Podcasts by Catch Up

Mailbag Season Finale: Lupe Fiasco, The Greatest Unreleased Tracks, Forehead Diamonds, and much more. from 2021-02-17T13:58:34

This week, James and Jordan wind down the current season of Catch Up by taking your mailbag questions. Has Nicki Minaj become underrated? What happened to Lupe? What is the greatest leaked track...

Playboi Carti is Rockstar Made from 2021-01-22T09:49:58

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan talk about one of the most consistently exciting artists working in hip hop, Playboi Carti. The two look back on how Carti first came on their radar, the ...

Rico Nasty’s Nightmare Vacation is a Trip Worth Taking from 2021-01-12T08:19:14

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss one of the most exciting rappers currently working, Rico Nasty. The two talk about the artist’s early days in Maryland, her breakout series of mix...

A Guide to Kid Cudi from 2021-01-05T07:45:35

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan go deep on the career of a beloved, but often polarizing artist, Kid Cudi. The two discuss Cudi’s origins, his influence on contemporary music, his work w...

2020 Year in Review (Pt. 2): Lil Durk, Headie One, and more. from 2020-12-18T08:22:09

This week, on the second part of our 2020 wrap-up, James and Jordan discuss some more of their favourite music from this year including Rico Nasty (1:00), Tobe Nwigwe (6:20), Lil Durk (8:35), Ru...

2020 Year in Review (Pt. 1): Lil Uzi Vert, Griselda Records, and more. from 2020-12-11T12:47:57

This week, on the first of a two-part 2020 wrap-up, James and Jordan discuss some of their favorite music of the year including work by Lil Uzi Vert (6:45), Zsela (16:20), Teezo Touchdown (19:00...

Is J. Cole a Top 5 Contemporary Rapper? What’s the Greatest Diss Track of All-Time? Who’s the “Cutest” Rapper? + More Mailbag Questions! from 2020-12-04T11:40:46

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan answer an assortment of great questions submitted by listeners. The two cover oversaturation in the rap genre, Lil Baby’s historic 2020 run, where ‘The St...

The Gucci and Jeezy Verzuz Swerve + Megan Thee Stallion’s Lukewarm News from 2020-11-27T13:37

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan give a comprehensive breakdown of the epic Gucci Mane vs. Jeezy 'Verzuz' Battle. They then discuss Megan Thee Stallion's bittersweet 2020 and give their t...

The Great White Rapper Debate, ft. Jack Harlow. + Flo Milli from 2020-11-20T08:52:15

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan give their opinions on one of 2020s most divisive artists, Louisville rapper Jack Harlow. They also discuss the wildly talented Flo Milli and her impressi...

Why Do So Many Rappers Like Trump? + Remembering King Von and Mod Club. from 2020-11-10T09:07:13

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan talk about the number of high profile rappers who supported Trump in the last election, from Lil Wayne to Lil Pump. They also discuss the untimely death o...

Ep. 59: Women in Hip Hop: A Conversation with Dijah SB and Exmiranda from 2020-06-19T10:29:21

This week, James and Jordan are back from a long break to sit down and chat with two pillars of the Toronto Hip Hop scene, Brittany “Exmiranda” Manu and Dijah SB.

The episode is produced ...

Ep. 58: Remembering Pop Smoke from 2020-02-26T18:00:47

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the short but remarkable career of Pop Smoke, the NYC rapper who tragically lost his life last week. 

Catch Up is hosted by Listen

Ep. 55: Swagger Rite Embodies the Confidence of the New Toronto from 2019-11-20T11:51:35

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan sit down with one of Toronto’s most exciting young talents, Swagger Rite. The three talk about Swagger’s early days growing up at Jane and Weston, his bre...

Catch Up Archives: Why T-Pain Matters from 2019-11-13T21:51:14

This week on we dig into our archives and revisit a discussion on one of the more influential, but also underappreciated artists of this century, T-Pain.

James and Jordan talk about the o...

Ep. 54: Is Danny Brown Actually Old Now? + The Time Jordan Got Punched in the Face at a Concert. from 2019-11-05T21:03:19

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the career of one of this decade's most talented rappers, Danny Brown. The two talk about Brown’s long road to success, his brilliant sophomore al...

Ep. 53: From Sunday Service to Jesus is King: A Look at Kanye’s 2019 from 2019-10-29T19:10:12

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan break down Kanye West’s bold new album ‘Jesus is King’. The two talk about Kanye abandoning ‘Yandhi’, the start of Sunday Service, his revealing interview...

