Champale Podcast

Episode 14 - The Put-On 

Back after a long hiatus — Willy’s brought on by “work”, Marko’s by “playing Wave Race 64 on a G4” — and joined by frienditor Willie [sic] Luckman of Powerhouse Books, Champale delves into hip-hop’s world of torch-passing: the put-ons that create potentially strange lineages. Did it ever occur to you that French Montana’s existence and popularity is, in many ways, a direct product of Biggie’s success? It will be painfully clear to you after listening to the 14th crisp and refreshing episode of Champale.

Call us the RAP GAME MICHAEL POLLAN if you want, because we happen to think that local connections and flavors lead to better outcomes when one successful rapper passes the torch to his friend, and lets him lay down that bag of weed he has been carrying so dutifully. The Internet, maybe, has changed this a bit. Has it helped? Does this inevitably lead to a conversation about Riff Raff? The answers to all this, and more (including a tear-jerking Mike Daisey-esque retraction from Willy) on this episode.

Join us, as we crack open some high-end mini bottles of booze and talk semi-informedly about all this and more. 

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Swap it Out - Future

Baller Remix - French Montana, Diddy, Rick Ross, (red cafe?)

Security (Mac&Cheese) - Max B, French Montana

You Got To Love It Beyonce - Cam’ron, Max B

Horse & Carriage - Ma$e, Cam’ron

Handsome - Feva, Husulah, Franchise

Cuz My Gear - RiFF RaFF, Chief Keef

Fare One Pt. 2 - Killa Cam, Murda Mase, Herb McGruff

Episode 13 -Internet Anxiety with Zack Cohn

After a brief and stilted discussion of Riff Raff and Action Bronson’s troubled relationship with Pimp C and Ghostface, respectively, Willy, Marko, and very special guest (and Internet marketing maven) Zack Cohn delve into a conversation about why the Internet has ruined all of our lives, or at least our ability to listen to rap music. 

Consider this Champale to be an Internet support group of sorts. You’re not alone in feeling bombarded and empty — we’re right there with you.

This episode discusses Twitter’s utopian goals, and its inability to deliver on them. This leads to a discussion of rappers’ Twitter accounts and branding: Is Noreaga’s Twitter on the Shitter a bad idea for Noreaga’s ‘brand’? How is Andre Nickatina like Rob Delaney? Does a rapper need to maintain his brand on Twitter, or should he be himself?

And in the last segment, Zack turns the tables on us, interviewing Willy about his experience blogging about rap, which leads to larger discussion of how blogs, which used to surface content both old and new, have pivoted into constantly chasing the novel, the new. Has the medium ruined the message? or something? We have no fucking clue, but we hope you might feel slightly less anxious about the Internet having listened to this episode — at least you know you’re not alone.

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Raps sprinkled throughout:

Riff Raff, Action Bronson “Birds on a Wire”

Drumma Boy, 2 Chainz, Gucci Mane “I’m on WorldStar”

Yung Jake “Datamosh”

Lil B “Age of Information”

Future “Birds Take a Bath”

In our first podcast of the New Year, and the first brought to you by Stacks on Deck Money Gang, Marko SODMG and Willy SODMG discuss the travel that got in the way of the podcasting they should have been doing in January, specifically Marko SODMG’s discovery that no one in Willy SODMG’s hometown of San Francisco SODMG listens to rap music, despite the city’s colorful rapp history. We’re sorry to report that Willy SODMG offers a shamefully half-assed and half-drunk defense of his hometown.

This segues into the first conversation about Lana Del Rey (SODMG?) and authenticity to include the obvious counterpoint: Rick Ross. Tag along with your somewhat-informed hosts as we compare the ‘gangster Nancy Sinatra’ to The Bawse — what concessions to expectations of authenticity do we make when confronted with genuine artistry? Which genre should demand more authenticity?

And, finally, Champale SODMG delves into the Republican primaries, matching candidates for the GOP nomination with the rappers that they might be were they rappers. It’s a blogging tradition that has fallen by the wayside. We pick it back up, and find out some strange, shocking things about the four candidates (if they were rappers).

It’s a Friday night kind of episode of Champale SODMG. Get loose with it, huh guys?

