Shows
Helio-TropesChris GayomaliChris Gayomali is the editor of SSENSE and runs a health and wellness Substack called HEAVIES. Previously an editor at GQ, he's also written for Fast Company, Highsnobiety, and more. Live from Bed-Stuy, Chris joins us to break down the recent GRAMMY nominations—his predictions about who deserves to win versus who will actually emerge the victor in some of the major categories. We also get into Sydney-based hardcore band SPEED, whom he recently profiled for SSENSE: how he first clocked them through their merch, what makes them stand out, and why having a real vision (and years of experien...
2025-11-191h 12
Helio-TropesDylan GreenDylan Green is a journalist, critic, and podcaster, as well as the founder, writer, and editor of Hearing Things, a thoughtful music publication. He's also the host and producer of the Reel Notes podcast. Dylan joins HT today to talk about Yash's favorite rap group of all time—the infamous Mobb Deep—and their new album Infinite, which Dylan recently reviewed for Pitchfork. We break down the album in detail: how it arrives as part of Mass Appeal's Legend Has It series, and what it means to the legacy of Mobb Deep more than eight years after the untimely passi...
2025-10-211h 20
Helio-TropesMelissa Emert-HutnerMelissa Emert-Hutner lives in New York and is an SVP of Creative at Kobalt Music, one of the largest music publishers in the world. She joins us today to clear the smog-filled air on music publishing and share what she does day to day to help artists and songwriters make lasting connections and collect royalties. She explains how every artist feels their music is syncable but it's rarely the case, and breaks down the variables that should be considered when thinking about signing a publishing deal—whether before or after a record deal. Truly a crash course episode for bo...
2025-10-151h 03
Helio-TropesTal Kamara & Jocelyn Motley of SoundFyndSoundFynd is a music discovery platform putting their own spin on the meaning of new media. Founder Tal Kamara and community leader Jocelyn Motley join us to talk about the platform and the broader digital landscape in music coverage of emerging artists. We dig into whether modern-day payola for social media placements is making or breaking the business model, corporate music power structures monopolizing the game, and community building IRL. We also chat about New York indie rock outfit Geese—their not-so-sudden impact and how they stack up against some of the indie rock buzz bands of the blog er...
2025-10-071h 25
Helio-TropesTheravadaTheravada is a rapper and producer from Long Island, New York. Fresh off the release of his new album The Years We Have, he joins us from a Brooklyn studio for a wide-ranging conversation to discuss all things in his orbit as of late —from Nike Foamposites to his production on Earl Sweatshirt's latest album Live, Laugh, Love. We also dig into his background as a DJ, including his inventive use of the software Virtual DJ as his weapon of choice for making beats. Theravada walks Yash through his new album track by track, sharing the stories and creative pr...
2025-09-151h 11
Helio-TropesMike IsaacMike Isaac is a music writer and technology correspondent for The New York Times. He joins us from sunny San Francisco to discuss his recent story on the Deftones, their resurgence, and what it was like to kick it with the band as they dug through crates of vinyl at Atomic Records in Burbank, Calif. We also dive into the idea of digital streaming platforms as tech companies, exploring how Spotify and Bandcamp are the same, but wildly different. We dive into The Armed's ferocious new album, THE FUTURE IS HERE AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED, and why...
2025-08-251h 12
Helio-TropesYashHelio-Tropes 50. Please excuse the audio quality as we continue to experiment with ways to get this plane off the ground. This rare solo episode features Yash, kicking off a new chapter for Helio-Tropes — and life itself. Yash discusses the return of Clipse and their new album Let God Sort 'Em Out: what worked, what didn't, and what was left to be desired. He also explores the pros and cons of streaming platforms; how we're still grappling with the flawed, technological evolution of modern music consumption. The episode dives into Turnstile's ambitious new album Never Enough, and the way it's res...
