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Glasses Malone on “Banned from Vlad TV,” Kendrick Lamar, and Why the Genre Was on the Line
Glasses Malone came onto The GAUDS Show focused on music, even as Ray Daniels opened by telling him he sees “a huge future in podcasting” for him. Glasses said he is staying centered on records, but added he has learned “to use stream to my benefit” for marketing and to keep ideas moving. From there, Daniels jumped straight into the new release, asking about a six song project called “Banned from Vlad TV.” “We call it a Digi Maxi single,” Glasses said, explaining why he sees
2 days ago


MixedByAli on Building EngineEars and Mixing Grammy Winning Classics from Kendrick, SZA, Mac Miller and More
Before he was the Grammy winning engineer behind some of the most iconic hip hop albums of the last decade, MixedbyAli was a tech savvy kid in Gardena with a cracked copy of ringtone software and a curiosity for sound. On the latest episode of The 3rd Verse Podcast, the 36 year old engineer and founder of music tech startup EngineEars shared the origin story that sparked his journey into defining the sonic identity of a generation. Ali's first experiments with audio came fro
Jan 7


Terrace Martin and Elmo with Some Tips for Young Musicians on How to Keep Their Gig
Terrace Martin’s name rings out for good reason. With roots in jazz, deep ties to West Coast hip-hop, and a résumé that spans from Kendrick Lamar to Herbie Hancock, the producer, saxophonist and multi-instrumentalist has built a career that’s not just impressive, but principled. On the Go with Elmo podcast, Martin opened up in a rare and honest conversation about what it means to stay grounded, the importance of collaboration, and how young musicians can shape a future that h
Jan 5


Gatekeepers, Mixtapes and Real Fans: The Cool Kids Reclaim the Conversation
The Cool Kids have always operated in their own lane. And in their recent sit-down with Bootleg Kev, the veteran duo broke down their journey through music, technology and the ever-evolving culture around them. What started as a conversation about their pandemic-era triple album quickly turned into an insightful reflection on staying relevant, avoiding the algorithm's chokehold and nurturing genuine fan relationships in a digital-first music industry. In the interview, Chuck
Jan 5


Five Years In, Rap Life Review Delivers a 2025 Recap Live
Apple Music's Rap Life Review marked its five-year anniversary with a live taping at Apple Studios in Los Angeles, pulling together rap journalists, artists, and staff to reflect on the current state of hip-hop. The show delivered a detailed review of 2025's biggest moments in rap, highlighting album releases, artist growth, and cultural shifts across the genre. Revisiting Bold Takes and Regional Shifts The episode opened with the crew's signature "Stand On It or Walk It Bac
Dec 30, 2025


Nas and DJ Premier Sit Down with Joe Budden to Talk “Light-Years” and Legacy
What does it look like when two of hip-hop’s most revered names finally lock in for a full album? For Nas and DJ Premier, the answer is Light-Years , a project decades in the making, shaped by respect, timing and an undying love for the culture. Premier’s hands have been on the boards for some of Nas’ most essential cuts since the early 90s, but this album is different. This time, they set the pace together from start to finish. In an extended sit-down with Joe Budden, the t
Dec 21, 2025


You Can Be Signed and Still Be Independent, LaRussell Says. He’s Also Been Talking with Roc Nation
On a late night edition of Earn Your Leisure's Wednesday livestream show Blackout, co-hosts Rashad Bilal and Ian Dunlap welcomed a surprise guest to the conversation: Vallejo artist and entrepreneur LaRussell. The rapper joined the show with the same clarity and directness that has made him a noted voice in conversations about music ownership and independent business models. LaRussell focused on structure and strategy. Through a measured conversation, he spoke on authenticit
Dec 11, 2025


Artists Debate Leaving Spotify as Monetization and Ownership Take Center Stage
A growing number of independent artists are weighing whether to remove their music from platforms like Spotify and Apple Music in favor of direct to fan monetization. In a recent episode of No Labels Necessary , Brandman Kory broke down the pros and cons of artists exiting traditional digital streaming platforms, highlighting examples from creators like LaRussell and Jack Harlow and analyzing commentary from other influencers like Tom Dupree III. The Arguments for Leaving DSP
Nov 17, 2025


