Reel Notes w/ CineMasai

My guests this week are New Jersey rapper OneShotOnce and producer Driveby. We spoke about Quiet On Set, Loudermilk, Dune 2, Mystic River, Love Lies Bleeding, Bound, their respective come-ups in Jersey, what they have to offer to the Jersey scene and rap at large, the beginning of their creative partnership, and the process behind their two projects, 4WD and 6WD. Come fuck with us. 6WD is available now wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen via Fused Arrow Records. Consider copping the digital album from OSO's Bandcamp or physical cassettes from the Fused Arrow website. Follow OneShotOnce on Instagram and Twitter: @oneshotonce. Follow Driveby on Instagram and Twitter: @driveby_. Follow Fused Arrow on Instagram and Twitter: @fusedarrow. Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more! My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon here. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Florida-based vlogger, critic, and interviewer, Eric The Young Gawd. We spoke about May December, Joker, Drumline, AirPod conspiracy theories, his interview style, Snow on tha Bluff, our respective relationships with Boosie Badazz, Florida and New Orleans rap, some of Eric’s best and funniest interviews, and his interest in the intersection between journalism and psychology. Come fuck with us. Subscribe to Eric's YouTube channel and follow him on Instagram @youaintpackinmeat Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more! My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon here. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Montreal rapper Chung. We spoke about Killers of The Flower Moon, Titanic, Netflix’s Griselda, our respective favorite R&B and hip-hop albums growing up, the pros and cons of coming up in the Montreal hip-hop scene, working with producers Nicholas Craven and Cotola, and the creative process behind her three latest projects—2022’s See You, When I C U, and both entries in she and Cotola’s Chung Shui series. Come fuck with us. Chung Shui 2 is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping it and other music directly from Chung's Bandcamp page. Follow Chung on Instagram (@ChungIsChung) and Twitter (@ChungIsChung_) Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more! My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon here. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New York rapper-producer shemar. We spoke about Mo’ Better Blue and the films of Spike Lee, Shark Boy & Lavagirl, Spy Kids, and the films of Robert Rodriguez, listening to Kendrick, Tyler, The Creator, and Earl Sweatshirt growing up, transitioning from poetry and beatmaking to rapping, labels and boxes within underground hip-hop, and the creative process behind his two latest projects—obtuse ways to say that i love you and the Child Actor-produced sunscreen. Come fuck with us obtuse ways to say that i love you and sunscreen are both available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping both directly from shemar's Bandcamp. Follow shemar on Instagram (@shemar.alexander) and Twitter (@shemar_aa). Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more! My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon here. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New York rapper-producer LIFEOFTHOM. We spoke about Poor Things, WALL-E, Inception, his love for anime, particularly the show Bakuman, environmental conservation, the versatility of his discography, and the concept and creative process behind his projects Floor 11 and Room 44. Come fuck with us. Floor 11 and Room 44 are available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @lifeofthom Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more! My first book ever, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is out on March 8, 2024, via 4PM Publishing. Pre-order a digital copy on Amazon here. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is California rapper-producer BbyAfricka. We spoke about Saltburn, Joker, A Clockwork Orange, how she transitioned from producing to rapping, the difference between being funny and being real, how her battle with Stevens-Johnson syndrome changed the way she makes music, and the creative process behind her last two albums—2022’s The Art of Geekin’ and this year’s The Rapture. Come fuck with us. The Art of Geekin' and The Rapture are both available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow BbyAfricka on Instagram and TikTok (@bbyafricka) and Twitter (@jasminearmanii) Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more! My first book ever, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is out on March 8, 2024, via 4PM Publishing. Pre-order a digital copy on Amazon here. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest for the season four premiere is Brooklyn rapper and model Ms. Boogie. We spoke about Prison Song, City of God, voyeurism and representation in media, finding herself in the music of Missy Elliott, Lil Kim, and Sisqo, coming out as a woman in Paper Magazine and transitioning in 2018, the importance of being queer, particularly trans, in rap and being seen in the right way, and the creative process behind her debut album The Breakdown. Come fuck with us. Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive interviews and reviews, and more! My first book ever, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is out on March 8, 2024, via 4PM Publishing. Pre-order a digital copy on Amazon here. