The discussion kicks off with Drake’s massive data dump before moving onto a debate about the dysfunctional state of Fugees and an Unpopular Opinion on rappers billing themselves as “artists”.
Kanye West
The 2024 Grammys / Professional DMs
Confucius and Fresh recap their likes and dislikes of The Grammys and break down how to best approach them for music consideration. You’ll hear some great Hip-Hop Facts, fun takes when Confucius Reads the News, and an Unpopular Opinion about the impact of media inspired by the 2005 film Havoc.
Why Leave Austin?
The Breaks thanks everyone who showed some love during KUT & KUTX’s summer membership drive open house! It got Confucius and Fresh reflecting on reception and listener demographics and overall reception before begging why leave the city where your brand was born?
On Hip-Hop Facts the fellas dig up some great trivia on Milli Vanilli, Wiz Khalifa’s brief marriage to Amber Rose, some family resentment within Run-D.M.C. and more.
Watch out Ye-fans, in this week’s Unpopular Opinion Fresh calls it like he sees it; Yeezus simply does not belong in the top three of Kanye’s best albums.
Finally, Confucius Reads the News on the latest from OceanGate, the discovery of hard drugs in the White House, the Keke Palmer-Usher spectacle, and Yusef Salaam’s council seat victory.
Cappin’ for Unhinged Creatives
Kanye West has made more than his fair share of outrageous headlines this past week, leading Confucius and Fresh to wonder…why continue to cap for unhinged creatives past their point of no return?
And when it comes to the current generation of younger rappers who seemingly can’t dress themselves, is it generational taste, or just objectively gaudy?
Hip-Hop Facts features tidbits on DJ Premier, Lil Jon, and Frank Ocean plus anecdotes on 8 Mile, Men in Black, and more.
Fresh’s latest Unpopular Opinion makes it clear: put Nicki Minaj alongside her rapper peers instead of atop the pop pedestal.
Finally, Confucius Reads the News on Steve Bannon’s prison sentence, Nick Cannon’s latest kid, Elon Musk’s Twitter purchase, and Rihanna’s new single.
Texas Standard: October 27, 2022
As a new poll points to a tightening race for Texas Governor, a focus on an issue considered one of the biggest. We’ll talk about how immigration and border security have been front and center in the contest between Republican incumbent governor Greg Abbott and democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke. Also with disinformation and misinformation rampant, the Standard’s Michael Marks on how to be a smart news consumer. And rising prices, rising wages. But not all paychecks rising at the same rate. Sean Saldana with more. And the southern second person plural that one writer now calls the most inclusive of all pronouns. Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Commercialization vs. Culture
Inspired by yet another Rolling Stone article, Confucius and Fresh kick off this week’s episode with a discussion on how Hip-Hop’s increasing commercialization affects its cultural relevance.
As the Nicki v. Cardi spat continues, the fellas talk up the importance of women in Hip-Hop, especially when it comes to lyrical effect on men.
Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion suggests cities ought to stop “adopting” artists as their own asset, before Confucius Reads the News about Kanye West and Parler, Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness Program, and Jay-Z’s Bacardi lawsuit.
Being Blackballed in 2022
In this week’s edition of The Breaks, Fresh and Confucius kick off the conversation with a reflection on what it means to be “blackballed” and if it truly continues to exist in the current industry climate.
The fellas move on to a debate about whether or not Cardi B is overrated compared to Nicki Minaj, especially in terms of collaborating with fellow female artists.
On Hip-Hop Facts you’ll learn about some unexpected writing credits, the anniversaries of Loud Records, Def Jam South, and beef at the 2012 BET Hip-Hop Awards.
Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion puts a spin on the discourse between DJ Akademiks, LL Cool J, and others about how much credit hip-hop pioneers deserve in light of not warning new generations about the perils of the industry.
Finally on Confucius Reads the News, get a recap of the latest headlines on Kanye West, Harry Styles, N.O.R.E., and Donald Trump.
The Breaks: Celebrating DJ Screw w/Lance Scott Walker
Confucius and Fresh talk to Lance Scott Walker about his new book DJ Screw: A Life in Slow Revolution.
You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about Outkast’s “So Fresh, So Clean (Remix),” the truth about Anderson Paak’s upbringing, how Quincy Jones tried to buy The Source and more.
Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that Life of Pablo isn’t a top 5 Kanye album.
Confucius talks about the baby formula shortage, the decision by US Soccer to give male a female players equal pay, Madison’s Cawthorn’s primary defeat, and the birth of Rihanna’s baby in Confucius Reads the News.
Fight in the Bowling Alley!
Confucius and Fresh discuss DaBaby’s recent fight with DaniLeigh’s brother in a bowling alley, and debate when being braggadocious in hip-hop goes from okay to corny.
In this week’s installment of Hip-Hop Facts, you’ll learn interesting tidbits about Kanye’s “All Falls Down,” 50 Cent’s album Get Rich or Die Tryin’, The Lady of Rage, Missy Elliot, Lil’ Kim, and more!
After the news about Isiah Rashad, Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that hip-hop is ready for an openly gay male rapper.
In his Confucius Reads the News segment, Confucius talks about the reaction to the Biden administration’s community-based harm-reduction programs for drug users, Snoop Dogg’s recent acquisition of Death Row records, Marjorie Taylor Green’s incorrect usage of gazpacho, and more!
You can hear the latest full broadcast of The Breaks Saturday night show.
J Soulja Speaks!
On this episode of The Breaks
- You’ll hear Confucius and Fresh’s interview with Austin artist and entrepreneur J Soulja.
- In this week’s installment of Hip Hop Facts, you’ll learn interesting tidbits about Wu-Tang Clan’s beef with Hot 97, how T.I. got Young Dro on the Grand Hustle label, how Kanye West hooked up with Jamie Foxx to make Slow Jamz, the connection between CeeLo Green and the song “Happy” and more.
- Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that the tragic events at the Astroworld Festival won’t lead to any big changes in how music festivals operate.
- In his new segment, Confucius Reads the News, Confucius talks about the omicron variant’s appearance in California, the future of Roe v. Wade, LeBron James recent COVID diagnosis and Stacey Abrams’ announcement that she will run for governor of Georgia.
You can hear the latest full broadcast of The Breaks Saturday night show.
Is Ye Back?
This week on The Breaks:
- Confucius is out, so Fresh talks about Kanye West’s latest unfulfilled promise to release his latest album, Donda, on July 24th and wonders if this new record signals a return of the old Kanye.
- Fresh lays out who he thinks might win the upcoming versus between Dipset and the Lox.
- In this week’s installment of Hip-Hop facts you’ll learn interesting tidbits about UGK’s “One Day,” Outkast’s “Slump” and the Atlanta rap group D4L.
- Fresh talks explains why he think that Isaiah Rashad’s new release The House is Burning is a contender for album of the year.
- In his Unpopular Opinion, Fresh discusses Coi Leray’s XXL Freestyle and states that people have to let go of “trolling” as a scapegoat for people who don’t take rapping seriously
You can hear the latest full broadcast of The Breaks Saturday night show.
Is Lil Baby the new Lil Wayne?
This week on The Breaks:
- Fresh is still out, so Confucius explores the idea that Lil Baby reminds people of Lil Wayne.
- Confucius discusses the foolishness of “T.I” trying to deny the multiple sexual assault allegations that have been brought against him in his new song “What It’s Come To.”
- Confucius talks about the recent news that Aaliyah secretly dated Static Major, and that their relationship inspired “Are You That Somebody.”
- In this week’s installment of “Hip-Hop Facts” you’ll learn interesting things about the making of Tha Carter III, Lupe Fiasco, The Cool Kids & Kanye West.
- In his Confucius Says Segment, Confucius encourages listeners not to put unrealistic expectations on the people around them, especially when they are dealing with their own children.
Not Today Kanye
This week on The Breaks
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- Confucius and Fresh talk about Kanye’s quest to regain control of his masters, and explain why they’re skeptical about his appeals to other artists for support.
- Both hosts talk about how surprised they were to hear that Outkast had considered making a mixtape for DJ Drama’s mixtape series Gangsta Grillz and discuss why they think it might not have happened.
- Confucius and Fresh discuss how and why music tastes change.
- In his Unpopular Opinion, Fresh states that Austin radio is in a very, very good place.
- In his Confucius Says segment, Confucius encourages people to keep those they don’t like from living rent-free in their heads.
Listen to this episode of The Breaks
Kanye, Megan and Nick
This week on The Breaks, Fresh and Confucius:
- Discuss Kanye West’s rally in South Carolina and his recent erratic behavior.
- Talk about Tory Lanez’s arrest on gun charges after police find Megan Thee Stallion in his car suffering from gunshot wounds.
- React to Nick Cannon’s anti-Semitic comments on his podcast.
- In his Unpopular Opinion, Fresh argues that Black music executives are also complicit in the exploitation of Black musicians.
- In his Confucius Says, Confucius argues that you can still respect someone without respecting every one of their decisions.
Listen to this week’s episode of The Breaks
Kanye for President?
This week on The Breaks, Fresh and Confucius:
- Discuss Kanye’s West’s announcement that he is running for president.
- Touch on the impact of COVID-19 on Austin’s live music venues.
- Talk about ACL Radio’s Blues on the Screen curated by Jackie Venson.
- In his Unpopular Opinion, Fresh urges the biggest Black artists in Austin to speak out about their experiences of racism in the Austin music scene.
- In his Confucius Says, Confucius explains that loyalty is a two-way street.
Listen to this week’s episode of The Breaks
Lana del Rey vs The Breaks
This week on The Breaks, Fresh and Confucius:
- Respond to Lana del Rey’s comments to the culture following four black female artists topping the Billboard Chart.
- Celebrate The Notorious B.I.G.’s birthday and explore his impact on hip-hop.
- Discuss Tekashi 6ix9ine’s comments surrounding the rise of “Stuck on U” by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber’s to Billboard’s No.1 spot.
- In his Unpopular Opinion, Fresh defends Lil Wayne as the third in the rap equivalent of the trifecta of Michael Jordan, Lebron and Kobe.
- In his Confucius Says, Confucius encourages people to remember what they learned during lockdown as we all come out of quarantine.
Listen to this week’s episode of The Breaks
Listen on The Apple Podcasts App, Spotify or Stitcher
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This Song: Mobley (rerun)
Austin songwriter, producer and one and band Mobley has a new project coming out on April 27th called Fresh Lies Vol. 1. In it he explores his relationship, as a black man, with the United States through the metaphor of a romantic relationship. This is the first volume in a career spanning song cycle.
Listen as he describes how Kanye West’s “808’s & Heartbreak” showed him how powerful and freeing vulnerability could be and why he felt compelled to explore his relationship with America in his work.
Learn More about “Fresh Lies.”
Check out Mobley’s Artist of the Month Page
Subscribe via the Podcasts App, iTunes or Stitcher to get the new episodes of This Song delivered to you as soon as they come out.
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Listen to Songs from Episode 125 of This Song
This Song: Bob Boilen // Mobley
Bob Boilen, host of NPR’s All Songs Considered wrote a new book called “Your Song Changed My Life,” where he interviewed people about songs that changed their lives. What can we say? Great minds think alike!
Listen as he talks about his own life-changing song — the Beatles “A Day in the Life,” which totally opened his mind up to the expansive capabilities of music and art and informed the kind of musician he would become.
Then Austin artist Mobley explores how Kanye West’s “808’s and Heartbreak” showed him how important emotion and vulnerability in music could be and informed the material for his new EP “Some Other Country” which explores his experience of being a black man in America through songs that sound, at first listen, like songs about someone in a bad relationship.
Check out Bob Boilen’s “Your Song Changed My Life”
Check out Bob Boilen’s website where all his music lives
Watch the only existing video of 80’s era Tiny Desk Unit
Watch Mobley’s video for “Solo”
Watch Mobley’s video for “Swoon”
Check out Mobley’s new EP “Some Other Country”
Subscribe via iTunes or Stitcher to get the new episodes of This Song delivered to you as soon as they come out.
Listen to the songs featured in this week’s episode.