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The Ringer

Dissect

A Music and Arts podcast Explicit

#29 in Music · 🇺🇸 #29 in Music · 🇨🇦
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About the show

Analyzing the music and meaning of one album per season, one song per episode. Join host Cole Cuchna as he dives deep into albums by Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Radiohead, Beyonce, Tyler The Creator, Frank Ocean, and more. Let's Dissect.

Newest episodes

Kendrick Lamar's Best Features Dissected Line-By-Line

1 hr 8 min

Our focus on hip hop features concludes with Kendrick Lamar. We track his entire feature catalog, from the K Dot days to his internet-breaking verse on "Like That," breaking down the best bars along the way. ⁠Full breakdown of "NOSETALGIA"⁠ ⁠PLAYLIST of all songs in this episode⁠ Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Editor: Kevin Pooler Theme: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

André 3000's Best Features Dissected Line By Line

47 min

Without a solo rap album, the second half of André 3000’s career has been largely defined by his remarkable catalog of guest features. Today, we trace that catalog from 2007 to the present, dissecting some of his most brilliant verses along the way. ⁠Listen to a playlist of Andre features heard in this episode⁠. Rhyme scheme graphic & stats by⁠ Thomas "Skhills" Hills for DJBooth Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video Editor: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

J. Cole's Best Features Dissected Line-By-Line

38 min

Our three-part series dedicated to hip-hop features begins with J. Cole. We trace the history of Cole’s feature catalog, explore his two legendary feature runs, and dissect his best bars along the way. Plus a line-by-line breakdown of his legendary “Johnny P’s Caddy" verse. ⁠PLAYLIST⁠ of J. Cole features in this episode. Rhyme scheme graphic & stats by⁠ Thomas "Skhills" Hills for DJBooth Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Editor: Kevin Pooler Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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All episodes

The newest 50 of 347 episodes

Kendrick Lamar's Best Features Dissected Line-By-Line

1 hr 8 min

Our focus on hip hop features concludes with Kendrick Lamar. We track his entire feature catalog, from the K Dot days to his internet-breaking verse on "Like That," breaking down the best bars along the way. ⁠Full breakdown of "NOSETALGIA"⁠ ⁠PLAYLIST of all songs in this episode⁠ Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Editor: Kevin Pooler Theme: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

André 3000's Best Features Dissected Line By Line

47 min

Without a solo rap album, the second half of André 3000’s career has been largely defined by his remarkable catalog of guest features. Today, we trace that catalog from 2007 to the present, dissecting some of his most brilliant verses along the way. ⁠Listen to a playlist of Andre features heard in this episode⁠. Rhyme scheme graphic & stats by⁠ Thomas "Skhills" Hills for DJBooth Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video Editor: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

J. Cole's Best Features Dissected Line-By-Line

38 min

Our three-part series dedicated to hip-hop features begins with J. Cole. We trace the history of Cole’s feature catalog, explore his two legendary feature runs, and dissect his best bars along the way. Plus a line-by-line breakdown of his legendary “Johnny P’s Caddy" verse. ⁠PLAYLIST⁠ of J. Cole features in this episode. Rhyme scheme graphic & stats by⁠ Thomas "Skhills" Hills for DJBooth Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Editor: Kevin Pooler Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rapsody Dissects 'God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops'

1 hr 48 min

Rapsody breaks down her fantastic new album 'God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops.' Learn about how her trip to Africa inspired its themes and sound, the reverence she has for hip hop, and why she views herself as a guardian of the culture she loves so dearly. Listen to ⁠'God Gotta Afro & Gold Hoops'⁠ on Spotify. Host: Cole Cuchna Editor: Kevin Pooler Engineer: Jon Jones Producer: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10 Year Anniversary Mailbag

1 hr 23 min

Dissect is 10! To celebrate, Cole dissects "Dissect" - sharing how and why he started the show ten years ago. Then he answers a ton of questions submitted by Dissect listeners. Purchase limited Anniversary Merch at ⁠dissectmerch.com⁠. Host: Cole Cuchna Editor: Kevin Pooler Producer: Justin Sayles Theme: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Crowning Tyler The Creator's Best Song Ever | Last Song Standing (E8)