2025-07-3151 min
Helio-TropesJustin Staple Justin Staple is for the culture. A journalist, director, and documentarian, Justin's days at VICE led him to shoot his 2020 Hulu documentary American Rapstar, where he chronicled a rebellious new wave of young rappers who used SoundCloud to build intense stan armies — from XXXTentacion to Lil Peep. We get into how this era turned internet fame into million-dollar record deals and opened the door for a whole new generation of artists. We also talk about the producer F1lthy and his huge impact on modern rap, going back to the SoundCloud days and working with everyone from Matt Ox to...
2025-07-141h 24
Helio-TropesEricTheYoungGawdEricTheYoungGawd is a media personality and journalist with bylines in COMPLEX and a YouTube channel that you should definitely subscribe to. We get right down to business, unpacking the return of Clipse, their new deal with Roc Nation, and how Pusha T is using familiar tricks to stir up controversy. We also talk about Brooklyn rapper MIKE and Tony Seltzer's impressive collaborative album Pinball II and the way MIKE has turned underground buzz into a fledgling rap career. We dive into Lil Wayne's epic brick Tha Carter VI; the disconnected nature of the music and the unexpected collaborations that co...
2025-06-231h 18
Helio-TropesStephen Malbon of Malbon GolfStephen Malbon is a golf addict who will never recover from it. The founder of Malbon Golf joins us to talk about his interest in music and art—starting from the days of co-founding FRANK 151 to building a golf brand inspired by whatever lifestyle interests cross his mind. We get into his history growing up in Virginia and the early sounds and brands that helped shape his identity. Yash explains how he was captivated by the Futura2000 collaboration with Malbon and what it meant to those in the know. Stephen shares the backstory of how a failed collaboration ended up...
2025-06-0950 min
Helio-TropesAnna ZanesAnna Zanes is the editor in chief of Alternative Press Magazine. She joins us to talk about honoring the magazine's legacy while driving it forward—diversifying coverage, spotlighting new voices, and pushing the envelope beyond the sausage fest of yesteryear. We also chat about Corbin's very good new album 'Crisis Kid' and some of the history Yash has with the artist formerly known as Spooky Black. We break down Deafheaven's stellar new album Lonely People With Power—what makes it so powerful, their leap from indie to major label, and how they've stayed true to heavy music without compromise. Anna...
2025-05-051h 00
Helio-TropesSAD PRTOn this week's episode our guest is the founder of SAD PRT, a platform based on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube that showcases emerging underground artists. We talk about how the platform highlights artists and storylines that often don't appear in traditional media, and the ways in which they've successfully built a community of passionate followers around niche music. We get into the rise of 2Hollis and his polarizing major label debut album star, the intentions behind how albums are crafted, and how clips of crowd reactions at live shows have become a critical marketing tool in breaking new artists. We...
2025-04-141h 13
Helio-TropesKieran Press-ReyonldsKieran Press-Reynolds is a writer with a weekly column at Pitchfork called "Rabbit Holed," exploring songs and scenes at the intersection of music and digital culture. He has written for publications such as The New York Times, Business Insider, No Bells, and more. This episode of HT is a journey into the sprawling world of ASMR, as documented in one of Kieran's latest stories on the topic. Yash admits he is an ASMR truther, while Kieran expands on the many layers and complexities of the styles he has encountered in his everyday life—and those thriving beneath the surface. We...
2025-03-3159 min
Helio-TropesAndrew Matson of FinalsAndrew Matson is the co-founder of Finals, a music blog that is rumored to be among the best. He joins us to talk about J Critch and long-time producer cohort Laron's expansive collaborative album titled Plus Ultra and the evolution of both their sound and chemistry, which has history that pre-dates college and record deals. We go deep into contemporary New York rap and how pre-drill artists have had a hard time staying relevant as rap shapeshifts in the city. We also get into Fish Narc's excellent new album Frog Song and how his GothBoiClique roots with Lil Peep...
