Rap
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Bone Thugs-N-Harmony’s ‘E. 1999 Eternal,’ a Midwestern G-Funk Classic
Hear Shea ruminate about his nostalgia for this album, while Jinx recounts the group’s legacy of putting Cleveland on the map with this Midwestern G-Funk classic
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How the Deaths of Biggie and 2Pac Changed Rap Media Forever
Twenty-five years ago Wednesday, the Notorious B.I.G. was killed, marking the end of the most violent chapter in hip-hop’s history. For the writers and editors who covered his and Tupac’s lives and music, the tragedies stick with them to this day.
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Where Are Hip-hop’s Superstars?
Charles and Justin Charity examine the current dilemmas that make it so hard to sustain a career in hip-hop
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No One Is Sleeping on the Bulls Anymore, and Mike Love Is Sick of LeBron and Kanye
Jason is joined by the Chicago radio icon to discuss ‘Jeen-yuhs,’ Kanye West’s rise, and separating art from artist
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Wu-Tang Clan’s ‘Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)’
Jinx and Shea take a trip to Shaolin to discuss Wu-Tang Clan’s debut masterpiece, ‘Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)’
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‘Jeen-yuhs’ Parts 2 and 3 Reactions
Plus, discussing the ‘Euphoria’ finale and Lexi’s play
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Unfinished or Not, Kanye’s ‘Donda 2’ Is a Fascinating Art Experiment
The current state of Kanye West is one in which albums are living documents whose real-time creation has been packaged and commodified alongside the music itself
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The Russian Invasion of Ukraine and DJ Akademiks on Misinformation
Plus, there’s a breakdown of the disparity between the WNBA and NBA
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Jay Rock’s ‘Redemption’
This week, Jinx and Shea give TDE’s first soldier, Jay Rock, his flowers when celebrating his third studio album, ‘Redemption’
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Proper Twitter Ratios, The Undertaker to the HOF, Omega’s Cody Comments
Plus, debating whether Kanye is a mark and discussing a potential Logan Paul vs. Bad Bunny match
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A Kevin Wildes–Dave Jacoby Reunion, Plus Freddie Gibbs Finally Comes On
Bill, Jacoby, and Wildes discuss a wide range of topics, including NBA All-Star Weekend, LeBron James’s future in Los Angeles, and Aaron Rodgers on social media
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Talking ‘Jeen-Yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy’ With Directors Coodie and Chike
Plus, Van and Rachel discuss the NFL hiring Loretta Lynch and Eric Adams meeting with drill rap artists
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Chief Keef: ‘Finally Rich’ | Vol. 3 Ep. 3
Plus, hear the guys break down the genius of Young Chop and Chief Keef on songs like "I Don’t Like," "Love Sosa," and "Laughing to the Bank," before determining who is in Chicago’s all-time rapper starting five
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Reactions to ‘Jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy Act I’
Charles Holmes, Justin Sayles and Logan Murdock discuss the first installment of the documentary, which tracks Kanye West’s rise from young Chicago producer to solo artist
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Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp, and the L.A. Experience
Jason, James, and Ryan detail their experiences watching the Super Bowl and predict which teams will be in next year’s big game
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Netflix’s Kanye West Doc Demands Your Attention, Even If He Doesn’t Anymore
The three-part documentary series, which rolls out on Netflix weekly beginning Wednesday, is both a genesis story and a revelation
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The Super Bowl Halftime Recap and a Talk With Timothy Ware-Hill
Plus, Van and Rachel discuss their concern around drill music and a related rise in violence
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The Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Was a Win for Hip-Hop, Mary J. Blige, and Your Youth
The Dr. Dre–led set was a long-overdue milestone for rap and may draw headlines beyond the performance, but it’s worth celebrating for its opulence
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The New Yeezy 450, Plus Cousin Stizz on His Favorite Sneaker Buys and New Album
Wos previews upcoming sneaker releases before chatting with the Boston rapper about his album, his kicks, and the Celtics
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Juvenile: ‘400 Degreez’ | Vol. 3 Ep. 2
Jinx and Shea are joined by Oscar-winning producer and Ringer staff member Van Lathan to discuss ‘400 Degreez’ by Cash Money Records’ breakout star, Juvenile
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The 50 Best Works of Will Smith’s Career
From movies and TV to albums and songs—and a few miscellaneous items in between—here is the definitive ranking of everything Will Smith
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The Misunderstood Legacy of Will Smith’s Music Career
The man formerly known as the Fresh Prince won the first rap Grammy, but is rarely looked upon as an impactful artist these days. His evolution in hip-hop is more interesting than he’s given credit for.
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Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Preview. Plus: Mitski’s ‘Laurel Hell’
Charles and Grace discuss what to expect from Dr. Dre and Co. this Sunday
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Madvillain: ‘Madvillainy’ | Vol. 3 Ep. 1
Jinx and Shea discuss how the late MF DOOM laid abstract rap concepts over sultry beats on tracks like "All Caps" and "Curls," while giving all praise to Madlib, one of the greatest hip-hop producers of all time
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Talking About All the Things We Don’t Want to Talk About
Charity and Micah also discuss down the Kanye West–Julia Fox relationship
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Dollars to Donuts: The 40 Best J Dilla Songs of All Time, Ranked
From the Pharcyde to Slum Village to the unreleased beat tapes, we dive deep into the catalog of one of the best producers to ever touch an MPC
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Rihanna’s Having a Baby! Plus: ‘Dilla Time’
The hosts react to Rihanna’s pregnancy announcement and Justin Sayles interviews author Dan Charnas about his new J Dilla book
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Reinventing the Myth of J Dilla
Dan Charnas, the author of the new book ‘Dilla Time,’ discusses the life and work of the legendary hip-hop producer and why music journalism doesn’t often allow for this kind of storytelling
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The Glacially Paced Greatness of ‘Chillin Island’
The HBO Max series, which wraps its first season on Friday, is the latest worthwhile entry into a genre best described as "slow comedy"
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Tupac Against the World
Rob breaks down the complicated life and indelible legacy of one of the most important figures hip-hop ever produced, including his megahit "California Love"
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A Guide to Movie Trailer Music. Plus: Earl Sweatshirt’s ‘Sick!’
Charles and Grace question the phenomenon of weird movie trailer music and Paul Thompson joins the show to discuss the history and transformation of Earl Sweatshirt
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‘Station Eleven’ Mailbag, ‘Dawn FM,’ and ‘SICK!’
Justin Charity and Micah Peters discuss new albums from Gunna, The Weeknd, and Earl Sweatshirt