Swatches And Boomboxes

What up fam? We about to reminisce over a very dope album this week, we are of course talking about "The Main Ingredient" by Pete Rock (IG: @realpeterock) and C.L. Smooth (IG: @therealclsmooth). We got the amazing producer, the homie Regal Monk (IG: @regalmonk) in the buildin breakin this slept-on classic down with us. Stellar production and incredible wordplay for days. If you haven't listened to this, make time today and do it!

Remember Pun! That's right y'all, this week we are taking a look at the legendary Bronx MC Big Pun. His posthumously released album "Endangered Species" has an undeniable collection of his greatest hits. It also has some tributes throughout it which is pretty dope. High caliber lyricism indeed. Get ready for a good one!

Yo! Neil is out of the office, but fear not, Jim is gonna hold it down for y'all. On this episode we got a banger of an interview ready for you. Jim sits down with the legendary Brooklyn MC Skyzoo (IG: @skyzoothewriter). They break down his new album "All The Brilliant Things." It's making some noise right now and you should listen to it, after you listen to this podcast of course!

Mo money, mo podcasts! Check it out y'all...we got the East New York gawd Gastor Almonte (IG: gastoralmonte) hangin with us on this episode. It is only right that if we got ENY here...we have to talk about AZ! We are hittin y'all with the class album review of 9 Lives. Some official high caliber lyricism on deck for you. Get ready to appreciate all of it!

We got a real jam goin down! If you know this...then you know where we are goin this week. That's right, we got the soundtrack to the classic film "Space Jam." A lot of directions on this one, and we got 'em covered! We got the homey Chris Hamilton (IG: @hamilton_4mayor) helpin us sort out the various level of dunks on it. You're gonna dig it. That's all folks!

Another one ready to go for y'all. We got the slept-on classic joint from Reflection Eternal "Train of Thought." For those of you that don't know, thats the iconic duo of Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek. It's a real gem and you're going to love it. Air-tight production over legendary Kweli bars, you can't miss. We also have the homie Ibrahim Khalif (IG: @ibrahimkhalif) breakin it down with us. Go check out his album "Placebo" on all the platforms. It's dope!

What up, Joe? We got another Midwest banger on deck for your ears. The underrated, amazingly dope MC and story-teller MC Lupe Fiasco's joint "The Cool" is gettin broke down! We got our homie and fellow hip hop head Ajani Thompson (IG: @ajthehumorist) ridin shotgun on this album review. Such an official piece of work. From the stories to the messages, this joint has it all. Enjoy it!

Lyrics! That's what we are talkin about with this weeks album breakdown. Who you ask? None other than Pharoahe Monch's album "Internal Affairs." Our homie and fellow hip hop head Nigel Fullerton (IG: @nigelfullerton_) is rockin with us to give his insights and two-cents to the conversation. If you want to hear about word-bending greatness...this is it! Get the f-up and listen to this one...

Another one! We told y'all we got nothin but fire comin through for you. On this go around we are discussing the jam packed with dope soundtrack "Street Fighter" soundtrack! The East and West Coast made some amazing contributions to this album without a doubt. We also breakdown the well crafted lines that tie into the movie too. We got a knockout on this one!

Yo! We back y'all! The crew took a little break...and now we have a brand new format on deck for you. A little Q&A about the albums we cover AND a New Artist segment where we highlight an artist you may not be up on...but need to be! With our relaunch episode we are talkin about none other than Method Man and Redman's joint (get it?) album "Blackout!" An amazing gem of dope lyrics, stellar production and all around greatness. These two are absolute legends and you are gonna dig our breakdown of this!

BCC! That's the vibe we are on this week y'all. Boot Camp Clik's own Originoo Gunn Clappaz's first album "Da Storm" is on deck, thanks to Malfred...a listener who wrote in a request! You see...we DO read y'all emails. This was a dope ride for real, the production is on the next level...and the lyricism from Starang, Top Dog and Louieville Sluggah is pure perfection. Come with us to BK on this one y'all... R.I.P Sean Price!

There's only one podcast left!(Busta Rhyme's voice) We back doin it again as we only know how. On this episode we are breakin down Bussa Bus album "E.L.E. (Extinction Level Event): The Final World Front" with our good friend Menuhin Hart (IG:@mhart300). Such an amazing MC, a true god on the mic! He does it all, flow, lyrics and has been in the game for 30 years! Come fuck with it.

