Gems Podcast with Shom

Dante Ross joins GEMS with Shom. A legendary A&R, producer, beat digger, author, and storyteller, Dante Ross helped shape some of the most important music of hip-hop’s golden era. From De La Soul, Queen Latifah, Brand Nubian, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Busta Rhymes, MF DOOM, ODB, Everlast, Del the Funky Homosapien, Leaders of the New School, and many more, Dante’s ear, taste, and creative instincts have touched records and artists that continue to define the culture. In this conversation, Dante discusses growing up on the Lower East Side, hearing salsa, funk, soul, disco, punk, new wave, and early hip-hop in New York, and understanding how the energy of downtown New York helped shape hip-hop history. We talk about his early days in A&R, working with De La Soul, Queen Latifah, Brand Nubian, Pete Rock & CL Smooth, Busta Rhymes, MF DOOM, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and the artists who changed rap music forever. Dante also shares stories about beat digging, rare records, sample culture, producing, library records, digging in Europe and Japan, the lessons he learned from Grand Puba, Prince Paul, 45 King, Red Alert, and others, and why knowledge, taste, honesty, and being teachable still matter. We also discuss his book Son of the City, his life as a writer, storytelling, reinvention, and what it means to keep contributing to culture across different chapters of life. GEMS is a show about beat digging, records, production, and other things. Subscribe for more conversations on music, creativity, records, culture, and the deeper stories behind the DJs, producers, artists, executives, collectors, and cultural figures who shape the sound. Full episode available now.

This episode of Gems with Shom features Nashiem Myrick - legendary producer, record collector, and key member of the Hitmen super-producer collective. Also known as your favorite producer’s favorite producer.From crafting timeless records like The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Who Shot Ya,” Capone-N-Noreaga’s “T.O.N.Y.,” Lil’ Kim’s “Queen B,” and Scarface’s “My Block,” Nashiem helped shape the sound of ’90s hip-hop and R&B.Born in Jamaica, Queens, raised on a deep record collection, and forged in New York’s studios, Nashiem represents the perfect balance of ear, emotion, and engineering - a producer who could find samples, build drums, and elevate every artist he touched.🎙 We dive into:• The making of Who Shot Ya - from the Keith Murray promo to Biggie’s version• Teaching Havoc the 950 sub-bass trick that shaped Shook Ones Pt. II• Creating T.O.N.Y., Queen B, and What You Want with Total & Mase• Digging in Sound Library, A-1, and digging with Pete Rock & Large Pro• Sending Kanye the “Blood on the Leaves” through Carlos Brody• Working within the Hitmen’s collaborative system - the supergroup of sound• His relationships with other Queens hip-hop legends🌍 Featured artists & crews:Mary J. Blige | The Notorious B.I.G. | Capone-N-Noreaga | Lil’ Kim | Scarface | The LOX | Mobb Deep | Pete Rock | Q-Tip & Tribe | Large Professor | Kanye West📸 Follow: ⁠instagram.com/gems.podcast⁠🔖 Hashtags #GemsWithShom #NashiemMyrick #Hitmen #WhoShotYa #TONY #QueenB #MyBlock #MaryJBlige #MyLife #TheNotoriousBIG #LilKim #Scarface #CaponeNNoreaga #TheLOX #MobbDeep #PeteRock #LargeProfessor #KanyeWest #HipHopHistory #BeatDigging #CrateDiggers #VinylCommunity #QueensNY #ProducerLife #SampleCulture #MusicCulture #CreativeJourney #StayInspired #GemsPodcast #ClassicHipHop #KanyeWest

