After a quick back-and-forth about musician work ethic versus entitlement here in Austin, Confucius and Fresh honor Raekwon’s 54th birthday by ranking the first run of solo albums from Wu-Tang clan members. Hear that, Hip-Hop Facts, Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion on the state of integrity in hip-hop journalism, and the first installment of Confucius Reads the News for 2024.
Wu-Tang
SXSBreaks is Back!
The Breaks talk about why Cardi B has stayed relevant, and reveal the lineup for SXSBreaks, the SXSW showcase featuring Austin’s best hip-hop and R&B Acts.
You’ll learn hip-hop facts about how Wu-Tang was the first rap group to do a worldwide tour with a rock band, who was D’Angelo’s “Devil’s Pie” originally belonged to, how good the original version of Dr. Dre’s The Chronic really was, and more.
Fresh states the Unpopular Opinion that Odd Future is the most underrated rap collective in history.
Confucius talked about the Eagles losing the Super Bowl, the recent UFO sightings in the states, and more in 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!
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.