Podcast
Soul of the Streets
Hosted by Gus Lloyd · EN
Soul of the Streets (SOTS): The Living Archive of Culture
Soul of the Streets (SOTS) is more than a podcast—it is a culture-driven living archive documenting the voices that shape R&B and Hip-Hop. Established in 2014, the platform has spent over a decade preserving the stories, artistry, and moments that define the culture while recognizing emerging voices before the spotlight arrives.
The platform’s legacy includes identifying cultural moments before the world catches on. In April 2014, months before the “Shmoney Dance” became a global phenomenon, Bobby Shmurda and Rowdy Rebel won the Soul of the Streets “Rock Yo Set” competition at the legendary Pyramid Club in New York City performing the record that would later become the NYC classic “Computers.” Moments like this reflect the platform’s commitment to documenting the culture while it is still unfolding.
Hosted by G Waterz—a veteran songwriter, vocalist, and artist manager behind BPE (Beyond Platinum Entertainment)—Soul of the Streets brings a perspective rooted in professional artistry and cultural stewardship. With professional credits including songwriting for Freddie Jackson and background vocals for Joe, G Waterz brings a creator’s understanding to every conversation.
With 500+ episodes and over a decade of consistent programming, Soul of the Streets bridges generations through in-depth interviews, cultural commentary, and curated music programming that documents the voices shaping music history.
Past guests include Valerie Simpson, Melba Moore, Karyn White, Ray Chew, Glenn Jones, Alyson Williams, 3× Grammy-winning producer Darius “Deezle” Harrison (Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III), and Grammy-nominated songwriter Dustin “Dab” Bowie (Beyoncé).
Weekly signature programming includes Hip-Hop Saturdays—featuring themed playlists and commentary reflecting the pulse of the culture—and R&B Sundays, celebrating legendary voices while spotlighting rising artists carrying the torch forward.
Distributed via RedCircle and available on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, TuneIn, and more, Soul of the Streets continues to serve as a living archive preserving the voices, stories, and music history shaping the culture today.
As the archive continues to grow, Soul of the Streets remains committed to discovering new voices and documenting the next chapter of R&B and Hip-Hop culture.
Soul of the Streets — We saw the future first.
69episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Body & Soul
Apr 501:00:00Tap to summarizeThis week on Soul of the Streets, we step into a space where the music feels personal… Body & Soul.This is R&B that settles in —not rushed, just felt.Records that speak to both the physical and emotional.The tension. The release. The vulnerability.Vocals that connect.Lyrics rooted in real feeling.Production that gives every moment room to breathe.Because R&B lives in two places —the body that feels it,and the soul that remembers it.Late-night energy.Quiet reflection.Honesty you can’t fake.This isn’t about chasing moments —it’s about creating ones that stay with you.🎧 Soul of the Streets — where R&B is curated with intention, and the feeling always comes first.📡 Follow @thehypenyc on Instagram & @thehyperadionyc on X
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Bar Risings
Apr 400:58:59Tap to summarizeThis week’s episode is about elevation —the kind that comes from staying locked in when nobody’s watching.“Bar Risings” is for the artists sharpening their pen in real time.The ones building momentum off discipline, not noise.Where every verse feels intentional and every record sounds earned.These records carry focus —hungry flows, sharp delivery, and energy that reflects the climb.Because in this space, bars don’t just exist — they rise.And while the levels go up, the mentality stays grounded.Because the streets never sleep —they’re always watching, always listening, always deciding what’s real.This is the soundtrack for the ones putting the work in daily.🛰️ Follow @thehypenyc on IG & @thehyperadionyc on X for real curation and culture-driven Hip-Hop.🎧 Tap in.Bar Risings — where the work shows in every line.
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Soul Fire
Mar 2900:59:29Tap to summarizeThis week on Soul of the Streets, we tap into a space where the feeling runs deeper… Soul Fire.This is R&B with heat —not loud, not forced… but felt.The kind of records that sit in your chest a little longer.Vocals that carry emotion.Lyrics that come from real places.Production that lets the feeling burn slow.From timeless voices to artists moving with intention, every record in this set understands that R&B isn’t just about sound —it’s about connection.That late-night energy.That reflection.That honesty you can’t fake.This isn’t about chasing attention.It’s about creating moments that stay with you.Because when the soul is in it…you don’t just hear it —you feel the fire.🎧 Tap in with Soul of the Streets — where R&B is curated with intention, and the feeling always comes first.📡 Follow @thehypenyc on Instagram & @thehyperadionyc on X
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Culture No Politics
Mar 2800:59:45Tap to summarizeThis episode is about the core of Hip Hop without the distractions.No narratives to debate. No sides to pick. Just music rooted in expression, skill, and presence.These records carry the energy of artists who are focused on the craft —bars that hit, flows that move with intention, and production that keeps everything grounded in the essence of the culture.From emerging voices carving their lane to artists sharpening their sound, every track stands on its own merit.Different perspectives, different sounds — all connected by a shared respect for what Hip Hop is at its core.No noise. No agenda.Just culture speaking clearly through the music.If you listen for authenticity, energy, and the art itself — this episode is for you.🛰️ Follow @thehypenyc on Instagram & @thehyperadionyc on X🎧 Tap in with Soul of the Streets — where the culture speaks for itself.
