The Almanac of Rap

Before hip-hop became a billion-dollar industry, it was a living culture being built in clubs, parks, train yards, and downtown art spaces across New York City.

This week on The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with writer, filmmaker, musician, and Graffiti Rock creator Michael Holman to unpack the early days of hip-hop culture and the movement that brought its four elements to a national audience for the first time.

Holman reflects on working alongside pioneers like Fab Five Freddy, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Martha Cooper, and Henry Chalfant, while helping shape the downtown New York scene that amplified breaking, graffiti, DJing, and rap beyond the Bronx. The conversation explores the creation of Graffiti Rock, the commercialization of rap versus hip-hop culture, and why graffiti writers, breakers, and DJs were eventually pushed to the margins as rap became the industry focus. Michael Holman breaks down:


The untold origins of Graffiti Rock


Fab Five Freddy, and downtown hip-hop culture


Basquiat’s band Grey


Why rap and hip-hop are not the same thing


The role of Puerto Rican breakers in evolving b-boy culture


How downtown clubs accidentally helped formalize the “four elements” of hip-hop as we know them today

🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an episode!🎙️

Follow Donwill for fun hip-hop history, cultural commentary, and more.Substack: New Music TuesdaysInstagram/Threads: @donwillMixcloud: DonwillWebsite: Donwill.me

Follow Michael Holman:

Instagram:  @michaelholman101

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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the “Purple Tape” was green?

Does Polo Ralph Lauren and Clarks’ Wallabees owe Wu-Tang residuals for teaching an entire generation how to rock each brand?

And how did Raekwon navigate dropping his solo album AFTER standout projects from both Meth and Ghost?

This week on the Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Wu-Tang Clan founding member and future Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Raekwon. Don and Rae discuss his influential solo debut album "Only Built for Cuban Linx," its iconic purple tape marketing, and the challenges of producing its sequel. Raekwon breaks down:

The importance of authenticity, hard work, and expanding the Wu-Tang universe through his music. 

His impact on fashion, including popularizing the Polo Snow Beach jacket and various collaborations that support emerging artists. 

His current goals of educating youth and maintaining artistic integrity. 

🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an episode!🎙️

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

Substack: New Music Tuesdays

Instagram/Threads: @donwill

Mixcloud: Donwill

Website: Donwill.me

Follow Raekwon:

Instagram:  raekwon   

Web: www.officialraekwon.com/     

Linktr.ee:  @RaekwonTheChef

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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this week’s Almanac of Rap mini-sode, Donwill hits the hotline and the callers come through with takes on the new Michael Jackson biopic, favorite women in hip-hop, and an unexpectedly serious debate about who has the best hair in rap (yes, there’s a running list). Along the way, listeners put Don onto hidden gems old and new, proving once again that rap’s best discoveries often come from the community. Equal parts mailbag, music nerd-out, and comedy hour; it’s another fun one from the Almanac hotline. 

Check out:

staHHr - Get Right

Tara Chase- Autonomy (1997)

📞 Got a burning hip-hop question? A thought about a past episode? A gushing compliment that you didn’t want to leave on the Youtube channel?  

Call us up at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) and leave a message.  Make sure to leave your name because we just might use your message on a future episode. (Remember calls can only be 1 minute long.)

Next topic: ☎️ Put Don onto some dope sh!t — old music, forgotten films, underrated books, great art… share something good.

Bonus: Don is still on tour with Michelle Buteau, catch a show if he’s hitting your city, tickets here.

May 6 - Los Angeles - Dolby Theater w/ Michelle Buteau

May 8 - Las Vegas - The Palazzo Theater w/ Michelle Buteau

May 15 - Atlanta - Tabernacle w/ Michelle Buteau

May 16 - New York City - The Beacon Theater w/ Michelle Buteau

May 17 - New York City - The Beacon Theater w/ Michelle Buteau

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

Substack: New Music Tuesdays

Instagram/Threads: @donwill

Mixcloud: Donwill

Website: Donwill.me

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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Blueprint, rapper, producer, author, founder of Weightless Records, and co-host of the Super Duty Tough Work podcast. The two Ohio natives dive into Blueprint’s creative process, from choosing between producing and rapping to knowing when it’s time to make an album. Blueprint shares the journey of the independent grind, the evolution of Midwest hip-hop scenes, and the legacy of Scribble Jam as a cultural hub for MCs, DJs, and artists. Blueprint breaks down:

His journey building an indie label from the ground up 

The essential game for artists navigating today’s music industry. 

Why independent success starts with ownership, not permission

🤳🏾 Got a question, comment or compliment? Leave a message today at 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455) It might just end up in an episode!🎙️

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

Substack: New Music Tuesdays

Instagram/Threads: @donwill

Mixcloud: Donwill

Website: Donwill.me

Follow Blueprint:

Instagram: printmatic   

Linktr.ee: printmatic   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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s Almanac of Rap minisode, Donwill takes a moment in between tour stops to ask listeners about formative hip hop moments, the four (or five) pillars of hip hop, and he takes a moment to share two standout emcees Salimata and Kelly Moonstone. 

Join the conversation by calling 1-877-DONWILL (366-9455).

You got a burning hip hop question? A comment about a past episode? A gushing compliment that you didn’t want to leave on the Youtube channel? Call us up and leave a message!And make sure to leave your name because we just might use your message on a future episode

Next topic: ☎️ the Michael Jackson movie…Are you going to see it? Have you seen it? Thoughts?  Call Don and let him know. 

Also, Donwill is still on tour with Michelle Buteau and if you see your city you can get tickets here.

May 1 - Oakland - Fox Theater w/ Michelle Buteau

May 6 - Los Angeles - Dolby Theater w/ Michelle Buteau

May 8 - Las Vegas - The Palazzo Theater w/ Michelle Buteau

May 15 - Atlanta - Tabernacle w/ Michelle Buteau

May 16 - New York City - The Beacon Theater w/ Michelle Buteau

May 17 - New York City - The Beacon Theater w/ Michelle Buteau

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

Substack: New Music Tuesdays

Instagram/Threads: @donwill

Mixcloud: Donwill

Website: Donwill.me

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.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices