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Pod Recaps

Inside Kato’s Private Briefing With Spotify: What Indie Artists Need to Know
In a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Spotify engages with creators, producer-entrepreneur Kato the Producer joined the No Labels...

Cuba to Hollywood: The Christina Milian Story on R&B Money
Christina Milian joined hosts Tank and J. Valentine on the "R&B Money" podcast for an intimate, wide-ranging conversation that chronicled...

“I Didn’t Want to Rap to Be Famous—I Wanted to Free People”: AJ McQueen on Effective Immediately
In an interview on DJ Hed and Gina Views' show Effective Immediately , Houston-raised rapper, poet, and activist AJ McQueen delivered a...

Joe Kay on the Vibe That Started It All: A Sway in the Morning Recap
Before the world knew Joe Kay as the founder and visionary behind Soulection, he was just a kid in L.A. getting early exposure to radio...

Glasses Malone on Kendrick, Culture and the Cost of Clout
On the Curtiss King Podcast, Glasses Malone didn’t mince words when describing where hip-hop stands in 2025. For the West Coast artist...

Game Recognize Game: Payroll Giovanni on Million Dollaz Worth of Game
Payroll Giovanni opened up about his grind, his loyalty to independence, and Detroit's cultural evolution during a recent appearance on...

Backyard Business: LaRussell Breaks Down the Pergola, Proud to Pay, and His Path to 100 Albums
On a recent episode of SiriusXM’s Effective Immediately , LaRussell sat down with DJ Hed and Gina Views for a conversation that dug deep...

Streaming Success or Industry Scam? Spotify Exec Talks Royalties, Playlists, and AI
In an era where streaming dominates the music industry, transparency around artist payouts and platform policies remains a hot-button...

Should Artists Hire Managers or Build Teams? The New Industry Standard
The role of the artist manager has long been a staple of the music industry, but in a rapidly evolving landscape, is it still necessary?...

“I Never Expected This”: 22nd Jim’s Path to Hip-Hop Success
22nd Jim sat down with VBC for a candid conversation about his music career, his upbringing in Oakland, and his struggles with being a...

xJ-Will on Sync Licensing: Lessons from 2,000+ TV, Film, and Commercial Music Placements
In an era where artists struggle to turn streams into sustainable income, sync licensing is proving to be one of the most reliable...

Smokey Robinson on the Motown Family, Songwriting, and Industry Lessons
Smokey Robinson, the legendary singer, songwriter, and Motown pioneer, sat down with Tank and J. Valentine on the R&B Money podcast for...

AZChike Talks Ownership, Warner Records Deal & His 3-Take Approach to Music
AZChike has been grinding for years, carving out his own lane in the Los Angeles rap scene. From electrifying performances to major...

Ray Daniels on Effective Immediately: How Hip-Hop Can Fix Its Broken Industry Mode
Ray Daniels has spent 20 years navigating the music industry, helping shape some of its biggest hits while building a reputation as a...

How to Promote Your Song for $1,000: No Labels Necessary Breaks It Down
For independent artists trying to break into the industry, budgeting for promotion can be tricky. A $1,000 marketing budget might seem...


Doechii’s Winning Formula: Branding, Work Ethic, and Execution with the Music Entrepreneur Club
For Doechii, success isn’t accidental—it’s the result of meticulous planning. On a recent episode of the Music Entrepreneur Club...

Building LaFace: How L.A. Reid Shaped Modern R&B
When L.A. Reid first laid eyes on a drum set as a child, it was more than just an instrument—it was a revelation. “I saw God, man....

Rap & Reason: Super Bowl Stages, Timeless Albums & Rap’s Evolution
Episode 30 of Rap & Reason delivered a deep dive into one of the most talked-about music moments of the year—Kendrick Lamar’s historic...

From Blockchain to Bars: 19 Keys Drops Knowledge and a Freestyle for the Future on Sway's Universe
On a recent episode of Sway’s Universe , 19 Keys stepped into the studio and delivered a masterclass in futurism, economic independence,...

From Dallas Austin’s MESA AI to Chappell Roan’s Grammy Callout: The Industry’s Biggest Debates
The latest episode of the Music Entrepreneur Club podcast took a deep dive into the impact of AI on the music industry featuring special...

Mozzy & Kalan.Fr.Fr on Building a Legacy: Hip-Hop, Hustles & Investments
For years, Mozzy and Kalan.Fr.Fr have represented two distinct yet complementary sides of the West Coast rap scene. Mozzy’s raw,...

Rap Life Review: Kendrick's Triumph, Beyoncé's Reign, and Doechii's Rise
Kendrick Lamar's Historic Night Kendrick Lamar made history at the Grammys, becoming the first rapper to win both Song of the Year and...

MixedByAli: The Grammy-Winning Engineer Who Started with Cracked Software
MixedByAli, the Grammy Award-winning mix engineer, recently appeared on the R&B Money Podcast, hosted by Tank and J Valentine. In a...

Fanbase CEO Calls Out Black Media, Champions Content Creators as the New Media
Isaac Hayes III, the CEO of Fanbase, recently joined B High ATL for a candid and in-depth conversation that transcended the typical tech...

Fendi P: From Corner Boy to Jet Life Luminary
In an interview with Gas and Meana on The No Rap Cap Podcast, Fendi P recounts his journey from foster care to finding his voice in a...


No Labels Necessary Offers 4 Music PR Strategies for 2025
The No Labels Necessary team released a quick video outlining four music PR strategies for 2025. These strategies include mic drop...

