The Almanac of Rap

72:36

The Rapper’s Rapper feat Grafh

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/05/21

This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Queens lyricist Grafh to talk about battle rap, mixtape culture, lyricism, and surviving the music industry on his own terms.Grafh reflects on discovering rap through Nas’ Illmatic, studying rhyme patterns with a dictionary, and developing the intricate writing style that would later make him a respected “rapper’s rapper.” The conversation explores the difference between writing a great verse versus crafting a great song, ghostwriting for

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55:19

Graffiti Rock feat Michael Holman

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/05/14

Before hip-hop became a billion-dollar industry, it was a living culture being built in clubs, parks, train yards, and downtown art spaces across New York City.This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with writer, filmmaker, musician, and Graffiti Rock creator Michael Holman to unpack the early days of hip-hop culture and the movement that brought its four elements to a national audience for the first time. Holman reflects on working alongside pioneers like Fab Five Freddy, Jean-Michel

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42:37

The Chef feat Raekwon

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/05/07

What if the “Purple Tape” was green?Does Polo Ralph Lauren and Clarks’ Wallabees owe Wu-Tang residuals for teaching an entire generation how to rock each brand? And how did Raekwon navigate dropping his solo album AFTER standout projects from both Meth and Ghost? This week on the Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Wu-Tang Clan founding member and future Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Raekwon. Don and Rae discuss his influential solo debut album "Only Built for Cuban Linx," its iconic

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11:50

AOR Mini - Michael, Tara Chase and StaHHR

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/05/05

On this week’s Almanac of Rap mini-sode, Donwill hits the hotline and the callers come through with takes on the new Michael Jackson biopic, favorite women in hip-hop, and an unexpectedly serious debate about who has the best hair in rap (yes, there’s a running list). Along the way, listeners put Don onto hidden gems old and new, proving once again that rap’s best discoveries often come from the community. Equal parts mailbag, music nerd-out, and comedy hour; it’s another fun one from the Almanac

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63:37

Big Ohio Status feat Blueprint

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/04/30

In this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Blueprint, rapper, producer, author, founder of Weightless Records, and co-host of the Super Duty Tough Work podcast. The two Ohio natives dive into Blueprint’s creative process, from choosing between producing and rapping to knowing when it’s time to make an album. Blueprint shares the journey of the independent grind, the evolution of Midwest hip-hop scenes, and the legacy of Scribble Jam as a cultural hub for MCs, DJs, and artists

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16:45

AOR Mini: Mailbag

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/04/28

In today’s Almanac of Rap minisode, Donwill takes a moment in between tour stops to ask listeners about formative hip hop moments, the four (or five) pillars of hip hop, and he takes a moment to share two standout emcees Salimata and Kelly Moonstone. Join the conversation by calling 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455). You got a burning hip hop question? A comment about a past episode? A gushing compliment that you didn’t want to leave on the Youtube channel? Call us up and leave a message!And make sure

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64:56

The Dungeon Family Tree feat Mr. DJ

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/04/23

Grammy-winning producer and Outkast dj, Mr. DJ shares his journey from discovering djing in Texas to becoming a key figure in Atlanta's hip hop scene. This week on the Almanac of Rap, he and Donwill discuss his early work with Organized Noise, his role in producing iconic Outkast tracks like "Miss Jackson" and "B.O.B.", and the formation of Earth Tone 3. Mr. DJ shares the evolution of Outkast's sound, the cultural significance of Southern hip hop, and the influence of the Dungeon Family, including

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12:40

AOR Mini: Underrated LPs

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/04/21

In today’s Almanac of Rap minisode, Donwill takes a moment in between tour stops to ask listeners what albums (or artists) are CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED. Who did we miss? Join the conversation by calling 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455).You got a burning hip hop question? A comment about a past episode? A gushing compliment that you didn’t want to leave on the Youtube channel? Call us up and leave a message!And make sure to leave your name because we just might use your message on a future

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35:45

The Falling Season feat Masta Ace

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/04/16

🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an episode!🎙️ What happens when a legendary MC takes hip-hop from the booth to the stage? This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Masta Ace to explore the intersection of hip-hop and musical theater and what it takes to bring rap storytelling to Broadway. From his days in the Juice Crew to building a decades-long career as one of rap’s most respected lyricists,

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43:40

Infamous to Infinite feat Havoc

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/04/09

🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an episode!🎙️Few sounds in hip-hop are as poignant, or as influential, as the gritty production that came out of Queensbridge in the ‘90s. This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Havoc, producer, rapper, and one half of Mobb Deep, to break down the sonic blueprint that helped define East Coast hip-hop. From crafting signature beats behind classics like The

