This week, we talk to Buckshot, the creative force behind the classic group Black Moon and the co-founder of the seminal underground label Duck Down Records. He recently released The Solution, a duo project with producer 9th Wonder. We spoke to him about that great record, as well as his classic work with Black Moon. His candor and unique outlook led to a fascinating conversation!

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/24/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we talk to Peter Rosenberg, DJ at NYC’s legendary Hot 97. Peter is a co-host of the popular morning show and also has a Sunday night underground program. He’s the host of the game show Hip Hop Squares, runs the popular Noisemakers interview series, and has his own Juan Epstein podcast. He talked to us about his history, the Summer Jam controversy, his definition of “real hip-hop,” and more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/25/ for full show notes and comments.

We talk to one of my personal favorite emcees, Boots Riley of The Coup. He’s been putting out funny, politically engaged music since 1991 and is, in my opinion, one of the best rappers working today. In addition to leading The Coup, Boots is also a member of the group Streetsweeper Social Club with Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello. The Coup’s latest album, Sorry to Bother You, is in stores now.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/26/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we talk to Reggie Osse, better known as Combat Jack. Reggie is a blogger and a host of The Combat Jack Show on PNC Radio. Before that, though, he was a successful music lawyer with his hand in almost every hot rap and r&b song of the 90’s. We talk to Reggie about his past, present, and future — and about a little website he had a recent run-in with called Rap Genius…

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/27/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we have a conversation with Freddie Foxxx, a.k.a. Bumpy Knuckles. Since his 1989 debut album Freddie Foxxx Is Here, he’s been known for his great rhymes, but also for his frank talk about the state of the record business, especially on his Industry Shakedown album. He’s worked with some of the most legendary figures in hip-hop, including Eric B., KRS-One, DJ Premier, and lots more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/28/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we have a two-part extravaganza. In the first half of the show, we have a conversation from this past fall with rising star Dee-1. We chat with the New Orleans native about his city, his music, and why the “Stop Snitching” movement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. After that, we talk to r&b star Bilal about his songwriting process, how to avoid being “corny” when writing love songs, and his memoires of super-producer J. Dilla.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/29/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we talk to DJ Muggs. Muggs is best known for his work with Cypress Hill, but he also has a long and storied career as a producer for such mega-hits as “Jump Around” and “Check Yo Self.” He has also put out a ton of solo albums, as well as collaborations with the likes of Ill Bill, GZA, and Sick Jacken. His latest, just-released solo album is Bass For Your Face.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/30/ for full show notes and comments.

We talk to the amazing Sadat X, known for both his seminal work with Brand Nubian and his plethora of high-quality solo work. His unique, off-kilter voice and style have kept the hip-hop nation entertained since his group’s seminal 1990 debut One for All. His latest album, out this past December, is called Love, Hell or Right.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/31/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we talk to a man who needs no introduction, Big Daddy Kane. Kane tells us about his legacy, dissing Erick Sermon, who really produced his first album, and tons more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/32/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we talk to one of our favorite up-and-coming rappers, Meyhem Lauren. Lauren’s rapping agility, style, sense of humor, and love of a gourmet meal have moved him way up on our list in just a handful of year. Along with his friends and frequent collaborators Roc Marciano and childhood friend Action Bronson, he is leading a resurgance of New York rap. We talked to Lauren about his career, his beef with Pitchfork, and lots more!

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/33/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we have a conversation with A&R man, producer, and all-around Renaissance man Dante Ross. Ross has had an instrumental role in the careers of acts like Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Busta Rhymes, Brand Nubian, Everlast, De La Soul, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, KMD, and tons more. We talked to him about the highlights and wild times of his extensive career.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/34/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we talk to author Adam Mansbach. While Mansbach is best-known for the satirical childrens book Go the Fuck to Sleep, his novels like Angry Black White Boy and The End of the Jews examine some of the thorniest issues in American life — race, culture, family, and the paradoxes and conflicts in all of them. His latest novel is the “graffiti revenge” story Rage Is Back.

