Episodes

In our first episode of 2021, B. Cox looks back at Gang Starr 's 1991 second album Step In The Arena ; an effort that saw the duo take a significant step up from their debut and truly began their ascent as one of the genre's most revered and respected units. Show Notes: Albumism: Gang's Starr's 'Step In The Arena' Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective https://www.albumism.com/features/2016/1/14/tribute-celebrating-25-years-of-gang-starr-step-in-the-arena UDiscoverMusic: Gang Starr's Underground C...

The crew ends an eventful 2020 by looking back at the top albums of 1990, 1995 and 2000 and apply their honorable mention and Top 5 rankings of albums for each respective album. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vault-classic-music-reviews-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this edition of "The Guest Lounge" , B. Cox chops it up with "The Professor" Nathan T. Rideaux of Urban Science Media LLC. Nathan is a hip-hop historian, author and content creator with his experience in the culture spanning from the early days of hip-hop. He is the writer and creator or Hip-Hop's #1 scripted podcast Playerz From The South , a drama chronicling the rise and journey of a southern hip-hop record executive and mogul during rap's heyday in the late 80s and the early 90s.. In addi...

B. Cox and J. Owe review Brand Nubian 's debut effort One For All ; an almost completely self-produced effort that infused soul, jazz and funk samples around rhymes that interspersed between politically and socially charged verses and fun loving lyrics familiar to hip-hop at the beginning of 1990s. Show Notes: Albumism: Brand Nubian's Debut Album 'One For All' Turns 30 | Anniversary Retrospective https://www.albumism.com/features/brand-nubian-debut-album-one-for-all-turns-30-anniversary-retrospe...

In this two-part "Throwback Edition" bonus episode of Cards, Dominoes, Drinks & Smoke , B. Cox takes on a journey in his past. In Part 1- The '95th Element , he talks about how the summer of 1995 and a bond of friendship based on music and hip-hop culture, coupled with a banner year for the genre, changed his life forever. In Part 2- Soul Ownership , he speaks on the impact that four exceptional "neo-soul" projects which dropped in the Year 2000 coincided with his coming of age and starting coll...

The crew looks back at Erykah Badu's 2000 masterpiece Mama's Gun; an album that discussed themes such as love, jealousy, insecurity, self expression and heartbreak all over a equally jazzy and funky musical backdrop highlighted by her genre defining voice and message. Show Notes: Albumism: Erkyah Badu's 'Mama's Gun' Turns 20 | Anniversary Retropective https://www.albumism.com/features/erykah-badu-mamas-gun-turns-20-anniversary-retrospective Stereogum: The Anniversary-Mama's Gun Turns 20 https://...

The crew takes a look back at Philly neo-soul artist Musiq Soulchild 's debut album Aijuswanaseing ; an unlikely success and "rags-to-riches" story that touched the hearts and minds of many with its depths of topics covering love, heartbreak, struggle and triumph over a soundtrack that was uniquely soulfully honest and authentic all the same. Show Notes: Albumism; Musiq Souchild's Debut Album "Aijuswanaseing" Turns 20 | Anniversary Retrospective https://www.albumism.com/features/musiq-soulchild...

B. Cox reviews Atlanta hip-hop group Goodie Mob 's 1995 debut album Soul Food . It is a foundational album for Atlanta and southern hip-hop and a gripping, yet brutally honest commentary of the ills within Atlanta and the black community at-large: mass incarceration, racism, gentrification, income disparity, and injustice. Show Notes Variety: 'Soul Food' At 25: Goodie Mob Looks Back on the Southern Rap Classic https://variety.com/2020/music/news/goodie-mob-interview-soul-food-1234817493/ The Qui...

B. Cox and J. Owe take a look back at Wu-Tang Clan's GZA (The Genius) 1995 classic album Liquid Swords ; an album that arrived with less fanfare than its counterparts, but which soon grew in mythical proportion with its mind bending lyrics, haunting production and a all-star cast of guest spots which made it one of the era's most pivotal pieces of work. Show Notes: Live for Live Music: GZA to Celebrate 'Liquid Swords' on its 25th Anniversary with LPR TV Livestream https://liveforlivemusic.com/ne...

B Cox and Domo look back on OutKast's critically acclaimed classic fourth album, 2000's Stankonia , where the iconic Atlanta duo stretched the limits of creativity and what was possible to bend hip-hop into other genres such as funk, jazz and psychedelic soul. Show Notes: AJC: Outkast's Stankonia Turns 20 With Reissue, Bundled Singles https://www.ajc.com/life/music-blog/outkasts-stankonia-turns-20-with-reissue-bundled-singles/5K7BORYHOFEKTFKMAZFVP2KPRQ/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircl...

B. Cox and Domo reminisce about Reflection Eterna l's soulful, yet powerful 2000 debut classic album Train of Though t. It was album that nodded heads, shook spirits and educated minds about the battle for the soul of hip-hop and Black America at the turn of the new millennium. It was a defining moment for both Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek. Show Notes: Albumism: Reflection Eternal's Debut Album 'Train of Thought' Turns 20 | Anniversary Retrospective https://www.albumism.com/features/reflection-eter...

B. Cox and J. Owe look back Brooklyn emcee's AZ's highly anticipated and acclaimed debut album, 1995's Do Or Die; a highly impressive effort that built on one of hip-hop's most eagerly awaited debut since the classic album Illmatic that kicked off his now legendary career. Show Notes: Albumism: AZ's debut album 'Do or Die' Turns 25 | Anniversary Retrospective https://www.albumism.com/features/az-debut-album-doe-or-die-turns-25-anniversary-retrospective Youtube: Do Or Die 20YrsLTR: BET Documentar...

B. Cox and Domo take a look back at Kool G Rap solo album debit 4, 5, 6..., an effort that saw one of the most respected and influential emcees in the game throw his hat in the ring and show that he could still make a mark among his successors who he influenced and who respected him so much. Show Notes: Albumism: Kool G Rap's Debut Solo Album '4, 5, 6' Turns 25- Anniversary Retrospective https://www.albumism.com/features/kool-g-rap-debut-solo-album-456-turns-25-anniversary-retrospective Record R...

In a bonus episode introducing "Pop Culture Corner" B. Cox looks back at Friday , a cult classic film that has continued to serve as a pop culture phenomenon and an memorable moment in black cinema even 25 years after its initial release. Show Notes: Vibe: Ice Cube celebrates 25th Anniversary of 'Friday' https://www.vibe.com/2020/04/ice-cube-celebrates-25th-anniversary-of-friday Medium: 25 Years Later: 8 Reason Why Friday is Still The Most Important Black Cult Classic https://medium.com/@blizzy...

In Part 2 of Tale of The Tape: Nas vs. Jay-Z , the Crew's continues to score the bout for the final 7 rounds until the conclusion of this match up, where you never know how the final score will end up! Part 2 features scoring and analysis of rounds 7-13. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-vault-classic-music-reviews-podcast/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this bonus segment of Tale of The Tape , this epic match up pits Nas against Jay-Z , two emcees that have the rare distinction of dominating both the 90s and the early 2000s, heightened by their rap feud in the early part of the new millennium. Despite their reconciliation, the debate between fans about who is the better rapper and emcee has persisted. The crew broke out the scorecards in an attempt to settle the score once and for all. Part 1 features our scores and analysis of Rounds 1-6. S...

The crew looks back at Faith Evans 1995 self-titled debut album, who gave Bad Boy Records a needed leading lady in a time and label that was known mainly for hip-hop. Show Notes Urban Bridgez: UB Celebrates: Faith Evans "You Used To Love Me" Turns 25 https://urbanbridgez.com/2020/07/17/ub-celebrates-faith-evans-you-used-to-love-me-turns-25/ Albumism: Happy Anniversary to Faith Evans' Debut Album "Faith" https://www.albumism.com/anniversaries/faith-evans-debut-album-faith Rated RnB: How Faith Eva...

B. Cox and J. Owe look back on LL Cool J 's classic fourth studio album 1990's Mama Said Knock You Out ; an effort dubbed as his comeback album after a lackluster critical review of his third studio album Walking With A Panther . His collaboration with legendary producer Marley Marl paved the way for a standout album with excellent production and hard hitting rhymes that let his fans know that he was here for the long haul. Show Notes The BoomBox: Every LL Cool J Album Ranked Worst to Best https...

In a bonus Segment of Cards, Dominoes, Drinks & Smoke , the crew discusses how the prevalence of new rap groups has disappeared over the last two decades. Hip-Hop was a culture that started largely with groups and crews. They ruled during the first 30 years of hip-hop. Why has the new generation not followed their predecessors path? Show Notes HipHopDX: Disappearing Acts: The Decline of Hip-Hop Groups https://hiphopdx.com/editorials/id.1985/title.disappearing-acts-the-decline-of-hip-hop-groups W...

The crew reviews Raekwon's pivotal 1995 debut album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... also more popularly known in hip-hop circles as "The Purple Tape" known for its distinctive color of the original cassette tape release. It was a project that innovated the Mafioso rap sub genre with tales of street life and crime enterprises crafted by superb rhyming, a flawless selection of beats and cast of guests which made it one of the best rap albums of the 1990s. Show Notes Albumism-Raekwon's debut solo album ...

B. Cox and J. Owe review Bone Thugs-N-Harmony 1995 full length debut E. 1999 Eternal , a project that served as a landmark to Cleveland, a way of life and style never seen or heard before and the apex of a innovative and captivating group that made their mark in the game as they memorialized their mentor: the late great Eazy-E. Show Notes: Albumism: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's 'E.1999 Eternal' Turns 25 | Anniversary Retrospective https://www.albumism.com/features/bone-thugs-n-harmony-e-1999-eternal-t...

The crew looks back fondily at Jill Scott's 2000 debut album Who is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1, a classic piece that deals with themes of love, discovery, vulnerability and the human spirit that continues to set a standard for neo soul artistry to this day. Show Notes: Stereogum: Who is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1 Turns 20. https://www.stereogum.com/2091104/who-is-jill-scott-review-20-years/franchises/reviews/the-anniversary/ Albumism: Jill Scott's debut album 'Who Is Jill Scott...

B. Cox welcomes back Kahlil Wonda from the Reggae Lover Podcast to discuss dancehall and reggae icon Buju Banto n's pivotal 1995 album Til Shiloh ; a project that hit all of the marks for quality, consistency, impact and legacy and one that still serves as a standard for modern reggae music and the world 25 years after its release. Show Notes Kahlil Wonda and the Reggae Lover Podcast Site. Follow them on social media and tune in for more news www.reggaelover.com Vibe Magazine July 2020: Buju Ban...

B. Cox and J. Owe look back at D'Angelo 's 1995 masterpiece debut Brown Sugar and its impact on "breaking the dam" for the neo soul sub-genre and making a name for himself in an R&B genre badly needing a fresh sound. Show Notes: Albumism: D'Angelo's Debut Album "Brown Sugar" Turns 25 | Anniversary Retrospective https://www.albumism.com/features/dangelo-debut-album-brown-sugar-turns-25-anniversary-retrospective OkayPlayer: D'Angelo's "Brown Sugar" Laid the Blueprint for the Neo-Soul Movement http...