Confucius and Fresh kick things off by catching up with Austin-based Grammy nominee SaulPaul ahead of his next album Speak Hope, Sing Joy: Change Maker Music for Kids, out August 30th. Afterwards the fellas chat about the authenticity of Atlanta’s ian and navigate an Unpopular Opinion surrounding Kendrick Lamar and Nipsey Hussle.
Nipsey Hussle
What does a good album rollout look like today?
Most artists can’t just drop a surprise record, so Confucius and Fresh review press strategies for making a bigger album impact before discussing why the majority of blog site era rappers never made it. Hear that, an Unpopular Opinion on New Edition’s Ralph Tresvant, plus Hip-Hop Facts and the most recent headlines.
Has Hip-Hop done a good job of making women feel safe?
After reacting to Apple Music’s recent “100 Best Albums” list, Pause/Play producer and co-host Miles Bloxson joins Confucius and Fresh to talk women’s safety in a genre once run by abusers. Catch that alongside Hip-Hop Facts and Confucius Reads the News, plus an Unpopular Opinion on the modern equivalent to What’s Going On? in this episode.
The GOAT Rap Album / SXSBreaks 2024
What’s the greatest rap album of all time? Confucius and Fresh weigh options before revealing this year’s SXSBreaks lineup. Also, Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion makes a compelling point about how extensive familiarity with a city’s culture diminishes interest in its scene.
Smarter, Not Harder
This week’s edition of The Breaks responds to allegations about 2Pac’s role in the aftermath of the infamous Quad Studios shooting, before breaking down why smarter, even in the hustle culture of hip-hop, is always a better approach than harder.
Hip Hop Facts feature little known tidbits like the reason Cypress Hill is banned from SNL, Jadakiss’ connection to the Notorious B.I.G., Nipsey’s plan for a STEM center, plus some history behind Slim Thug’s Interscope deal and Matthew Knowles.
Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion? There really aren’t male R&B stars like there used to be, and maybe toxic masculinity is to blame.
Finally, Confucius Reads the News about Ken Paxton’s impeachment, Macy’s and Costco’s warning about the economic situation, the debt ceiling resolution, and Boston’s recent Game Seven loss.
Is Rap the Most Dangerous Profession?
Aside from folks like firefighters, etc., is being a rapper one of the most disproportionately dangerous lines of work? Confucius & Fresh compare the plights of Waka Flocka Flame and Nipsey Hussle to illustrate how the perils of disrespect.
The fellas respond to a Rolling Stone article on the rise of emo rap as the “fastest growing sub-genre” by discussing relatability, youth demographics, and long-term sustainability.
On Hip Hop Facts Fresh details how Fab Five Freddy and Grandmaster Flash ended up in Blondie’s “Rapture”, how LL Cool J not-so-sneakily got FUBU into a Gap ad, and when Full Force wrote for the Backstreet Boys. Confucius walks us through the passing of “Uncle Bob” (who saved Lil Wayne’s adolescent life after a suicide attempt), the simultaneous 1999 release of Destiny’s Child’s Writing on the Wall and Hot Boys’ Guerilla Warfare, and Jay Electronica’s production of Nas’ “Queens Get The Money”.
Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion riffs on Charleston White and how disrespect has become the “new normal” in hip-hop.
Confucius Reads the News sheds insight on JetBlue’s merger with Spirit Airlines, President Biden’s COVID-19 test results, the declaration of Monkey Pox as a public health emergency, the volley of projectiles hurled at Kid Cudi’s Rolling Loud Festival performance after replacing Kanye West, and Chris Rock’s insistence that he “shook off” the Will Smith Oscars slap.
Diddy vs Dupree?!?
This week on the Breaks Confucius is out so:
- After recent events, Fresh explains why he thinks Jermaine Dupree could hold his own in a Verzuz against Diddy.
- He talks about the recent comments by Lil Duval calling out Black Celebrities for not supporting the release of Boosie Badazz’s biopic “My Struggle.”
- In this week’s installment of Hip-Hop Facts you’ll learn about who gave Ray Parker Jr. — who wrote the theme for “Ghostbusters — his start. You’ll also learn a fact that includes both Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life” and Nipsey Hussle’s “Hussle and Motivate.”
- After T.I.’s recent comments blaming 50 cent’s refusal to do a Verzuz with him on New York hip-hop looking down on the South, Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that New Yorker hubris has nothing to do with it.
You can hear the latest full broadcast of The Breaks Saturday night show.