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! The Breakdown is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Ms. Boogie on Instagram and Twitter: @dearmsboogie Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest for the season 3 finale is Los Angeles rapper Domo Genesis. We spoke about Leave The World Behind, our mutual love of horror movies, The Lion King, John Q, his start as a founding member of Odd Future, how his Alchemist tape No Idols was ahead of its time, maintaining consistency in his music over a decade, becoming a big brother to the Mutant Academy collective, and the creative process behind What You Don’t Get?!, produced entirely by Graymatter. What You Don't Get?! is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Domo Genesis on Instagram (@domogenesis) and Twitter (@DamierGenesis) My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon. Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more! Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New York rapper Lord Sko. We spoke about Violent Night, The Big Lebowski, King of New York, New York pizza, food in LA, bridging age and subgenre gaps in rap music, taking his first two projects off the internet, his general creative process, and the making of his breakout projects—2022’s Museum and this year’s United Palace. United Palace is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Lord Sko on Instagram (@lordsko) and Tik Tok (@lordsko_) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Support the show

My guest this week is North Carolina-based rapper, producer, and head of the I’ll Never Die collective, JUNE! We spoke about Loki season 2, the highs and lows of the MCU, Friday, Hitch, Soul Food, Lucy, M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable, Split, and Glass, Andre 3000’s ambient album, the impact of Earl Sweatshirt’s Some Rap Songs, the history of I N D, JUNE!’s viral remixes and sample flips, working through struggle, and the creative process behind a handful of their projects, including their latest, What A Life. Follow JUNE! on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @juneayth. If you can spare, please donate to their GoFundMe, Cash App ($JUNEAYTH), or Venmo (@ShawnMayIND). Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! What A Life is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping it directly from Bandcamp. Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New Jersey rapper, producer, and photographer Da$h. We spoke about being a father, working with ANKHLEJOHN and Mac Miller, Beau Is Afraid, Killers of The Flower Moon, risk-averse Hollywood studios, tour stories, dealing with addiction, why he’s particularly inspired by the late actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman, embracing photography, physical media, and the creative process behind his music, especially his latest album Skrewface 2. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Skrewface 2 is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Da$h on Instagram and Twitter: @HEIRDASH Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New York rapper-producer and instrumentalist Gabe ‘Nandez. We spoke about Pusher, his relationship with the Pulp Fiction soundtrack, the pros and cons of modern-day cinema, the art and value of music videos, how being multi-lingual influences his writing style, making his 2019 album Diplomacy during one of the toughest moments of his life, and the creative process behind his latest project H. T. III, produced entirely by Argov. If you're in the New York area, come to the first edition of Reel Talk, a Reel Notes movie night on Sunday, December 3 at Loudmouth BK featuring Florida rapper-producer Niontay. Tay and I will be screening the 1975 cult classic Coonskin followed by an interview/Q&A after. $13 admission. Buy tickets here. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! H. T. III is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from Bandcamp. Follow Gabe on Instagram (@champiyawn) and Twitter (@GabeNandez) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is California rapper and producer Maxo, live from the Abrons Arts Center in Manhattan. We spoke about Being John Malkovitch, 3 Ninjas, Steel, white guilt movies, why Tubi is the best streaming service, the process behind a handful of his music videos, whether he experiences fear while making music, and the creative process behind Lil Big Man, Even God Has A Sense Of Humor, and Debbie’s Son. If you're in the New York area, come to the first edition of Reel Talk, a Reel Notes movie night on Sunday, December 3 at Loudmouth BK featuring Florida rapper-producer Niontay. Tay and I will be screening a movie of his choice (film tba) followed by an interview/Q&A after. $13 admission. Buy tickets here. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Visit the websites for the Abrons Arts Center, Loudmouth BK, and Every DejaVu. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Even God Has A Sense Of Humor and Debbie’s Son are both available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Maxo on Instagram (@rundatback) and Twitter (@rundatbacc) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Ohio-based rapper and producer Kipp Stone. We spoke about Where The Wild Things Are, the Transformers franchise, Soul, Little Bear, being inspired by his surroundings, how long it took him to find his musical style, joining up with, leaving, and re-joining Closed Sessions, the art of saying more with less words, and the creative process behind his latest album 66689 Blvd Prequel. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! 66689 Blvd Prequel is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping it directly from Bandcamp. Follow Kipp on Instagram and Twitter: @kipp_stone Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Ishmael Butler, one-third of Digable Planets and the center of Shabazz Palaces. We spoke about the Amazon Prime original series Them, Afrosurrealism, Superfly, the role blaxploitation soundtracks played in the early days of sampling, his love for horror movies, transitioning from Digable Planets and Cherrywine to Shabazz Palaces, the group’s creative process, his views on rap culture 50 years in, and the process behind Shabazz Palaces’ latest project Robed In Rareness. Robed In Rareness is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping from Bandcamp. Follow Shabazz Palaces on Instagram and Twitter: @shabazzpalaces My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon. Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more! Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Massachusetts-based rapper, producer, streamer, and toymaker Pink Navel. We spoke about our favorite reality TV, the pros and cons of internet culture, their relationship to the Star Wars movies and the filmography of Kevin Smith, forging their own path as Pink Navel, connecting with R.A.P. Ferreira and Ruby Yacht, the creative process behind How To Capture Playful, their collaborative album with Kenny Segal, and, of course, all things video games. How To Capture Playful is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping the digital or physical versions of the album on Bandcamp. Follow Pink Navel on Instagram (@dotdev_), Twitter (@pinknavelonline), and TikTok (@noiddominos) My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon. Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more! Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Roper, one-half of the New Jersey-based production duo Roper Williams. We spoke about the Western film Bone Tomahawk, the times we’ve walked out of movies, cult horror films like Await Further Instructions, Chopping Mall, and Skinamarink, the jazz anime Blue Giant, how he and his partner Sanz first met, came up with their name, and their creative process, highlight a handful of their standout beats, how producers are gaining more recognition in the indie scene, and break down the process behind their latest project Infinite Victory Loop, featuring Fatboi Sharif, YL, AKAI SOLO, and Pootie. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with Palestine and the people of Gaza. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund or to Islamic Relief USA. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with SAG-AFTA as they strike for better working conditions and pay for the people who power the movies and TV we love. Please consider supporting them directly by donating to the Entertainment Community Fund or The Snacklist mutual aid fund to get food and drink to strikers across Los Angeles. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Infinite Victory Loop is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from Bandcamp. Follow Roper Williams on Instagram and Twitter: @roper_williams Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is California rapper, producer, DJ, and one-half of the group KWAMZAY, ZAYALLCAPS. We spoke about size 8 and up fitted hats, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Space Jam, romantic comedies, Like Mike, Curb Your Enthusiasm, the legacy of Friday, how rap cured his loneliness, going from producing to embracing rapping, Soundcloud remix and mash-up culture, forming KWAMZAY with Kwame Adu, and the creative process behind his debut album BALLING OUT OF SPITE. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with Palestine and the people of Gaza. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund or to Islamic Relief USA. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with SAG-AFTA as they strike for better working conditions and better pay for the people who power the movies and TV we love. Please consider supporting them directly by donating to the Entertainment Community Fund or The Snacklist mutual aid fund to get food and drink to strikers across Los Angeles. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! BALLING OUT OF SPITE is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Check out ZAY's backlog of music on Soundcloud. Follow ZAY on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @zayallcaps Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New Jersey-based singer, songwriter, and producer Fielded. We spoke about No One Will Save You, Silence of The Lambs, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, the work of Ari Aster and Todd Solondz, why we’re attracted to dark and disturbing movies, their journey from a musical family to creating the Fielded project, linking with Backwoodz Studioz, and the creative process behind their latest album Plus One. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with SAG-AFTA as they strike for better working conditions and better pay for the people who power the movies and TV we love. Please consider supporting them directly by donating to the Entertainment Community Fund or The Snacklist mutual aid fund to get food and drink to strikers across Los Angeles. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Plus One is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from Fielded's Bandcamp. Follow them on Instagram and Twitter (@_fielded_) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Boston rapper, producer, and saxophonist DiZ. We spoke about The Other Black Woman, Natural Born Killers, Balto, Carmen: A Hip-Hopera, his early beginnings as a musician, figuring out his sound, linking with Ovrkast, juggling a burgeoning music career while studying at Berklee, constantly navigating the line between honesty and oversharing in his writing, and the creative process behind several projects, including his breakout Black Water, ULTRA.VIOLET, and this year’s the way forward is not the way home. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with SAG-AFTA as they strike for better working conditions and better pay for the people who power the movies and TV we love. Please consider supporting them directly by donating to the Entertainment Community Fund or The Snacklist mutual aid fund to get food and drink to strikers across Los Angeles. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! the way forward is not the way home is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping from Bandcamp to directly support DiZ. Follow DiZ on Instagram (@diz.47), Twitter (@DizDaDelinQuent), and TikTok (@DizDaDelinquent) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New York-via-Maine photographer, director, and designer Alexander Richter. We spoke about Top Boy, the James Bond series, how both his parents inspired his early love for film and photography, his career as a music photographer, including stories shooting Sean Price’s Jesus Price album cover and a 50 Cent cover story, his extensive history with billy woods and Backwoodz Studioz, and the creative process behind Dark Brother Rise, his 2020 short film about the eponymous hip-hop photographer from Queensbridge. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with SAG-AFTA as they strike for better working conditions and better pay for the people who power the movies and TV we love. Please consider supporting them directly by donating to the Entertainment Community Fund or The Snacklist mutual aid fund to get food and drink to strikers across Los Angeles. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Check out Richter's portfolio here and watch the Dark Brother Rise documentary here. Read my piece "How billy woods' Backwoodz Studioz Became New York's Best Underground Rap Label" for Pitchfork here Follow Richter on Instagram (@alexanderrichter) and Twitter (@AlexandeRichter) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New York rapper, poet, performance artist, and member of the band Poetic Thrust, Nakama. We spoke about They Cloned Tyrone, our favorite recent anime, The Matrix, Pan’s Labyrinth, our feelings on the series finale of Atlanta, his rap origin story, forming Poetic Thrust, his work on the multimedia piece Places, and the creative process behind a handful of projects, including human_error and Kindling. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the WGA and SAG-AFTA as they strike for better working conditions and better pay for the people who power the movies and TV we love. Please consider supporting them directly by donating to the Entertainment Community Fund or The Snacklist mutual aid fund to get food and drink to strikers across Los Angeles. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Kindling and human_error are both available exclusively through Nakama's Bandcamp. Follow Nakama on Instagram (@nakama.wtf) and Twitter (@nakama_wtf) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is California-based journalist, artist manager, A&R, curator, chef, and musician Walasia Shabazz. We spoke about Kelis’ Cooking with Cannabis, growing up around Hollywood royalty, her family’s roots in film and music, her love for Star Wars and Almost Famous, cheffing for your favorite rappers, her journey through the worlds of music journalism and music management, her relationship with the late MF DOOM, the art of service, and more stories and anecdotes than I can count. Tap in with all of her work at Drums & Ammo, including her new music and sex column Talk Like Sex, and her Medium page. Follow Walasia on Instagram (@noorscience) and Twitter (@WALASIA) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New York rapper Yoh. We spoke about the Portugese show Sintonia, City of God, Bottoms, our mutual love for anime and Hayao Miyazaki, the pros and cons of listing your favorite music or movies, his comeup as a solo act and his role in the band Poetic Thrust, linking with producer and musician CARRTOONS, and the creative process behind his 2016 solo project Tales Over Tea and Mirrors, his 2022 collab with CARRTOONS. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the WGA and SAG-AFTA as they strike for better working conditions and better pay for the people who power the movies and TV we love. Please consider supporting them directly by donating to the Entertainment Community Fund or The Snacklist mutual aid fund to get food and drink to strikers across Los Angeles. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Mirrors is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping it from Bandcamp. Follow Yoh on Instagram (@yoh.holo) and Twitter (@yoh_holo) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Chicago rapper SKECH185. We spoke about Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Bardo, They Cloned Tyrone, his love for A League of Their Own, Juice, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, how his passion for drawing eventually mingled with his passion for rapping, a brief history of Chicago hip-hop and of the Tomorrow Kings collective, the benefits of regionalism in rap music, his history with Backwoodz Studioz, and the creative process behind his latest album He Left Nothing For The Swim Back, produced entirely by Jeff Markey. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the WGA and SAG-AFTA as they strike for better working conditions and better pay for the people who power the movies and TV we love. Please consider supporting them directly by donating to the Entertainment Community Fund or The Snacklist mutual aid fund to get food and drink to strikers across Los Angeles. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! He Left Nothing For The Swim Back is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping it directly from Bandcamp. Follow SKECH185 on Instagram and Twitter: @SKECH185 Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Los Angeles-based rapper, producer, poet, teacher, and multi-instrumentalist Rhys Langston. We spoke about kung-fu films, Warrior, Jet Li, The Matrix, Monty Python & The Holy Grail, the nature of meta-narratives, balancing entertainment with knowledge, pulling inspiration from Migos and others, and the creative process behind his latest project To Operate This System, produced by Pioneer 11. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the WGA and SAG-AFTA as they strike for better working conditions and better pay for the people who power the movies and TV we love. Please consider supporting them directly by donating to the Entertainment Community Fund or The Snacklist mutual aid fund to get food and drink to strikers across Los Angeles. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! To Operate This System is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from Bandcamp. Follow Rhys on Instagram and Twitter: @rhyslangston Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guests for the first edition of Reel Notes Live!, recorded at Loudmouth Records in Brooklyn, NY, are New Jersey rapper Fatboi Sharif and New York producer/engineer/label head Steel Tipped Dove. We spoke about Oppenheimer, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, the Amazon Prime show Patriot, how film scores and directors inspired Sharif’s writing style, creating images with their words and beats, and the creative process behind their collaborative album Decay. Check out our live sponsors Loudmouth Records and EverDejaVu Records for the best in streetwear and indie music. Follow them both on Instagram (@loudmouthbk, @everydejavu and Twitter (@loudmouthbk, @everydejavu) Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the WGA and SAG-AFTA as they strike for better working conditions and better pay for the people who power the movies and TV we love. Please consider supporting them directly by donating to the Entertainment Community Fund or The Snacklist mutual aid fund to get food and drink to strikers across Los Angeles. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Decay is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from Bandcamp here. Follow Fatboi Sharif on Instagram (@fatboi_sharif) and Twitter (@fatboyprospect) Follow Steel Tipped Dove on Instagram and Twitter: @steeltippeddove Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New Jersey rapper and multi-instrumentalist Reg Mason. We spoke about The Bear, Shameless, Oppenheimer, the 2006 comedy Accepted, the art of bootleg DVDs, how School of Rock inspired him to start making music, finding his love for hardcore punk and blog-era hip-hop, the importance of representing New Jersey in his music, keeping an open musical mind as you grow older, and the creative process behind his debut album TESTDRIVE’. If you're in the New York tri-state area, join me on Saturday, August 12 for the first-ever taping of Reel Notes Live! with special guests Fatboi Sharif and Steel Tipped Dove. We'll be talking about movies, music, and their latest album Decay at Loudmouth Records in Brooklyn, NY from 6-9PM. Free admission but RSVP is required. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the WGA and SAG-AFTA as they strike for better working conditions and better pay for the people who power the movies and TV we love. Please consider supporting them directly by donating to the Entertainment Community Fund or The Snacklist mutual aid fund to get food and drink to strikers across Los Angeles. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! TESTDRIVE’ is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping it directly from Reg's Bandcamp page here. Follow Reg on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @regkmason Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Read my review of Drake's It Was All A Blur tour on Vulture here. Read "What's Fact and What's Fiction in Oppenheimer" on Vulture here. Support the show

