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Month: April 2026

#rewindreview: Paul Wall & Termanology ‘Start Finish Repeat’ 2023

Posted on by Quantum Leap Radio

  This collaboration seems so arbitrary but fit right into the random partnerships that have appeared in HOP music for the last 15 years. I always likened it to internet access creating no borders among music. Still I am always fascinated by some of the alliances that have been formed to make music. Paul Wall and Termanology are from two separate corners in my world. Hearing this collaboration brought me back to the days of ‘Late Nite Snax.’ A radio show I was apart of between 2004 and 2006, where we would play Termanology on this listener sponsored station, while Paul Wall was still getting rotation on terrestrial radio. I wasn’t a listener of Paul Wall and so hearing about a collaboration with “Term” seemed like it would be an “oil and water” mix, but something happened in 2022 that caught my full attention. A track called ‘Recognize My Car’ dropped from “Wall” and “Term,” that was over an old but not as known Pete Rock beat. This particular track from Pete Rock is an underground favorite of mine that was not used for any other song outside of one Pete Rock’s many instrumental albums. I respected this move from Paul Wall and Termanolgy. For “Term” this didn’t seem to “out of the box” but to hear Paul Wall on this was almost surreal. In late 2023 the two rappers release ‘Start Finish Repeat.’ It still took me a minute to get to this record because in the back of my mind I thought it would feel “forced” and out of place. Well as a man I can admit I was COMPLETELY off. Literally from start to finish of this album, one will want to immediately put it on repeat. Paul Wall and Termanology created a project that is worthy of the days of buying physical records. There is “meat on the bone” with ‘Start Finish Repeat.’ Their contrasting styles keeps this album from being monotonous while also having some of the best production any HOP head would want to hear. One can’t really go wrong when Statik Selektah is mainly producing your album, but when he is not Large Professor, Diamond D., JR Swiftz, Cartune Beatz and Buckwild pick up the baton. A.Z., Big K.R.I.T., Sheek Louch, C.L. Smooth, Bun B., Nems and Peedi Crakk all show up to share microphone duties as well. This album is a recipe for success and they sequence the songs to grab you early on. The pace doesn’t let up until about the “final act” but the album closes out strong with the title track. There is simply a sense of respect for HOP music throughout this record which is maybe why I was so drawn to it when I got around to listening. It was my favorite album 2023 and goes to show that surprises can come in varieties when it comes to HOP music. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘Talk About It,’ ‘Do It For The Ghetto,’ ‘Houston BBQ’ & ‘Wall Paper’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 1-3a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) or get the KPFT APP in your playstore!!! Catch past episodes by searching and following @https://linktr.ee/QLEAPRADIO

#rewindreview: Shad ‘Start Anew’ 2025

Posted on by Quantum Leap Radio

  I got a taste of this album with ‘Bars & BBQs’ (no pun intended). A laid back track that found rapper Shad showing off his wordplay ability, with the first verse rhyming only words that start with the letter “B.” To me this was a new act who respected the art of rhyme, which these days is starting to appear a bit more as opposed to just a decade ago. I came across Shad on social media and he looked familiar, like someone you know, but just haven’t seen in a while. Before this album released, two more singles dropped in ‘Islands’ and ‘K.I.S.S.’ At this point I was interested and felt that Shad not only was talented but was intentional about the type of sound he was providing. Still where have I seen this guy…? ‘Start Anew’ releases and although I did not get to it on the first day, when I finally locked into the album it was satisfying. With only thirteen tracks and about thirty-five minutes long, Shad manages to put together an album ripe for spring season. Production is handled by many with names like Theory Hazit and sndtrk but it all manages to fit the theme of the album. Shad makes this album a journal on his perspective of life through ‘Happiness’ regardless of the obstacles and ‘Sacrifice,’ where him and Homeboy Sandman look back at the challenges that made them stronger. Features also include Rax Fresco, Jon Kobongo, Chantae Cann and pHoenix Pagliacci. An album with so much ingredients that fit within a short period of time could not be made by someone just getting on the scene. Who is this Shad guy, and why with every listen and look at him, he seems familiar…? It then hit me that this is the same person who hosted a thorough look at Hip-Hop music and the different regions it expanded to, on Netflix’s ‘Hip-Hop Evolution.’ Not only that but apparently Shad is one of Canada’s most popular rappers, who has been putting out music for the last twenty years. Everything began to make since to me as the collaborations, content and decisions on ‘Start Anew’ was made by a seasoned veteran. Canada has had some of the most respected M.C.s who have been respectful of HOP music throughout the years, such as Moka Only, Kardinal Offishall, K-OS, Ghetto Concept, Saukrates and Choclair. Shad ads to this incredible group of individuals and ‘Start Anew’ is a reflection of this. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘Slanted’ & ‘Rain’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 1-3a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) or get the KPFT APP in your playstore!!! Catch past episodes by searching and following @https://linktr.ee/QLEAPRADIO

