Reel Notes w/ CineMasai

Pathfinders (blackchai x Illohim) | S5 Episode 18

If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk archives, and more!My guests this week are New York rapper and engineer blackchai and Tennessee-via-North Carolina rapper, producer, and engineer Illohim, who record together at the duo Pathfinders. We spoke about The Rehearsal, Peacemaker, Friendship, Jet Li’s Fearless, their respective solo careers up to this point, meeting as members of the collective No Clue, their chemistry, and the creative process behind their self-titled debut. Come fuck with us.Pathfinders is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider buying directly from blackchai's Bandcamp. Follow blackchai on Instagram (@blackchai19) and Twitter (@blkchai). Follow Illohim on Instagram (@illohimshymns) and Twitter (@illohim). My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti.  For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), Bluesky (@cinemasai.bsky.social), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped into all things Dylan Green.  Support the show

Tony Seltzer | S5 Episode 17

If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk archives, and more!My guest this week is New York producer and engineer Tony Seltzer. We spoke about Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me and the legacy of David Lynch, Harriet the Spy, Little Figuitive, growing up loving metal and hip-hop, transitioning from drumming to producing, why he’s become well-known for the drums in his beats, his impact on underground rap, drifting into A&R, the creative process behind he and MIKE’s Pinball album series, his compilation album Hey Tony, and a handful of his greatest beats for artists like Wiki, WifiGawd, Key!, & more. Come fuck with us.Pinball 2 is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from MIKE's Bandcamp. Follow Tony Seltzer on Instagram and Twitter (@tonyseltzer) and follow Tony's Brooklyn-based studio, Noc Noc Studios, on Instagram (@nocnocstudios) to book a session with the man himself. Read Lei Takahashi's review of Pinball II at PitchforkMy first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti.  For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), Bluesky (@cinemasai.bsky.social), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped into all things Dylan Green.  Support the show

Backxwash | S5 Episode 16

If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk archives, and more!My guest this week is Montreal-via-Zambia rapper, producer, and composer Backxwash. We spoke about Sinners, Nigerian cinema, our respective histories with horror movies, moving from Zambia to Canada, how Cassidy mixtapes, Common’s Be, and Lupe Fiasco’s Food & Liquor informed her rap style, the timeless appeal of Memphis rap, mixing rap with doom metal, having fun while making music about trauma, and the creative process behind her latest album Only Dust Remains. Come fuck with us.Only Dust Remains is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping off Backxwash's Bandcamp. Follow Backxwash on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @backxwash Read my piece, What Sinners and Chelsea Reject Taught Me About The Power of Black Cultural Memory, for Hearing Things. My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti.  For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), Bluesky (@cinemasai.bsky.social), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped into all things Dylan Green.  Support the show

Asterisk (Greg Davis) | S5 Episode 15

If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk archives, and more!My guest this week is Vermont-via-Chicago producer, multiinstrumentalist, and record shop owner Greg Davis, also known by his beatmaking alias, Asterisk. We spoke about Perfect Days, the Star Wars franchise, particularly Revenge of the Sith, Legend of Ochi, A Clockwork Orange, falling in love with hip-hop, how studying music in college set him up to expand his vision, running a record store, bridging the gaps between the old and the new, and the creative process behind No School, his return to the world of hip-hop beatmaking. Come fuck with us. No School is currently available exclusively on Greg's Bandcamp. Find it on all other DSPs starting June 6. Follow Greg on Instagram (@gregorytylerdavis) and Twitter (@asterisk_802), follow his record store, Autumn Records, on Instagram, and check them out if you're in the Vermont area.My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti.  For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), Bluesky (@cinemasai.bsky.social), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped into all things Dylan Green.  Support the show

Jireh | S5 Episode 14

Join me and special guest billy woods on Saturday, May 10 at Loudmouth in Brooklyn, for the eighth iteration of Reel Talk, a Reel Notes movie night. We'll be screening the 1997 psychological horror film Cure and talking about his latest album, Golliwog. Tickets and more info here.  If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk archives, and more!My guest this week is Baton Rouge rapper Jireh. We spoke about Richard Pryor’s Which Way Is Up, the magic of video rentals, talking leftist ideology with family, Malibu’s Most Wanted, eventually turning his own life into a movie, making the transition to becoming a full-time rapper, working his way back from a personal low point, and the creative process behind his last three projects—A Guide 2 Recognizing Your Saints, B-Sides, and last year’s Perfect Circle. Come fuck with us.Perfect Circle is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Jireh on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @jirehpcMy first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti.  For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), Bluesky (@cinemasai.bsky.social), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped into all things Dylan Green.  Support the show

