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Rich Medina joins Gems with Shom for a wide-ranging conversation on deep listening, longevity, and building a life rooted in sound, culture, and purpose. 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. The conversation spans legendary residencies, global travel, poetry, education, mentorship, and the mindset required to remain a lifelong student of music. A central thread of the episode focuses on Dante’s HiFi, Miami’s Japanese-inspired listening room, where Rich serves as Music Director and partner. We explore listening-bar culture, 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. 🎙 Topics include DJing as storytelling, jazz kissa culture, longevity, creative survival, academia, and the power of deep listening. This episode is for DJs, diggers, music lovers, and anyone seeking a more intentional relationship with sound.

In this episode of Gems with Shom, we sit down with DJ YNOT—DJ, lifelong beat digger, and owner of Lucky Records Miami—for a wide-ranging conversation that’s equal parts hilarious, introspective, and packed with deep beat-digging knowledge. Tony walks through his journey from late-’90s DJing and underground hip-hop shows to club residencies, opening for legends, and ultimately stepping away from nightlife to build one of Miami’s most respected and popular record stores. Along the way, the stories are wild, honest, and genuinely funny—misadventures in DJ life, near-miss moments, and the kind of behind-the-scenes experiences you only get from someone who’s really lived it. He breaks down what it actually takes to find records in 2026, why digging is harder (and more competitive) than ever, and how he’s not a customer—he’s a record dealer and store owner. From Miami soul history to legendary samples, from dollar-bin gems to grail-level records, this is knowledge you won’t find anywhere else. 🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on beat digging, records, and other things. #GemsWithShom #DJYNOT #LuckyRecordsMiami #VinylCulture #RecordDigging#BeatDigging#HipHopCulture#DJLife#RecordStoreLife#MiamiMusic#CrateDigging#VinylCommunity#MusicPodcast#HipHopPodcast#VinylPodcast

In this episode of Gems with Shom, Shomit sits down with Mr. Thing—legendary UK DJ and producer—for a conversation on digging culture, focus, and staying inspired. Mr. Thing traces his journey from growing up outside London and discovering hip-hop, to winning DMC battles and building the legacy of Scratch Perverts. He shares the reality behind the wins—long practice days, creative sacrifice, and the importance of consistency when momentum disappears and later returns. A major part of the conversation dives into UK library records—KPM, De Wolfe, Bruton, Conroy, and more—how he first discovered them, why they’re so sample-ready, and what separates surface-level digging from true replay-value records. We also explore his work with BBE, including the pivotal Kings of Hip Hop release alongside DJ Premier, and how BBE helped shape a defining chapter of his career. Mr. Thing also discusses more recent projects, including the widely loved Surprise Chef mixtape. Topics include:• UK library records• Turntablism, DMCs & Scratch Perverts• Rare groove, digging philosophy & replay value• Inspiration, discipline & longevity in music 🎧 Subscribe for more conversations on beat digging, records, and other things. #MrThing#UKLibraryRecords#CrateDigging#BeatDigging#Turntablism#ScratchPerverts#RareGroove#LibraryMusic#DJCulture#HipHopHistory#VinylDigging#BBERecords#DMCBattles#GemsWithShom

In this episode of Gems with Shom, I’m joined by Supreme La Rock — DJ, producer, label founder, and one of the originators of beat digging culture.From early hip-hop’s formative years to shaping how generations understand break beats, records, and listening itself, Supreme’s story is tied to the DNA of digging. Long before the term “beat digging” existed, he was building his collection through instinct, risk, and an unmatched ear — pulling grails from obscurity and turning overlooked records into foundational beat digging classics.We dive deep into his Seattle roots, early encounters with hip-hop culture, and the philosophy that guided decades of digging: curiosity over trends, feeling over formulas, and trust in the ear. We unpack Conception Records, its role in creating a sound that would later become globally revered, and Supreme’s behind-the-scenes influence on artists and producers — including early connections with J Dilla, before the world fully understood what it was witnessing.This conversation moves through mixtapes, break culture, global travel, vinyl DJing, technology, and the realities of longevity — how staying true to taste, rather than chasing trends, creates work that lasts. Supreme reflects on discovering records that later became grails by listening deeply when others weren’t.This is a masterclass in taste, patience, and the growth of beat digging culture — from someone who helped build the foundation🎙 In this episode, we get into:Growing up with records before “beat digging” had a nameEarly hip-hop, break culture, and learning through movementBuilding Conception Records and documenting an underground soundFinding grails through instinct, not trendsEarly perspectives on J Dilla and recognizing generational talentMixtapes, break science, and educating without gatekeepingVinyl DJing, technology, and adapting without losing identityLongevity, humility, and staying a student of the musicThis episode is for diggers, DJs, producers, and anyone who understands that culture is built quietly, over time, by people who listen harder than everyone else. #GemsWithShom #SupremeLaRock #BeatDigging #CrateDigging #ConceptionRecords

