Diggin' In The Digits

We kick off our 2026 edition of UK Black History Month retrospectives on an artist that recently left us. Derek "Sway" Dasafo was making waves in the UK in the early/mid 00s, winning awards before he even dropped his debut album. Staunchly independent from start to finish, Sway was deft in flow and mixed deep subject matter with humorous concepts within his works.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:48)Charlie:Kareen Lomax - ijan Emmy Meli - All About LoveKooley High - Clear The AirChaka Khan - ChakzillaAyanna Witter-Johnson - New RootsKalisway - UnstoppableThee Sinseers - Love StoriesJhene Aiko - Westside WhimsyEzra Collective - Here Because of HopeTopic Intro/Ben's Research House - (13:14)This Is My Demo - (20:24) The Signature LP - (34:19) The Deliverance - (49:50) Lighter Note - (1:02:04) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUKChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Hip-Hop was not just built by Black people, there was also a Latin contingent that had a hand in the foundations of Hip-Hop. Enter Mellow Man Ace, Cuban-American pioneer of Latin Rap with a bilingual USP, wearing his inspirations on his sleeve and being an inspiration to many others, even the entire genre of Reggaeton.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:46)Ben:Nemzzz - LOCKED INHeadie One - MMMCharlie:Thandii & Regalado - Coco OkayoPremo Rice - Another Night at The ChateauLusanda - By The Time I Wake UpScattrbrain - Scattrbrain & The Unwavering Self DoubtJourden - A Tree Grows In BrooklynTopic Intro/Ben's Research House - (9:04)Escape from Havana - (14:34)The Brother with Two Tongues - (25:13)From the Darkness into the Light - (33:22)Vengo a Cobrar - (40:46)Restoring Order - (49:29)Lighter Note - (59:24) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUKChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

With a fresh aesthetic and all the support you could want, Busta Rhymes took his solo opportunity and ran with it, becoming one of the most in-demand Hip-Hop voices of the late 90s/early 00s along with a visual track record that holds up to this day. However, being in-demand as a feature meant his albums followed the trend of the day, for better or worse.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:59)Charlie:Blu & Sndtrak - LAAaron May - Enjoy The RideDizzee Rascal - We Want BassSylvan LaCue - Depths of a Man : A Memoir by Sylvan LaCueLiana Flores - And so it goes...corto.alto - SOME SMALL FORTUNEI Am An Instrument - Wonder, WanderChildren of Zeus - As The World Burns... Dezarie - Power ShiftA-F-R-O - Trap Door 2Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (16:39)The Coming - (22:48)When Disaster Strikes... - (27:58)Extinction Level Event: The Final World Front - (31:36)Anarchy - (36:42)Genesis - (40:51)It Ain't Safe No More... - (45:34)The Big Bang - (51:09)Back on My B.S. - (57:13)Year of the Dragon - (1:00:37)Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath of God - (1:04:50)Blockbusta - (1:11:09)Lighter Note - (1:20:09) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUKChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Leaders of the New School - the group that now historically serves as the proving ground for a future Busta Rhymes solo career - was a peppy bunch of rappers with great chemistry. Surprising considering the creative differences that would eventually cut their existence short.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:42)Ben:E-40 - Turning my Money OverThe Game - The Documentary IIIMick Jenkins & Greenslime - Black Ass Kung Fu FlickChelsea Wolfe - The DarkeJula Holter - MateriaDenzel Curry x Kenny Beats - IIRapsody - God Gotta Afro & Gold HoopsCharlie:Headie One - MMMAaron Taylor - "Tell Me of Love!"Kabaka Pyramid - Rebel Music - The Lyrics TapeBishop Nehru - I Hate My Birthday: Moments Before Forever Alabama Shakes - I Must Be Dreaming Nyota Parker & Jay Jody - Confused Admirationflowerovlove - MINI SKIRT WARRIORDahi - Black Boy (Alternative)Busta Rhymes & J Dilla - DILLAGENCE IIErykah Badu & The Alchemist - Before The World BlowsTopic Intro/Ben's Research House - (18:39)A Future Without a Past... - (23:47) T.I.M.E. - (35:24) Lighter Note - (47:27) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUKChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

A foundational member of the Native Tongues collective - releasing two of the first three albums under that collective umbrella - Jungle Brothers were sonically ahead of their time and have kept steady up until this decade.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:10)Charlie:Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats - iiJohn Wells - F*CK The ALGORITHMthreetwenty - separate from the noise (side b)Adanna Duru - THE NAIJAMERICAN DREAMJorja Smith - What Are The OddsZenesoul - Under the Same SkyQueen Ifrica - Breath Of LifeRapsody - God Gotta Afro & Gold HoopsCleo Sol - GentlewomanTopic Intro/Ben's Research House - (14:36)Straight out the Jungle - (19:04)Done by the Forces of Nature - (28:23)J Beez wit the Remedy - (36:48)Raw Deluxe - (43:29)V.I.P. - (50:15)All That We Do - (56:36)I Got U - (1:01:39)Keep It Jungle - (1:06:09Lighter Note - (1:12:08) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved.Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Music for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @The5thElementUKChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence