Day 1 Radio

Funny story, Too $hort was scheduled to be the very first guest on Day 1 Radio podcast nearly 8 years ago. Although we did do a live interview with the legendary artist at A3C in the past, this is $hort’s first official appearance on the pod. Another classic in the books. Subscribe, Rate, Review! 1:30 - $hort is celebrating his birthday and he explains why he doesn't celebrate it as just a day, but as a season. 2:40 - $hort explains how the super group Mt. Westmore with him Ice Cube, E-40 and Snoop Dogg came to be. He says that they've always done shows together as separate entities, but this allows them to be a stronger unit. He also states his case for being the opener of the show. 6:25 - $hort talks about his history and musical relationship with the late Shock G of Digital Underground and how they were friends before making music together. 9:00 - Too Short came from a family of college graduates and even played instruments himself in high school. He shares a story about how one of his only regrets in life is giving up his school band aspirations. 15:45 - $hort speaks on being in the game for almost 40 years. He also talks about the reception to his retirement album "The Pimp Tape" and the blessing of Hip-Hop putting him in a position to exactly what he wants in his life and career. 19:30 - Branden runs down a list of legendary Oakland names and gets Short to share memories about them with us. 24:15 - Maurice gets $hort to talk about relocating Atlanta in the early 90s and what the Hip Hop music scene was like back then. Like so many other people, he came for Freaknik and never left. He also talks about how he first met Lil Jon and how their musical relationship started. 30:40 - $hort breaks down how he and Lil Jon made two of his biggest hits, "Shake That Monkey" and "Blow The Whistle." 35:00 - $hort talks about how he was banned from radio and TV for explicit lyrics back in the day, but now explicit are the norm. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

On the latest Day 1 Radio pod, Maurice and BP dig into the topics that our culture has been dealing with over the past few days. 1:50 - We open the show with a topic we've talked about too many times over the years, police killing unarmed Black people. In a fit of unfortunate irony, Daunte Wright was killed by a police officer in a town just 10 minutes away from where George Floyd was killed last year, during the Derek Chauvin trial. Here we talk about dealing with the trauma of seeing this and debate whether or not videos of these killings should be banned from being posted on social media. 9:15 - Another repeat here as we again ask why families of police killing victims hire Ben Crump everytime. We also talk about how families "forgiving" the police may not help anything. Then we address the need for a federal database that keeps track of murderous, aggressive cops after they resign or get fired. 28:50 - We couldn't record without speaking on the passing of Hip Hop icon DMX. Here we shared our favorite moments and the times we got to see him in person. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

This weeks' guests Cardo and Payroll Giovanni have been making dope music for a few years now and it doesn't sound like they are slowing down anytime soon. Here we talk with them about how they met, their chemistry and how they've been able to mesh their individual styles together so seamlessly. 1:00 - Cardo is originally from Minnesota and moved to DFW. Payroll is from Detroit. So, we had to ask how these two even met and started making music. Ironically, their incredible chemistry was from working together in Atlanta on a halted super group album with Jeezy and YG. Cardo and Payroll remind a lot of listeners of the Bay Area's "mob music" sound. They both speak on how the style influences their music. 10:00 - Payroll and Cardo talk about how their chemistry hasn't been impacted too severely by not being able to work together in the studio during COVID. They reveal how even though email has become their primary mode of communication, the magic is still there. 15:15 - Payroll will be starring in a film about Detroit icons Chedda Boyz. He clarifies that the film he is in focusing on the street crew, not the rap iteration that many are familiar with. 17:20 - Detroit Hip-Hop is starting to be recognized to the point that other regions are actually starting to borrow some of their slang, style and fashion. Payroll speaks on how crazy it is to see it happening. 19:40 - Cardo explains the origins of 2020's Game Related album that featured Payroll, Larry June and Kid HBK. While it was well-received by fans, the album happened to drop the same day as Kobe Bryant's death and days before the world stopped because of COVID. 23:00 - Cardo has produced megahits for the likes of Drake and Travis Scott, but he has also created cult classics with people like Payroll, Curren$y and others. Here we ask him if he ever tries to get artists on their level to rap on some of his more "underground" type beats. 28:15 - Payroll speaks on his upcoming tour with Oakland rapper Philthy Rich and how it feels going back on the road as things are opening back up. We also get them to speak on new music they are working on. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

