Stay ConnectedThe Almanac of Rap is a two-time Webby Award-winning show that examines trends in hip hop and their impact over time…and it’s way more fun than that description makes it sound. Each week, our host Donwill asks a question, presents a theory and finds a guest to come to some sort of consensus about it. Simply put, it’s a show about rap, by a rapper who loves rap music.
If you’re new to the Almanac, start here!
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Grammy-winning producer and Outkast dj, Mr. DJ shares his journey from discovering djing in Texas to becoming a key figure in Atlanta's hip hop scene. This week on the Almanac of Rap, he and Donwill discuss his early work with Organized Noise, his role in producing iconic Outkast tracks like "Miss Jackson" and "B.O.B.", and the formation of Earth Tone 3. Mr. DJ shares the evolution of Outkast's sound, the cultural significance of Southern hip hop, and the influence of the Dungeon Family, including Rico Wade. He also reflects on the challenges of gaining respect for Southern artists and the creative process behind landmark songs such as "Bombs Over Baghdad." Mr. DJ breaks down:
Outkast getting booed at The Source Awards and Andre 3000’s iconic line “The South got something to say”
The significance of his cousin, Rico Wade, founder of the Dungeon Family
His recent venture as a solo artist with the album "Beats, Vibes, and Verses," featuring collaborations with artists like Big K.R.I.T. and Killer Mike.
🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an episode!🎙️
Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.
Substack: New Music Tuesdays
Instagram/Threads: @donwill
Mixcloud: Donwill
Website: Donwill.me
Follow Mr. DJ:
Instagram: iammrdj
Caddillife: ffm.to
Web: https://iammrdj.com/
Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In today’s Almanac of Rap minisode, Donwill takes a moment in between tour stops to ask listeners what albums (or artists) are CRIMINALLY UNDERRATED. Who did we miss? Join the conversation by calling 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455).
You got a burning hip hop question? A comment about a past episode? A gushing compliment that you didn’t want to leave on the Youtube channel? Call us up and leave a message!And make sure to leave your name because we just might use your message on a future episode.
Next topic: ☎️ Who are your favorite women in hip hop??! Call Donwill and tell him your favorite groups, albums, performances and contributors to the culture.
Also, he's still on tour with Michelle Buteau and if you see your city you can get tickets here.
Apr 24 - Kansas City - Midland Theatre w/ Michelle Buteau
Apr 25 - St. Louis - The Pageant w/ Michelle Buteau
May 1 - Oakland - Fox Theater w/ Michelle Buteau
May 6 - Los Angeles - Dolby Theater w/ Michelle Buteau
May 8 - Las Vegas - The Palazzo Theater w/ Michelle Buteau
May 15 - Atlanta - Tabernacle w/ Michelle Buteau
May 16 - New York City - The Beacon Theater w/ Michelle Buteau
May 17 - New York City - The Beacon Theater w/ Michelle Buteau
Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.
Substack: New Music Tuesdays
Instagram/Threads: @donwill
Mixcloud: Donwill
Website: Donwill.me
Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an episode!🎙️
What happens when a legendary MC takes hip-hop from the booth to the stage?
This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Masta Ace to explore the intersection of hip-hop and musical theater and what it takes to bring rap storytelling to Broadway.
From his days in the Juice Crew to building a decades-long career as one of rap’s most respected lyricists, Masta Ace reflects on longevity, reinvention, and why he still feels like he has something to prove. Masta Ace discusses:
His ambitious adaptation of The Falling Season into a stage play
Unpacking the creative process, the discipline of rewriting, and how rap lyrics must evolve when they’re used to push a narrative forward on stage.
Plus: a deep dive into hip-hop musicals from Hamilton to underground theater and why Broadway is still catching up to the culture.
Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.
Substack: New Music Tuesdays
Instagram/Threads: @donwill
Mixcloud: Donwill
Website: Donwill.me
Follow Masta Ace:
Instagram: mastaacepics
Facebook: Masta Ace
Web: www.mastaace.com
Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an episode!🎙️
Few sounds in hip-hop are as poignant, or as influential, as the gritty production that came out of Queensbridge in the ‘90s. This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Havoc, producer, rapper, and one half of Mobb Deep, to break down the sonic blueprint that helped define East Coast hip-hop.
From crafting signature beats behind classics like The Infamous to shaping the identity of Queensbridge rap alongside Prodigy, Havoc reflects on his production style, creative process, and the raw realities that informed their music. The conversation dives into sampling, drum programming, and how limitation often led to innovation in early hip-hop production. Havoc breaks down:
Legacy, longevity, and how the Mobb Deep sound continues to influence generations of producers and artists today from underground purists to mainstream trap.
The making of Mobb Deep’s signature dark sound.
Havoc’s production techniques and sampling approach.
Producers rappers that he would solicit beats vs rhymes from today.
Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.
Substack: New Music Tuesdays
Instagram/Threads: @donwill
Mixcloud: Donwill
Website: Donwill.me
Follow Havoc:
Instagram: mobbdeephavoc
Linktr.ee: Havoc
Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide. Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Religion has always had a place in hip-hop, from ‘god-body’ flows to references of the “third eye” and quoting Surahs; but what happens when you sit down with an actual Buddhist rapper?
This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill is joined by rapper, author, and practitioner Born I to explore the long-standing (and often misunderstood) relationship between Buddhism and hip-hop culture. From references to “Buddha” in rap lyrics to deeper conversations around mindfulness, suffering, and self-compassion, this episode separates fact from folklore. Born I will break down:
Key Buddhist concepts like the Four Noble Truths, Dharma, and mantras
His own journey navigating hip-hop, electronic music, and spiritual practice
How artists use music as testimony, how hooks can function like mantras, and why hip-hop’s connection to Buddhism runs deeper than weed references and fashion logos.