This episode of Gems with Shom features Eddie Mac — DJ, founder of The MAC Agency, and the vinyl curator behind DJ Pee .Wee (Anderson .Paak).Eddie’s story is a rare one. It starts with growing up in New Jersey surrounded by Motown, soul, and disco records… and leads to decades of DJing, digging, nightlife, and eventually turning a lifelong obsession with vinyl into a global business.We break down how Eddie went from college parties and New York club residencies to curating vinyl sets for Anderson .Paak, helping bring all-vinyl DJ culture to the world’s biggest stages.Eddie Mac's life is about longevity, reinvention, mental health, and building infrastructure around what you love.🎙 In this episode, we dive into:• Early DJ years — New Jersey roots, college parties & learning to read a room• Discovering vinyl — crate digging, record pools & the physical relationship with music• NYC nightlife in the late ’90s — residencies, record stores & legendary mentors• Moving to Las Vegas — DJ burnout, anxiety & the moment everything had to change• Founding The MAC Agency — turning relationships into a real business• The MAC Vinyl Collective — building a roster around vinyl culture• Becoming Anderson .Paak’s vinyl curator (DJ Pee .Wee) — how it actually happened• Touring the world — vinyl DJing at the highest level• Passion vs survival — knowing when to pivot without leaving the culture• Why vinyl still matters — ritual, taste, and the thrill of the digThis episode is for DJs, diggers, music lovers, and anyone trying to turn passion into something sustainable — without losing themselves along the way.📸 Follow:instagram.com/gems.podcast🎧 Watch / Listen:YouTube → @GemsPodcastSpotify • Apple Podcasts • everywhere🔖 Hashtags#GemsWithShom #EddieMac #AndersonPaak #DJPeeWee #CrateDigging #BeatDigging #DJLife #MusicBusiness #RecordCollectors #MACAgency #VinylOnly #HipHopCulture #SoulMusic #DJCulture #PassionToBusiness

DJ Rashida joins Gems with Shom for an unforgettable conversation about music, magnetization, and staying true to your taste. From growing up in deeply musical households to being shaped by Atlanta’s 90s underground scene, Rashida shares how DJing became the vehicle that led her to becoming Prince’s longtime DJ — and to a life beyond anything she could’ve planned. We talk Mama’s Crates, record digging, anti-gatekeeping, vinyl vs digital, and why authenticity is the real cheat code in music and life. 🎙 This episode explores:• Becoming Prince’s DJ• Musical mentorship & magnetizing opportunity• Crate digging, mixtapes & record-store education• Mama’s Crates and building community through knowledge• Taste, ritual, and why deep listening still matters• Redefining success through purpose & motherhood For anyone who believes music opens doors — and that the right records can change your life.

In this episode of Gems with Shom, I’m joined by Fleetgotheat — artist, producer, and one of the biggest voices breaking down classic drum breaks and production techniques on the internet right now. Fleetgotheat built a massive following by sharing drum breaks and beat science without gatekeeping. From breaking down where iconic drums come from, to talking through chopping and sequencing, what started as research and curiosity turned into a global conversation — introducing new generations to the foundations of hip-hop, funk, soul, and beat digging. We talk about growing up in Chicago, learning music through family record collections, discovering sampling through Nas, Kanye, and soul records, and why drum breaks — and understanding how to use them — still matter today, even in an era where “everything is searchable.” This is a conversation about ear over equipment, curiosity over gatekeeping, and why sharing information doesn’t dilute culture — it amplifies it. 🎙 In this episode, we get into:• The rise of Fleetgotheat’s classic drum break series• Chicago roots and early musical exposure• Poetry, writing, and the path into beat-making• Learning production through Ableton + early SoundCloud days• Anti-gatekeeping and knowledge sharing in hip-hop• Why information alone doesn’t replace taste• Drum breaks as history, education, and community 📸 Follow: instagram.com/gems.podcast🎧 Watch / Listen: YouTube @GemsPodcast + Spotify / Apple / everywhere #GemsWithShom #Fleetgotheat #DrumBreaks #BeatDigging #HipHopKnowledge #AntiGatekeeping #ProducerCulture #SampleCulture #DrumHistory #VinylCulture