Ep. 52: Live With DJ Akademiks from 2019-10-21T23:00

This week, on a very special LIVE episode of Catch Up, James and Jordan sit down with hip-hop blogger, personality, provocateur, and some might say "troll," DJ Akademiks. The three discuss Akade...

Ep. 51: A Guide to Da Baby from 2019-10-09T12:22:08

This week on Catch Up, Jordan and guest host Kyle Fulton discusses the meteoric rise of one of 2019’s biggest breakout stars, Da Baby. The two discuss Da Baby’s prolific mixtape career, his freq...

Ep. 50: James and Jordan on a Lifetime of Hip Hop Fandom from 2019-09-24T13:36:51

On a very special 50th episode of Catch Up, James and Jordan decide it’s finally time that they interview each other about their respective relationships to hip hop. The two reminisce about thei...

Ep. 49: Examining the Up and Down Career of Nicki Minaj from 2019-09-17T14:16:34

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan take a look at the career of a wildly talented yet maddeningly inconsistent rap star, Nicki Minaj. The two talk about Minaj’s early days as a member of th...

Ep. 48: Why Young Thug’s new album is more than just So Much Fun from 2019-09-10T11:45:03

This on Catch Up, James and Jordan talk about one of the most influential and unique rappers of the decade, Young Thug. The two discuss Thugger’s great early releases like ‘I Came From Nothing 2...

Ep. 47: Why is Chance the Rapper so Unlikable? from 2019-09-03T14:35:05

This week on the Season 2 premiere of Catch Up, James and Jordan talk about the increasing critical backlash to one of rap’s biggest stars, Chance the Rapper. The two discuss Chance’s early mast...

Ep. 46: Breaking Down the 2019 XXL Freshman Class from 2019-06-24T20:40:46

It’s that time of the year again! This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan do their annual analysis of the XXL Freshman Class, diving deep on artists like Tierra Whack, Roddy Ricch, Gunna, Rico N...

Ep. 45: Dreezy, SAFE, Young Nudy + more in our Midyear Roundup from 2019-06-17T21:37:06

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan highlight a few 2019 artists, songs, and albums that may have initially been off their radar, but are very deserving of some recognition.

The pair ...

Ep. 44: New Albums From Denzel Curry and Skepta from 2019-06-10T21:01

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the careers of two rappers who have risen from underground rap communities to achieve mainstream success, Denzel Curry and Skepta.

The pair...

Ep. 43: A Guide to Tyler, The Creator from 2019-06-03T20:56:51

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan do a deep dive on one of hip hop’s most talented, yet divisive figures, Tyler, The Creator.

The two discuss Tyler’s early days as the mastermind o...

Ep. 42: Megan Thee Stallion is the Future of Houston Rap from 2019-05-27T20:32:26

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the rise of one of 2019’s biggest breakout stars, Houston rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

The two talk about Megan’s place within Houston’s la...

Ep. 41: Our Favourite Rap Beefs of All Time Pt. 2 (All Cam’ron Edition) from 2019-05-20T21:51

This week on Catch Up, in the second of a two-part series on underrated rap beefs of the 2000s, James and Jordan focus in on perhaps one of the greatest beef artists of all time, Harlem rapper a...

Ep. 40: Our Favourite Rap Beefs of All Time Pt. 1 from 2019-05-13T21:39

This week on Catch Up, in the first of two parts, James and Jordan highlight a few of their absolute favourite rap beefs from this century.

The two spend the episode’s first half breakin...

Ep. 39: Has Eminem Become Underrated? from 2019-05-06T22:05:57

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the legacy of one of hip-hop’s most iconic and polarizing figures, Eminem. Following years of disappointing releases, it’s become easy to forget t...

Ep. 38: Celebrating Beyoncé’s ‘Homecoming’ from 2019-04-29T21:22:25

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan do a deep dive on Beyoncé’s already classic concert film and live album, ‘Homecoming’.

The two discuss the story behind the historic performance, w...

Ep. 37: A Guide to Lil Uzi Vert from 2019-04-22T20:49:28

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan do a deep dive on one this era’s most talented young artists, Lil Uzi Vert.

The two discuss Uzi’s early career in Philadelphia, his breakthrough ‘L...

Ep. 36: Lil Nas X and the Yeehaw Agenda from 2019-04-15T21:14:05

This week on Catch Up, inspired by the wild success of Lil Nas X’s ‘Old Town Road’, James and Jordan investigate the “yeehaw agenda” and look back on the history of “country-rap”.

The two...

