Akala is arguably one of the most intelligent people in this world we call Hip-Hop. From the lyrics to the concepts, to the lectures & books outside of the music. It's hard to even encapsulate how deep his philosophical brain goes in the music, but we give it a damn good go.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:50) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (19:18) It's Not A Rumour - (30:17) Freedom Lasso - (41:27) DoubleThink - (50:52) The Thieves Banquet - (1:00:15) Knowledge Is Power II - (1:09:50) Lighter Note - (1:24:45) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Diggin' In The Digits

Ep.132 - #UKBHM 2021: Akala

There are those artists that are right on the frontlines of cultural phenomena. But there aren't many that have been in several like Skepta. From the growth of Grime, to the gold rush of the late 00s/early 10s, to the complete cultural reset of Black British music. Skepta was there for all of it.Weekly Music Roundup - (1:40)Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (13:11)Greatest Hits - (23:09)Microphone Champion - (32:52)Doin' It Again - (41:39)Konnichiwa (More thoughts on the album on "Contemporary Cool Vol.1") - (1:00:31)"Ignorance Is Bliss" & Final Thoughts - (1:13:01)Lighter Note - (1:29:46)Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.131 - #UKBHM 2021 - Skepta

Happy UK Black History Month dear listener! If you weren't about last October, we will spend this month doing retrospectives on black UK artists only and for this episode, we cover a UK artist that went to the US and managed to blend Hip-Hop of the time with the soulful dance Black Brits like Soul II Soul were known for. We cover the career of Monie Love.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:19)Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (18:14)Down To Earth - (36:34)In a Word or 2 - (55:46)Final Thoughts & Post-career - (1:14:15)Lighter Note - (1:21:42)Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.130 - #UKBHM 2021: Monie Love

It's rare you have a group that doesn't just stick to their morals but go deeper into them as they go. But here's Brand Nubian, dropping critically loved albums throughout the 90s and half of the time without a key founding member. Mix that with the 5 percenter elements & their production chops as a collective and you have a very interesting group.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:52)Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (17:11)One For All - (29:19)In God We Trust - (40:38)Everything Is Everything - (50:50)Foundation - (57:33)Fire In The Hole - (1:04:07)Time's Runnin' Out - (1:07:43)Lighter Note - (1:13:46)Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.129 - Brand Nubian Rock The Set

This is one of those retrospectives where we thought we were just going to big up one of the least talked about legends in Hip-Hop. But once we got into that discography, we found much more than a great MC. Give more flowers to Redman.  TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:20)Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (16:10)Whut? Thee Album - (25:31)Dare Iz A Darkside - (37:46)Muddy Waters - (46:34)Doc's Da Name 2000 - (55:44)Malpractice - (1:01:41)Red Gone Wild: Thee Album - (1:06:27)Reggie - (1:11:33)Mudface - (1:13:41)Lighter Note - (1:18:44)Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.128 - The Sooperman Luva

This is probably our first retrospective where the artist in question is on the fringe of what is considered "Hip-Hop". But as with all elements of art, it is always worth getting out of our comfort zone now and again. And DJ Shadow is a perfect subject to do so. And his creative narrative isn't too shabby either.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:41)Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (12:31)Entroducing..... - (28:18) The Private Press - (41:51) The Outsider - (47:08) The Less You Know, The Better - (55:00)The Mountain Will Fall - (1:02:02) Our Pathetic Age - (1:07:25)Lighter Note - (1:20:37) Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.127 - Entroducing.....

In the light of Your Old Droog & Mach-Hommy having words with the likes of lyric hub Genius, Ben has been mulling over how protective (or unprotective) artists are with their work. Potentially causing a slippery slope where the extreme is something like a Yasiin Bey putting out an album in a museum for a limited time, never to be heard again after that.In a world where everyone can make a meme out of the "Certified Lover Boy" artwork, can you be an artist AND not want your stuff out there without your say so?TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:20)Topic Intro - (21:31)Lighter Note - (1:03:40)Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.126 - *Lyrics Unavailable*

We get into Part 2 of our Bad Boy retrospective, getting more testimony from more notable names, and some lesser-known names you may have never heard of before.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:08)Ma$e - (11:43)Faith Evans - (24:16)Dawn Richard & Danity Kane (30:11)'Lightning Rounds' - (35:18)Sauce Money - (50:20)Final Thoughts - (1:04:35)EDITOR NOTE: We had Lighter Note on Kanye but he dropped the day after we recorded, so it felt a bit pointless to have. Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.125 - Bad Boy Records (Part 2)