This episode of Gems with Shom features J Scienide — Charlotte-raised, Washington, DC transplant, MC / producer, and a true student of music. J Scienide takes us from his earliest days learning through pause tapes and digging through his father’s records… to pressing his first records… to becoming one of the most prolific independent artists in today’s underground. It’s a story about music obsession and building a real career from passion — even when the path isn’t straight. 🎙 In this episode, we get into: Charlotte roots and early studio days First exposure to beat digging (drum breaks, grandma’s records, dad’s jazz/funk) Pause tapes, early beats, and the moment that made him start creating The first vinyl milestone - pooling money to press wax and getting an MF DOOM cosign The road to finding his lane Atlanta and DC chapters, rebuilding, and linking with Kev Brown + the Low Budget family The pandemic shift — setting up a home studio, locking in, and flooding the world with projects Major cosigns + momentum (Hot 97 / Flex, Rosenberg, global DJ support) Static King Records + Fat Beats distribution — turning the vision into infrastructure Flashes in the Dark — his latest project with UK producer Giallo Point Why the ear matters more than the equipment — and how limitations created his best work This one’s for anyone who loves digging culture and the real story of how artists build something lasting from the ground up. 📸 Follow: https://www.instagram.com/gems.podcast/🎧 Watch / Listen: YouTube @GemsPodcast + Spotify / Apple / everywhere #GemsWithShom #JScienide #UndergroundHipHop #CrateDigging #PauseTapes #Beatdigging #FatBeats #StaticKingRecords #ProducerLife

This episode of Gems with Shom features Eilon Paz — photographer, world traveler, storyteller, and creator of Dust & Grooves, the iconic book that became a global celebration of record culture. From a small desert town in Israel…to hustling as a photographer in NYC during the 2008 recession…to documenting over 300 of the world’s most passionate record collectors… Eilon shares how a personal photo project transformed into a best-selling book and cultural time capsule. This is a conversation about creativity, community, risk-taking, and building something meaningful from scratch. 🎙 Episode Highlights:• Origins of Dust & Grooves — how one idea sparked a global movement• The 6-year journey — 300 collectors, 1,000+ pages, endless stories• Travel adventures — Suriname, Guyana, Cameroon, Japan, France, Israel• The turning point — Random House calls (after passing), Questlove reaches out• Photographing private collections — trust, access & storytelling• Survival mode → creativity — why risk shaped Eilon’s best work• His next big project — a global deep dive with top collectors• Passion, purpose & staying true to the craft A must-listen for fans of vinyl culture, photography, creativity, and long-form storytelling. 📸 Follow the show: instagram.com/gems.podcast #DustAndGrooves #GemsWithShom #EilonPaz #VinylCommunity #RecordCollectors #PhotographyLife

In this episode of Gems with Shom, we sit down with Rob “Late Bloomer” Geddis - professional record buyer at the legendary Princeton Record Exchange, lifelong beat digger, and the man behind those late-night posts that make collectors everywhere say, “What is that record?!” From buying thousands of records a week to navigating basement collections across the Northeast, Rob shares what it really means to be a full-time record buyer. We get into the chaos and magic of the Utrecht Record Fair in the Netherlands, the global digging community, and why taste, patience, and curiosity matter more than ever. This episode goes beyond the crates — into identity, loss, discovery, and the lifelong practice of staying inspired. In this episode: Life as a professional record buyer at Princeton Record Exchange Utrecht Record Fair stories: characters, chaos & long-lost grails Late-night Instagram digging posts and the art of sharing music Early years: skateboarding, MTV raps, sample hunting, college radio Evolving taste — jazz-rock, psych, folk, library, global vibes Knowledge vs. gatekeeping in digging culture Why “peace” is the thing he values most today If you love vinyl culture, beat digging, hip hop, rare grooves, or just hearing two music obsessives talk with passion — this one is for you. Follow the show: instagram.com/gems.podcastWatch on YouTube: youtube.com/@Gems.Podcast