2025-03-181h 30
Helio-TropesWill Schube of The HobbyistWill Schube is The Hobbyist—a writer and music critic based in New York with bylines in GQ, FLOOD, Pitchfork, Passion of the Weiss, and many more. He joins us from Austin following the launch of his aptly titled newsletter, The Hobbyist, to talk about the best hobby we both indulge in: Golf—with a capital G. We discuss how the culture has co-opted golf in the fashion space while somehow leaving music out of the equation. We also dive into Life Is Beautiful—the new album from Larry June, The Alchemist, and 2 Chainz—and how 2 Chainz steals the show by d...
2025-02-251h 20
Helio-TropesSteffanee WangSteffanee Wang joins us today to talk about 67th GRAMMY Awards that aired earlier this month and more. She is a New York City-based professional editor, writer, and reporter who currently is an associate editor at The FADER. She previously served as the music editor at NYLON, has written for Teen Vogue, The FACE, Billboard, NPR Music, and other notable publications. We talk about the best looks at the GRAMMY's, Kanye and Bianca's shenanigans on the carpet, Rap Album of The Year nominees, Chappell Roan's controversial speech, world-building via performances, YouTube's algorithm vs Spotify's, and Steffanee's Top 5 songs of...
2025-02-101h 05
Helio-TropesJane MarieThis is the first podcast of 2025 and we're calling it Monetizing Hope with Jane Marie, an award-winning podcaster, podcast producer, writer, and author of Selling The Dream: The Billion Dollar Industry Bankrupting Americans. Jane joins us from her home in LA, just after the devastating wildfires had somewhat subsided. This episode was recorded a few weeks prior to its release. Jane shares stories from her formative years in Michigan where she grew up, including her experiences seeing Nirvana live at The Blind Pig, watching LL Cool J hump women uncontrollably on stage, Insane Clown Posse, and her close encounter...
2025-01-281h 07
Helio-TropesGary Suarez of CABBAGESGary Suarez is a writer and podcaster who founded CABBAGES, a media outlet and podcast dedicated to covering independent artists. A Queens, New York native, Gary has contributed to esteemed publications such as The Quietus, Forbes, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker, The New York Times, NPR, and more. In this special two-hour year-end finale, Gary joins us to share his favorite albums of 2024—including standout projects from Cavalier, Roc Marciano, Vayda, and Your Old Droog—and reflect on the journey of launching his own publication and podcast via a newsletter during the pandemic, back when having a Substack wasn't as co...
2024-12-261h 58
Helio-TropesAurielle SayehAurielle Sayeh is a mom, creative director, brand consultant, strategist, creator, and DJ based in Los Angeles. A true multi-hyphenate, she shares how she got her start in culture through modeling and DJing in Paris and Amsterdam back in 2013. As an Atlanta native who hustled her way through the global zeitgeist, Aurielle reflects on her journey of tapping into different creative scenes and building relationships and collaborating with brands like Adidas and VFILES. To be in the club—or not to be in the club—north of 30: that is the question. We also dive into topics like patriotism, how it's...
2024-12-161h 01
Helio-TropesYak Ballz on 'YOUNG YASHAR'Yash breaks down the newly released Yak Ballz EP titled 'YOUNG YASHAR' produced by longtime collaborator Mondee. This marks the first official Yak Ballz music in over a decade. Listen to 'YOUNG YASHAR' HERE Follow Helio-Tropes - https://www.instagram.com/helio__tropes/ Follow Yash - https://www.instagram.com/yashzadeh/ Follow Yak Ballz - https://www.instagram.com/yakballz/
2024-11-1840 min
Helio-TropesCambrian "Bam" StrongCambrian Strong can't be boxed in. The Memphis, TN native and co-CEO of Drumatize Music Group with Tay Keith, whom he also manages, comes on the show to talk about how he figured out being of service in the music industry is the way he would build his brand. He tells us how being an athlete in high school gave him his work ethic and despite having a family who all pursued music as a career, he never saw being an artist as a viable path for himself. Instead he explains that his pursuit of advertising, graphic design, and...