Bobbito Garcia, aka Kool Bob Love, joins GEMS with Shom. A legendary DJ, author, filmmaker, ballplayer, radio host, announcer, entrepreneur, and cultural storyteller, Bobbito has spent decades shaping taste across hip-hop, basketball, sneakers, records, radio, film, and New York culture. In this conversation, Bobbito discusses storytelling, authenticity, social activism, family, music, basketball, and the importance of never creatively compromising for attention, reach, or sales. We talk about his father’s record, Ray García y Su Charanga, Lord Sear’s “Alcoholic Vibes,” Gil Scott-Heron, MF DOOM, Rhymes Like Dimes, and the cultural moments that continue to ripple decades later. Ray García y Su Charanga single: https://www.fatbeats.com/products/ray-garcia-y-su-charanga-la-charanga-de-garc-a-b-w-para-ti-opaque-white-7?_pos=1&_psq=ray+gar&_psid=a8e01b827&_ss=e We also discuss Bobbito’s films Rock Rubber 45s, Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives, and Doin’ It In The Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NYC. Learn more: Rock Rubber 45s www.rockrubber45s.com Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Changed Lives www.stretchandbobbito.com Doin’ It In The Park: Pick-Up Basketball, NYC www.doinitinthepark.com GEMS is a show about beat digging, records, production, and other things. Subscribe for more conversations on music, creativity, records, culture, and the deeper stories behind the DJs, producers, artists, collectors, and cultural figures who shape the sound. Full episode available now.

DJ Day joins GEMS with Shom. A producer, DJ, multi-instrumentalist, turntablist, and deep record collector, DJ Day has built a sound rooted in hip-hop, jazz, funk, soul, electronic music, live instrumentation, and sampling. In this conversation, DJ Day discusses growing up in Palm Springs, discovering records through his family, teaching himself how to make pause tapes, diving into turntablism, building with the Innernational Crew, and developing a musical style shaped by samples, loops, breaks, and feeling. We talk about his albums The Day Before, Land of 1000 Chances, Life After You, and Náufrago with Thes One, along with his work as a producer, remixer, DJ, and global touring artist. GEMS is a show about beat digging, records, production, and other things. Subscribe for more conversations. Full episode available now.

This best of episode of Gems with Shom features Phonte Coleman. One of our most popular episodes ever. Phonte is a grammy-nominated rapper, singer, songwriter, filmmaker, actor, and one of the most talented and versatile artists in modern music. From Little Brother to The Foreign Exchange, from razor-sharp MC storytelling to lush, soulful compositions, Phonte’s career stands as one of the most consistent and quietly influential in post-millennial hip-hop and R&B.But this conversation isn’t a typical interview.Instead, Phonte and Shom riff, break down records, swap stories, and explore the creative philosophy that has shaped his evolution across two decades. It’s funny, honest, and full of gems for artists, fans, and anyone navigating their own reinvention.🎙 In this episode, we dive into:• Little Brother to The Foreign Exchange — the collaborations that shaped his sound• The Art of Reinvention — why your best work might still be ahead• Evolution in Real Time — balancing music, acting, film & voice work• Being a lifelong student — curiosity, humility, and learning new crafts• Deep crates & DJ culture — the music that shaped his ear• Maturity & honesty in songwriting — making music for real life• DIY for life — how Phonte navigates the entertainment business• The joy of rediscovery — why he loves being surprised by music📌 About PhonteA North Carolina native, Phonte built his legacy as one-third of Little Brother, a pioneering group in the alternative hip-hop movement of the 2000s. He later co-founded The Foreign Exchange with producer Nicolay, earning a Grammy nomination for “Daykeeper.” His solo work — from Charity Starts at Home to Pacific Time 2 — showcases one of the most dynamic voices in modern Black music. Beyond music, he writes, acts, produces, and contributes to film and TV projects including Sherman’s Showcase, The Breaks, and Sesame Street.📸 Follow:IG: instagram.com/gems.podcastYouTube: @GemsPodcastListen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts #Phonte #PhonteColeman #LittleBrother #ForeignExchange #HipHopHistory #SoulMusic #GemsWithShom #GemsPodcast #RapperLife #SingerSongwriter #MusicEvolution #CreativeJourney #Reinvention #ArtistLife #DeepCuts #ProducerLife #MusicCulture #HipHopLegends #NeoSoul #StayInspired

