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Artwork for The Almanac of Rap

The Almanac of Rap

Donwill/Okayplayer
Hip Hop
Michael Jackson
Comedy
Lupe Fiasco
Hip-Hop
MC Lyte
Rap
Hip-Hop Culture
Wu-Tang Clan
Digable Planets
Salt-N-Pepa
Artificial Intelligence
Music Industry
Fashion
Webby Awards
Homeboy Sandman
Shadow Box
Parody Songs
New Orleans
Hip Hop Culture

The Almanac of Rap is a two-time Webby Award-winning show that examines trends in hip hop and their impact over time...and it's way more fun than that description makes it sound. Each week, our host Donwill asks a question, presents a theory and finds a guest to come to some sort of consensus about it. Simply put, it’s a show about rap, by a rapper who loves rap music. If you're new to the Almanac... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes73Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music InterviewsMusicMusic History

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Artwork for The Almanac of Rap

Latest Episodes

What happens when an artist refuses to separate creativity from revolution? Poet, musician, actor, filmmaker, and cultural provocateur Saul Williams joins Donwill for an expansive conversation about Leap Life, his first solo studio album in seven yea... more

YouTube

What happens when one of hip-hop's most elusive albums becomes the subject of a Netflix documentary? RZA, the visionary producer, filmmaker, and founding architect of the Wu-Tang Clan, joins Donwill to discuss The Disciple: A Wu-Tang Fable, the new d... more

YouTube

Digable Planets helped redefine the possibilities of hip-hop in the early 1990s, blending jazz, funk, political consciousness, and a distinctly cosmic sensibility into a sound that resisted easy categorization. More than three decades later, Ishmael ... more

YouTube

Before Digable Planets helped redefine the sound of alternative hip-hop, Ladybug Mecca was a young artist absorbing Brazilian music, jazz, and the rhythms of her family's home. Three decades after Blowout Comb became a cornerstone of jazz-inflected h... more

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Saul Williams
Poet, musician, actor, filmmaker, author and director.
Episode: Leap Life feat Saul Williams
Ishmael Butler
Rapper and member of Digable Planets, known as Butterfly
Digable Planets
Episode: Digable Planets feat Butterfly and Doodlebug
Craig Irving
Rapper and member of Digable Planets, known as Doodlebug
Digable Planets
Episode: Digable Planets feat Butterfly and Doodlebug
Ladybug Mecca
Founding member of Digable Planets; Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellowship at Harvard
Digable Planets; Harvard Fellowship
Episode: Blowout Comb feat Ladybug Mecca
Too Short
Godfather of Bay Area Hip Hop, long-standing rapper and producer
Self / LL Cool J's Rock the Bell Radio
Episode: Blow the Whistle feat. Too $hort
Ken Swift
Long-time Rock Steady Crew member, president of Break Life and the 7 Gems Hip Hop Movement
Rock Steady Crew; Break Life; 7 Gems Hip Hop Movement
Episode: Rock Steady feat Ken Swift
Maiya the Don
Brooklyn-bred emcee leveraging social media into rap success
Independent artist / Book Club founder
Episode: Precious Cargo feat Maiya the Don
Leron Thomas
Musician, Pan Amsterdam alias; trumpet player, composer, vocalist
Pan Amsterdam / Leron Thomas
Episode: Pan Amsterdam feat Leron Thomas
La Reezy
New Orleans-based rapper
Independent artist
Episode: Skiddle Bandana feat La Reezy

Host

Donwill
Host of The Almanac of Rap; long-time host and researcher with a focus on hip hop history, culture, and interviews.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 47 ratings
  • A Refreshing Perspective

    Learning can be fun kids!

    Seriously tho, listening to these episodes leave me feeling like I understand a bit more about some of my favorite artists.

    Sometimes, it’s led me to new folks as well.

    It can be wrapped in humor, faith, or purpose- but the sharing of the insights are awesome and appreciated.

    Peace.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Conch Love
    United States7 months ago
  • The best Hip Hop Podcast out

    This is the smartest, most entertaining podcast out right now. If you were there for the Okayplayer Boards run from 2000-2009 then YOU KNOW how dope this podcast is. Shout outs to Donwill for mixing the research of Nardwar, with The Office Style comedy, and the best interviews with real questions out there. I want Donwill to interview Doechii next!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ChromaPixelNYC
    United States2 years ago
  • Other worldly

    This podcast is perfection.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The better Nate
    United States3 years ago
  • Wyatt Cenac episode was a lot of fun!!!

    Gotta go back and catch the first two eps, definitely dig the energy and insights👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Daddyonthego
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Smart research mixed with humor and warmth.
Fresh perspective on hip hop history and culture.
Energy from Wyatt Cenac episode shows strong chemistry.
Engaging, informative, and fun with strong guests.
Mix of archives and contemporary insights feels unique.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Leap Life feat Saul Williams
Q: Why should the artist take sides?
Williams argues that neutrality is impossible and silence in the face of injustice is complicity. He says artists should use their work to challenge power rather than reinforce propaganda.
Leap Life feat Saul Williams
Q: What was the impetus to be like, okay, I don't know when you started working on it, but I'm dropping an album in 2026?
Williams says there was no deliberate decision to release an album in 2026. After shifting his focus from online activism back to poetry, music and performance, Carlos Niño recognized a coherent story in his experimental demos and sequenced them into Leap Life.
A Wu Tang Fable feat RZA
Q: Can you think of a scalable way for a smaller artist to model this? Is there a world in which there's a replicable version of this for other artists?
RZA points to direct-to-consumer models and says artists can build sustainable careers by recognizing and serving the support of a devoted fan base.
A Wu Tang Fable feat RZA
Q: What's the main takeaway that you'd like viewers to leave with after seeing this film?
RZA says persistence can overcome resistance, and explains that the fable also explores ingenuity and how people sometimes devalue what they cannot obtain.
Digable Planets feat Butterfly and Doodlebug
Q: What do you guys attribute to rap groups not being as prominent nowadays?
Craig Irving says many artists want to become stars and pursue their own ideas, while Ishmael Butler points to phones, social media, self-branding and the decline of community-oriented creative culture.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Almanac of Rap

What is The Almanac of Rap about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show spotlights hip hop trends, history, and culture through long-form conversations with artists, producers, historians, and industry insiders. Episodes often blend archival context with contemporary perspectives, drawing out how moments in rap have shaped sound, identity, and culture. A standout feature is the host's mix of research-driven questions, humor, and candid storytelling, which tends to create nuanced conversations about artistry, commerce, and community in hip hop. The format tends to attract listeners who relish deep dives into lineage, production, and the cultural ecosystem surrounding rap, making it a compelling pick for guests who want thoughtful, grounded discussions with a music-focused audience.

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How many listeners does The Almanac of Rap get?

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How many subscribers and views does The Almanac of Rap have?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Almanac of Rap?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Almanac of Rap:

1. Friends Keep Secrets
2. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
3. Bandsplain
4. Who's with Me? with W. Kamau Bell
5. Threedom

How many episodes of The Almanac of Rap are there?

The Almanac of Rap launched 4 years ago and published 73 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Almanac of Rap?

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What guests have appeared on The Almanac of Rap?

Recent guests on The Almanac of Rap include:

1. Saul Williams
2. Ishmael Butler
3. Craig Irving
4. Ladybug Mecca
5. Too Short
6. Ken Swift
7. Maiya the Don
8. Leron Thomas

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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