Fresh defends Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which uses dupes of Snoop and Tupac’s voices. Plus hear Confucius’ take on the University of Texas’ response to a recent pro-Palestinian protest along with other headlines, and Hip-Hop Facts.
Tupac
Talking Hip-Hop: Journalism vs. Gossip
Sure, rumors are intriguing. But why has hip-hop talk moved from music journalism to celebrity clickbait? And when it comes to club culture, forget your section! Bottle wars simply don’t rack up to club-wide celebrations. Hear all about it plus Hip-Hop Facts, Confucius Reads the News, and a particularly Unpopular Opinion that may upset Keke Palmer fans on the latest episode of The Breaks.
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.
Make Rap Fun Again
Confucius and Fresh talk about the disappearance of dance from hip-hop. Then they try to answer the question,” Is rap bad for race relations?”
You’ll learn Hip-Hop Facts about the song Tupac played for his friend after he shot two off-duty police officers, how Biggie got the “Big Poppa” beat, and the truth about LL Cool J’s “I Shot Ya” and more.
Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that you don’t have to be from the culture to be for the culture.
Confucius talks about the recently released Durham Report, the end of Title 42, Johnny Depp’s standing ovation at Cannes and more in Confucius Reads the News.
SXSW Stories
Confucius and Fresh talk to Jordan Cummings, one of the founders of HennyThing ATX, a festival which will be in Austin on March 18th, 2023. Then Confucius and Fresh tell their favorite SXSWstories from years past.
You learn Hip-Hop Facts about whether Biggie’s “Long Kiss Goodnight” is really a Tupac diss, how old Nicole Wray was when “Make it Hot” became a hit, and why Nas’s had an issue with The Roots and Black Thought, and more!
Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that SXSW is kind of played out.
Confucius talks about how SXSW pays musicians, Amazon’s efforts to change the rules around when you can buy liquor, and Marjorie Greene Taylor on Confucius Reads the News.
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.
What is the DJ’s Current Role in Hip-Hop?
Inspired by an onstage outburst at a recent Wiz Khalifa concert, Confucius & Fresh kick off this edition of The Breaks by reexamining the once-central role of the DJ in the context of contemporary hip-hop.
This week’s Hip-Hop Facts packs tidbits on 50 Cent’s “How to Rob”, Tupac’s relationship with Suge Knight, Akon’s use of onstage decoys, the 1995 Source Awards, and Rakim’s unlikely journey into becoming a rap superstar.
Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion suggests that despite surface-level appearances, Mase of Naughty By Nature is NOT a victim of Puff Daddy.
Lastly, Confucius Reads the News about the latest Monkeypox developments, Biden’s ongoing COVID tests, Alex Jones’ Sandy Hook trial phone fiasco, and the passing of KUT/KUTX legend John Aielli.
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.
Hip Hop’s Holdouts on House Music
Does the act of Beyonce and Drake putting their feet into the house music pool hurt the momentum of hip hop? Confucius & Fresh discuss the implications and ramifications of that argument, then react to Chris Brown’s comment that hip-hop’s dominance has made R&B obsolete.
Confucius’ Hip Hop Facts include an interaction between Omar Epps and Tupac Shakur on the set of Juice, Jay-Z’s still-unreleased Tupac diss track, and Grant Hill’s direct connection to ‘Pac’s footwear on All Eyes on Me liner photos. Fresh talks about how Wu-Tang Clan inspired Wyclef Jean’s “Maria, Maria”, how Moby got his start as a hip-hop DJ at legendary NYC venue Club Mars, and how the game-changing M1 Mixtape was actually preceded by the lesser-known Zoo York Mixtape.
Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion has a message to hardcore fans of all kinds: stop ruining the experience of your beloved series or franchise for yourself by setting personal expectations!
At the tail end, Confucius and Fresh share their thoughts about the FDA’s Marketing Denial for JUUL Vape Pods.
Stand Up Comedy and Juneteenth
In the first segment of this episode, Confucius and Fresh interview comedians Rochelle Genivive Clinton, Dasharae, Daniel West, and Jordan McDonald.
For Hip Hop Facts Fresh talks about Nick Cannon’s pre-Wildin’ Out backing by Will Smith, the myth that Naughty By Nature’s Treach left a reptilian surprise for Tommy Boy Records CEO Tom Silverman, and DJ Premier’s unexpected discovery of Travis Scott through his church community. Confucius discusses why Ice Cube passed on what later became Tupac’s role in the John Singleton film Poetic Justice, how Tupac invented the Humpty Dance, and what Master P said to Snoop Dogg after Snoop recorded an “F Death Row” album for Mack10’s label Hoo-Bangin’ Records.
Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion covers how he doesn’t care how people choose to celebrate Juneteenth, nor the notions of corporations pandering to black consumers, especially if you’re not from Texas!
Confucius wraps things up with the announcement of Beyonce’s album Renaissance: Act 1, Anthony Fauci testing positive for COVID-19, and the granting of additional humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
Boosie Be Quiet!
This week on The Breaks:
- Confucius and Fresh talk about Boosie Badazz’s reaction to Lil’ Nas X’s pregnant promo pictures, and encourage the “Set it Off” artist to stop commenting on things he shouldn’t be commenting on.
- The hosts talk about the feud between Kanye and Drake, and bemoan the fact that André 3000 got caught up in the middle of their latest beef.
- You’ll learn interesting things about how Fat Joe saved Common’s life, why the Jack the Rapper conference was moved from Miami to Atlanta, Rapping Duke from the Biggie Smalls song “Juicy,” the origin of the beef between Nas and Death Row East, the time that Silkk the Shocker almost fought Tupac, the first verse Ceelo every recorded and more.
- Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that the Breaks should focus more on what’s happening in the Austin Hip-Hop and R&B Scene.
- In his Confucius Says segment Confucius talks about why wrong he thinks Texas’ 6 week abortion ban is and how embarrassed it makes him to be a Texan.
You can hear the latest full broadcast of The Breaks Saturday night show.
Dipset Debacle
This week on The Breaks:
- Confucius and Fresh discuss the latest Tekashi 6ix9ine related drama between 21 Savage and Wack 100.
- Both hosts talk about Tyler the Creator’s most recent interview with Laura Styles on Hot 97.
- In this week’s installment of “Hip-Hop facts” you’ll learn interesting things about Jim Jones’ “Summer in Miami,” Tupac’s “Hit Em Up,” Jaydakiss, The Joe Budden podcast, Nas and more.
- Confucius and Fresh share their thoughts on the latest Verzuz battle between Dipset and the Lox.
You can hear the latest full broadcast of The Breaks Saturday night show.