This week we talked with former NBA player and current cannabis industry innovator Al Harrington. While many know him from his days as a hooper, this conversation focuses on his endeavors in the cannabis industry as the founder of VIOLA. Listen in as he shares his journey in this business why he views it as an opportunity for Black people and people of color to create generational wealth. 2:00 - Al shares the remarkable story about how his grandmother inspired him to start his company VIOLA and how the company is actually a platform for more people of color to get into the legal cannabis industry. He also explains the challenging, expensive process of how he actually got into the business. Al then talks about the different ways people can enter the game outside of being an actual cannabis grower. 8:00 - Al talks about the business incubator he has started to create 10,000 entrepreneurs in the cannabis space. He then talks about people still having "PTSD" in dealing with marijuana and their hesitance to enter the business. He also talks about how he feels generational wealth is on the line when dealing with cannabis and offers his thoughts on if and when marijuana will become legal federally. 17:30 - Al talks about how minorities need to bring their resources together to make an impact in the business and feels that celebrities should shift their approach to entering the space as well. 22:30 - Al clears up the intention and operation of the 100 millionaires concept behind his VIOLA CARES initiative. He also brings attention to how MSOs (multi state operators) find loopholes to get licenses in different states. 24:30 - Al speaks on the importance of reentry programs for people who have been locked up behind weed charges and putting them through cannabis curriculums to get back on their feet legally. He also speaks on how he doesn't just view VIOLA as a money maker but as a community builder. 30:20 - Al gives some advice on how to educate yourself on how the business goes and how to get started in it. 32:00 - Al talks about how he feels about professional sports leagues finally being open to taking marijuana off the banned substances list. And of course, lifelong Golden State Warriors fan gets Al to reflect on the 2006-07 "We Believe" Warriors team that Al was on and their legendary playoff run. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

This week we caught up with award-winning journalist and university professor Christopher A. Daniel to have a candid talk about the upcoming Grammy Awards. In addition to writing for the Grammy’s, Chris’ byline has also appeared on CBS News, The Washington Post, MSN, The Undefeated and more. We also took some time talking about the current state of Hip-Hop and Black journalism and the somewhat muted response to Drake's new music. 9:30 - With the Grammy Awards coming up, we each offer our takes on this year's nominees in the Rap music categories. 27:40 - The three of us take a moment to talk about the new music Drake is dropping and how the reaction has been tepid compared to prior year. 32:00 - Chris and Branden speak on some of the nominated music that they didn't expect to see or that people slept on this past year. We also spoke on the new Silk Sonic (Anderson.Paak and Bruno Mars) music and hopes for a tour. 38:00 - With each of us being journalists and writers, we have a discussion on the state of Black-centered journalism and media outlets. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

This week's guest Dustin Canalin is the creative force behind some of our favorite and most meaningful sneaker and streetwear designs and logos. With a resume that includes adidas, Nike, And 1, Undrcrwn and more, he is now using his talents to launch new campaigns and product lines with L.A. Gear and Puma. Here we talk about a small part of his journey so far and what it has been like navigating the creative space over the last 12 months. 3:30 - Dustin talks about adjusting to the realities of COVID as a creative, especially in the design field. He speaks on how working from home is not new to him and how he's pivoting to designing more casual items now that so many of us are at home a lot more. 7:00 - Dustin is the lead designer for PUMA's new "Black Fives" campaign celebrating the first wave of all-Black professional basketball teams. Here he talks about how the collection came together and its significance. He also talks about he specializes in telling stories through products and if brands are always open to the ideas. 17:30 - Dustin is one of the designers getting LA Gear and Payless back in the spotlight. Here he talks about his intentions behind working with the two brands. 23:30 - Dustin speaks on how designers are now considered "cool" and more high-profile. He credits it to people being more interested in wanting to know who and what they are supporting. 26:47 - Dustin speaks on his experience being on the design team for the NBA's City Edition jerseys, specifically the Golden State Warriors' "The Town" jerseys. 36:00 - Dustin talks about launching his new brand Trophy Hunting and explaining the soul and inspiration behind it. 41:40 - Here we try to unpack the current NFT phenomenon. We are still trying to figure it out too. We also speak on some of the technology coming out that is poised to shake up the art and fashion worlds. Key takeaway: "Technology is your friend when you stay on top of it." 46:00 - Dustin talks about how he developed his prolific drawing style and how a visit to the Charles Schultz (Peanuts) museum inspired how he works and creates. We also talk about some of his favorite sneakers that he designed and his thoughts on "knock offs" now becoming cool. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