This episode of Gems with Shom features Phonte Coleman — Grammy-nominated rapper, singer, songwriter, filmmaker, actor, and one of the most talented, diverse, and prolific voices of his generation. From Little Brother to The Foreign Exchange, from elite MC craftsmanship to deeply soulful compositions, to film and voice acting, Phonte’s career is a masterclass in evolution and risk-taking. But this conversation is different.Instead of a traditional interview, Phonte and Shom riff, reflect, and break down the music and life lessons that shaped his journey — creativity, growth, and why reinvention isn’t an act… it’s an intentional practice. What emerges is rare: an honest, funny, deeply human look at an artist who refuses to stop evolving. 🎙 We dive into: • Little Brother to Foreign Exchange — how collaboration shaped his sound & worldview• The Art of Reinvention — why your best chapter can still be ahead• Evolution in Real Time — music, acting, creativity & risk-taking• The power of being a lifelong student — entering new fields with humility and courage• His deep crates & love for old records — and his passion for DJing• DIY for life — how Phonte navigates the entertainment business on his own terms• The joy of rediscovery — why he still loves learning, listening, and being surprised

This episode of Gems with Shom features Doc Delay — DJ, producer, record dealer, and underground legend whose REM Sleep psych-rock mixtape series opened entire universes for a generation of beat heads. From psych-rock symptoms to Middle Eastern rarities, Doc takes us inside the hidden corners of record culture — the sounds, stories, and chaotic adventures behind some of the wildest records on Earth. This one is for the heads — the beat diggers, psych-rock obsessives, sample hunters, and curious newcomers. • Psych Rock 101 — the symptoms, sounds, backwards guitars, fuzz pedals, tape tricks & stereo experiments that shaped the genre and influenced hip-hop• REM Sleep — the cult-classic psych-rock mixtape series that producers & DJs literally sampled straight from the CDs• Record store madness & dangerous digs — foreign imports crawling with insects, unexplained infections, home-based hoards & some of the craziest digging stories you’ll ever hear• Beat digging in the 90s — DC streets, Richmond warehouses, early eBay hustles, shipping rare heat to Japan & Germany, and the dealer grind that funded his college years• Middle Eastern & Turkish gems — Barış Manço, Erkin Koray, 45 heat & the cross-continental influences that shaped his ear #GemsWithShom #DocDelay #PsychRock #REMsleep #BeatDigging #CrateDigging #RecordCollectors #VinylCommunity #TurkishRock #AnatolianRock #MiddleEasternGrooves #BarisManco #ErkinKoray #PsychFunk #RareGrooves #Breaks #SampleCulture #Diggers #VinylOnly #DJCulture #ProducerLife #UndergroundHipHop #DeepCuts #GemsPodcast #MusicCulture #StayInspired #Psychrock #Progrock

This episode of Gems with Shom features Andrea Galtieri — extraordinary beat-digger, Italian library and soundtrack specialist, and co-founder of Sonor Music Editions, bringing the golden era of Italy’s library and soundtrack music to a new wave of listeners. This music is a beat digging treasure box — heavily sampled and rediscovered by legendary producers like The Alchemist, Madlib, and Oh No, who have turned Italian library records into a new vein of modern hip-hop. From Goblin’s horror-funk soundtracks to Piero Umiliani’s jazz-psych masterpieces, Andrea breaks down the DNA of Italian library and soundtrack culture — how these once-obscure studio projects shaped global sound, inspired generations of producers, and continue to thrive through sampling and modern reissues. Artists like JJ Whitefield, The Natural Yogurt Band, and Sven Wunder — inspired by the history of library music — continue to bring new life to the sound today. Andrea’s journey bridges culture, curation, and community, preserving history while pushing the art of beat digging forward into the future. 🎙 We dive into:• Sampling culture: how hip-hop producers like The Alchemist, Madlib, and Oh No turned Italian library records into incredible modern beats• Crate-digging philosophy — from NYC’s Sound Library & A-1 Records to Italy’s record fairs• Goblin & Dario Argento — from Suspiria to Profondo Rosso to Roller, the sound of cinematic fear & funk• Incredible Italian library artists — Piero Umiliani, Augusto Martelli, Akada Abali Ba, and the rediscovered master tapes• The infamous I Marc 4 — Italy’s baddest library session band• Andrea’s personal connections with the original musicians of the era 🏷 About Sonor Music EditionsFounded in 2013 by Lorenzo Fabrizi, joined by Andrea Galtieri, Sonor Music Editions reissues lost Pop, Jazz, Cinematic Lounge, Funk, Easy Listening & Psychedelic gems from the ’70s/’80s — and builds a new production-library series with emerging artists, keeping the analog spirit alive. 🎧 Listen & explore the soundtrack:Curated Spotify Playlist 📸 Follow: instagram.com/gems.podcast 🔖 Hashtags #GemsWithShom #AndreaGaltieri #SonorMusicEditions #ItalianLibrary #ItalianSoundtracks #Goblin #PieroUmiliani #IMarc4 # #StelvioCipriani #AlessandroAlessandroni #EnnioMorricone #DarioArgento #ProfondoRosso #Suspiria #Madlib #OhNo #TheAlchemist #JJWhitefield #TheNaturalYogurtBand #SvenWunder #CrateDigging #VinylCommunity #BeatDigging #LibraryMusic #CinematicFunk #JazzFunk #MondoGroove #RecordCollectors #Italy #Milan #Sicily #SampleCulture #AnalogAesthetic #GemsPodcast #MusicCulture #StayInspired #LibraryRecords

