Reel Notes w/ CineMasai

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

My guest this week is New York producer, rapper, and writer Radicule. We spoke about anime—specifically Chainsaw Man, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure and Cowboy Bebop—The Banshees of Inisherin and the work of Colin Farrell, Undercover Brother, A Goofy Movie, SMACK DVD, his producer newsletter Thoughts Beyond The DAW, similarities between music and journalism, and the creative process behind his S-Rank Slaps beat tape series. S-Rank Slaps is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping the second volume direct from Bandcamp here. Check out the Thoughts Beyond The DAW Substack archive here. Follow Radicule on Instagram (@radicule) and Twitter (@radiculebeats) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is producer, rapper, DJ, professor, label head, and cultural ambassador Suzi Analogue. We spoke about the adaptation of Octavia Butler’s Kindred, Spike Lee’s Malcolm X, Menace II Society, The Color Purple, Ice Spice, teaching hip-hop at a college level, finding meaning in music, and the process behind her latest album Infinite Zonez. Infinite Zonez is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Suzi Analogue on Instagram and Twitter: @suziAnalog Check out the website for label Never Normal Records here. Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest for the season 3 premiere is New York-based rapper-producer MIKE. We spoke about Park Chan-wook, Skinamarink, Nigerian cinema, Paid In Full, Belly, the importance of tragedy in art, growing up in London, Philly, and New York, healing, a brief retrospective on his career, and the creative process behind his last two albums Disco! and Beware of The Monkey. Beware of The Monkey is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from MIKE's Bandcamp page here. Follow MIKE on Instagram (@mikelikesrap) and Twitter (@t6mikee). Read my Pitchfork review of MIKE's Disco! here. 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 last guest of the season is D.C.-based rapper-producer WifiGawd. We spoke about Tubi’s exhaustive selection of hood classics, the Sticky Fingaz rap opera, the impact of movies like Beat Street and Princess Mononoke had on him, the pros and cons of civil rights movies, his love for martial arts movies, his earliest concert memories, producing for himself vs. producing for others, and the creative process behind several of his best songs of the year. WifiGawd released six projects this year. Five of them are available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. His latest, Secret EP Vol. 3, is available exclusively via Instagram DM. Follow WifiGawd on Instagram (@wifigawd) and Twitter (@7WIFIGAWD7) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My next guest is Virginia rapper-producer Koncept Jack$on. We spoke about the Avatar movies, reality TV, Black sitcoms of the 90s, Lovecraft Country, coming up on Big L, Kool G Rap, and early 2000s freestyles, the importance of video game soundtracks, perfecting his flows, the art of stretching a rhyme scheme to its breaking point, and the creative process behind his latest project HTR Vol. 1: The Legend of Tawny Tone. HTR Vol. 1: The Legend of Tawny Tone is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping from his Bandcamp page here. Follow Koncept on Instagram (@konceptxjackson) and Twitter (@konceptjackson_) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guests this week are New York rapper-producers Lungs and Phiik. We spoke about NBA Street, Ghost in the Shell, transhumanism, The Digimon Movie, growing up on Long Island, how they joined up with East Grip, their working relationship, how movies inspire Lungs’s beats as LoneSword, the creative process behind their Another Planet series, Phiik’s latest album Chainlink, and their now infamous appearance on Top Shelf Premium’s Off Top freestyle series. Phiik and producer Duro's Chainlink is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping from his Bandcamp. The second and third volumes of the Another Planet series are on vinyl for the first time. Consider grabbing a copy here. Follow Phiik on Instagram and Twitter: @phiik_ Follow Lungs/Lonesword on Instagram and Twitter: @big_dead_lung Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is California-based producer and archivist Mars Kumari. We spoke about Squishmallows, Xavier: Renegade Angel, the timelessness of Adult Swim, the Earl Sweatshirt short film Nowhere, Nobody, piracy, how her transition influenced the way she creates music, the pros and cons of musical archiving, and the creative process behind a handful of her projects, including her upcoming album I Thought I Lost You. Her latest album I Thought I Lost You is coming soon. Read my interview with Nowhere, Nobody co-director Naima Ramos-Chapman here. Follow Mars on Instagram (@mars.kumari) and Twitter (@marskumari) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is South Carolina-born producer, vocalist, and composer Contour. We took a critical look at Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and the MCU and spoke about The Brave Little Toaster, the 2001 Japanese film Pulse, the pros and cons of Letterboxd, the art of film scoring, combining sample-based beats and traditional instruments to find his sound, and the creative process behind his latest album Onwards! Onwards! is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from his Bandcamp page here. The three films Contour has scored--Half Day, directed by Morgan Matthews, One Magenta Afternoon, directed by Vernon Jordan III, and Deprivation, directed by Katie Arthur--will be available in various forms at some point in the future. Follow Contour on Instagram (@ccontourr) and Twitter (@khariayo_) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Atlanta-via-Richmond rapper, producer, and co-founder of Mutant Academy, Fly Anakin—our first returning guest in 80 episodes. We spoke about fashion shows, identity in hip-hop, the ending of Atlanta, being an introvert, working through anxiety, food, the creative process behind his latest album Frank and Skinemaxxx, his upcoming full-length with producer Foisey, and more stories than I can count. Frank and Skinemaxxx are both available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from his Bandcamp page or via Lex Records. Follow Fly Anakin on Instagram and Twitter: @flyanakin 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 Florida-based rapper and producer Gat$. We spoke about money, songs in movie trailers, a spoiler-filled breakdown of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the malleability of horror, making music videos based on his favorite movies, building his career and rebuilding it from the ground up twice, a brief tour of his discography, and the creative process behind his latest albums Robbed and 2 Much 2 Robb and his upcoming compilation album Robbers. 2 Much 2 Robb is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Gat$ on Instagram and Twitter: @gats813 Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Chicago-born rapper, author, writer, chemist, and activist Psalm One. We spoke about Abbot Elementary, The Muppets, growing up as the child of a journalist, when older favorite movies don’t age well, how chemistry applies to real life, the #BoycottRhymesayers movement, battle rap, and the creative processes behind her latest album Bigg Perrm and her memoir Her Word Is Bond: Navigating Hip-Hop and Relationships in A Culture of Misogyny. Bigg Perrm is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider buying from her Bandcamp here. Her Word Is Bond: Navigating Hip-Hop and Relationships in A Culture of Misogyny is available wherever books are sold. Consider grabbing a copy here. Watch Defunctland's mini-series on Jim Henson here. Read Psalm One's review of Smino's latest album Luv 4 Rent in the Chicago Reader here. Follow Psalm One on Instagram and Twitter: @psalmone Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Virginia-based producer, DJ, animator, and director Dirty Bird. We spoke about The Bear, Drive My Car, Austin Powers, the work of Maasakai Yuasa, the beauty of animation, our love for anime, how racism and orientalism can ruin your favorite movies, creating his own animation studio, how Chief Keef and Odd Future inspired him, his journey through rap and dance music, and the creative process behind his latest project Wagenmuzik. Wagenmuzik is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Gum Animation Studios is hard at work on their debut feature. Read more about the studio here. Follow Dirty Bird on Instagram and Twitter: @dirtybird0_o Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New York rapper Wiki. We spoke about Smile, the Netflix documentary Descent, the early work of Martin Scorsese and Harvey Keitel, the musical and cultural diversity of New York, being consistent over a decade-long career, a selection of his best songs, starting out young, being ahead of your time and paying it forward for the next generation, and the creative processes behind his last two albums—the Navy Blue-produced Half God and the Subjxct 5-produced Cold Cuts. Cold Cuts is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from Wiki's Bandcamp page here. Follow Wiki on Instagram and Twitter: @wikset Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is North Carolina rapper and regular human Mavi. We spoke about The Woman King, Bullet Train, Nope, Paid In Full, Menace II Society, Lilo & Stitch, discovering music through video games and movies, the creative process behind his latest project Laughing so Hard, it Hurts, how producers monte booker, Wulf Morpheus, and Dylvinci helped bring the vision together, processing emotions and manhood, and why he feels his music is innocent. Mavi's sophomore