2024-10-291h 02Helio-TropesJoseph Pepin of Pepin.WorksJoseph Pepin is a music manager extraordinaire and A&R consultant from New Jersey. He joins us from Austin, Texas where he is based to talk all things music industry related; from his background as a kid enamored by bands and shows happening in Asbury Park to street teaming and managing bands which lead to his days as a plucky A&R at Island Def Jam Mercury. We talk about the differences between being a music manager and an A&R person and how he helps Primary Wave's catalogue music get re-imagined by contemporary artists. He tells us about...
2024-10-141h 14Helio-TropesYash Mega MixThis week Yash returns with a solo pod mega mix featuring 10 songs to cruise to in your car or commute. Let it rock.
2024-09-2337 minHelio-TropesAlaska & Steel Tipped DoveThis episode features Yash's friend, rapper and co-host of 'Call Out Culture' podcast Alaska and producer Steel Tipped Dove. Their new album titled 'Reverberations of a Dead Man's Ego' is out now on Fused Arrow Records. We talk about the relationship between bandcamp and selling merch hand to hand, the divide between what is considered real hip hop vs contemporary rap, Stan Van Gundy's ball handling, and getting better at rap with age. We go in on day jobs influencing art, how spreadsheets have revolutionized Doves' process, the album concept's dark humor, developing a figurative mid-range rap style like...
2024-09-031h 04Helio-TropesDrew MillardDrew Millard is a writer, editor, podcaster (co-host of Nersey) and author of a very good book called 'How Golf Can Save Your Life.' On this episode we delve into his time at VICE's music website 'Noisey' and an unprecedented time of stunt blogging in the blog era. We also get into Drew's new blog called 'Media Events' and his recently posted story that takes a deep dive on The Black Eyed Peas in a way that you or Yash (or anyone) has never seen before. Yash also shares his experience with BIP when they attempted to take...
2024-08-191h 31Helio-TropesKyle Ng of BraindeadBack to our regularly scheduled program. This week we are joined by none other than Kyle Ng, vibe curator, co-founder and creative director of the cutting edge, trippy, music forward, and multi-product clothing brand Braindead. He tells us about his trip to Paris for the Olympics with Oakley and goes on to break down the culture-first ethos of the brand. His passion for indie rock, hardcore and punk is still one of the driving forces behind everything that happens at Braindead and there are no plans to deviate from his personal taste any time soon. From sponsoring Sound and...
2024-08-121h 00Helio-TropesSissònThis week Sissòn joins us to talk about some of the influences that shaped his identity and the things that inspire him most. Hailing from Arizona and now based in Los Angeles, Sissòn is a multi-disciplinary artist whose paintings and works have graced galleries and museums worldwide over the past decade. In our conversation, he discusses the intrinsic relationship between art and music in his world, particularly with how he depicts the Black experience. He tells us about Arizona being more gangster than people are aware of, and his personal transition from a life of crime to fi...
2024-07-151h 19Helio-TropesSuzy ExpositoFresh off the scorching BET Awards red carpet Yash is back with special guest Suzy Exposito AKA Brujacore. Suzy is a New Jersey born, Miami raised, and LA based freelance writer and editor who has bylines Rolling Stone, LA Times, Vogue, Elle, NPR, Remezcla, Revolver and more. We get right down to business about all girls band camp, how Goth is no longer exclusive to Goths and abuelas with crazy visions. We get into Charli XCX's return to form on 'BRAT,' her PC music past, and the time it takes for popstars to bake. We also talk about C...
2024-07-031h 15Helio-TropesYashSmack in the middle of a heatwave Yash returns from a trip to New York with even more flames. We talk about a forthcoming Clipse reunion album and the prospect of a Re-up Gang come back, opting out of Kendrick's 'The Pop Out' show, 2Hollis' excellent 'boy' album, Wu Tang's long lost album that has now somehow been converted to an $1 NFT, and the the factors at play when an artist/band cancels an arena tour due to low ticket sales. We talk about major labels WMG, UMG and SONY taking legal action against artificial intelligence companies Suno and...
