The Almanac of Rap

What happens when an artist refuses to separate creativity from revolution? Poet, musician, actor, filmmaker, and cultural provocateur Saul Williams joins Donwill for an expansive conversation about Leap Life, his first solo studio album in seven years, and Songs My Mother Taught Me, a new nonfiction book examining the experiences and ideas that shaped his political consciousness. Working alongside producer Carlos Niño, Williams transforms experimental soundscapes, dance rhythms, and ancestral memory into music that confronts artificial intelligence, colonialism, and the machinery of modern power. From recording a track inside Cairo's bustling streets on his leap-day birthday to hosting listening séances honoring the lives lost to violence, Williams reveals why his latest work is both deeply personal and unapologetically political.

Saul travels with Donwill back to the Brooklyn poetry scene of the 1990s, where Williams shared open-mic stages with future cultural luminaries, including Yasiin Bey and Erykah Badu, before becoming a defining voice of the spoken-word movement. Saul breaks down:

The making of Leap Life: How Carlos Niño helped transform years of experimental demos into a cohesive album.

The ideas behind Songs My Mother Taught Me, the influence of Paul Robeson and W.E.B. Du Bois, and why Williams believes music should challenge power rather than reinforce it.

His first performance at Brooklyn Moon Cafe in 1995, friendships with Yasiin Bey and Erykah Badu, and the creative community that helped bring spoken-word poetry to a new generation.

His journey through film, theater, and experimental storytelling, including Holler If Ya Hear Me, his years in Paris, and the patience required to create work that defies categorization.

The relationship between AI and forced labor explored in "Robot Slave," his listening séances, and why fiction, poetry, and music remain essential tools for imagining liberation.

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Created and hosted by award-winning artist and cultural commentator Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is Areya Media’s living archive of hip-hop history, told by the people who made it. Through deeply researched interviews, cultural deep dives and conversations with artists, producers, DJs and architects of the culture, the series connects hip-hop’s past to the ideas shaping its future.

A two-time Webby Award, three time Signal Award, and three-time w3 Gold Award winner, The Almanac of Rap approaches hip-hop with the curiosity of music journalism and the intimacy of conversation documenting the stories, sounds and cultural details that deserve a permanent place in the record.
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What happens when one of hip-hop's most elusive albums becomes the subject of a Netflix documentary? RZA, the visionary producer, filmmaker, and founding architect of the Wu-Tang Clan, joins Donwill to discuss The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable, the new documentary chronicling the extraordinary journey of Once Upon a Time in Shaolin. Created as a single-copy work of art, the album became a multimillion-dollar cultural controversy after its sale to Martin Shkreli, raising questions about artistic ownership, creative freedom, and the value of music in the streaming era. RZA reflects on his relationship with producer Cilvaringz, the persistence that brought him into Wu-Tang's orbit, and the philosophical lessons behind a project whose legacy continues to evolve beyond its creators. The RZA breaks down:

The story behind Once Upon a Time in Shaolin: Why Wu-Tang created a one-of-a-kind album, the controversy surrounding Martin Shkreli, and the project's continuing legacy.

Cilvaringz and the philosophy of persistence: How an ambitious young artist earned RZA's attention through preparation, determination, and a willingness to learn.

Artistic ownership in the streaming era: Why scarcity, direct-to-consumer relationships, and devoted fans can change how independent musicians value their work.

The Wu-Tang business philosophy: Wu Wear, and the group's extended creative universe helped generate opportunities beyond record sales.

From Prince Rakeem to filmmaker: RZA's experiences with John Woo, Quentin Tarantino, and other filmmakers shaped his creative evolution and ambitions in cinema.

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YouTube: @rza1235 Web: Bobbydigital.com⁠

Shop: Wu Tang Clan

Created and hosted by award-winning artist and cultural commentator Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is Areya Media’s living archive of hip-hop history, told by the people who made it. Through deeply researched interviews, cultural deep dives and conversations with artists, producers, DJs and architects of the culture, the series connects hip-hop’s past to the ideas shaping its future.

A two-time Webby Award winner and three-time w3 Gold Award winner, The Almanac of Rap approaches hip-hop with the curiosity of music journalism and the intimacy of conversation documenting the stories, sounds and cultural details that deserve a permanent place in the record.

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Digable Planets helped redefine the possibilities of hip-hop in the early 1990s, blending jazz, funk, political consciousness, and a distinctly cosmic sensibility into a sound that resisted easy categorization. More than three decades later, Ishmael Butler (Butterfly) and Craig Irving (Doodlebug) join Donwill backstage at Brooklyn Bowl to revisit the group's unlikely beginnings, from three artists representing Seattle, Philadelphia, and Maryland to a Grammy-winning collective that made Brooklyn its creative home. They reflect on the success of Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space), the complicated cultural politics of winning a Grammy in hip-hop's early years, and how their revolutionary upbringing informed the music and visual identity of Blowout Comb. Digable Planets break down:

The origins of Digable Planets: How three MCs from different cities found one another and built their creative foundation in Brooklyn.

The making of Blowout Comb: How Black Panther Party newspapers, revolutionary family histories, and live musicians shaped the group's second album.

The Grammy paradox: Why winning Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group was both a milestone and a complicated achievement in early-'90s hip-hop.

Why rap groups are disappearing: How social media, individual branding, and changing ideas about community have transformed hip-hop's collaborative culture.

Beyond the jazz rap label: Why the group resisted genre restrictions, how their music found new life through Snoop Dogg and E-40 samples, and what keeps their catalog relevant across generations.

Be sure to check out Ladybug Mecca's episode on Blowout Comb, too!

🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an episode!🎙️

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Follow: Digable Planets

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Facebook: OfficialDigablePlanets

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Created and hosted by award-winning artist and cultural commentator Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is Areya Media’s living archive of hip-hop history, told by the people who made it. Through deeply researched interviews, cultural deep dives and conversations with artists, producers, DJs and architects of the culture, the series connects hip-hop’s past to the ideas shaping its future.

A two-time Webby Award winner and three-time w3 Gold Award winner, The Almanac of Rap approaches hip-hop with the curiosity of music journalism and the intimacy of conversation documenting the stories, sounds and cultural details that deserve a permanent place in the record.

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Before Digable Planets helped redefine the sound of alternative hip-hop, Ladybug Mecca was a young artist absorbing Brazilian music, jazz, and the rhythms of her family's home. Three decades after Blowout Comb became a cornerstone of jazz-inflected hip-hop, the pioneering MC joins Donwill to discuss her latest chapter as a recipient of Harvard University's Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellowship. Her research traces the connections between hip-hop and Afro-Brazilian traditions, from Candomblé drumming to capoeira, challenging the idea that hip-hop simply arrived in Brazil rather than finding a culture already connected through rhythm, movement, and shared African ancestry.

Ladybug Mecca reflects on her Brazilian parents, the influence of MC Lyte and Queen Latifah, and the enduring relevance of Digable Planets' Blowout Comb. She opens up about navigating hip-hop as a young woman, her friendships with Guru and Bahamadia, her collaborations with Prince Paul and Brookzill!, and why documenting Black creativity is increasingly urgent in an era of cultural erasure. Still an avid music discoverer, Mecca also shares her excitement for a new generation of women MCs and explains why her next creative chapter is as much about recovering history as making it. Ladybug Mecca breaks down:

How the Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellowship is helping her investigate connections between Afro-Brazilian culture, hip-hop, and the Black Atlantic.

Why the Blowout Comb continues to resonate across generations and how “Black Ego” has taken on new meaning amid cultural erasure.

Collaborating with Prince Paul on Brookzill!, building friendships with Guru and Bahamadia, and hearing her voice sampled on Snoop Dogg's “Candy.”

Why archival research, music discovery, and the rising generation of women rappers remain central to her creative life.

🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an episode!🎙️

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.

Substack: New Music Tuesdays

Archival Episodes of Almanac of Rap: Almanacofrap.com Instagram/Threads: @donwill

Mixcloud: Donwill

Website: Donwill.me

Follow: Ladybug Mecca

Instagram: @ladybugmecca

Facebook: Ladybug Mecca

Created and hosted by award-winning artist and cultural commentator Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is Areya Media’s living archive of hip-hop history, told by the people who made it. Through deeply researched interviews, cultural deep dives and conversations with artists, producers, DJs and architects of the culture, the series connects hip-hop’s past to the ideas shaping its future.

A two-time Webby Award winner and three-time w3 Gold Award winner, The Almanac of Rap approaches hip-hop with the curiosity of music journalism and the intimacy of conversation documenting the stories, sounds and cultural details that deserve a permanent place in the record.

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Did you know that the Almanac of Rap is up for 3 Signal Awards? Vote for Donwill today, click the links below and let your voice be heard 🏆🏆🏆:

Type Beats feat Jake One| The Almanac of Rap in the Genre - Conversation Starter Category Official Listing

Rap Snacks feat Bun B| The Almanac of Rap in the Genre - Music Category Official Listing

Rap Snacks feat Bun B| The Almanac of Rap in the Video Podcast - Best Video Podcast Host Category Official Listing

Now, for this week's episode:

Before independent rap became a business model, Too $hort was already selling tapes hand-to-hand in Oakland. More than four decades later, Short Dog sits down with Donwill to trace the improbable longevity of a career that helped establish the Bay Area as its own hip-hop universe. He revisits hiding his earliest rhymes from his mother, producing his own records, documenting Oakland when New York and Los Angeles dominated rap's geography, and the run of albums that culminated in Gettin’ It (the record he considers the peak of his original sound) and the moment he got to work with his childhood hero, George Clinton.

Too $hort explains how relationships with The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, UGK, Eric Sermon and Lil Jon expanded his reach without disconnecting him from the Bay and how “Blow the Whistle,” released deep into an already historic career, effectively bought him another 20 years. Along the way, he talks “raunchy rap”, censorship, protecting young artists from the streets and what it means to be 60 in a genre that once wasn't expected to survive long enough to have senior citizens. For Too $hort, the answer has been sitting in the title of his earliest project all along: don't stop rapping. Too $hort breaks down:

How selling tapes independently in Oakland became the foundation for a 40-plus-year career

Why Gettin’ It represents the peak of his original Bay Area sound and what working with George Clinton meant to him

How Biggie, Jay-Z, UGK, Eric Sermon and Lil Jon helped open new chapters without changing who he was

Why “Blow the Whistle” became the late-career anthem that gave him another 20 years

What hip-hop can learn about longevity, protecting the bag and growing old without leaving the culture behind

🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an episode!🎙️

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.

Substack: New Music Tuesdays

Archival Episodes of Almanac of Rap: Almanacofrap.com Instagram/Threads: @donwill

Mixcloud: Donwill

Website: Donwill.me

Follow: Too $hort

Instagram: tooshort

Facebook: tooshort

Tik Tok: tooshortofficial ⁠

Created and hosted by award-winning artist and cultural commentator Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is Areya Media’s living archive of hip-hop history, told by the people who made it. Through deeply researched interviews, cultural deep dives and conversations with artists, producers, DJs and architects of the culture, the series connects hip-hop’s past to the ideas shaping its future.

A two-time Webby Award winner and three-time w3 Gold Award winner, The Almanac of Rap approaches hip-hop with the curiosity of music journalism and the intimacy of conversation documenting the stories, sounds and cultural details that deserve a permanent place in the record.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices