Catch Up

Ep. 20: A Guide to Metro Boomin

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss arguably the most influential producer of this decade, Metro Boomin. The two go back to the producer's early days in St. Louis, his legendary collaborations with Future, his ascendance from critical darling to #1 hitmaker, and his latest record 'Not All Heroes Wear Capes'.

 

They also touch on Ty Dolla $ign and Jeremih's new album 'MihTy', and the excellent soundtrack to Jonah Hill's directorial debut 'Mid90s'.

 

 Also mentioned in this episode: 

 

Future's 'Hard', Future's 'Karate Chop', ILoveMakonnen's 'Tuesday', 808 Mafia, Metro Thuggin's 'Speed Racer', Travis Scott and Metro Boomin making 'Skyfall', Future's 'I Serve the Base', Future's 'Slave Master', Future's 'Wicked', Kanye West's 'Father Stretch My Hands', Lil Uzi Vert 'You Was Right', Post Malone's 'Congratulations', Migos' 'Bad and Boujee', Big Sean's 'Bounce Back'. 

Follow Catch Up on Instagram for more.

Ep. 19: Josephine Cruz (aka jayemkayem) on the Evolution of the Hip Hop Club Scene

This week on 'Catch Up', James is joined by a special guest host, renowned Toronto DJ Josephine Cruz (aka jayemkayem). The two discuss how they both got into DJing, how DJing hip hop has evolved since they started, what they look for in a great DJ, early 2000's Hip Hop vs early 2000's R&B, and the current trend of more danceable hip hop.

 

They also chat about two classic sophomore albums they've recently rediscovered: Handsome Boy Modelling School's 'White People', and Wu-Tang Clan's 'Wu-Tang Forever'.

 

Also referenced in this episode:

 

The DMC DJ Championships, Soulja Boy's 'Tell'em' , Playboi Carti's 'Broke Boi',  The Death of Megaupload,  Monica's First Night , T.I and Young Thug's 'About the Money',  Rihanna's 'Bitch Better Have My Money', ODB's 'Got Your Money', Sheck Wes' 'Mo Bamba', YG's 'Big Bank', Stretch Armstrong, Ginuwine's 'Pony', Ludacris' 'What's Your Fantasy', Crime Mob's 'Knuck if you Buck'.

Ep. 18: Does 'Quality Control' Need More Quality Control? + New Albums From Quavo and Lil Yachty

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the history of the much celebrated Atlanta record label, 'Quality Control Music, and then give their thoughts two of the label's most recent releases: Quavo's lacklustre 'Quavo Huncho' and Lil Yachty's surprisingly solid 'Nuthin' 2 Prove'.

 

Jordan also recounts his recent to trip to a Scott Storch lecture, and James reflect's on De La Soul's timeless debut '3 Feet High and Rising'.

 

Also discussed on this episode:

 

OG Maco's 'U Guessed It', Fader Cover Story on Migos, Craig Jenkins on 'Culture II', Big Daddy Kane and Madonna, Quavo and 21 Savage's 'Pass Out', Bubblegum Trap, Lil Yachty's '1 Night',  Chance the Rapper's 'Mixtape,'Lil Yachty Says Biggie is Overrated, Lil Yachty's 'Get Dripped', Dr Dre's 'Still Dre'

Ep. 17: A Brief History of Collaborative Mixtapes + Lil Baby & Gunna's 'Drip Harder'

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the increasingly common trend of collaborative mixtapes; looking back on touchstones of the form like Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana's 'I Can't Feel My Face', Kanye West and Jay-Z's 'Watch The Throne', and Drake and Future's 'What A Time To Be Alive'. They also give their thoughts on 'Drip Harder'; a new collaboration from up-and-coming Atlanta stars Lil Baby and Gunna.

 

Also referenced:

 

Juelz Santana and Lil Wayne's 'I Can't Feel My Face', Lil Wayne's You Aint Got Nothing On Me,  Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana's 'Birds Flying High', MF Doom and Ghostface Killa Rumoured Collab, Nas and Damien Marley, Max B and French Montana, Jay-Z and Kanye's 'Who Gon Stop Me', Jay-Z's 'D.O.A (Death of Autotune)', Jay-Z and Kanye's 'The Joy', Drake and Futures 'Diamonds Dancing', Drake and Future's 'Big Rings', Drake and Future's 'Jumpman' Gucci Mane and Waka Flocka Flame's 'Ferrari Boys', Gucci Mane and Future's 'Free Bricks', 21 Savage and Offset's 'Ghostface Killas,  Future and Young Thug's 'Killed Before', Young Thug's 'Floyd Mayweather', Lil Baby and Gunna's 'Close Friends'

 

To listen to the music mentioned in this episode subscribe to Catch Up's Spotify Playlist, and please feel free to reach out to us with questions or comments at catchuppodTO@gmail.com

Ep. 16: Lil Wayne: The Life and Times of Dwayne Michael Carter

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan return from vacation to discuss the career of one of their all time favourite artists, Lil Wayne. The two discuss Weezy’s early days on Cash Money, his unrivaled hot streak in the mid 2000’s, and his long awaited studio album, Tha Carter V.

Also discussed on this episode:

Juvenille’s ‘Back That Ass Up’ , Lil Wayne’s ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’, Lil Wayne’s ‘Bling Bling’, Sqad Up, Lil Wayne’s ‘Renegade’ Freestyle, Lil Wayne’s ‘Sportscenter’, Dj Khaled’s ‘We Takin Over’, Lil Wayne’s ‘Upgrade U’,Don Cannon and DJ Drama-FBI raid, Wayne and Birdman kiss, The Carter Documentary, The NYPD's hip hop police , Wayne's prison memoir, ‘Show Me What You Got Freestyle’, Lil Wayne’s ‘I Feel Like Dying’, Lil Wayne’s ‘Amili’, Lil Wayne’s ‘Lollipop’, Wayne’s Criminal History, Cash Money’s Business Track Record, Wayne’s Lawsuit against Cash Money, Wayne’s Tour Bus Shooting, Lil Wayne’s ‘The Big Bad Wolf’,Drake sleeps with Wayne’s GF, Mona Lisa-2011 Madden soundtrack, Hip Hop Voicemails-Boosie Fade: The Group, Lil Uzi Vert’s ‘New Patek’, Pressa’s TBH

To listen to the music mentioned in this episode subscribe to Catch Up's Spotify Playlist, and please feel free to reach out to us with questions or comments at catchuppodTO@gmail.com

Ep. 15: Travis Scott's 'Astroworld' + Young Thug's 'Slime Language'

This week on Catch Up, Jordan breaks down his experience at the 'Aubrey & the Three Migos' concert (2:20), and then he and James discuss new releases from two of their favourite contemporary artists: Young Thug's 'Slime Language' (16:10) and Travis Scott's 'Astroworld' (29:45).

Also referenced: Drake visits a sick fan, Offset arrested in Georgia, Jordan's Travis Scott Interview, Russ at Scotiabank Theatre Drake's 'I'm On One', Young Thug's Media Snakes, T.I's 'About the Money', Rich Gang's Tha Tour Pt 1, Young Thug ft. his sisters, Dory and Dolly'sFamily
 Travis Scott's 'Owl Pharaoh', Z-ro's 'Mo City Don', Young Thug and Travis Scott's 'Pick Up The Phone', Ralo's Can't Lie, Travis Scott's Don't Play

Ep. 14: Catch Up Classics Vol. 1 ( Good Kid, M.A.A.D City & Finally Rich)

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan look back on two of this decade's most influential records: Kendrick Lamar's 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City' and Chief Keef's 'Finally Rich'. The episode is the first part of a retrospective series where the two will assign "Classic Status" to 10 albums from the 2010's. 

Referenced in this episode: Drake's 'Buried Alive', Kendrick Lamar's 'Poetic Justice', Kendrick Lamar's 'M.A.A.D City', David Drake on Chief Keef, Chief Keef' s '3HUNNA', Chief Keef Gets Out of Jail, Chief Keef 'I Don't Like', Going off on the Chief Keef Haters.

To listen to the music mentioned in this episode subscribe to Catch Up's Spotify Playlist, and please feel free to reach out to us with questions or comments at catchuppodTO@gmail.com

 

 

Ep. 13: Mailbag #2 - Is the OVO Sweatshop Real? What is the Next Evolution of Hip Hop? + Much More

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan are back to answer more of your mailbag questions. The two weigh in on Spotify and YouTube's recent attempt remove certain controversial artists (0:45), the best albums for very specific situations (7:25), the myth of the 'OVO Sweatshop' (10:05), who represents hip hop's next evolution (14:30), the top five female rappers to watch (18:05).

Also referenced in this episode:

Meek Mill's 'I'm a Boss', Beat King's Club God 5, Golden Turtle vs Pho Tien Thanh, Mo-G's $500 OVO payday, PartyNextDoor's 'Legend' Reference Track, Juice Wrld's Tim Westwood Freestyle, Dej Loaf and Leon Bridges' Liberated

To listen to the music mentioned in this episode subscribe to Catch Up's Spotify Playlist, and please feel free to reach out to us with questions or comments at catchuppodTO@gmail.com

 

Ep. 12: Jazz Cartier, and Prime Boys

It's a Toronto centric episode of Catch Up, with James and Jordan discussing the Prime Boy's debut album 'Koba World', as well as Jazz Cartier's new LP 'Fleurever'.

Also referenced on this episode: 

Jimmy Johnson's 'Northside', Undisposable Photo Book, The Remix Project, Jazz Cartier's 'Switch', Jazz Cartier's 'See You in Hell', Tory Lanez' 'Diego'.

 

To listen to the music mentioned in this episode subscribe to Catch Up's Spotify Playlist, and please feel free to reach out to us with questions or comments at catchuppodTO@gmail.com

 

Ep. 11: Mailbag - The Next Atlanta, The Best Forgotten Rappers, and More

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan answer your questions in our first ever mailbag episode! The two discuss which city has the best chance of becoming "the next Atlanta" (1:30), the first rapper they would feel comfortable introducing their future children to (4:50), their first musical obsessions (8:00), and the best forgotten rappers of all time (21:30).

Also referenced on this episode: The Swishahouse Freestyles, D12's 'Revelation', Charles Hamilton's 'Brooklyn Girls', Fam-Lay's 'Rock n' Roll', Clipse's 'Fam-Lay (freestyle)', Gunplay's 'Bible on the Dash', Kendrick Lamar's 'Cartoons and Cereal'.

To listen to the music mentioned in this episode subscribe to Catch Up's Spotify Playlist, and please feel free to reach out to us with questions or comments at catchuppodTO@gmail.com