Reel Notes w/ CineMasai

My guest this week is Brooklyn rapper Curly Castro. We spoke about The Harder They Fall, the art of auteurism, Eternals, Dune, Spike Lee, the journey from being a hypeman to becoming a rapper, his work with members of the Wrecking Crew, the creative process behind his latest album Little Robert Hutton, afrofuturism, and all things Marvel Cinematic Universe. Little Robert Hutton is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping it from Castro's Bandcamp page here. Follow Curly Castro on Instagram (@curlycastro) and Twitter (@Curly_Castro) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is journalist, author, and podcast producer Shawn Setaro. We spoke about the movies Annette, E.T., and Altered States, falling in love with hip-hop, his time as the editor-in-chief of Rap Genius and as a senior writer and podcast producer at Complex, the importance of beat journalism in 2021, his time covering the Tekashi 6ix9ine trial, and the creative process behind his first book Dummy Boy: Tekashi 6ix9ine and The Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods. Dummy Boy: Tekashi 6ix9ine and The Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods is available wherever books are sold. Consider purchasing a copy here. Follow Shawn on Instagram (@shawnsetaro) and Twitter (@SameOldShawn) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Oklahoma City-based rapper, director, photographer and clothing designer Grand National. We spoke about The Criterion Collection, Nat’s experience working on the set of a Martin Scorsese movie, the origins of his clothing line Ca$h Only, how Nipsey Hussle inspired his work ethic, Oklahoma hip-hop, participating in the creation of the Fire In Little Africa album, and the creative process behind his latest project 328i and its self-directed accompanying short film. 328i is coming soon. In the meantime, check out the Ca$h Only website here. Fire In Little Africa is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Grand National on Instagram and Twitter: @GrandxNational Follow 328i on Instagram: @328ifilm Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Florida-via-New Jersey producer, DJ, and teacher Dana J. We spoke about Squid Game, Disney movies, chiptune music, growing up in northern New Jersey, how scoring a documentary changed his perspective on music, how being a DJ has informed his work as a producer, the art and skill of creating a compilation album, and the process and concept behind his latest project Commercials. Commercials is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping from his Bandcamp page here. Follow Dana J on Instagram and Twitter (@danajdaily) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is St.Louis-based producer Sovren. We spoke about BMF and the 50 Cent Cinematic Universe, Dexter, Weeds, M. Night Shyamalan’s Devil, moving from playing the violin to beat-making, her history with Limewire, being inspired by the worldbuilding on Enter The Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), her production process, her growing discography, and linking with Westside Gunn and Griselda to create the sleeper hit song “Hell On Earth pt. 2.” "Hell On Earth pt. 2" from Westside Gunn's Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Listen to/purchase beats from Sovren's Traktrain page here. Check out Sovren's Bandcamp page here. Follow Sovren on Instagram (@theonlysovren) annd Twitter (@sovren_) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is journalist, author, record label head, and founder of blog Passion of The Weiss Jeff Weiss. We spoke about a lot, including Succession, The Sopranos, the lack of comedies in Hollywood, why Field of Dreams makes him cry, his extensive history as a music journalist, and the value of using POW, his print publication theLAnd, and his record label POW Recordings to put on for the best of hip-hop and journalism’s rising talent. Visit Passion of The Weiss here and check out the latest issue of theLAnd here. Follow Jeff on Instagram and Twitter: @passionweiss Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Florida-born rapper, producer, singer, songwriter, and content creator ToBy. We spoke about Netflix, anime, Cowboy Bebop, the filmography of Andy Samberg, cancel culture, the legacies of Childish Gambino and Odd Future, mainstream rap’s renewed interest in the pop-punk aesthetic, genre-blending, his varied musical background, his work for BuzzFeed, and the creative process behind his latest album L’esprit. L'esprit is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow ToBy on Instagram