Dissect Podcast Special: Hip Hop's Thriving Middle Class
Episode Title: JID, Chance, Earl, Joey, and Hip Hop's Thriving Middle Class
Host: Cole Cuchna
Guests: King Green (Rap Latte), Jeremy Hecht (The Bigger Picture)
Release Date: September 4, 2025
Episode Overview
In this special episode, host Cole Cuchna is joined by respected hip hop commentators King Green and Jeremy Hecht. The trio discusses the unprecedented volume and quality of recent releases from hip hop’s so-called "middle class"—artists like JID, Chance the Rapper, Earl Sweatshirt, Joey Badass, Freddie Gibbs, and more. The conversation zeroes in on the new albums from JID, Chance, and Earl, exploring themes of maturity, faith, and artistic intention, while also touching on Joey Badass’s latest project and other standout albums from August.
1. The Flood of New Hip Hop Releases
Timestamps: 00:01–02:18
- Cole kicks off by noting the overwhelming amount of notable hip hop albums released in August, including projects by JID, Chance, Earl Sweatshirt, Joey Badass, Freddie Gibbs, and others.
- Both guests agree that, as much as they love music, the sheer volume is tough to keep up with.
"It feels like partially the most enjoyable month in recent memory for music and partially, like listening to music isn't my actual job because there's days where I'm like, I have not caught up on this album."
— Jeremy Hecht [01:27]
2. JID – "God Does, Love Does Like Ugly"
Timestamps: 04:07–23:29
Main Insights
- JID’s Position in Hip Hop: Cole opens the discussion by positing JID as perhaps the middle-class rapper best positioned to ascend to superstar status, but concludes this album shows JID isn’t chasing that role—and maybe doesn’t want it.
- Authenticity > Hit Chasing: The hosts celebrate the album’s lack of hit-seeking singles and its authenticity, suggesting JID is more focused on artistic integrity and community impact.
“He doesn't seem to be chasing hits…which is incredible…there doesn’t seem to be a lot of hit chasing in the way that you need to make these big commercial successful songs to accelerate you into that upper echelon.”
— Cole Cuchna [04:20]
- Mainstream vs. Artistic Value: Green asks the perennial question (“What more does he need to do?”), highlighting the paradox of critical acclaim vs. commercial stardom.
- Album Comparisons: Cole thinks JID’s artistry now at least matches, and possibly surpasses, J. Cole, but still sits a tier below Kendrick Lamar.
“He did what he set out to do, and I think he did satisfy the entire fan base…If you do want that [superstar] spot, you need to play into the mainstream a little bit... Very few in that 'next tier' made it without having a hit song."
— Jeremy Hecht [09:21]
"Community"—Song Deep Dive
Timestamps: 11:21–17:00
- All three celebrate “Community” as a near-perfect song, with special praise for Malice’s verse and the seamless, thematic inclusion of features Pusha T and Malice.
“My ghetto's not your culture…there's real actual conflict and problems going on, and this other thing is just, like, insignificant compared to all that.”
— Cole [11:43]
“That's like, my favorite verse of the year…JID at his best…This is just great rap music…Malice shows you what the song's about by juxtaposing, like, people being exploitative when it comes to, like, hood culture.”
— King Green [12:50]
- They break down the song’s structure, narrative, and social commentary, reveling in the flawless synergy between all artists.
Album Structure & Thematic Execution
- First Seven Tracks: Praised as "unassailably great" [Cole, 17:16]
- R&B Middle Section: Jeremy defends it as a successful, vibey shift, while Green finds it a less appealing detour, admiring JID's art-first mentality even if it’s not in his taste.
- Thematic Depth—Faith & Community: The conversation highlights JID’s integration of faith and community and the evolution of subject matter.
“For me, it was really cool to see—I called it the reverse engineering of his faith throughout this album…a very clear sentiment…faith in God is what got me through this.”
— Jeremy [21:26]
3. Chance the Rapper – "Starline"
Timestamps: 24:24–42:06
Framing the “Comeback”
- The album is discussed as Chance’s response to a tumultuous six-year hiatus after "The Big Day," which both his fans and he himself view as a misstep.
“He did call it an F minus on the opening track…[but] it wasn't…Woe is Me…I'm just gonna prove to you guys how good I am.”
— Cole [27:39]
- Reflection vs. Dwelling: The group appreciates how Chance acknowledges past criticism but doesn’t let it overshadow the music.
Artistic Growth & Maturity
- First Half Standouts: Praised for energy, rapping, production, and features—especially the Do or Die cameo on “Ride.”
“Jay Electronica one on [the album]…But I love this album…his rapping—he’s rapping better than he’s ever rapped on this project.”
— King Green [31:51]
- Album Length: Both Green and Jeremy wish for a more concise, 13–14 track album, noting some tracks could have been left off.
