Episodes
This week, James and Jordan wind down the current season of Catch Up by taking your mailbag questions. Has Nicki Minaj become underrated? What happened to Lupe? What is the greatest leaked track ever? Answers to all these and much more! Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was provided by Corey Chaltas. Our music is by Kaleb. Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram, and feel free to get in touch with us at...
Published 02/17/21
Published 02/17/21
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan talk about one of the most consistently exciting artists working in hip hop, Playboi Carti. The two look back on how Carti first came on their radar, the impact of his incredible eponymous debut mixtape, and his outstanding new studio album ‘Whole Lotta Red’. They also answer listener-submitted questions about Funkmaster Flex and Brockhampton. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this...
Published 01/22/21
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss one of the most exciting rappers currently working, Rico Nasty. The two talk about the artist’s early days in Maryland, her breakout series of mixtapes, and her superb debut studio album ‘Nightmare Vacation’, which came out in December. They also answer listener questions concerning Lauryn Hill and Jay-Z.   Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was provided by Corey...
Published 01/12/21
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan go deep on the career of a beloved, but often polarizing artist, Kid Cudi. The two discuss Cudi’s origins, his influence on contemporary music, his work with Kanye West, his excellent 2009 album ‘Man On The Moon’, and the ups and downs of his career since that point, including the release of his latest LP ‘Man On The Moon III: The Chosen’.   Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this...
Published 01/05/21
This week, on the second part of our 2020 wrap-up, James and Jordan discuss some more of their favourite music from this year including Rico Nasty (1:00), Tobe Nwigwe (6:20), Lil Durk (8:35), Russ (12:30), Headie One (16:00), Starlito (25:00), DijahSB (27:30), Dutchavelli (29:15), Brent Faiyez (32:15) and more!   Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was provided by Corey Chaltas. Our music is by Kaleb. Make sure to...
Published 12/18/20
This week, on the first of a two-part 2020 wrap-up, James and Jordan discuss some of their favorite music of the year including work by Lil Uzi Vert (6:45), Zsela (16:20), Teezo Touchdown (19:00), and the Griselda Records Collective (23:15).    Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was provided by Corey Chaltas. Our music is by Kaleb. Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram, and feel free to get in touch with us at...
Published 12/11/20
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan answer an assortment of great questions submitted by listeners. The two cover oversaturation in the rap genre, Lil Baby’s historic 2020 run, where ‘The Story of Adidon’ ranks amongst the all-time great diss tracks, the enablement of problematic rappers, and much more.    Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was provided by Corey Chaltas. Our music is by Kaleb. Make sure to...
Published 12/04/20
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan give a comprehensive breakdown of the epic Gucci Mane vs. Jeezy Verzuz Battle. They then discuss Megan Thee Stallion up-and-down 2020 and give their thoughts on her debut studio album ‘Good News’.   Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was provided by Corey Chaltas. Our music is by Kaleb. Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram, and feel free to get in touch with us at...
Published 11/27/20
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan give their opinions on one of 2020s most divisive artists, Louisville rapper Jack Harlow. They also discuss the wildly talented Flo Milli and her impressive debut mixtape ‘Ho, Why Is You Here’? Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was provided by Corey Chaltas. Our music is by Kaleb. Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram, and feel free to get in touch with us at...
Published 11/20/20
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan talk about the number of high profile rappers who supported Trump in the last election, from Lil Wayne to Lil Pump. They also discuss the untimely death of Chicago drill rapper King Von, and breakdown what Mod Club meant to Toronto’s music scene.  Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was provided by Corey Chaltas. Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram, and feel free to get...
Published 11/10/20
This week, James and Jordan are back from a long break to sit down and chat with two pillars of the Toronto Hip Hop scene, Brittany “Exmiranda” Manu and Dijah SB. The episode is produced in partnership with Myseum of Toronto’s ‘Intersections Festival: Women in Hip Hop’, an upcoming panel discussion aimed at challenging the traditional role of Black women within the male-dominated space of hip hop while exploring the intersecting experiences of race, sexuality, ability and gender. The...
Published 06/19/20
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the short but remarkable career of Pop Smoke, the NYC rapper who tragically lost his life last week.  Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was provided by Corey Chaltas. Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram, and feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected].   