We have two special guests for this show. DJ J. Period accompanied Mansbach to our studio. J is a well-respected mixtape DJ, and he created an excellent companion tape to Rage Is Back that features songs from artists like Black Thought and Talib Kweli. We were also joined by Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Viglione, who entered our conversation when it turned to his favorite drummer, jazz legend Elvin Jones, for whom Mansbach worked for almost six years as a drum tech.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/35/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we talk to DJ and producer Mr. Len. Len is best known for his work with underground rap heroes Company Flow. In addition to his DJ duties there, he also has two superb solo projects to his name (including the upcoming Marvels of Yestermorrow), and continues to DJ for a wide variety of hip-hop artists, including Jean Grae.

Len is joined by special guest MeLa Machinko, a superb singer who has been on the hooks of some of your favorite rap songs. Her upcoming album is called Hov Said It Best.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/36/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we talk to one of our favorite rising stars, Brooklyn rapper Sene.  His first big leap into notoriety was with 2009’s A Day Late & A Dollar Short, a collaborative album with Blu.  That was followed by 2012’s superb Brooklyknight.  He has since turned into a whirlwind of activity, releasing solo material and doing albums with projects like Recess and Denetia & Sene.  His vast musical imagination and fearless spirit have turned him into one of our favorite artists.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/37/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we talk to hip-hop comedy duo Eric and Jeff Rosenthal, better known as ItsTheReal. The brothers began by making hilarious sketch comedy videos, moved on to podcasting, and now have just released an actual mixtape, Urbane Outfitters. Their on-point humor, which makes fun both of and with rappers, has remained constant throughout.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/38/ for full show notes and comments.

This all-Louisiana-everything episode has two special conversations from South by Southwest. First, we talk to Mystikal, and go through his whole trip from his early days in New Orleans to stardom to his James Brown-inspired comeback.

Then we have an incredible chat with Kevin Gates. Gates is a Baton Rouge native whose powerful, open, emotional style and lyrics have him on a rapid rise to stardom. He is also perhaps the most captivating and unique personality we’ve come across at Outside the Lines, and we’re proud to share our talk with you.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/39/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we talk to Milk Dee. Along with his brother Giz, they formed the Audio Two, an influential duo whose biggest hit, “Top Billin’,” has been sampled or interpolated by pretty much every rapper alive. We chat with Milk about the Audio Two, his successful production career (he was behind Eamon’s monster hit “Fuck It”), and the work of his sister, the legendary MC Lyte.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/40/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we talk to R.A. the Rugged Man. The underground hip-hop legend has been making great music (and pissing off record labels!) since the 1990s. We talked to him about his brutally honest lyrics, his friendships with Biggie and Norah Jones, his biggest inspirations, and tons more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/41/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we bring you a convo with Michael P. Jeffries, author of Paint the White House Black: Barack Obama and the Meaning of Race in America, a fascinating examination of how we think about race in a supposedly “post-racial” America.

Jeffries is also a huge hip-hop head, and has written about rap music and culture for The Guardian, The Atlantic, and more. We talk to him about Tupac and “thuggin’,” Rick Ross’ controversial “U.O.E.N.O.” lyrics, the changing meaning of being multi-racial, and lots more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/42/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we talk to Bill Adler. Bill is best-known for his time as director of publicity for Def Jam and Rush Management from 1984-1990. During that period, he helped to guide the careers of some of hip-hop’s most legendary artists, including LL Cool J, Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys, Public Enemy, and more. He shares stories about many of those groups with us today.

In addition to his work at Def Jam, Bill has written several books, worked on TV documentaries, ran an art gallery, and, in his early years, worked closely with the famous hippie leader John Sinclair. We talk about all of that and more in this epic conversation.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/43/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we bring you a career-spanning conversation with DJ, radio personality, and comedian Cipha Sounds. Ciph is best known for his on-air position at NYC’s Hot 97 but, as you’ll hear, he’s had a wide-ranging career that goes from the depths of the underground scene to the heights of 90’s blinged-out maximalism. In between, he somehow found time to have a key role in one of the greatest TV series of our time, The Chapelle Show. We talk to him about all that and much more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/44/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we talk to hip-hop impresario Michael Holman. Holman was instrumental in bringing the burgeoning culture in Uptown NYC in the late 1970s — the breakdancers, the DJs, the rappers, and the aerosol artists — to a Downtown crowd and, shortly afterwards, to the rest of the world. He wrote books, made short films, hosted TV shows, made albums, managed breakdance troupes, acted in movies, hosted live shows, you name it. Holman also co-founded the band Gray, whose members have included the legendary artist Jean-Michel Basquiat and film director Vincent Gallo.

