal, what mathcore is, why Slayer kicks ass and whether hip-hop heads and metal heads have the same taste in after concert activities. We also talk Cookie Monster vocals, Uncle Luke on Rick Ross, Grammy predictions, plus Griddy flips the script and gets Blis to talk about his "metal" past. Plus much more.  Again. The best ever. For more on metal, check out Stephen's stuff at The Metal Observer here.

Is Trinidad James the worst rapper ever? This week the crew talks 'wack' music and its place in hip-hop. Is it a generation thing? Is it about skills? What's wrong with just having a good beat? We answer these questions as well as Snoop Lion vs. The Wailers, Frank Ocean vs. Chris Brown and some bad RHCP impressions. Ain't nobody podcasting like this. Tell a friend, tell a foe. It's Brooklyn Props!

We back like the Nets in the Eastern Conference. Fresh for the New Year, we do the usual stuff like recap hip-hop albums you should have got and projects to look forward to in 2013 and the biggest sellers We also get into the unusual, like a Lord Finesse reality show, cankles and why Steph Curry can't listen to EPMD. Brown liquor is in effect. Subscribe to us on iTunes and checkout the website.

This week the crew welcomes Tommy and we talk rivalries. From the classic to the not so impressive, we talk about how battling is not what it used to be, the difference between beef and rivals and whether Nicki Minaj could hang with Jean Grae in a battle. We also discuss the Forbes' list of the highest paid musicians of 2012, Kendrick Lamar, Celtics vs. Nets and a possible Cannibal Ox reunion.

This episode features producer Andrew Kelley, fresh from the left coast where he was with the RZA, working on the Man with the Iron Fist soundtrack. He shares with us his experience working with The Abbot, as well as other members of the Wu. We go behind the scenes and get into how albums get put together, how guest appearances get done, how emcees can better prepare for sessions and what is up with vinly sales. We also talk Titty Boi vs. 2 Chainz, hurricane preparations and Kendrick Lamar. **Please Note there are moments during the podcast where the audio from the music overwhelms the audio from the voices. We apologize for the inconvenience and promise to limit future occurrances. 

We got the crew back, talking Brooklyn Nets and New York Comic Con. We preview the new Barclays Center, review what went down during our recent trip to a Brooklyn Nets preseason game and talk nerd culture. We also let loose on Kreayshawn, Russian billionaires and ask the age old question, who spends the most money rappers or pro athletes.

We return with a special episode featuring 2/3 of the Effwhutuheard crew. We talk about their podcast, how they got their start and compare regional hip-hop scenes. We are also joined by upcoming emcee Mr. Philips and get into old vs. new hip-hop, the mechanics of rhyming and drop a couple of poorly engineered freestyle sessions (my bad). Be sure to check out the fellas at Effwhutuheard and Mr. Phillips.