After starting the year with interviews focusing on film history, this week are talking about present and future music. Seddy Hendrinx is the latest signee to Generation Now (Lil Uzi Vert, Jack Harlow) and he is poised to have a good run. Here we talk to him about growing up in Jacksonville, Florida, developing his musical style and of course the struggling football franchise in his city. 3:00 - Seddy is perhaps the first rapper from Jacksonville to break out nationally. Here he talks about how much talent is in "Duuuuval" and how he aims to give more than the "shoot em up bang bang" that many rappers from there come out with. 5:30 - He talks about his upbringing in Jacksonville and how his mother is the one who introduced him to music as a form of therapy. He also reveals how Kendrick Lamar Good Kid, Maad City is the album that inspired his style and content when he decided to start a rap career. 11:00 - Seddy talks about the moment he realized that he wasn't the only one going through tough times and how his music started to resonate with other people, even if it was just one person. He also speaks on staying true to himself and not hopping on trends and waves to get on. He also speaks on cutting back on using autotune on his voice. 15:30 - Seddy is signed to DJ Drama and Don Cannon's Generation Now label. Here he speaks on how he landed in Atlanta, sneaking into their Mean Streets Studios building and working his way up from there. He also gets into being such a prolific artist, dropping a new project every year since he's come out. 20:00 - Seddy also has his own company Florida Boy that he started with his uncle and talks about why he still decided to sign with another label. He also keeps it real about how the culture of support in Jacksonville's music scene. 23:30 - Seddy's breakout song "Lowkey" is currently at 10 million views on YouTube. He talks about how the song came about, how he knew it was a hit the first time he heard the beat and how it has changed his life. 26:00 - Seddy also paints on the side and talks about being able to have multiple artistic outlets. 28:00 - We couldn't talk to a person from Jacksonville and not talk about their football team. FYI, his head dropped when he started talking about them. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

Day 1 Radio has started 2021 speaking with a number of influential filmmakers and this week's episode keeps the trend going. Actor/director Nate Parker opened up about what inspired him to write his recently released film American Skin. In the conversation, we speak on race, police brutality, and all of the themes covered in the film and how it acted as a mirror to real life. 1:30 - Who did you make this film for? Nate talks about taking in his young nephew and Michael Brown's 2014 death as inspirations to make this film about young Black men and their relationship with the police. He calls the film an "answer" for young people with questions on how to protect themselves. 7:40 - Nate speaks on the first time he had to have the "the talk" with his mother about how to deal with the police. 9:45 - Nate talks about if he feels films like this will actually change people's (i.e. cops, cop apologists, etc.) minds about how they see the police's relationship with the Black community. 13:40 - Branden asks Nate to speak on one of the more emotionally-charged parts of the film when a young Black male character confronts a Black cop attempting to calm the family of a man who has been killed by police. He also speaks on the "old playbook" move of getting the family members of victims of police brutality to get on TV and ask for peace. He also speaks on how many people enter the police force to create change, but simply cannot. 18:00 - Nate reveals that there were plenty of instances of having to stop filming to allow cast members to process the scenes and dialog they were acting out. He also talks about the advantages of having the film being released direct-to-consumer because of current COVID restrictions. 24:00 - Spike Lee’s involvement with the film. 27:35 - Nate shares his feelings on whether or not police reform is actually possible. He also talks about the need to have both politicians and militants working together to make a change in the Black community. 30:45 - Nate gives an update on some of his other projects that are attacking the prison industrial complex and inner-city life. Nate also speaks on the importance not alienating younger generations in the quest for freedom and justice. 35:00 - Nate speaks on having Mt. Rushmore (Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, E-40, Too $hort) release their first song together on the American Skin soundtrack. He also talks about how Snoop himself made it come together in less than a month. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

