• How To Build a Record Label: Vision Play on Industry Secrets & Success - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 80)
    Jan 24 2026

    In this episode, the pod sits down with the full roster of Vision Play Ent. to celebrate the release of their new album, The VZN SZN. We talk everything from the internal chemistry of the squad and the transition from the booth to the boardroom, to the individual journeys of artists and executives like JY, Rain910, Maliibu Miitch, Lea Robinson, and A.Chic.

    We chop it up about the "Battle Rappers can't make music" stigma, the reality of ghostwriting in the industry today, and tell a few legendary stories you won't hear anywhere else. From Roc Boy Beats breaking down the hardware vs. software debate to stories about the Bronx and Issa Rae, we’re giving you a front-row seat to Vision Play.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro (The Lox - Blood Pressure)

    2:33 What’s Going On?

    8:24 Malibu Mitch

    12:20 Lea Robinson

    17:00 Nicki Minaj & Foxy Brown

    25:20 Rain910

    28:01 Part 2

    28:40 PC

    29:47 A.Chic

    37:50 Battle Rappers Can’t Make Music

    40:54 Movie

    45:28 Ghostwriting in the Industry

    49:14 Punchline Rappers

    55:33 Top Candy

    57:11 JY

    59:00 The Beasley Story

    1:06:50 Roc Boy Beats

    1:08:05 Producer Hardware vs Software

    1:10:35 Managing Writers and Artists

    1:17:16 Rap Labels Breaking Up

    1:22:21 Jy, Rain & Bink! Story

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    1 hr and 30 mins
  • 2026 Hip Hop Awards - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 79)
    Jan 12 2026

    In this episode, the pod sits down for the big one: the 2026 DQM Hip Hop Awards. We talk everything from the Newcomer of the Year to best album. Our producer Wolf steps from behind the camera to join the pod as we celebrate a huge milestone - the official toast to 3 years of Don’t Quote Me.

    We chop it up about our favorite (and funniest) DQM moments, the viral clips that cleared 100k, and interview some familiar faces. From the Best Comment to the highly anticipated Moment of the Year, we’re handing out flowers and telling some legendary stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro

    0:20 Opening Interviews

    2:24 Show Start

    3:03 Opening Quote

    4:59 Shoutouts + Sponsors

    8:17 Cast Intros

    10:50 Newcomer of the Year

    12:27 Rap Battle of the Year

    14:27 Jack Danz Interview

    15:16 Worst Moment

    17:02 Lyricist of the Year

    20:30 Song of the Year

    23:10 Music Video of the Year

    25:36 DQM Episode of the Year

    34:20 Steve Digi & Steve Canal Reactions

    38:41 Toast to 3 Years

    39:22 Cast Member of hte Year

    41:00 Funniest Moment (DQM)

    45:00 Viral Clip of the Year (over 100k)

    46:27 Best Comment

    49:41 Supporter of the Year

    52:16 Moment of the Year

    54:17 Verse of the Year

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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Top 25 Rap Albums of 2025 - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 78)
    Dec 24 2025

    In this episode, the pod sits down to break down the definitive list of the Top 25 Rap Albums of 2025. We talk everything from the return of legendary New York icons and high-stakes sequels to the independent grinders and Southern heavyweights who owned the year. Our producer Wolf steps from behind the camera to join the pod, bringing a fresh perspective as we debate which projects actually had the most impact on the culture and tell some legendary stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro

    3:38 DQM Awards Announcement

    4:20 YFN Lucci - Already Legend

    5:23 Vinnie Paz - God Sent Vengeance

    8:04 Mobb Deep - Infinite

    10:30 Black Milk - Food From the Gods

    12:24 Monaleo - Who Did the Body

    16:48 NBA YoungBoy - MASA

    18:19 Errol Holden - Mulberry Silk Road

    22:21 $ome $exy $ongs 4 U - PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake

    24:46 A Futuristic Summa - Metro Boomin

    27:07 The Game - Every Movie Needs a Trailer

    29:01 Deante' Hitchcock - Good Things Take Time

    30:17 Eli Goes Kanye! (Vzn Szn)

    32:44 Wale - everything is a lot.

    37:49 Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele 2

    40:31 Key Glock - Glockaveli

    43:19 Starlito and Don Trip - Step Brothers 4 Life

    48:08 Conway the Machine - You Can't Kill God With Bullets

    53:34 JID - God Does Like Ugly

    58:52 Raekwon - The Emperor's New Clothes

    1:03:56 Freddie Gibbs - Alfredo 2

    1:08:09 Dave - The Boy Who Played the Harp

    1:15:50 Honorable Mentions

    1:23:18 Outro

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    1 hr and 24 mins
  • Robin Nathaniel on Living with Wu-Tang, Going from Rap to TED Talks & The GOAT NBA Player - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 77)
    Dec 15 2025

    In this episode, the pod sits down with Robin Nathaniel, award-winning social media strategist, TEDx Speaker, and author of Social Media SYNC. He talks everything from his incredible career pivot from a hip-hop producer to a thought leader, the value of Hip Hop Creating Discipline, and living by his motto, "Connect. Create. Contribute."

    We chop it up about the truth behind the famous story of living with Wu-Tang Clan member Cappadonna, the mindset of getting "Mud on Your Boots," and the biggest mistakes people make with social media (and how to fix them with his SYNC Method). Plus, we settle the infamous All-Time NBA Fantasy Draft and GOAT debate! This is a legendary conversation about music, career, strategy, and basketball that you won’t hear anywhere else.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro

    4:30 Pivoting from Rap to Producing

    9:33 Connect, Create, Contribute

    13:00 Hip Hop Creating Discipline

    15:45 “Do What You Are”

    20:00 Social Media Advice

    28:30 Ted Talks

    32:20 Greatest NBA Player Argument

    47:25 All-Time NBA Fantasy Draft

    55:55 “Mud on Your Boots”

    1:03:53 Unpopular Hip Hop Opinions

    1:07:35 End of the Weak

    1:09:58 What’s Next

    1:13:01 Trivia

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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Top 10 Underrated Southern Rap Albums - Don't Quote Me
    Dec 14 2025

    MJ and Wolf hold down the south and name their most underrated rap albums. #south #rap #podcast

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    16 mins
  • Rock (Heltah Skeltah) on Beef w/ Biggie & Mystikal, Sean Price & Infamous Street Stories - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 76)
    Nov 15 2025

    In this episode, the pod sits down with Rockness Monsta (of Heltah Skeltah and Boot Camp Clik fame). He talks everything from the Duck Down backstory to the infamous beef with Mystikal, the legendary partnership with Sean Price, going solo on the West Coast, and his take on the top albums of 1996. We chop it up about the truth behind the Biggie beef, the infamous Coconut Building Incident, the history of The Decepticons, and tell some legendary rap stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

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    2 hrs and 12 mins
  • Steve Canal on Playing Dwyane Wade, Marrying WNBA Legend & The Greatest Rap Business Deals - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 74)
    Oct 2 2025

    In this episode, the pod sits down with New York business legend, author and brand expert Steve Canal. He talks everything from his high school ball days in Brooklyn to co-founding ONE Musicfest, marrying a WNBA star, the business lessons he’s picked up along the way, and the top street ballers of all-time. We chop it up about how Steve brought Tommy Hilfiger to Rucker Park, Corporate America vs entrepreneurship, and tell some legendary rap and basketball stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

    Timestamps:

    0:00 Intro

    4:13 Book

    6:14 HS Ball in Brooklyn

    09:58 Tommy Hilfiger

    17:33 Street Ball

    26:42 Corporate vs Entrepreneurship

    30:56 The Money vs The People

    37:08 Importance of a Wife

    39:58 Fear of Success

    44:22 Marrying WNBA Player

    50:37 Business vs Faith

    59:45 ONE Musicfest

    1:05:52 Great Rap Business Deals

    1:09:42 Bad Business

    1:13:14 Trivia

    1:40:31 Outro

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    1 hr and 44 mins
  • Cyhi The Prynce on Kanye, Getting Locked Up with Jagged Edge & Battling on URL - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 73)
    Sep 16 2025

    Atlanta’s own Cyhi The Prynce pulls up for a legendary conversation. He opens up about his relationship with Kanye West, tells the wild story of getting locked up with Jagged Edge, and explains why he’s still ready to battle rap on URL. From his No Dope on Sundays era to GOOD Music, Cyhi shares untold stories, industry gems, and his unfiltered take on hip-hop today.

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    1 hr and 44 mins