It's Wu-Tang! You know the vibes on this one y'all. We are talkin about the slept-on compilation album from the Wu-Tang family. It's "The Swarm Vol.1" So many amazing cuts on the joint. Of course, we had to talk about Cappadonna's '97 Mentality. Stay on point for your 4-digit salary with this fire.

Now...normally we don't do this...but we recorded this on a historic day. At the time of this recording, Joe Biden has won the 46th presidency! We take some time to talk about the last four years and how crazy they have been...you know why. We'll give you an album next week. Celebrate with us!

We got another dope one for ya. This time, we got a movie soundtrack which was a staple of the 90's-early 2000's. It is of course, The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps. A little R&B and some of the titans of the era come through on this joint. It's as versatile as Eddie Murphy playing everyone in the movie. Enjoy it!

Hey ya! We got the conclusion to last weeks Stankonia review. Of course, we had to bring back our homie Rivers Langley (IG:@riverslangley) to continue breaking this joint down.The depth and versatility of Outkast shines through on this one. And we are happy to bring this one to y'all. Enjoy it!

We over here! Snappin and Trappin with another dope episode. On this joint we got friend of the show Rivers Langley (IG:@RiversLangley) to break down the smash hit Stankonia by Outkast. A classic body of work for sure. There is so much good stuff on this...that we had to break it up into two parts! On this side, we talk the high caliber lyricism from ATL's own as well as the sonic one of a kind sound they got. Enjoy it!

Fam...we got somethin different for y'all. A dope interview! We sit down with MC, producer and all around official dude Cryptic One (IG: @cryp_uno). This was such a great talk. From Atoms Family talk, to some of the amazing cyphers outside the Nuyorican Poets Cafe to what life is like on the road, Cryptic tells his amazing story and his contributions to the culture we call hip hop. Enjoy!

This album...not for the faint of heart. Before there was WAP, there was Hard Core. Thanks to one Kimberly Jones aka Lil Kim. That's the joint we are breakin down this week with the homey Chanel Ali (IG: Chanel Ali). Groundbreaking stuff right here. Lil Kim brought some fire to this one and you'll love our insights on them...especially the intro! Queen Bee y'all.

We back y'all! Took a lil break but they can't stop us. With our return episode we get into the slept on project In My Lifetime, Vol.1 by Jay-Z. So many dope music videos were birthed from this album. Shiny suit era aside, there were some classic tracks on here like "Rap Game/Crack Game." Get into it!

De La Soul created a dope album...and we are here to cover it! Their sound was undeniably them and this joint is proof positive of it. The rhymes are on point and the beats are pure perfection. Itzsoweezee to dig this body of work...see what we did there?

Brotha Starks! Who else?! The Wu-Tang legend Ghostface Killah's debut album is on deck for us this week. It's been a long time comin...such a classic. The track selection is perfection, Ghost, Rae and Cap work together seamlessly. You're gonna love this review of Tony Stark's opus.

Dipset! We are goin uptown on this one baby! It's the one and only Cam'ron. His album S.D.E. is a classic and we are talkin about it! Let us know! Our homie Nick Alexander (IG: @nickofcomedy) is rockin with us breakin down every track and all the dope videos that came with it. What means the world to you? This album should!

We got a special treat for y'all. Instead of regularly scheduled dope album review we got another installment of hip hop trivia, known to the universe as Trivmatic! How dope is that? Listen in and play along. We got some brain busters along with being backed up musically by Chris Maestro (IG: @maestro.chris), DJ extraordinaire and owner of the legendary bar Bierwax (IG: @bierwax). Go support them! Now, get ready to play some trivia y'all!

Flipmode iz truly the squad! One of the illest conglomerates in the game, undoubtedly. We talkin about Flipmode Squads album "The Imperial" with friend of the show John Minus (IG: @exit_eleven) bustin it down. We cover the rugged flow of Rah Digga, the one-of-a-kind voice of Lord Have Mercy and the timeless presence of Busta Rhymes. You gonna love it!

West up! Hey y'all...we headin out to Cali on this joint. We got the homey Anyi Malik (IG: @anyimalik) talkin about the classic "All Eyez On Me." So many hits on this one, the catalogue is there! Tupac was one of the illest in the game and this album proves it. Such a dope talk. Be sure to pick up Anyi's album release as 69nyi MaliXXX: Hilarity, Technology and Sex www.AnyiMalik.com/69nyipromo. It's out today!

