The Rap Writers Show

Jermaine Hall, editor-in-chief for Level, joins the show. Recorded on Combat Jack Day, the veteran editor shares stories on his early days interning for VIBE, running things at King, his favorite era of VIBE, and more. Manny, Reed, and Eric discuss Jermaine’s latest endeavor – launching the Medium vertical Level – and what it means to black and brown men in their 30s. The guys talk best hip-hop and R&B albums of the 2010s, and #DiepThoughts bids a final (?) farewell to our Rap Ryders. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Gary Suarez, freelance journalist and music critic, joins the show. Gary shares his untraditional journey of getting into professional music writing, building up bylines at esteemed publications through “hustle and luck” before specializing in música urbana. Manny and Eric get the 4-1-1 on music’s most important wave, and Gary shares his takes on why Rosalía stirs so much controversy. Afterwards, the guys break down Bad Bunny as the artist of the decade and the show wraps with fireball takes in The Spice Rack. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Shawn Setaro, senior staff writer for Complex, joins the show. Recorded before the sentencing of Tekashi 6ix9ine, Shawn discusses with Reed and Eric about his journey into music writing — from being the EIC for Rap Genius to launching the hip-hop podcast The Cipher. Later, Shawn shares his experience covering the 6ix9ine Nine Trey trial, and we predict the rapper’s future career in hip-hop. Good/Bad is on Fivio Foreign and Dai Burger. Eric and Shawn trade horror stories in The Darkest Hour. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Alphonse Pierre, staff writer for Pitchfork, and Regina Cho, a freelance journalist with bylines on Billboard, DJBooth, and more, join the show. In this special episode, the pair discuss with Reed and Eric about Twitter being a tool for music journalists and when hot takes go too far. Later, we do a round of mini year-end lists on unexpected favorites, guilty pleasure songs, and albums we still have on repeat. Finally, Manny, who was on vacation, checks in from Bali. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Michelle Kim, staff writer for Them., joins the show. We discuss the reemergence of Frank Ocean and the purpose of his PrEP+ parties in New York, getting first-hand accounts from Reed and Michelle. Later, we ask ourselves if we really need a Frank Ocean rap album right now. Eric returns with #DiepThoughts and it gets extreme. We also do Good/Bad on Lord Apex, BEAM, MC Kevin O Chris, and Tinashe. The Spice Rack is back to give spicy takes ranking Frank’s discography. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

In the Season 4 premiere, TRWS returns as a trio. Veteran journalist and author Kathy Landoli joins the show to talk about her new book ‘God Save the Queens,’ the Nubian Goddess vs. Sex Kitten complex, and the women who are moving hip-hop forward now. In Good/Bad, we review songs by JT, Westside Gunn, Future, and that Joyner Lucas/Eminem leak. Manny rants about the news he clicks on in Random Noise. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

On the final episode of Season 3 , we visit Spotify's NY headquarters to record a mailbag episode. We field questions about rap regionalism, the rise and fall of Fetty Wap and what it means for pop culture now that Drake has won the NBA Finals MVP. Eric shares existential #DiepThoughts about the sustainability of a career in rap writing and we rate songs from Polo G and Pop Smoke. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Hunter Harris, staff writer at Vulture, breaks out of Twitter jail to join the show. We do a deep dive on Hunter speaking her truth about "A Star Is Born" and Taylor Swift's #Mayochella. We also discuss Lizzo's reaction to a lukewarm Pitchfork review and the importance of critics in today's media landscape. Finally we rate songs from Beyonce, Young Nudy and Rico Nasty. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Timmhotep Aku, venerated writer and curator, joins the show. We examine Lil Uzi’s stint in label purgatory and do a deep dive on how rappers get trapped in bad deals in the primes of their careers. We also rate songs from The BoyBoy West Coast, Mach-Hommy and 2 Chainz. And Eric shares #DiepThoughtz on breaking bad habits. Word to Nav.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Charles Holmes a.k.a. Otter Gawd, a staff writer for Rolling Stone, joins the show to talk about finding his passion in writing and landing his dream gig after freelancing for MTV, Complex, and more. The 2019 XXL Freshman issue is right around the corner, and the guys talk possible lists, if the publication should have all women rappers on the cover and if it's beneficial to artists who vie for a solo cover. We also rate songs by Dave and Lil Nas X and Reed shares a spicy take on the “beautiful” Solange album. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Frannie Kelley, co-host of Microphone Check, joins the show. We share stories from times we let emotions get in the way of facts, talk about who gets to tell artists' stories and what would happen if writers went independent. We also rate Travis Scott and Earth Wind and Fire’s Grammy performance and Eric shares #DiepThoughtz on turning 31.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Billboard's news director Dan Rys joins the show. He talks about almost vomiting before interviewing Lil Wayne, ethics in music journalism and hot takes getting in the way of real takes. We also rate songs from Boogie, Czarface and Blueface and Eric shares #DiepThoughtz on setting positive goals all 2019.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