and Twitter: @itstobyseason Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Baton Rouge rapper Quadry. We spoke about PinkPanthress, You, The Sopranos, New Jersey Drive, how film has influenced his storytelling, Lil Wayne, Chief Keef, gentrification, the pros and cons of living the hood, working with the producer Tuamie, the art of the concept album, and the creative process behind his latest album They Think We Ghetto. They Think We Ghetto is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider purchasing directly from his Bandcamp page here. Follow Quadry on Instagram (@quadrygives) and Twitter (@_QUAD) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is journalist, author, podcast host, and former teacher Shea Serrano. We spoke about Dune, Shea’s love for Jean-Claude Van Damme, the original Mortal Kombat movie, and Jason Statham, why Above The Rim is the best movie soundtrack of all time, the indescribable perfection of Warren G and Nate Dogg’s Regulate, the process behind his latest book Hip-Hop (And Other Things), and the importance of establishing your own lane as a creative early in your career. Shea's latest book Hip-Hop (And Other Things) is available now wherever books are sold. Consider copping here. Donna-Claire Chesman's The Book of Mac: Remembering Mac Miller is available now wherever books are sold. Consider copping here. Follow Shea Serrano on Instagram and Twitter: @SheaSerrano Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Philadelphia rapper, writer, member of the Wrecking Crew, and co-host of the Callout Culture podcast Zilla Rocca. We spoke about The Green Knight, Marvel Comics, the birth of superhero movies, the differences between seeing a movie in theaters pre-New Millenium and now, his relationship with Dr. Dre’s The Chronic, Wu-Tang Clan’s Enter The 36 Chambers, and MF DOOM x Madlib’s Madvillainy, his beginnings as a rapper, growing the Wrecking Crew brand through music and podcasting, and his latest album Vegas Vic. Vegas Vic is available everywhere music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider buying directly from Chong Wizard's Bandcamp here. Follow Zilla on Twitter and Instagram (@ZillaRocca) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is California-via-Florida rapper and producer YUNGMORPHEUS. We spoke about the differences between Florida and California, the HBO mini-series The Night Of, James and The Giant Peach, Spawn, the magic of the drive-in theater, how the anime Samurai Champloo put him onto the work of Nujabes and Fat Jon, working with Pink Siifu on Bag Talk, the ins-and-outs of being a rapper-producer, and his growing discography, including his latest project Affable With Pointed Teeth, produced by Eyedress for Lex Records. Affable With Pointed Teeth is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider purchasing directly from Bandcamp here. Follow YUNGMORPHEUS on Instagram (@yungmorpheus) and Twitter (@yungmorpheus44) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is rapper, producer, model, skateboarder, and graphic designer Navy Blue. We spoke about Sister Act 2, the Queen Latifah movie Beauty Shop, growing up on VHS tapes, being a goofball, Ghost of Tsushima, what makes a “conscious” rapper, how Ka, Earl Sweatshirt, and Alchemist have inspired his artistry, the difference between producing for yourself and producing for others, the creative process behind his last two albums Song of Sage: Post Panic and Navy’s Reprise, and more crazy stories and anecdotes than I can remember. Song of Sage: Post Panic and Navy's Reprise are both available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider buying Song of Sage directly from Navy's Bandcamp page and Navy's Reprise directly from his website. Follow Navy on Instagram (@sageelsesser) and Twitter (@navyduskwaygi) 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, singer, producer, and artist RaFia. We spoke about the legacy of Michael K. Williams, The White Lotus, our mutual love of IMAX and children’s movies, growing up with a filmmaker father, the importance of post-production sound effects, how her college career as an artist transitioned into taking music seriously, having an art piece broadcast on billboards in Times Square, and a handful of her various projects and singles. RaFia's music, including their latest single "Leave Me Alone," is available on Bandcamp. Consider listening/copping directly here. Follow RaFia on Instagram (@rafiasworld) and Twitter (@rafiaswrld) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New York rapper/producer/engineer YL. We spoke about Parasite, Hercules, mafia