album Laughing so Hard, it Hurts is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Mavi on Instagram and Twitter: @mavi4mayor Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is producer Wulf Morpheus. We spoke about all things anime—our old and new favorites, the impact of Toonami, anime’s growing presence in pop culture, and its mix with hip-hop culture—Max Keeble’s Big Move, Disney Adventure magazine,Cartoon Network, the lo-fi aesthetic, being inspired by every form of rap music, why Knxwledge is a GOAT’d producer, his placements with Chuck Strangers and Mavi, his Instagram clips, and his general creative approach to making beats. Wulf's latest album, Feelings and Crazy sensations, is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Wulf on Instagram and Twitter: @WulfMorpheus Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is artist manager, independent label head, streaming account manager, and former DJ Soko. We spoke about Atlanta, Ghostbusters, Batman, the art of collecting, growing up in Michigan, the greater Detroit rap scene, his work with Journalist 103 and Apollo Brown as The Left for their 2010 debut album Gas Mask, the life, death, and rebirth of his indie label Left Of Center, and how the many different jobs he’s had within hip-hop led him to where he is today. Follow Soko on Twitter (@DJSoko) and Instagram (@djsoko85) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Baltimore rapper Brian Ennals. We spoke about the MCU, Doctor Strange, why Robocop is a perfect movie, House Party, being influenced by Stevie Wonder and Pusha-T, his early rap career, valuing the art of writing over the art of technical rapping, connecting with producer and multiinstrumentalist Infinity Knives, and the creative process behind their latest album King Cobra. King Cobra is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Brian Ennals on Instagram and Twitter: @brianennals Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New Jersey rapper Papo2oo4. We spoke about Titanic, Good Will Hunting, white classics, hood classics, Get Rich Or Die Trying, the lack of imagination in Hollywood, why he prefers realism over fantasy, listening to the youth, inspiration vs. biting, rap regionalism, hot takes about the 90s, and his creative process. Follow Papo2oo4 on Twitter (@paposwish) and Instagram (@papo2oo4) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Baltimore-via-Tanzania producer and musician Infinity Knives. We spoke about Ancestry.com, whether hip-hop is political, Severance, Pan’s Labyrinth, our favorite anime, fantasy novels, video games, and comic books, growing up between Tanzania and Madagascar, merging classical music with hip-hop, trusting the process, and the creative process behind he and Brian Ennals’s latest album King Cobra. King Cobra is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from their Bandcamp page here. Follow Infinity Knives on Twitter (@infinitykniives) and Instagram (@InfinityKnives) Follow Brian Ennals on Twitter and Instagram: @BrianEnnals Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Brooklyn-born rapper and one-third of the Flatbush Zombies Meechy Darko. We spoke about Idiocracy, Asian horror films, our favorite bad movies, District 9 and the movies of Neil Blomkamp, how Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) changed his perspective on film and music, the origins and legacy of the Flatbush Zombies, finding new ways to show off his trademark raspy voice, and the creative process behind his solo debut Gothic Luxury. Gothic Luxury is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Read my 2018 interview with the Flatbush Zombies for DJBooth here. Follow Meech on Instagram and Twitter: @MeechIsDead Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New York rapper, producer, streamer, and video editor and director Duncecap. We spoke about Bodies Bodies Bodies, his changing relationship with horror movies, The Cabin In The Woods, opinions on a few retroactively problematic movies, the history of defunct New York rap collective the Karma Kids, the importance of humor in his music, finding his voice as a rapper, producer, director, and editor, and the creative process behind his latest album Go Climb A Tree, produced entirely by Hajino. Go Climb A Tree is available wherever music is sold, steamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from Bandcamp here. Follow Duncecap on Instagram and Twitter: @duncecap_ Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is North Carolina rapper Messiah!. We spoke about Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist, Catfish, reality TV, King Richard, The Rugrats Movie, The Truman Show, the influence of Chief Keef, how ScHoolboy Q’s Oxymoron changed his perspective on music, forming Killswitch with Mavi, ScoSzn, and Ahmir, crafting his style, a melancholic look back on his older music, and the creative process behind his latest