Season 6 Premieres Feb. 6, 2024!!!

Videos

June 11, 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 to 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…

View more
April 14, 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…

View more
April 8, 2024

Gang Starr: Hard To Earn (1994). Operation Mass Appeal

B. Cox reviews Gang Starr's classic fourth album Hard To Earn as it turns 30. After the critical success of 1992's Daily Operation, Guru and DJ Premier took a brief hiatus to pursue individual projects. Guru launched his Jazzmatazz series and Premier became one of the most sought after producers…

View more
April 5, 2024

Eminem: The Slim Shady LP (1999). The Age of Slim Shady Begins

B. Cox and Domo review Eminem's sophomore album The Slim Shady LP as it turns 25. The now legendary emcee was just a little know upstart white rapper from Detroit when he blew up the underground scene by tearing through the '97 Rap Olympics. Despite losing in the finals, the…

View more
March 17, 2024

2023 Year End Review: '93, 98 & '03 Rankings

In the last episode of the year, B. Cox and J.Owe give their personal rankings and honorable mentions for hip-hop and R&B albums for the 1993, 1998 and 2003. A reminder that next year, we will be moving to a seasonal format. The new season launches February 2024! Visit The…

View more
March 12, 2024

DMX: Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood (1998). The Era of X

B. Cox and J Owe look back at the late DMX's second studio album Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood as it turns 25. After setting the industry on fire during the previous year and a half and the explosive success of his debut It's Dark and Hell…

View more
March 10, 2024

Jay-Z: The Black Album (2003). "On that note, I'm leavin' after this song"

B. Cox reminisces about Jay-Z's eight album The Black Album as it turns 20. Heading into this album, it was being touted as Jay-Z last album as he was to "retire" to take up the mantle of president of Def Jam Records after the album was released. The news and…

View more
March 5, 2024

Snoop Doggy Dogg: Doggystyle (1993). It's More Than Hype...

B. Cox and J. Owe look back at at the momentous occasion of Snoop Doggy Dogg's classic debut album Doggystyle as it turns 30. Fresh off the heels of his breakthrough performance on several tracks on Dr. Dre's The Chronic released not even a year prior, he set to set…

View more
March 3, 2024

A Tribe Called Quest: Midnight Marauders (1993). "Linden Boulevard Represent, Represent..."

The crew reviews A Tribe Called Quest's classic third album Midnight Marauders as it turns 30. Off the heels of their groundbreaking sophomore debut, 1991's The Low End Theory, the group rebounded to put through what many to believe to be their most cohesive work yet. After famously making the…

View more
Feb. 25, 2024

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast (152) - Wu-Tang Clan: Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993

The crew reviews the almighty *Wu-Tang Clan* and their iconic classic debut album Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) as it turns 30. After doing what seemed the impossible to assemble a supergroup of emcees hailing from Staten Island and Brooklyn, the collective gained major notoriety with their debut single "Protect…

View more
Feb. 20, 2024

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast (151) - Black Moon: Enta Da Stage (1993). "Straight from Cr

B. Cox and J Owe look back at *Black Moon* 's debut classic album Enta Da Stage as it turns 30. The Brooklyn trio made up of DJ/producer DJ Evil Dee and emcees Buckshot (fka Buckshot Shorty) and 5ft began their journey in high school, shopping around demos and looking…

View more
Feb. 18, 2024

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast (150) - OutKast: Aquemini (1998). "Until They Close The Cur

B. Cox and J. Owe look back at *OutKast'* s classic third album Aquemini as it turns 25. After the success of their sophomore album, 1996's ATLiens , Andre and Big Boi both had major life events that affected their outlooks and artistry, included breakups and the start of fatherhood.…

View more
Feb. 6, 2024

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast (149) - Jay-Z: Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life (1998). Superstardo

B. Cox and Domo review *Jay-Z* 's third album Vol. 2...Hard Knock Life as it turns 25. Looking to improve on his commercial success from Vol. 1...In My Lifetime , Jay-Z looked to bring on new producers to give his album the commercial shine without the sound being overglossed. In…

View more
Feb. 3, 2024

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast (145) - Souls Of Mischief: '93 Til Infinity (1993). "This i

