Hard2Earn

"Give it time, we'll see who's still around a decade from now" - Aubrey Drake Graham A decade later I don't think there's any denying Drake's massive impact and staying power in music. For the latest episode of #Hard2Earn Torae & Bonsu get into Drake's 3rd album NOTHING WAS THE SAME. With so many questioning what is Drake's "classic" album, if any, let's get into this project and see if it's stands the test of time & if this could in fact be the one.

Torae & Bonsu gather in front of live audience in New York City to celebrate the 25 year anniversary of Lauryn Hill's classic debut.

With the success of their debut album THE WAR REPORT Capone-N-Noreaga had the hip-hop world on notice and the anticipation for their follow up LP was high. There was only one problem, Capone was locked up and he would be for a while. Instead of letting that momentum go to waste Noreaga took matters into his own hands & enlisted some of the hottest artist in the game to come along for the ride on his solo album N.O.R.E. The result was a 13 track project with certified bangers, tap in with the latest episode of #Hard2Earn as Torae and Bonsu revisit Nore's freshman effort. Press play and have a drink, champ.

There's been some talk about 2023 not producing a hip-hop album with any substance. Some think things are too mundane & other feels the genre is on a decline. Well much like the infamous 1995 Source Awards....the south got something to say! Enter Killer Mike and his latest solo offering MICHAEL, lots of fanfare & acclaim, but let's put it to the #Hard2Earn test & see what the guys have to say.

A lot of your favorite MC's brag about how many summers they have ran, but 20 years later Beyonce is currently on a sold out world tour. She might have them all beat! On the latest episode Torae and Bonsu take us back to 2003 to a fresh out of Destiny's Child Beyonce hoping to find success as a solo act. For her solo debut she brought in a lot of heavy hitters, but did she knock it out the park? Tap in, see what the guys had to say & leave your feedback as well.

DMX has a story unlike any other. From his upbringing and life in the street, to his rise into superstardom and ultimately his passing in 2021 it seems like the Dark Man X had literally done in all. But before he was walking red carpets, he was stalking the streets and serving any MC that dared challenge him. After a few false starts DMX finally got his chance to bark with the big dogs in 1998 when his Ruff Ryders/Def Jam album IT'S DARK AND HELL IS HOT was released. This week the guys take us back to '98 when X dropped his first of two chart topping multi-platinum releases to break down his stellar debut.

Surprise!! Jack Harlow is back with his 3rd major label project JACKMAN. just as his first feature film is about to be released. Great timing and a great time for Torae & Bonsu to drop a new episode of #Hard2Earn. With the success of "What's Poppin" & "First Class" off his first 2 albums respectively, where does JACKMAN. take us? Tap in & check what the guys had to say.

In 1998 Big Pun released his groundbreaking debut album CAPITAL PUNISHMENT to critical acclaim and commercial success. He became the first latin solo rapper to go platinum and was Grammy nominated. 25 years later Torae & Bonsu revisit CAPITAL PUNISHMENT track-by-track to see how one of the most lyrically gifted MC's freshman effort holds up today.

For many years the soundtrack has been a great way to break artist, try out records & utilize motion picture studio budgets in the music space. The Who's The Man soundtrack does all of the above. From promoting known Uptown/MCA acts like Mary J. Blige & Jodeci to breaking newer acts the BIG (later known as The Notorious B.I.G.) this soundtrack was the perfect setting for some amazing music to be showcased. 30 years later Torae and Bonsu run it back to see how these records have stood the test of time.

With the run that Hit-Boy has been on and with Musiq Soulchild's pedigree of creating brilliant ballads & bops, Torae and Bonsu felt it was necessary to get to VICTIMS & VILLAINS the new collaborative project between the two. Can Hit-Boy truly set himself apart from the crop of producers he's grouped in with? We know Musiq has classics under his belt, but what can his pen and voice do in current times? Only one way to find this all out, tap in to the latest episode of #Hard2Earn.

To close out Women's History Month, Torae and Bonsu delve into the second half of SZA's 23 track body of work. Fan favs like "Shirt" & "Good Days" are discussed as well as Torae's personal connection to "I Hate U". Don't fret though, you'll love this convo.

SZA returns with her highly anticipated sophomore album SOS. Already doing record breaking numbers on the charts & just days before her sold out tour, Bonsu & Torae give SZA the #Hard2Earn treatment with a 2 part dissertation on the voice of a generation. 

Coming off his critically acclaimed role of Roland "Bishop" in the now cult classic film JUICE, 2Pac's sophomore album STRICTLY 4 MY N.I.G.G.A.Z. was highly anticipated. 30 years later Torae and Bonsu revisit the album and get into the complexity of where Pac was upon it's release and ultimately how telling it was for his fate.  Tap in now for this very special episode of #Hard2Earn

In the early 2000's there was no one or nothing bigger than 50 Cent & the G-Unit in the streets. 50 Mania reached peak levels when "Wanksta" dropped which set the stage for his major label debut. On February 6, 2003 powered by Dr. Dre's Aftermath, Eminem's Shady & Jimmy Iovine's Interscope Records 50 Cent released a certified classic with GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN'. 20 Years later Torae & Bonsu tap back into that 50 Mania for the 1st episode of #Hard2Earn season 3.

