The Opus

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Hip-Hop 50: The Score - Fugees In the Basement Aug 04, 2023

Show notes

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, we’re opening up The Opus podcast archives to re-release seasons focused on some of history's most legendary rap albums. First up, we revisit Fugees’ classic The Score, which comes in at number 15 on Consequence’s list of the 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time. You can see the full list on Consequence, and there will be loads of artist interviews, essays, and more coming throughout the month, so make sure to check it all out at Consequence.net.

You can also snag some of our exclusive Hip-Hop 50 merch at the Consequence Shop.

Here on The Opus, we’ll also be re-releasing our season about Cypress Hill’s self-titled record, so make sure to check back every Wednesday and Friday for fresh episodes from the archives.

Instead of returning to the studio with outside producers, the Fugees took their $150k advance from Ruffhouse Records and ventured off to … the basement. Specifically, the Booga Basement in East Orange, NJ, where Wyclef Jean’s uncle and his cousin Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis lived.

Booga, along with The Dungeon in Atlanta (where OutKast cut their debut), were two of the most successful underground studios in the game circa the mid-90s. These locales came with a productive, family vibe and endless head bobs to judge the quality of work.

In this episode, host Jill Hopkins speaks to producer Jerry Wonda about building a studio and a sound that would continue the tradition of great New Jersey hip-hop. They also discuss why this kind of DIY ethos is so important to groups in the process of defining their sounds.

Also heading into the basement are special guests Chris Schwartz and Joe Nicolo of Ruffhouse Records, in addition to MTV’s Dometi Pongo and Genius executive editor Insanul Ahmed.

Original music by Tony Piazza.

Don't forget to enter our giveaway to win a Fugees prize pack, which includes vinyl, a turntable, and headphones. (Note: If you’re having trouble seeing the widget, enter here.)

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Hip-Hop 50: The Score - Fugees at the Crossroads Aug 02, 2023

Show notes

You can also snag some of our exclusive Hip-Hop 50 merch at the Consequence Shop.

Here on The Opus, we’ll also be re-releasing our season about Cypress Hill’s self-titled record, so make sure to check back every Wednesday and Friday for fresh episodes from the archives.

In the Season 13 premiere, we’ll find out what it took for a group in its own artistic and personal transition to find their place at the top of the charts and on the Grammy stage as the biggest hip-hop act of 1996.

Hip-hop had considerably changed from when the Fugees started recording their first album in 1992 to just three years later when they began working on their second effort. The “Golden Age'' was coming to a close, and the genre was at a crossroads.

So were the Fugees, though. Coming off their critically and commercially divisive first album, 1994's Blunted on Reality, the New Jersey trio of Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, and Pras Michel were similarly looking to reinvent themselves

Join host Jill Hopkins as she dials the clock back to the mid-'90s alongside producer Jerry Wonda, Ruffhouse Records co-founders Chris Schwartz and Joe Nicolo, and rapper Psalm One.

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The Legacy of Billy's The Stranger Lives on at Madison Square Garden Jan 12, 2023

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While Billy Joel’s last studio album was released on August 10th, 1993, it was The Strangerthat catapulted him to the iconic, internationally renowned venue he is happy to call home: Madison Square Garden. He first played there in 1978 and has since played there a record-shattering 133 times. Playing MSG is an accomplishment for any artist, but Joel's legacy includes selling out the iconic venue every month since 2014 -- and that's just part of what makes Billy Joel such a legend.

On Episode 4 of The Opus: The Stranger, we close out the season by taking a look at what came next for Joel after The Stranger: his incredible 50+ year career, his history-making residency at Madison Square Garden, and the enormous impact he’s had on his fellow musicians.

Presented by Consequence Podcast Network and Sony Legacy, host Adam Unze speaks with Regina Spektor, Ben Folds, Bayside's Anthony Raneri, Rozzi, The Arkells' Anthony Carone, Billy Joel's biographer Fred Schruers, Ken Weinstein, and Andrew McMahon and the Wilderness

Keep up to date with what's next from The Opus by liking, reviewing, and subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. You can also stream and download The Stranger here, and relive Joel's 1990 concerts at Yankee Stadium with the recently released Live at Yankee Stadium. To catch a more modern Joel concert -- including his co-headlining tour with Stevie Nicks -- get tickets here.

Fans of The Opus can show their love with an official Opus hoodie or T-Shirt, available now at the Consequence Shop.

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Billy Joel's The Stranger Plays Like a Greatest Hits Album: The Opus Jan 05, 2023

Show notes

Many classic albums have their share of hits, but Billy Joel’s The Stranger is simply full of them. How did this happen in just about three weeks? The truth is none of the songs' paths overlapped and truths are often stranger than fiction. On Episode 3 of The Opus: The Stranger, we explore each of these classic tunes to discover what made them such lasting contributions to American music.