1 hr 32 min

It all leads up to this. After revisiting Tyler The Creator's entire discography over 7 episodes, Cole and Charles debate their song selections until they crown the last song standing: the single greatest Tyler song, ever. Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, and⁠ Twitter⁠. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles Editor: Kevin Pooler Engineer: Jon Jones Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'DON'T TAP THE GLASS' + B-Sides! | Last Song Standing (E7)

1 hr 23 min

Our journey to crown Tyler The Creator's best song ever continues by revisiting 2025's 'DON'T TAP THE GLASS' as well as diving into Tyler's extensive b-sides catalog. Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, and⁠ Twitter⁠. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles  Editor: Kevin Pooler Engineer: Jon Jones Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'CHROMAKOPIA' | LAST SONG STANDING (E6)

1 hr 51 min

The journey to crown Tyler The Creator's best song ever continues with his most personal album to date CHROMAKOPIA. Charles and Cole talk through the albums themes, quiz each other with trivia, and nominate the songs they believe should be in contention for Tyler's best. Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, and⁠ Twitter⁠. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles  Editor: Kevin Pooler Engineer: Sarah Reddy Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'Call Me If You Get Lost' | LAST SONG STANDING (E5)

1 hr 45 min

The journey to crown Tyler The Creator's best song ever continues with a deep dive into 2021's Call Me If You Get Lost. Cole, Charles, and Justin revisit the DJ Drama 'Gangsta Grillz' mixtape era before nominating their favorite tracks off the project. Follow @dissectpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles  Editor: Iulia Ciobanu Engineer: Jamie Yukich Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'IGOR' by Tyler The Creator | LAST SONG STANDING (E4)

1 hr 49 min

The LSS Boyz journey to crown Tyler The Creator's best song ever continues with 2019's IGOR. Cole & Charles revisit its release, quiz each other with album trivia, and nominate its best songs. What's your favorite song on IGOR? Sound off in the comments below. 👇 Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, and⁠ Twitter⁠. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles  Editor: Iulia Ciobanu Engineer: Sarah Reddy Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Isaiah Rashad Dissects 'IT'S BEEN AWFUL'

1 hr 29 min

Isaiah Rashad joins Dissect to break down his new album 'IT'S BEEN AWFUL' in intimate detail. Host: Cole Cuchna Guest: Isaiah Rashad Engineer: Sarah Reddy Editor: Iulia Ciobanu Producer: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'FLOWER BOY' by Tyler The Creator | Last Song Standing (E3)

2 hr 7 min

Cole and Charles continue their journey to crown Tyler The Creator's best song ever by revisiting 2017's Flower Boy - a pivotal album that changed the trajectory of Tyler's career. Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, and⁠ Twitter⁠. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles  Editor: Kevin Pooler Engineer: Sarah Reddy Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'WOLF' & 'CHERRY BOMB' | Last Song Standing (E2)

1 hr 44 min

Cole & Charles continue their journey to crown Tyler The Creator's best song ever by revisiting his album's WOLF and CHERRY BOMB. Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, and⁠ Twitter⁠. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles  Editor: Kevin Pooler Engineer: Sarah Reddy Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'BASTARD' & 'GOBLIN' by Tyler The Creator | Last Song Standing (E1)

1 hr 58 min

Cole & Charles begin their journey to crown Tyler The Creator's best song ever by revisiting his first two projects Bastard and Goblin. They talk through Tyler's origin story before nominating which songs off these projects should be in contention for his best ever. Comment your favorite songs off Bastard and Goblin below! Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, and⁠ Twitter⁠. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles  Editor: Kevin Pooler Engineer: Sarah Reddy Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Crowning Daft Punk's Best Song Ever

1 hr 21 min

Part 2 of Cole and Charles journey to crown Daft Punk's best song of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E12 - 'Random Access Memories' by Daft Punk [PART 3]