He is perhaps best known for Graffiti Rock, a TV show he created and hosted in 1984, which was a Soul Train-style show for hip-hop. While it only aired for one episode, its influence is still being felt. In fact, Holman is currently putting together a documentary on the making of Graffiti Rock. You can find out more about the project, and help him make it, here.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/45/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we talk to Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ron Isley of the Isley Brothers. Ron and his brothers got their start singing together in the late 1940s, but had their first giant hit with 1959’s “Shout.” They rode an incredible streak of success through their time with Motown, and then revamped their lineup in the 1970s, adding younger members to create classic jams like “It’s Your Thing,” “That Lady,” and “Between the Sheets.” More recently, Ron played “Mr. Biggs” in a series of fantastic duets with R. Kelly. His newest project is Dinner And A Movie.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/46/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we bring you a talk with one of our favorite up-and-coming emcees, Awkword. This rapper and activist doesn’t just talk about social issues — he has an extensive history of social activism and charity work to go along with his dope, creative rhymes. We talked about all kinds of things, from his unusual rap moniker to his upcoming World View project, a 100% for charity album that has performers from literally all over the world

But even more than his good deeds, it’s his music that brought Awkword to the show. His beats and rhymes hearken back to a pre-Giuliani New York City, and it is this keeping-it-real vibe that has allowed him to collaborate with NYC stars like Joell Ortiz and Sean Price. We talked to him about music, politics, life, and all that good stuff.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/47/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we bring you an interview with writer T.M. Wolf. Wolf is the author of Sound, one of the most awesome novels we’ve seen in years. Check out an excerpt, annotated by the author, on Rap Genius.

The book tells the story of Cincy, a former grad student who returns to his Jersey shore hometown for a summer and falls in love and into a mystery. But it’s how the book is written that’s a kicker. Wolf uses techniques he learned from hip-hop (layering, repetition with variation, and more) to create a book that looks different from anything we’ve ever seen. Listen to find out more!

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/48/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we have a talk with one of hip-hop’s first superstars - Guy Williams, better known as Rahiem (of all the ladies’ dreams), from Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. The Five took their sound and style from parties in the Bronx to stages all over the world, while having massive, world-changing hit songs like “The Message” and “White Lines.” We talked to Rahiem about his life and times with the Five and afterwards, and got some incredible tales of his, and a whole genre’s, rise to the top

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/49/ for full show notes and comments.

To celebrate fifty episodes of Outside the Lines With Rap Genius, we’re bringing you a very special best-of show. Hear the most fascinating moments of our first fifty episodes. Guests include Nas, RZA, Saul Williams, Big Daddy Kane, Jean Grae, Ron Isley, and TONS more!

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/50/ for full show notes and comments.

This show, we bring you Umar bin Hassan of The Last Poets. Umar is a long-running and key member of the legendary group, and we talk to him about everything he’s seen. From his youthful adventures as a shoeshine boy to being forced out of his hometown on pain of death; from being a veritable prince of Harlem to his battles with drug addiction; from Gil Scott-Heron to Miles Davis — we travel through it all.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/51/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, author Adam Mansbach (Go the Fuck to Sleep, Rage Is Back) returns to the show to talk about his new book, a thriller called The Dead Run. He’s joined by Chicago poet Kevin Coval who, in addition to his awesome poetry, also runs the largest youth poetry festival in the nation, Louder Than A Bomb. Join us as we talk rap, race, Judaism, Chief Keef, which KRS album is the greatest, and what “hackles” really are.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/52/ for full show notes and comments.

We have a very special episode of Outside the Lines With Rap Genius for you. It’s been one year almost to the day since Kendrick Lamar’s instant classic good kid, m.A.A.d city was released, and RG’s very own Nicole Otero sat down with K. Dot to get inside the record. Get the behind-the-scenes scoop on what inspired one of the most heralded albums of recent years, straight from the artist himself.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/53/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode of the Cipher, we bring you a talk with Brian Brater, co-founder of Rawkus Records. Rawkus was perhaps the single most important underground record label of the 90s, putting out singles and albums featuring artists like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Company Flow, Pharoahe Monch, Big L, Common, Eminem, and more

Brater tells us about the ups, downs, hits, misses, and the couple big ones that got away. So lace up your Timbs, grab your backpack, and join us as we talk to Brater about hip-hop’s last real golden age

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/54/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we talk the best of old-school NYC life and hip-hop with two folks who know it better than almost anybody. MC Serch is best known for his work with 3rd Bass, but has also executive produced classic albums (including a little one called Illmatic), hosted TV shows, and more.

Blake “KEO” Lethem is a true hip-hop Renaissance man. From being an influential graffiti artist to arguably the first white rapper to designing album covers for the likes of MF DOOM, Blake has seen and done it all, and shares much of it with us here. We talk nightlife, stardom, graffiti’s TRUE relationship to hip-hop, and that time Hammer put out a hit on 3rd Bass.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/55/ for full show notes and comments.

KRS-One is a hip-hop legend beyond compare. He began his career with the classic Criminal Minded, arguably the album that invented gangsta rap. But after the death of his DJ Scott LaRock, KRS took a different turn and began educating and challenging his audience with classics like “You Must Learn,” “Why Is That?” and “My Philosophy.” KRS discussed his work past and present, Plato’s cave, vegetarianism, wants vs. needs, and tons more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/56/ for full show notes and comments.

Complex calls Paul Stewart “an unsung hero of L.A. hip-hop,” and this interview shows just how true that is. From his early days breaking Tone-Loc and Young MC to guiding Coolio and the Pharcyde to the heights of success to overseeing the music in movies like Hustle & Flow, Stewart has seen and done it all, West Coast-style.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/57/ for full show notes and comments.

Returning guest Bill Adler is many things — music archivist, gallerist, head of PR for Def Jam at its creative apex — but he’s also a well-known Christmas music nut. After marrying into a Christian family, he started finding the best, most under-appreciated Christmas music he could, and putting it together into a compilation. He’s been sending his Christmas Jollies mixes to family and friends every year since the early 80s.

His mixes, despite having a relatively small circulation, have gotten tons of attention over the years. So we decided to talk to him about seasonal tunes, including his very important role in creating a certain holiday standard. He gave us insight into some key Christmas samples (Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis”, to name one), his own Christmas favorites, and more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/58/ for full show notes and comments.

Lance Scott Walker began his journey to document the Houston rap scene and surrounding culture with photographer Peter Beste in 2004, quickly discovering just how much there was to learn. But Houston rap - and the layers of community and culture that surround it - goes so much beyond the music. The book engages with the community surrounding the music just as much as the music and artists themselves, providing insight into the great changes brought upon some of the city’s most historic neighborhoods through gentrification and how those changes affect the city’s people.

In our conversation with Lance, we talked the significance of the local and national success of groups like Geto Boys, the long lasting influence of DJ Screw, the city’s obsession with syrup, gentrification overtaking old historical neighborhoods, and much more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/59/ for full show notes and comments.

Hempstead, Long Island’s Roc Marciano started his career out learning from the best, working closely with artists like Busta Rhymes and Pete Rock, but went solo in 2010 with the album Marcberg. Since breaking out into the spotlight, Marciano has been praised for his dynamic, soulful production and funny, clever rhymes - just some of the elements to his music that make him successful as a solo act.

We spoke to Roc about his fashion influences (the era of all velour suits, Nike Air Maxes, Pelle Soda Club jackets…), the way he first heard the music that shaped his own, the power of “blend tapes”, and more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/60/ for full show notes and comments.

We talk to author Robert Greene, who’s famous bestseller, The 48 Laws of Power, took ideas from students of legends like Machiavelli and Sun Tzu, and distilled their teachings into simple principles anyone can follow. The book became beloved by rappers like Jay Z, Kanye West, and even 50 Cent, who loved Greene’s work so much that the two ended up writing a book together.

Greene’s latest book, just out in paperback, is Mastery. It focuses on how one can discover and excel at their “life’s work” — the skill that one is uniquely good at. Greene engages with problems in modern day society, thought, and practice through a multi-disciplinary approach, taking each issue on a variety of playing fields — this multi-faceted perspective is part of what makes his opinions so hard-hitting. We talk that magical 10,000 hours moment when the master bypasses logic, the similarities between Napoleon Bonaparte and 50, the decline of empathy in today’s society, his feelings about that famous Richard Sherman interview, and much more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/61/ for full show notes and comments.

Beginning with a hometown crew and a particular style of chopped and screwed remixes, Michael Watts successfully turned regional mix tape distribution into a record label empire - turning the national hip hop scene onto the Houston rap community. As we heard from our talk with Houston Rap author Lance Scott Walker, the Houston rap landscape is an incredibly rich one - widely defined by the rappers, producers, and DJs who have never and will never truly leave the city. No one knows that better than Watts.

We talked to the legendary DJ, founder and CEO of Swishahouse Records about the origins of chopped and screwed music, his “fuck action” mixtapes, the hype behind Mike Jones, the beginnings of Swishahouse, and much more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/62/ for full show notes and comments.

Hailing from Harlem, Loaded Lux is considered a true pioneer and legend in battle rap. Lux grew up surrounded by battle rap culture, where cyphers were popping off around every corner in Harlem. He began his professional battle rap career featured on the early SMACK DVD’s in the mid 2000’s, and went on to go undefeated 7 weeks straight on 106 & Park’s Freestyle Friday to be inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2007. He released his mixtape “You Gon’ Get This Work” in 2013 after his famous slogan, and is prepping his sophomore album set to release in 2014.

Loaded Lux is no ordinary battle rapper, counting Jay Z, Diddy, and Busta Rhymes as fans. His powerful delivery, nasty wordplay, and deep bars that cut into his opponents have racked him up countless wins — most notably in a recent high stakes battle against Hollow.

We talked why successful people love competition, the magic of history, the Black Panthers, Harlem’s battle rap scene, Illmind, and more with Lux.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/63/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we talk to Dan Charnas, industry veteran, prolific music journalist, screenwriter, and most recently author of The Big Payback, the definitive history of hip hop business. Charnas began in the mailroom of the seminal rap label Profile Records, eventually becoming Rap A&R and Promotion Manager — working on projects from Run-D.M.C., Dana Dane, Special Ed, Rob Base, Special Ed and DJ Quik. He was one of the first writers for The Source, part of the movement to create hip hop journalism. He was hired by Rick Rubin to run the rap department of his new Warner Bros joint venture, American Recordings. He went on to play many more roles within and surrounding the hip hop industry, getting deeply involved in projects including Sir Mix-A-Lot’s double-platinum single “Baby Got Back”, DJ Kool’s gold anthem “Let Me Clear My Throat,” and Chino XL’s acclaimed “Here To Save You All”.

As an incredibly talented writer and incredibly savvy man, Charnas set out about 4 years ago to begin constructing a complete history of hip hop business. What began as a potential news article quickly took a life of its own and this year he finally saw the completion of his work, acclaimed by the New York Times as “epic” and by Forbes as “a mature, Pulitzer-worthy work, an integral account of essential urban history”. The book contains detailed accounts of major transitions and deals made within the hip hop industry that would shape the music landscape for years to come.

We talk the dichotomy between being rich and being real, black capital in America, Bronx based beat hip hop vs. DJ Hollywood’s “club rap”, and more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/64/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we talk to one of hip hop’s most honored rappers — Rakim Allah, the God MC. Rakim was only a teenager when he broke into the New York rap scene as part of famed Golden Era duo Eric B & Rakim, with Eric B sampling and mixing, Rakim as the MC. From the MC’s beginning, he was influential — credited with creating the technique of internal rhyming in rap music. While his Long Island neighbors in Public Enemy were setting the stage with black nationalism in rap, Rakim, a member of the Five Percent Nation of Islam, explored a mindful spirituality of his own.

Eric B & Rakim released 4 albums together, including Paid in Full, Follow the Leader, Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em, and finally Don’t Sweat the Technique. Their perhaps most famous album, Paid in Full, is credited with revolutionizing what old school rappers had done before them. Rakim led what one NY Times writer called “a quiet musical revolution, introducing a soft-spoken rapping style”. In 1993, he and Eric B. split up, Rakim changed record companies, and after four years of silence, he embarked upon a solo career, releasing 4 albums. His most recent album, released in 2009, The Seventh Seal grapples with many emotions: optimism about President Obama’s election, mixed with the struggles of people losing jobs and homes.

We talked to the legendary MC about some of his most famous lines, his experience growing up in a musical home, breaking into the NY rap scene from Long Island, triple stage darkness, writing rhymes in graffiti, and much more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/65/ for full show notes and comments.

Longtime listeners to the show will recall Pharoahe Monch as OTL’s first three-peat guest, first appearing on the show in July 2012. This time, we sat down with Pharoahe and his manager Guy Routte to talk PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: Pharoahe’s new album that’s dropping today. With a desire to continue exploring themes of violence, peace, war, and recovery as well as exploring his own dealings with mental health, Pharoahe transformed what was originally supposed to be an EP into a full length album following his last album, W.A.R. (We Are Renegades).

PTSD is at once a very personal and a very removed project. Pharaohe speaks for many people beyond himself through PTSD, slipping into different narrators to communicate larger issues of dealing with trauma in multiple spheres — in marginalized black communities, in war veterans, and in his own life. The narrator of the record splits into multiple layers — a PTSD riddled veteran grappling with problems of love and drugs and Pharoahe talking about his own career and personal life.

We talked PTSD, how the hip hop genre has changed, how mental health affects the black community, themes of gun violence, sanity and insanity, dealing with depression, the musical and thematic evolution of Pharaohe’s style, and whether or not PTSD is actually Pharaohe’s last full-length album.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/66/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode of OTL is a special one. We got the incredible opportunity to sit down with the Don, Nas, to engage him in a back and forth about his iconic album, Illmatic. The debut album of Nas and a landmark album in both its regional scene and in the overarching hip hop landscape, Illmatic is a work that continues to hold the same poignance, genius, and relevance today.

Hosted by OTL host Shawn Setaro and Nicole Otero at the Rap Genius Ranch at South by Southwest, the conversation included questions from the hosts themselves, RG users, and even members from the audience who were able to participate in their own Q&A. Nas answered candidly with answers that inform some of the deepest thematic chords that run throughout the album, along with stories of his childhood and come up in the Queensbridge, New York.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/67/ for full show notes and comments.

Grand Mixer DXT’s invention of the turntable as a musical instrument changed hip hop forever. His background as a jazz drummer gave him not just great rhythm, but inspired him to use the turntables to create pitch. These kinds of innovations brought DXT to the attention of Herbie Hancock, who used the DJ in his 1983 album Future Shock. The single from that album, “Rockit”, launched DXT to worldwide attention. He toured all over the world with the Rockit band, and continued innovating with the turntables. Since those days, DXT has continued being a influential DJ and artist. Most recently, DXT and a group of pioneering DJs were inducted into Hollywood’s Rock Hall of Fame.

We talk with DXT at Rap Genius’ office in Brooklyn. About 40 minutes into the conversation, DXT is joined by Infinity Emcees member Rahiem, who has worked with DXT for decades. We talked New York DJ history, what the turntable did to hop hop, Herbie Hancock and “Rockit”, and much more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/68/ for full show notes and comments.

Gangsta Boo joined Three 6 Mafia when she was only a teen. To this day, she is still the first and only female member of the group. After a successful run with the group, she left and embarked upon a flourishing solo career. One of the most active and consistent MCs in the game, Gangsta Boo has worked with some of the South’s best over the course of her career. Memphis born and bred, her sound will be forever engrained in the traditions and classic sound of the city. Honest, hard-hitting, and forever unafraid of her competition, Gangsta Boo has a sound that will continue to be influential for years to come. These days, you can find her working on a new project, Witch, with fellow MC La Chat and producer DJ Paul.

We talked how the Memphis sound is taken without homage paid, the influence of bounce music on her own style, the origins of “get your broke ass out of the club”, some of her most iconic lines, and more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/69/ for full show notes and comments.

YC the Cynic is a constantly changing MC. “You’re Welcome”, his first mixtape in 2010, saw YC rapping over classic New York beats — exploring the lineage of rappers that came before him. By the time he released his next mixtape, “Fall Forward”, the following year, the rapper was already exploring and defining a new space for himself. Containing mostly original production, “Fall Forward” allowed YC to experiment, delving into complex, diverse, and imaginative flows, both in rhyme and subject matter. “Fall Forward” proved to be the breakout tape for YC, the success riding off the project pushing him further towards bigger collaborations and bigger stages. A founding member of the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective, YC has traveled with the group in the context of music, social justice, and community engagement alike, weaving the three into a tandem mission.

His newest project, “GNK”, sees YC engaging with some of the themes he does best: the complex associations behind certain uses of language and how speaking through different perspectives can be equally personal and universal.

We spoke to the Cynic about bearing the cross of the Bronx, New York hip hop, gentrification, the similarities behind “profit” and “prophet”, what does it mean to pay homage, the many voices behind “GNK”, and more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/70/ for full show notes and comments.

Saul Williams is man who can wear many hats: actor, rapper, poet. For Williams, the line was never cut between fields; instead, he was always trying to blend, to collaborate, to draw from one medium to influence another. In third grade, Williams was rapping in Shakespearean English and French — simply because that’s what he was learning in school. By the time he was 16, he was writing one of the first hip hop operas — or “hip hopera”. Williams most recent role sees him taking on the legacy of Tupac Shakur in the Broadway musical, ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’, based on the songs of the legendary MC. The musical doesn’t shy away from tough topics, tackling issues such as gun violence and racism head on — through the lens of a community that fights against outside pressure together, that feels its pains together.

We talked to Williams about the influence Pac had on him, his role in ‘Holler’, rhymes, racism, home grown terrorism, when comes the time to stop “turning the other cheek”, and much more.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/71/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we talk with Todd Kreidler, the writer behind the Broadway musical based on the life and music of 2pac, ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’. Kreidler was tasked with taking on the legacy of legendary MC 2Pac Shakur, an initially daunting prospect. Through his use of 2Pac’s songs, spirit, and description of the world around him, Kreidler crafted a musical that doesn’t shy away from tough topics, that tackles issues such as gun violence and racism head on — through the lens of a community that fights against outside pressure together, that feels its pains together. Kreidler saw the musical as a chance to take the “I” away from the music and take a look into the universe of characters that lived within 2pac’s songs. Comparing 2Pac to Shakespeare, Kreidler spoke of the worlds 2Pac created with his lyrics — ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’ gets the chance to give pieces of 2Pac’s dialogue and story to many characters, building a community around them similar to the one 2Pac himself got to experience and absorb in his own life

We talk with Kreidler about the process of writing the play, the similarities between Pac and Shakespeare, why certain songs were chosen and certain songs left out, and more

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/72/ for full show notes and comments.

This week, we talk to Christopher Jackson, one of the lead actors in Broadway’s ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’, the musical based on Tupac’s legacy. When ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’ first hit Broadway, it was marketed as not just a story about Tupac’s music, but as a story about love — and that’s just what it is, a story about love within a world similar to that which Tupac lived, experienced, and rapped about. The play tackles issues such as gun violence, poverty, and racism head-on — all through the lens of a community that feels its pains together. ‘Holler’ is a play that fights against Broadway’s increasingly homogenized landscape, daring to tell a story that doesn’t fit into the cookie cutter Broadway mold.

We talked to Broadway vet Christopher Jackson, Vertus in the production, about Broadway’s changing landscape, the significance of co-star Saul Williams’ work as a slam poet and actor, the cultural relevance of Pac, and how ‘Holler”s reviews revealed an ugly truth about Broadway culture today.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/73/ for full show notes and comments.