Take It Personal Podcast

Murs is more than just a rapper. He’s a dedicated father, hip-hop historian, an avid wrestling fan, amazing story-teller, and now, proud owner of a new cherry & waffles stout beer. We caught up with Murs while he was dealing with an unpleasant stomach bug, but being the professional that he is, Murs stuck it out for over 90 minutes with us. His stories are fascinating. Whether he is talking about DJ Quik cooking chicken soup for him, Brother Ali being scared of shellfish or El-P throwing down in a Denny’s parking lot, this interview is packed with gems for days. We also discuss everything from Living Legends, Def Jux, Strange Music, Warner Brothers, Paid Dues, 9th Wonder, Will Smith and the possibility of Felt 4 with Sluggo. Murs is a down-to-earth, self-deprecating, fun-loving guy, who is exactly the same both on and off record. He is relatable, likable and extremely personable. Be on the look out for his upcoming album with 9th Wonder titled The Illiad Is Dead And The Odyssey Is Over. He is also on h

Episode 43 celebrates some of our favorite things in life. So, it only made sense to title this episode Beats, Baseball and Brews. And who better to have a chat with about these things than the homie Murs? Besides being a dope rapper, he’s a dedicated father, hip-hop historian, an avid wrestling fan, amazing story-teller, and now, proud owner of a new cherry & waffles stout beer. We caught up with Murs while he was dealing with an unpleasant stomach bug, but being the professional that he is, Murs stuck it out for over 90 minutes on the phone. His stories are fascinating. Whether he is talking about DJ Quik cooking chicken soup for him, Brother Ali being scared of shellfish or El-P throwing down in a Denny’s parking lot, this interview is packed with gems. We also discuss everything from Living Legends, Def Jux, Strange Music, Warner Brothers, Paid Dues, 9th Wonder, Will Smith and the possibility of Felt 4 with Sluggo. Murs is a down-to-earth, self-deprecating, fun-loving guy, who is the same both on and off

Episode 42 is the 3rd and final installment of our Southern Tribute. We could have easily spent 3 more episodes trying to cover everything, but we did our best in the 14+ hours trying to rep the South proper. Part 3 pays homage to the powerhouse labels such as No Limit, Cash Money, Suave House, Swisherhouse and Hypnotize Minds. We also got classics by Eightball & MJG, Fat Pat, DJ Screw, Arrested Development, Big Mike, K-Rino, Goodie Mob, Lil Keke, Willie D, Killer Mike, Big Boi, Ludacris, Curren$y, Z-Ro, Tru, Pastor Troy, Juvenile, T.I., Devin The Dude, DMG, Tela, Lil Wayne and Fesu to name a few. After compiling the West Coast Classic series, the South was long overdue. Thanks to all the artists featured on these 3 very long episodes, you are the reason this happened! Thanks for your years of work, your classic material and your love for the South. We hope the wait was worth it!

Our 2nd anniversary show we featured a phenomenal New Jack Swing tribute. As if 90s R&B wasn't already the best, thanks to guys like Teddy Riley, Dr. Freeze, and Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, we were blessed with this amazing style better known as New Jack Swing. We usually stick to hip-hop on Take It Personal, but given the nature of our anniversary show, we had to freak a little something extra for those R&B fiends out there. Enjoy!

The Miami Bass movement was extremely prominent in the 80s and 90s, thanks to legendary artists like 2 Live Crew, MC Shy D, Planet Patrol, Gucci Crew, Anquette, Poison Clan and Clay D. The DJ’s also played a significant role in the movement as well, like Mr. Mixx, DJ Magic Mike, DJ Laz, Uncle Al, Jam Pony Express, Felix Sama, Power Supply and Jealous J (Jim Jonsin). While most people think Uncle Luke when talking about Miami Bass, the scene was so thick as Andre would say. Before you had Pitbull, Flo Rida, Kodak Black, Rick Ross, Ace Hood, DJ Khaled, Stitches, Lil Pump or XXXTENTACION, you had this great music featured on our 1 hour and 23 minute mix. We know our core audience is prominently east coast (bias) and we all know where hip-hop started. If you’re a fan of Take It Personal, you’ll know we cover everything and take pride in showcasing music from all over. But it’s important to listen, understand and appreciate what other regions like the South have to offer. We don’t expect you to love everything we

This is our isolated Outkast tribute mix from Episode 40. Organized Noize helped usher in the “dirty south” movement and Outkast took hip-hop to a whole new level. There are special groups like ATCQ, De La, Wu, N.W.A., Beasties, EPMD, P.E., Run-D.M.C., The Roots, Mobb Deep, Geto Boys and Gang Starr to name a few, but Outkast is right there with the best of them. They are without a doubt, one of the most important groups of all-time, in all of music.