We still in Philly! We are rockin another classic Roots joint for y'all. It's none other than "Organix" their very first album. 27 years old...man how time flies. This is a great one. We get to hear a very young sounding Black Thought (still dope, don't get it twisted) and Questlove on the mic spittin bars! So amazing. Get into it!

Illadelph comes alive! Man...this one is a dope one for real. We got fellow hip hop head, live music attendee and birthday boy(at the time of taping) George Gordon (@IG: georgepgordoniii) rock rockin it with us. The album of choice? None other than The Roots "The Roots Come Alive." We take a different route on this one y'all. Live music is such an amazing slice of life and we dissect all of it along with the break down of this album. Such fun! Get it!

Bass! How low can you go? That's right y'all. We back! We got another classic episode for ya. This time, we got an album that truly speaks to what is goin on in America...and now has gone world wide. Public Enemy's "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back." If you want a fiery breakdown, well then you're in luck. We got the homey Lenny Shelton (@IG: lenny_shelton) kickin it with us too. You aren't gonna be sorry. Fight the power y'all!

Yo fam! If you missed our first hip hop trivia game, Trivmatic...you're in luck! We are posting the game on for y'all to play along! We are backed up musically by da gawd, owner of BierWax and all around righteous dude Chris Maestro (IG: @maestro.chris, @bierwax). It was such a fun time, we will be posting for it before the next one. DM us for the link. Come through (virtually) the next time we rock it!

Back up in ya you-know-what with The Resurrection! We took a lil break but we are not slippin...in fact, we brought our good friend of the show Matt Ealy (IG: @matdagodfatha) to rock it with us. He's an H-Town native and with that it was only natural that we talk about the legendary group The Geto Boys album "The Resurrection." It's got the pure H-Town sound and features a phone call with two legends...which ones? Tune in for it!

DOOM! That's right. Nothing but the best on this one y'all. The underground legend himself, MF DOOM. We are talking about his legendary release "Operation: Doomsday." There is so much here...top shelf lyricism, stellar production (a lot of y'all sleep on DOOM's production and you shouldn't) and a shoutout to Rod Serling. This is perfection. Enjoy all of it!

Comin to ya straight from the sewers...or a quarantine..either one works right now! We got another banger at the ready. The homie and fellow hip hop enthusiast Brian McGuinness (IG: @laughatbrian) is back virtually with us to rock it. Our album comes to us from none other than Das EFX. "Dead Serious"...we ain't pliggity-playin. A true one of a kind sound they brought to the game, a true gem from the 90's. Giggity get wiggity with it!

Up from the 36 chambers! We got another Wu-Tang Clan members album reviewed and ready for you. Plot twist, Neil picked this one! What is the album you ask? None other than, Inspectah Deck's first joint "Uncontrolled Substance." So many dope cuts on this one. You are in for a real treat. Don't get hooked! And of course...be sure to protect ya neck on this one.

Yo...we did it! We made it! 100 episodes of 90's-early 2000's hip hop albums covered. For the culture y'all. So it's only right that we do this one big...and so we got two big supporters of the show to rock with us! We are talkin about Bierwax's own, Chris Maestro (IG: @maestro.chris), owner of Bierwax (IG: @bierwax) and the homie and fellow hip hop fanatic Jess (IG: @notoriousleesmall). We taped this joint over at Bierwax and chopped it up about A Tribe Called Quest's album "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm." So many dope jewels on this album, no stone was left unturned on this one y'all. Every amazing line, every jazz sample was discussed...you're gonna love this one, for realz. Can we kick it? You know the answer to that one! Enjoy it!

We still are keepin it on the West Coast with this one y'all. We are breakin down Mr. X to the Z's 2nd album "40 Dayz & 40 Nightz." A real gem of an album for sure...the production is purely out of control and of course when it comes to lyrics you don't have to look further than Xzibit. This album is still in Jim and Neil's rotation for a reason...so get ready for some Likwit action!

Outlawz! That's who we talkin about y'all...we got another dope episode comin through for you. We got Fatal Hussein's joint "In The Line Of Fire" on deck. And it's a dope one for real, real West Coast gangsta talk on top of some East Coast lyricism (shoutout Jerz!). Some classic lines were dropped on this one too. You gotta get down for it! West Up!