Fresh off the heels of celebrating what would've been Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s 92nd birthday, we interview Emmy Award-winning and Oscar-nominated director Sam Pollard about his new documentary MLK/FBI. Here he talks about the journey of making the film and how he used newly declassified files and never-before-seen footage to present new information about the FBI’s surveillance of Dr. King. 1:45 - Pollard talks about the responsibilities of a documentarian. He speaks on not wanting to use his documentary to further deify MLK, but present him as a man who had a lot on his plate as he led a movement to combat discrimination in America. 5:30 - Pollard gets into the two-and-a-half-year journey of making this film and how so much of what was captured 50-60 years ago still rings true today. He also talks about where the research began when starting the project. 10:35 - Pollard talks about why after all of the work MLK had done, the March on Washington is what made the FBI start paying attention to the movement he was building. He also speaks on how MLK has gone from being considered a threat when he was alive, but a hero after he was assassinated. 15:00 - Pollard talked to Ambassador Andrew Young and a few others for the documentary. He talks about trying to approach people like Young to tell a story that they are probably tired of talking about. 20:00 - Here we all ponder how after decades of documented corruption; the FBI is still active and as strong as ever. He also talks about how his interview with former FBI director James Comey came together. 28:45 - Pollard gives up and coming filmmakers some advice on how to get in the game, navigate and flourish. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

This week's guest is one of those guys that you just let talk and share wisdom and experiences. Actor/producer/director Mario Van Peebles is no doubt a legend in the film and television game. But, he's also still out here putting in work. His contribution sees him directing Salt-N-Pepa's upcoming Lifetime movie. MVP sits down with us to talk about how he landed the opportunity, some funny stories about his classic film New Jack City, plus he drops all kinds of other gems he learned from his father Melvin Van Peebles too. 2:20 - Mario Van Peebles lays out the decades-long history he has with Salt-N-Pepa and how he wound up being the director of their upcoming Lifetime movie. After years of working with both of them directly and indirectly through different projects, SNP felt comfortable with him bringing their stories to life. He also speaks on working his son Mandela into the script. 8:15- - MVP addresses Lifetime's history of Black culture biopics and how he approached them to make sure that the best project possible was made. He also speaks to the importance of having Black woman-empowering roles on the big screen and why he jumped at the chance to direct this film. 18:25 - MVP is one of the first, if not the first, directors to cast rappers in his films as actual characters (i.e. Ice-T in New Jack City), not just extensions of their music personalities. He speaks on knowing how to cultivate inexperienced actors (like Chris Rock) in order to get the best performances out of them. Maurice also asks MVP about the internet rumor that Gee Money actually misses the shot in the infamous "I'm taking fools money like the IRS" scene. 24:30 - MVP talks about the upcoming 30th anniversary of "New Jack City." He says that he knew the film was a once in a lifetime opportunity to make. He also talks about the intention of making the cops in the movie cool enough to look up to. 30:30 - GAQ (Good Ass Question) alert! Branden asks MVP if he thinks the current socio-political climate will lead will shift Black creatives thought processes. 41:40 - MVP speaks on how he's been able to have a long career without sacrificing his morals or identity. He shares some gems he got from his father as well as Andrew Young on how to move up and ahead in this world and still be true to yourself. 50:00 - MVP speaks on the sequel to his film "Posse" and his future endeavors that include working on the Wu-Tang Clan television series. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