1 hr 2 min

SEASON FINALE! Our dissection of Daft Punk's entire career concludes with the second half of Random Access Memories before looking holistically at the narrative their four studio albums creates. Connecting Changes Everything.⁠⁠ https://www.att.com/connecttochange/⁠⁠ Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Editors: Kevin Pooler & Iulia Ciobanu Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E11 - 'Random Access Memories' by Daft Punk [PART 2]

46 min

Our dissection of Random Access Memories continues with a journey through “Within,” “Instant Crush,” “Lose Yourself to Dance,” and the album’s emotional centerpiece, “Touch.” Connecting Changes Everything.⁠ https://www.att.com/connecttochange/⁠ Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, and⁠ Twitter⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Editors: Kevin Pooler & Iulia Ciobanu Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E10 - 'Random Access Memories' by Daft Punk [PART 1]

51 min

Our season-long exploration of Daft Punk continues with their final album Random Access Memories. Turning away from the electronic mainstream they helped create, Daft Punk entered real studios with real musicians to rediscover the human “magic” inside recorded music. In this episode, we dissect “Give Life Back to Music,” “The Game of Love,” and “Giorgio by Moroder,” revealing how Daft Punk reframed music itself as life: a vessel for memory, history, innovation, and shared humanity. Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠⁠, and⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Editors: Kevin Pooler & Iulia Ciobanu Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Connecting Changes Everything.⁠⁠⁠ https://www.att.com/connecttochange/⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E9 - 'Human After All' & 'Alive 2007' by Daft Punk

58 min

Our season-long dissection of Daft Punk continues with a turning point in their catalog, as we unpack the stark minimalism and dystopian vision of 2005's Human After All. We explore how the album’s cold, mechanical sound and Orwellian themes reframe the duo’s robot personas. Then, we trace how those ideas are expanded on stage in the groundbreaking Alive 2007 tour, where Daft Punk fuse their entire discography into a single, story-driven performance. Connecting Changes Everything.⁠⁠ https://www.att.com/connecttochange/⁠⁠ Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠⁠, and⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Editors: Kevin Pooler & Iulia Ciobanu Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Drake Drops ICEMAN...and Habibti...and Maid of Honour. Why?

57 min

Cole is joined by The Ringer’s Charles Holmes and Justin Sayles to discuss Drake’s three-album release stunt. They speculate on the strategy behind the 43-song drop before diving into ICEMAN’s music and lyrics. Finally, they discuss Habibti and Maid of Honour, ending the conversation by wondering where Drake will go next. Host: Cole Cuchna Guests: Charles Holmes, Justin Sayles Editor: Kevin Pooler Engineer: Sarah Reddy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is Daft Punk's Best Song Ever? [Season Intermission]

1 hr 45 min

We’re taking a brief intermission from our Daft Punk season - but don’t worry, we’re still talking Daft Punk in a special episode of Last Song Standing, the show where Cole and Charles Holmes debate an artist’s catalog to determine their single best song. In this episode, Cole and Charles nominate the tracks from Homework and Discovery they believe deserve a spot in the conversation. Then, after the season finale, they’ll return for Part 2 to cover Human After All, Alive 2007, and Random Access Memories - where the final nominees will battle it out until one remains: the last song standing. Connecting Changes Everything.⁠⁠ https://www.att.com/connecttochange/⁠⁠ Visit us in stores and online ⁠⁠https://Warbyparker.com/DISSECT⁠⁠ Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠⁠, and⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠⁠. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Editor: Kevin Pooler Theme: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E8 - Dissecting "Veridis Quo" & "Face To Face" by Daft Punk

52 min

Our season-long examination of Daft Punk continues with a brilliant three track run on Discovery: "Voyager," "Veridis Quo," and the sampling masterpiece "Face To Face." Connecting Changes Everything.⁠ https://www.att.com/connecttochange/⁠ Visit us in stores and online ⁠https://Warbyparker.com/DISSECT⁠ Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠,⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠, and⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Editors: Kevin Pooler & Iulia Ciobanu Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E7 - Dissecting "Something About Us" (& More!) by Daft Punk