project Perfect 7 Perfect 7 is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Messiah! on Instagram and Twitter (@1of1messiah) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Detroit producer Apollo Brown. We spoke about Euphoria, Atlanta, Mr. In-Between, Flatliners, The Land Before Time, Steven Spielberg’s debut movie Duel, his personal top 5 movies, discovering hip-hop through DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, Main Source, and The D.O.C., his production aesthetic, the importance of consistency in hip-hop, a handful of his projects, and the creative process behind his latest album This Must Be The Place. This Must Be The Place is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from Apollo's Bandcamp page here. Read my review of Apollo and Stalley's collab album Blacklight at Pitchfork here. Follow Apollo on Instagram and Twitter: @ApolloBrown Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Florida-bred rapper, producer, and label head Anonymuz. We spoke about the magic of A24 movies, Spider-Man, superhero fatigue, Willem Dafoe, Silence, the work of Martin Scorsese, One Piece, Hunter x Hunter, the value of art, putting himself in his music, his path to becoming a rapper-producer, the significance of the Radicxl movement, striving to be regular, and the creative process behind his latest project ANAGO. ANAGO is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Check out my review of its lead single "MORPHEUS" for Pitchfork here. Follow Anonymuz on Instagram and Twitter: @Anonymuzkilla Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is rapper, producer, Pro Era member, and label head Chuck Strangers. We spoke about Harold’s fried chicken, The Wire, Breaking Bad, White People Can’t Jump, Toy Story, the Friday series, the art of bootleg CDs, how JAY-Z’s “Hard Knock Life” changed his perspective on music, his work with Pro Era, the 10th anniversary of Joey Bada$$’ 1999, and his current position within the rap underground. Chuck's latest solo project Too Afraid To Dance is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Chuck's production can also be heard on "Brand New 911" and "Wanna Be Loved" from Joey Bada$$' comeback record 2000, which is also available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Check out my review on Pitchfork here. Follow Chuck Strangers on Instagram (@chuckstrangers) and Twitter (@Chuck_Strangers). Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest for the mid-season finale is Atlanta rapper Tony Shhnow. We spoke about The Boys, superhero sex, Barry, Soul Plane, Donald Glover’s Atlanta, Futurama, how Wiz Khalifa’s Burn After Rolling changed his life, his prolific release schedule, proving himself as a lyricist, his relationship with his plug, and the creative process behind his latest project Reflexions. Reflexions is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Tony Shhnow on Instagram and Twitter: @tonyshhnow Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is rapper Tyrxne. We gave our hot takes on The Batman, spoke about his love for The Fifth Element and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: Secret of The Ooze, the art of sneaking into movie theaters, the pros and cons of AMC Stubs A-List, listening to Daft Punk and Cassidy, the origins of his original rap name Breeze Embalm, embracing TikTok and rapping in Spanish, and the creative process behind his first Spanish-language album El Peligro. Tyrxne's latest project Firestarter is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Tyrxne on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @tyrxneny Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Boston rapper, producer, actor, and standup comedian Michael Christmas. We spoke about Father’s Day, Peaky Blinders, Top Boy, Uncut Gems, Ja Rule, horror, Black comedy, Spike Lee, the art of references in rap, respecting The Culture, Van Buren, the Massachusetts rap scene, a handful of his music videos, and the creative process behind he and producer Ricky Felix’s collab project Christmas In 6. Christmas In 6 is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Michael Christmas on Instagram (@michaelchristmas) and Twitter (@MickeyChristmas) Follow Ricky Felix on Instagram and Twitter: @rickyfelixx Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is rapper, producer, and graphic designer THERAVADA. We spoke about Bob’s Burgers, The Sopranos, Life Is Beautiful, AMC Stubs A-List, influencer culture, how And1 Basketball helped him appreciate the synergy of rap and film, streetball’s effect on pop culture, video game soundtracks, the importance of archiving, and the creative process behind his latest project My Own 2 Hands. My Own 2 Hands is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from his Bandcamp page here. Follow THERAVADA on Instagram (@THRVD) and Twitter (@THERAVADA) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show