movies, Spike Lee, movie samples in rap songs, our mutual love of Bow Wow, his relationship with collaborators Roper Williams and Starker, playing shows in Japan, the ethics of rhyming over your own vocals when performing live, mixing and mastering his own songs, and the creative process behind his latest projects It Never Entered My Mind and ADAPTATION. It Never Entered My Mind is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider buying it from YL's Bandcamp page here. ADAPTATION is a Bandcamp exclusive (for now). Consider buying it direct here. Follow YL on Instagram (@youngwhy) and Twitter (@youngwhybaby) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Minnesota-based rapper-producer payforluv. We spoke about Final Fantasy, Persona, Suicide Squad, FernGully: The Last Rainforest, his favorite music videos growing up, growing up in Minnesota, how attending an HBCU in New Orleans inspired his music, the ethics of turning trauma into music, the importance of a good rap name, and the creative process behind his latest project if the lord wills it. Please consider supporting recovery efforts in Louisiana following the devastation of Hurricane Ida. These organizations are a good place to start: Imagine WaterWorks House of Tulip Aid (specifically for transgender/non-binary folks) New Orleans Mutual Aid Group if the lord wills it is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider buying it on payforluv's Bandcamp page here Follow payforluv on Instagram and Twitter: @payforluv Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guests this week are Tanya Morgan, the duo made up of Cincinnati-born rapper-producer Donwill and Brooklyn-born rapper-producer Von Pea. We spoke about The Suicide Squad, Fast 9, the works of Quentin Tarantino and David Cronenberg, their fascination with the next generation of hip-hop, how the internet’s relationship to music has changed over the last 20 years, the legacy of their 2009 breakout album Brooklynati, their favorite Lil B stories, and the creative process behind their latest album Don andVon. Don and Von is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider buying the album directly from the group via their Bandcamp page. Follow Donwill on Instagram and Twitter: @donwill Follow Von Pea on Instagram and Twitter: @vonpea Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Detroit rapper Bruiser Wolf. We spoke about Space Jam: A New Legacy, The Color Purple, the filmography of Adam Sandler, his short-lived career as a football player, the importance of movie soundtracks, JAY-Z’s discography, how rapper Fat Ray helped him link with Danny Brown and Bruiser Brigade, Michigan’s surging street rap scene, his writing process, and creating his breakout project Dope Game Stupid, produced by Raphy and Knxwledge. Dope Game Stupid is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider purchasing it from the Bruiser Brigade Bandcamp here. Follow Bruiser Wolf on Instagram (@_bruiserwolf) and Twitter (@COABigwolf) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New York rapper, producer, engineer, and label head Uncommon Nasa. We spoke about Crime Scene Kitchen, Pinocchio, Basquiat, The Twilight Zone, several Stephen King film adaptations, the pros and cons of adapting books to film, his career in New York’s rap underground and within the Definitive Jux orbit, the history of his label Uncommon Records, and the process behind his latest album Only Child, produced entirely by Messiah Musik and out now via Uncommon Records. Only Child is available wherever music is bought, streamed, or stolen. Consider purchasing it from the Uncommon Records Bandcamp page here. Check out his personal website here. Follow Uncommon Nasa on Instagram and Twitter: @UncommonNasa Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Nadirah Simmons, an archivist, historian, social media manager for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and founder and CEO of The Gumbo, a hip-hop publication and cultural hub dedicated to Black women. We spoke about rare vinyl, the documentary Summer of Soul, her family’s love for The Godfather series, how her work on The Late Show influences her work at The Gumbo, her love of State Property, Curren$y, and Alchemist, and the importance of documenting Black history. Check out The Gumbo's website here. Follow The Gumbo on Instagram and Twitter: @thegumbo Follow Nadirah on Instagram and Twitter: @hinadirah Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New York rapper, producer, and engineer AJRadico. We spoke about The Dark Knight trilogy, Spongebob, Kung Fu