40 min

Our deep dive into Daft Punk’s Discovery continues with a sweeping journey through the album’s middle stretch, from the ecstatic genre-collisions of “Crescendolls,” “Superheroes,” and “High Life” to the intimate emotional world of “Something About Us.” Connecting Changes Everything.⁠ https://www.att.com/connecttochange/⁠ Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, and⁠ Twitter⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Editors: Kevin Pooler & Iulia Ciobanu Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E6 - Dissecting "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk

35 min

Our deep dive into Daft Punk’s Discovery continues with “Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger,” a masterful achievement where the vocoder is used to sonically embody the accelerating arc of technological evolution. Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, and⁠ Twitter⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Editors: Kevin Pooler & Iulia Ciobanu Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E5 - Dissecting "Digital Love" by Daft Punk

39 min

Our dissection of Daft Punk’s Discovery continues with “Digital Love,” a dreamlike love story where harmony and sound design beautifully mirror its theme of unrequited love. Cole claims the song is now one of his favorites of all time as a result of making this episode - listen to find out why. Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, and⁠ Twitter⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Editors: Kevin Pooler & Iulia Ciobanu Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E4 - Dissecting "One More Time" & "Aerodynamic" by Daft Punk

46 min

Our dissection of Daft Punk's 2001 masterpiece Discovery begins with an in-depth analysis of its opening tracks "One More Time" and "Aerodynamic." Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, and⁠ Twitter⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler & Iulia Ciobanu Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E3 - Dissecting "Around The World" by Daft Punk

32 min

Revealing the hidden brilliance behind one of Daft Punk’s most deceptively simple songs. Follow @dissectpodcast on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler & Iulia Ciobanu Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E2 - Daft Punk’s 'Homework' & the Origins of House and Techno

37 min

Our season-long analysis of Daft Punk continues with their debut album Homework. First, we explore the history of house and techno from its roots in disco music and underground Chicago and Detroit clubs. We then trace how Daft Punk studied the early pioneers of these genres and applied those lessons to their debut, breaking down the samples and production of songs like "Revolution 909" and "High Fidelity." Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠,⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠, and⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Editors: Kevin Pooler & Iulia Ciobanu Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

E1 - Daft Punk: Robots With A Human Touch

36 min

Our season-long dissection of Daft Punk begins now! In episode one, we trace Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo’s origins in Paris - from their rock band Darlin’ to their discovery of electronic music and first single “The New Wave.” Then we break down their breakthrough track “Da Funk,” revealing what it shares with Beethoven’s most famous symphony and how to build its iconic synth sound from scratch. Follow @dissectpodcast on ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠, or ⁠TikTok⁠. Host: Cole Cuchna Video Editor: Kevin Pooler Additional Editing: Iulia Ciobanu Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Baby Keem Rises, J. Cole Falls: Discussing ‘Ca$ino’ and ‘The Fall-Off’

1 hr 27 min

A five-year wait and a double-disc finale set high stakes. Cole Cuchna and Charles Holmes ask: Did Baby Keem and J. Cole deliver? Dissect Season 14 is just around the corner! Follow ⁠@dissectpodcast on Instagram⁠ for an official announcement coming very soon. Host: Cole Cuchna Guest: Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles Editor: Kevin Pooler Engineer: Sarah Reddy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

J.I.D. dissects 'God Does Like Ugly' track by track

1 hr 10 min

J.I.D. and Dissect's Cole Cuchna to break down his Grammy-nominated album God Does Like Ugly. 00:00 Cold Open / Intro 01:45 Album Title Breakdown 05:35 "YouUgly" Breakdown 17:23 "Glory" Breakdown 25:29 "Wrk" Breakdown 31:00 "Community" Breakdown 41:22 "Gz" Breakdown 46:39 Melodic Section of "GDLU" 51:03 "On McAfee" Breakdown 54:51 "Of Blue" Breakdown 01:00:50 "K-Word" Breakdown 01:04:05 What's the message of GLDU? 01:05:18 JID Says Next Project his BEST - Host: Cole Cuchna Guest: J.I.D. Editor: Kevin Pooler Engineer: Jon Jones Producer: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Favorite Music of 2025

