The Almanac of Rap

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What happens when a legendary MC takes hip-hop from the booth to the stage?

This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Masta Ace to explore the intersection of hip-hop and musical theater and what it takes to bring rap storytelling to Broadway.

From his days in the Juice Crew to building a decades-long career as one of rap’s most respected lyricists, Masta Ace reflects on longevity, reinvention, and why he still feels like he has something to prove. Masta Ace discusses:


His ambitious adaptation of The Falling Season into a stage play


Unpacking the creative process, the discipline of rewriting, and how rap lyrics must evolve when they’re used to push a narrative forward on stage.


Plus: a deep dive into hip-hop musicals from Hamilton to underground theater and why Broadway is still catching up to the culture.

Host & Guest Links (optional)

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.

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Follow Masta Ace:

Instagram: mastaacepics

Facebook:  Masta Ace

Web: www.mastaace.com

Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.
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🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an episode!🎙️

Few sounds in hip-hop are as poignant, or as influential, as the gritty production that came out of Queensbridge in the ‘90s.  This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Havoc, producer, rapper, and one half of Mobb Deep, to break down the sonic blueprint that helped define East Coast hip-hop.

From crafting signature beats behind classics like The Infamous to shaping the identity of Queensbridge rap alongside Prodigy, Havoc reflects on his production style, creative process, and the raw realities that informed their music. The conversation dives into sampling, drum programming, and how limitation often led to innovation in early hip-hop production. Havoc breaks down:


Legacy, longevity, and how the Mobb Deep sound continues to influence generations of producers and artists today from underground purists to mainstream trap.


The making of Mobb Deep’s signature dark sound.


Havoc’s production techniques and sampling approach.


Producers rappers that he would solicit beats vs rhymes from today.

Host & Guest Links (optional)

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.

Substack: New Music Tuesdays

Instagram/Threads: @donwill

Mixcloud: Donwill

Website: Donwill.me

Follow Havoc:

Instagram: mobbdeephavoc

Linktr.ee: Havoc

Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.  Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com.
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Religion has always had a place in hip-hop, from ‘god-body’ flows to references of the “third eye” and quoting Surahs; but what happens when you sit down with an actual Buddhist rapper?

This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill is joined by rapper, author, and practitioner Born I to explore the long-standing (and often misunderstood) relationship between Buddhism and hip-hop culture. From references to “Buddha” in rap lyrics to deeper conversations around mindfulness, suffering, and self-compassion, this episode separates fact from folklore.  Born I will break down:


Key Buddhist concepts like the Four Noble Truths, Dharma, and mantras


His own journey navigating hip-hop, electronic music, and spiritual practice


How artists use music as testimony, how hooks can function like mantras, and why hip-hop’s connection to Buddhism runs deeper than weed references and fashion logos.


Plus, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, and Childish Gambino lyrics get put under the microscope…are they actually tapping into Buddhist philosophy, or just vibing? (You be the judge.)

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.Substack: New Music TuesdaysInstagram/Threads: @donwillMixcloud: DonwillWebsite: Donwill.meFollow Born IInstagram:  bornimusic  Web: bornimusic.comSoundcloud: bornimusic 

Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.  Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill is joined by hip-hop legend Bun B for a deep conversation on the evolution of Southern rap, the cultural impact of UGK, and how Texas carved out its own lane in hip-hop history.  From Port Arthur to global stages, Bun B reflects on building UGK alongside Pimp C, navigating regional bias in the early days of hip-hop, and the slow but undeniable rise of the South to dominance. The conversation explores how independent hustle, local scenes, and sonic innovation helped Southern artists shift the industry’s center of gravity. Bun B breaks down:


How UGK helped define the Southern rap sound


The South’s fight for respect in early hip-hop


Texas rap culture and independent grind

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.

Substack: New Music Tuesdays

Instagram/Threads: @donwill

Mixcloud: Donwill

Website: Donwill.me

Follow Bun B

Instagram:  bunb

Tik Tok: bun_b1

Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.  Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

📢 Special Announcement 📢

Want to join Donwill for a live recording of The Almanac of Rap in NYC?Click here to request an invite. (Limited capacity. Invite only.)On Air Fest, Soho House, and Okayplayer have joined forces for a special live episode of the Almanac of Rap featuring Regan Sommer McCoy, Chief Curator of the Mixtape Museum on March 24, 2026 at 5:30pm.Join Donwill and Regan at Ludlow House NYC for a conversation on hip-hop preservation, archival storytelling, and the hidden science behind mixtape culture.

📢 ### 📢

Juno Award-winning Canadian rapper and broadcaster Shad joins Donwill for a long-overdue conversation that spans music, media, and creative growth. From freestyling in London, Ontario to winning a Juno Award over Drake, Shad reflects on carving out a career in a country with a very different hip-hop ecosystem.  Shad breaks down:

His journey from freestyling in London to becoming a Juno Award-winning artist, and beating Drake in the process.


Your Boy Tony Braxton and why artists should never “disrespect the music”

Hosting Hip-Hop Evolution and interviewing icons like Dolly Parton and Norm Macdonald

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.

Substack: New Music Tuesdays

Instagram/Threads: @donwill

Mixcloud: Donwill

Website: Donwill.me

Follow Shad

Instagram: @shadkmusic

Web: shadk.com

Music: K.I.S.S. + Islands

Created and hosted by two time Webby Award-winning host Donwill, The Almanac of Rap is produced by Okayplayer, a division of AREYA MEDIA Inc. Originally launched in 1999, Okayplayer is the original progressive music site and maintains its position as the premier digital destination for music and culture connoisseurs worldwide.  Find exclusive Okayplayer merch, tees and limited releases at https://shop.okayplayer.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices