The Almanac of Rap artwork

Music Interviews · Donwill/Okayplayer

The Almanac of Rap

by Donwill/Okayplayer

The Almanac of Rap is a two-time Webby Award-winning show that examines trends in hip hop and their impact over time...and it's way more fun than that description makes it sound. Each week, our host Donwill asks a question, presents a theory and finds a guest to come to some sort of consensus about it. Simply put, it’s a show about rap, by a rapper who loves rap music. If you're new to the Almanac, start here!

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Cool Relax feat Jon B

Before Jon B. became one of the defining voices of '90s R&B, he was a kid surrounded by records, instruments, and a family of classically trained musicians. In this episo

Nov 5
52 min

Leap Life feat Saul Williams

What happens when an artist refuses to separate creativity from revolution? Poet, musician, actor, filmmaker, and cultural provocateur Saul Williams joins Donwill for an

Oct 29
1 h 34 min

A Wu Tang Fable feat RZA

What happens when one of hip-hop's most elusive albums becomes the subject of a Netflix documentary? RZA, the visionary producer, filmmaker, and founding architect of the

Oct 22
30 min

Digable Planets feat Butterfly and Doodlebug

Digable Planets helped redefine the possibilities of hip-hop in the early 1990s, blending jazz, funk, political consciousness, and a distinctly cosmic sensibility into a

Oct 15
41 min

Blowout Comb feat Ladybug Mecca

Before Digable Planets helped redefine the sound of alternative hip-hop, Ladybug Mecca was a young artist absorbing Brazilian music, jazz, and the rhythms of her family's

Oct 8
34 min

Blow the Whistle feat. Too $hort

Did you know that the Almanac of Rap is up for 3 Signal Awards? Vote for Donwill today, click the links below and let your voice be heard 🏆🏆🏆: Type Beats feat Jake One|

Oct 1
1 h 24 min

Rock Steady feat Ken Swift

Before breaking became a global industry, and long before it became an Olympic event, Ken Swift was helping define what the dance could be. A longtime Rock Steady Crew me

Sep 24
38 min

Precious Cargo feat Maiya the Don

Maiya the Don spent three years figuring out what she actually wanted to say. After Hot Commodity introduced a Brooklyn rapper capable of moving between drill, pop and st

Sep 17
1 h 05 min

Pan Amsterdam feat Leron Thomas

Before Leron Thomas became the left-field rapper Pan Amsterdam, he was a Houston jazz prodigy sharing classrooms with Robert Glasper, touring with Bilal and building a re

Sep 10
41 min

Skiddle Bandana feat La Reezy

On this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill heads south to explore the past, present and future of New Orleans hip-hop with rising rapper, producer and 2026 XXL Freshm

Sep 3
1 h 01 min

Embers To Ashes feat Everlast

On this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with multi-platinum, Grammy Award-winning artist Everlast for a wide-ranging conversation about reinvention, long

Aug 27
43 min

AOR Throwback: Hip House ft Dave Gilles II

On this throwback episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Grammy Award-winning songwriter and Chicago native Dave Giles II for a deep dive into Hip House, C

Aug 20
23 min

Native Tongues feat The Jungle Brothers

On this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with hip-hop pioneers The Jungle Brothers to revisit the friendships, records and unlikely moments that helped sh

Aug 14
57 min

Chika Day feat CHIKA

On this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with GRAMMY-nominated rapper, singer, and actor CHIKA for one of the funniest and most wide-ranging conversations

Aug 6
43 min

The Lean feat Durand Bernarr

On this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, producer, and internet icon Durand Bernarr for a conversation that

Jul 30
39 min

AOR Throwback: DJ R-Tisitc

On this throwback episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill revisits his conversation with DJ R-Tisitc, one of Los Angeles' most respected DJs and music curators. From his e

Jul 23
35 min

The BET Awards 2026 feat Rapsody, Slim Jxmmi, Miles Minnick, Salt and more.

On this special episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill heads to Los Angeles for the BET Media House Experience, gathering an all-star lineup of artists, creators, executi

Jul 16
23 min

Bits & Pieces Vol 1 feat Masta Ace, Michael Holman and Jake One

On this special episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill opens the vault and shares some of the best conversations that didn't make the final edits of the first half of Sea

Jul 9
47 min

AOR Mini: The Most "American" Moment in Hip Hop

This week on a special minisode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill is joined by Okayplayer's Audio Marketing Strategist and longtime collaborator Faybeo’n “LiKWUiD” Mickens f

Jul 7
19 min

The Lottery feat Shaggy

On this episode of The Almanac of Rap, Donwill sits down with Grammy Award-winning artist Shaggy for a wide-ranging conversation about building one of the most enduring c

Jul 2
1 h 22 min

Chart trend

Position in the Music Interviews chart (US), last 90 days.

#3
all-time peak
10
days in the top 3 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where The Almanac of Rap ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Nov 6, 2026).

#90 ▼ 51 Music Interviews US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

Learning can be fun kids! Seriously tho, listening to these episodes leave me feeling like I understand a bit more about some of my favorite artists. Sometimes, it’s led me to new folks as well. It can be wrapped in humor, faith, or purpose- but the sharing of the insights are awesome and appreciated. Peace.

Conch Love · Apr 2026

This is the smartest, most entertaining podcast out right now. If you were there for the Okayplayer Boards run from 2000-2009 then YOU KNOW how dope this podcast is. Shout outs to Donwill for mixing the research of Nardwar, with The Office Style comedy, and the best interviews with real questions out there. I want Donwill to interview Doechii next!

ChromaPixelNYC · Sep 2024

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About The Almanac of Rap on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of The Almanac of Rap, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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