This episode of Gems with Shom features Nashiem Myrick - legendary producer, record collector, and key member of the Hitmen super-producer collective. Also known as your favorite producer’s favorite producer. From crafting timeless records like The Notorious B.I.G.’s “Who Shot Ya,” Capone-N-Noreaga’s “T.O.N.Y.,” Lil’ Kim’s “Queen B,” and Scarface’s “My Block,” Nashiem helped shape the sound of ’90s hip-hop and R&B. Born in Jamaica, Queens, raised on a deep record collection, and forged in New York’s studios, Nashiem represents the perfect balance of ear, emotion, and engineering - a producer who could find samples, build drums, and elevate every artist he touched. 🎙 We dive into:• The making of Who Shot Ya - from the Keith Murray promo to Biggie’s version• Teaching Havoc the 950 sub-bass trick that shaped Shook Ones Pt. II • Creating T.O.N.Y., Queen B, and What You Want with Total & Mase• Digging in Sound Library, A-1, and digging with Pete Rock & Large Pro• Sending Kanye the “Blood on the Leaves” through Carlos Brody• Working within the Hitmen’s collaborative system - the supergroup of sound• His relationships with other Queens hip-hop legends 🌍 Featured artists & crews:Mary J. Blige | The Notorious B.I.G. | Capone-N-Noreaga | Lil’ Kim | Scarface | The LOX | Mobb Deep | Pete Rock | Q-Tip & Tribe | Large Professor | Kanye West 📸 Follow: instagram.com/gems.podcast 🔖 Hashtags#GemsWithShom #NashiemMyrick #Hitmen #WhoShotYa #TONY #QueenB #MyBlock #MaryJBlige #MyLife #TheNotoriousBIG #LilKim #Scarface #CaponeNNoreaga #TheLOX #MobbDeep #PeteRock #LargeProfessor #KanyeWest #HipHopHistory #BeatDigging #CrateDiggers #VinylCommunity #QueensNY #ProducerLife #SampleCulture #MusicCulture #CreativeJourney #StayInspired #GemsPodcast #ClassicHipHop #KanyeWest

This episode of Gems with Shom features DJ Amir — DJ, producer, record collector, lecturer, and label owner at 180 Proof Records. As one-half of the iconic Kon & Amir, he redefined the art of beat digging through the On Track mixtape series, inspiring generations of collectors. From growing up in Boston to working at Fat Beats and Wax Poetics, DJ Amir’s journey runs through the heart of beat-digging culture. Amir has become a cultural historian and global ambassador of vinyl — reissuing rare, incredible jazz through Strata Records under his label 180 Proof Records, collaborating with Jazzanova, and lecturing worldwide. 🎙 We dive into:• Creating the On Track series with Kon — and shaping an era of digging• The global competition to be Kings of Diggin’ with DJ Muro• Stories with beat-digging legends • Reviving Strata Records and unearthing Detroit’s deep jazz archives• Digging scenes from Japan to Berlin• Reflections on J Dilla📸 Follow: instagram.com/gems.podcast 🔖 Hashtags (Optimized for YouTube + Instagram)#GemsWithShom #DJAmir #OnTrack #OnTrackSeries #180ProofRecords #KonAndAmir #FatBeats #WaxPoetics #StrataRecords #Jazzanova #JDilla #BeatDigging #VinylCommunity #CrateDiggers #RareGrooves #DiggingCulture #DetroitJazz #SoulJazz #UndergroundHipHop #NeoSoul #HipHopHistory #WaxPoeticsMagazine #ProducerLife #VinylCulture #BlackMusicHistory #MusicDocumentary #CreativeJourney #StayInspired #GemsPodcast #MusicCulture