Well, this is a nice way to start 2021. We had a whole "Welcome to the New Year" episode recorded where we recapped 2020 and talked about what we were expecting this year. But then white privilege took over Washington D.C. So, this week we speak on the mob of #45 supporters who stormed the capitol building as the U.S. Senate confirmed Joe Biden's presidential election. 2:00 - Branden and Reese begin to try to unpack what just happened. Branden describes it as "racist with guns, storming the business place of racists with suits." 5:00 - Maurice speaks on how this event and the energy behind it has been brewing for at least 8 to 12 years. Branden doubles down Trump going down as one of, if not the worst president in U.S. history. 8:15 - Maurice wonders how much of this event was an "inside job" as the rioters seemed to be prepared to not only show up in protest, but break into the capitol building, confront law enforcement and rummage through office desks. 10:40 - Branden and Maurice speak on the power of words and how "coup" should not be thrown around so haphazardly. Maurice also challenges more white people to stop keeping secrets and callout the brazenly white people they know. 18:00 - Maurice and Branden question what these white "protestors" were actually protesting. They also wonder what happens after Trump officially leaves office and where him and his supporters will migrate to. 26:20 - Branden and Maurice talk about the passing of MF DOOM and share some of their favorite moments of his career. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

This week's guest is senior writer for The Undefeated and new author Jesse Washington. He is the co-author of the late great Coach John Thompson's book "I Came As A Shadow." Here we talk with Washington about how the book came together and some of the highlights of working closely with a sports and culture icon. We also get into his history as a Hip-Hop journalist and hooper as well. 2:45 - Jesse talks about how the opportunity to write Coach Thompson's book came to him. He shares what it was like meeting with him for the first interview and how his own hoop background got him on Coach's good side. 7:20 - Jesse shares some of his favorite Coach Thompson quotables. He also talks about Coach's eagerness to work on the book and how the book isn’t about just basketball. 14:00 - Jesse speaks on finishing the book before Coach's passing away earlier this year. He says Coach told him "you did a good job boy." He also talks about approaching the book as an "act of service" to make sure his story was told from his perspective. 18:15 - Branden brings light to the fact that in the 1980's during "Hoyas Paranoia" many people thought that Georgetown's majority Black team was an HBCU (which it is not). Jesse speaks on his personal experience seeing it himself growing. 20:40 - Jesse explains the meaning behind the title of the book and how it was inspired by poetry from one of Thompson’s uncles. 24:30 - Jesse was editor-in-chief at late 90s Hip Hop magazine BLAZE, that was an offshoot of VIBE. Here he talks about his time running magazine and some of the innovative ideas he was able to execute while there. 30:24 - Jesse is currently a writer at The Undefeated where sports and Black culture intersect. Here he talks about the joys of writing for such a unique space for this generation. He also talks about the time he was able to hoop against a Twitter troll who was critiquing his writing and basketball knowledge. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

At this point. Hip-Hop legend J. Prince is officially a friend of the show. In his third appearance on Day 1 Radio, J. Prince speaks on his newest business venture, Loyalty Wine Collection. He also talks about focusing on his boxing promotions company and the current status of Rap-A-Lot Records. 1:30 - J. Prince’s name is synonymous with Respect and Loyalty. Here he breaks down his affinity for wine and what inspired him to get into the business side of it. He also talks about some of the things he's learned and how he's applied his music industry knowledge to this business. 6:30 - J. Prince has been very prolific in the media over the last couple of years. Here he talks about finally opening up on social media and adjusting to the new way of doing things. He also reveals what happened between him and NBA Youngboy on IG earlier this year. 9:40 - J. Prince, whose first love is boxing, speaks on the current status of Rap-A-Lot Records and he says that he's essentially done with that part of his life. He also speaks on the recent wave of artists selling their master recordings for profit. 13:15 - J. Prince opens up on signing his first Mexican boxer, Gabriel Flores Jr. –to his promotions company. He also talks about Shakur Stevenson and him being on the cusp of stardom. He also offers his thoughts on the Mike Tyson vs Roy Jones Jr. exhibition match. 17:45 - Two of J. Prince's former artists Scarface and Willie D. have both ran for political offices. He speaks on if he will ever do the same. He also briefly speaks on putting together a movie on his life and John David Washington's interest in playing him on the big screen. 22:00 - J. Prince speaks on Houston producing Hip Hop megastars like Megan Thee Stallion and Travis Scott. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

