Reel Notes w/ CineMasai

Episode 16: Defcee

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  hereFollow defcee on Instagram and Twitter: @defceeFollow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)Support the show

Episode 15: Rap Portraits (Yoh Phillips x Holland Gallagher)

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 hereFollow Rap Portraits on Twitter and Instagram: @RapPortraitsFollow Yoh on Twitter: @Yoh31Follow Holland on Twitter and Instagram: @vacayvacayvacayFollow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)Support the show

Episode 14: Skyzoo

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

Episode 13: Curbside Jones x Dexter Fizz

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 BandcampFollow Curbside Jones on Instagram and Twitter: @CurbsideJonesFollow Dexter Fizz on Instagram and Twitter: @DexterFizzFollow Dylan "CineMasai" Green on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)Support the show

Episode 12: Dr. Regina N. Bradley

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 AmazonFollow Regina on Instagram and Twitter: @redclayscholarFollow CineMasai on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)  Support the show

Episode 11: Caleb Catlin

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_catlin23Follow CineMasai on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)  Support the show

Episode 10: AKAI SOLO

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: @shinloneredFollow Navy Blue on Instagram (@SageElsesser) and Twitter (@navyduskwaygi)Follow CineMasai on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)   Support the show

Episode 09: L’Orange x Namir Blade

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 BandcampFollow L'Orange on Instagram & Twitter: @LOrangeMusicFollow Namir Blade on Instagram & Twitter: @NamirBladeFollow CineMasai on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)Support the show

Episode 08: Flying Lotus

*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: @flyinglotusFollow CineMasai on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)Support the show

Episode 07: Topaz Jones

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