"Bodega Bop" marks the long-awaited collaborative comeback of Showoff crew lyricist REKS (Rhythmatic Eternal King) and powerhouse producer Hazardis Soundz—their first major reunion since their critically acclaimed 2014 joint album, Eyes Watching God. The two originally connected in Miramar, FL, where Hazardis is based and where their debut joint project was born. Known for his pristine sonic engineering on the top-rated podcast Drink Champs (featuring N.O.R.E. & DJ EFN), Hazardis Soundz delivers a cinematic, hard-hitting beat while Lawrence, MA’s own REKS sets the tone with a heavy-hitting opening verse and hook. Queensbridge royalty Capone (of the legendary duo Capone-N-Noreaga / CNN) steps up to lock down the second verse with classic, unfiltered street poetry.
Visuals are brought to life by one of the culture's most sought-after visionary directors, the in-demand Queen Philosophical, who captures the raw, authentic energy of pure East Coast hip hop.
The single and video are available first directly through the artists' official websites—hazardissoundz.com and iamreks.hiphop.
Mannie Fresh joins Questlove to trace his journey from a DJ’s son in New Orleans to one of Hip-Hop’s most influential producers. He reflects on the birth of Bounce music, the creation of Cash Money classics like “Ha,” “Back That Azz Up,” “Bling Bling,” and “Still Fly,” working with Teena Marie, and his hopes for a unified Cash Money and No Limit moment. As Black History Month kicks off, this is Southern Hip-Hop history told straight from one of its chief architects—explaining how a rich tradition of Black music informed his inventive, era-defining style.
The Questlove Show; The Birth of Bounce: Mannie Fresh Explains How Obscure Songs Became New Orleans Classics
Mannie Fresh Breaks Down How Juvenile’s “Ha” Took Over the East Coast | Questlove Show
A real tycoon is in the building. Questlove sits down with Vallejo’s own E-40, the Yay Area legend who was selling records out of his trunk back when getting a major-label deal felt impossible. He built his own label, financed his projects independently, and gave Hip-Hop an entire dictionary of slang and similes. Now, with Turning My Money Over—a historic 40-song quadruple album—Earl Stevens isn’t slowing down.
E-40 talks about growing up on Magazine Street in Vallejo’s Hillside neighborhood, the New York and Bay Area rappers who shaped his voice, and the year at Grambling State that taught him how to make it on his own. He explains how The Click navigated distribution through consignment sheets, mom-and-pop stores, and even rim shops—and how VHS duplication helped change the game for independent artists. 40 Water recalls his dealings with Tupac, advocates for members of the Hieroglyphics crew, and shares how being doubted by a room full of DJs decades ago only pushed him to go harder.