Marco Polo joins Gems with Shom. From Toronto to New York, Marco Polo has built a career as one of underground hip-hop’s most respected producers, working with legends including Masta Ace, Rakim, KRS-One, Talib Kweli, Kool G Rap, Sean Price, Buckshot, Large Professor, Westside Gunn, DJ Premier, and more. In this conversation, Marco discusses his journey from Toronto beatmaker to producer, moving to New York, interning at The Cutting Room, learning from Ayatollah, creating Port Authority, and building a sound rooted in hard drums, samples, records, and classic hip-hop. We also discuss the evolution of his production style, from sample-based beats to full compositions, library music, soundtrack influences, synthesizers, drum programming, sound design, and his new project The Many Moods of Marco Polo: Blooming Hits, Vol. 1. Marco shares stories about Masta Ace, DJ Premier, Nas, Rakim, Large Professor, Westside Gunn, Pete Rock, J Dilla, Akai, MPCs, Port Authority, Nostalgia, and the challenge of making old sounds feel new again. In the Drop a Gem on ’Em segment, we discuss ESG, Bob James, Westside Gunn, Main Source, Pete Rock, Guru, Kenny Burke, Lords of the Underground, library records, international digging, and more. GEMS is a show about beat digging, records, production, and other things. Subscribe for more conversations on music, creativity, records, culture, and the deeper stories behind the producers, DJs, artists, and collectors who shape the sound. Full episode available now. #MarcoPolo

Cosmo Baker joins GEMS. Known globally as one of the world's premier DJs, Cosmo discusses growing up in Philadelphia, discovering hip-hop, developing his craft behind the turntables, moving to New York during one of the greatest eras in music, The Rub, the Scratch DJ Academy, record collecting, vinyl, traveling the world, and why curiosity and learning have remained at the center of his life and career. We explore the art of DJing, what makes a great selector, developing a musical identity, discovering records through sampling, the evolution of music culture, and why the pursuit of knowledge never ends. In the Drop a Gem on Em segment we discuss Jackie Wilson, Ernie Hines, Ohio Players, Gang Starr, Roy Ayers, Sly Stone, The Roots, J Dilla, Slum Village, house music, sampling, Philadelphia DJ culture, books, and much more. #Gemswithshom #CosmoBaker #DJ #BeatDigging #RecordCollecting #Sampling #Philadelphia #HipHop #MusicHistory #OpenFormat

Hakim Tafari joins GEMS. From sound system culture in the UK to hip-hop, soul, spiritual jazz, DJing, running, Buddhism, and mindfulness, Hakim Tafari has lived a life shaped by music, movement, art, and transformation. In this conversation, Hakim discusses growing up in England with Jamaican roots, discovering hip-hop, traveling to Brooklyn, DJing, making music, and finding refuge in records, sound system culture, and community. We talk about how music became a path into deeper questions of identity, spirituality, health, healing, and survival. Hakim shares his journey through Rastafarianism, the Five Percent Nation, Buddhism, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, running, trail running, visual art, modeling, and the mind-body practices that helped him rebuild his life. We discuss the spiritual power of music, including Alice Coltrane, John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, spiritual jazz, Black liberation, reggae, sound system culture, and the records that shaped his worldview. In the Drop a Gem on ’Em segment, we discuss Eugene McDaniels, Cal Tjader, Phil Ranelin, Henry Franklin, Alice Coltrane, John Coltrane, Les McCann, RAMP, Lonnie Liston Smith, Rudolph Johnson, Gang Starr, and more. GEMS is a show about beat digging, records, production, and other things. Subscribe for more conversations on music, creativity, records, culture, and the deeper stories behind the artists, DJs, producers, and collectors who shape the sound. Full episode available now. #HakimTafari #GEMSWithShom #GEMSPodcast #SpiritualJazz #HipHop #Mindfulness #Buddhism #SoundSystemCulture #Reggae #SoulMusic #DJCulture #BeatDigging #RecordCollecting #AliceColtrane #JohnColtrane #ALoveSupreme #RunningCulture #MindBodyConnection #TaiChi #QiGong

Aki of Cosmos Records joins GEMS. In the world of beat digging, Cosmos Records is considered one of the greatest record stores in the world. Based in Toronto, Cosmos Records has become a destination for DJs, producers, beat diggers, record collectors, and music lovers looking for rare grooves, breaks, soul, jazz, Brazilian records, Cuban records, Latin records, 45s, and the records behind the records. Aki discusses growing up between Tokyo and Toronto, learning the record trade through Japanese dealers and buying trips, working at Play De Record, opening Cosmos Records, building taste over decades, and why knowledge, humility, quality, and time matter in record collecting. We also discuss how hip-hop taught a generation about samples, breaks, rare grooves, and music history. From Madlib and MF DOOM digging through Brazilian records, to Prince visiting the shop, Jude Law searching for Sabu Martinez, Pete Rock digging in the warehouse, and J Dilla stories from the floor, Aki shares the history behind one of the most respected record stores in the world. In the Drop a Gem on ’Em segment, we discuss Madlib, MF DOOM, Pete Rock, Large Professor, J Dilla, Prince, Jude Law, Sun Ra, S.O.U.L., Cymande, WEE, Brazilian records, Cuban records, sample records, DJ records, record store culture, and more. GEMS is a show about beat digging, records, production, and other things. Full episode available now.

On this episode of GEMS, I sit down with producer, DJ, and songwriter Maneesh on the Beat. You may know Maneesh from his work with Drake, J. Cole, Giveon, Rihanna, Travis Scott, Justin Bieber, Dua Lipa, Calvin Harris, and many more. We explore his journey from Toronto turntablist to producer, the stories behind Drake's "Shebang" and "Make Them Cry," working with OVO, developing his sound, and what it took to keep going through years of rejection before finding success. In the Drop a Gem on Em segment we discuss J Dilla, Diamond D, Gang Starr, Hieroglyphics, Luther Vandross, the Isley Brothers, record collecting, DJ culture, and the records that shaped his creative perspective. A conversation about persistence, creativity, music, and trusting your own ear. #Drake #Shabang #MakeThemCry #ManeeshOnTheBeat #Giveon #BeatDigging #RecordCollecting #ProducerLife #Podcast #GEMSPodcast #GEMSwithShom

This episode of Gems with Shom features Waxvillain, a Seattle-based record collector, interviewer, content creator, and A&R for Fraternity Music Group Records. Waxvillain and Shom get into his journey from hip-hop fan and beatmaker to one of the most passionate voices in the rare soul community. The conversation explores sampling, record digging, Wax Poetics, Amsterdam record culture, Brazilian music, indie soul, lost soul, and the records that shaped his life. They also discuss how the pandemic changed his relationship with music, the rise of Waxvillain, building community through records, and why soul music continues to resonate with collectors and listeners around the world. 🎙 In this episode, we dive into: • Growing up on hip-hop, discovering samples, and learning through records • Dilla, MF DOOM, Madlib, beatmaking, and the path to record collecting • Rare soul, indie soul, lost records, and the art of digging • Wax Poetics, Fraternity Music Group, reissues, and music community We also talk about Gil Scott-Heron, Brian Jackson, Tim Maia, The Sacred Souls, Penrose Records, Action Bronson, Alchemist, Amsterdam digging culture, and the emotional connection that great records can create. For fans of rare soul, record collecting, beat digging, Dilla, MF DOOM, Madlib, soul music, vinyl culture, and deep music conversations, this is a real gem.

This episode of Gems with Shom features Mikey D , the Queens MC, battle rapper, and member of Main Source and LA Posse. Mikey D and Shom get into his early years coming up in Laurelton, Queens, discovering rap, and building his reputation as one of Queens’ most respected battle MCs. The conversation explores LA Posse, working with the legendary Paul C, joining Main Source, the New Music Seminar Battle for World Supremacy, and stories about LL Cool J, MC Shan, Kool G Rap, and Melle Mel. 🎙 In this episode, we dive into: • Growing up in Laurelton, Queens • Battle rap and the New Music Seminar • LA Posse and Paul C • Joining Main Source • LL Cool J, MC Shan, Kool G Rap, and Queens legends • Creativity, authenticity, and leading a life focused on music over the years For fans of battle rap, Main Source, LA Posse, Paul C, Queens hip-hop, golden era rap, and deep hip-hop culture, this is a real gem.

