With the news of Greedo going in, Nocando and Jeff sit down to discuss the recent renaissance of LA rap, gang culture, and the systemic and historic fuckery of the LAPD. Then starting at the 34 minute mark, Jeff talks to the young Broadway legend, G Perico about everything from The Doors to cultural appropriation, his desire to create a timeless of body of work to growing up on The Hot Boys. Listen to G Perico: https://soundcloud.com/g-perico-1 Listen to...

Because the show is called Shots Fired, we had to devote an entire episode to Pusha T Vs. Drake beef: the origins, winners, losers, baby hiding, and its place in hip-hop history. Keep an eye out for Nocando's next album "Coyote" dropping June 12 Twitter: @mcnocando @passionweiss IG: @mcnocando @passionweiss Soundcloud: @soundcloud.com/nocando @soundcloud.com/pow-recordings

For the latest episode of Shots Fired, Nocando and Jeff debate the absurdity of Kanye's latest MAGA moves, bizarre behavior, and whether it's possible to listen to his new music with objectivity in the wake of his Trump endorsement. In the second half, Jeff talks to Zaytoven about his roots in the Bay area, his work in pioneering trap music, collaborations with Future and Gucci and much more. The interview was recorded a while back but this is Shots Fired and you can deal with us being late...

After a two-year hiatus, Nocando and Jeff Weiss are back with a reunion episode of Shots Fired. They talk about what they've been up to in the last two years -- including leaving Low End Theory, starting POW Recordings, Boycott LA Weekly, Rap Music in 2018, and Nocando's string of excellent new music projects. Listen to his latest "M.O.T.H." https://soundcloud.com/nocando/sets/moth Follow Nocando on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/nocando Follow POW Recordings on...

For the 94th episode of Shots Fired, Nocando and Jeff welcome the great Compton rapper, Boogie. We talk about navigating the major label system, the greatness of 05-09 era Lil Wayne, why Compton has produced most of LA's greatest rappers, and much more. In addition, Jeff and Nocando talk about battle rap, the importance of co-signs in rap, Max B, waves, and why no one will ever buy a Heineken on purpose. Listen to Boogie: https://soundcloud.com/boogieofficial Follow Boogie on Twitter:...

After their traditional three-month hiatus, Shots Fired has resurrected to bring you a conversation taped earlier this year with modern funk legend-in-the-making, Dam-Funk. They talk about the nature of the contemporary music industry, Todd Rundgren, what it means to be original in the post-modern world, and of course, all things funk-related. In addition, Jeff and Nocando mourn the loss of Prince. You can and should pre-order Dam-Funk's new DJ Kicks compilation coming out on May 27....

For the first episode of the New Year, we're excavating the last one from 2015. Our guest is DJ Trackstar of Run the Jewels, a renowned turntablist and one of the best mixtape DJs of the last decade. They talk about how he joined Run the Jewels, his roots in the St. Louis hip-hop world, the best rap groups, the Atlanta rap scene and much more. (Interview starts at the 38 minute mark) In addition, Jeff and Nocando talk horror-core, pimping, tamales, one-hit wonders, Future, Drake and...

After a near-death experience, Shots Fired has once again returned with glorious malice. They welcome the legendary slam poet, actor, and musician, Saul Williams. They discuss meeting Leonard Cohen and Allen Ginsberg, religion, 2Pac, the late 90s hip-hop scene in New York, and his forthcoming album, MartyrLoserKing (due out 1/29). In addition, Jeff and Nocando talk about darts, Drake Vs. Meek and ghostwriting, and the greatness of Young Thug. Check out more of Saul Williams here:...

After taking a break to track down Octogenarian poets and burn down stages, the Shots Fired duo are back in Dash Studios with their guest, Oakland rap star, G-Eazy. They talk about his roots selling mixtapes in the Bay, the early days of the Hyphy movement, the legend of Mac Dre, and the many times he tried to explain Bay Area rap to confused Southerners during his college days in New Orleans. G-Eazy also charts his rise from hawking mixtapes on Telegraph to selling out tours across...

Last Fall, Scroobius Pip traveled from Essex to LA to record his new album and pay a visit to Shots Fired. The British rapper and poet talks about his roots in punk, spoken word, going from the HMV to being one of the UK's big rappers, British hip-hop, major labels versus indies and miscellaneous cultural differences. (Interview starts at the 20:18 mark) In addition, Nocando and Jeff talk about scurvy, jazz, and old Scandinavian folk songs. The usual. Subscribe to Scroobius Pip's...

With the release of his "Dena Tape 2," Hodgy Beats comes through Dash Studios to talk to Shots Fired about growing up in Pasadena, parenthood, Odd Future, his new music, and his anti-marriage stance. (Interview starts at the 17:40 mark) In addition, Nocando and Jeff talk about whipped coffee beverages, drugs, Big Sean, and comics. Note: Nocando couldn't make the interview w/ Hodgy Beats, so Paul Thompson was the guest co-host. Download Hodgy Beats' "Dena Tape 2:"...

In advance of his new album "Action," the legendary Aceyalone of Freestyle Fellowship came by Dash Studios to tape an episode of Shots Fired. (The interview begins at the 35:19 mark) The innercity griot touches on everything from the early days of LA hip-hop (Egyptian Lover, Mixmaster Spade) to the roots of The Good Life, Project Blowed and how Freestyle Fellowship formed. The conversation spans from his personal views on art, media misperceptions, dealing with major labels, "The Book of...

The Shots Fired squad return to the Cosmic Zoo for an episode with Martin Kierszenbaum, Chairman of Cherrytree Records, Senior VP of A&R at Interscope, and the producer known as Cherry Cherry Boom Boom. The episode covers the twists and turns of Kierszenbaum's career from the Michigan rap duo Maroon (http://www.fresherthanthis.com/maroon_current.html) to his work as A&R and record executive who played a vital role in the discovery and eventual stardom of artists such as Lady Gaga,...

