Don’t Quote Me

2026 Hip Hop Awards - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 79)

In this episode, the pod sits down for the big one: the 2026 DQM Hip Hop Awards. We talk everything from the Newcomer of the Year to best album. Our producer Wolf steps from behind the camera to join the pod as we celebrate a huge milestone - the official toast to 3 years of Don’t Quote Me.
We chop it up about our favorite (and funniest) DQM moments, the viral clips that cleared 100k, and interview some familiar faces. From the Best Comment to the highly anticipated Moment of the Year, we’re handing out flowers and telling some legendary stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
 
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:20 Opening Interviews
2:24 Show Start
3:03 Opening Quote
4:59 Shoutouts + Sponsors
8:17 Cast Intros
10:50 Newcomer of the Year
12:27 Rap Battle of the Year
14:27 Jack Danz Interview
15:16 Worst Moment
17:02 Lyricist of the Year
20:30 Song of the Year
23:10 Music Video of the Year
25:36 DQM Episode of the Year
34:20 Steve Digi & Steve Canal Reactions
38:41 Toast to 3 Years
39:22 Cast Member of hte Year
41:00 Funniest Moment (DQM)
45:00 Viral Clip of the Year (over 100k)
46:27 Best Comment
49:41 Supporter of the Year
52:16 Moment of the Year
54:17 Verse of the Year

Top 25 Rap Albums of 2025 - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 78)

In this episode, the pod sits down to break down the definitive list of the Top 25 Rap Albums of 2025. We talk everything from the return of legendary New York icons and high-stakes sequels to the independent grinders and Southern heavyweights who owned the year. Our producer Wolf steps from behind the camera to join the pod, bringing a fresh perspective as we debate which projects actually had the most impact on the culture and tell some legendary stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
Timestamps:
 
0:00 Intro
3:38 DQM Awards Announcement
4:20 YFN Lucci - Already Legend
5:23 Vinnie Paz - God Sent Vengeance
8:04 Mobb Deep - Infinite
10:30 Black Milk - Food From the Gods
12:24 Monaleo - Who Did the Body
16:48 NBA YoungBoy - MASA
18:19 Errol Holden - Mulberry Silk Road
22:21 $ome $exy $ongs 4 U - PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake
24:46 A Futuristic Summa - Metro Boomin
27:07 The Game - Every Movie Needs a Trailer
29:01 Deante' Hitchcock - Good Things Take Time
30:17 Eli Goes Kanye! (Vzn Szn)
32:44 Wale - everything is a lot.
37:49 Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele 2
40:31 Key Glock - Glockaveli
43:19 Starlito and Don Trip - Step Brothers 4 Life
48:08 Conway the Machine - You Can't Kill God With Bullets
53:34 JID - God Does Like Ugly
58:52 Raekwon - The Emperor's New Clothes
1:03:56 Freddie Gibbs - Alfredo 2
1:08:09 Dave - The Boy Who Played the Harp
1:15:50 Honorable Mentions
1:23:18 Outro

Robin Nathaniel on Living with Wu-Tang, Going from Rap to TED Talks & The GOAT NBA Player - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 77)

In this episode, the pod sits down with Robin Nathaniel, award-winning social media strategist, TEDx Speaker, and author of Social Media SYNC. He talks everything from his incredible career pivot from a hip-hop producer to a thought leader, the value of Hip Hop Creating Discipline, and living by his motto, "Connect. Create. Contribute."
We chop it up about the truth behind the famous story of living with Wu-Tang Clan member Cappadonna, the mindset of getting "Mud on Your Boots," and the biggest mistakes people make with social media (and how to fix them with his SYNC Method). Plus, we settle the infamous All-Time NBA Fantasy Draft and GOAT debate! This is a legendary conversation about music, career, strategy, and basketball that you won’t hear anywhere else.
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
4:30 Pivoting from Rap to Producing
9:33 Connect, Create, Contribute
13:00 Hip Hop Creating Discipline
15:45 “Do What You Are”
20:00 Social Media Advice
28:30 Ted Talks
32:20 Greatest NBA Player Argument
47:25 All-Time NBA Fantasy Draft
55:55 “Mud on Your Boots”
1:03:53 Unpopular Hip Hop Opinions
1:07:35 End of the Weak
1:09:58 What’s Next
1:13:01 Trivia

