Podcast episodes
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...
LL Cool J: The FORCE, Q-Tip, and the His Rap Renaissance (2024) | 50 For 50
LL Cool J returned in 2024 with The FORCE , a Q-Tip-produced masterclass that proved the GOAT still has plenty left in the tank. In this episode of 50 For 50 , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph dive deep into the 14th st...
Bruno Mars Hits: From Uptown Funk to Silk Sonic | Top 5
Ranking the best Bruno Mars songs is no easy task, but Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph are diving deep into the catalog of a modern-day icon. With so many chart-topping hits, how do you narrow down the definitive Top 5? In t...
Bruno Mars: From Feature King to Doo-Wops & Hooligans | 50 For 50
Before he was a global icon, Bruno Mars was the industry’s secret weapon. In this episode of 50 For 50 , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph break down the strategic genius behind Bruno Mars' debut album, Doo-Wops & Hoolig...
Is Bruno Mars Growing? The Romantic Review & 2026 R&R HOF Nominees | The Cool Check-In
Is Bruno Mars playing it too safe on his latest release? In this episode of The Cool Check In , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph dive deep into Bruno Mars’ 2026 solo return, The Romantic . While the duo acknowledges the...
Best TLC Songs & All Albums Ranked | Top 5
TLC redefined the girl group blueprint , but which tracks truly define their legendary career? In this episode of Top 5 , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph tackle the iconic discography of T-Boz, Chilli, and Left Eye. Th...
TLC: CrazySexyCool & Why the Biggest Girl Group Went Broke (1994) | 50 For 50
How did the best-selling American girl group of all time go broke while at the top of the charts? In this episode of 50 for 50 , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph dive deep into 1994 in music and the cultural phenomenon ...
American Idol Early Years: The Paula Abdul & Corey Clark Headlines | The Cool Check-In
The early years of American Idol were defined by massive talent and even bigger headlines. In this episode of The Cool Check-In , Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph revisit the show’s formative seasons, identifying the true sta...
Ranking Janet Jackson Songs: Top 5 Hits and Best 3 Albums | Top 5
Ranking Janet Jackson albums and songs is no easy task, but Mike Joseph and Garrett Gonzales are diving deep into the icon's legendary catalog. Many fans struggle to narrow down Miss Jackson’s hits, often debating which era— ...
The Janet Jackson History: Before & After Control | 50 For 50
How does a child star escape the world’s most famous musical shadow? Before 1986, Janet Jackson’s history was defined by others—managed by her father, Joe Jackson, and limited to bubblegum pop and sitcom roles like Good Times...
Ranking The Jacksons: Top 5 Hits & Their Best Albums
Michael Jackson and The Jacksons redefined the sound of soul and disco, but which "adult era" albums truly reign supreme? In this episode of Top 5 , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph take on the monumental task of rankin...
Triumph: When The Jacksons Took Creative Control (1980) | 50 For 50
The Jacksons' Triumph stands on par with their greatest work, marking the definitive era when they transitioned into a self-produced, grown-up band. Hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph dive deep into the 1980 landscape to ...
Jeff Pearlman on Only God Can Judge Me & Tupac’s Legacy | The Cool Check In
Tupac Shakur’s life is often treated as a myth, but author Jeff Pearlman is here to report the human truth. In this episode of The Cool Check In (part of the 50 For 50 series), Garrett Gonzales sits down with the acclaimed au...
Best Tupac Shakur Tracks: Our Top 5 List Ranked | 50 For 50
Tupac Shakur’s discography defined a generation. In this episode of Top 5 , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph tackle the impossible task of narrowing down the legendary Pac’s catalog to just five essential tracks. The st...
Tupac: All Eyez On Me: The Legend vs. Reality | 50 For 50
Tupac Shakur’s All Eyez On Me is the definitive double-album of 1996, but has the myth of 'Pac eclipsed the man himself? Many fans struggle to separate the polished legend of the revolutionary from the chaotic reality of his ...
Back To Black Deep Dive: Amy Winehouse’s Masterpiece | 50 For 50
Amy Winehouse changed the the game with Back to Black , but the story behind the New York and Miami sessions is as complex as the artist herself. In this episode of 50 for 50 , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph conduct a...
Best of Lauryn Hill & The Fugees | Top 5
The Fugees' legacy is undeniable, but which tracks truly defined an era? Join hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph on The Top 5 as they rank the best songs from the legendary trio and their iconic solo careers. Many fans st...
Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation Deep Dive (1998) | 50 For 50
The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill redefined music in 1998. In this episode of 50 For 50 , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph deep dive into the masterpiece that shifted the culture. Many fans know the hits, but few understa...
Top 5 Lionel Richie Songs: Solo & Commodores Classics | 50 For 50
Looking for the ultimate Lionel Richie playlist? Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph count down the top 5 solo hits and Commodores classics that defined an era of soul and pop. Whether you are a die-hard fan of 70s funk or 80s b...
Lionel Richie: The Commodores, Kenny Rogers, His Self-titled Debut Album & 1982 Pop | 50 For 50
Lionel Richie’s 1982 debut album redefined pop stardom, but does it hold up today? Hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph dive deep into the self-titled record that launched a solo icon. In this episode of 50 For 50 , we anal...
Selena Netflix Documentary: Was She the Original Taylor Swift? | The Cool Check In
The new Selena Netflix documentary, Selena y Los Dinos: A Family's Legacy , offers an intimate look at the Queen of Tejano’s meteoric rise, but it also leaves fans wondering "what if?" Hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph d...
New Edition Top 5: Group Hits & Solo Classics | Top 5 (50 For 50)
Struggling to rank the massive catalog of R&B icons New Edition? In this special "Top 5" supplemental episode of the 50 for 50 podcast, hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph take on the impossible task of narrowing down the ...
New Edition: Heartbreak Review (1988) | 50 for 50 Podcast
Transitioning from a boy band to a mature R&B powerhouse is a hurdle many fail to clear, but in 1988, New Edition defied the odds. On the debut episode of the 50 for 50 podcast, hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph dive dee...
Our Top 5 Albums & An Explanation of What 50 For 50 Is | 50 for 50
Meet Garrett and Mike. Ever wonder how the music of the past shapes who we are today? Join hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph as they launch the 50 for 50 podcast , a deep-dive journey into the albums that defined generat...