Reel Notes w/ CineMasai

S2 Episode 26: Anonymuz

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

S2 Episode 25: Chuck Strangers

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

S2 Episode 24: Tony Shhnow

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: @tonyshhnowFollow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

S2 Episode 23: Tyrxne

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: @tyrxnenyFollow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)  Support the show

S2 Episode 22: Michael Christmas

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

S2 Episode 21: THERAVADA

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

S2 Episode 20: Pat Junior

My guest this week is writer, rapper, producer, and sound designer Pat Junior. We spoke about Logic, Top Boy, Everything Everywhere All At Once, Doctor Strange, the Rush Hour movies, The Fifth Element, Gladiator, our favorite film scores and composers, his relationship to hip-hop and classical music, how he approaches music as a sound designer, the pros and cons of overthinking while writing, and the creative process behind his latest album Gold Fangs On Sunday.Both I Thought I Knew and Gold Fangs On Sunday are available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Pat Junior on Instagram and Twitter: @iampatjuniorFollow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)  Support the show

S2 Episode 19: GENG PTP

My guest this week is producer, rapper, DJ, founder of the blog/label PTP, teacher, and archivist GENG PTP. We spoke about ethics in journalism, The Bob’s Burgers Movie, Ozark, the pros and cons of binging television, the history of Kim’s Video and Music, our relationship with music videos, the skateboarding documentary All The Streets Are Silent, the current underground renaissance, and more anecdotes and detours about music and movie history than I can count.Watch All The Streets Are Silent on Hulu and Tony Hawk: Until The Wheels Fall Off on HBO Max. Follow GENG on Instagram (@genggrizzly) and Twitter (@PURPICIDE) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)  Support the show

S2 Episode 18: DJ Diamond Kuts

My guest this week is DJ, producer, and co-host of the Yo! MTV Raps revival, Diamond Kuts. We spoke about horror movies, the Child’s Play series, how Disney’s reboot of Maleficent helped her appreciate the relationship between sound and image, her relationship with Nicki Minaj, memories of Nicki’s early career, putting on for female rappers, navigating the world of DJing as a Black woman, being a DJ in the age of streaming and algorithms, her relationship with Yo! MTV Raps, and how she and fellow co-host Conceited are reimagining the show for a new generation.New episodes of Yo! MTV Raps are released weekly on Paramount+. Watch the first episode featuring Freddie Gibbs now. Keep up with everything Diamond Kuts, from interviews to playlists to DJ sets on Power 99 FM in Philly, here.Follow Diamond Kuts on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @djdiamondkuts Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)  Support the show

Season 2 Episode 17: Dälek

My guest this week is New Jersey rapper, producer, composer, and deadverse label head Will Brooks, lead MC of the group dälek. We spoke about the work of John Singleton and Christopher Nolan, how we unknowingly attended the same screening of The Dark Knight Rises, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, longevity as an independent musician, what it means to be hip-hop, scoring the documentary Betrayal at Attica, dälek’s 25-year career, and the creative process behind their latest album Precipice.Precipice is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from the group's Bandcamp page here.Follow Will and dälek on Instagram and Twitter: @daleknwkFollow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai) , and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)  Support the show