DXBreakdown

23 Episodes

Reverse

Are Rap Crews Dead?

2020-01-0913:27

In 2019 we've got Griselda, Brockhampton, ASAP Mob, Beast Coast and more. In this podcast we look at the history of rap crews, why they started to break up and more. Did rap crews die? Are they making a comeback? Either way Wu-Tang is forever.

Was 2019 Hip Hop's Most Forgettable Year This Decade?

2020-01-0913:23

2019 is coming to a close. Was it a good or bad year for Hip Hop? We break it down.

How The Feeling Of A Time Period Can Influence A Classic Album

2020-01-0914:49

Recently Nas said that he’s tired of celebrating “Illmatic” and wants to move on from that part of his discography. Hearing Nas talk about Illmatic got me thinking about what makes an album so impactful. Of course, the album has to be incredible front to back. That’s a given. But what I think could be the most important aspect of creating a timeless album, has NOTHING to do with the music and EVERYTHING to do with the FEELING of the time period attached to that album. From NWA’s Straight Outta Compton, Jay Z’s The Blueprint, Nas’ Illmatic, Kanye West’s The College Dropout, 50 Cent’s Get Rich Or Die Tryin and Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly, here’s how the time period effects how we experience the music.

How The Media Influences Hip Hop

2020-01-0915:14

In this podcast we look at how much of an influence the hip hop media has on the fans and artists. We look at Joe Budden, Charlamagne Tha God, DJ Akademiks and the careers of Tyler The Creator, Drake, Russ, Birdman and more.

The Less Is More Theory - The Gucci Mane Vs. Kendrick Lamar Approach To Dropping Albums

2020-01-0915:06

It’s officially been over 900 days since Kendrick Lamar has dropped an album. In that same time frame, Gucci Mane has dropped 5 albums. So... is there such a thing as dropping too much or too little music? And how much time should artists take between projects in the streaming era? Quality vs. Quantity in hip-hop. Let’s Break It Down.

Will Tekashi Be Hip Hop's Most Successful Snitch?

2020-01-0915:56

In this podcast we take a look at the whole Tekashi situation from a new perspective while also looking at what people like 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, DaBaby, T.I. and more have to say about the rainbow haired kid. Will he be able to have a career after snitching? We’ll have to see.

The Middle Child Theory

2020-01-0713:25

In this podcast we take another look at rap’s generation gap. Has it gotten better over the course of the past couple of years? We have a theory that the middle generation of rappers could actually be responsible for bridging the gap.

Is Street Credibility Necessary To Be Considered The Goat? (Eminem Vs. Lord Jamar)

2020-01-0716:11

For years, Lord Jamar has been coming at Eminem using VladTV as his platform. Finally, things have came to a boiling point. In this episode of the podcast we discuss whether the “hood” has to love you or if you need street credibility to be in the GOAT conversation. And at the end, Page has some words for Lord Jamar.

Are Bars Enough Anymore?

2020-01-0715:59

There are so many amazing rappers who can bend words, hit you with the dopest metaphors and paint vivid pictures with their lyrics. But a lot of them are overlooked and remain as “underground rappers,” especially in the internet age. So it got us thinking… Are bars enough to blow in 2019? What are the essentials for getting your bars into the mainstream in this new era of hip-hop? Let’s break it down. In this video Page Kennedy and HipHopDX look at the 2019 XXL Freshman class like YBN Cordae, Megan Thee Stallion, Tierra Whack, Da Baby and Blueface as well as rappers like Logic, Joyner Lucas, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole and Dreamville. Hit that subscribe and notification button to keep up with all our new episodes.

The 3 Lane Theory: J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar & Drake

2017-11-1712:35

With Hip Hop and R&B surpassing Rock as the most popular genre of music in the US, rap is now technically “pop” or “popular” music. It might be time to redefine how we classify the music of our culture. Murs presents his 3 Lane Theory: Hip Hop, Hip-Pop & Pop. Let’s break it down…

Diddy Vs. Dr. Dre: Hip Hop’s Superman Vs. Batman

2017-11-1711:51

In the world of hip hop super powers, you’d be hard pressed to find two larger entities than Diddy and Dr. Dre. Recently, there’s been two dope documentaries that have come out about each of them - The Defiant Ones on HBO and Can’t Stop Won’t Stop on Apple Music. But what if our Batman and Superman faced off in a battle for hip hop supremacy? Let’s break it down…

Is JAY-Z’s Reasonable Doubt Overrated?