Presented by Consequence Podcast Network and Sony Legacy, this new episode digs into six of the album's classics with the help of archival interviews from the Billy Joel and producer Phil Ramone, plus host Adam Unze speaks with Regina Spektor, Ben Folds, Bayside's Anthony Raneri, The Arkells' Anthony Carone, and Andrew McMahon and the Wilderness

You can keep up with the rest of Season 19 by liking, reviewing, and subscribing to The Opus wherever you get your podcasts. You can also stream and download The Stranger here, and relive Joel's 1990 concerts at Yankee Stadium with the recently released Live at Yankee Stadium. To catch a more modern Joel concert -- including his co-headlining tour with Stevie Nicks -- get tickets here.

Fans of The Opus can show their love with an official Opus hoodie or T-Shirt, available now at the Consequence Shop.

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Billy Joel and Producer Phil Ramone Captured Collaborative Magic on The Stranger Dec 29, 2022

Show notes

The Stranger wasn't only Billy Joel’s critical breakthrough, but it was the start of a decade-long creative partnership with producer Phil Ramone. Together, the two created some of the most lasting songs in music, and it all began with those first sessions in the summer of 1977.

Joel had a specific vision for what would be his fifth studio album, and that meant finding the right person to work the boards. It wasn't until Ramone -- known then for hits like "It's My Party" in the '60s and working with Paul Simon in the '70s -- expressed his enthusiasm for working with Joel's touring band that the Piano Man knew he'd found his producer.

Together, they captured the energy of a Billy Joel concert on tape, with Joel's band pounding away live in studio (leading to utterly in-the-room sound leakage). Add in Ramone's innovative recording techniques, and they were able to fully realize the sound that had always been in Joel's head. It was a collaborative environment that allowed the best of everyone to come out and led to one of the best albums in the history of music.

Presented by Consequence Podcast Network and Sony Legacy, Episode 2 of The Opus: The Stranger explores how working with Ramone allowed Joel to ascend to a new level of legend. In addition to archival interviews from the two icons, host Adam Unze speaks with Ben Folds, Joel's drummer Liberty DeVito, Arkells' Max Kerman, Andrew McMahon and the Wilderness, and Rozzie.

Keep up with the rest of Season 19 by liking, reviewing, and subscribing to The Opus wherever you get your podcasts. You can also stream or download The Stranger here, and check out the recently released Live at Yankee Stadium, capturing Joel’s 1990 two-night stand at famed stadium.

Fans of The Opus can show their love with an official Opus hoodie or T-Shirt, available now at the Consequence Shop. Snag tickets to Joel's upcoming concerts, including a 2023 co-headlining tour with Stevie Nicks, here.

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Billy Joel Reintroduced Himself to the World with The Stranger Dec 22, 2022

Show notes

The Stranger was Billy Joel's fifth album, but in some ways, it felt like his debut because it’s the album that catapulted him to superstardom. Before its release, he’d had a radio hit with "Piano Man," but his genius was hampered by a string of overly slick producers who didn’t connect with his musical vision. But all that started to change leading up to The Stranger. With no hits to his name, his own wife as a manager, and a refusal to work with big-name producers, Joel finally had a chance to make an album on his own terms. Then came a performance at Carnegie Hall, and soon after, a meeting with Phil Ramone, the producer that finally understood what Billy was trying to do. With Joel's insistence on bringing his touring band into the studio and Ramone on his side, The Stranger finally began falling into place.

On Episode 1 of The Opus: Billy Joel's the Stranger, host Adam Unze takes a look at the groundwork for what was to come, going through the history of Billy Joel's first four records to his landmark performances at Carnegie Hall, meeting Phil Ramone, and finally finding a recording process that gave him creative freedom and the ability to capture the magic of his live band. On this debut episode, you'll hear archival interviews with Billy Joel and mega-producer Phil Ramone, plus a fresh discussion with Joel's long-time drummer Liberty Devitto,

Please and make sure to like, review, and subscribe to The Opus wherever you get your podcasts for updates on the new season from Consequence Podcast Network and Sony Legacy.

For more from Billy Joel, stream or download the The Stranger here, and also check out the recently released Live at Yankee Stadium, capturing Joel’s 1990 two-night stand at the iconic venue. You can also snag tickets to Joel's upcoming concerts, including a 2023 co-headlining tour with Stevie Nicks, here.

Fans of The Opus podcast can also pick up an official Opus hoodie or T-Shirt at the Consequence Shop

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The Opus: Billy Joel's The Stranger is Coming Soon Dec 08, 2022

Show notes

The Opus returns this holiday season with a true gift for music fans. Season 19 of the hit music history podcast from Consequence Podcast Network and Sony Legacy is set to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the album that made Billy Joel a world renowned star: The Stranger.