2024-06-2558 minHelio-TropesMatthew RitchieMatthew Ritchie is a music, culture and sports writer who is also a contributor at Pitchfork and has written stories for GQ, Chicago Reader, Rolling Stone, Passion of The Weiss, and others. In this episode we try our damndest to focus on one body of work and cannonball directly into Mach-Hommy's #RICHAXXHATIAN album which Matthew reviewed for Pitchfork. We talk about how an 8.0 is the "peoples champion" score even if it's not given the Best New Music championship belt. We break down why the title track is the most streamed song on the album and how streams aren't indicative...
2024-06-101h 11Helio-TropesVivian MedithiVivian Medithi is resident rap corrrespondent at The FADER who has bylines at Pitchfork, NoBells, HipHopDX, Los Angeles Review of Books and more. We talk about Milwaukee rapper Myaap whose excellent song "MLK" and new project produced by Nedarb of Gothboy Click fame is a hidden gem (for now). We break down the details of Atlanta rapper Slimesito and Surf Gang honcho/producer Evil Giane's collab tape titled 'Evil Slime.' Is Lazer Dim 700 commercially viable? Does he need to be? We have the answers. The Atlanta phenomenon is taking the internet by storm and we go in on...
2024-06-031h 13Helio-TropesJayson BufordJayson Buford is a journalist from Harlem, NY covering culture, music, and sports who has written for publications like Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, Vanity Fair, Stereogum, and more. He joins us today to talk about our beloved Knicks and all things endemic to the greatest city in the world. Our expert analysis leads us to the conclusion that Donté DiVincenzo could have easily been Jackie Junior's mans in The Sopranos or sold ecstasy in real life. We discuss a story he wrote on Cap USA, a black-owned storefront that sells a plethora of hat styles including fitted hats and streetwear i...
2024-05-2055 minHelio-TropesFranz De Los ReyesFranz De Los Reyes is a music executive and Senior Vice President of Marketing at SALXCO (The Weeknd, Nav, Metro Boomin and more) who has previously held positions at three major labels including Def Jam, Epic and Warner Records. He shares how he broke into the music industry by being the squeeky wheel and building lasting relationships along with some digital savvy that major labels were farming in the blog era. He stayed down to come up and now lives in Los Angeles attempting to perfect his golf swing at the range at the Wilson Harding Golf Club in...
2024-05-1356 min
Dear Jane MarieDJM w/ Yash ZadehRapper, podcast host and VP at Warner Records Yash Zadeh, AKA Yak Ballz, joins Jane on the couch. Caller #1 thinks she's spending too much time on her phone.And much more over on the Patreon... Caller #2 is considering changing her hair. Caller #3 is seeking the best band aid.Follow Yash on InstagramFollow Yash on X (Twitter) Listen to Yash's podcast, Helio-Tropes Get bonus content on Patreon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2024-05-0711 minHelio-TropesAlphonse PierreAlphonse Pierre is a music critic and journalist at Pitchfork. He joins us from home base in Canarsie, Brooklyn where an ice cream truck soundtracks our conversation about the Knicks and the 76ers round 1 playoff bloodbath. We talk about Ice Spice's timely verse on Cash Cobaine's "Fisherr" remix and how an independently released song can get ratcheted up with the help of a huge feature and some major label muscle. We talk about Tupac's estate issuing a cease and desist to Drake (when it's convenient) for the AI powered "Taylormade Freestyle," and just how much Future is too much s...
2024-04-281h 15Helio-TropesYashFresh off of Coachella weekend and his day of birth Yash is back with a solo pod talking about the rare sites that the annual festival has to offer with takes on performances by Lana Del Rey, Peso Pluma, Lil Uzi Vert, Justice's return and more. He also gets into the lame rap "beef(s)" of the moment and the dominoe effect Kendrick's "Like That" verse on Metro and Future's 'We Don't Trust You' album has had on the industry; including J. Cole's boring apology, Drakes halfway decent clap back and Rick Ross's hilarious and very good "Champagne Moments."...
