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Mike Joseph and Garrett Gonzales welcome you to their podcast project celebrating their 50 years on earth. 50 albums for 50 years.

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LL Cool J’s ‘The FORCE’ Review: A Definitive Return to Form
March 15, 2026

LL Cool J’s ‘The FORCE’ Review: A Definitive Return to Form

Is there a precedent for 55-year-old rappers making good albums?No?Well, of course, count on LL Cool J to break the mold. It’s something he’s been doing for four decades. He was the first solo rapper to have a Gold album. The first s…
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The Ultimate LL Cool J Mixtape: Essential Tracks for the G.O.A.T. | The Playlist
March 15, 2026

The Ultimate LL Cool J Mixtape: Essential Tracks for the G.O.A.T. | The Playlist

Trying to condense LL Cool J's career into a podcast was hard, but I think Mike and I did a great job at telling our story as it relates to our LL fandom alongside his journey.What was also hard was putting together a list of our favorite LL songs…
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Remembering MCA: Paul’s Boutique and the Beastie Boys’ Hip Hop Longevity (1989) | 50 For 50
March 14, 2026

Remembering MCA: Paul’s Boutique and the Beastie Boys’ Hip Hop Longevity (1989) | 50 For 50

#Beastie Boys #PaulsBoutique #HipHopHistory #50For50 #VinylCommunity #MCA #DustBrothers #ClassicHipHopIs Paul’s Boutique the greatest Beastie Boys album of all time? Today on 50 For 50, Mike Joseph and Garrett Gonzales dive deep into the 1989 sampling masterpiece that redefined the Beastie Boys' …
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LL Cool J Greatest Hits: 50 For 50’s Definitive Favorite LL Songs | Top 5
March 12, 2026

LL Cool J Greatest Hits: 50 For 50’s Definitive Favorite LL Songs | Top 5

#LLCoolJ #GenXHipHop #50For50 #DefJam #90sRap #OldSchoolHipHop #MusicDebate #LLCoolJTop5LL Cool J defined an entire era of hip-hop, but how well does his massive discography hold up today? In this episode of 50 For 50, Mike Joseph and Garrett Gonzales take a deep dive into the career of the G.O.A…
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LL Cool J: The GOAT’s Greatest Tracks Ranked | Top 5
March 11, 2026

LL Cool J: The GOAT’s Greatest Tracks Ranked | Top 5

LL Cool J’s legendary career presents a challenge for any fan: how do you narrow down decades of hits into a definitive Top 5? In this episode of Top 5 , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph tackle the "G.O.A.T." himself. T...
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LL Cool J - The FORCE: From Def Jam Pioneer to Q-Tip’s Masterpiece (2024) | 50 For 50
March 9, 2026

LL Cool J - The FORCE: From Def Jam Pioneer to Q-Tip’s Masterpiece (2024) | 50 For 50

#LLCoolJ #TheFORCE #HipHopHistory #QTip #DefJam #50For 50 #RapReview #2024Music #Eminem #Nas #TheGOATLL Cool J’s The FORCE isn't just a 2024 album; it’s a masterclass in hip-hop longevity and technical evolution. In this episode of 50 For 50, we break down how James Todd Smith teamed up with the …
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Recent Blog Posts

LL Cool J’s ‘The FORCE’ Review: A Definitive Return to Form
LL Cool J’s ‘The FORCE’ Review: A Definitive Return to Form
The Ultimate LL Cool J Mixtape: Essential Tracks for the G.O.A.T. | The Playlist
The Ultimate LL Cool J Mixtape: Essential Tracks for the G.O.A.T. | T…
The Ultimate Bruno Mars Greatest Hits Playlist: From Classics to New Releases | The Playlist
The Ultimate Bruno Mars Greatest Hits Playlist: From Classics to New …
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About the Hosts

Mike Joseph Profile Photo
Mike Joseph

Author and Podcaster

Mike Joseph has been a music obsessive almost his whole life. The New York native was honored by Billboard Magazine in 2020 as a "Pride Power Player", celebrating a career in the music industry that's lasted over three decades. Mike has also worked as a music journalist, a radio announcer, and since 2020 has produced and hosted the podcast "Detoxicity", which shines a light on men's mental health.

Garrett Gonzales Profile Photo
Garrett Gonzales

Podcaster

GG is first and foremost, a husband, father, and son. He runs both Fight Game Media and BSPN Media in addition to doing podcasts for the Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline. He's also one of the co-founders of the neighborhood social media website, Nextdoor.com.