Published 02/26/20
On the final Catch Up of the decade, James and Jordan reflect on the artists, albums and songs, that made the 2010s perhaps the strongest decade in the history of Rap and R&B.  Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was provided by Corey Chaltas. Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram, and feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected].  This episode was made possible by our generous Patreon...
Published 12/31/19
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan list their top five albums of the year (spoiler, they have the same #1) as well as their top five singles.  Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram, and feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected]
Published 12/18/19
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan sit down with one of Toronto’s most exciting young talents, Swagger Rite. The three talk about Swagger’s early days growing up at Jane and Weston, his breakthrough single ‘In Love with the K’ ft. BlocBoy JB, how getting signed to a label changed his trajectory, and his new project ‘The Swagged Out Pedestrian’, which is out this Friday. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was...
Published 11/20/19
This week on we dig into our archives and revisit a discussion on one of the more influential, but also underappreciated artists of this century, T-Pain. James and Jordan talk about the origins of auto-tune, T-pain’s legacy as a pioneering user of the technology, his impressive track record as a featured artist, his overt influence on artists like Kanye West, Future, and Young Thug, and finally, his latest studio album ‘1UP’. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is...
Published 11/14/19
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan discuss the career of one of this decades most talented rappers, Danny Brown. The two talk about Brown’s long road to success, his brilliant sophomore album ‘XXX’, and his somewhat disappointing new LP, ‘U Know What I'm Sayin?’. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was provided by Corey Chaltas. Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram, and feel free to get in touch with us...
Published 11/06/19
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan break down Kanye West’s bold new album ‘Jesus is King’. The two talk about Kanye abandoning ‘Yandhi’, the start of Sunday Service, his revealing interview with Zane Lowe, and finally give their thoughts on his polarizing new LP. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. This episode was recorded live from the Rec Room in Toronto. Research for this episode was provided by Corey Chaltas. Make sure to follow...
Published 10/30/19
This week, on a very special LIVE episode of Catch Up, James and Jordan sit down with hip-hop blogger, personality, provocateur, and some might say "troll," DJ Akademiks. The three discuss Akademiks's rise from campus DJ to YouTube star, the controversy surrounding ‘The War in Chiraq’, his path to Complex's 'Everyday Struggle,' his feud with Vic Mensa, the BET Awards incident with Migos, and his relationships with Tekashi 6ix9ine and Joe Budden.  Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James...
Published 10/22/19
This week on Catch Up, Jordan and guest host Kyle Fulton discusses the meteoric rise of one of 2019’s biggest breakout stars, Da Baby. The two discuss Da Baby’s prolific mixtape career, his frequent run-ins with the law, his talent as a featured artist, and his latest album ‘Kirk’. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was provided by Corey Chaltas. Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram, and feel free to get in...
Published 10/09/19
This week on Catch Up, we’re digging into our archives to bring you last year’s conversation on one of the most influential producers of this decade, Metro Boomin. Jame’s and Jordan discuss the producer's early days in St. Louis, his legendary collaborations with Future, and his ascendance from critical darling to #1 hitmaker. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram, and feel free to get in touch with...
Published 10/01/19
On a very special 50th episode of Catch Up, James and Jordan decide it’s finally time that they interview each other about their respective relationships to hip hop. The two reminisce about their first CDs, life-changing concerts, most obsessed over LP’s, and their favorite songs to DJ.  Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Make sure to follow Catch Up on Instagram, and feel free to get in touch with us at [email protected].  This...
Published 09/24/19
This week on Catch Up, James and Jordan take a look at the career of a wildly talented yet maddeningly inconsistent rap star, Nicki Minaj. The two talk about Minaj’s early days as a member of the HoodStars, her breakthrough as a part of Young Money, her incredible track record as a featured artist, and her uneven collection of studio albums.  Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this episode was provided by Corey Chaltas. Make...
Published 09/17/19
This on Catch Up, James and Jordan talk about one of the most influential and unique rappers of the decade, Young Thug. The two discuss Thugger’s great early releases like ‘I Came From Nothing 2’ and ‘1017 Thug’, his collaborations with Rich Homie Quan, Gucci Mane and, Kanye West, his classic mixtapes ‘Jeffery’ and ‘I’m Up’, and his expectation shattering studio debut ‘So Much Fun’. Catch Up is hosted by Jordan Sowunmi and James Rathbone, and is produced by Kyle Fulton. Research for this...
Published 09/10/19