#rewindreview: Outkast ‘Stankonia’ 2000

Posted on by Quantum Leap Radio

  The fourth album from Outkast might not be the first album people mention in their discography but it was their most experimental. The anticipation for ‘Stankonia’ was high but also one of intrigue. The first single ‘B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad)’ took a bit of getting used to. The high energy, 153 beats per minute single was not something terrestrial urban radio was used to. One could argue that Outkast single handedly changed the course of mainstream sound at the time because of it. The evidence was clear that like their previous albums, Outkast was still on a mission to make each album radically different from the last. I remember hearing this album for the first time after getting an advanced promotional copy (hence the album cover. Thanks Margaret). By this time ‘B.O.B.’ is the only single out so hearing songs like ‘So Fresh, So Clean’ and ‘Ms. Jackson’ almost provided a sense of normalcy while listening. ‘Stankonia’ did however offer more of that unexpected bounce and energy ‘B.O.B.’ prepared us for. ‘Snappin’ & Trappin’ sounds like Hip-Hop on speed and ‘Gangsta Sh*t’ is like the hardcore street version of ‘Spottieottiedopaliscious’ from their previous album. What makes ‘Stankonia’ great is on paper these songs and features might seem all over the place but the sequencing of this album might be what made it work all these years. The listener is taken on a rollercoaster ride with exactly the right “turns” and “speeds.” When ‘We Luv Deez Hoez’ seem like the album could be headed towards a down fall, ‘Humble Mumble’ comes in to save the day. This for me made songs that I didn’t initially think were strong fit right into the album and give the overall project a win. Outkast understood their sound by the year 2000 and although Organized Noize did a few tracks on this album, what the people heard musically was overwhelmingly of Big Boi and Andre 3000 as Earthtone III. Features also included Goodie Mob, B-Real, Erykah Badu, Sleepy Brown, Slimm Calhoune, Backbone and the introduction of Killer Mike. An amazing feat of Outkast was getting me to enjoy a track with guest Gangsta Boo. I was never in a headspace to hear her but Outkast once again created magic, as well as a clever song that we ALL can relate to in ‘I’ll Call Before I Come.’ ‘Stankonia’ has always been a fun listen throughout the years. It’s an album that although has had success, there is this silent lack of respect for it but quite possibly because it was light years ahead of it’s time. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘B.O.B. (Bombs Over Baghdad),’ ‘Ms. Jackson’ & ‘So Fresh, So Clean’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 1-3a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) or get the KPFT APP in your playstore!!! Catch past episodes by searching and following @https://linktr.ee/QLEAPRADIO

#rewindreview: De La Soul ‘Stakes Is High’ 1996

Posted on by Quantum Leap Radio

  Where were you when you heard ‘Stakes Is High?’ A challenging question but a memory that has to bring nothing but joy when recalling hearing this album for the first time. This was a summer release that was highly anticipated and could have been a “make or break” for the now veteran group. ‘Stakes Is High’ is the fourth album from De La Soul, who were coming off of their first two incredible and genre changing albums; and a third album that was not as experimental but serviced fans. It was also the first time that the group would be without Prince Paul who seemingly was a huge reason why their first three albums worked in such an abstract way. Could “The Plugs” pull off an amazing feat after a three year hiatus, and the sound of HOP music changing drastically within that time? The first single which tackles the album name and a myriad of issues as well as the overall theme of the album was an automatic hit for Hip-Hop listeners. The songs purpose was clear and one understood which side of Hip-Hop’s “imaginary line drawn in the sand” De La Soul stood on. The next test would be the album, which given its subtle cover art displaying children and the album title, presents a new more mature look for the trio. ‘Stakes Is High’ is not as “quirky” as their first album or “anti” as their second album or “directionless” as their third album. This is an effort that utilizes pieces of all the previous albums and executes a perfect collage of Posdnuos, Dave and Maseo’s growth of making music. There is too much good on this album, from the opening intro asking that serendipitous question about Boogie Down Productions’ debut release, to the feel good opening of ‘Dinninit,’ and the massive weight of ‘Big Brother Beat.’ There is so much good on this album that it was almost the fault of the record. Songs like ‘Baby, Baby…,’ ‘Down Syndrome’ and ‘Itzsoweezee’ sounded out of place but these songs actually created the best outcome for the album to not fall into one groove, no matter how great that groove was. ‘Stakes Is High’ creates a moment for a newer generation to experience De La Soul. Time was either moving slower back then or our younger minds processed the world longer but by 1996, De La was considered “old school.” I can say personally that title was thrown out the window when the ‘Itzsoweezee’ video released. Not only did the video make me love the song after initially not caring for it, but also teleported me to those last days of school before summer break. Only in this particular day of school your peers were a rogue’s gallery of everyone you listened to in HOP music. What did you think of the album? Singles include: ‘Stakes Is High,’ ‘Itzsoweezee (hot)’ ‘The Bizness’ & ‘4 More’ Listen to QUANTUM LEAP RADIO every Saturday from 4-6p.m. CST & Thursday from 1-3a.m. CST on 90.1 FM KPFT Houston in HD2 Worldwide @kpft.org/listen (under “kpft in HD2”) or get the KPFT APP in your playstore!!! Catch past episodes by searching and following @https://linktr.ee/QLEAPRADIO

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