Ep. 35: Remembering Nipsey Hussle from 2019-04-08T21:24:14

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan pay tribute to the legendary rapper, entrepreneur and community activist Nipsey Hussle, who tragically passed away last week.

The two discuss Nipse...

Ep. 34: Mailbag Part II ft. Jay Electronica, Latin Trap, Pressa, and more. from 2019-04-01T21:42:30

This week on Catch Up James and Jordan answer more of your questions including:

• Who’s the most exciting Toronto artist right now?

• What is Jay Electronica...
  Listen

Ep. 33: Mailbag ft. DaBaby, Lizzo, Russ, and more. from 2019-03-25T21:56:27

This week on Catch Up James and Jordan answer listener mailbag questions including:

• What’s the deal with Russ?

• Who’s had the best career rebrand?
Listen

Ep. 32: Why T-Pain Matters from 2019-03-18T21:30

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss one of the more influential, but also underappreciated artists of this century, T-Pain.

The two talk about the origins of auto-tune, T-pain...

Ep. 31: Solange Returns from 2019-03-11T21:22:22

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss one of this generation’s greatest musical talents, Solange Knowles.

The two trace Solange’s career starting with her early days in the mus...

Ep. 30: SoundCloud Rap is Dead, Long Live SoundCloud Rap! from 2019-03-04T22:44:03

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan look at the abrupt rise and fall of one of the more polarizing musical genres in recent memory, SoundCloud Rap.

The two examine the origins of Soun...

Ep. 29: Will Classic Mixtapes Survive in the Age of Streaming? from 2019-02-25T23:24:53

This week on Catch Up, inspired by Drake’s recent decision to re-release his breakout mixtape ‘So Far Gone’ onto streaming services, James and Jordan point to other classic mixtapes that deserve...

Ep. 28: A Guide to Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) from 2019-02-18T22:47:27

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the history and music of one of this decade’s most innovative and consistently excellent hip-hop labels, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE).

The ...

Ep. 27: A Tale of Two Boogies from 2019-02-11T22:44:36

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss two artists with similar names but very contrasting styles.

 First, the pair talk about the Bronx’s A Boogie wit da Hoodie, touching on hi...

Ep. 26 Reckoning with Kodak Black + The Evolution of 21 Savage from 2019-02-01T08:28:53

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan talk about two wildly popular contemporary rappers with very divergent paths; Kodak Black and 21 Savage.

The two chat about Kodak Black’s...

Ep. 25: Drafting the 2019 Hip Hop Rookie Class from 2019-01-24T20:51:27

This week on Catch Up its the first annual 'Catch Up Rookie Draft', where James and Jordan highlight the hip hop artists they feel are most likely to breakout big in 2019.

The two discuss...

Ep. 24: The Best Songs and Albums of 2018 from 2018-12-20T21:28:55

On the final Catch Up of the year, James and Jordan run through their top 10 albums of the year followed by their top 10 songs. 

Ep. 22: Catch Up Classics Vol. 2 - Rich Gang: Tha Tour Pt. 1 from 2018-11-22T21:51:09

This week on Catch Up, we look back on the seminal Young Thug, Rich Home Quan and Birdman' collaborative album 'Rich Gang Tha Tour Pt. 1'. The episode is the second part of a retrospective serie...

Ep. 21: Exploring the Legacy of Lil Peep from 2018-11-16T15:21:35

This week on Catch Up, Jordan and guest host Kyle Fulton discuss the enduring influence of the emo-rap legend Lil Peep, one year after his untimely death. The two discuss Peep's early mixtape da...

Ep. 20: A Guide to Metro Boomin from 2018-11-08T21:29:02

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss arguably the most influential producer of this decade, Metro Boomin. The two go back to the producer's early days in St. Louis, his legendary coll...

Ep. 19: Josephine Cruz (aka jayemkayem) on the Evolution of the Hip Hop Club Scene from 2018-11-01T21:11:38

This week on 'Catch Up', James is joined by a special guest host, renowned Toronto DJ Josephine Cruz (aka jayemkayem). The two discuss how they both got into DJing, how DJing hip hop has evolved...

Ep. 18: Does 'Quality Control' Need More Quality Control? + New Albums From Quavo and Lil Yachty from 2018-10-25T20:38:21

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the history of the much celebrated Atlanta record label, 'Quality Control Music, and then give their thoughts two of the label's most recent relea...

Ep. 17: A Brief History of Collaborative Mixtapes + Lil Baby& Gunna's 'Drip Harder' from 2018-10-11T21:56:41

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the increasingly common trend of collaborative mixtapes; looking back on touchstones of the form like Lil Wayne and Juelz Santana's 'I Can't Feel My ...