Episode 40 is the first installment of our Southern Tribute. This has been in the making for awhile now, but like our West Coast Classics, tackling an entire coast is not easy. On part 1, we set the tone with some favorites before we take a ride down to Houston to celebrate the Geto Boys. They are arguably, the most influential Southern rap group of all-time. After posting up in H-Town, we head north to East Point, home of Outkast. Andre and Big Boi didn’t put the south on the map, but they did put everyone on notice. When the east and the left coast were dominating hip-hop, the south was all but forgotten. Then, a group named Organized Noize became responsible for ushering in the Dirty South movement and the rest is history. There is a lot to cover and we're just getting started. On upcoming episodes we'll be covering Miami bass and labels like Rap-A-Lot, No Limit, Wreckshop, Swishahouse, Cash Money, Suave House, Slip-n-Slide and Hypnotized Minds to name a few. For now, sit back, relax and enjoy the long

Episode 39 features good music along with The Good People. They just released their new album “Good For Nuthin” and it's already being heralded as Album of The Year by many. We chop it up with both Saint and Emskee and discuss the album, their come and drop a few joints off the album too. We also have bangers from Real Live, Smoothe Da Hustler, Al Tariq, PMD, Sir Menelik, Killarmy, Chino XL and ridiculous DJ 360 remix, plus new music by Da Buze Bruvaz, Justo The MC, Pharoahe Monch and an exclusive by Apathy!

Our Year In Review show features our favorites joints from 2018. It's our longest episode ever, so you might have to limit your consumption to an hour a day for the next week or so. We break down our favorite albums, we hand-out our MVP awards to the best rapper and producer of the year and play armchair A&R suggesting some of our dream collabos. We also have the man who absolutely bodied all his ’18 features and has created quite the buzz for himself lately, Pharoahe Monch. Pharoahe shares with us his favorite albums and collabos of ‘18 and what’s in store for 2019. And since we were in the super group mindset, Pharoahe tells us some funny stories about the short-lived Psychic Friends featuring himself, Black Thought, Common and Jeru The Damaja. All that and more on episode 38 of your favorite hip-hop podcast!

We have one of the most exciting, informative and legendary guest interviews in the show's history - Erick Sermon! The Green-Eyed Bandit is an open book and doesn't hesitate to "go there" on many topics you'll want to hear about. We talk about the early years of meeting PMD and landing their first record deal for $1500. We talk about how Russell brought them to Def Jam and then how Clive Davis forked over a cool 4 million to sign Erick after Music had dropped. We talk about touring with Run-DMC. We talk Craig Mack, Biggie, 50 Cent, Lyor Cohen, Ludacris, Nas and of course, Redman. We touch on the PMD beef and the possibility of a reunion. Erick says his best years of his life was when they broke-up and he went solo. We find out that Erick and Ice Cube were best friends and that E helped him prepare for going solo as well. We find out that Dr. Dre had originally turned down the opportunity to remix "The Platform" by Dilated Peoples, so E stepped in and cashed out after making the beat in just 30 minutes. We al

31 episodes ago we hit you with the first installment Respect The Architects. On II, we pay homage to the legendary Slick Rick, Beastie Boys and EPMD. In addition, we have one of the most exciting, informative and legendary guest interviews in the show's history - Erick Sermon! The Green-Eyed Bandit is an open book and doesn't hesitate to "go there" on many topics you'll want to hear about. We talk about the early years of meeting PMD and landing their first record deal for $1500. We talk about how Russell brought them to Def Jam and then how Clive Davis forked over a cool 4 million to sign Erick after Music had dropped. We talk about touring with Run-DMC. We talk Craig Mack, Biggie, 50 Cent, Lyor Cohen, Ludacris, Nas and of course, Redman. We touch on the PMD beef and the possibility of a reunion. Erick says his best years of his life was when they broke-up and he went solo. We find out that Erick and Ice Cube were best friends and that E helped him prepare for going solo as well. We find out that Dr. Dre

We sat down with Brooklyn legend Masta Ace and beat maker extraordinaire, Marco Polo to discuss their new album "A Breukelen Story." We talk Juice Crew, how Dr. Dre messed things up for the Slaughterhouse album, if Ace regrets dissing High & Mighty, and how he became a die-hard Philadelphia Eagles fan. We also chop it up with Marco about his MPCs, cats and new production crew. You don't want to miss this!