1 hr 48 min

Dissect's Cole Cuchna is joined by friends Camden Ostrander and Margeaux Labat to discuss their favorite music of 2025, including... Favorite Musical Moments (04:09) Favorite "Underground" Albums (13:09) Favorite Albums of the Year (31:20) Favorite Songs of the Year (1:13:05) You can listen to a playlist of their picks ⁠here⁠. - Host: Cole Cuchna Guests: Camden Ostrander, Margeaux Labat Audio/Video Editor: Kevin Pooler Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 21st Century Song Draft

1 hr 19 min

The LSS crew is back with a year-end draft to celebrate the quarter-century mark in music. Cole, Charles, and Justin draft songs across five different categories: Best Song, Worst Song, One-Hit Wonder, Moment Maker, and Personal Favorite. Who won the draft? Hit the comments and let us know. Hosts: Cole Cuchna and Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles Video Producer: Kevin Pooler Engineer: Kayla Talley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 10 BEST Clipse Bars on 'Let God Sort Em Out'

26 min

Clipse’s Let God Sort ’Em Out is Dissect’s pick for Best Rap Album of 2025. In this episode, we break down 10 of the most mind-blowing bars from the project, line by line, decoding the layers of wordplay, cultural references, and religious symbolism that make this album so lyrically dense. 🎵 Chapters 00:00 Pusha T, “So Be It” 01:40 Malice, “Ace Trumpets” 04:25 Pusha T, “Ace Trumpets” 07:14 Malice, “M.T.B.T.T.F.” 09:29 Pusha T, “P.O.V.” 11:42 Pharrell, “So Be It” Sample Breakdown 14:01 Pusha T, “Chains & Whips” 15:42 Stove God Cooks, “F.I.C.O.” 16:51 Push & Malice, "FICO"  19:40 Malice, “So Far Ahead” 21:44 Malice, “Birds Don’t Sing” 💬 Subscribe for more breakdowns of hip-hop’s greatest writers - from Kendrick Lamar to Tyler, The Creator, and beyond. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Most GENIUS Number Bars in Rap History

32 min

From Rakim to Kendrick Lamar, this is the story of hip-hop’s obsession with numbers. Dissect's Cole Cuchna breaks down the evolution of “number bars” - a lyrical tradition where rappers use math, numeric sequences, and wordplay to showcase technical skill and encode hidden meaning. Beginning with Rakim’s groundbreaking verse on “My Melody” (1986) - a quatrain built around groups of seven that secretly mirrors his own 21-letter name - we trace how MCs have used numbers as both a mathematical signature and a symbolic device for decades. From Melle Mel’s divine 7-count in “Superrappin” to Jay-Z’s “22 Twos”, Biggie’s “Ten Crack Commandments,” and Mos Def’s “Mathematics,” numbers became an essential part of hip hop tradition and lyricism. By the 2000s, artists like Lupe Fiasco, J. Cole, JID, Vince Staples, and Kendrick Lamar transformed number schemes into complex storytelling tools. We unpack everything from Lupe’s hidden 3–2–1 countdown on Kanye West’s “Touch the Sky” to Kendrick’s quantum-level equations on “Nosetalgia.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rosalia's 'LUX' is a Masterpiece

37 min

In this emergency episode, Cole shares his initial thoughts on Rosalia's new album LUX, plus provides a brief breakdown of the album's four movements, and shares how its beginning and end connect thematically and narratively. How are you feeling about LUX? Comment below. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chance The Rapper dissects 'STAR LINE' track-by-track

2 hr 14 min

Chance the Rapper and Dissect’s Cole Cuchna sit for an in-depth, track-by-track breakdown of Chance’s new album Star Line. We dig into the meaning behind the album’s title, the symbolism of its artwork, and the historical references woven throughout - from Marcus Garvey and the Black Star Line to the Wattstax documentary and beyond. Chance dissects specific lyrics, discusses the spiritual and political threads running through the project, and shares how themes of resistance, memory, and Black liberation shaped the sound and vision of Star Line. This is the definitive deep dive into Chance’s most ambitious work to date. Chapters: 00:00 Intro / Tour Experience 03:50 ‘STAR LINE’ Title Breakdown 14:45 Album Art Breakdown 21:25 “Star Line Intro” Breakdown 44:23 Why Wattstax Doc is Sampled 48:51 “Ride” Lyric Breakdown 01:06:00 “No More Old Men” Breakdown 01:17:36 “The Negro Problem” Breakdown 01:23:49 “Drapetomania” Breakdown 01:31:06 “Back to The Go” Breakdown 01:38:08 “Space and Time” Breakdown 01:50:27 “Letters” Breakdown 02:00:42 “Speed of Love” Breakdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Crowning the BEST Album of the 21st Century | LAST SONG STANDING [Finale]

1 hr 35 min

It all comes down to this! Season 4 of Last Song Standing concludes with Cole and Charles finally crowning the Best Album of the 21st Century (so far). Each album that advanced to the finale now duke it out in a cut-throat bracket that includes Frank Ocean's 'Blonde', Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly', Daft Punk's 'Discovery', Beyonce's 'Lemonade', MF DOOM's 'Madvillainy', and more. What artist should be selected for next season of Last Song Standing? Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles Video/Audio Engineer: CT Video/Audio Editing: Kevin Pooler Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

good kid, m.A.A.d. city vs. To Pimp A Butterfly | LAST SONG STANDING [E7]

2 hr 10 min

The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st Century (so far) by pitting two historic albums by the same artist against each other: Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.a.a.d. city vs. To Pimp A Butterfly. Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the 21st century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album. The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century.  New episodes every Tuesday. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler Video Engineer: CT Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

JID, Chance, Earl, Joey, and Hip Hop's Thriving Middle Class

1 hr 6 min

Dissect's Cole Cuchna talks to Jeremy Hecht (The Bigger Picture) and King Green (Rap Latte) about a wild slate of August albums releases: God Does Like Ugly - JID Star Line - Chance The Rapper Live Love Laugh - Earl Sweatshirt Lonely At The Top - Joey Bada$$ The trio give their initial impressions of each album and discuss the state of hip hop's maturing middle class. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Frank Ocean's 'Blonde' vs. SZA's 'Ctrl' | LAST SONG STANDING [E6]

2 hr 1 min

The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st Century (so far) by pitting two landmarks in RnB history against each other: Frank Ocean's 'Blonde' vs. SZA's 'Ctrl' . Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the 21st century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album. The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century.  New episodes every Tuesday. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler Video Engineer: CT Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MF DOOM's 'Madvillainy' vs. Clipse's 'Hell Hath No Fury' | LAST SONG STANDING [E5]

2 hr 26 min

The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st Century (so far) by pitting two landmarks in indie-hop history against each other: MF DOOM & Madlib’s Madvillainy vs. Clipse's Hell Hath No Fury. Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the 21st century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album. The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century.  New episodes every Tuesday. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler Video Engineer: CT Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Daft Punk's 'Discovery' vs. Radiohead's 'Kid A' | LAST SONG STANDING [E4]

2 hr 15 min

The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st Century (so far) by pitting two of the most influential albums in music history against each other: Daft Punk’s Discovery vs. Radiohead’s Kid A. Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the 21st century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album. The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century.  New episodes every Tuesday. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler Video Engineer: Chris Wohlers Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Eminem's 'Marshall Mathers LP' vs. Tyler, The Creator's 'IGOR' | LAST SONG STANDING

2 hr 1 min

The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st century (so far) by pitting a bonafide classic in Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP against a modern classic in Tyler The Creator's IGOR. Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the 21st century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album. The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century. New episodes every Tuesday. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler Video Engineer: Chris Wohlers Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jay-Z's The Blueprint vs. Beyonce's Lemonade | LAST SONG STANDING [E2]