Hustle, how 2001: A Space Odyssey helped him appreciate sound editing, how sound editing influenced the way he makes beats, how Fruity Loops, Splice, and iPhone voice memos changed the production game forever, and the creative process behind his debut project Transit. Transit is available wherever music is bought, streamed, or stolen. Follow AJRadico on Instagram and Twitter: @AJRadico Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is writer, activist, and community organizer Clarissa Brooks. We spoke about their love of Gossip Girl, third-person narration, the work of Toni Morrison and Zora Neale Hurston, seeing Grave of The Fireflies in high school, how their work as an organizer influences their work as a writer, the legacy of Odd Future, DaBaby’s public image, and a handful of pieces they’ve written for outlets from Dead End Hip-Hop and DJBooth to Nylon and The Cut, among others. Read a handful of Clarissa's work via Contently. Read about how World War II affected the Japanese animation industry here. Follow Clarissa on Twitter (@ClarissaMBrooks) and Instagram (@chloeesuxx) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New York rapper and producer PremRock. We spoke about falling in love with horror movies during quarantine, writing screenplays, whether or not flashbacks in movies are tacky, his love for West Coast hip-hop, the importance of rap regionalism, his group the Wrecking Crew, his relationships with engineer Willie Green and rapper Curly Castro, and the creative process behind his latest album Load Bearing Crow’s Feet, out now via Backwoodz Studioz. Load Bearing Crow's Feet is available wherever music is bought, streamed, or stolen. Consider purchasing it directly from Prem and Backwoodz Studioz via Bandcamp Follow PremRock on Instagram (@premrock) and Twitter (@PlanetPremRock) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is rapper and semi-retired music journalist Michael Penn II, also known as CRASHprez. We spoke about the pros and cons of Twitter, how Olivia Rodrigo is like Future for white women, our favorite depressed white indie dramas, the Purge series, the Saw series, Babyface Ray, Crash’s recording process, his work with the group defprez, musical versatility, and how his work as a journalist informs his work as a rapper. Check out CRASHprez's Bandcamp page here Follow CRASHprez on Instagram and Twitter: @CRASHprez Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Chicago rapper, writer, and teacher Defcee, one-third of the group defprez. We spoke about Batman, the value of networking, slave movies, his time as both a teacher and rapper in Chicago, the draining nature of the American public education system, his time with the Emcee Wreckshop program, mainstream rap’s renewed interest in drums and loops, and the creative process behind his latest project We Dressed the City with Our Names, produced entirely by August Fanon. Stream & purchase We Dressed the City with Our Names here Follow defcee on Instagram and Twitter: @defcee Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guests this week are Atlanta-based journalist and author Yoh Phillips and New Orleans-based filmmaker and musician Holland Randolph Gallagher, creators of the rap documentary series Rap Portraits. We talked about Andy Warhol, how director Bong Joon-Ho is like Freddie Gibbs, album rollouts, Tyler, The Creator, the Migos, film school, learning their jobs on the fly, Holland’s web series Hype, the creative process behind Rap Portraits, and whether or not we’ve entered a new rap blog era. Subscribe to Rap Portraits here Follow Rap Portraits on Twitter and Instagram: @RapPortraits Follow Yoh on Twitter: @Yoh31 Follow Holland on Twitter and Instagram: @vacayvacayvacay Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Brooklyn rapper, label head, and ghostwriter Skyzoo. We spoke about House Party, his fascination with John Singleton and Spike Lee, his time as a rap consultant on the 2014 film Patti Cake$, concept albums, his recent vocal chord surgery, cultural appropriation, the state of modern rap media, and the creative process behind his latest album All The Brilliant Things, out now via Mello Music Group. All The Brilliant Things is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider purchasing it directly from Skyzoo and Mello Music Group via Bandcamp. Follow Skyzoo on Instagram (@skyzoothewriter) and Twitter (@skyzoo) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guests this week are Texas-based rapper-producer-engineer Curbside Jones and Maryland-based rapper-producer-engineer Dexter Fizz. We talked about Space