Sol ChYld | S5 Episode 13

Join me and special guest billy woods on Saturday, May 10 at Loudmouth in Brooklyn, for the eighth iteration of Reel Talk, a Reel Notes movie night. We'll be screening the 1997 psychological horror film Cure and talking about his latest album, Golliwog. Tickets and more info here.  If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk archives, and more!My guest this week is Camden, New Jersey-based rapper Sol ChYld. We spoke about Severance, The Ring, Halloween, It, Jordan Peele’s Nope, the importance of neo-soul and gospel music, making music in her mother’s basement, the art of constructive criticism, misogynoir in the music industry, what New Jersey brings to rap culture, and the creative process behind her latest EP Bad Bitches Can Be Conscious Rappers Too. Come fuck with us.Bad Bitches Can Be Conscious Rappers Too is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Sol ChYld on Instagram (@sol.chyld), Twitter (@thesolchyld), and TikTok (@solchyld). My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti.  For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), Bluesky (@cinemasai.bsky.social), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped into all things Dylan Green.  Support the show

Raegun | S5 Episode 12

Join me and special guest billy woods on Saturday, May 10 at Loudmouth in Brooklyn, for the eighth iteration of Reel Talk, a Reel Notes movie night. We'll be screening the 1997 psychological horror film Cure and talking about his latest album, Golliwog. Tickets and more info here.  If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk archives, and more!My guest this week is New York-via-Maryland rapper, singer, producer, songwriter, journalist, and harpist Raegun. We spoke about The Pitt, The Amateur, Indian cinema, Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters, All About Lily Chou-Chou, Brockhampton, coming up in the hyperpop and digicore scenes, getting into criticism and journalism, and the creative process behind several of her songs, including her 2021 EP Cherry Blossom Blooms and her latest singles on Soundcloud. Come fuck with us.Cherry Blossom Blooms is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Her latest EP, weight of my kara, is available exclusively on Soundcloud. Follow Rae on Instagram (@raealiabarbie) and Twitter (@mtfyoungboy). My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti.  For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), Bluesky (@cinemasai.bsky.social), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped into all things Dylan Green.  Support the show

Goya Gumbani | S5 Episode 11

Join me and special guest billy woods on Saturday, May 10 at Loudmouth BK for the eighth iteration of Reel Talk, a Reel Notes movie night. We'll be screening the 1997 psychological horror film Cure and talking about his latest album, Golliwog. Tickets and more info here.  If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk archives, and more!My guest this week is London-via-Brooklyn rapper, producer, and model Goya Gumbani. We spoke about The Boys, Invincible, Blade, the work of Spike Lee—particularly Mo’ Better Blues—making music in Brooklyn and how his move to London amplified his creative drive, a brief tour of his discography and one-producer projects, and the creative process behind his latest album Warlord of the Weejuns, out now everywhere via Ghostly International. Come fuck with us. Warlord of the Weejuns is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from his Bandcamp. Follow Goya on Instagram (@goya.gumbani), Twitter (@Goyagumbani), and TikTok (@goya.gumbani).My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti.  For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), Bluesky (@cinemasai.bsky.social), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped into all things Dylan Green.  Support the show

J.U.S. | S5 Episode 10

Join me and special guest billy woods for the eighth iteration of Reel Talk, a Reel Notes movie night, on Saturday, May 10 at LoudmouthBK. We'll be screening the 1997 psychological horror film Cure and talking about his latest album, Golliwog. Tickets and more info here.  If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk archives, and more!My guest this week is Detroit rapper, producer, engineer, and Bruiser Brigade member J.U.S. We spoke about The Electric State, the use of AI in music and film, Friday, Batman: The Animated Series, coming up in the Detroit rap scene, meeting Danny Brown and joining the Bruiser Brigade, and the creative process behind his last two projects—3rd Shift, produced entirely by Squadda B, and Lord of the Streams part 2: Curse of the Castle. Come fuck with us.3rd Shift and Lord of the Streams part 2 are available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping Lord of the Streams part 2 directly via Bandcamp. Follow J.U.S. on Instagram (@j_u_s_) and Twitter (@i_am_J_U_S).Read Alphonse Pierre's profile of J.U.S., which is one-third of a larger piece on the current Michigan rap landscape, at Pitchfork. My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti.  For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), Bluesky (@cinemasai.bsky.social), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped into all things Dylan Green.    Support the show

Hester Valentine | S5 Episode 9

If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk movie night archives, and more!My guest this week is Bronx rapper Hester Valentine. We spoke about the current state of music media and streaming, Donnie Darko, Opus, Mulholland Drive, how David Lynch and Danny Brown influenced his music, pursuing rap in his 20s, defining his style, bringing clarity to abrasive production, and the creative process behind projects like I Can’t Cut Your Hair, Valenta, and his latest, hunan slurp (your vegetables eat you). Come fuck with us.I Can't Cut Your Hair and make me, make me are available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Valenta and hunan slurpare available exclusively via Bandcamp.Read my piece How Playboi Carti and Clipping Are Channeling Rap Retrofuturism on Hearing Things. My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund,  The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti.  For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), Bluesky (@cinemasai.bsky.social), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped into all things Dylan Green.   Support the show