BONG! We got another banger comin to ya. Straight from your quarantined G'z! None other than the mastermind of the Wu-Tang Clan RZA...his first album...RZA as Bobby Digital in Stereo. It's a really dope ride. Amazing features, a crazy movie-style story and people talking crazy in German at the top of the album. Don't be analog...get digital!

Hey y'all...we stepped outta the office for the week...so we are givin you a throwback episode, consistency is key! Check it out...we got the homie Brandon Collins (IG: @americancollins) for our classic rundown of Outkast's album ATLiens. This one is a goodie..you gon' dig the dirty south! So me and you...yo mama and yo cousin too...better listen!

Yo! We got yet another banger comin straight to your ear piece...we never run out of dope shit, fact! Get ready to come along for the underground classic from the Boogiemonsters "Riders of the Storm: The Underwater Album." It's got some fire cuts on it y'all. Amazing lyricism, crazy concepts....you gon' love it!

1,2,3...we got a new album for thee! That's right, we aren't here to half step, especially when it comes to bringing you dope album reviews. We got the homie Chris Lamberth (@ChrisLamberth) in the booth with us for his pick, Mos Def's "Black On Both Sides." Get ready for a very dope hip hop classic, straight outta BK. In depth lyrics, substantial content...this was woke before "woke." Y'all gonna dig it. Get it!

It's the waterproof MC! Man...this is a dope, dope album. Lyrics for days, flow for miles...you aren't going to be disappointed. We are talkin about none other than the legendary MC, Ras Kass and his second album, Rasassination. All killer, no filler. So many cool '90's references as well. You are in for a treat. C-Arson.

Bucktown! We are talkin none other than Smiff-N-Wessun's first album "Dah Shinin'." The beats, the sound and the vibes all let you know how undeniably classic this joint is...and of course, it's from Brooklyn, where else? Right on time for the 25th Anniversary of the album, we promise to lace up the timbs and break this one down for y'all. Congrats to Smiff-N-Wessun on this one and the whole Boot Camp Clik. Salute!

Rock the house y'all...we are doin it again, just for you! We got another slept on classic for your ears. None other than AZ's "Doe or Die" Lyricism at its finest. So many amazing beats and unforgettable lines from this East New York legend. So take a trip to Sugar Hill...because this one is Rather Unique.

We still doin this y'all! Back at it once again...on this go around we break down the legendary super producer Timbaland's album "Tim's Bio: Life from da Bassment." It is filled with classic cameos and stellar beats. You can't go wrong with this one. VA style baby!

Jigga! That's right y'all...another classic, what else would you expect?! We are talkin about The Blueprint, which held so much material worth discussing...the Takeover, Izzo, Girls, Girls, Girls. A real sign of the time. And of course, the debate over Renegade featuring Eminem. Who bested who? Come along with the us, because the driver of the Bentley is a pro.

The 2-1-5 is back! That's right y'all...we are taking another trip to Philly to rock it with the legendary Roots crew. The album in question...Things Fall Apart. It features some Philly icons like Beanie Sigel and Eve, so salute to that. And but of course the exceptional lyricism of Black Thought and Malik B. You really can't go wrong with this. So get ready for this dope jawn comin for ya!

Independent as f*ck...that's how we roll and that's how this album rolled when it dropped. We are talking none other than Company Flow's first album "Funcrusher Plus." A hip hop purist dreams, before El-P was runnin the jewels he was roll with Bigg Jus and Mr. Len to create this opus of 90's hip hop. So many dope Stretch and Bobbito shoutouts as well as graffiti references for days. It plays like a good book. Get your end to end burners on and listen to this review!

Ready or not...here comes this episode! We got another classic one for you. Special guest Zilla Vodnas (IG: @zillavodnas) is at Jim Jam Studios to help the crew break down the iconic classic album The Score by The Fugees. So many dope cuts on this one, Ready Or Not, Fu-gee-la, Killing Me Softly With His Song. Pure sonic bliss! So get ready for Jersey's own incredibly dope trios joint

Watch out now! We got the Queens legends The Beatnuts album...A Musical Massacre on deck. What a fun ride...these guys are hilarious. And also incredibly dope rappers. So please...come with us on a journey back to when this classic album hit the streets!

SUUUUUU! We are comin through with U-God's first album "Golden Arms Redemption." An absolute underrated classic. Perfect beats and amazing lyrics. You are in for a real treat 90's hip hop heads. The Wu is the way and the Tang is the slang. U-God has his one-of-a-kind flow that will live on forever. Get ready for a dope one!