Episode 23 - Schwarz

Schwarz is a producer and DJ from St. Louis, now residing in Baltimore. Schwarz has worked with La Chat, DDM, Abdu Ali, Juiceboxxx, TT The Artist, Kyle Mabson and many more. For many years, he helped run the Deep In The Game night at Baltimore’s Hippodrome, with Cex and Mark Brown. He’s recently released three solo singles, and is currently gearing up to release his debut full length.

We talk about growing up in St. Louis and his start in a rap group called AOSTL. He breaks down his move to Baltimore and his entry into Baltimore’s noise and dance music scenes. We discuss his recent releases, and the music he has on the horizon. He also schools me on the difference between Baltimore, Jersey and Philly club music.

This week, Mike Riley hooked us up with an homage to Audio Two’s What More Can I Say. It all went down at The Lineup Room.

Episode 22 - Height Spinning Tunes 3

This is my musical wrap-up of 2014. I go in to some of the songs I’ve done this year, as well as other songs that I know will always flash me back to 2014. As always, this show is sponsored by Mike Riley Comics and The Lineup Room. This week’s art is an homage to Redman’s Dare Iz a Darkside cover, which itself was an homage to Funkadelic’s Maggot Brain. Happy New Year To All!

Episode 21 - Lord Grunge

Lord Grunge is one half of the legendary Grand Buffet. He’s recently released two excellent solo records, as well as releasing two records with Shark Tank. Grunge is one my closest friends in the world, and he’s always been like an older brother to me, in the rap game and in life. I was excited to get him to break down this detailed history of Grand Buffet.

He talks about Grand Buffet’s early shows in restaurants, biker bars and parking lots in the outskirts of Pittsburgh. We talk about their early opening tours with Wesley Willis, Nature Kids and Sage Francis. He breaks down becoming a headlining touring act off the strength of their live show, as well as the burnout of relying on touring as a sole source of income.

Mike Riley hooked us up with an excellent homage to Black Sheep’s A Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing. It all went down at the Lineup Room.

Episode 20 - DDM

DDM is one of my favorite rappers in Baltimore. He first gained recognition as a battle rapper at Baltimore’s 5 Seasons. He’s been working as a solo artist for years, and he’s now teaming up with Paul Hutson to form Bond St. District.

He tells me about growing up as a loner kid with a rich fantasy life, watching Sailor Moon and Westerns on TV. We talk about learning to rise above the dark side of the music business, and how he went from filing for bankruptcy at age nineteen to becoming business savvy and independent. On the second half of the show, Paul Hutson joins the conversation, and they break down their new Bond St. District project.

Mike Riley‘s art this week is an homage to Rob Base and D.J. E-Z Rock’s It Takes Two. As always, this was recorded at The Lineup Room.

Episode 19 - A-Class

A-Class is one of the most consistent battle rappers in the game, and he’s earned respect in Grind Time, King Of The Dot and countless other battle leagues. We first met at a house show in 2003, and I’ve followed his career ever since. I had a great time getting the inside scoop on how the battle rap world works.

He told me about going from high school battles to Scribble Jam to the modern battle era. He talked about being excited by seeing how the battle world has evolved, and being inspired by the challenge of having to perpetually write more bars for upcoming opponents. We also talk about the strangeness of grown men tearing each other down with racial jokes.

This week, Mike Riley came with a tight homage to Eazy E’s Eazy-Duz-It. It all went down at The Lineup Room.