Nick Hook

Back at it with Peter A. Berry, writer and editor at large who has bylines in XXL, COMPLEX, Pitchfork, Okayplayer and more. We talk about how we connected via my reaction to an Uncle Murda video clip that Peter put a wild spin on and how it lead to this unique episode diving into one album that has made a significant impact this year already which is Schoolboy Q's 'Blue Lips.' We expand on Peter's review of 'Blue Lips' for Stereogum and the singular themes that show up on the project (that typically don't show up on rap albums). We break down what makes it special on several levels; whether or not the lack of an anthemic single matters, and Peter flexes his basketball-stat expertise to make a case for how Q is the rapgame Jimmy Buckets. We also get into how Q is a weirdo in the best way possible and why an album of this caliber is a biproduct of time in the game without becoming a crotchety old man. 

Chris Atlas is more than meets the eye. An extra popped episode with the accomplished music executive and Bronx-native who tells us about his earliest hip-hop memories running around NYC including a life-changing performance from Public Enemy at a small club in the meatpacking district. We dive into his first opportunity in the music industry as an intern at the legendary Tommy Boy Records where he cut his teeth in College Radio promotion before moving into A&R. He tells us about his time at the label promoting tracks at radio from seminal artists like House of Pain, De La Soul, Naughty By Nature, signing Tony Touch and his involvement in working with Penalty Recordings artists like Capone N Noreaga under the same umbrella. We chop about his time at Cornerstone Agency, Buzzfeed's recent sale of COMPLEX to NTWRK and how his near decade-long tenure at Def Jam was basically graduating with honors from the school of hard knocks. From SVP to EVP of Marketing at Def Jam, he waxes poetic on career-defining album roll-outs and marketing campaigns from the biggest boss Rick Ross and a young Kanye. And even gives us the scoop on the reference for an iconic Earl Sweatshirt moment during his time as EVP of Urban Marketing at Warner Records. As if his resume isn't deep enough, he tells us how he diversified his bonds outside of the music game by becoming a partner in a lifestyle boutique in NJ selling apparel and sneakers called Hush Life. And was generous enough to share his keys to maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Now if he only shared the keys to the G-Wagon...

CAL-A is a Grammy Award-winning producer, artist manager, and DJ from the Bay Area who owns and operates Free Bread Intl., a company helping brands and businesses create experiences to benefit their communities and the kids in them. He breaks down his contribution to Killer Mike's album 'Michael' which received three Grammy's including Rap Album of The Year. We get into South by Southwest's fall from grace and its potential resurgence, his recent trip to the Phillipines with P-Lo, his penchant for vacation flexing, and the 2022 documentary 'We Were Hyphy.' He explains the impact the Bay Area's countercultural mentality had on rap in the city (and the country), and how copping both the G-Unit sneakers and the S. Carters exemplify his unwaivering loyalty to the game. We also talk about Free Bread's recent collab with Rodericks Barbecue in Oakland and his latest top 5 songs of the moment including tracks by SPIRITSAVER, Zach Frenes, Bast, Wyatt Woodley and Swank Mami.

Yash is back with another solo episode in the thick of Super Bowl Weekend, the Waste Management Phoenix Open and Kanye's 'VULTURES 1' album release. He unveils how Usher is just another guy in the bathroom, breaks down uncleared samples and estate-beefs elicited by Ye's album combined with the intricacies behind its second-rate distribution and problematic rollout. He also get's into A$AP Rocky's Puma pump fake, Eric Sermon eating well off Metro Boomin and Abel's royalty checks, plus Schoolboy Q's anticipated return. Party in the front, Top 5 songs in the back.

Scott Jawson and Sam Hadelman of Dark Matter Media are music publicists making big moves in NY. We talk about NFT Stars, Universal Music Group being at odds with TikTok, and how their clients' music playing from Nissan's and Honda's in the street is proof that things are going well. They shine light on the impetus for Dark Matter Media to emerge in today's market and what goes into curating their niche roster with wavy artists like Evil Giane and Cash Cobaine. We also get into culture vs virality, Ari Melber, Crystal Castles, old skate videos giving way to music discovery and much more. The guys share some new music from their roster including heat from Vayda, BB Trickz, Clip, RXK Nephew and more. Don't sleep.

Back from his annual golf trip in Florida, Yash is joined by freelance writer Jade Gomez for a new heatrock where they break down the potent influence New Jersey has had on them (and music) for better or worse. We get into the ominous news announced by Condé Nast a few weeks back that Pitchfork is being absorbed by GQ, and the implications on music journalism in the cursed media landscape. We talk about Coachella cheatcodes, gen-pop woes, our love for Glassjaw, Ice Spice cutting the cheese, and Justice's curious return. Jade also comes correct with 5 songs she's vibing to currently by the likes of Angelo Mota, Thrice, AG Club, Bruiser Wolf, and Sexy Redd ft. Chief Keef's best verse in a minute. All of this and more on the latest episode of Helio-Tropes.

Geng PTP who also goes by King Vision Ultra is a native New Yorker and a man of many hats whose album 'Shook World' came out last year. On this extendo-clip episode Yash attempts to uncover a healthy dose of his repertoire; from smoothies to fitness and field recordings to music production, art and design. We nerd out on unmistakable producer tags and sounds (plus where they came from) and how we were at the first ever MF Doom show together many moons ago. The laughs are plenty and Geng comes prepared to break down his Top 5 songs of the moment which includes music from John Glacier, Four50, BKtherula and more.

After a short break and trip to the east coast for the holidays, Helio-Tropes returns for the new year with a special solo mission episode with its host Yash. On the first show of 2024, Yash talks about Ken Carson and the Opium crew, PETA targets at the airport, Cam'ron's watchful eye, the new Mission Impossible movie, Dave Chappelle's recent special, the latest ††† (Crosses) album and some of his favorite deep cuts from last year. He breaks the silence on how the pod started, where it's going in the year ahead and makes a special announcement — which will most certainly reverberate like a tree falling in the forrest — with a surprise snippet toward the back half of the episode...although you'll have to listen to him ramble until then. Happy Nu Year.

Just in time for the holidays, a special episode of HT with Stephanie Gotch whose agency Partners And Associates handles marketing, creative direction, comms and pr for musicians, brands, businesses and more. We talk about Art Basel being the Spring Break of the industry and her experience in Miami with her client Westside Gunn. She breaks down what it takes (and what it doesn't) for musicians to be successful in the fashion space, how showing up consistently is a small part of the big picture, and that blowing a bag on designer drip is not the answer. She also gives us the scoop on Nocta (Drakes athletic brand in collboration with Nike) and her involvement with the company and its drops. Of course we find a way to squeeze in some golf-talk and I get dunked on in the process. Legendary NY institution Fun City Tatoo, bad tattoos including birthmark tattoos and more on this fun one. 

This week we are joined by none other than the Brookyln-bred, undefeated artists' champion and one-man media giant Timmhotep Aku. We talk about the musical spark that set him on a life-long journey, Video Music Box, the lessons that De La Soul taught us and the mark they made on generations in their wake — including your favorite rappers wearing Denim Tears. We dig into his additional work writing recent stories on Cash Cobain and RXK Nephew and the wild parallels that can be drawn to each. We discuss regional rap waves, his contributions to podcasts, his monthly radio show on NTS titled 'Subject To Change' and the mindset behind the curation of the music. We wrap up with a ligthening round breakdown of 5 songs from his wRap Caveat playlist(s) on Spotify and Apple Music featuring songs by 41, Danny Brown, Certified Trapper and more. Do yourself a favor...