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SHEREE BROWN INTERVIEW
Mar 2601:17:54Tap to summarizeThis week on Soul of the Streets, G Waterz sits down with Sheree Brown — the legendary singer, songwriter, and author whose voice helped shape the emotional language of modern R&B.Best known for timeless records like “It’s a Pleasure” and the classic album Messages From The Soul, Sheree Brown represents an era where soul music carried intention, musicianship, and message.In this conversation, she reflects on growing up in Los Angeles, creating music that blended soul, jazz, funk, and gospel, and witnessing her sound travel far beyond America — especially through London’s rare groove scene where her music found a whole new generation of listeners.Sheree also speaks about collaboration, longevity, and what it truly means to create music that people keep, not just hear. From working alongside legends like Patrice Rushen to embracing her voice as an author and cultural storyteller, this discussion becomes a reflection on purpose, resilience, and the flowers artists sometimes receive far later than they deserve. More than an interview — this is a conversation about soul, intention, and legacy.If you believe music should still carry feeling, truth, and message, this episode will resonate deeply.🛰️ Follow @thehypenyc on IG & @thehyperadionyc on X🎧 Tap in — this is soul history speaking in real time.
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Soul Legendary
Mar 2200:59:41Tap to summarizeThis week’s episode steps into the space where legacy speaks louder than trends.“Soul Legendary” is a reminder of what R&B sounds like when it’s rooted in truth, history, and timeless feeling.These aren’t just records — they’re standards.Songs that carry weight.Voices that helped shape the sound we still move to today.Moments that didn’t chase the culture — they became it.From iconic runs to overlooked gems, every record in this set holds a piece of the foundation.The kind of music that doesn’t age — it evolves with you.This is R&B that lives beyond the moment.Not for hype.Not for algorithms.Just legacy, soul, and intention curated the way it’s supposed to be.Because when the music is legendary, it doesn’t need validation —it just needs to be felt.📡 Follow @thehypenyc on IG and @thehyperadionyc on X for real curation and legacy-centered R&B.🎧 Tap in. Let the music remind you why it lasts.
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Street Pressure
Mar 2101:00:12Tap to summarizeThis week’s episode is about pressure —the kind that builds diamonds or exposes what isn’t real.“Street Pressure” is for the artists who don’t fold when the weight hits.The ones who turn struggle into sound and truth into bars.These records carry grit —heavy drums, focused flows, and voices that sound like they’ve been tested by the moment.Because the streets don’t reward noise —they respect presence, resilience, and authenticity.This is the soundtrack for the ones still standing, still pushing, still building from the ground up.🛰️ Follow @thehypenyc on IG & @thehyperadionyc on X for real curation and culture-driven Hip-Hop.🎧 Tap in.Street Pressure — where the weight creates the work.
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CHEEZE DIOR INTERVIEW
Mar 1900:25:25Tap to summarizeThis week on Soul of the Streets, Gus sits down with Bronx representative Cheeze Dior — an artist carrying the energy of New York hip-hop while honoring the legacy of the Coke Boys movement.This conversation goes deeper than music. Cheeze Dior speaks on what it means to represent a movement connected to names like French Montana and the late Chinx, how loyalty and legacy shaped the way he moves in the industry, and why consistency remains one of the most important currencies in New York hip-hop today. He also opens up about balancing street reality with elevated lifestyle talk in his music, the importance of image and branding, and how the Bronx continues to influence his sound, mentality, and approach to the culture. From his studio process to the lessons he wants the next generation of Bronx artists to understand, this conversation is about staying grounded while building something that lasts.If you value authenticity, loyalty, and artists who carry the history of their city while carving their own lane — this one is essential.🛰️ Follow @thehypenyc on IG & @thehyperadionyc on X🎧 Tap in — real artists, real stories, real culture.
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Soul Fantasy
Mar 1500:59:44Tap to summarizeThis week’s episode drifts into the space where imagination meets soul.“Soul Fantasy” is for the moments when R&B lets go of the rules and leans into feeling.These records don’t just play — they float.Melodies that feel cinematic.Voices that glide across the rhythm.Production that creates a mood you can step inside.This is R&B that feels like a daydream with a heartbeat — music that carries emotion, atmosphere, and soul all at once.Not rushed.Not forced.Just timeless feeling curated with intention.Because when R&B taps into fantasy, it reminds us that soul music isn’t just heard — it’s experienced.📡 Follow @thehypenyc on IG and @thehyperadionyc on X for real curation and legacy-centered R&B.🎧 Tap in. Let the music take you somewhere.
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The Pulse of the Streets
Mar 1400:59:31Tap to summarizeThis week on Soul of the Streets, we tap into the heartbeat of the culture with The Pulse of the Streets.These are records carrying the energy of the culture wherever it lives — music shaped by environment, sharpened through experience, and delivered by artists who understand that Hip Hop has always been about voice, perspective, and presence.From rising artists building their names to established voices reinforcing their position, every track in this lineup brings its own pressure. Different sounds, different regions, different stories — all connected by the same respect for the craft and the culture that built it.If you listen for the hunger, the bars, and the energy behind the music — this episode is for you.🛰️ Follow @thehypenyc on Instagram & @thehyperadionyc on X🎧 Tap in with Soul of the Streets — where the culture speaks for itself.
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