2017-11-1711:11

Jigga Man, Hov, Jay-Z, Sean Carter: One of hip hop’s consummate entrepreneurs and god MC’s once again has the streets buzzing this week with his new release 4:44. Also, this week his debut album Reasonable Doubt turns 21 years old. Touted in many hip hop circles as his best work with some even going as far to say it is the definitive hip hop masterpiece. But is Reasonable Doubt overrated? Let’s break it down...

Why Tupac Is Bigger Than Your Top 5

2017-11-1710:35

Without a doubt, Tupac Shakur is the most infamous and celebrated MC in the history of hip hop culture. But let's take it a step further - is Tupac bigger than hip hop culture? Is Tupac Shakur bigger than your top 5 dead or alive? Let's break it down…

Eminem: The Greatest Rapper Of All Time

2017-11-1409:28

Here’s a serious question: Does Eminem consider himself the greatest of all time? In a medium where participants regularly call themselves “The Best Rapper Alive” or give their albums self-referential titles like The G.O.A.T., for an emcee as accomplished Marshall Mathers to dance around the topic stands out like a green hat with an orange bill. We dig into Slim Shady’s relationship with the throne in this edition of The Breakdown.

Why Nicki Minaj Should Not Respond To Remy Ma

2017-11-1412:57

Remy Ma shook Hip Hop when she released shEther, a 6:57 mollywop upside rap’s reigning queen, Nicki Minaj, reportedly in response to subliminal disses delivered by Nicki in February. With still no response from Nicki, Remy retaliated again with “Another One,” a wacktastic followup to shEther that ignited the social media hashtag #ThatWasTrashRemy, leaving many to wonder if Nicki Minaj will ever respond to Remy Ma.

Future & Mumble Rap's Ironic Origin

2017-11-1412:48

This week's #DXBreakdown is all about Future's polarizing rhyme style. While he's absolutely fathered a generation, Hip Hop purists have been critical of the Atlanta rapper's often inaudible lyrics and autotune. Many have questioned whether modern mumble rap is awful or awesome. This edition explores Future's Dungeon Family experience and theorizes how and why his enigmatic style took over the world. Thank you to Rico Wade of Organized Noize and George Clinton for the insight.

Ghostwriting: Rap's Messiest Secret

2017-11-1411:44

DJ Khaled’s “Shinin” featuring Beyonce and Jay Z seems to include another subliminal aimed at Drake. But what would an outward battle between Hov and Drizzy actually look like, considering the two MCs each come from eras with differing tolerance for ghostwriting? But how is lyrical greatness defined when crews are enlisted to craft classics? Stones Throw Records MC Homeboy Sandman, as well as Rude Jude from the All Out Show on Shade45 share their perspective on rap’s dirtiest secret.

Andre 3000: The Greatest Rapper Of All Time

2017-11-1410:59

Andre 3000 is one of the most celebrated MCs in Hip Hop. From his visceral storytelling to his impeccable imagination. He’s half of one the most genre bending collectives in music. But since he and his partner Big Boi changed Hip Hop as a duo, many are reluctant to crown him the greatest of all time because he has yet to release a solo rap album. This week’s breakdown tackles that conversation. Thank you to Andre Benjamin and Kawan Prather for providing exclusive insight into the conversation.

Is A$AP Rocky Overrated?

2017-11-1413:21

A$AP Rocky’s had an incredible run over the past six years. He’s notched two #1 albums (Long.Live.A$AP & At.Long.Last. A$AP). He’s the face of the prestigious Dior Homme fashion house. He’s Harlem’s reigning champion. But according to an uncredited list ranking rappers that went viral in December 2016, A$AP Rocky is somehow overrated. This week’s Breakdown delves into Rocky’s magnanimous accomplishments, and asks whether MCs that choose not to tackle social issues on wax deserve to be considered overrated.

Barack Obama & Kanye West: A Look At Their Public Relationship

2017-11-1409:01

This is dope to think about. For the past 8 years, Hip Hop has been welcome in the White House. President Barack Obama embraced the culture throughout his time in office—fist bumping, dusting off his shoulders on the campaign trail, shaking hands with Kendrick Lamar in the Oval Office. These are historical firsts. What’s also interesting is watching the public relationship between Obama and Kanye West. Let’s break it down...

#box-pro-ellipsis-173237938197261{-webkit-line-clamp:2;}DXBreakdown