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Tracklist:

Hugh EMC “N-Ni**a Groove”

Cellski “Plottin’”

I.M.P “IMP Dogs Kickin It”

Rick Ross “Holy Ghost”

Yo Gotti, Juelz Santana, Gucci Mane “Colors”

Fresh for your holiday travel nightmares, Champale’s 11th episode brought with it yet another milestone: it was our first Christmas special. Along with Special Guest David Drake (of So Many Shrimp, the FADER, and Pitchfork), Marko and Willy cuddled up next to the hearth, sipped pink malt-flavored cocoa and discussed the pitfall-fraught world of online rap criticism. How does one go about describing a beat, in the English language? What is the use of describing a beat? And, furthermore, has the Internet fostered a critical atmosphere that rewards pedantry over a “good ear”? If so, is there an alternative — a way of translating the visceral experience of listening to good rap music into prose?

After this lighthearted discussion, our hosts move on to Christmas raps and consider how rappers fit themselves into, or rebel against, a form of music that is cynical to the core, little else than a lubricant for the wheels of commerce. How do the two work together, or is Christmas rap inherently subversive?

Won’t you come caroling with us?

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Tracklist:

Cocaine Mafia (Pat, Juice, French) - Do It

Ya Fam Ace - All I Have

Husalah - Cake Boss

Dirty Boyz - All I Want For Christmas

Chance the Rapper ft. Alex Wiley - Merry Christmas

Andre Nickatina - Rumpumpumpum

Master P - Hi fo’ Xmas

Indo G - Santa’s Ho House

Crew X - Santa Rap

Quad City DJ’s - Whachugot4Xmas

Episode 9 - Good Weed, White Wine

Happy Thanksgiving, friends. As you cram breadcrumbs, fruits, and/or meats into a turkey carcass, and consider the great bounty the Lord has bestowed upon this strange nation, why not tune into Episode 9 of Champale, the fourth best rap podcast on the Internet?

This episode, your hosts Marko and Willy have a conversation about Occupy Wall Streets’ November 17th Day of Action, why Willy has given up on trying to have good taste in music, and why Drakk’s monopoly on emotion in rap is both distracting and dishonest. Marko and Willy serve up a tear-jerker of a mix to celebrate the release of Drakk’s sophomore effort, Take Care, and each make a minimalist Drakk song of their own. Be sure your cat or a freshly chopped onion is nearby, because you’re going to need an excuse for your sobbing, lest your loved ones call you a coward on the greatest Thursday of the year. Won’t you have a good cry with us?

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Tracklist

Riff Raff “Buns”

Riff Raff ft. Lil B “Hide Ya Shorty”

Lil B “I Got AIDS”

Master P “Bourbons & ‘Lacs”

Andre Nickatina “Fears of a Coke Lord”

Cam’ron “D-Rugs”

Philthy Rich “I Need My Friend Back”

Wu-Tang Clan “I Can’t Go To Sleep”

Marko “Good Weed, White Wine (Inspired by Drakk) pt. 1 (Aaaaaoowwww)”

Willy “Good Weed, White Wine (Inspired by Drakk) pt. 2 (Aaaaaoowwww)”

UGK “One Day (Chopped and Screwed by DJ Screw)”

Episode 8 - New New & Dreams

On the first episode lubricated by the generosity of the Pabst Brewing Company, Champale takes a turn for the haphazardly postmodern, as Marko and Willy examine what it might “mean” for a rapper to execute himself in a story-rap that “turns out” to be a “dream.” Scare quotes abound as Champale parses apart the many layers of reality that go into rap songs of this sort, after a long Sunday of light-beer drinking. 

 Also: hear Willy accurately predict our business partner Silvio Berlusconi’s unfortunate resignation, and Marko explains 2Chainz’ mixtape cover art to Willy, who only pretends to know about this stuff anyway. It’s dark out at 5 p.m. these days, and you don’t have any friends anyway — crack a beer and help us navigate the dark, lonely world of rap on the Internet.

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Tracklist:

2Chainz (Tity Boi) “Got One”

A$AP Rocky “Trilla”

Soulja Boy “I’m So Important”

Riff Raff, TKO Capone “Cocky Bastard”

Jacka “Purification of the Heart (Remix)”

Clyde Carson “Night Call”

Lil Hyfe, Lil Molly “Fitted Hat”

Mac Mall “Cold Sweat”

IMP “Bang Bang”

Reek Daddy “Dreams of a Gangsta Ni—a”

Pimp C “Feel Like I’m the One That’s Doing Dope”

Danny Brown, Black Milk “Black and Brown”

*From the fact-checking department: Marko mistakenly 3-wheels and calls the Oklahoma Thunder the Oklahoma Pacers due to a slip of the tongue. Please forgive him.