In this bonus episode Torae and Bonsu review Mase's debut album HARLEM WORLD alongside the album's executive producer, special guest Deric 'DDot' Angelettie in front of a live studio audience in Harlem , NY. DDot details how the album came to be, Mase's importance to Bad Boy & what magic he and the Hitmen brought to the table. We had to give you this special live episode celebrating 25 years of M-A-$-E cause it Feels So Good.

Torae & Bonsu are closing out the year strong, much like Dre & Snoop did in '92 with The Chronic. After NWA disbanded many were left wondering what would come next. Ice Cube was enjoying a successful solo career and the tension between Eazy-E and Dre was pretty high. On the Deep Cover soundtrack we got a glimpse of what was to come when a tall slim rapper from Long Beach stepped on the scene. Dre & Snoop (along with the rest of the Death Row family) created an album that would forever change hip-hop and at the same time set the launching pad for one of the most iconic careers in music history. Tap in to our last episode of 2022 as the guys hit The Chronic and once again prove Hard2Earn ain't Nuthin' But a G Thang.

That Rihanna reign just won't let up and while we're eagerly anticipating a new album, there was a time RiRi was churning them out on the regular basis. Her 7th studio album Unapologetic is a decade old already and the guys decided to give it the anniversary review treatment. Throw on your Fenty and your Savage as Bonsu & Torae run through this one track-by-track. It's Hard2Earn.

25 years ago Jay-Z dropped his sophomore effort, IN MY LIFETIME, Vol 1. The follow up to the critically acclaimed REASONABLE DOUBT. With the Notorious B.I.G. recently deceased and the King of NY crown seemingly up for grabs, could Jay-Z step into that space & prove the city was his? Or did he deliver too much sunshine while the streets were watching? Tap in to the latest episode of Hard2Earn to hear what Torae & Bonsu thought & give us your feedback as well.

Torae and Bonsu are back with another episode of your favorite podcaster's favorite podcast Hard2Earn. This week the guys get to the latest offering from Freddie Gibbs - $OUL $OLD $EPARATELY. Does the Grammy nominated Gary, Indiana rhyme slinger deliver AOTY? Or is that too big a feat for Big Rabbit. Tap in and see what the guys had to say.

It’s been 20 years since Scarface delivered the dope we all needed by way of THE FIX. With production by Face himself, T-Mix, Kanye West & The Neptunes as well as features from Jay-Z, Nas, Faith Evans & Kelly Price the recipe to cook up with maximum potency was all there. Tap in and see how the guys react to taking a hit 2 decades later.

Frank Ocean’s debut album was highly anticipated after the success of his 2011 mixtape Nostalgia, Ultra and its hit single “Novacane”. Upon its 2012 Channel Orange release Mr. Ocean didn’t disappoint. As we revisit it for the 10 year anniversary let’s see how this Grammy winning, chart topping debut stands up after a decade has passed.

A double album calls for double episodes. Tap in for part 2 of our Kendrick Lamar convo as the guys dive into the second half of his latest offering Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Torae and Bonsu breakdown the music unlike anyone else....but they are not your saviors!

We’ve been goin through something….but now the wait is over and Kung Fu Kenny has returned with Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. With each album Kendrick Lamar takes us on a different journey musically and conceptually so after a 5 year hiatus the only thing we can expect, is the unexpected. In our first 2 part episode of the season we dive into the first half of the double album from K Dot, his last on TDE. We’ve been going through something.

For the 25th anniversary of LIFE AFTER DEATH by The Notorious B.I.G. Torae and Bonsu gather in front of a live audience in Big’s hometown of Bed Stuy, Brooklyn to celebrate and commemorate this classic LP. Special guests include album contributors Buckwild “Story to Tell” and DJ Enuff “You’re Nobody (Til Somebody Kills You)”. Tap in and join the convo it’s sicka than your average.

Pusha T is back with his new album IT’S ALMOST DRY, the follow up to his Grammy nominated DAYTONA. With Pharrell and Kanye West handling production and Pusha’s detailed description of the coke game this album arrives with ‘high’ expectations. Tap in and hear what Torae and Bonsu had to say, bring yours skis.

On episode 4 Torae and Bonsu take it back to April of 1997. Mary J Blige is a bonafide star and her 3rd album Share My World is released. With Rodney Jerkins, Trackmasters and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis at the helm would Puff Daddy's absence be noticable? Could Mary "do it again"? Tap in and hear what the guys had to say.

Torae and Bonsu are biggedy back (sorry, I had to) with another episode of #Hard2Earn. This week the guys take it back to 1992, EPMD's Hit Squad is forming and first up are Krazy Drazy and Skoob (Books in reverse) with their debut effort "Dead Serious". How does this groundbreaking, style changing album fare 30 years later? Tap in and siggedy see (sorry again).

Torae and Bonsu breakdown the new 2 Chainz album. Is it pure dope or stepped on? Tap in and see what them Hard2Earn boys have to say.

Jazmine Sullivan adds some Mo' Tales to her critically acclaimed album "Heaux Tales" for the deluxe edition. Torae & Bonsu take it for a spin & give us a track by track review.