KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts

KUT and KUTX news and music podcasts for Austin, Texas and beyond

Elizabeth McQueen

Merry Listmas!

It’s the last Breaks podcast of 2022! To celebrate, Confucius and Fresh debate the importance of end-of-the-year lists and discuss their hopes and predictions for 2023.

You’ll learn Christmas Hip-Hop Facts about the songs “Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto,” “All I Want For Christmas is You,” “This Christmas” and more.

Fresh States the Unpopular Opinion that people don’t have to be formally trained in hip-hop to be considered professional rappers.

Confucius talks about the trial of Megan Thee Stallion and Torey Lanez, the outcry over Brittney Griner‘s release, Gunna’s release from prison, and more.

 

Let’s Hear it for the Ladies of ATX

Confucius and Fresh talk about why women are ruling Austin’s R&B scene, and discuss why Spotify is winning the streaming wars.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about TLC’s original name, the album Outkast and A Tribe Called Quest never made, Dr. Dre’s favorite album, and more.

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that Deion Sanders’ leaving Jackson State University is a bad move, mostly because his time at the HBCU did nothing to improve the standing of HBCU football long-term.

Confucius talks about Brittney Griner’s release, the NC blackout caused by a woman who wanted to stop a drag show,  Raphael Warnock’s win in Georgia, and more.

Where’d the Groups Go???

After watching Xscape perform at the Soul Train Awards, Fresh and Confucius try to figure out why there aren’t R&B Groups anymore.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about what Ice Cube charges for features, who Tupac was flipping off after he was shot, and who owns the last know J Dilla beats.

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that the Grammys do, in fact, matter.

Confucius talks about the new House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, Trump’s Tax returns, Congress’s same-sex and interracial marriage bill, and more in Confucius Reads the News.

Grow Up Drake!

After the release of the Drake and 21 Savage collaboration, “Her Loss,” Fresh and Confucius try and figure out if Drake is outgrowing his subject matter.

They also talk about anti-semitic comments by Kyrie Irving and Kanye and explore the issue of black ownership.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about Wiz Khalifa’s 2nd album, the connection between John Legend and Lauryn Hill,  how Omar Epps got the part in Juice, and more.

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that Foxy Brown is overrated.

Confucius talks about the recent midterm election in Confucius Reads the News.

 

Why doesn’t commercial music in the U.S. get any financial support outside of, say, fans?

Austin is home to a thriving music scene, but that scene hasn’t received much financial support outside of fans buying music and going to shows. That’s not uncommon in the U.S. While some art forms like the opera and the symphony get regular public and private investments, commercial music typically gets left to fend for itself. Why is that?

In the first episode of Season 4 of Pause/Play, Hosts Miles Bloxson and Elizabeth McQueen try to answer that question with the help of UT Professor Charles Carson.  They also examine the idea that the best music comes from struggle. And they explore what the city of Austin owes the music scene, and how the city might better support the for-profit music sector.

Charles Carson, an associate professor of music at the University of Texas at Austin, is pictured on campus on Oct. 18, 2022, in Austin. Michael Minasi / KUT News

Is Rap Dead?

Confucius and Fresh discuss why some artists are so selfish and delusional. Then they try and nail down what makes an album a “classic.”

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about how Prodigy and Busta Rhymes almost ended up with the beat for Jay-Z’s “U Don’t Know,” what happened when Michael Jackson met Princess Diana, how the Lox almost got signed by Suge Knight, and more!

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that hip-hop is dead.

Confucius talks about the death of PnB Rock, Lindsay Graham’s proposed 15-week abortion ban, Cardi B’s plea deal, and more on Confucius Reads the News.

Fake It Till You Make It

Confucius and Fresh debate whether Outkast and Wu-Tang are still relevant to hip-hop culture. Then they discuss the phenomenon of people in Austin music faking it until they make it.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about how J. Cole almost got signed to G-Unit, why Lil Wayne didn’t curse on his first record, how MF Doom came up, and more.

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that people have been too hard on Elvis.

Confucius talks about the death of Queen Elizabeth II, the ruling by a Texas judge that employers don’t have to cover anti-Aids medication, Ukraine’s recent tweet quoting Pusha T, and more!

Confucius vs Fresh

Fresh and Confucius debate which one of them is the better music fan. Then Confucius tries to convince listeners that deep down, Fresh thinks he’s from Harlem, New York.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about the first song Missy Elliot wrote for another artist, how Fat Joe almost signed Eminen, how artist and podcaster Tank got his start with, and more!

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that gatekeepers in music are still necessary.

Confucius talks about Sarah Palin’s recent loss in Alaska, Texas’s decision to make abortion completely illegal, Jay-Z’s comment on capitalism, and more in his Confucius Reads the News segment.

State of the Austin Union

Confucius and Fresh talk about the current state of the Austin R&B and rap scene. They also discuss whether radio is still important and what needs to change for it to stay relevant.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about how Joey Bada$$ really feels about his song “Devastated,” how Dipset ended up with an office in the Def Jam building, who gave Irv Gotti his name, and more!