My guest this week is Baltimore-born singer, songwriter, and creative director Joy Postell. We spoke about Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia, The Dark Knight, Stomp The Yard, Love & Basketball, Remember The Titans, her time doing theater in school, finding herself as a solo artist in Los Angeles, how Baltimore, Los Angeles, and New York have influenced her music, the pointlessness of the modern R&B debate, and the creative process behind her 2018 breakout Diaspora and The Magician, the first in a series of EPs she plans on releasing this year. The Magician is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Joy on Instagram and Twitter (@JoyPostell) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Atlanta rapper, producer, director, and founder of Awful Records, Father. We spoke about From, Swordfish, The Incredible Mr. Limpet, Dogma, Comedy Central movies,bad dreadlock wigs, the origins of Awful Records, how he creates like a film director, using AI to augment the “Oxenfree” video, and the creative process behind his last two projects Young Hot Ebony 2 and Hu$band 2. Hu$band 2 is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Father on Instagram and Twitter (@father) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is LA-via-New York rapper Radamiz. We spoke about The Idol, Atlanta, Dave, the Dominican horror film Andrea: The Revenge of The Spirit, his journey through hip-hop, his feelings on religion, mortality, and community, and the creative process behind his latest project 2409 West Slauson. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! 2409 West Slauson is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider grabbing a vinyl from his website here. Follow Radamiz on Instagram and Twitter: @radamiz Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Atlanta-via-St. Louis rapper-producer Chester Watson. We spoke about Playstation 2 emulators, Snowfall, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Beau is Afraid, The Wiz, films of the New French Extremity movement, longevity in music, being inspired by the modern underground, how his approach to writing has changed over the last decade, the art of the concept album, and the creative process behind his latest album Fish Don’t Climb Trees. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Fish Don't Climb Trees will be available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen on June 30, 2023. Follow Chester on Instagram (@chesterwatson) and Twitter (@chstrwtsn) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is North Carolina rapper Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon of Melanated People. We spoke about John Wick, marathoning every movie in the Ip Man series in one sitting, a long, winding trip through the movies that defined his childhood and adolescence, how meeting Slim Thug, Paul Wall, and Mike Jones inspired him to take music seriously, finding his voice as a rapper, the benefits of one-producer collabs, the pros and cons of turning 30 in rap, and the creative process behind his latest album Highly Favored. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Highly Favored is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from his Bandcamp page here. Follow Jah on Instagram and Twitter: @jahmonteogbon Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Queens singer, rapper, and producer Kelly Moonstone. We spoke about anime like Mashle, Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, and The Disastrous Life of Saiki K., the Goosebumps books, relating to Dory’s neurodivergence in Finding Dory, creating music as The Afr0dite, transitioning to Kelly Moonstone, working with Navy Blue and Jah-Monte Ogbon, and the creative process behind her latest project I Digress… Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! I Digress...is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from her Bandcamp page here. Follow Kelly Moonstone on Instagram and Twitter: @KellyMoonstone Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Nashville-based rapper, producer, record store owner, and founder of Ruby Yacht…R.A.P. Ferreira. We spoke about the Netflix series From, the horror genre, getting desensitized to violence, Batman, Beetlejuice, Embrace of The Serpent, The Taste of Tea, the power of music while traveling, how an experience on shrooms changed his outlook on his own music, the difference between his milo and R.A.P. Ferreira personae, the legacy of Ruby Yacht, and the creative process behind his latest album 5 to the Eye with Stars. 5 to the Eye with Stars is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from his Bandcamp. Follow Rory on Instagram and Twitter: @hipcatscience My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon. Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more! Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Brooklyn rapper, producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Cisco Swank. We spoke about meeting at Pitchfork Festival, Snowfall, RuPaul’s Drag Race, Akira, The Incredibles, Inception, the magic of movie scores and soundtracks, what the piano means to him, the relationship between jazz, rap, and gospel, and the creative process behind his debut solo album More Better. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! More Better is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from his Bandcamp page here. Follow Cisco Swank on Twitter (@SwankCisco) and Instagram and TikTok (@cisco.swank) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Arkansas rapper, singer, producer, and designer Kari Faux. We spoke about How To Blow Up A Pipeline, both film versions of The Lion King, Molly Shannon’s Superstar, Kill Bill, why she prefers watching TV shows to movies, how living in Arkansas influenced her music taste, reflecting on “No Small Talk” nearly a decade later, the value of independence, and the creative process behind her latest album Real B*tches Don’t Die. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Real B*tches Don't Die will be available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen on May 26th. Watch Kari's installment of Rap Portraits here. Follow Kari on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @karifaux Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Boston-based journalist, archivist, author, A&R, and lecturer Dart Adams. We spoke about the Amazon Prime series The Power, the WGA writer’s strike, Y: The Last Man, Infinity Train, Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, the phenomenon of cult films, the impermanence of streaming, how the internet has reshaped ideas of nostalgia and memory, and the importance of physical archiving and being outside to experience history. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Dart's latest book Instead We Became Evil: A True Story of Survival and Perseverance, a memoir of the Danish artist Sleiman that he co-authored,is available wherever books are sold. Consider grabbing a copy here. Read Dart's work over at Boston Magazine here. Follow Dart on Instagram and Twitter: @dart_adams Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Seattle-via-New York rapper-producer AJ Suede. We spoke about Beef, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, the Nintendo Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Spike Lee’s Bamboozled, growing up in New York, establishing himself in Seattle, his journey through independent music, linking with R.A.P. Ferrira to form the duo G’s Us, similarities between rappers and journalists, and the creative process behind Parthian Shots, his latest collab with the producer Televangel. Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! Parthian Shots is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from Bandcamp via Fake Four Inc. here. Suede will be joining ShrapKnel on the West Coast leg of their North American tour from May 12 - May 19. Check dates and cop tickets here. Follow AJ Suede on Instagram and Twitter: @ajsuede Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest for our 100th episode is California-via-Rhode Island rapper and singer JELEEL! We spoke about The Matrix, The Truman Show, Honey, I Shurnk The Kids, wrestling, similarities between wrestling and music, catching that can of Sprite at Rolling Loud, growing up on Rhode Island, what his own planet would look like, wanting to showcase his range as an artist, and the creative process behind his debut album REAL RAW! Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order! REAL RAW will be available May 5 wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Read my Audiomack Workd interview with JELEEL! here. Follow JELEEL! on Instagram and Twitter (@JELEEEEL) and TikTok (@Jeleelyeah) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

*TW: suicide, self-harm* My guest this week is New York producer Samurai Banana. We spoke about Cocaine Bear, Godzilla and King Kong, The Nightmare Before Christmas, In The Mood For Love, Boards of Canada, how he solidified his love for music while attending film school, the history of the Karma Kids, music as a vehicle for discussion depression, and the creative process and release behind Just Tired, his debut album on Uncommon Records. Just Tired is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from Bandcamp here. Follow Samurai Banana on Instagram (@samurai.banana) and Twitter (@samurai_banana) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Detroit rapper, producer, photographer, and manager NOLAN (fka Nolan The Ninja). We spoke about Snowfall, Cocaine Bear, Batman & Robin, Belly, the magic of drive-in theaters, his transition from boom-bap to more vibey music, how the pandemic stalled his momentum, developing SPORTCAST by getting into photography and artist management, and the creative process behind his latest album don’t get TOO excited. don't get TOO excited is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping direct from his Bandcamp page here. If you live in the northeast United States, catch NOLAN on tour with Brainorchestra and Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon from May 18-May 24. Grab tickets here. Follow NOLAN on Instagram and Twitter: @NolanTheNinja Follow SPORTCAST on Instagram and Twitter: @sportcastonly Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is North Carolina rapper, writer, composer, and podcast host Phonte. We spoke about Wu-Tang: An American Saga, Ted Lasso, Prince’s Purple Rain, acting as an extra in The Color Purple, A Soldier’s Story, putting on for North Carolina, his evolution from Little Brother to his solo work, making May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story with Rap Portraits, and how his time in music has translated to a career in voiceover, podcasting, and writing songs for movies and television. May The Lord Watch: The Little Brother Story is available now on YouTube. Consider donating to the Southern Documentary Fund. Follow Phonte on Instagram and Twitter: @phontigallo Follow everything Little Brother here and everything Foreign Exchange Music here. Read my Sunday Review of Little Brother's The Listeningon Pitchfork. My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon. Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more! Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Queens-based rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer deem spencer. We spoke about Natasha Lyonne’s Poker Face, watching movies by yourself vs. with other people, Chris Rock’s Down To Earth, Baby Boy, how Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory changed his life, his debut project sunflower, taking constructive criticism, what it means to be an album artist in 2023, trusting his circle of collaborators, and the creative process behind his latest album adult sw!m adult sw!m is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Listen to sunflower here. Follow deem on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @deemspencer Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Buffalo, NY rapper, producer, and designer Ché Noir. We spoke about the Creed series, Ozark, Imitation of Life, Carlito’s Way, binging TV shows vs. watching them weekly, why Lauryn Hill and Nas are among her favorite storytellers, coming up under Benny The Butcher and 38 Spesh, a handful of her best storytelling songs, how she almost quit rap music before she truly began, and the creative process behind her latest project Noir or Never, produced entirely by Big Ghost Ltd. Noir or Never is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping direct from Bandcamp here. Follow Ché on Instagram and Twitter: @che_noir Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Texas singer-rapper-producer Liv.e. We spoke about Reasonable Doubt, CB4, the legacy of Charlie Murphy, Team America: World Police, Eve’s Bayou, Jason’s Lyric, Toni Morrison’s Beloved, the work of Ari Aster, our favorite rap comedy skits, how she was inspired by the horror film Ganja & Hess, and the creative process behind her latest album Girl In The Half Pearl. Girl In The Half Pearl is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from Liv.e's Bandcamp. Follow Liv.e on Instagram (@_osun) and Twitter (@oliveosun). Read my Pigeons & Planes interview with Liv.e from 2018. My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon. Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Oakland rapper and co-founder of the label Lucid Haus, Nappy Nina. We spoke about touring Australia for the first time, the perfect grilled cheese, the 2022 Oscar nominees, Flubber, Jumanji, Medicine for Melancholy, how The Fugees’ The Score changed her life, how her name translates to international audiences, how COVID impacted her creativity, and the creative process behind her latest album Mourning Due. Mourning Due is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from Nina's Bandcamp page (and pre-ordering a super limited edition vinyl copy) here. Follow Nina on Instagram (@nappynina) and Twitter (@Nappy_Nina) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is singer, rapper, and designer Lucille Ghatti. We spoke about Run Sweetheart Run, Mo’nique, horror movies, Song of The South, Cleopatra, Elvis, singing in the choir, her musical journey from the blog era to now, the pros and cons of being ahead of the curve, her relationship to plugg&b, and the creative process behind her latest album Tears of A Clown, produced entirely by Popstar Benny. Tears of A Clown coming soon to wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen Follow Lucille Ghatti on Instagram (@6esabbath), Twitter (@6ES92), and TikTok (@6es92) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is D.C. rapper and label head ANKHLEJOHN. We spoke about Power, 50 Cent’s legacy as a rapper and a TV producer, Lightyear, reliving his favorite movies through his son’s eyes, how go-go music inspired his rapping style, the history of his Shaap Records label, the power of being yourself on record, and the creative process behind several of his albums, including he and producer Look Damien!’s latest collab The Dead Don’t Die. The Dead Don't Die is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping it direct from Bandcamp here. Follow ANKHLEJOHN on Instagram (@AnkhNasty) and Twitter (@ANKHLEJOHN) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New Jersey rapper Rasheed Chappell. We spoke about Everything Everywhere All At Once, It’s A Wonderful Life, seeing Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back with his late father, how movies play to both escapism and reality, New Jersey’s place in hip-hop, the relationship between New Jersey and New York, his early career, why praise from your friends hits different, and the creative process behind his latest album A Portrait Of, produced by Little Vic. A Portrait Of is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping a signed vinyl direct from the Perfect Time Music Group site here. Follow Rasheed Chappell on Instagram and Twitter: @RasheedChappell Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show