Dante Ross: The A&R Who Helped Shape Hip-Hop

Rich Medina, DJ, poet, and Music Director and partner at Miami’s Dante’s HiFi, joins Gems with Shom for a conversation on deep listening, longevity, and a life built around records. A fan favorite from the archive, originally released February 2026, now with a new intro. From his early years in New Jersey to becoming one of the most respected DJs and cultural voices of his generation, Rich reflects on a career shaped by curiosity, discipline, and intention. We get into legendary residencies, global travel, poetry, education, mentorship, and what it takes to stay a lifelong student of music. A central thread is Dante’s HiFi, Miami’s Japanese-inspired listening room. We explore listening-bar culture, jazz kissa traditions, album-focused listening, and why slowing down to truly hear music feels more necessary than ever. In the Drop a Gem on ’Em segment, Rich shares insight on records, listening, and moving with purpose across decades. 🎙 In this episode: DJing as storytelling Jazz kissa and listening-bar culture Dante’s HiFi Poetry, academia and mentorship Longevity and creative survival The power of deep listening This one’s for DJs, diggers, music lovers, and anyone looking for a more intentional relationship with sound. ⏱ Chapters 00:00 Intro [add timestamps] 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with the DJs, producers, collectors and artists behind the records. 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gems.podcast/ 🎧 Listen everywhere: linktr.ee/shomghosh #RichMedina #GemsWithShom #DantesHiFi

DJ Khalil, 3X Grammy-winning producer and half of Self Scientific, breaks down his journey from DJing house parties in LA to producing for Dr. Dre, Eminem, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Clipse, Kanye West, Anderson .Paak and Aloe Blacc. He grew up the son of NBA All-Star Walt Hazzard, surrounded by jazz, soul and his dad’s record collection. He met Dr. Dre as a kid at a party his parents threw, and years later Dre remembered him and signed him to Aftermath. In between: sneaking his dad’s records to loop up beats, recording a demo at Ice-T’s house with Kool Keith and Diamond D, and pressing his own records with Self Scientific during LA’s independent hip hop wave. In this episode: Sampling prog rock, Brazilian music and jazz fusion when everyone else sampled soul Moving from the ASR-10 to Reason, and how Dre taught him to use space How “I Made It” landed on Jay-Z’s Kingdom Come after the album was already mastered The stories behind “Kush,” “Kinda Like a Big Deal,” “County Building Blues,” “Heart Don’t Stand a Chance” and “The Man” Working with 50 Cent, Sha Money XL and the G-Unit era Eminem’s Recovery Why great producers know their role, and why he still learns from young producers GEMS with Shom is a show about beat digging, records, production and other things. Subscribe for more conversations with the producers, DJs and diggers who shaped the music. #DJKhalil #DrDre #Eminem #JayZ #HipHopProducer #BeatDigging #MusicProduction #GEMSwithShom

This episode of Gems with Shom features Lord Jamar: founding member of Brand Nubian, producer, DJ, actor, and lifelong artist.From DJing house parties in New Rochelle to producing In God We Trust, developing Dead Prez, working with the Boot Camp Clik, and transitioning to acting with fantastic performances on HBO's Oz, Lord Jamar has built an extraordinary career around records, loops, and an unshakable belief in himself.Lord Jamar and Shom get into the story behind that journey: growing up on his mother's 45s, collecting breakbeat tapes from the city, learning to hear loops from Grand Puba, forming Brand Nubian with Sadat X with no demo and no group name, and teaching himself to produce by reading the MPC manual.🎙 In this episode, we dive into:- His mother's 45s, breakbeat tapes, and the records that shaped his ear- Starting as a DJ at 12 and learning to cut by studying tapes and TV clips- How Grand Puba taught him to find the magic part of a record- Forming Brand Nubian and recording their first song at Jazzy Jay's studio- The making of One for All, a five-mic classic- Why a beat invoice led him to buy an MPC 60 and produce In God We Trust himself- Working with Diamond D on "Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down"- The digging story behind "Wake Up (Reprise in the Sunshine)"- The original version of A Tribe Called Quest's "Show Business"- Producing for Heltah Skeltah, OGC, and Buckshot- Developing Dead Prez as artists- Landing a role on Oz as Supreme Allah- Picking records by their cover art and digging in the digital eraLord Jamar also shares incredible stories from a lifetime in hip-hop, from pushing his turntables down Main Street in a shopping cart to turning down a spot as an extra on Oz because he knew he'd be back with a real role.The conversation goes deep into how a DJ becomes a producer, why everybody hears loops differently, what it takes to stay creative across decades, and why you have to believe you've already won in order to win.From New Rochelle house parties and Sadat X's father's record collection to classic albums and prestige television, Lord Jamar's story is ultimately about what happens when self-belief meets a great ear for records.For fans of Lord Jamar, Brand Nubian, Sadat X, Grand Puba, Diamond D, A Tribe Called Quest, Dead Prez, Boot Camp Clik, golden era hip-hop, beat digging, sampling, hip-hop production, and deep music conversations, this is a real gem.Subscribe to Gems with Shom for weekly conversations with the DJs, producers, collectors, artists, and cultural figures behind the records.#LordJamar #GemsWithShom #BrandNubian #BeatDigging #HipHopProduction #RecordCollecting #SadatX #GrandPuba #DeadPrez #GoldenEraHipHop🎙️ A show about beat digging ... records, production & other things ✨ Celebrating the art of beat digging 🎶 Jazz | Soul | Hip Hop | Global Sounds ⬇️ Full episodes & clips weekly 👉 Subscribe & listen: linktr.ee/shomghosh#beatdigging #vinylcollecting #records #hiphop #jazz #soul #funk #raregroove #production#レコードディギング #レコードコレクター #ビートディギング #ヒップホップ #ジャズ #ソウル #ファンク #日本

