Music

Pop the Trunk

Everyone has a podcast, but Vinnie Paz finally has one about the thing that changed his life: Music.

“Pop the Trunk” is Vinnie’s first podcast where he’s actually going to talk about music and all the different realms it touches from pop culture to sports, movies, books…it’ll be a free-flowing conversation from his scattered brain. So, come join Vinnie , Brendan, and Billy for what’ll be an unhinged tour through a wide range of topics that all started with a career in music that is one of the more unlikely DIY success stories.

Latest Episodes:

Industry Plants: Is your favorite rapper an industry plant? Vinnie breaks down the definition | Episode 27 | Pop the Trunk Aug 19, 2026

Show notes

Vinnie and the guys tackle one of hip hop's most loaded accusations: what actually makes someone an "industry plant"? They lay out the real definition, argue over where the line is between a plant and a straightforward nepo baby, and put some names under the microscope to see who holds up.

The conversation swings from the self-made billionaire myth to Malcolm Gladwell to comedy's own version of the plant debate. Tune in for it all on Episode 27 of Pop the Trunk!

Not Your Average Joe: Joe DeRosa talks Hip Hop roots with Vinnie Paz | Episode 26 | Pop the Trunk Aug 12, 2026

Show notes

Comedian Joe DeRosa joins Vinnie and the guys for Episode 26, and the group digs into Joe's early days of hip hop — including who his "cheat code" was, the one that got him hooked on the culture in the first place. From there the conversation moves into Joe's early comedy days, the influences that shaped him, and how he found his own voice on stage. As always it wanders well beyond that too, hitting career stories, some unexpectedly honest reflection, and a run through the Five Spot questions to close it out.

Of course, Joe joins right in on the typical banter with no topic being too ridiculous.

Check out Joe’s new special, Never Promised You a Rose Garden, on Netflix.

Cult 45: Vinnie breaks down his conspiracy research Aug 05, 2026

Show notes

Episode 25 gets into where Vinnie's fascination with the occult and conspiracy theories actually started, how deep it pulled him in over the years, and how it eventually found its way into his writing. It's a rare look at the research behind the references fans have picked up on for years, told from the source. From there the conversation wanders through everything from childhood habits to internet rabbit holes and heated debates that go nowhere, plus another Dear Vin reading that goes about how you'd expect.

Behind Enemy Lines: The Making of Uncommon Valor | Episode 24 | Pop the Trunk Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

Today’s episode is a full breakdown of how "Uncommon Valor" actually got made — twenty years after it dropped, still one of the most talked-about concept records in hip hop. The making of that song, the friendship with R.A. the Rugged Man that had to exist before it could happen, and the real history and personal stakes behind the writing. Plus the usual detours you come here for.

Bronx Bombers | Jaÿ-Z’s Record Breaking Yankee Stadium Residency Jul 22, 2026

Show notes

In Loving Memory of Kristine Barlam aka “Krissy”.

Before diving into the main event, Billy has some explaining to do after coming back from a three-day meditation retreat. Then, the guys jump into Jay-Z's record-breaking Yankee Stadium residency, the surprise guests, an old beef finally squashed, and what it means for hip-hop's legacy artists getting their touring moment. Plus: Michael Bay movies, crying at Armageddon, and whether Wu-Tang can still sell out anywhere.

Pop the Trunk with Vinnie Paz streaming on all DSPs and your favorite podcast app. @popthetrunk.pod

Summer Madness | Breaking Down Hip Hop’s Greatest Summer Releases Jul 15, 2026

Show notes

Episode 22 is a summer heat wave of hip-hop history. The crew runs down the classic albums that dropped between May and September across the decades — the records that defined car windows down, block parties, and the last day of school. Expect deep cuts on why summer releases hit different, some contested "greatest ever" arguments.

Pop the Trunk with Vinnie Paz streaming on all DSPs and your favorite podcast app. @popthetrunk.pod

Assassin's Creed | Vinnie Paz Breaks Down Season of the Assassin on Its 16th Anniversary Jul 08, 2026

Show notes

The boys are back and the crew opens up talking hoops, the World Cup, and why American sports broadcasts hit different. From there it's straight into a milestone: Vinnie's debut solo album, Season of the Assassin, just passed its 16th anniversary, and the guys sit down to break down how it actually came together.

Vinnie gets into why he waited as long as he did to go solo, the uncertainty of stepping out from Stoupe and the JMT sound , and the real story of the album's original title before it became Season of the Assassin. He walks through building the record from scratch, tracking down producers he grew up idolizing, and a session at a legendary New York studio that made the whole thing feel real. They dive into how the features and production actually got picked and, sixteen years later, we get Vinnie's take on what it means to him today.

Pop the Trunk with Vinnie Paz streaming on all DSPs and your favorite podcast app. @popthetrunk.pod

KEOTB 210 | The Boots Ennis - Xander Zayas Aftermath Jul 02, 2026

Show notes

Vinnie flies solo this week to break down Jaron "Boots" Ennis's dominant, multi-knockdown stoppage of Xander Zayas that unified the 154-pound titles at the DAZN’s Barclays Center PPV.

He also covers the rest of that card (Jahi Tucker's win, a controversial Ben Whitaker stoppage loss), runs through news and notes — Usyk vacating his heavyweight belts, Floyd Mayweather's exhibition falling through amid his financial troubles, the WBC's questionable 154-pound rankings — and previews the July 4th weekend card topped by Abdullah Mason vs. Albert Bell.

Pop the Trunk presents Knock ‘Em Out the Box streaming on all DSPs and your favorite podcast app. @popthetrunk.pod

Mailbag, Maniacs, Mediums, and Mutants | Episode 20 | Pop the Trunk Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

Vinnie and Billy hold things down two-man-band style with Brendan out this week, and crack open the mailbag for a round of listener mail and recommendations — including no shortage of opinions on the top 50 list they've got cooking. They also bring back a beloved segment from Broad Street Breakdown and things get weird from there: a debate over psychics and mediums, an unexpected detour into a heavier real-world topic, and the usual cast of internet oddballs that keep this show interesting.

Pop the Trunk with Vinnie Paz streaming on all DSPs and your favorite podcast app. @popthetrunk.pod

The Boots Ennis - Xander Zayas Special | Knock ‘Em Out the Box | Episode 209 Jun 26, 2026

Show notes

Boots Ennis and Xander Zayas finally collide for two junior middleweight titles, and the boys can't wait any longer to break it all down. From the questionable promotion (thanks, Knicks playoff run and World Cup chaos) to the undercard sleepers worth watching, no angle gets left on the table — including a few overdue predictions on exactly how this one ends.

Plus: news on Joshua-Fury's bizarre venue problem, Tank Davis' next move, Floyd Mayweather's legal troubles, and a friendly wager that might leave somebody's hair a very different color by the weekend.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Pop the Trunk

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Pop the Trunk

Related Podcasts

1

2

3

4

5

6