podcast

In a bonus episode, B.Cox looks back on what he thinks may be the greatest R&B release week of the 1990s: September 16, 1997. During that release week, four classic and essential albums graced the store shelves and stereos everywhere: Mariah Carey’s Butterfly, Usher’s My Way, Jon B’s Cool Relax […]

B. Cox commemorates The Vault: Classic Music Reviews Podcast on its third anniversary. It’s been a long journey in the three years since the first episode posted highlighting Mobb Deep’s Murda Muzik. He gives a basic history on how the show became into existence, the challenges through COVID and his […]

B. Cox looks back at Virginia rap duo Clipse’s major label debut album Lord Willin’ as it turns 20. The group, made up of brothers Gene “Malice” and Terrence “Pusha T” Thornton grew up in Virginia Beach and were close associates of producer Pharrell Williams growing up. After securing their […]

B. Cox reviews Brooklyn and Diggin in The Crates (DITC) emcee O.C.’s second album Jewelz as it turns 25. After his critically acclaimed 1994 debut album Word…Life, O.C. took to the road to tour exclusively for almost three years. When he returned to the booth to record his sophomore album, […]

B. Cox reviews Scarface’s classic 7th album The Fix as it turns 20. After leaving long time label Rap-A Lot, the Houston veteran emcee moved to Def Jam South as their president, but was coaxed into releasing first and only studio album while on the label. Assisted by an all-star […]

B. Cox reviews EPMD’s fourth album Business Never Personal as it turns 30. After three successful albums that carried them through the peak of hip-hop’s golden era, EPMD released their fourth album and seemed primed for success well into the 90s. The album is packed into less than 40 minutes […]

B. Cox looks back at Mary J. Blige’s debut classic album What’s the 411? as it turns 30. As the youngest signee of Andre Harrell’s Uptown Records, the New York-born singer was brought under the tutelage of producer and executive Sean “Diddy” Combs for debut album. Utilizing samples of popular […]

In a bonus episode, B. Cox looks back at the impact and legacy of Company Flow’s debut studio album and underground classic Funcrusher Plus as it turns 25. After negotiating a group friendly deal with Rawkus Records, the Brooklyn trio of Bigg Jus, El-P and Mr. Len crafted a debut […]

B. Cox looks back at Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott’s debut album Supa Dupa Fly as it turns 25. After spending the beginning part of her career with Devante’s Swing Mob Records with her girl group Sista (which never materialized an album), she linked up with childhood friend and producer Timothy “Timbaland” […]