The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast is a show hosted by 'Xennial' music fans that grew up during hip-hop's golden era of 1990s and the boom of the early 2000s. We review classic hip-hop, R&B and reggae albums 20, 25 and 30 years after their release to give our reflections and to see if they still stand the test of time. It's a personal perspective on classics from a fresh point of view.

Featured Episodes

Kanye West-The College Dropout: A Birth Within "The Dynasty"

158

Feb. 5, 2024

Kanye West-The College Dropout: A Birth Within "The Dynasty"

In our premiere of Season 6, we welcome Van Everette from The Scenario Radio Show review Kanye West 's debut classic album The College Dropout as it turns 20. After serving in the background as a producer for many of Roc-A-Fella Records best albums through the early 2000s, the Chicago-based producer took his turn as a feature act. The album was recorded over a four year period from 1999 to 2003 and is constructed during the period of many memorable moments of his life, including his near-catastr

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March 18, 2024

Usher: Confessions (2004). Lightning In a Bottle

B. Cox and Domo review Usher 's Confessions as it turns 20. After his successful third album 8701, Usher underwent a number of changes in his life including his breakup from his girlfriend Chili from TLC and he was soon to become a father. In crafting his follow up, he wished to craft an album that was a well rounded album that touched man influences: from traditional classic R&B, throwback R&B, jazz and hip-hop. He worked with all star cast of producers and writers. Among them were Jermaine Dup

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March 25, 2024

Pop Culture Corner! Above The Rim (1994) at 30

B. Cox is joined by special guests Christina & Miguel of TROY (They Reminisce Over You) Podcast to discuss the cult-classic basketball film Above The Rim as it turns 30. Written by Barry Michael Cooper and the late director Jeff Pollack, the film starred the likes of Duane Martin, Leon, the late Tupac Shakur, Marlon Wayans and the late Bernie Mac among others in a tale a high school basketball star who is caught between two worlds and must make the best choice for his future. The film became a c

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April 15, 2024

Nas's Illmatic (1994) Turns 30 (feat. TROY Podcast)

B. Cox is joined once again by Miguel and Christina of TROY Podcast to discuss Nas 's iconic debut album Illmatic turning 30. They discuss its standing among hip-hop's all-time great albums, how it affected Nas's career in the aftermath, some of the most memorable bars and their favorite songs. To listen to our 2019 review of Illmatic at 25, please listen here! Follow Miguel & Christina and TROY Podcast troypodcast.com Buy TROY Podcast Merchandise teethang.com Visit The Vault Classic Music Revie

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May 11, 2026

T.I.-King (2006): A Royal Charge To The Throne

After a lengthy absence, B. Cox returns to review hip-hop legend T.I. 's explosive fourth album King as it turns 20. After stepping onto the scene and making himself known with his debut album, 2001's I'm Serious , the Atlanta rap star made further waves and saw larger success with his sophomore and junior albums, 2003's Trap Muzik and 2004's Urban Legend , respectively. He was looking to take the next step with this effort and make a claim as the professed "King Of The South" at a time when Atl

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Common: Be (2005). Coming Home Is Always GOOD

176

May 19, 2025

Common: Be (2005). Coming Home Is Always GOOD

B. Cox reviews Common 's classic sixth album Be as it turns 20. In light of the commercial failure and mixed critical reviews, Common found some common ground in aligning with fellow Chicago hip-hop royalty Kanye West and his GOOD Music imprint on Geffen Record. A former pupil of No. ID , who produced the majority of Common's second and third albums ( Resurrection and One Day It'll All Make Sense , respectively), West proved to be a good match to get Common back on tracks and back to his hip-hop

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Common: Like Water For Chocolate. The Souls of Black Folks

175

April 1, 2025

Common: Like Water For Chocolate. The Souls of Black Folks

B. Cox returns with a look back at Common 's landmark fourth album, Like Water For Chocolate as it turns 30. After his breakthrough sophomore album 1994's Resurrection and his acclaimed third album 1997's One Day It'll All Make Sense, the Chicago emcee picked up his roots and moved to New York City and linked up with Questlove , The Roots and other creatives who were working within the Electric Lady Studios. There he collaborated with the aforementioned, D'Angelo , super producer DJ Premier , mu

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The Game: The Documentary (2005). Based on A True Compton Story

170

Jan. 20, 2025

The Game: The Documentary (2005). Based on A True Compton Story

As we open 2025 to continue Season 7, B. Cox reviews The Game's debut album The Documentary as it turns 20. After coming up with a rough upbringing which led him to gang life, the drug game and shooting that left him in a coma, the Compton native embarked on a journey to become a rap star, studying the classic albums of his youth and adolescence as a blueprint to pattern himself after. After he got started and released mixtapes on Get Low Records with Bay area star, JT the Bigga Figga, he was di

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Nov. 14, 2024

Back To The Vault...Vol. 1

In the long awaited premiere of Season 7, B. Cox kicks things off by going "Back To the Vault" and looking back 25 and 30 years to four original album reviews covered in the first season: 1994's Notorious B.I.G .'s debut classic Ready to Die and Scarface 's classic third album The Diary as well as 1999's Mos Def's (nka Yasiin Bey) Black On Both Sides and Pharoahe Monch 's Internal Affairs . He looks to see what, if anything has changed his opinion about these albums and how their standing in the

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Da Brat: Funkdafied (1994). A Platinum Plaque Fit For A Lady.

168

July 2, 2024

Da Brat: Funkdafied (1994). A Platinum Plaque Fit For A Lady.

In our Season 6 finale, B. Cox is joined by Mac from MacTasticTV to review Chicago lady emcee Da Brat 's debut album Funkdafied as it turns 30. Hailing from the west side of "The Chi", Da Brat got her chance at a deal when she won a Chicago rap contest and met the teen group Kriss Kross , who were signed to Jermaine Dupri 's So So Def record label based in Atlanta. At the urging of the group, Dupri listened to her music and signed her to a deal. The debut album, produced entirely by Dupri, is pa

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