The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast with special guest Spade Morningstar

In this episode of The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast, we sit down with East Cleveland artist, thinker, and creative force Spade Morningstar for a conversation that moves beyond music into questions of identity, culture, freedom, resilience, and self-definition.

Drawing from his experiences growing up in the foster care system, Spade reflects on the lessons that shaped his worldview and artistic philosophy. Together, we explore the relationship between hip-hop and Black culture, the importance of self-love and confidence, the role of authenticity in creative work, and why hip-hop is much more than a musical genre—it is a living archive of Black artistic expression.

Throughout the conversation, Spade offers thoughtful insights on the five pillars of hip-hop, cultural memory, freedom, survival, and the power of embracing oneself without apology. This episode is a powerful reminder that hip-hop is not only something we listen to—it is something we live.

Whether you're a fan of hip-hop culture, Black studies, music history, or simply great conversations, this episode offers a thought-provoking look at the ideas and experiences that continue to shape the culture.

Listen to Spade Morningstar:

Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/spademorningstarmusic/

TikTok:
@spademorningstarmusic

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3lvw9y5Ts6wLZ7R6cgF6WT

Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/spade-morningstar/1516037216

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The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast with special guest J. Phin.

In this powerful conversation, Melanie, The Hip-Hop Scholar, sits down with recording artist, storyteller, father, and community advocate J. Phin to discuss hip-hop, legacy, family, scholarship, and the responsibility of preserving culture through music.

J. Phin reflects on growing up in a music-centered household, being raised among hundreds of vinyl records, and inheriting a rich tradition of storytelling from his family. Together, they explore the connections between African musical traditions and hip-hop culture, the role of the griot in preserving community history, and why hip-hop deserves the same academic recognition afforded to jazz and other Black musical forms.

The conversation also highlights J. Phin's latest work, including The Field Diaries and the powerful Father's Day anthem Forever Legacy, a unique three-generation collaboration featuring his father and his sons. Throughout the interview, J. Phin shares insights on fatherhood, independent artistry, entrepreneurship, cultural preservation, and what it means to build a legacy that extends beyond music.

Whether you're a student of hip-hop, a lover of music, a parent, an artist, or someone interested in culture, history, and community, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

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The Hip-Hop Scholar podcast with special guest Alright SlashI had the opportunity to sit down with producer, songwriter, and artist Alright Slash for a conversation centered around Bounce music, culture, creativity, movement, and the continued evolution of New Orleans hip-hop.Even in this first part of the conversation, we get into the importance of regional sound, independent artistry, production, and the ways Bounce music continues to shape hip-hop culture far beyond Louisiana.Bounce has always been bigger than music. It is rhythm connected to lived experience. It is participation. Community. Energy. Identity. A cultural form that allows people to be seen, heard, and fully present in the moment.And this conversation reflects that spirit.Knowledge. Wisdom. Rhythm. Culture. Scholarship.Welcome back to The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast where beats meet bibliographies and sound becomes scholarship.#HipHopScholar #BounceMusic #NewOrleans #HipHopCulture #AlrightSlash #Podcast #SouthernHipHop #NOLABounce #BlackCulture #HipHopScholarPodcast@alrightslash

The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast with special guest Boxx da Hungry Genius

Welcome back to The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast where beats meet bibliographies and sound becomes scholarship.

In this episode, Melanie, The Hip-Hop Scholar sits down with Boxx da Hungry Genius, recording artist, entrepreneur, and CEO out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a powerful conversation about independence, discipline, and the mindset it takes to build something real in the music industry.

Known on Instagram as @boxx_hungry, Boxx represents a rare combination in hip-hop. He is an artist who values both the pen and the paperwork. Lyrically sharp and strategically minded, he has spent years developing not only as a rapper but also as a student of the music business.

In this conversation, Boxx shares the story behind the name Hungry Genius and how a pivotal moment early in his journey changed his direction. A mentor once told him that many talented lyricists never make it in the industry because they focus so much on perfecting their bars that they never take time to understand the business behind the music.

Instead of being discouraged, Boxx took that advice as a challenge.