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35:03

The Buddha and The Beat feat Born I

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/04/02

Religion has always had a place in hip-hop, from ‘god-body’ flows to references of the “third eye” and quoting Surahs; but what happens when you sit down with an actual Buddhist rapper?This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill is joined by rapper, author, and practitioner Born I to explore the long-standing (and often misunderstood) relationship between Buddhism and hip-hop culture. From references to “Buddha” in rap lyrics to deeper conversations around mindfulness, suffering, and self-compassion,

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89:45

Rap Snacks feat Bun B

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/03/26

This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill is joined by hip-hop legend Bun B for a deep conversation on the evolution of Southern rap, the cultural impact of UGK, and how Texas carved out its own lane in hip-hop history. From Port Arthur to global stages, Bun B reflects on building UGK alongside Pimp C, navigating regional bias in the early days of hip-hop, and the slow but undeniable rise of the South to dominance. The conversation explores how independent hustle, local scenes, and sonic innovation

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40:36

Canadian Connections feat Shad

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/03/19

📢 Special Announcement 📢 Want to join Donwill for a live recording of The Almanac of Rap in NYC?Click here to request an invite. (Limited capacity. Invite only.)On Air Fest, Soho House, and Okayplayer have joined forces for a special live episode of the Almanac of Rap featuring Regan Sommer McCoy, Chief Curator of the Mixtape Museum on March 24, 2026 at 5:30pm.Join Donwill and Regan at Ludlow House NYC for a conversation on hip-hop preservation, archival storytelling, and the hidden science

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82:39

The Two First Namers Club feat Reuben Vincent & 9th...

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/03/12

In this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with 9th Wonder, Grammy-winning producer, Jamla Records founder, Little Brother co-founder, and college professor, alongside rising North Carolina MC Reuben Vincent, one of the sharpest young lyricists in the game. Together they unpack:The legacy of North Carolina hip-hop9th Wonder’s journey from producer to professor Discovering Reuben Vincent at just 13 years old Why using your government name in rap is basically a skill badge

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32:27

Type Beats feat Jake One

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/03/05

What does a beat sound like when it… sounds expensive? In this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with legendary Seattle producer Jake One, the mind behind records for MF DOOM, Freddie Gibbs, Rick Ross, J. Cole, Freeway, Snoop Dogg, Brother Ali, Tuxedo, and even the iconic John Cena theme. Together they unpack one of the most important shifts in modern hip-hop production: the rise of type beats. Jake One breaks down:What “type beats” actually are and how they changed the music

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47:01

Black Line Dance Power Rankings feat Cupid

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/02/26

What do the Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide, Cha Cha Slide, Swag Surf, and The Wobble all have in common? They move the culture. In this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Cupid, six-time platinum recording artist, Guinness World Record holder, and officially proclaimed “Line Dance King of the World.” If you’ve ever heard “Down, down, do your dance…” at a wedding, cookout, HBCU homecoming, or kickback, this one’s for you.From selling CDs out of his trunk in Louisiana to global

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3:49

The Almanac of Rap Returns with Season 4 Today!

The Almanac of Rap ·

2026/02/26

Hosted by rapper, DJ, and producer Donwill, Season 4 of the two-time Webby Award winning Almanac of Rap podcast series returns February 26th with a new lineup of hip-hop legends, innovators, and cultural architects.This season features conversations with: Bun B, Raekwon, Havoc, 9th Wonder & Reuben Vincent, LaRussell, Cupid, Mr. DJ, Jharrel Jerome, and more. Each week, Donwill dives deep into hip-hop history, rap trends, and the stories behind the culture; uncovering hidden gems, surprising

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1:54

Help Us Win A Webby Award!

The Almanac of Rap ·

2025/04/11

The Almanac of Rap is nominated for two Webby awards. The categories are Best Indie Podcast and Experimental Innovation. Voting ends on April 17th!You can vote for The Almanac of Rap by going to www.donwill.me/aor

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72:37

Art Official Intelligence feat Lupe Fiasco

The Almanac of Rap ·

2024/10/18

For our season finale we talk to Lupe Fiasco about his concept albums, his work with MIT, Yale and Google and history in martial arts. We also talk about the many supergroups he’s started and get a status update on if they are active or dormant.Lupe Fiasco is a grammy award winning rapper who has found a voice outside the booth by teaching classes about rap at MIT and working with Google’s large language model to develop a TextFX, an AI tool made specifically for writers. For more information

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26:27

Artist Profile: Homeboy Sandman

The Almanac of Rap ·

2024/10/10

This week’s guest is Homeboy Sandman and we talk about him not being on social media, getting love from mainstream artists, his creative process and his upcoming tour. Homeboy Sandman is a Brooklyn based MC with a deep discography and rich history in the New York music scene. For more information visit: Homeboy Sandman: patreon.com/homeboysandman Donwill: Donwill.me Okayplayer: Okayplayer.com The Almanac of Rap is executive produced by Donwill & Isha Sesay for Okayplayer Media. This episode was

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