SoundCloud Exec. Drea Jackson Offers Indie Artists a Blueprint for Success
Drea Jackson, Senior Manager of Artist and Label Relations at SoundCloud, recently joined the "One More Time" podcast to discuss the...

Effective Immediately: DJ Hed and Gina Views Tackle Lawsuits, Grammy Predictions, and Joey Bada$$
DJ Hed and Gina Views, hosts of the popular radio show "Effective Immediately," tackled a range of hot topics in their latest episode,...

Chris Coke Recounts Near-Death Experiences, Nipsey Collab, and New Beginnings
Rapper Chris Coke, who recently gained attention from hip-hop heavyweights like Snoop Dogg and Rick Ross, sat down with Bootleg Kev for a...

Smino Opens Up About "Maybe in Nirvana" and Breakups in Candid Interview with Nyla Simone
Rapper Smino recently opened up in a candid interview with Nyla Simone on WE NEED TO TALK, discussing his new project, "Maybe in...

How Media Shapes Hip-Hop: A Conversation on The Bigger Picture Podcast
Right from the start, “We’re not just here to get views,” one host said early on. “This is about the bigger picture.” That line became a...

Snoop Dogg Talks R&B Roots, Death Row Evolution, and His Legacy on the R&B Money Podcast
Snoop Dogg, a name synonymous with hip-hop, sat down with Tank and J. Valentine on the R&B Money podcast for a candid and wide-ranging...

Elliott Wilson and Crew Tackle Hip-Hop’s Hot Topics on “The Bigger Picture”
The January 18 episode of The Bigger Picture podcast came through with real talk, laughs, and some serious moments, making it clear why...

Jabari Johnson Shares His Secrets to R&B Only’s Success
Jabari Johnson, the visionary behind R&B Only , recently joined Tank and J. Valentine on the R&B Money podcast for an inspiring and...

West Coast Royalty: Dom Kennedy Talks Legacy and New Moves with Justin Credible
Dom Kennedy recently sat down with Justin Credible for a deep and lively conversation that showcased his unique blend of humility, West...

How to Break an Artist in 2025: Insights from No Labels Necessary
Breaking an artist in today’s music industry isn’t just about getting streams—it’s about embedding the artist into the cultural...

KP’s DatPiff Story: Building the Mixtape Platform That Defined an Era
Introduction: A Mixtape Era Staple For countless fans, DatPiff wasn’t just a website; it was a gateway to a golden era of hip-hop. I...

Icons in Dialogue: Hip-Hop Wisdom from Raekwon and Bun B
Two titans of hip-hop, Raekwon of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan and Bun B of UGK, came together for an illuminating conversation on Hip Hop...

Paul Wall Reflects on Legacy, Collaboration, and the Evolution of Houston’s Sound with Nyla Symone
Paul Wall, the self-proclaimed “People’s Champ,” sat down with Nyla Symone for her show, "We Need to Talk," in a wide-ranging interview...

GCTV: Amplifying Voices: LaRussell’s Fight for Fair Recognition in Music
Every so often, the music industry needs a voice to disrupt the status quo. Enter LaRussell and his Free Game Friday sessions on GCTV,...

Uncovering Hidden Royalties: Financial Tips for Independent Artists from Wendy Day’s "No Standing Zone"
In the murky waters of the music industry, financial transparency remains one of the most elusive goals for independent artists. On a...

Effective Immediately: Joey Bada$$ Sparks Coast-to-Coast Tensions, Kendrick Lamar Lingers, and Uncle Murda's Year End Freestyle
Hip-hop's competitive spirit is alive and well in 2025, and Joey Bada$$ is making sure no one forgets it. On a recent freestyle, the...

Jay 305 Reflects on His Journey, Nipsey Hussle, and What’s Next on Back On Figg Podcast
West Coast rapper Jay 305 recently pulled up to the Back On Figg podcast, offering fans an unfiltered glimpse into his life, career, and...

R&B Money Podcast: Oh, You Didn't Know? LaRussell Has Some R&B Jams Too
In a music industry often defined by gatekeepers and traditional pathways to success, LaRussell has emerged as an unfiltered voice for...

No Labels, No Excuses: 7 Marketing Mistakes Artists Must Avoid in 2025
In an era where the music industry evolves daily, independent artists face constant pressure to market themselves effectively. Enter No...

Teedra Moses Gets Real About Music, Motherhood, and the Lessons Behind Complex Simplicity
R&B songstress Teedra Moses recently joined Tank and J. Valentine on the R&B Money Podcast for an intimate and reflective conversation...

Mixtape Legends, Viral Fame, and a Call for Fabolous to Drop Again: Effective Immediately Recap
In the latest episode of Effective Immediately on Hip Hop Nation, DJ Hed and Gina Views shared their perspectives on the week’s biggest...

G Perico Talks Hustle, Growth, and Authenticity with Bootleg Kev
In his recent appearance on the Bootleg Kev Podcast , Los Angeles rapper and entrepreneur G Perico offered an unfiltered glimpse into his...

Apple Music’s Rap Life Review: The Stories That Defined Hip-Hop in 2024
The Rap Life Review team on Apple Music’s platform took hip-hop fans on a thrilling journey through the chaos and triumphs of 2024....

The New Rules of Music: Curtis King on Doing It Yourself
In an era where the music industry often feels dominated by algorithms and major label politics, Curtis King is charting his own course....
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