Plus, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, and Childish Gambino lyrics get put under the microscope…are they actually tapping into Buddhist philosophy, or just vibing? (You be the judge.)
Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.
Substack: New Music Tuesdays
Instagram/Threads: @donwill
Mixcloud: Donwill
Website: Donwill.me
Follow Born I
Instagram: bornimusic
Web: bornimusic.com
Soundcloud: bornimusic
Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide. Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill is joined by hip-hop legend Bun B for a deep conversation on the evolution of Southern rap, the cultural impact of UGK, and how Texas carved out its own lane in hip-hop history. From Port Arthur to global stages, Bun B reflects on building UGK alongside Pimp C, navigating regional bias in the early days of hip-hop, and the slow but undeniable rise of the South to dominance. The conversation explores how independent hustle, local scenes, and sonic innovation helped Southern artists shift the industry’s center of gravity. Bun B breaks down:
How UGK helped define the Southern rap sound
The South’s fight for respect in early hip-hop
Texas rap culture and independent grind
Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.
Substack: New Music Tuesdays
Instagram/Threads: @donwill
Mixcloud: Donwill
Website: Donwill.me
Follow Bun B
Instagram: bunb
Tik Tok: bun_b1
Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide. Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
📢 Special Announcement 📢
Want to join Donwill for a live recording of The Almanac of Rap in NYC?
Click here to request an invite. (Limited capacity. Invite only.)
On Air Fest, Soho House, and Okayplayer have joined forces for a special live episode of the Almanac of Rap featuring Regan Sommer McCoy, Chief Curator of the Mixtape Museum on March 24, 2026 at 5:30pm.
Join Donwill and Regan at Ludlow House NYC for a conversation on hip-hop preservation, archival storytelling, and the hidden science behind mixtape culture.
📢 ### 📢
Juno Award-winning Canadian rapper and broadcaster Shad joins Donwill for a long-overdue conversation that spans music, media, and creative growth. From freestyling in London, Ontario to winning a Juno Award over Drake, Shad reflects on carving out a career in a country with a very different hip-hop ecosystem. Shad breaks down:
His journey from freestyling in London to becoming a Juno Award-winning artist, and beating Drake in the process.
Your Boy Tony Braxton and why artists should never “disrespect the music”
Hosting Hip-Hop Evolution and interviewing icons like Dolly Parton and Norm Macdonald
Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.
Substack: New Music Tuesdays
Instagram/Threads: @donwill
Mixcloud: Donwill
Website: Donwill.me
Follow Shad
Instagram: @shadkmusic
Web: shadk.com
Music: K.I.S.S. + Islands
Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide. Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with 9th Wonder, Grammy-winning producer, Jamla Records founder, Little Brother co-founder, and college professor, alongside rising North Carolina MC Reuben Vincent, one of the sharpest young lyricists in the game. Together they unpack:
The legacy of North Carolina hip-hop9th Wonder’s journey from producer to professor
Discovering Reuben Vincent at just 13 years old
Why using your government name in rap is basically a skill badge
Jamla Records and artist development in the streaming era
Education, mentorship, and preserving hip-hop history
How the internet changed artist relationships foreverThe making of their joint album Welcome Home
Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.
Substack: New Music Tuesdays
Instagram/Threads: @donwill
Mixcloud: Donwill
Website: Donwill.me
Follow 9th Wonder:
Instagram: @9thwonder
Twitter/X: @9thwonder
Jamla Records: @jamlarecords
Follow Reuben Vincent:
Instagram: @reubenvincent
YouTube: @reubenvincent
Album: Welcome Home
Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide. Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What does a beat sound like when it… sounds expensive? In this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with legendary Seattle producer Jake One, the mind behind records for MF DOOM, Freddie Gibbs, Rick Ross, J. Cole, Freeway, Snoop Dogg, Brother Ali, Tuxedo, and even the iconic John Cena theme. Together they unpack one of the most important shifts in modern hip-hop production: the rise of type beats. Jake One breaks down:
What “type beats” actually are and how they changed the music economy
The BeatStars marketplace and the viral story behind Old Town Road
The difference between analog era producers and FruityLoops generation producers
Speed-running beats, drum kits, and the gamification of music production
Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.
Substack: New Music Tuesdays
Instagram/Threads: @donwill
Mixcloud: Donwill
Website: Donwill.me
Follow Jake One:
Instagram: jakeuno
Web: snarejordan.com
Bancamp: Jake One
Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide. Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What do the Cupid Shuffle, Electric Slide, Cha Cha Slide, Swag Surf, and The Wobble all have in common? They move the culture. In this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Cupid, six-time platinum recording artist, Guinness World Record holder, and officially proclaimed “Line Dance King of the World.” If you’ve ever heard “Down, down, do your dance…” at a wedding, cookout, HBCU homecoming, or kickback, this one’s for you.From selling CDs out of his trunk in Louisiana to global tours across Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Djibouti, and beyond, Cupid breaks down:
The origin story of the Cupid Shuffle
Line dance beef (yes, it’s real)
Why drill music needs a line dance
Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.
Substack: New Music Tuesdays
Instagram/Threads: @donwill
Mixcloud: Donwill
Website: Donwill.me
Follow Cupid:
Instagram: @officialnewcupid
TikTok: @officialnewcupid
Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide. Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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