This episode of Gems with Shom features DJ Flipout, a legendary DJ, producer, radio host, beat digger, and one of Canada’s most respected 45 collectors. Flipout and Shom get into his incredible journey through music, from growing up around Portuguese records, AM radio, and early hip-hop videos to becoming a teenager on the radio, a rapper, dancer, producer, and eventually one of the defining DJs of Vancouver’s hip-hop scene. The conversation explores his deep roots in Canadian radio, including The 5 O’Clock Traffic Jam , his early work on college and commercial radio, and how he built a decades-long career through curiosity, taste, and a lifelong commitment to DJing. They also dive into record digging, sample culture, 45s, De La Soul, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Nardwuar, The Alchemist, Mad Child, and Vancouver hip-hop history. 🎙 In this episode, we dive into: • Vancouver hip-hop, Canadian radio, and Flipout’s early DJ roots • Record digging, 45s, samples, and musical memory • Rapping, dancing, producing, and coming up through the local scene • The 5 O’Clock Traffic Jam and a life built through radio • Stories about De La Soul, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Nardwuar, The Alchemist, Mad Child, and more

This episode of Gems with Shom features Haas G, aka Fantom of the Beat, the legendary producer, MC, and one half of the hip-hop group UMC’s. Haas G and Shom get into his early years coming up in Staten Island, forming UMC’s, beat digging, and creating classic records like “Blue Cheese” and “One to Grow On” from the Fruits of Nature album. Haas also breaks down his journey from rapper and producer to becoming a two-time Grammy-nominated, Billboard, RIAA Double Platinum and Gold-certified hitmaker. The conversation explores Staten Island’s early hip-hop foundation, UMC’s and their place in hip-hop, the connection between UMC’s and the Wu-Tang era, producing Ghostface Killah and Raekwon’s “Apollo Kids,” creating Lil’ Kim and 50 Cent’s massive hit “Magic Stick,” and working with artists like Busta Rhymes, Inspectah Deck, Sadat X, and more. For fans of sample-based production, beat digging, Wu-Tang history, UMC’s, Lil’ Kim, 50 Cent, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Busta Rhymes, and deep hip-hop culture, this is a real gem.

This episode of Gems with Shom features Nicolay , Grammy-nominated producer, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and one half of The Foreign Exchange alongside Phonte. From growing up in Utrecht and discovering Prince, to playing in funk bands, studying musicology, making beats after work, and connecting with Phonte on the Okayplayer message boards, Nicolay’s story is one of timing, originality, and deep musical curiosity. But this conversation isn’t a typical interview. Nicolay and Shom go deep on The Foreign Exchange , J Dilla, Prince, D’Angelo, Slum Village, keyboard beats, musical space, and the creative risks that helped shape albums like Connected and Leave It All Behind . They also explore authenticity in the age of AI, the future of music technology, and why human feeling still matters most in soulful music. #Nicolay #TheForeignExchange #ForeignExchange #Phonte #JDilla #Prince #Okayplayer #Connected #LeaveItAllBehind #DAngelo #Voodoo #SlumVillage #Soulquarians #NeoSoul #HipHopHistory #SoulMusic #BeatMaking #MusicProduction #ProducerLife #GemsWithShom

This episode of Gems with Shom features Cherrystones, a musician, international DJ, soundtrack composer, compiler, private record dealer, and long-running NTS Radio host with one of the deepest ears in underground music. Cherrystones and Shom get into UK digging culture, Jazzman Records, Camden Market, library music, Italian horror soundtracks, Goblin, Fantastic Planet , Japanese film music, Den Bosch record fair, and the emotional stories attached to rare records. The conversation also explores his unconventional upbringing between London and Wales, discovering punk, hip-hop, jazz, psych, and rare groove, and how music became a grounding force throughout his life. 🎙 In this episode, we dive into: • UK digging culture, Jazzman Records, and the world of private record dealing • Library records, rare European finds, and the search for unusual samples • Italian horror soundtracks, Goblin, film cues, and darker musical moods • NTS Radio, record fairs, collecting originals, and music as a healing force

DJ Agile joins Gems with Shom for a conversation on BrassMunk, producing “Heaven” for Nas, film and television work, and how DJing opened up a whole new chapter in his career. They also get into sync, Dilla, Kardinal Offishall, nightlife, and Agile’s new single, “Between The Sheets” ft. Ray Robinson.

This episode of Gems with Shom features Pat Van Dyke, a multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and bandleader whose music bridges jazz, soul, and hip hop. Known for his live recreations of classic rap records and his deep understanding of musicianship, Pat joins Shom for a conversation about the records, rhythms, and ideas that shaped his sound. Pat and Shom get into growing up in New Jersey, discovering records at a young age, studying jazz, making beats, and how Pat learned to merge live instrumentation with the DNA of sample-based hip hop. They also talk about his recent live replay videos, the producers and records that inspired him, and what he has learned from breaking down hip hop classics by ear. 🎙 In this episode, we dive into: • Growing up with records, tapes, and early musical influences • Studying jazz, making beats, and shaping his sound as a producer • The gear, records, and producers that influenced his ear • Recreating hip hop classics with live instruments • What classic hip hop reveals about feel, phrasing, and musicianship 📌 About Pat Van Dyke Pat Van Dyke is an artist, producer, composer, and session musician based in New Jersey. His work blends jazz harmony, vintage textures, live instrumentation, and hip hop rhythm into a sound that feels both modern and deeply rooted in classic music traditions. Through solo releases, collaborations, and his live replay series, Pat has built a unique lane that connects musicianship with beat culture.

This episode of Gems with Shom features 7L , one-third of Czarface . 7L is the DJ and producer behind Czarface, the cult-favorite hip-hop supergroup formed by 7L & Esoteric and Wu-Tang Clan’s Inspectah Deck . Known for sample-based production, comic-book world-building, and a fiercely independent creative path, 7L has helped build one of the most original and enduring underground rap universes in hip-hop. In this conversation, 7L and Shom go deep on records, radio, early DJing, obscure samples, underground touring, collaboration, and the long road from Massachusetts mixtapes to Red Rocks and beyond. We discuss: • Growing up in Massachusetts and discovering hip-hop through MTV, tapes, and roller rink DJs • Learning to DJ, making mixtapes, and building an early production process from scratch • The early 7L & Esoteric years, college radio, indie vinyl, and underground rap in the 90s • Digging culture, rare records, trial and error, and the records that shaped his ear • How Czarface came together with Inspectah Deck • Building a cult following through music, comics, collectibles, and world-building • Collaborating with MF DOOM, Ghostface Killah, Method Man, Kool Keith, and more • Why staying weird helped sustain a long career • Why authenticity, curiosity, and consistency still matter in underground music 7L is a Massachusetts-raised DJ and producer whose career stretches from the independent underground rap scene of the 1990s to major collaborative projects in the modern era. Before Czarface, he built his name through 7L & Esoteric , DIY vinyl releases, college radio, and relentless digging and touring. As one-third of Czarface, he helped shape a group that became far more than a rap act. It became a full creative universe rooted in hip-hop, comics, artifacts, and cult loyalty. The group’s major collaborative releases include Czarface Meets Metal Face with MF DOOM in 2018, Czarface Meets Ghostface with Ghostface Killah in 2019, and Super What? with MF DOOM in 2021.

In this episode of Gems with Shom , I sit down with John Morrison — author, journalist, DJ, and sample-flipper from Philadelphia — for a conversation on hip-hop culture, record digging, and the evolution of music and ideas. John’s journey starts in Philadelphia, coming up in a deeply competitive freestyle and battle rap scene. Those early experiences shaped his approach to music, performance, and creativity. He later transitioned into writing, building a career as a journalist across platforms like NPR and beyond. We talk about how writing about music changed the way he listens, and how understanding samples, production, and context provides a deeper perspective on the culture. A key theme in this conversation is the role of politics in art. John reflects on a time when hip-hop carried clear perspectives — when artists engaged with the world and pushed listeners to think. Today, that layer often feels less present. This isn’t about agreement or disagreement, but about the importance of having a point of view. We also discuss Philly’s influence, beat making as a lifelong practice, the connection between hip-hop and jazz, and why digging and context still matter. A conversation about music, culture, and really listening.