The Cipher

This week, we talk to one of our favorite up-and-coming rappers, Meyhem Lauren. Lauren’s rapping agility, style, sense of humor, and love of a gourmet meal have moved him way up on our list in just a…

This week, we talk to a man who needs no introduction, Big Daddy Kane. Kane tells us about his legacy, dissing Erick Sermon, who really produced his first album, and tons more.

See http://theciphersh…

We talk to the amazing Sadat X, known for both his seminal work with Brand Nubian and his plethora of high-quality solo work. His unique, off-kilter voice and style have kept the hip-hop nation enter…

This week, we talk to DJ Muggs. Muggs is best known for his work with Cypress Hill, but he also has a long and storied career as a producer for such mega-hits as “Jump Around” and “Check Yo Self.” He…

This week, we have a two-part extravaganza. In the first half of the show, we have a conversation from this past fall with rising star Dee-1. We chat with the New Orleans native about his city, his m…

This week, we have a conversation with Freddie Foxxx, a.k.a. Bumpy Knuckles. Since his 1989 debut album Freddie Foxxx Is Here, he’s been known for his great rhymes, but also for his frank talk about …

This week, we talk to Reggie Osse, better known as Combat Jack. Reggie is a blogger and a host of The Combat Jack Show on PNC Radio. Before that, though, he was a successful music lawyer with his han…

We talk to one of my personal favorite emcees, Boots Riley of The Coup. He’s been putting out funny, politically engaged music since 1991 and is, in my opinion, one of the best rappers working today…

This week, we talk to Peter Rosenberg, DJ at NYC’s legendary Hot 97. Peter is a co-host of the popular morning show and also has a Sunday night underground program. He’s the host of the game show Hip…

This week, we talk to Buckshot, the creative force behind the classic group Black Moon and the co-founder of the seminal underground label Duck Down Records. He recently released The Solution, a duo …

The inimitable Brownsville representer Sean P gives us a rundown of his long-awaited album, Mic Tyson.

See http://theciphershow.com/episode/23/ for full show notes and comments.

This episode, we sit down with the fantastic Styles P. Best known for his work with The Lox and D-Block, Styles has been mixing street content (not for nothing is his latest album called The World’s …

This week, we talk to a man of many names. Deric Angelettie is best known for his work with Bad Boy Records’ production squad The Hitmen, who took over the radio in the mid-90’s. In addition to produ…

This week, we talk to two of our favorites here on Outside the Lines, Pharoahe Monch and Jean Grae, about their exciting new projects. We start with a song-by-song preview of Pharoahe’s upcoming new …

This week, we bring you a very special talk with Abiodun Oyewole of The Last Poets. We chatted with him about his extensive and fascinating life and work. We’re very proud to bring you this incredibl…

This week, we talk to a true Brooklyn original, Skyzoo, on the occasion of the release of his new album, A Dream Deferred. We chat with him about his new record, Bill Cosby, that time he met Total, t…

This week, we talk to the incredible poet, emcee, actor, and musician Saul Williams. Williams, who had been an emcee since his teenage years, first rose to prominence on the slam poetry circuit, winn…

This week, we sit down with Brother Ali. Ali, whose new album Mourning in America and Dreaming in Color comes out this week, has long been one of our favorite artists. His fantastic rhyming skills ar…

This week, we talk to one of the foremost thinkers in hip-hop, Professor Tricia Rose. Rose, who teaches at Brown University, is the author of two seminal books about rap. The first, Black Noise: Rap …

This week, we talk to two new and exciting artists. In the first half of the show, we sit down with Kid Static, an exciting rapper who mixes hip-hop with electronic sounds to create a blend all his o…