rap

Proposed school curriculum with Bible stories nears vote

A possible government shutdown looming with an Oct. 1 deadline. With the backdrop of elections, how might this story unfold? UT-Austin political science professor Sean Theriault talks about a perennial issue of government funding and where its headed.

Bible stories in the classroom? The Texas Education Agency is getting a lot of feedback and blowback over a new curriculum.

Mando Rayo of the Tacos of Texas podcast introduces us to a James Beard award winner in the Rio Grande Valley named the best chef in Texas.

This Hispanic Heritage Month, a look at some of the artists shaping the sounds of Texas.

Also, the week in politics, Typewriter Rodeo and more.

Locuust x YoursTruuly: “Acupuncture”

Feeling comfortable just in your own skin is a luxury we often take for granted. Sure, adjusting to a problematic puberty is a fairly common experience, as are life-altering eating habits even later on. But where a good chunk of population at least reaps the benefits of a cis-heteronormative construct, the trans community faces struggles even with a sense of belonging in their own skin, let alone within a still-regressive society.

With that in mind, shift your focus to Locuust. Errrr…actually YoursTruuly. Frankly it doesn’t matter, considering it’s the same person: Austin’s Xóchitl who goes by the aforementioned handles as a rapper and producer, respectively. These dynamic double double-U’s might sound familiar if you caught the Song of the Day spotlight on fellow local hip-hop provocateur Free Hamze a couple weeks back. At just shy of twenty, Xóchitl’s alter egos have already proven remarkable maturity, a saga that continues this weekend with their feature-laden debut full-length, Apparent Incoherence.

Apparent Incoherence is a relentless, risqué eleven-song swarm of poignant candor, crushing beats, clever wordplay and undoubtedly a creative A.I. we can all get behind. You can fall in love with the album live when Locuust and YoursTruuly simultaneously takes the stage 11PM tomorrow night at Hole in the Wall for the release show following openers (consisting entirely of Apparent Incoherence guests) CENSORED dialogue, Kardinal Bloo, Chucky Blk, and khxnid!. And on the LP’s sole “leak” “Acupuncture”, Locuust delivers a lyrical plague that grapples with gender dysphoria and body positivity over YoursTruuly’s Alchemist-esque instrumental, which when combined, provide a thoroughly therapeutic experience akin to the track’s title.

So in light of this week’s forecast, like Locuust says…don’t expect it to “rain in the summer”. But you can expect a downpour of multi-disciplinary talent from this young, unconventional up-and-comer as they enter mainstay status here in the Live Music Capital of the World and far beyond.

Time > Money

Confucius and Fresh discuss Swizz Beatz recent comment that for him, time is more important than money. Then they discuss whether being a public figure makes dating more complicated.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about Dr. Dre’s and Ice Cube’s un-released record “Helter Skelter,” who the role of Rob was originally written for in the movie “3 Strikes,” what the highest-grossing hip-hop tour of all time is, and more.

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that it is beneath Lil’ Kim to do a Verzuz with Nicki Minaj.

Confucius talks about the alleged assassination attempt on Vladimir Putin by Ukraine, Ron Desantis’s recent trip to Israel and his ongoing troubles with Disney, the recent bill that passed through the Texas Senate that would allow the Secretary of State to overturn elections in Harris Country, and more on Confucius Reads the News.

Wait Your Turn

Fresh and Confucius discuss the idea that people in the Austin music scene are owed opportunities. then, inspired by Justin Bieber’s recent 200 million dollar sale of his catalog, they talk about why artists might sell their stake in their work.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about the samples on “U Can’t Touch This,” “Ice Ice Baby,” “Tennessee” and more. It’s all part of Under the Covers weekend at KUTX!

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that today’s rap is boring.

Confucius talks about how the Eagles are going to win the Superbowl, Ted Cruz’s comments about the debt ceiling, how much money Kari Lake has raised since denying she lost November’s election and Netflix’s crackdown on password sharing in Confucius Reads the News.

A Love Letter to Austin Blogs

Confucius and Fresh discuss Dez Bryant’s statement that Drake made Houston rap famous, and talk about how excited they are about the new batch of hip-hop platforms in Austin, TX.

You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about how Gerald Levert got Cam’ron to leave the streets alone, how DJ Quik helped on 50 Cents’ song “In Da Club,” how Aaliyah made it on a Kriss Kross song, and more.

Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that record labels don’t owe anything to artists who’ve broken the law.

Confucius talks about the recently recovered documents at President Biden’s house, TCU’s recent loss, Dre Dre’s showdown with Marjorie Taylor Greene, and more in Confucius Reads the News.

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.

Texas Standard: May 17, 2022

There’s an election going on and all week we’re profiling the races. Today it’s the Democratic runoff for Land Commissioner. We’ll have details. Also, Sweden and Finland want to join NATO after decades or even centuries of military nonalignment. A look at the road ahead for the alliance. And comparing the leaked draft Supreme Court opinion on Roe v. Wade to a brief submitted by the architect of some of Texas’ abortion restriction laws. And not a leak, SCOTUS released a final opinion on a case involving campaign finance yesterday. The plaintiff was U.S. Senator from Texas Ted Cruz. Plus we’ll slow things down in a conversation focused on the legacy of Houston’s DJ Screw. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:

Ashanti vs Keyshia Cole

On this episode of The Breaks:

Hosts Confucius and Fresh talk about the upcoming Verzuz battle between Ashanti and Keyshia Cole on Saturday, December 12th.
In this week’s installment of Random Hip-Hop Facts both hosts celebrate Jay-Z’s December 4th birthday with some fun facts about their favorite rapper
Fresh suggests that if people want clout, they need to earn it in this week’s Unpopular Opinion.
In his Confucius Says segment, Confucius tells listeners that if you give someone advice, and they don’t follow it, you should just let it go.

Listen to this episode of The Breaks

Texas Standard: May 28, 2020

The Texas Supreme Court rules fear of contracting Coronavirus is not a disability under election law. We’ll have more on the decision in the vote-by mail controversy and why it may not prove to be the final word on the subject. Also as institutions of higher ed struggle over how to move forward, we talk to the presidents of two historically black colleges about how best to help the communities they serve, especially hard hit by COVID-19. Plus Dr. Fred Campbell takes more listener questions about the Coronavirus and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Swangin’ and Bangin’ (Ep. 2)

The history of Southern Hip-hop and the women missing in it is discussed with Nasir Jones Hiphop Fellow Dr. Regina N. Bradley. Jackie and DaLyah also speak with up-and-coming Houston hip-hop artist Megan Thee Stallion.