You may have first heard of Symba thru his LA Leakers freestyle, or maybe it was on LeBron or Shaq's IG pages. Well, be clear, the Bay Area artist isn't new to the game, he's been dropping music for at least a decade. On this week's episode, we talked with him on the day his project Don't Run From R.A.P. dropped. From talking about his upbringing to developing as an artist, we get deep into Symba's history from the Bay to LA. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

It's been a few years since we had friend of the show Glasses Malone on. This time he's here to talk about his new podcast "No Ceilings," his thoughts on the upcoming Mike Tyson vs. Roy Jones, Jr. fight and the new music that he has on the way. 1:15 - Glasses Malone is set to debut his own podcast via Charlamagne Tha God's podcast network with iHeartRadio. Known for his strong opinions, Glasses says listeners should expect for the show to be "therapeutic." Also, on the 27 anniversary of Snoop Dogg's "Doggstyle" album, Glasses doubles down on his stance of it being the greatest Hip Hop album of all time. 9:00 - Roy Jones, Jr. is Glasses' favorite boxer of all time and he gives his thoughts on his upcoming fight against Mike Tyson. Newsflash, he thinks Roy will win the fight. He also talks about why he feels Tyson Fury has the potential to be the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. 17:20 - Glasses offers his perspective on the recent Gucci Mane vs Jeezy Verzuz battle. He also gives a rundown of who else would make for great match-ups. 27:30 - In the mid-2000s Glasses was at the forefront of L.A.'s resurgence in the rap game. 15 years later he talks about how he's grown as an artist and some of the lessons he's learned along the way. He also speaks about his next project and his plans to create and release a lot of music in 2021. 33:20 - Glasses speaks on the 2020 election results and how he feels Black people allows the media to manipulate them into who they think their enemies are. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

This week's guest is L.A. based recording artist Thurz. You may or may not recognize him from his days as a member of U.N.I. Or you may know him from his Party In My Living Room events. Or, you may know him from his recent "More Thurz on Thurzday" music series (check out the latest track "Dollaz" by Chewstick) . Either way, Thurz wears many hats. This week we caught up with the prolific artist to talk about how he's been navigating as a creative during the pandemic and his time working with Aftermath and Dr. Dre. 1:30 - Thurz talks about what the vibe has been like in L.A. this year with Kobe passing, the Lakers and Dodgers winning championships and being on lockdown the whole time. 2:30 - Thurz has been dropping new music and visuals every Thursday for his "Thurz on Thursdays" series. He says it started off with him just collecting music on his hard drive, but he decided to start sharing it at the behest of a friend. He also talks about how he's able to find inspiration from everywhere in order to be able to produce so much music. 11:50 - Thurz talks about his creative process and how he approaches every track differently. He specifically speaks on his track "November 3rd" where he shares his perspective on the 2020 election. 16:15 - Thurz talks about working with the Aftermath team and Dr. Dre. He talks about how surreal it was to see that Dre actually knew who he was and wanted to work with him. He also talks about the team of musicians he surrounds himself with and how that inspired him to bring his A-game. 22:30 - Thurz is also known for throwing dope parties/events and he talks about how much he's looking forward to cranking it back up after outside opens back up. He also talks about being active in the community and supporting local organizations. 26:30 - Thurz talks about wanting to build his own distribution channels for his music before he drops a new full-length project. He also talks about being an artist who came out during the "blog era" of the mid-to-late 2000s and applying lessons from then to the DSP era of now. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