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that Megan Thee Stallion might be a little overrated.

Confucius talks about the Uvalde School Board’s decision to fire police chief Pete Arrendondo, Offset’s lawsuit against his record label, the Biden administration’s decision to forgive some student loans and more in Confucius Reads the News.

Who Killed R&B?

Confucius and Fresh talk about the importance of hip-hop podcasts. Then they discuss Diddy and Mary J Blige’s recent conversation about who killed R&B.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about who invented turntable scratching, who wrote P. Diddy’s “Let’s Get It,” how Jay-Z and Kanye prevented “Watch the Throne” from leaking before it was released, and more.

After seeing Kid Cudi’s Esquire cover where he’s wearing only a sock,  Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that just because your favorite artist does something outrageous,  doesn’t mean it’s cool or artistic.

Confucius talks about Kid Cudi’s remarks about Kanye in his Esquire article, Donald Trump’s difficulties finding lawyers, Timbaland & Swizz Beats’ lawsuit against Triller, their partner in Verzuz, and more.

 

The Curious Case of Rap Mags

This week Confucius and Fresh talk about the decline of hip-hop magazines and discuss whether video vixens are still a thing.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about H.E.R.’s history as a child prodigy, how DJ Clark Kent finagled Notorious B.I.G. onto Jay-Z’s “Brooklyn’s Finest” the lost “Gettin Jiggy Wit It” remix and more.

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that Austin artists should stop asking the city government for help and stop threatening to leave the scene.

Confucius talks about the FBI raid on Mar-A-Lago, A$AP Rocky’s legal trouble with A$AP Relli, Serena Williams’ retirement from tennis, and more in this week’s installment in Confucius Reads the News.

 

 

Rap Loves Comedy

Confucius and Fresh talk about the connection between hip-hop and comedy. Then, inspired by the success of Saucy Santana, they discuss whether hip-hop is ready for an openly gay rapper.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about the collaborative record that DJ Premier and 50 Cent never made, the connection between In Living Color and the Superbowl halftime show, how the introduction of  Soundscan helped hip-hop, and more.

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that radio is still a musical gatekeeper.

Confucius talks about NBA Youngboy’s acquittal on gun charges, Desus and Mero’s split, the passage of a bill codifying same-sex marriage in the House of Representatives and more in his Confucius Reads the News segment.

 

 

 

For the Love of Money

Inspired by Akademiks comments about certain rappers’ behavior at Michael Rubin’s white party,  Confucius and Fresh discuss hip-hop’s fascination with billionaires and crime lords. Then they talk about whether today’s rap lyrics are more dangerous than they were in the past.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about the beef between Cypress Hill and Ice Cube, whose flow Method Man copied on Biggie’s “The What,” how Disney tried to sign Dr. Dre,  and more.

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that Tupac was a great writer, but not the best rapper.

Confucius talks about the death of James Caan, inflation and its impact on Kool-Aid, Twitter suing Elon Musk, and more.

 

 

All About Beef

Confucius and Fresh discuss why people love rap beefs so much. Then they break down what factors might play into artists not living up to the hype surrounding them.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about Mystikal’s history with No Limit, Scarface’s early days as a DJ,  how Lil Wayne was inspired by Jay-Z, who Quincy Jones originally wanted to pitch “She’s Out of My Life” to,  and more!

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that New York will never regain its dominance over hip-hop.

Confucius talks about Boris Johnson’s resignation, Brittney Griner’s imprisonment in Russia, Glo rilla getting signed to CMG by  Yo Gotti, the mass shooting in Highland Park on July 4th and more during Confucius Reads the News.

 

NFTs and Music: Austin Musicians’ Thoughts on NFTs

Hear what Jackie Venson, Deezie Brown, David Shabani, and Erin Ivey have to say about NFTs and Music.

You can check out the NFT for our song “What is an NFT?” It’s not for sale, but it is on the Solana blockchain!

https://solsea.io/n/AaYykx8tvL4yzrmwwqwuB3H3NFaiV3kF7uEeAM9bfwHJ/

And you can listen to the song any time on our podcast feed by clicking this link.

If you missed the first two episodes of our mini-season about NFTs, you can listen here and here.

Grammy Family

After hearing Candace Owen’s comments about Jay-Z on DJ Akademiks’ podcast, Fresh and Confucius debate whether or not we should expect rappers to live life the way they encourage their fans to live. Then both hosts celebrate becoming members of the organization that puts on the Grammys – the Recording Academy!

This week on Hip-Hop Facts you’ll learn about why Michael Jackson turned down a collaboration with Tupac, what the connection is between hip-hop pioneers Disco King Mario and Busy Bee, how long it took Kanye to record Yeezus, and more!

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that Baby Keem is overrated.

Confucius talks about The BET Awards, Friends co-creator  Marta Kaufman’s apology about the lack of diversity on the show, R Kelly’s 30-year prison sentence, and more in Confucius Reads the News.

 

 

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