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Diggin" In The Digits

The 5th Element Podcast Network

Welcome to "Diggin" In The Digits", where Creator of "Hip-Hop By The Numbers" Ben Carter and Director of "The 5th Element" Charlie Taylor deliver entirely unique retrospectives behind Hip-Hop"s biggest artists, stories & its roots, discussing them in detail. From Australia to the UK and beyond. A 5EPN Original.

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All Episodes

65:08

Ep.383 - #UKBHM 2026: Outlaw Posse / Brothers Like...

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/10/10

Continuing our UK Black History Month retrospectives: Outlaw Posse were yet another UK Hip-Hop outfit that went down the American accent route, albeit on very comparable early 90s production. Whilst they sounded better than other examples we've covered in previous years, it really takes away from their potential USP of sounding British on comparable-to-US Hip-Hop production!TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:48)Ben:Quavo - QROMELIFECharlie:ZADA - Heart of a LionLate Again - I Dreamt I Was

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75:50

Ep.382 - #UKBHM 2026: Sway

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/10/03

We kick off our 2026 edition of UK Black History Month retrospectives on an artist that recently left us. Derek "Sway" Dasafo was making waves in the UK in the early/mid 00s, winning awards before he even dropped his debut album. Staunchly independent from start to finish, Sway was deft in flow and mixed deep subject matter with humorous concepts within his works.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:48)Charlie:Kareen Lomax - ijan Emmy Meli - All About LoveKooley High - Clear The AirChaka

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72:02

Ep.381 - Mellow Man Ace

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/09/19

Hip-Hop was not just built by Black people, there was also a Latin contingent that had a hand in the foundations of Hip-Hop. Enter Mellow Man Ace, Cuban-American pioneer of Latin Rap with a bilingual USP, wearing his inspirations on his sleeve and being an inspiration to many others, even the entire genre of Reggaeton.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:46)Ben:Nemzzz - LOCKED INHeadie One - MMMCharlie:Thandii & Regalado - Coco OkayoPremo Rice - Another Night at The ChateauLusanda - By

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89:32

Ep.380 - Busta Rhymes

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/09/12

With a fresh aesthetic and all the support you could want, Busta Rhymes took his solo opportunity and ran with it, becoming one of the most in-demand Hip-Hop voices of the late 90s/early 00s along with a visual track record that holds up to this day. However, being in-demand as a feature meant his albums followed the trend of the day, for better or worse.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:59)Charlie:Blu & Sndtrak - LAAaron May - Enjoy The RideDizzee Rascal - We Want BassSylvan LaCue -

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58:00

Ep.379 - Leaders of the New School

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/09/05

Leaders of the New School - the group that now historically serves as the proving ground for a future Busta Rhymes solo career - was a peppy bunch of rappers with great chemistry. Surprising considering the creative differences that would eventually cut their existence short.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:42)Ben:E-40 - Turning my Money OverThe Game - The Documentary IIIMick Jenkins & Greenslime - Black Ass Kung Fu FlickChelsea Wolfe - The DarkeJula Holter - MateriaDenzel Curry x

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78:15

Ep.378 - Jungle Brothers

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/08/27

A foundational member of the Native Tongues collective - releasing two of the first three albums under that collective umbrella - Jungle Brothers were sonically ahead of their time and have kept steady up until this decade.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - Charlie:Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats - iiJohn Wells - F*CK The ALGORITHMthreetwenty - separate from the noise (side b)Adanna Duru - THE NAIJAMERICAN DREAMJorja Smith - What Are The OddsZenesoul - Under the Same SkyQueen Ifrica - Breath

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74:32

Ep.377 - Black Sheep

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/08/22

The duo of Dres & Mr. Lawnge nailed a balance of ATCQ's production language with De La Soul's lyrical humour with their debut album. But after creative differences, the name was carried by Dres into the 21st Century, to mixed results.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:03)Ben:Hit-Boy - HITStoryCharlie:DC - All Things Can Be TrueTreasure Bloom - Bloomin'Tavaras Jordan - 72 Hours In Houston Anaïs Cardot - Map Of Her ShadowRashmeet Kaur - PARINDADezarie - 7th HeavenThe Womack Sisters -

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59:24

Ep.376 - Chi-Ali

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/08/15

The story of Chi-Ali is one containing a few but ultimately pivotal highlights: Brought up as a talented teenage rapper - within the most notable collectives in Hip-Hop history - dropping one album before his career was derailed by label BS. One can wonder, what if he was better treated after his one & only release, would he still end up on the America's Most Wanted List? (Twice!)TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:13)Ben:CFCF - LUVYard Act - You're Gonna Need A Little MusicRico Nasty

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64:53

Ep.375 - Nice & Smooth

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/08/08

There's certain names in music that bridge the gap between one era and the next. Greg Nice & Smooth Bee were one of those. Taking fun-natured Hip-Hop of the old and mixing it with new production practices: heavy on sampling and occasionally fusing R&B into their work.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:15)Charlie:DAMEDAME* - DREAMS ON THE PASSENGER SEATKota The Friend - JUST HAPPY TO BE HERE!K.A.A.N. & D-Ace - THE MODERN ODYSSEY Apollo Brown - No Pressure, No DiamondMasego -

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60:56

Ep.374 - Jaz-O

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/08/01

Before Jaz-O's legacy was watered down to "the guy who put Jay-Z on", Jaz-O had a career of his own and highlights of his own that deserved be looked at with a fresh lens.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:21)Charlie:Chenayder - Outdated Yard Act - You're Gonna Need A Little Music Captains of the Imagination - You Owe Me TearsNamesbliss - where's bliss? Mad Skillz - A Hero And A VillainNines - Lost TapesMellow Mood & Paulo Baldini DubFiles - 7 DUBRico Nasty - RXWILLOW - The

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63:09

Ep.373 - Hip-Hop Neighbours, Vol. 15

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/07/25

It's our 15th edition of Neighbours where we talk about records that aren't technically Hip-Hop but either share elements or are influential in Hip-Hop circles. This edition, we go full British, getting into a Trip-Hop essential and a Downbeat classic. TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:59)Ben:Rome Streetz - Sock it 2 My PocketRick Ross - Set in StoneSyd - BeardSteve Lacy - Oh yeah?Charlie:Nomi. - sweet talkJamesThe3rd - SaluteAdrian Younge - Afro-Disco MakossaBackRoad Gee - Live In The

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48:09

Ep.372 - Channel Live

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/07/18

Initially under the wing of KRS-ONE, the duo Channel Live made minor waves in the mid-90s but due to lack of sonic identity, their three albums all feel drastically different, even if their lyrical content contained a healthy amount of substance & social commentary.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:42)Charlie:Olympia Vitalis - Lady LuckJaz Karis - Twenty SomethingGUINEVERE - Kiss The SunNate Smith, Kiefer, CARRTOONS & Kenneth Blume - FATHERSTenderlonious - Africa/Brass (Live)

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83:11

Ep.371 - Mid-Year Report 2026

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/07/11

We're officially halfway through 2026, so it's time for our Mid-Year report where we take stock of the year so far - from the music dropped to some of the stories that transpired - and look forward to the rest of the year! TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:02)Ben:Future - The Real MeLance Skiiiwalker - #invite,sessions,only!!Charlie:The Deli - KaleidoscopeAlewya - ZeroNaomi Sharon - No Sleep In Paradise Revisiting Hip-Hop Media - (8:45)Notable Projects So Far - (31:11) Projects We're

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82:16

Ep.370 - Scarface

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/07/04

In our Geto Boys double bill, we now get into the most notable artist in the group: Scarface. One of the least talked about legends in Hip-Hop history where Scarface acolytes can make a case for him being the GOAT. So, does the discography warrant such praise?TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:59)Ben:NappyHigh - REDazeCharlie:Gwen Bunn - The Interim, Vol. 1Ryder - RYDERHOOD 3Nia Smith - Payback Is A DogCommon Saints - Age of IllusionsEAST WEST Honey (Lyric Jones & Wake The Wild) -

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87:25

Ep.369 - Geto Boys

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/07/03

Hailing from 5th Ward, Geto Boys went through a few line-ups before settling on the three we consider the full cast: Willie D, Bushwick Bill and Scarface. But a whole lot of music happened in the nearly 20 year run and a whole lot of movement between them and a supporting cast happened as well.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup -(0:50)Ben:Benny the Butcher- The Plugs I Met 2.5Hard-Fi - Sweating Someone Else's FeverYG - The Gentleman's ClubT.I. - Kill the KingCharlie:Mild Temperance &

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70:44

Ep.368 - Arrested Development

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/06/20

What began as a Grammy Award-winning group out of the gate, Arrested Development - led by rapper/producer Speech - are still the same in their ethos even though many members have come & gone and the mainstream binned them after their sophomore album. Nearly 40 years later, they're still creating accessible Hip-Hop with positive and incisive commentary.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:33)Ben:Death Cab for Cutie - I Built You a TowerCharlie:Awon & The Other Guys - SolidifiedWill

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68:20

Ep.367 - Goodie Mob

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/06/13

Goodie Mob is one of those interesting entities that make you ask yourself: Do I like [artist] evolving their sound & style? When it comes to Goodie Mob, for Ben it's yes, for Charlie, it's no. Who's right?*TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:57)Ben:Vince Staples - Cry BabyGenesis Owusu - RESDTAR WUBroken Social Scene - Remember the HumansModest Mouse - An Eraser and a MazeSkrillex - SOMACharlie:Konyikeh - CinereLatanya Alberto - SeenCharlie Hunter, Corey Fonville, Andrew Randazzo

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89:59

Ep.366 - Blu & Exile

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/06/07

The duo of Blu & Exile came together out of orbiting similar circles in an 00s Underground that didn't have a 1 MC, 1 Producer duo of note. They in turn created a cult classic out the gates. Now - after an eight year hiatus in the middle - they're creating what could be considered their best work.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (1:00)Ben:JPEGMAFIA - Experimental RapNeurosis - An Undying Love for a Burning WorldDigitalism - OptimismBoards of Canada - InfernoCharlie:Evidence &

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60:45

Ep.365 - Contemporary Cool, Vol. 19

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/05/30

For our 19th edition of Contemporary Cool, we get into the third instalment of Kid Cudi's "Man On The Moon" series and the most Bomb Squad sounding album from Chuck D in decades.TIMESTAMPS:Weekly Music Roundup - (0:51)Ben:Drake: ICEMAN, MAID OF HONOUR & HABIBTICharlie:A-F-R-O - Blood RainValtteri Laurell & Ricky-Tick Big Band - Visions of DillaSonedo - From Here On OutSolene - Femme Fatale Cosima - Outsider Music Vol. 1: you don't know what you want, do you?JuJu Rogers - Pink

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63:29

Ep.364 - Talking R&B Groups & More W/ DJ Amani Roberts

Diggin" In The Digits ·

2026/05/23

In a DITD/WG double up, I talk to DJ & author Amani Roberts off the back of his book The Quiet Storm. In this talk, we get to know his background, his roots in DJing; how the book originated from a thesis, R&B and Hip-Hop groups; African-American Media and we finish off with a Lighter Note and a Top 5! Don't say I don't spoil you!Weekly Music Roundup:Charlie:Vic Spencer - Inspire Your IdolsDua Saleh - Of Earth & WiresNick Grant - Smile Nappy Nina & Swarvy - Sow & SoTank

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