If you have been a day one listener of Day 1 Radio then you already know that we cherish bringing you stories that you haven't heard before. We are continuing that tradition with our latest interview with L.A.'s own, artist/producer Blxst. While people on the West Coast are already hip, he's poised to breakthrough nationally any moment now. Get to know the next big thing out of the West! 3:00 - Blxst talks about how he got introduced to Hip Hop music through his grandfather singing A Tribe Called Quest songs to him when he was little. From there he says his uncle (who rapped) encouraged him to step up his vocabulary by reading the dictionary. 5:45 - Blxst shares why and how he's been able to build such a dedicated fanbase so fast and early in his career. He also talks about how his latest project "No Love Lost" came together and his choice to have no features and handle the production. He also talks about directing his own videos and how he learned how to film videos from being a skater. 11:40 - Blxst talks about how the feedback from his string of singles is what encouraged him to put out a full body of work. He also explains the science behind the spelling of his name, label (Evgle pronounced "eagle") and the branding behind it. 17:00 - Blxst has a unique partnership with Red Bull Records that will be backing his music. Here he talks about the importance of working with a company that truly understand his vision as an artist. 19:00 - Blxst admits that he does feel a little bit of pressure from respected figures and music lovers already crowning him as the next Nate Dogg or Ty Dolla $ign. He also talks about he prefers to produce for himself even though he is becoming an in-demand producer. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

25 years to the day of the release of their classic debut album Soul Food we sat down with Goodie Mob at the opening of the NuStalgia 2020 exhibit to get the goods on their new album Survival Kit! On this episode we get into the making of Survival Kit, reuniting with Organized Noize for an entire project, who could face Dungeon Family in a verzuz battle, Atlanta's dominance in hip-hop and a whole lot more. This is one of our classics for sure! Be sure to subscribe, rate and review. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

This week's guest is Bay Area radio vet and Sunday Service (Shade 45) host Big Von. Here he talks about his history in the radio game including the records he's broken and the contributions the Bay has made to urban radio culture, period. 1:45 - Big Von talks about the moment he fell in love with Hip-Hop, and like so many others, it started with Run DMC. He talks about how being born in New Jersey and being raised in the Bay and going back and forth played a role in him getting exposed to it so early. Branden and Von also go down memory lane listening to Sway and Tech's "Wake Up Show." 8:20 - Big Von reveals that he started off as an MC and then a DJ and goes through the list of ridiculous names him and his crew came up with. 11:20 - Big Von talks about the history he has with Bay Area icons Tha Jacka (RIP) and Mob Figaz. He also talks about KMEL being the first FM Hip-Hop station in the country and the originator of the "Summer Jam" concert idea. 15:30 - Von talks about how he got into radio as an intern and then worked his way up the ladder. He shares a story of how he got his first on-air gig seizing an opportunity that another person fumbled. 25:00 - Von talks about how his passion keeps him going in radio, especially at a time where urban stations' relevance is dwindling. He also talks about the long list of records he's broken ranging from Dorrough's "Ice Cream Paint Job" to Ella Mai's "Boo'd Up." 32:15 - Von talks about how he landed his Sunday Service show on Shade45 and the role 50 Cent played in setting it up. He also talks about why he's never bothered with trying to produce albums like the DJ Drama's and DJ Khaled's of the world. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

This week's guest is emcee and entrepreneur Willie the Kid. Long respected as one of Hip-Hop's most skilled lyricists, he is currently enjoying some widespread acclaim for his most recent effort Capital Gains. Here he talks about the process of creating the album during a pandemic while balancing it with his numerous business endeavors. 1:10 - We jump right into talking about his new album "Capital Gains." While it is dropping at a time where lyricism is making a comeback, he feels he's always been on that "island" for the better part of the last decade. We also talk about how it was writing and recording the album during the pandemic. 8:30 - "Capital Gains" has 10 tracks with nine producers. Willie talks about the decision to make a concise album and work with so many producers and have a number of features as well. He also talks about the overall aesthetic of the sound and look of the project including the cover art and videos. 13:30 - Willie has been quite busy outside of music. Here he gives a rundown of some of his business endeavors that include his spirits company Motu Viget, nightclub Ambiance, being a board member with Midwest Tech and being an investor in the app Radi8er. 22:45 - Willie is a co-executive producer on an upcoming Langston Hughes documentary. Here he talks about his role of bridging the gap between the Harlem Renaissance and Hip Hop and making sure it doesn't only come off as old Black history. 27:30 - Willie has been dropping new albums at least once a year for a while now. Here he talks about the pros and cons of being so prolific as an independent artist. He also lets it be known that he feels he is "a father" of the current trend of one producer/one MC rap albums. Day 1 Radio podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio