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

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

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

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

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

Dissect's Cole Cuchna and The Ringer's Charles Holmes unpack the long-awaited return of Clipse and their new album, Let God Sort Em Out. Was it worth the 15-year wait? The duo share first impressions, breakdown their favorite lyrics and tracks, discuss Pharrell’s full-album production, and what makes Clipse still sound this sharp in their 40s and 50s. They dissect the emotional depth of “Birds Don’t Sing,” Kendrick Lamar’s controversial "Whips and Chains" verse, Tyler, The Creator’s dream feature, and how Pusha T and No Malice balance grief, flexing, and lyrical mastery in their most personal album yet. Host: Cole Cuchna Guest: Charles Holmes Audio/Video: Kevin Pooler 00:00 So Delicious Ad 00:33 Clipse Opening Thoughts 04:34 The Rollout 12:58 First Impressions 14:56 The Birds Don't Sing 23:09 Chains and Whips 26:54 Kendrick's Feature 33:46 Kendrick "Gen" Breakdown 38:02 POV & Tyler's Feature 46:30 So Be It 52:00 Mike Tyson Blow to the Face 01:01:12 So Far Ahead 01:04:50 Last Song Standing Preview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers continues with Part 2 of “Mother I Sober” — the album’s emotional and spiritual climax. In this sweeping 48-bar final verse, Kendrick releases decades of generational trauma and invites listeners to witness a ritual of forgiveness, transformation, and liberation. This episode unpacks Kendrick’s evolution from fractured self to healing vessel, as he courageously bares his soul and breaks the silence that has haunted his family for generations. Guided by therapy, the divine feminine, and the teachings of Eckhart Tolle, Kendrick reclaims his story — not just for himself, but for his community and children to come. Host/Writer/EP: Cole CuchnaVideo/Audio Production: Kevin PoolerAdditional Video Editing: Jon JonesAdditional Production: Justin SaylesTheme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our season long examination of Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers continues with “Mother I Sober.” This emotionally devastating ballad marks the narrative and spiritual climax of Kendrick Lamar’s album. Stripped bare and seated at the piano, Kendrick confronts generational trauma, inherited pain, and the illusion of self that’s fractured by abuse, guilt, and silence. Building on the spiritual awareness awakened in “Mr. Morale,” this episode unpacks how Kendrick turns inward with unprecedented vulnerability, guided by the teachings of Eckhart Tolle and buoyed by the divine feminine presences that have supported his healing. You'll Learn: How Kendrick’s fragmented narrative and musical structure mirror the psychological effects of trauma and the nonlinear path to healing. Why the song’s piano arrangement and mirrored callback to “United in Grief” signify full-circle emotional closure. The symbolism of Kendrick’s shattered reflection — and how the broken mirror represents the self before healing. What Beth Gibbons’ haunting chorus reveals about ego, identity, and the universal yearning to escape pain. Why “Mother I Sober” is Kendrick’s most personal and courageous song to date — and how it breaks the generational curse that defines the album’s final act. Host/Writer/EP: Cole CuchnaVideo/Audio Production: Kevin PoolerAdditional Video Editing: Jon JonesAdditional Production: Justin SaylesTheme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our season-long breakdown of Mr Morale & The Big Steppers continues with a line-by-line analysis of its title track. We unpack the 'Mr. Morale' moniker, Eckhart Tolle's influence on Kendrick's current spiritual transformation, and how so much of the song is preparation for the album's next track "Mother I Sober." Follow @dissectpodcast on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler Additional Video Editing: Jon Jones Additional Production: Justin Sayles Theme Music: Birocratic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our season-long analysis of Mr Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Auntie Diaries" - a controversial song in which Kendrick shares his evolution in understanding of his transgender relatives. Follow @dissectpodcast on⁠ Instagram⁠,⁠ TikTok⁠, &⁠ Twitter⁠. Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler Theme Music: Birocratic Additional Production: Justin Sayles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices