Dart Against Humanity

Tonight I tell the full story behind the rise and fall of my label Producers I Know, how I quit journalism to the become a full time label owner, A&R and creative consultant in August 2015. By November 2016, everything had gone to shit. By January 2017, I was back in Rap journalism writing Knowledge Darts for Mass Appeal. This is a story of triumph, failure and resiliency in the face of adversity...

I revisit last week's episode about Bostonian Black & Latinx erasure before launching into my latest piece for Medium's LEVEL 40 Over 40 campaign titled "The 20 Best Rap Albums by Artists Over 40". I explain my process, approach and personal philosophy when it comes to writing pieces like these plus my thoughts on LEVEL's already controversial "The 40 Best Rappers Over 40" list. I then share some upcoming anniversary pieces I'm working on. Rest in eternal peace, Malik B...

I dedicated today's episode of Dart Against Humanity to the rampant erasure Boston's Black & Latinx populations have had to endure and its many byproducts, including how we're viewed by Blacks & Latinxs outside of New England unaware that we exist or our many contributions to the culture. This episode was a long time coming. 

Last episode was called Non Stop, in this episode I decided to discuss what the aftereffects and realities of going nonstop or hustling your ass off are like. I feel that being completely transparent in this space is the only way to avoid making people in this space or field think in order to achieve success they need to do what I do. Do what works for you. 

On today's episode I rehash all of the sports I've been watching at odd hours of the night since I don't sleep, the albums I listen to while I write and research, I discuss an article I was quoted in on Pigeons & Planes by Trey Alston then I spend the rest of the episode discussing the play "Hamilton" which I just saw last week on Disney+ and my many thoughts on it. 

On today's episode of Dart Against Humanity, Dart talks about how 1985 was the year with the best & most influential coming of age/teen films of all time and even makes some bonus picks from the same year while breaking down their individual and collective impacts. 

On today's episode, Dart discusses two articles about sample sources and from earlier this weeks and highlights how beat digging/sample chasing culture has changed vastly over the years in terms of rules, etiquette and protocol plus how he had to reconcile that as an old head and as a journalist who won't cross the line and reveal certain sources himself so as not to put his DJ or producer peers at risk. Hopefully, you enjoy this episode.

On today's episode of Dart Against Humanity I discuss Eric B. & Rakim's 3rd LP and arguably their best album overall "Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em" and its significance not only in their back catalogue but its overall impact on Rap in 1990. Look for my 30th anniversary retrospective on it which will drop on June 19th, 2020. Happy Juneteenth, America.

The episode stars out with me explaining why my approach to recording and distributing the podcast changed over time then launched into me talking about Jas Fly AKA Jas Waters, a fellow journalist/writer who recently passed away so I try to cope with her passing the only way I know how. 

Today on Dart Against Humanity I discuss the recent protests & rioting initiated by police attacking peaceful protestors and the looting/property damage often initiated by those who aren't down for the cause & are just opportunists. The Blackout Tuesday/Pause The Show debacle on IG, the "This You?" phenomenon on Twitter calling out hypocrites who supposedly stand with Black people all of a sudden, my issues with stan culture in modern music journalism vs...