The new season premieres on Thursday, December 22nd, with new episodes of the four-part season arriving every Thursday after that, concluding with Episode 4 on January 12th, 2023.

To keep up with The Opus: The Stranger, subscribe now to be notified when each new episode drops, and also revisit our 18-season archive. Also pick up an official Opus hoodie or T-Shirt at the ConsequenceShop.

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The Legacy of Alice in Chains' Dirt Spans Generations Oct 27, 2022

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To close out this season of The Opuspodcast, we explore how all the reasons Alice in Chains’ Dirt is considered such a classic album -- its place in the '90s Seattle scene, unique sonics, deeply personal lyrics. -- have folded into a lasting legacy for this iconic collection that continues to impact music to this day.

As the ‘90s grunge bubble burst, a new crop of bands emerged wearing their Dirt love on their sleeves. The Seattle sound gave birth to alt-rock radio, but AIC’s harder edge continued to have a presence across the charts. The band's influence can be heard throughout the rock sub-genres that have appeared over the last 30 years and in the generations of musicians that has followed. Acts as disparate as Godsmack and Alter Bridge have cited Dirt as a major inspiration, cementing its place as one rock’s most important albums.

It takes a special kind of magic to maintain that hold on the cultural conversation, and it's that legacy that we explore on the season finale of The Opus: Alice in Chains' Dirt. Joining host Adam Unze in this discussion of AIC's lasting influence on the charts and their fellow musicians are Mastodon's Bill Kelliher, Anthrax's Charlie Benante, City and Colour's Dallas Green, Alter Bridges' Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti, Tetrarch's Diamond Rowe, and GOON's Kenny Becker.

Listen to the final episode of this season of The Opus now wherever you get your podcasts. For updates on the next season of the podcast, make sure to like and subscribe to the show, and drop a review if you liked our deep dive into Dirt.

Be sure to check out the Consequence Podcast Network for information on all our shows, and snag an official Opus hoodie or T-shirt at the Consequence Shop or via the buy-now buttons below. You can also grab a copy of Dirt in physical and digital formats here.

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Alice in Chains’ Dirt Is a Work of Dark, Personal Lyrical Genius: The Opus Oct 20, 2022

Show notes

This season on The Opus: Alice in Chains' Dirt, we've looked at how the band went against the grain of the Seattle scene and how they set themselves apart with their unique compositional approach. Now we peel back perhaps the most powerful layer of, Dirt: its dark, personal lyricism.

Alice in Chains’ Layne Stayley and Jerry Cantrell packed Dirt with deeply personal lyrics full of emotional weight. The lyrics read like journal entries, telling stories about the horrors of war, mental health struggles, intra-band conflict, and other heavy topics. And yet the songs' confessional poetry leaves ample room for interpretation, allowing fans to reexamine the words as they bend the meanings to reflect events in their own lives.

In Episode 3 of The Opus: Dirt, we deconstruct the lyrical genius of Dirt, discovering the ways in which the songwriters channeled their most private struggles into their very public lyrics. Joining host Adam Unze this week are Alter Bridge's Myles Kennedy and Mark Tremonti, Papa Roach's Jacoby Shaddix, Dallas Green of City and Colour, Anthrax's Charlie Benante, and Airbourne's Joel O'Keeffe.

Listen to this episode now, and don't forget to like and review The Opus and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to be notified of each new episode of Season 18. Make sure to check out the Consequence Podcast Network for information on all our shows.

Fans of The Opus can also pick up an official Opus hoodie or T-shirt at the Consequence Shop.

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How Alice in Chains' Sonic Alchemy Led to the Unique Sounds of Dirt: The Opus Oct 13, 2022

Show notes

When you think of the Seattle Sound, certain sonic hallmarks likely come to mind. As we explore in Episode 2 of The Opus: Dirt, however, Alice in Chains occupied a unique space in this musical landscape.

The band didn't ease its fans into the sound of Dirt. The opening notes of "Them Bones" jolt you directly into an aggressive energy and there’s barely room to catch your breath over the length of the LP. But at the heart of this sensory assault lies an intricate web of virtuoso musicianship and dynamic vocal harmonies. The chunky, muscular guitar riffs and multi-layered vocals created a sound that spurred a generation of imitators.

On this episode of the music history podcast The Opus: Alice in Chains' Dirt, host Adam Unze dives into the unique backstory of the album's composition and discovers why its particular musical alchemy set it apart from the other monster hits of the grunge scene. Joining him on the journey are Baroness' Gina Gleason, Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, City and Colour musician Dallas Green, Layne Ulrich of Taipei Houston (and son of Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich), and Goon's Kenny Becker and Andy Polito.

Don't forget to like, review, and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts to be notified of each new episode of Season 18. Also, check out the Consequence Podcast Network for information on all our shows.

Fans of The Opus can also pick up an official Opus hoodie or T-shirt at the Consequence Shop.

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