Ep. 16: Lil Wayne: The Life and Times of Dwayne Michael Carter from 2018-10-04T23:46:22

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan return from vacation to discuss the career of one of their all time favourite artists, Lil Wayne. The two discuss Weezy’s early days on Cash Money, his un...

Ep. 15: Travis Scott's 'Astroworld' + Young Thug's 'Slime Language' from 2018-09-03T10:34:09

This week on Catch Up, Jordan breaks down his experience at the 'Aubrey & the Three Migos' concert (2:20), and then he and James discuss new releases from two of their favourite contemporary art...

Ep. 14: Catch Up Classics Vol. 1 ( Good Kid, M.A.A.D City& Finally Rich) from 2018-08-16T22:03:59

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan look back on two of this decade's most influential records: Kendrick Lamar's 'Good Kid, M.A.A.D City' and Chief Keef's 'Finally Rich'. The episode is the ...

Ep. 13: Mailbag #2 - Is the OVO Sweatshop Real? What is the Next Evolution of Hip Hop? + Much More from 2018-08-09T20:36:36

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan are back to answer more of your mailbag questions. The two weigh in on Spotify and YouTube's recent attempt remove certain controversial artists (0:45), t...

Ep. 12: Jazz Cartier, and Prime Boys from 2018-08-03T06:56:26

It's a Toronto centric episode of Catch Up, with James and Jordan discussing the Prime Boy's debut album 'Koba World', as well as Jazz Cartier's new LP 'Fleurever'.

Also referenced on thi...

Ep. 11: Mailbag - The Next Atlanta, The Best Forgotten Rappers, and More from 2018-07-26T20:57:33

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan answer your questions in our first ever mailbag episode! The two discuss which city has the best chance of becoming "the next Atlanta" (1:30), the first r...

Ep. 10: A$AP Rocky, Teyana Taylor, and Future from 2018-07-19T21:39:44

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss A$AP Rocky's latest effort 'Testing' (1:15), Teyana Taylor's Wyoming Session album 'K.T.S.E' (20:00), and finish things off with some thoughts on ...

Ep. 9: Is 'Scorpion' The Beginning of The End For Drake? from 2018-07-05T23:37:04

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the tragic losses of Smoke Dawg and Koba Prime, and then give their takes Drake's highly anticipated double album 'Scorpion'. 

Also referen...

Ep. 8: The Best Music of 2018 - So Far from 2018-06-28T23:02

With 2018 at the halfway point, James and Jordan use this week's Catch Up to highlight the best albums and songs of the year, so far.

Albums discussed include:

Bloc Boi JB's 'Simi'...

Ep. 7: Processing the Life and Death of XXXTentacion + The Carters, and Nas from 2018-06-22T06:04:42

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the untimely death of Jimmy Wopo (3:30), as well as the career, and subsequent murder, of the extremely controversial XXXTentacion (7:00). They th...

Ep. 6: Analyzing the 2018 XXL Freshman Class + Kids See Ghosts from 2018-06-15T07:05:01

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the highs and lows of Kid Cudi's career leading up to his new Kanye collaboration 'Kids See Ghosts, and then break down the 2018 XXL Magazine Freshma...

Ep. 5: I hate 'Ye' its awesome from 2018-06-07T22:12:15

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan unpack Kanye West's polarizing new album 'Ye'. The pair discuss the circus of events leading up to the album's release (6:45), its controversial themes an...

Ep. 4: A Guide to the Drake and Pusha T Beef from 2018-05-31T21:59:57

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan go deep on the Pusha T and Drake beef, exploring exactly how we got to this point. They cover the legacy of Clipse (1:50), their original feud with Lil Wa...

Ep. 3: Princess Nokia, Nav, and YBN Cordae from 2018-05-25T00:00

This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan talk about YBN Cordae's response to '1985'...

Ep. 2: Azealia Banks and Cardi B, Playboi Carti, and Lil Baby from 2018-05-17T21:34:47

This week on 'Catch Up', Jordan and James discuss the new Lil Baby and Drake single 'Yes Indeed' (1:30), Playboi Carti's debut album 'Die Lit' (16:30), the enduring influence of Chief Keef (22:2...

Ep. 1: J.Cole, Rae Sremmurd, and Post Malone from 2018-05-14T12:31:30

On the inaugural episode of Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the origins of Boosie Fade (0:25), Rae Sremmunrd's new triple album 'SR3MM' (14:45), Post Malone's 'beerbongs & bentleys' (24:20), ...