B. Cox and J.Owe look back at Oakland rap group *Souls of Mischief* debut album 93 Til Infinity as it turns 30. In the midst of a coastal emergence and commercial recognition in both southern California and the Bay-Area, the teenage group became major players in the Oakland underground scene.…

View more
Jan. 23, 2024

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast - BONUS EPISODE: September 29, 1998 (9-29-98). A Day To Go

In this bonus episode, B. Cox looks back at one of the greatest and consequential hip-hop release dates on the last 25 years: September 29, 1998. On this date, five highly anticipated hip-hop albums hit the stores: *Jay-Z* 's Vol 2...Hard Knock Life , *Outkast* 's Aquemini , *A Tribe…

View more
Jan. 18, 2024

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast (147) - Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998)

B Cox reviews *Lauryn Hill* 's classic debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill as turns 25. After a a breakout classic album The Score with The Fugees and a worldwide successful tour, the singer-emcee found herself at a crossroads as she found herself not only in a new relationship…

View more
Jan. 15, 2024

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast (146) - Tha Alkaholiks: 21 & Over (1993). "Likwit" Hip-Hop

B. Cox reviews West Coast hip-hop trio *Tha Alkaholiks* debut album 21 & Over , as it turns 30. The trio, made up of emcees *Tash, E-Swift and J-Ro* , formed in the late 1980s and were mentored by legend *King Tee*. After signing to Loud/RCA, the group started recording…

View more
Jan. 13, 2024

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast - BONUS EPISODE: Hip-Hop Celebrating 50 Years-A Perspectiv

B. Cox pays homage to hip-hop as it turns 50 years old. For much of the year, the recognized beginning of the genre, culture and societal phenomenon called hip-hop has been celebrated, lauded and congratulated worldwide for changing the world as we see it. He goes over a brief history…

View more
Jan. 5, 2024

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast (145) - Toni Braxton: Toni Braxton (1993). "There Can Only

B. Cox and Domo fondly recollect on *Toni Braxton* 's classic self-titled debut album as it turns 30. The Maryland native, who started in an R&B group with her now famous sisters, made her name first known after her standout performances on the wildly popular Boomerang Original Soundtrack the previous…

View more
Dec. 3, 2023

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast (143) - Tony! Toni! Tone!: Sons Of Soul (1993). The Journey

B. Cox reviews *Tony! Toni! Tone!* 's classic third album Sons of Soul as it turns 30. After their mega hit sophomore album, 1990s The Revival , the group and this album continued on its predecessors success with experimentation on their sound. Seeking different sound without a change in musical…

View more
Oct. 27, 2023

Little Brother: The Listening (2003). They Called Next... (feat. Chris "Kinetik" Mitchell)

B. Cox is joined by Chris Mitchell (Kinetik) of the Breaking Atoms Podcast to review Little Brother's classic debut studio album The Listening as it turns 20. The group, which was formerly made up of the trio of emcees Phonte and Big Pooh and producer 9th Wonder, met as students…

View more
Oct. 24, 2023

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast (142) - Brandy: Never Say Never (1998). The Next Level

B. Cox and Domo review *Brandy* 's classic sophomore album Never Say Never as it turns 25. After her smash eponymous debut album helped make her a household name among R&B fans, Brandy began to diversify her portfolio as an entertainer, starring her own sitcom Moesha , the Cinderella remake…

View more
Oct. 3, 2023

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast - Pop Culture Corner! Menace II Society...30 Years Later

In a bonus segment of "Pop Culture Corner", B. Cox & J. Owe look back at Menace II Society as it turns 30. The film starred *Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate, Jada Pinkett Smith, Charles S. Dutton* and rapper *MC Eiht* among others, It was directed by brothers *Allen and Albert…

View more
Sept. 27, 2023

The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast - DMX: It's Dark And Hell Is Hot (1998). The Dark Man Comet

B. Cox and J. Owe review *DMX* 's classic debut album It's Dark And Hell It's Hot as it turns 25. After spending years in the underground and paying his dues on the scene, the late Yonkers emcee burst onto the public scene in 1997 with a string of high…

View more