Podcast episodes
MJ’s Off The Wall: The 1979 Snub That Built Thriller | 50 For 50
Michael Jackson's Off The Wall redefined pop music in 1979, yet it often sits in the shadow of its successor. Many fans and critics argue whether this disco-infused masterpiece actually surpasses Thriller in terms of pure mus...
Michael Jackson Movie Review: Estate Image Over Artistry | The Cool Check-In
Is the Michael biopic a cinematic masterpiece or a high-gloss commercial for the Jackson Estate? In this episode of The Cool Check-In , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph dive deep into the newly released Michael Jackson ...
Jay-Z & Kanye West Top 5: The Blueprint or The Black Album? What's Kanye's best?
Jay-Z or Kanye West? Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph settle the ultimate Hip Hop debate by ranking the best albums and tracks from The Throne. Deciding between The Blueprint and The Black Album is a challenge every rap fan f...
Jay-Z & Kanye West’s Watch The Throne Deep Dive |
Watch The Throne represented a peak in hip-hop gravity that we may never see again. In this deep dive, hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph break down the 2011 blockbuster collaboration between Jay-Z and Kanye West . We exp...
Best Alanis Morissette Songs: Top 5 Deep Dive
Alanis Morissette redefined a generation of alt-rock, but which of her iconic tracks truly stand the test of time? Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph take on the impossible task of narrowing down the legendary discography of Al...
Jagged Little Pill: Alanis Morissette & 1995 Music History | 50 For 50
Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill defined the sound of 1995 , but how did a former Canadian pop star create a global phenomenon? In this episode of 50 For 50 , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph dissect the cultural ...
Top 5 Alicia Keys Hits: From Fallin’ to Heartburn
Alicia Keys redefined the sound of the 2000s, but which of her hits are truly the "best of the best"? In this episode of Top 5 , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph take on the impossible task of ranking the top five songs...
Alicia Keys’ Diary: Evaluating the Follow-Up To A Legendary Debut | 50 For 50
The Diary of Alicia Keys remains a pivotal moment in R&B history, yet many fans struggle to rank it against her massive debut. Hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph dive deep into this 2003 classic to determine if it truly c...
Top 5 Huey Lewis Hits: From Sports to Back to the Future
Huey Lewis and the News dominated the 80s with blue-collar rock and infectious hooks, but which tracks are truly the best? For many fans, choosing between a movie anthem like "The Power of Love" and a vocal masterclass like "...
Huey Lewis & The News: Sports, Lawsuits & the Power of Love (1983) | 50 For 50
Huey Lewis and the News dominated 1984 with Sports , but how did they maintain such massive appeal? In this episode of 50 For 50 , Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph break down why Sports wasn't just a hit album—it was a cultur...
Top 5 MC Hammer Songs: Our Hardest List Yet
90s pop rap defined an era, but has MC Hammer’s discography truly stood the test of time? In this challenging edition of Top 5 , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph attempt the impossible: ranking the best tracks from an i...
MC Hammer's Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em: Inside the First Diamond Selling Rap Album (1990) | 50 For 50
Can a Diamond selling rap album actually alienate its own genre? In this episode of 50 For 50 , hosts Garrett Gonzales and Mike Joseph dissect the massive 1990 cultural shift caused by MC Hammer’s Please Hammer, Don’t Hurt ‘E...
Beastie Boys Top 5: Ranking Sabotage to The New Style
Looking for the best Beastie Boys songs to add to your rotation? With a discography spanning punk, hip-hop, and funk, narrowing down the definitive hits of Ad-Rock, MCA, and Mike D is no easy task. In this episode of Top 5 , ...
Paul’s Boutique, the Maturation of the Beastie Boys & Adam Yauch's Legacy (1989) | 50 For 50
RIP Adam Yauch: Exploring the artistic maturation of the Beastie Boys. Many dismissed them as party-obsessed kids, but Paul’s Boutique proved they were visionary artists. In this deep dive on 50 For 50 , hosts Garrett Gonzale...
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...