Last fall, the charismatic hair god from the Moreno Valley, Speak! came through the Cosmic Zoo to chop it up with Nocando and Jeff about Suga Free, hip-hop's messiah complex, hookers in Tijuana, the San Fernando Valley, the categories on XVideo, the online music peanut gallery, and what it means to "make it" in the music industry. Once you listen to this episode, you won't ever need to go to summer school or grad school. You can just play it for the administrators and they'll give you a...

Shortly before the year ended, The Bug (Kevin Martin) stopped by the Cosmic Zoo amidst his U.S. tour for his latest stellar album, "Angels & Devils." Over the last two decades, Martin has cut one of the most singular and innovative paths in electronic music, grime, and UK hip-hop. If none of that makes any sense to you: think the British analogue to El-P. During this one-hour interview, he talks to Nocando and Jeff about moving to Berlin, contemporary music culture, the time he almost...

After a nearly two-month break which Nocando and Jeff spent embroiled a hot air balloon contest around the world (separate balloons), the Shots Firedians are back with a two-part episode. Yes, a 2-part episode. Think of it as like a very special "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," but with more Carlton dancing. In this hour-long mini-episode, Jeff and Nocando catch up and talk about their holidays, Nocando's recent tour, Utah strip clubs, snitching, cops, and the movies -- including "Inherent Vice"...

After a brief hiatus, Shots Fired returns with the legendary Souls of Mischief crew. They talk about Oakland, the roots of Hieroglyphics and their Hiero Imperium imprint, their stylistic evolution and their new collaborative album with Adrian Younge, "There is Only Now." Plus, much more. (Interview starts at the 30 minute mark) In addition, Nocando and Jeff catch up about the latter's trip to Lil Wayne's island mansion in Miami and Ferguson. Buy: Souls of Mischief & Adrian Younge's -...

For his third appearance on Shots Fired, Nocando and Jeff welcome back Busdriver, the LA art rap impresario, perfect hair icon, and Hellfyre Club Secretary of State. Topics discussed include: Iggy Azalea's whiteness, regional rap vis a vis Young Thug and Kevin Gates, Busdriver's long-standing ties to the LA bass music scene, the early days of Project Blowed, Barack Obama, Hellfyre Club, the meaning of "perfect hair" and his new album with the same title. In addition, Nocando and Jeff...

Thanks to the mighty squad at Greenroom Magazine, Shots Fired took a trip out to the Twin Cities to do a live podcast with P.O.S., Open Mike Eagle, and Dam-Funk. The episode covers everything from the Minneapolis sound of Prince to the underground movements of Rhymesayers and Doomtree -- it circles back to LA to cover the origins of Hellfyre Club and the broader world surrounding Dam-Funk's Funkmosphere. There are stories about day jobs, the difficulties and benefits of running indie...

FOR THE MOST HiGHLY ANTiCIPATED AND NEON TANGERiNE SCENTED PODCAST IN THE HiSTORY OF PODCASTDOM, RiFF RAFF, AKA JODY HiGHROLLER, AKA THE RAP GAME HUCKLEBERRY FiNN, STEPS iNTO THE COSMiC ZOO. TOPiCS DiSCUSSED iNCLUDE HiS iCONOGRAPHY, FREESTYLiNG, DRUGS, HATERS, CHRIS FARLEY'S GENiUS, JEFF BAGWELL AND CRAiG BiGGiO, BRiTiSH KNiGHTS, JODY HUSKiE, CREATiVE DiVERSiTY, AND WHEN AND WHEN NOT TO THROW THE RiCE OUT. iF YOU MiSS THiS EPiSODE, YOU WiLL BE SENTENCED TO LiVE IN THE KALAHARi DESERT AND...

One of the most versatile and impressive producers of the last decade, Dawaun Parker, entered the Cosmic Zoo to discuss working with Dr. Dre, producing for Eminem, 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes, Phil Beaudreau; attending the Berklee School of Music, Providence hip-hop and much more. He even drops a little knowledge about the status of "Detox." Interview starts at the 37:00 minute mark. In addition, Nocando and Jeff discuss Ferguson and racism, KCon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Taylor Swift....

The art-rap baron Open Mike Eagle made a return visit to the Cosmic Zoo around the time of the release of his excellent new album "Dark Comedy." We talked about racism in the South, our inability to understand soccer, popular rap, unpopular rap, funny rap, not funny rap, the art of comedy, and esoteric 90s sitcoms. (Interview starts at the 26:00 minute mark). In addition, Nocando and Jeff discuss EDM and their recent experiences attending Jay Z and Beyonce's "On the Run" and Eminem and...

In which Sage Francis takes a break from his "Copper Gone" tour to come to the Cosmic Zoo and discuss everything from his early years discovering rap in Providence, RI, to Scribble Jam and Slam Poetry, running an independent label (Strange Famous) and various personal and professional trials that have shaped his two-decade career. In addition, Nocando and Jeff discuss the Yung Lean phenomenon, ballet and what kind of weed they bought as teenagers. You can purchase Sage Francis' new...

In which Chanel West Coast (https://twitter.com/chanelwestcoast) comes to the Cosmic Zoo to discuss being a white female rapper growing up in the Valley, signing to Young Money, working with Lil Wayne and French Montana, starring on Rob Dyrdek's "Fantasy Factory" and "Ridiculousness," the ins and outs of Instagram, and much more. In addition, Nocando and Jeff discuss the growing rupture in Maybach Music and the Instagram/Twitter feud between Wale and Meek Mill.