2 hr 7 min

Today's matchup pushed Cole & Charles' friendship to its limits: JAY-Z's The Blueprint vs. Beyonce's Lemonade. The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st century (so far). Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album. The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century. New episodes every Tuesday. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler Video Engineer: Chris Wohlers Theme Music: Birocratic Chapters: 00:00 So Delicious Ad 00:32 Intro / Why Jay Z vs Beyonce? 07:11 The Blueprint - Album Facts 14:41 The Blueprint - Album Trivia 18:40 Biggest Song: "IZZO" / "Renegade" 31:07 Best Song: "Heart of the City" 36:00 Worst Song: "Girls, Girls, Girls" 40:19 Best Deep Cut: "U Don't Know" 43:40 Best Moment: "Takeover" at Summer Jam 50:17 Lemonade - Album Facts 1:00:24 Lemonade - Album Trivia 1:03:16 Biggest Song: "Formation" 1:06:04 Best Song: "Freedom" feat. Kendrick Lamar 1:14:36 Worst Song: "6 Inch" feat. The Weeknd 1:16:08 Best Deep Cut: "Sandcastles" 1:21:57 Best Moment: HBO Film / Surprise Drop 1:29:07 Head to Head: The Blueprint vs. Lemonade 1:44:32 And The Winner Is... 1:51:57 Cultural Exchange Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"Don't Tap The Glass" is More Conceptual Than Tyler Admits

15 min

Tyler, The Creator says "Don’t Tap The Glass" isn’t a concept album. No narrative. No deep themes. Just a fun, fast, braggadocious dance record. But what if that is the concept? In this video essay, we dive deep into Don’t Tap The Glass to uncover the album’s hidden intentionality — from its crate-dug samples and alter-ego iconography to its sacred rules of the dance floor. Through cultural history, sonic connections, and Tyler’s own words, we explore how this album frames dance as a spiritual ritual, freedom as resistance, and joy as high art. Topics Covered: The spiritual meaning behind the album’s opening Hebrew sample Big Poe as a tribute to hip hop history and Tyler’s alter-ego iconography How Tyler uses crate-digging to honor Black dance music traditions The deeper meaning of the album’s 3 rules — and why they matter now more than ever Sample breakdowns: from Mantronix to Junun, “Boogie Nights” to J Dilla Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kanye's Twisted Fantasy vs. Drake's Take Care | LAST SONG STANDING

1 hr 49 min

Last Song Standing is back! Dissect's Cole Cuchna and The Midnight Boys' Charles Holmes begin a journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st century (so far). Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album. The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century. New episodes release every Tuesday. Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes Producer: Justin Sayles Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler Video Engineer: Chris Wohlers Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our Favorite Music of 2025...So Far

1 hr 30 min

Dissect's Cole Cuchna and Professor Skye share their favorite music of 2025 so far, including their favorite albums, songs, and "underground" projects. They talk through projects by Lorde, Bad Bunny, Black Country New Road, Ray Vaughn, Annahstasia, Mac Miller, JID, Joey Bada$$, and more. Official Spotify Playlist ⁠here⁠. Subscribe to ⁠ @professorskye ⁠ YouTube ⁠here⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dissecting "Mirror" by Kendrick Lamar

42 min

Our season long analysis of Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers concludes with its final track "Mirror." Serving as a lyrical epilogue to the album’s emotional climax, “Mirror” delivers Kendrick Lamar’s final moral lesson: “I choose me.” With this mantra, Kendrick brings his morality play to a close, rejecting the performance of salvation in favor of spiritual freedom, radical acceptance, and personal peace. Returning to the character of oklama — “my people” — Kendrick offers listeners the same mirror he used to confront ego, trauma, and public expectation. The result is a parting reflection on self-love, unconditional compassion, and the divine power of choosing yourself. Dissect is part of The Ringer podcast network. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Video Editing: Jon Jones Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic 00:00 So Delicious 00:32 Intro / E17 Recap 02:09 "Mirror" Intro Analysis 05:39 Verse 1 Analysis 13:27 Chorus Analysis 16:39 Verse 2 Analysis 18:36 Verse 3 Analysis 26:11 Bridge Analysis 31:41 "I Choose Me" Numerology 38:16 Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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