Bad Boy Records was a key cog in making Hip-Hop what it is today, for better or worse. But what about the many artists that were under Bad Boy? And how did they fare under it? Was it *really* a family? Or just another label being a label.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:23)Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (19:40)Craig Mack - (25:20)B.I.G. - (31:40)Total & 112 - (39:15)LOX & Black Rob - (50:56)Carl Thomas & Shyne - (56:01)Dream & G. Dep (1:05:03)Lighter Note - (1:15:35)Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.124 - Bad Boy Records (Part 1)

The LOX are one of the strongest groups in Hip-Hop history. Their bond is unbreakable, their chemistry is top-tier and their bars throughout their album discography illuminate all of that, even through all the beefs & disputes.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:20)Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (11:43)Money, Power & Respect - (24:45)We Are The Streets - (33:45)Filthy America... It's Beautiful - (48:49)Living Off Xperience - (55:54)Lighter Note - (1:06:07)Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.123 - (L)iving (O)ff (X)perience

It's time for Vol. 4 of "Contemporary Cool". A wide range for this one. Ben picks two albums that go over an hour, whilst Charlie picks two projects that are 20 minutes combined. But there's more to these projects than just how long they are...TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:15)Whack World - (18:15)Dirty Gold - (32:17)1 Minute Of Your Time - (50:51)Top 5 Dead Or Alive - (1:00:34)Lighter Note - (1:18:02)Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.122 - Contemporary Cool, Vol. 4

Biz Markie was not the "Just A Friend" rapper. And he should not be known simply for the sample case. Because Biz Markie was so much more. A multi-talented artist that made music. Funny, inviting, energetic and vulnerable music with great storytelling and underrated sample chops. We do our best in highlighting the unique nature of Biz.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:29) Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (20:32) Goin' Off - (30:12) The Biz Never Sleeps - (39:58)I Need A Haircut - (50:00) All Samples Cleared! - (1:00:00)Weekend Warrior - (1:08:34) Final Thoughts - (1:15:13) Lighter Note - (1:23:09)Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.121 - She Caught The Vapors

It's time for another DITD Bites and for this one we get into the recent Kanye "DONDA" announcement and predictable non-drop. And then we get into how we individually listen to music.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (2:01)Kanye, process & self-editing - (22:24)How we listen to music - (47:02)Lighter Note - (1:12:12)Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.120 - DITD Bites, Vol. 9

On this episode of DITD: Half the year has been & gone and we thought it was worth taking stock of the releases, overriding stories on our minds and what we're looking forward to for the rest of the year.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (6:29)Death of legends - (19:59)"A good, not great year" - (32:44) What to look forward to - (56:40)Lighter Note - (1:04:17)Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.119 - It's Halftime (Mid-Year Report)

We continue our two-part series on LL Cool J, going through the rest of his discography from Mr Smith all the way to Authentic.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:55)Topic Intro/Ben's Research House - (11:16)Mr Smith - (16:44)Phenomenon - (23:04) G.O.A.T - (30:27) 10 - (36:23)The DEFinition - (43:18) Todd Smith - (52:01)Exit 13 - (56:54) Authentic & Final Thoughts - (1:04:47) Lighter Note - (1:17:14)Thanks for listening. Below are the Social accounts for all parties involved. Be sure to let us know that you're supporting us!Music - "Pizza And Video Games" by Bonus Points (Thanks to Chillhop Records for the right to use)HHBTN (Twitter & IG) - @HipHopNumbers5E (Twitter & IG) - @5thElement_UK5E Community DiscordChillHop (Twitter) - @ChillhopdotcomBonus Points (Twitter) - @BonusPoints92Other Podcasts Under The 5EPN:"What's Good?" W/ Charlie TaylorIn Search of SauceBlack Women Watch...5EPN RadioThe Beauty Of Independence

Ep.118 - Something Like A Phenomenon (LL Cool J Pt.2)

Welcome to "Diggin' In The Digits", where Creator of 'Hip-Hop By The Numbers' Ben Carter and Director of 'The 5th Element' Charlie Taylor deliver entirely unique statistics behind Hip-Hop's biggest artists, stories & it's roots, discussing them in detail. From Australia to the UK and beyond. A Hip-Hop By The Numbers x 5th Element Podcast Network Production.

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Diggin' In The Digits

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