2024-04-1532 minHelio-TropesSowmya KrishnamurthySowmya Krishnamurthy is an accomplished journalist based in New York, originally from Michigan. She is the author of 'Fashion Killa: How Hip Hop Revolutionized High Fashion,' available now from Simon and Schuster / Gallery Books. Her work has been featured in Rolling Stone, XXL, Essence, Complex, Highsnobiety, Playboy, The Village Voice, and Time. We dive into the intersection of fashion and hip-hop and the impact they have had on each other, starting in New York City over the past 50 years. She breaks down the importance of Harlem's own Dapper Dan, luxury laws, how the hustlers were the first street...
2024-04-011h 36Helio-TropesClaire BogleClaire Bogle is a music manager, entrepreneur, and hypnotherapist from New Mexico with exquisite taste. She is the co-founder of Scoremore Productions which is responsible for throwing the first-ever tours and shows for artists like Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, J. Cole, Wiz Khalifa, and more. We talk about her rise to success behind the scenes driven by pure passion; including volunteering to drive her beat-up Lincoln and used 5 Series for artist tours in the early days of the blog era. She elaborates on how she and her partner Sascha Stone took the legendary Illmore party at SXSW from a...
2024-03-181h 08Helio-TropesPeter A. BerryBack at it with Peter A. Berry, writer and editor at large who has bylines in XXL, COMPLEX, Pitchfork, Okayplayer and more. We talk about how we connected via my reaction to an Uncle Murda video clip that Peter put a wild spin on and how it lead to this unique episode diving into one album that has made a significant impact this year already which is Schoolboy Q's 'Blue Lips.' We expand on Peter's review of 'Blue Lips' for Stereogum and the singular themes that show up on the project (that typically don't show up on rap...
2024-03-1158 minHelio-TropesChris AtlasChris Atlas is more than meets the eye. An extra popped episode with the accomplished music executive and Bronx-native who tells us about his earliest hip-hop memories running around NYC including a life-changing performance from Public Enemy at a small club in the meatpacking district. We dive into his first opportunity in the music industry as an intern at the legendary Tommy Boy Records where he cut his teeth in College Radio promotion before moving into A&R. He tells us about his time at the label promoting tracks at radio from seminal artists like House of Pain, De...
2024-02-2650 minHelio-TropesCAL-A of Free Bread Intl.CAL-A is a Grammy Award-winning producer, artist manager, and DJ from the Bay Area who owns and operates Free Bread Intl., a company helping brands and businesses create experiences to benefit their communities and the kids in them. He breaks down his contribution to Killer Mike's album 'Michael' which received three Grammy's including Rap Album of The Year. We get into South by Southwest's fall from grace and its potential resurgence, his recent trip to the Phillipines with P-Lo, his penchant for vacation flexing, and the 2022 documentary 'We Were Hyphy.' He explains the impact the Bay Area's countercultural...
2024-02-201h 20Helio-TropesYashYash is back with another solo episode in the thick of Super Bowl Weekend, the Waste Management Phoenix Open and Kanye's 'VULTURES 1' album release. He unveils how Usher is just another guy in the bathroom, breaks down uncleared samples and estate-beefs elicited by Ye's album combined with the intricacies behind its second-rate distribution and problematic rollout. He also get's into A$AP Rocky's Puma pump fake, Eric Sermon eating well off Metro Boomin and Abel's royalty checks, plus Schoolboy Q's anticipated return. Party in the front, Top 5 songs in the back.
2024-02-1251 minHelio-TropesScott Jawson & Sam Hadelman of Dark Matter MediaScott Jawson and Sam Hadelman of Dark Matter Media are music publicists making big moves in NY. We talk about NFT Stars, Universal Music Group being at odds with TikTok, and how their clients' music playing from Nissan's and Honda's in the street is proof that things are going well. They shine light on the impetus for Dark Matter Media to emerge in today's market and what goes into curating their niche roster with wavy artists like Evil Giane and Cash Cobaine. We also get into culture vs virality, Ari Melber, Crystal Castles, old skate videos giving way to...