Episode 35 features Juice Crew legend Masta Ace and beat maker extraordinaire, Marco Polo. Their new album "A Breukelen Story" drops this Friday (11/9/18), but Take It Personal was lucky enough get the jump, so we have a handful of exclusives that can only be heard on this show! We also have new music from Pharoahe Monch, Action Bronson, DJ Muggs & Roc Marciano, Black Eyed Peas, O.C., Ghostface Killah and Apollo Brown & Joell Ortiz. Peace to Masta & Marco, and please support "A Breukelen Story" when it drops!

We're joined by the multi-talented Open Mike Eagle on episode 33. We find out how OME linked up with Project Blowed. We found out the Philaflava message board played a big role in his come up. We discuss the music, the comedy, the famous friends, doing podcasts, possibly doing Halle Berry and learn about his influences, including love for 80s commercials as well.

After pumpin' out 33 boom-bap filled episodes, we're deviating our signature sound on #34 to present The Crossover. On this episode, we highlight the sounds of the late 90s and early 2000s. Think back when major labels were still relevant. When Def Jam was owning the charts. When No Limit and Cash Money were battling for southern supremacy. Back when you heard a beat and immediately knew if it belonged to The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz, Just Blaze, Kanye West, Dr. Dre or Timbaland. Back when the indie movement was slowly bridging the gap and when the underground starting becoming more mainstream with the help of Mos, Kweli, The Roots and Common. Back when Busta would appear on every remix and Nas Made You Look! We're taking it back when 50 dominated the airwaves and the beefs and DMX set off that whole Ruff Ryders movement. At the break we discuss the impact this era had on hip-hop, mainstream America and we get into a heated discussion about Jay-Z. We all lived through this era. Love it or hate it, in typical TI

We're joined by the multi-talented Open Mike Eagle on episode 33. We find out how OME linked up with Project Blowed. We found out the Philaflava message board played a big role in his come up. We discuss the music, the comedy, the famous friends, doing podcasts, possibly doing Halle Berry and learn about his influences, including love for 80s commercials. Occasionally, we get asked to beef up the talking segments, so on episode 33 (Pardon The Interruption) we do just that. Thanks to extended show member and producer extraordinaire, Vanderslice, who recently fought off the grim reaper, for sitting in with the crew during our hot topic discussion. We take on various topics ranging from dead rappers to female rappers all the way to the recent beef with Eminem and MGK. This episode, unlike the previous ones, focuses on newer music too! We got joints by Bun B, Everlast, Nine, Apathy, Czarface & MF DOOM, Atmosphere, and Roc Marciano to name a few. RIP Mac Miller!

On episode 18, Planet Asia stopped by to talk about his latest Apollo Brown collabo Anchovies. We talk his come up, all the producers he's worked with and his coastal connections. We find out he was motivated by GZA to make Pure Coke. We talk the whole Interscope situation and his influence on rappers like Blu, Fashawn and Kendrick. We even find out if there is a possibility for a Cali Agents reunion. Check out one of Cali's finest!

A few months ago, on episode 26, we got a chance to speak Roc Marciano. This was the time he was prepping his Rosebudd's Revenge Part 2 (The Bitter Dose) release. We discuss the past, present and future with Roc Marci. We check the status of the Metal Clergy project with Ka. We dig into his production style and sequencing. We touch on his influence on today’s rappers and even find out his opinions on certain rappers like Black Thought, Eminem, Jay Electronica, Podsnous, Kool Keith and GZA. We even learned he'd love to work with Rick Ross. For the first time, here is the isolated interview of that episode.

Our longtime friend Supastiton stops by to shares some stories about touring, eating healthy, life after music, moving on from past producers, working with The Roots and being sued for The Williams as well as his upcoming projects.

Pharoahe Monch is a part of the lyrical elite, and yet, still doesn't quite receive the props he deserves. After this tribute, that WILL end today! There has never been a Pharoahe Monch tribute of this magnitude before. We felt it was not only necessary, but equally important to do. Additionally, what would a Take It Personal tribute be without the man of the hour stopping by to share some stories? We talk Paul C., Extra P, and even Kool Keith. We find out what it was like being passed on by Russell Simmons (along with Nas) and signing with Disney. We break down the Stress: Extinction Agenda album cover. We touch on his relationship with O.C. and the fact he thought the Time's Up beat was pretty wack. We talk Rawkus, ghostwriting for Puffy, sampling, sports, what went wrong on The Equinox; yes, we went there. We asked everything and he answered everything, including the possibility of an OK reunion. This is - our Pharoahe Monch Tribute!