When you think of the "most influential artists of the last decade," you can think of many names; it's then narrowed down to just a handful. Among them, is the powerhouse simply known as the enigmatically potent Kendrick Lamar. Appearing out of the woodwork as often as a wild Frank Ocean or André 3000 does, Kendrick carries the mind and voice of the current generation of Hip-Hop purists. He is also the torch bearer of the West Coast, a Pulitzer Prize winner and has an album archived in the library of Congress. With many accolades under his belt and many more surely to come, Kendrick released his 2011 masterpiece 'good kid, m.A.A.d city' to raving reviews. The album is dubbed as a "short film" and is centered around Kendrick's upbringing in Compton, gang lifestyle in the hood, faith, and his time right before he signed to the powerhouse that is Top Dawg Entertainment. Kendrick presented his life in audio form—through 12 songs to be exact—and truly showcase why he belongs in the discussion of being one of the greatest musicians of all time.

This long-awaited episode finds Charles and Dave unpacking the story and trauma of a young and naive Kendrick—a theme fitting the season's idea of Deep Sessions. Join our hosts as they ride around in Kendrick's van and see all the pivotal spots of Kendrick's ride on the way to the top of the game—how he beat the odds of gang violence and systemic racism. Let us know what you thought of this episode and make sure to check out 'good kid, m.A.A.d city' on all streaming platforms!

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The mind of an artist is always a unique thing to dissect, and today's artist, is quite the enigma: the late Mac Miller. Releasing a few mixtapes a little over a decade ago, Mac was known mostly for a frat-style type of music with a mixture of classic boom-bap rhymes and uncommon beat choice. Within his career, he spanned and experimented with many genres and the one he's widely-known now for is his infusion of Jazz and Hip-Hop. The epitome of this infusion is Mac's penultimate album, 'Swimming,' which dropped a month before his untimely passing. 'Swimming' is a project enriched in the deepest desires and fears of Mac's soul: the quest for self-love and freedom from crippling doubt.

In Season 2, Charles and Dave focus on the underlying message behind albums, aptly titled Deep Sessions. Cole, Lupe and Mac all merit spots this season, and this project naturally fits in. With a ton of texture and a deep well of thought, our hosts find themselves deciding whether it's okay to float or if it's better to swim with Mac. Drop in this episode and make sure to check out 'Swimming' on all streaming platforms!

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Lupe Fiasco is a musician who tends to shy away from stardom, so much in fact, many people in the Hip-Hop realm consider him to be underground. Arriving into the mainstream scene with a monstrous verse on Kanye's 2005 banger "Touch the Sky," Lupe has consistently released albums with many narratives; one of which our hosts will unpack today: the blissful 'Tetsuo & Youth.' The album is littered with references to Lupe's hometown of Chicago, his record label fall-out and a clear emphasis on "youth." Lupe takes his listeners on a dense lyrical ride through his upbringing and shows why he truly is in a league of his own - as an MC, philosopher and artist.

The subtitle for Season 2 is Deep Sessions and the follow-up to it's inaugural episode is just as heavy. In the same vein as 'FHD,' 'T&Y' has other elements for our hosts to unpack. With every episode of this season, a theme runs throughout and Lupe's album embodies both with elegance. Tap in as Charles and Dave try their best to break down the many narratives of this hefty project. Make sure to check out 'Tetsuo & Youth' on all streaming platforms!

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