Top 10 Underrated Southern Rap Albums - Don't Quote Me

MJ and Wolf hold down the south and name their most underrated rap albums. #south #rap #podcast

Rock (Heltah Skeltah) on Beef w/ Biggie & Mystikal, Sean Price & Infamous Street Stories - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 76)

In this episode, the pod sits down with Rockness Monsta (of Heltah Skeltah and Boot Camp Clik fame). He talks everything from the Duck Down backstory to the infamous beef with Mystikal, the legendary partnership with Sean Price, going solo on the West Coast, and his take on the top albums of 1996. We chop it up about the truth behind the Biggie beef, the infamous Coconut Building Incident, the history of The Decepticons, and tell some legendary rap stories you won’t hear anywhere else.

The Top Rap Albums From Every Region! (All-Time) - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 75)

In this episode, the Don't Quote Me crew puts an end to the culture-defining debate: What are the Greatest Rap Albums from Every Region, All-Time? We dive deep into the classic, career-defining projects and break down the albums that truly solidified the sound of the East Coast, West Coast, The South, and The Midwest.
 
The debate is raw and unfiltered as the panel goes through album-by-album, settling the score on which projects deserve the ultimate crown. We debate the lasting impact of projects like Tupac’s The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory, the revolutionary sound of Outkast’s ATLiens, the unforgettable trap blueprint of Jeezy’s Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101, and whether Eminem’s classic The Slim Shady LP or Marshall Mathers LP reigns supreme in the Midwest. The conversation culminates in a heated battle for the New York throne, pitting Biggie’s legendary Life After Death against Nas’s resurgence on Stillmatic and Raekwon’s masterpiece, The Purple Tape.
 
If you're a fan of hip hop history, classic albums, or just love a good heated debate about the culture, this episode is a must-watch. Get your list ready!
 
Timestamps
 
0:00 Intro
00:53 Don Killuminati:
1:25 Yellow Album
4:35 Slim Shady LP
9:24 Marshall Mathers LP
16:09 Donuts
22:53 Country Grammar
31:38 Thug Motivation 101
41:11 Mista Don’t Play
45:25 ATLiens
54:18 Chopper City In the Ghetto
1:03:21 Get Rich Or Die Tryin’
1:13:21 Stillmatic
1:17:57 The Purple Tape
1:29:44 Life After Death

Steve Canal on Playing Dwyane Wade, Marrying WNBA Legend & The Greatest Rap Business Deals - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 74)

In this episode, the pod sits down with New York business legend, author and brand expert Steve Canal. He talks everything from his high school ball days in Brooklyn to co-founding ONE Musicfest, marrying a WNBA star, the business lessons he’s picked up along the way, and the top street ballers of all-time.  We chop it up about how Steve brought Tommy Hilfiger to Rucker Park, Corporate America vs entrepreneurship, and tell some legendary rap and basketball stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
 
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
4:13 Book
6:14 HS Ball in Brooklyn
09:58 Tommy Hilfiger
17:33 Street Ball
26:42 Corporate vs Entrepreneurship
30:56 The Money vs The People
37:08 Importance of a Wife
39:58 Fear of Success
44:22 Marrying WNBA Player
50:37 Business vs Faith
59:45 ONE Musicfest
1:05:52 Great Rap Business Deals
1:09:42 Bad Business
1:13:14 Trivia
1:40:31 Outro

Cyhi The Prynce on Kanye, Getting Locked Up with Jagged Edge & Battling on URL - Don’t Quote Me (Ep. 73)

Atlanta’s own Cyhi The Prynce pulls up for a legendary conversation. He opens up about his relationship with Kanye West, tells the wild story of getting locked up with Jagged Edge, and explains why he’s still ready to battle rap on URL. From his No Dope on Sundays era to GOOD Music, Cyhi shares untold stories, industry gems, and his unfiltered take on hip-hop today.

MURDA MOOK VS HITMAN HOLLA RECAP - Don’t Quote Me

MJ, PC and Drect recap one of the most aniticapted battles ever.

Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford - Who Wins? - Don't Quote Me

Aak Samson of the Tappin' In podcast joins Drect, Mj and Eli to discuss the mega fight fans have been waiting to see