DJ Rhettmatic is a battle champion, producer, member of the Visionaries, and founding member of the legendary Beat Junkies. In this episode of Gems with Shom, Rhettmatic discusses his Filipino American roots, LA’s early hip-hop scene, DJ battles, production, and the rise of the Beat Junkies. He also shares stories about J Dilla’s final European tour and the creative connection between Dilla and Madlib. A deep conversation about DJing, beat digging, records, production, and a lifetime devoted to hip-hop. Subscribe to Gems with Shom for more conversations about beat digging, records, and music production. #DJRhettmatic #BeatJunkies #JDilla #Madlib #Turntablism #HipHop #BeatDigging #GemsWithShom

This episode of Gems with Shom features DJ Serious — DJ, producer, record collector, creator of the acclaimed albums Dim Sum and Cold Tea, and one of the founding members behind CrateryCon. Ahead of CrateryCon 2026, DJ Serious and Shom get into a lifetime spent deep in records, hip-hop, DJ culture, production, and the underground. DJ Serious traces his journey from discovering hip-hop and skate culture to getting his first turntables, becoming a working DJ, producing records, hosting college radio, throwing underground parties, and eventually releasing Dim Sum and Cold Tea. The conversation also gets into the evolution of record digging and how DJ Serious eventually found his way back to collecting through Cratery — developing an even deeper appreciation for overlooked music, complete songs, and records that might otherwise disappear between the cracks. 🎙 In this episode, we dive into: • Record digging, DJ culture, production, and underground hip-hop • Dim Sum, Cold Tea, and DJ Serious’ evolution as a producer • Working with Masta Ace and touring Europe with A-Trak • College radio, underground parties, record stores, and creating your own platform • Cratery, deep record knowledge, and rediscovering the excitement of digging • CrateryCon and building a community around records, DJs, collectors, and music discovery • Why overlooked Canadian records have become one of DJ Serious’ latest digging obsessions DJ Serious also shares stories about working in record stores, opening his own shop Daily Operation, playing the Jazz Cafe, DJing for Lee “Scratch” Perry, stepping away from collecting, discovering photography, and eventually being pulled back into the record world. And, of course, we Drop a Gem on ’Em — getting into Gene McDaniels, Eddie Hazel, Mighty Ryeders, Masta Ace, Clear, Run-DMC, Pete Rock, Ultimate Breaks & Beats, and some serious record knowledge along the way. The episode also looks ahead to CrateryCon 2026, taking place September 24–27, where collectors, DJs, producers, and serious music heads come together for a weekend built around records and digging. Gems with Shom will also be there for its first live episode, featuring Gene Brown with an appearance from Jake One. For fans of record digging, hip-hop, DJ culture, rare records, production, Cratery, underground music, and deep music conversations — this is a real gem. Subscribe to Gems with Shom for weekly conversations with the DJs, producers, collectors, artists, and cultural figures behind the records. #GemsWithShom #DJSerious #RecordDigging #HipHop #CrateryCon #RecordCollecting #Cratery #Vinyl #DJCulture #UndergroundHipHop #MusicProduction