Cut Curator Podcast

 Super producer Teddy Riley. Teddy shares stories about Heavy D, the birth of New Jack Swing, helping Doug E. Fresh produce "The Show", and teaming up with Kool Moe Dee. He also talks about almost losing a job with Michael Jackson before it really started and how MJ left him hanging for two weeks while recording Remember The Time. Teddy tells how he went from competing against Keith Sweat to teaming with him and his unique perspective on working with then up and coming producers like Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, Devante Swing and Rodney Jerkins. He explains why their are two BlackSTREET's on tour, what it was like to work with Bobby Brown, how much he was getting cheated monetarily by his God father and manager Gene Griffin. He candidly tells the song that saved his life and the Top 5 songs he has ever made.

Bronx MC Fat Joe breaks down why R. Kelly makes him nervous, the reason black people can't claim Prince, his favorite collabo with Big Pun, working with the Diggin In The Crates Crew and how he helped 50 Cent get one of his biggest hits.

Da Brat is the first solo female MC to go platinum and she talks about her place in Hip Hop against other rappers with or without a vagina. She shares her thoughts about being a sex symbol for men and women, the super star that broke her heart and the song that resulted from it and how Biggie copied her style.

Super producer Kay Gee has made gold and platinum his for Naughty By Nature, Jaheim, Ideal, Zhane, Next, Queen Latifah and more. He shares how he Vinnie and Treach teamed up, his love of Slick Rick, Marley Marl and Teddy Riley. Plus he tells the importance family road trips from New Jersey to South Carolina influenced his sound.

A tribute episode to the King of Pop Michael Jackson. With rare stories and interviews from Jay-Z, Pharrell Williams, Diddy, Chris Tucker, Naughty By Nature, Majic Johnson, Jermaine Dupri and more. Plus a dive into the Hop Hop classics that sampled MJ.

Rapper and author Prodigy from the group Mobb Deep discusses his challenges with Sickle Cell and the inspiration behind his cookbook Commissary Kitchen, their beef with 2 Pac, the best advice he got from street hustlers, how his grandma's coffee mug inspired an album, what drove his partner Havoc into production, and how being young and hard-headed effected their career.

The World's Greatest Entertainer and Hip Hop Icon Doug E. Fresh reflects on his friendship with Prince. He shares how he met his Purple Majesty and the role comedian Sinbad played leading the two to tour together from 1999 until 2016 and how he too got schooled by his hoop game.

Cedric The Entertainer, one of the Original Kings of Comedy, has been making people laugh for years. Starting out as a stand-up comic, he worn many hats from television, to film, serving as an actor in front of the camera, a director behind it, a musician, and as a game show host. Now he wants to talk about a health issue that is no laughing matter. He shared what led him to became the spokesperson for Diabetic Nerve Pain, his all-time favorite joke, why he loves making fun of rappers, and the reason we never got an Original Kings of Comedy II.

Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace would've turned 48 today (May 21, 2019). On this episode of the podcast you will hear stories from Diddy, Jay-Z, Big Daddy Kane, Kwame, Total, Carl Thomas, NaS, and DJ Eddie F. on their time working and playing with the Brooklyn born MC.

Producer Mannie Fresh explains why he deserves to have a seat at the table with Timbaland, Dr. Dre, Pharrell and Kanye West, the reason Beyonce will have to cut him a big check this summer, the New York origins of Nola Bounce music, his top 5 rappers from New Orleans, his departure from Cash Money Records and the lesson every opening DJ needs to learn.

New Orleans native Master P rewrote the rules or the record industry when he founded his No Limit empire. From making hit records, to fashion, television, movies and sports marketing Master P has tried and conquered them all. In this episode he tells the story of the one label executive that unknowingly changed his career path, dealing with the murder of his brother, and the one thing any aspiring entrepreneur should stop doing.

R&B singer/actor Christopher Williams tells how he was forced by his label to to be "the light skinned Bobby Brown", why he grabbed Stephanie Mills butt on TV, how his -ex Stacy Dash has become a basher of black people, and how he and Prince are eerily similar.

R. Kelly the talented and troubled R&B singer joins the Cut Curator podcast and shares his uncanny ability to mirror artist like Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, the experience that was like becoming Spiderman, who he originally approached for the Best of Both Worlds project and why The Notorious B.I.G. was never considered for that opportunity.

Keith Sweat, the Harlem-born R&B singer/songwriter joins the Cut Curator Podcast and shares why he doesn't like anyone to cover his songs, teaming up with his then rival Teddy Riley to make an instant classic, and the drummer with whom he patterned his singing style. He also shares why it's important for young R&B singers to recognize his contributions to the genre and why he doesn't have to tour anymore.

MC Grand Puba who is best known as for his work with Brand Nubian in the late 80's and early 90's discusses the rise and fall of the group, how his eclectic musical taste was formed by his parents, starting out as a DJ before picking up the mic, and why he thought Mary J. Blige was strange when first met her.

Brooklyn, NY born MC and producer Daddy-O joins the Cut Curator podcast and shares why Big Daddy Kane, and LL Cool J didn't want to be a part of the Self-Destruction record, how important break beats were to the early days of Hip Hop and why he thinks you rappers don't form groups.

Rakim Allah, universally recognized as one of the most prolific MC's to ever touch a microphone, explains how he thought he was on his way to play college football before he became a Hip Hop legend. The roll that Jazz played in his life and why the song Paid In Full only has one verse

Brooklyn MC Ecstasy of the famed Hip Hop group joins the podcast and talks about their competition with Run-DMC, how they tried to write all of their songs with one common theme, and why after 30 years together Grandmaster Dee left the group.

Kevin "Lovebug Starski" Smith is universally recognized as one of the core contributors in Hip Hop's early development. He was a DJ, MC, and all around party rocker. He passed away suddenly at the age 57 from a heart attack. On this episode of the podcast Kurtis Blow, Kwame The Boy Genius, DJ Eddie F, Biz Markie, and Christopher "Play" Martin reminisce on what made Starski this pillar of Hip Hop.

Big Daddy Kane was not only one of Hip Hop's preeminet MC's during it's Golden Era, he was emulated as a fashion icon with his high top fade, wardrobe and undeniable cool. On this episode he discusses his early influences like Grandmaster Caz, and Run DMC, his beef with Slick Rick, the only two people who were to be on the Symphony and what song stamped his arrival.