Themes, Motifs, and Conceptual Through-Line
- Cole dissects the Starline motif, Marcus Garvey references, and the album’s star imagery, calling it Chance’s most conceptually layered album.
- The thematic focus includes self-confidence, faith, Black American experience, and community.
“He has an album that’s still directing his fan base to the concepts and things that he cares about…it felt real mature and…wasn’t preachy…looking at everything from a macro sense as well as a personal sense.”
— King Green [35:20]
- Jeremy underlines how Chance’s criticism of church, Black plight in America, and risk-taking with uncomfortable subject matter pays off (“…to risk all of that thematically and for it to pay off musically was really cool to see.” [36:51])
Best Chance Album?
- Chance himself called “Starline” his best work, but the hosts split:
- Lyrically/conceptually the strongest, but front-to-back “Coloring Book” still might be more cohesive, memorable, and impactful.
4. Earl Sweatshirt – "Live Laugh Love"
Timestamps: 42:56–53:30
A Mature, Poetic Perspective
- Earl’s latest project is positioned as an artistic response to themes similar to Chance’s, but rendered through abstract, dense lyricism and a unique sonic palette.
- The group agrees the album requires in-depth listening and lyric reading to fully grasp, but rewards those willing to go deep.
“I love it…Tourmaline…is my favorite song he's ever made…The melodic hook, how he's mumbling it…the poetry is the number one thing.”
— King Green [47:19]
Song Highlight: “Tourmaline”
- The hosts break down the track’s metaphors, Earl’s depiction of family and personal growth, and his use of spiritual and Mario Bros. symbolism.
"Plumbing the deceit out, the fire come through me now—that's fucking profound and poetic and so beautiful."
— King Green [47:57]
"The struggle’s not a team sport…he makes you feel it, even if you’re not in there.”
— King Green [48:29]
- Cole and Green marvel at Earl’s maturation and musical restraint, with Green calling for “10-track album rules” to preserve potency.
5. Joey Badass – "Lonely at the Top"
Timestamps: 53:42–60:52
Mixed Reactions
- The hosts express disappointment with Joey’s new release, especially after his high-profile battle run earlier in the year.
- Despite strong rapping and flashes of inspiration, the album feels inconsistent and lacks a unifying vision.
- Green and Jeremy highlight that Joey called the project a “mixtape,” possibly signifying a label obligation or a placeholder before a full-length album.
“He’s rapping his ass off…that’s just kind of a given with him now. But…I was…disappointed post battle where it felt like, man, it seemed like a slam dunk opportunity… I don’t know if he met the expectations, at least I had…”
— Cole [57:00]
- Jeremy recommends “Underwater" and “Dark Aura” for their vulnerability, notes a lack of energy compared to the battles earlier in the year.
6. Other Notable August Releases & Album of the Year Debate
Timestamps: 61:23–64:57
- Shoutouts to Lupe Fiasco’s deluxe, Westside Gunn, Alchemist & Freddie Gibbs’ "Alfredo 2," D Smoke, Lecrae, and Miles Minnick.
- Universally, the favorite album among the guests is the Clipse’s "Let God Sort Him Out," with anticipation for how it will stand up as the year closes.
“The album that you just mentioned…Let God Sort Them Out is my number one.”
— Jeremy Hecht [63:40]
7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Ain’t nobody give a but Tay was.” — King Green, on the raw authenticity delivered on “Community” [11:31]
- “The struggle’s not a team sport.” — Earl Sweatshirt, cited by King Green [48:29]
- “No one really cares unless they've been in that situation. But in this, he makes you feel it, even if you're not in there.” — King Green [48:29]
- “Chance made that shit cool…Other people from his walk of life, from his faith, from his perspective could come through…he needs a lot of credit for that.” — King Green [39:46]
- “It's hard to make a classic above 13 songs.” — Jeremy Hecht [52:41]
8. Episode Flow & Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:01–02:18 — Introduction and discussion of the month's overwhelming music drops
- 04:07–23:29 — In-depth JID album discussion, including features, themes, and “Community”
- 24:24–42:06 — Chance the Rapper’s comeback and "Starline" album analysis
- 42:56–53:30 — Earl Sweatshirt, “Live Laugh Love,” deeply poetic lyricism
- 53:42–60:52 — Joey Badass’s “Lonely at the Top” and expectations vs. reality
- 61:23–64:57 — Other notable August albums, Clipse album as AOTY favorite
Conclusion
This densely packed episode is a vibrant celebration—and critical analysis—of hip hop’s increasingly rich and artist-driven "middle class." Cole and guests balance detailed technical and lyrical breakdowns with engaging, personality-driven conversation. Even without in-depth "dissection," the episode brims with insight on how artists like JID, Chance, and Earl are maturing, evolving, and refusing to follow an industry blueprint, ultimately making for one of the most exciting months in hip hop in years.
Summary prepared for those seeking a comprehensive, timestamped overview and critical guide to Dissect’s analysis of hip hop’s current middle class luminaries.