Jam, Parasite, fashion-forward rappers, the brilliance of A24 films, dubbed vs. subbed anime, how their mutual fascination with and respective trips to Japan influenced their music, the pros and cons of independence, and the creative process behind their latest project The Last Train. Stream and purchase The Last Train directly from Curb and Dex via Bandcamp Follow Curbside Jones on Instagram and Twitter: @CurbsideJones Follow Dexter Fizz on Instagram and Twitter: @DexterFizz Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Regina N. Bradley, a professor, author, and Southern hip-hop scholar from Albany, GA. We spoke about Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, the new Mortal Kombat movie, her love for all things martial arts, her relationship with the music of OutKast, their position as the blueprint for modern Southern rap, the importance of Southern scholars covering the music and culture of the South, and excerpts from her latest book Chronicling Stankonia: The Rise of The Hip-Hop South, available now via UNC Press. Purchase Chronicling Stankonia via Charis Books or Amazon Follow Regina on Instagram and Twitter: @redclayscholar Follow CineMasai on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is journalist Caleb Catlin. We talked about white rappers, growing up with the movies Stomp The Yard and Get Rich Or Die Tryin, the beauty of Moonlight, the meaning of the Oscars, his favorite movie soundtracks, his article series The Good and The Ugly, rap regionalism, what constitutes “realness” in rap, and our favorite Lloyd Banks verses on R&B tracks. Read his work, including his series The Good &. The Ugly, here. Follow Caleb on Twitter: @caleb_catlin23 Follow CineMasai on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Brooklyn-based rapper AKAI SOLO. We talked about childhood trips to Barnes & Noble that turned into trips to the theater, our mutual appreciation for the movie Drive, how a soundtrack can change your opinion of a movie, rappers who rap really well about one subject, the similarities between Black Dynamite and Deadpool, and the creative process behind his latest album True Sky, produced entirely by Navy Blue. True Sky is available everywhere music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider buying directly from AKAI via Bandcamp Follow AKAI SOLO on Instagram and Twitter: @shinlonered Follow Navy Blue on Instagram (@SageElsesser) and Twitter (@navyduskwaygi) Follow CineMasai on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guests this week are North Carolina producer L’Orange and Nashville rapper/producer/musician Namir Blade. We talked about our favorite helper ghost movies, our least favorite aspects of Quentin Tarantino’s movies, the paradox of retiring rappers, Black representation in the world of sci-fi concept albums, the similarities between David Lynch and Jim Jones, and the creative process behind their new album Imaginary Everything, out now via Mello Music Group. Imaginary Everything is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider buying the album directly from L'Orange, Namir, and Mello Music Group via Bandcamp Follow L'Orange on Instagram & Twitter: @LOrangeMusic Follow Namir Blade on Instagram & Twitter: @NamirBlade Follow CineMasai on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

*SPOILER WARNING FOR YASUKE* My guest this week is producer, rapper, musician, writer, director, and Brainfeeder label head Flying Lotus. We talked about the importance of Jurassic Park and Fist of The North Star, working with Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo creator Shinichiro Watanabe, the creative process behind the Netflix anime series Yasuke, the joys of creating an anime theme song with Thundercat, his friendship with Denzel Curry, and his dream of creating an anime with Tierra Whack. Yasuke: The Album is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Yasuke the series is available to stream on Netflix Follow Flying Lotus on Instagram and Twitter: @flyinglotus Follow CineMasai on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is New Jersey rapper/producer/vocalist/director Topaz Jones, a fellow native of Montclair, NJ. We talked about being from the 973, what movies he’s been watching during quarantine, being inspired by Kanye West’s ‘Runaway’ movie, finding the courage to be vulnerable on record, how sampling music has inspired his approach to filmmaking, and the creative process behind his latest album Don’t Go Tellin Your Momma and its accompanying Sundance Award-winning short film of the same name. Don’t Go Tellin Your Momma