🔥 Welcome back to B-Side Banter! 🔥

I’m joined once again by What’s The Buzz, and this episode is PACKED with hip-hop and pop chaos. We’re breaking down 2025’s most polarizing albums — from Freddie Gibbs’ “Alfredo II” and Tyler, The Creator’s “Don’t Tap The Glass,” to Lil Wayne’s forgotten rock experiment and Playboi Carti’s bloated flop.

We also debate whether 2025 has been a career-defining year or a creative collapse for some of music’s biggest names. Did Travis Scott sabotage his own rollout to spite Pusha T? Why did Taylor Swift’s new album fall flat? And is Drake’s “Iceman” going to save his legacy?

Plus, we share our favorite albums and artist Mount Rushmores — from Gorillaz and Outkast to Jay-Z’s 4:44 and Lil Wayne’s legacy.

If you love hip-hop debates, album breakdowns, and brutally honest takes, you’re in the right place. Hit that LIKE & SUBSCRIBE button and let us know in the comments: What’s been the best (and worst) album of 2025 so far? 👀

Some collectors chase hype — others chase history.
In this episode of Pressed, I’m joined by Smitty from Smitty Soul Shack — a lifelong R&B, jazz, and soul collector — to talk about why classic records still move us in ways modern music can’t.

We dig into:

• How his grandfather’s jazz collection sparked a lifelong passion 🎷

• Why soul and R&B hit differently (hint: it’s the church roots)

• The magic of bargain-bin finds and crate-digging stories

• How vinyl collecting has changed — the good and the bad

• The story behind a mysterious Stevie Wonder note that might involve soul legend Melba Moore 👀

• Tips for new collectors, and why the secret to enjoying vinyl is simply playing the record

👉 What’s a classic record that still gives you chills every time you play it? Drop it in the comments — and don’t forget to check out Smitty’s podcast, Music is the Glue.

🌍 Welcome back to B-Side Banter! 🌍

This week I’m joined by Jakk from A1234, one of the internet’s sharpest voices on global music discovery. We dive deep into the world’s hidden music gems—everything from the “Polish Beatles” to the wild underground scene of Japanese jazz punk.

Jakk shares must-listen albums from every continent, stories of overlooked legends like Johnny Alf (the real pioneer of bossa nova) and Miriam Makeba (fighting apartheid with music), and even why Carol of the Bells was originally a Ukrainian protest song. We also explore what’s next in world music—could Italo Disco or Chinese rap shows be the next K-pop?

If you love music history, global discovery, and finding artists before they blow up, this is the episode for you.

🔥 Hit that LIKE & SUBSCRIBE button and tell us in the comments: Which country’s music scene do you want to explore next?