We're bringing 2025 to close with a special episode. We invited several friends of the pod to share some words about three of their favorite hip hop albums from the past year. You'll hear from a variety of voices about a wide range of albums, including favorites from Rob and E.

Philadelphia’s own Wiles Martyr joins us! His most recent project is called “Circa Wealth 2” and was created with Krouse. While five years have elapsed since the first installment, “Circa Wealth 2” maintains the creative spirit that the two artists found back in 2020 and Wiles has been intentional about paying tribute to his Philly roots and influences. Whether it’s the packaging design, the subject of the songs or his flow itself, Philly is front and center and we talked with Wiles about how all of it came together. Then we discuss his album pick for this episode - “Reasonable Doubt” by Jay-Z.

Purchase "Circa Wealth 2" here:

https://wilesworldweb.com

Merkeba’s latest project “a Metal Snake” is the product of years of transformation, intentional study and an artist challenging himself as a producer. He spoke with us about the many influences that led to the album, the layers of symbolism it involves and the ways in which it is, in some sense, neverending. Then we talked about his album pick for this episode - the breakout “In a Major Way” by E-40.

Purchase "a Metal Snake" here:

https://merkebaworld.bandcamp.com/album/a-metal-snake

The crew from Chicago has come together again to launch a verbal assault! Tomorrow Kings are back with their first new album since 2013's "N.R.T.M." and while much has changed over the past 12 years, their ability to verbally de-construct systems and weak minded emcees is as brutal and blunt as ever. We talked with Tomorrow Kings members SKECH185, Gilead7, Collasoul Structure, and I.B. Fokuz about how the new album was created and much more. Then we discuss their album pick for this episode - Illogic's "Celestial Clockwork".

Purchase the new Tomorrow Kings album "SALT" here:

https://tomorrowkings.bandcamp.com/album/salt

In this throwback episode we go all the way back to September of 2020. At that time we linked with beat smith Kenny Segal who was coming off of an incredible run of releases with Serengeti, R.A.P. Ferreira, and billy woods. We talked with Kenny about his early work with folks from Project Blowed and Team Supreme and explored the process behind the creation of his intricate soundscapes. Then we discussed his album pick for this episode - the Omid produced Project Blowed comp “Beneath the Surface”.

The multi-talented Tony Bontana joins us from Birmingham (UK) to chat about his prolific and diverse 2025 output. Whether he's self-producing his own rap projects ("Sunday Service" and "TUMPET") or collaborating with Psychedelic Ensemble ("The Beautiful Maliase") or playing with one of his bands (Spew and Pay the Stranger), Tony finds a way to channel feeling into powerful lyrics and tunes. We touch on a number of subjects connected to the music mentioned above and then discuss his album pick for this episode - "LIVE.LOVE.A$AP" by A$AP Rocky. Listen

Support Tony's music here:

https://tonybontana.bandcamp.com/

In this throwback episode we're joined by Max Heath of Child Actor. At this point its almost a given that you will see Child Actor's name in the credits on many of the most anticipated rap releases of the year. Take Earl Sweatshirt's new "Live, Laugh, Love" for example, where Child Actor contributes production alongside Theravada, Navy Blue, Black Noise and Earl himself. At the time of our interview with Max in October of 2022 he had crafted production for artists such as Armand Hammer (billy woods and E L U C I D), AKAI SOLO, ShrapKnel, Open Mike Eagle and Serengeti. Max joined us for a thoughtful conversation about the art of beat making and shared some of the stories behind songs like "Charms" (Armand Hammer), "Sun 2 Moon" (AKAI SOLO), and "Old Magic" (E L U C I D). Then we discuss his album pick for this episode - the 2005 release from Count Bass D - "BEGBORROWSTEEL".

We’ve got Olskool Ice-Gre and E.P. the Hellcat AKA Abstract Mindstate joining us to talk about their new album with Young RJ of Slum Village called “The Art Project”. We’ll hear about the process of creating the album, their approach to addressing a new generation of rappers and much more. Then we have an energetic discussion about their album pick for this episode - “One For All” by Brand Nubian, which includes a never before told story about Abstract Mindstate opening a show for Grand Puba and 2Pac at Tougaloo College in the early '90s.

Purchase "The Art Project" here:

https://abstractmindstate.bandcamp.com/album/the-art-project