In the Season 2 finale we welcome an all-star panel - Cory Townes, Janice Williams, Lauren Gesswein, Nick Fulcher, Brittany Spanos, Kai Acevedo and Reina - for a look back on 2018. We share peaks and valleys of our years; break down Cardi B’s best moments and the messiness of Nicki's album rollout; and rate songs from Pusha T, Letta Mbulu and Tom Misch. Finally, we share dark stories from industry holiday parties and beyond. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Writer-curator-personality Kazeem “Kaz” Famuyide joins the show to talk about his journey from The Source to starting a magazine with Steve Stoute to juggling jobs as a multi-hyphenate creative. We also discuss the viability of music publications in the current climate and the power of brands who understand their consumers. And finally we rate songs from Wynne, Meek Mill and Mark Morrison. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Writer Adelle Platon joins the show to talk about humble beginnings at Vibe, her time at Tidal and her latest transition to Netflix. We also discuss the ways in which music writers pivot to new careers to stay afloat creatively and financially. Eric shares #DiepThoughtz about puns and we rate songs from Neelam, Takeoff and Blac Chyna. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Briana Younger, The New Yorker's music editor, shares her story from working in radio and writing as a side hustle to becoming a culture critic for an elite publication. We also discuss the speed of the streaming era, new artists getting overlooked and how writers/fans can possibly keep up. Eric shares #DiepThoughtz about Young Greatness and we rate songs from Smino, Daniel Caesar and John Legend. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Writer Paul Cantor joins the show to share his story from growing up in Staten Island wanting to produce for Ghostface to writing feature stories on Combat Jack and J. Cole. We also examine the state of celebrity profiles and the ways artists control their narratives. Eric shares #DiepThoughtz about mental health and we rate songs from Jean Deaux, Channel Tres and Shia LaBeouf. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Writer Sowmya Krishnamurthy joins the show to share her rap game journey from moonlighting at Bad Boy to being a MTV panelist to penning cover stories for XXL. We also discuss the challenges of critiquing late-career artists like Wayne, Nicki and Alien Ye. Finally, Eric leaves a voicemail for Logic and we listen to new songs from Jacquees, Ozuna, Young Dolph and more. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Genius’s Mikey Fresh joins the show to reflect on rap’s blog era, the quest of Asian rappers crossing over and play a world premiere of Ted Park’s new single. We also do a deep dive on race, rate songs from Tizzy T, Gunna and SOBxRBE and share dark stories from hip-hop’s hellscape then and now. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support

Reed, Manny and Dan do an emotional deep-dive about the death of Mac Miller, how much it hurts to lose artists who feel like friends and how to ask for help even when you’re supposed to be the “strong one.” We also review songs from Kota The Friend, Russ and SAINt JHN, Eric shares #DiepThoughtz about food pairings (?) and we share spicy takes about Eminem and “The After Party.” --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/therapwritersshow/support