is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Topaz on Instagram and Twitter: @TopazJones Follow CineMasai on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guest this week is Big Flowers, a rapper/producer/graphic designer and video director from Buffalo, NY. We talked about how The Fox & The Hound and The Prince of Egypt shaped his mind as a child, the value in making friends over the internet, our mutual appreciation of The Midnight Gospel, his sandwich deconstruction theory, his approach to collaborating with other artists, and the process behind his latest self-released album Big Smile. Consider purchasing Big Smile directly from Big Flowers via Bandcamp Follow Flowers on Instagram (@bigflowers.wrld) and Twitter (@bigflowersworld) Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

On the fifth episode, welcomes rapper Fatboi Sharif and producer Roper Williams, two of New Jersey’s finest. We spoke about memories of DMX, how horror movies inform Sharif’s writing style, Roper’s observations on the similarities between sequencing for albums and films, art reflecting the chaotic nature of 2020, our favorite movie plot twists of all time, and the creative process behind their debut collaborative album Gandhi Loves Children. Gandhi Loves Children is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider purchasing directly from Sharif, Roper, and POW Recordings via Bandcamp Follow Fatboi Sharif on Twitter (@fatboyprospect) and Instagram (@fatboi_sharif) Follow Roper Williams on Twitter and Instagram: @Roper_Williams Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

My guests this week are Birmingham, AL-born rapper/producer Pink Siifu and Richmond, Virginia-born rapper/producer Fly Anakin. We talk about overrated Disney movies, Fly Anakin attending the How High premiere as a kid, the films of Larry Clark and Harmony Korine, the joys of discovering new movies at your cousins' house , and the creative process behind their collaborative album FlySiifu's and its deluxe expansion $mokebreak, both out now via Lex Records. FlySiifu's is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider purchasing directly from FlySiifu's and Lex Records via Bandcamp. Follow Pink Siifu on Instagram and Twitter: @PinkSiifu. 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

For our third episode, Reel Notes welcomes rappers billy woods and Elucid, also known as the duo Armand Hammer. We talk about woods’s childhood memories of watching American cinema while living in Zimbabwe; Elucid’s affinity for short stories; some pretty damn hot takes on the work of the late John Singleton; the abstract magic of Ghostface Killah; and the creative process behind their latest album HARAM, produced entirely by The Alchemist. HARAM is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider purchasing directly from Backwoodz Studioz via Bandcamp. Follow Backwoodz Studioz on Twitter (@BackwoodzHipHop) & Instagram (@backwoodzstudioz). Follow Elucid on Twitter (@elucidwho) and Instagram (@cobratoof). Follow Alchemist on Twitter (@Alchemist) and Instagram (@alanthechemist) 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

For episode two of Reel Notes, I sat down with New York rapper Maassai and New Jersey producer JWords, who record solo and as the duo H31r. We spoke about ratchet movie theaters, growing up watching Spike Lee and Harry Potter movies, whether King Kong or Godzilla would win in a fight, the benefits of taking a year off from performing due to COVID, and how movies inspired the process behind Maassai’s recent solo project With The Shifts, JWords’ latest project Sonic Liberation, and their group debut project velocity. Consider purchasing ve.lo.ci.ty directly from JWords and maassai via Bandcamp Follow JWords on Instagram and Twitter: @_jwords Follow Maassai on Instagram and Twitter: @maassai_ Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

For the inaugural episode of Reel Notes, I sat down with producer and multi-instrumentalist The Lasso. We spoke about being inspired by John Williams scores as a kid, how crafting an album is like building a spaceship, the creative process behind all of his collaborative albums, and the sci-fi inspirations of his latest project 2121, out now via Mello Music Group. We also spoke about the upcoming Justice League: Snyder Cut and ranked our favorite movie Batmen. 2121 is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider purchasing directly from Lasso and Mello Music Group via Bandcamp Follow The Lasso on Twitter and Instagram: @The_Lasso_ Follow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show