Max B's Release, Kendrick vs Clipse, and Grammy Gaps Examined
Apple Music's latest Rap Life Review episode covered multiple developments in the hip hop world, including Grammy nominations, G Herbo's latest project, Max B’s release, and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions for Outkast and Salt-N-Pepa. G Herbo, Mental Health, and the Evolving Legacy of a Street Poet The hosts opened by discussing G Herbo’s new album, which they described as possibly the strongest release of his career. While the rapper has long faced criticism for rapp
Nov 17, 2025


Why LaRussell Spent $30,000 on a Single Song and Would Do It Again
During his recent sit down with the One More Time Podcast, LaRussell offered a wide ranging and transparent look into what it truly means to be an independent artist operating at scale. Early in the interview, he broke down the increasing demands of growth, saying, "The larger you get as an indie, the more you need." He likened the difference between early and current stages in his career to feeding a Chihuahua versus feeding a bear. When you’re operating at a higher level,
Nov 11, 2025


Jeremy Pays His Bet as the Crew Tackles Rap’s Decline
A major shift in music charts sparked one of the episode’s most focused discussions. For the first time in decades, no rap song appeared in the Billboard Hot 100’s top 40. That statistic came just after Kendrick and SZA’s “Luther” fell off the charts, marking a rare moment where hip hop’s presence had disappeared from a key space in popular music. Jeremy, Elliot, and DJ Hed explored the reasons behind the shift. DJ Hed revisited an earlier post he had written, where he calle
Nov 11, 2025


Punch Talks Building TDE From the Ground Up and Breaking Every Rule Along the Way
When Top Dawg Entertainment co-president Terrence “Punch” Henderson sat down with Elsie Not Elise , it felt like a full-circle moment. Nearly three decades after TDE quietly began inside a South Central garage, Punch spoke about those early days with the same clarity and humility that shaped the label’s run. He remembered the mid-90s origins vividly, when Top Dawg, still finding his way through the streets, built a small studio with dreams bigger than his block. “The studio l
Oct 28, 2025


Joey Bada$$ Shares Why He Canceled His Tour With Ab Soul and Rapsody, and It’s Deeper Than Sales
When Joey Bada$$ joined Rashad Bilal and Ian Dunlap on Blackout , the Brooklyn rapper brought his usual poise and introspection to the conversation. The appearance turned into a deep dive on growth, relationships, and shadow work before he broke down why his anticipated tour with Ab Soul and Rapsody was canceled. Throughout the conversation, Joey was steady and reflective, offering a glimpse into his mindset as both an artist and a man evolving past his twenties. The Blackou
Oct 23, 2025


Jacob York Breaks Down the Music Industry’s Illusions, Misconceptions and Missed Opportunities on The GAUDS Show
Jacob York rarely chases the spotlight, yet when he sat with Ray Daniels on The GAUDS Show he spoke with the kind of clarity that makes...
Sep 12, 2025


Bino Rideaux Confirms Upcoming Project with Nipsey Hussle: “It’s a Real Situation”
Los Angeles native Bino Rideaux sat down with Bootleg Kev for a wide ranging interview that pulled back the curtain on his evolution as...
Sep 8, 2025


Shawna “Peezy” Spears, VP of Marketing at Venice Music, on Building Artists for the Long Run
On a recent episode of the One More Time podcast, Venice Music’s VP of Marketing, Shawna "Peezy" Spears, sat down to talk about...
Sep 8, 2025


Vocal Coach Dear Callie Breaks Down the Art of Emotional Singing on NLN
In the latest episode of No Labels Necessary, the conversation leaned into the nuanced, often misunderstood world of singing. The...
Sep 8, 2025


“I Just Wanted to Start From Scratch”: How Kalan.FrFr Rebuilt California Player
In his first appearance on the show Effective Immediately with DJ Hed and Gina Views, Kalan.FrFr gave an unfiltered look into the...
Sep 3, 2025


Dan Gonzalez on guiding Artists through Money, Rights, and Structure
When listeners think of management, they often picture tour schedules, marketing, and public appearances. Dan Gonzalez made it clear in...
Aug 28, 2025
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