He began studying publishing, royalties, and artist contracts, reading Donald S. Passman’s All You Need to Know About the Music Business and learning from the stories of artists who were taken advantage of because they did not understand the industry.

That education eventually led to the creation of Hungry Boy Records, the independent label he built from the ground up. By signing himself and committing fully to independence, Boxx stepped into the role of CEO and began building his career on his own terms.

You can hear that intentionality in the music. His sound reflects the Southern hip-hop tradition with grounded delivery, storytelling, and authenticity. Records like “Blame It On The DJ” capture that live Southern energy while still showcasing the personality behind the artist.

Boxx is also a Louisiana Creative Musician Award winner, recognizing the years of consistency and dedication he has given to his craft.

At its core, this episode is about mindset. The discipline to stay hungry. The willingness to educate yourself. The courage to bet on your own vision.

Because being a Hungry Genius is not just a name.

It is a philosophy.

Tap in to hear the full conversation.

🎧 https://linktr.ee/BoxxTheHungryGenius?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

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The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast with Special Guest Yo Girl Mel 504

On this episode of The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast, we take it straight to the 504 for a powerful conversation with New Orleans Bounce Queen Yo Girl Mel 504, an artist proudly carrying one of hip-hop’s most energetic and culturally rich traditions.

Bounce music is not just a sound. It is movement. It is rhythm. It is call and response. It is neighborhoods, block parties, second lines, car speakers, and dance floors where the entire room moves before the first verse even begins. Long before social media dances and viral challenges, New Orleans was already building a culture around rhythm and community, and Bounce became one of the most distinctive regional expressions in hip-hop.

In this conversation, Yo Girl Mel 504 shares her journey growing up in New Orleans and discovering Bounce music at a young age through her older brother’s CD collection. What started as curiosity quickly turned into a deep connection with the music that surrounded her city. As she learned more about the culture, she realized Bounce was not only party music—it was a language of the streets, a way of documenting life in New Orleans.

Mel explains how she brings that tradition into her own work by remixing familiar songs and transforming them into something unmistakably New Orleans. From street names to local events, her music carries references that people from the city immediately recognize. It is that authenticity that keeps Bounce connected to the communities that created it.

We also talk about representation in hip-hop and how artists across the country proudly shout out the places that shaped them—from boroughs in New York to wards and neighborhoods across New Orleans. That local pride is one of the foundations of hip-hop culture, and Bounce music captures it in a way that is uniquely Southern.

This episode celebrates the legacy, the culture, and the future of Bounce music, while giving flowers to an artist who continues to represent the sound with pride and authenticity.

If you love hip-hop history, regional sounds, and conversations that highlight the people who keep the culture alive, this is an episode you do not want to miss.

#HipHopScholar #BounceMusic #NewOrleansBounce #504Music #YoGirlMel504 #HipHopCulture #SouthernHipHop #Podcast

Follow Yo Girl Mel here:

https://linktr.ee/yogirlmel504

The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast with special guest Wiz Kelly

On this episode of The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast, we dive deep into the mind of Wiz Kelly—producer, artist, and engineer—an artist who approaches music with intention, discipline, and a deep respect for the craft.

In this powerful conversation, Wiz Kelly breaks down the philosophy behind his creative process, from building soundscapes that transport listeners into entire worlds to designing concept albums that make audiences feel the music before they even process the lyrics. We explore how personality, lived experience, and personal insight shape authentic artistry, and why understanding yourself as a creator is essential to producing meaningful work.

Wiz Kelly also reflects on the role of production, storytelling, and sonic architecture in shaping the emotional experience of an album. Whether it’s constructing immersive environments like the jungle-inspired atmosphere of Natural Selection or programming the listener’s journey through carefully layered sounds, his work demonstrates how intentional artistry can transform music into an experience.

This episode is about craft.
It’s about discipline.
It’s about the science and soul of Hip-Hop creation.

Tap in and experience the conversation.

🎧 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-518960936
🔗 More from Wiz Kelly: https://linktr.ee/RealWizKelly

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The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast with Special Guest Solfull Poetry

In this powerful episode of The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast, Melanie, The Hip-Hop Scholar, sits down with Detroit poet Solfull Poetry for a thoughtful and inspiring conversation about craft, culture, and the power of language.

This episode explores the deep connection between hip-hop and spoken word poetry, tracing how storytelling, rhythm, and lyrical expression shape both art forms. Solfull Poetry shares how artists like Nas, Jay-Z, Andre 3000, and Black Thought influenced his understanding of storytelling and helped shape his journey from rapper to poet.

Throughout the conversation, Solfull discusses his creative process, the importance of simply pouring your thoughts onto the page, and how jazz legends like John Coltrane and Miles Davis influence the sonic and emotional atmosphere of his poetry. He also shares his vision for poetry as a full sensory experience, one that should feel immersive, almost like an IMAX moment where the listener becomes fully present inside the poem.

The discussion also moves into deeper cultural territory as Solfull explains the inspiration behind one of his most thought-provoking pieces connecting Black Girl Magic, Henrietta Lacks, and The Da Vinci Code, revealing how poetry can illuminate overlooked histories and powerful truths.

In one of the most inspiring moments of the interview, Solfull reflects on the reality that success is not linear and shares the discipline and strategy behind building a creative career. He reminds listeners that the path to success may not always look glamorous, but dedication and belief in one's vision are essential.

The episode closes with a powerful conversation about the current renaissance of poetry, where spoken word artists are reaching new heights, winning major awards, appearing in museums, and expanding the influence of poetry across entertainment and culture. According to Solfull, we are witnessing the beginning of what he calls The Year of the Poet.

One of Melanie's goals as The Hip-Hop Scholar is to give artists their flowers while they are here to smell them. This episode honors Solfull Poetry's voice, dedication, and contribution to the art of poetry and storytelling.

This is a conversation about language, creativity, discipline, and the future of poetry.

Where beats meet bibliography.

Follow Solfull Poetry's journey:
https://www.instagram.com/itsloverelated/

Support all things Solfull Poetry:
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Follow Solfull Poetry on Instagram:
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The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast with Special Guest Dr. A.D. Carson

In this powerful and deeply thoughtful conversation, I sit down with Dr. A.D. Carson, Associate Professor of Hip-Hop at the University of Virginia, to explore the intellectual, cultural, and ancestral dimensions of hip-hop.

Dr. Carson shares how his love for hip-hop is not something that began at a specific moment, but something he describes as inherited. In one of the most poetic reflections of the interview, he explains that asking when he fell in love with hip-hop is like asking when he realized he loved his mother, his grandmother, or the ancestors who came before him. Hip-hop, in his words, is familial. It is ancestral. It is a living inheritance.

Throughout this discussion we examine how hip-hop functions not only as music but as language, scholarship, and cultural archive. Dr. Carson reflects on childhood rap battles with his siblings, fighting over the television between Jeopardy and Rap City, and the early moments when teachers recognized his gift for turning writing into rhythm and poetry. Those early experiences helped shape a path that would eventually bridge hip-hop culture with academic scholarship.

We also explore what it means to hold the title Associate Professor of Hip-Hop and how institutions sometimes struggle to understand the culture they attempt to study. Dr. Carson offers a powerful analogy of hip-hop as a house. Guests may be invited in, but they are not entitled to rearrange the furniture or claim ownership of the space. His perspective challenges the ways platforms and institutions sometimes attempt to redefine or dilute the culture without respecting its origins.

The conversation moves further into questions of Blackness, authenticity, and institutional validation. Dr. Carson speaks candidly about how Black creativity is often commodified, certified, and redistributed through institutions that attempt to legitimize what already existed in the culture. His reflections remind us that authenticity cannot be manufactured and that real cultural knowledge comes from lived experience.

Finally, we discuss what he calls a renaissance of poetry. From written works to spoken word performances, poetry is reaching new audiences, appearing in museums, winning major awards, and expanding across artistic platforms. Dr. Carson argues that we are entering a period where poets will play an even larger role in shaping culture, education, and public discourse.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that hip-hop is more than music. It is scholarship. It is history. It is poetry. It is inheritance.

The Hip-Hop Scholar Podcast
Where beats meet bibliography.

Follow A.D. Carson, PhD's journey here:

https://aydeethegreat.com/interviews/

https://msha.ke/aydeethegreat