2024-02-051h 29Helio-TropesJade GomezBack from his annual golf trip in Florida, Yash is joined by freelance writer Jade Gomez for a new heatrock where they break down the potent influence New Jersey has had on them (and music) for better or worse. We get into the ominous news announced by Condé Nast a few weeks back that Pitchfork is being absorbed by GQ, and the implications on music journalism in the cursed media landscape. We talk about Coachella cheatcodes, gen-pop woes, our love for Glassjaw, Ice Spice cutting the cheese, and Justice's curious return. Jade also comes correct with 5 songs she's vibing t...
2024-01-291h 30Helio-TropesGeng PTP / King Vision UltraGeng PTP who also goes by King Vision Ultra is a native New Yorker and a man of many hats whose album 'Shook World' came out last year. On this extendo-clip episode Yash attempts to uncover a healthy dose of his repertoire; from smoothies to fitness and field recordings to music production, art and design. We nerd out on unmistakable producer tags and sounds (plus where they came from) and how we were at the first ever MF Doom show together many moons ago. The laughs are plenty and Geng comes prepared to break down his Top 5 songs of...
2024-01-112h 10Helio-Tropes2024 Kick-Off with YashAfter a short break and trip to the east coast for the holidays, Helio-Tropes returns for the new year with a special solo mission episode with its host Yash. On the first show of 2024, Yash talks about Ken Carson and the Opium crew, PETA targets at the airport, Cam'ron's watchful eye, the new Mission Impossible movie, Dave Chappelle's recent special, the latest ††† (Crosses) album and some of his favorite deep cuts from last year. He breaks the silence on how the pod started, where it's going in the year ahead and makes a special announcement — which will most certainly reverber...
2024-01-0243 minHelio-TropesStephanie Gotch of Partners And Associates AgencyJust in time for the holidays, a special episode of HT with Stephanie Gotch whose agency Partners And Associates handles marketing, creative direction, comms and pr for musicians, brands, businesses and more. We talk about Art Basel being the Spring Break of the industry and her experience in Miami with her client Westside Gunn. She breaks down what it takes (and what it doesn't) for musicians to be successful in the fashion space, how showing up consistently is a small part of the big picture, and that blowing a bag on designer drip is not the answer. She also...
2023-12-221h 16Helio-TropesTimmhotep AkuThis week we are joined by none other than the Brookyln-bred, undefeated artists' champion and one-man media giant Timmhotep Aku. We talk about the musical spark that set him on a life-long journey, Video Music Box, the lessons that De La Soul taught us and the mark they made on generations in their wake — including your favorite rappers wearing Denim Tears. We dig into his additional work writing recent stories on Cash Cobain and RXK Nephew and the wild parallels that can be drawn to each. We discuss regional rap waves, his contributions to podcasts, his monthly radio show on...
2023-12-111h 25Helio-TropesFrazier TharpeThis week we're standing on big business with Frazier Tharpe, senior editor at GQ who recently relocated to Los Angeles from New York. We talk about him hitting the ground running immediately, attending multiple live shows across the city of Angels as soon as he touched down. We get into the recent story he wrote profiling Offset for GQ's Man of The Year issue, our experiences with Migos, collab album trends, Drake's boom bap clap-back, Gunna defending the title, Young Thug's lawyer, Jay Z's 'Book of Hov' exhibit and much more.
2023-12-041h 01Helio-TropesJason Goldwatch Jason Goldwatch is a film director and creative director from San Francisco based in Los Angeles also known for shooting music videos and documentaries. We talk about his recent short film 'Death Valley' with DJ Muggs, the accompanying film to the 'Soul Assassin's 3: Death Valley' album. In between Jason's bong rips he explains how the only way to see the film currently is by going to a screening, the synergy between him and Muggs, and the idiosyncratic approach to how the film was made. We also get into his past as the co-founder of Decon; a record label and...
2023-11-271h 11Helio-TropesEvan Auerbach of Up North TripsThis week Evan Auerbach of Up North Trips joins us to talk about the new book he co-authored with Daniel Isenberg titled 'Do Remember! The Golden Era of NYC Hip-Hop Mixtapes' out now on Rizzoli. We start from the earliest days of mixtape culture and make our way to the present. Along the way we highlight DJ's and pioneers like Brucie B, the impact of Kid Capri, the sorcery of Ron G, the ingenuity of DJ Clue and much more. From technological innovations to the evolution of the hand-to-hand mixtape economy and its growth into larger scale operations, we...
