Podcast
The Questions Hip-Hop
Hosted by The Questions Hip-Hop · ENGLISH
Sean Kantrowitz connects with hip hop's biggest fans – rappers, DJs, producers, writers, comedians, actors, and everything in between – to test their rap trivia skills, discuss their careers, dissect albums, and talk about how the music changed their lives.
173episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Making Illmatic: Jay-Z 'The Blueprint 2' w/ Sha Stimuli
Mar 3001:38:10Tap to summarizePatreon.com/thequestionshiphop Revisiting this classic episode from 2023: Sean and MidaZ return with another installment in the Making Illmatic series. This time they're joined by Sha Stimuli to take on the formidable task of trimming Jay-Z's double-album 'The Blueprint 2: The Gift and the Curse' down to just 10 songs. The Questions: @thequestionshiphop (IG) Sean: @seandammit (IG) MidaZ: @midazthebeast (IG) Sha Stimuli: @shastimuli (IG) questionshiphop.com
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Secure the Bag: The Mailbag Episode
Mar 2300:41:07Tap to summarizePatreon.com/thequestionshiphop Los Angeles: Pharrell Game Night April 1 It's the inaugural mailbag episode. Sean answers questions about music listening habits, creative innovation vs consistent sound, phone etiquette in 2026, and more. questionshiphop.com youtube.com/thequestionshiphop The Questions Hip-Hop: Instagram Sean Kantrowitz: Instagram
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Making Illmatic - Mos Def 'The Ecstatic' w/ Ali Elabbady
Mar 1601:23:19Tap to summarizeHear the uncut episode with full music and cues at Patreon.com/thequestionshiphop Los Angeles: Pharrell Game Night April 1 The Making Illmatic format is back! Sean Kantrowitz and MidaZ the BEAST welcome writer Ali Elabbady (aka Egypto Knuckles) to do a deep dive into Mos Def's The Ecstatic and attempt to trim the album down to its 10 best songs. How do you trim this LP down to 10 songs and does doing so help or hurt the album? questionshiphop.com youtube.com/thequestionshiphop The Questions Hip-Hop: Instagram Sean Kantrowitz: Instagram MidaZ the BEAST: Instagram Ali Elabbady: Instagram
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Minneapolis Nice vs ICE w/ Tufawon & Rob Van Vranken
Mar 201:10:55Tap to summarizeA firsthand account from artist Tufawon and producer Rob Van Vranken about what is happening in Minneapolis and how communities are combatting the presence of ICE in their neighborhoods – and how you can help. Patreon.com/thequestionshiphop questionshiphop.com youtube.com/thequestionshiphop Direct Funding for Constitutional Observer training: https://linkin.bio/unidosmn/ Direct Funding for Immigrant Advocacy Organizers: https://linkin.bio/mncopal/ Rent Relief Funds: https://www.standwithminnesota.com/ Direct Food Distribution: https://www.dhhmn.com/operations Direct Family Funding: https://linktr.ee/smittenkittenmn Direct Funding for Organizers: https://linktr.ee/powwowgrounds Direct support for immigrant activists: https://www.instagram.com/miracmn Press: https://www.instagram.com/onsitepublicmedia https://www.instagram.com/bygeorgiafort https://www.instagram.com/blck.press https://www.instagram.com/sahanjournal https://www.instagram.com/mercadomedia1 https://www.instagram.com/unicorn.riot The Questions Hip-Hop: Instagram Sean Kantrowitz: Instagram Tufawon: Instagram Rob Van Vranken: Instagram
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Joe DeRosa (Questions Classic)
Feb 1600:47:22Tap to summarizeOriginally broadcast on June 15, 2020. Comedian and hip-hop aficionado Joe DeRosa puts his hip-hop trivia skills to the test and talks about his favorite albums, artists, and songs in this throwback episode from the Instagram Live days of The Questions. Patreon.com/thequestionshiphop questionshiphop.com youtube.com/thequestionshiphop The Questions Hip-Hop: Instagram Sean Kantrowitz: Instagram Joe DeRosa: Instagram
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J Dilla's Top Ten Underrated Tracks (Making Dill-Matic 2026)
Feb 900:58:38Tap to summarizeSean runs through his picks for the 10 most underrated songs in J Dilla's production catalog. (Note: this is an updated take on 2024's 'Making Dill-Matic' episode) Patreon.com/thequestionshiphop questionshiphop.com youtube.com/thequestionshiphop The Questions Hip-Hop: Instagram Sean Kantrowitz: Instagram
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2016 Draft w/ Lyric Jones and Optiks
Feb 202:00:30Tap to summarizeYou're posting photos of yourself from 2016, we're spending 2 hours drafting the highs and lows of hip-hop from 2016; we are not the same. Sean Kantrowitz and MidaZ the BEAST are joined by guests Lyric Jones and Optiks to comb through the benchmarks of a year that may not instantly ring a bell for you when it comes to hip-hop history – but trust, there's plenty to dig into here! Patreon.com/thequestionshiphop questionshiphop.com youtube.com/thequestionshiphop The Questions Hip-Hop: Instagram Sean Kantrowitz: Instagram MidaZ the BEAST: Instagram Lyric Jones: Instagram Optiks: Instagram
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Can-I-Pod: Examining Canibus' "Beasts from the East" Verse w/ Sha Stimuli
Jan 1901:52:25Tap to summarizeSean and MidaZ the BEAST welcome back Sha Stimuli (No Bars Off Show) to the pod for a thorough analysis of Canibus' verse on Lost Boyz's 1997 "Beasts from the East." What makes a verse "good"? What impact can a verse have on a career, a culture, and the industry? Rap nerds only for this one. Patreon.com/thequestionshiphop questionshiphop.com youtube.com/thequestionshiphop youtube.com/@nobarsoffshow The Questions Hip-Hop: Instagram Sean Kantrowitz: Instagram MidaZ the BEAST: Instagram Sha Stimuli: Instagram No Bars Off: Instagram
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Greatest Hits - The Best of 2025
Dec 2901:35:11Tap to summarize*taps mic* Is this thing on? Taking a break from the hiatus to reflect back on some of the best moments from the podcast in 2025. Happy New Year, thanks for listening, and be sure to join the Patreon to get more episodes, content, mixes, and more! Patreon.com/thequestionshiphop questionshiphop.com youtube.com/thequestionshiphop http://beatjunkiesound.com/ The Questions Hip-Hop: Instagram Sean Kantrowitz: Instagram
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RPM: Visionaries 'Pangaea' (Live at Beat Junkie Institute of Sound)
Sep 2200:57:59Tap to summarizeRecorded live at the Beat Junkie Institute of Sound, Sean joins the Beat Junkies (DJ Babu, DJ Rhettmatic) for their RPM listening series, unpacking Visionaries 'Pangaea' album. Patreon.com/thequestionshiphop questionshiphop.com youtube.com/thequestionshiphop http://beatjunkiesound.com/ The Questions Hip-Hop: Instagram Sean Kantrowitz: Instagram Beat Junkie Institute of Sound: Instagram
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