2023-11-201h 05Helio-TropesDominique Maldonado Dominique Maldonado is a music manager living in Puerto Rico. We get into her Florida roots in the music biz and how she went from throwing shows locally as a promoter to booking some of most buzzing artists at the time like Travis Scott and Chance The Rapper for her Leaders of The New Cool concert series in New York, Atlanta and beyond. She breaks down how she forged meaningful relationships which lead her to managing artists like Q-Tip and becoming an A&R person at major record labels. Come for the conversation, stay for the jewels.
2023-11-131h 20Helio-TropesRoger Gengo of Masked GorillaThis week we are coming to you from Masked Gorilla Headquarters in Highland Park, Los Angeles with Roger Gengo, founder of Masked Gorilla and Masked Records. We talk about him being an early adopter of SoundCloud as a tool for discovering emerging artists, turning a blog into a record label and festival, as we trace the unglamorous steps in between. From throwing shows in LA to being first to champion would be stars like Lil Peep and Lil Yachty (before almost anyone knew who they were), Roger has been on the frontlines of modern rap's tide shifts. So we...
2023-11-061h 27Helio-TropesUncle PaulieThis week one of Queens finest Uncle Paulie and I take it back to the galaxy from the comfort of our homes in Los Angeles. We talk about his connection to Queens rappers, how he got his name, taking 3rd place at the Malibu Chili Cookoff, Ruff Ryders' Drag-On, Uncle Paulie's Deli and clothing brand inspirations, the famed Cherry Valley TCS sandwich, his comedy night, our new-found affinity for the game of Golf, how Subway took out Blimpie and more.
2023-10-301h 06Helio-TropesDana Meyerson of Biz 3 PublicityOn this week's episode Dana Meyerson of Biz 3 Publicity joins us to discuss the media landscape past and present. We talk about my first experience at Lego Land, both iconic and awkward magazine covers she's booked over the years, conversational pitching, tastemakers vs gatekeepers, advance album promo cd's, Aphex Twin's fart trend on TikTok, designer shades, AI dogs and more.
2023-10-251h 04
Helio-TropesDana MeyersonOn this week's episode Dana Meyerson of Biz 3 Publicity joins us to discuss the media landscape past and present. We talk about my first experience at Lego Land, both iconic and awkward magazine covers she's booked over the years, conversational pitching, tastemakers vs gatekeepers, advance album promo CD's, Aphex Twin’s fart trend on TikTok, designer sunglasses, AI dogs and more.
2023-10-231h 07Helio-TropesReilly Herrera of Learn To ForgetReilly Herrera is a clothing designer, graphic designer, musician and the founder of clothing brand Learn To Forget. We talk about his punk roots growing up in Fullerton, CA, the chaos of COMPLEXCON, his brand's evolution, his band Night Verses' new album, post-sneaker culture, our graffiti past-lives, and much more.
2023-10-161h 11Helio-TropesNick HookThe debut episode of Helio-Tropes featuring DJ, producer and artist-spirit-guide Nick Hook. I talk to Nick about summer in New York, rare music gear, legalization of weed in NY, his studio The Space Pit, Spiritual Friendship, RTJ Cu4tro, Gangsta Boo, Teenage Engineering, Jam Master Jays pre-roll joints and more.
2023-10-011h 04
The Grateful ShowMost Important Lessons From 2020 - 090It’s been a crazy year for all of us and we’re beyond grateful for each of you that has been supporting us this year!
We’ve had 27 fantastic guests on the podcast, each with an unique and inspiring story to tell!
We’ve taken our time to really condense the lessons that we gathered from all these amazing people.
We went over each guest episode and highlight our biggest takeaways.
Below you can find the listed all the time codes for each guest:
02:24 – Lara Rebecca - https://www.instag...
2020-12-0950 min