Fresh Era

From the "Old Heads" who brought you Fresh Era, comes the new series about the legends of 90's R&B. Season One features audio documentaries from the likes of Montell Jordan, Next, Color Me Badd, Shai, Jon B, and Jodeci. Hosted by LA Radio Pioneer, PJ Butta. Make sure to follow us @stupidflymedia or @smootherapodcast, and be on the look out for more episodes of Fresh Era coming this Spring!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler was born in Seattle, WA, but had a portal into the east coast thanks to his father. From there, he learned the coolest in Jazz music, fashion, and Hip-Hop - all in which he studied from a young age. He took the determination he formed through his love for basketball, and turned that into his pursuit of becoming a full-time musician. Come on a journey through his life and hear how he plotted out Digable Planets years before they became the platinum selling, Grammy Award winning trio and fully realized his vision after discovering Doodlebug and Ladybug Mecca through a chance encounter in the early 90's.Wanna be Cool Like Dat? Come join us at www.stupid-fly.comMake sure to leave us a review and click the subscribe button wherever you are listening to this episode, and make sure to follow us @stupidflymedia @fresherapodcast and @iamcraigsmith on Instagram.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Peter "Gunz" Pankey didn't just come up with his MC moniker out of nowhere. As an aspiring artist in 1980's New York, Peter used gun-running as a means to survive. Come on a journey through his life and find out what it was like seeing the crack-epidemic ravage his world, how he and Lord Tariq first met, what Steely Dan wanted for the use of his samples, and how Shaq Diesel became the godfather of his son and future superstar, Corey Gunz. Follow us on social media @stupidflymedia and @fresherapodcastDon't forget to pick up some merch to show your support at www.stupid-fly.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kim "Kool Kim" Sharpton was born, not only with an amazing gift in poetry, but with an uplifting, positive attitude that made it easy for him to make friends in his neighborhood of Staten Island in the 70's and 80's. Unfortunately, in the early 90's, Hip-Hop culture didn't make it easy on the people or groups that tried to uplift and have fun. Come on a journey through the life of Kool Kim to hear how he navigated through the tough waters of the music business in the early 90's to create one of the most amazing albums, Fruits of Nature, how he went from changing the game to getting changed by the game, and all the shenanigans that came along with it. Jump in the Stupid Fly dance circle at - www.stupid-fly.comFollow us on social @stupidflymediaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fresh Era had an amazing 2022. We got to speak with 90’s legends from coast to coast, help tell their stories, and build some new friendships along the way. One important connection we made, was with fellow podcaster, and hip-hop giant, DJ EFN (Drink Champs) who was nice enough to suggest his favorite episode from season 2 and leave us a message telling us why. Enjoy and see you in 2023!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Roger "King Tee" McBride had laser focus on becoming successful in music since he was a child. He forewent doing well in school, and in turn, got kicked out of multiple establishments in multiple states for doing so. That experience forced him onto a journey he, or his closest friends & family, never saw coming. One that would take him from becoming a local radio DJ to a worldwide, international MC to the founder of one of the most successful West Coast rap crews to date. Come join us on a tour through his life and find out how King Tee rose to success and helped define the sound for the entire Golden State. Do the virtual Kid N Play Kickstep with us at www.stupid-fly.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Since his childhood in the 1970's, Kirk "Sticky Fingaz" Jones manifested his destiny with his determination and undeniable hustling skills. He went from an aspiring teenage MC listening to Run DMC to being signed by the late-great Jam Master Jay. He learned how to fake-it-till-you-make-it by grabbing a pair of hair clippers and becoming one of the most sought-after barbers in Brooklyn. Nothing got in his way, even if it meant running over some of his favorite MC's on his journey to the top. Come on the audio journey of his life in this episode of Fresh Era and hear how it all came to be.Join the Stupid Fly Dance Circle at www.stupid-fly.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Duval "Masta Ace" Clear has built a legacy that will live on forever, but it didn't come easy. He has had to pivot and rebrand multiple times in his career, but with each new iteration has come classic records that have stood the test of time. Come on an audio journey through his life to hear how he survived being a latch-key kid in 70's Brooklyn, how he found his way into the legendary posse-cut, The Symphony, and why you need to live every day like it could be your last. Come jump on the Stupid-Fly posse cut at www.stupid-fly.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tajai Massey was raised in Oakland, CA during the explosion of Hip-Hop in the early 80's. His father, who worked at Stanford University, instilled a work ethic in him from a young age, but permitted his exploration of the emerging genre of music, as long as he maintained good grades at school. Come listen to an audio journey through the life of Souls of Mischief member, Tajai and find out what it was like recording with Del The Funky Homosapien in Los Angeles at the ripe age of 15, how he maintained his grades while attending Stanford while on tour, and how 93 Til Infinite almost didn't make their debut album. Join the Old Man Hip-Hop Army at www.stupid-fly.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Although Al Skratch's success seemingly came towards the end of The Golden Era, he had actually been an architect, helping build the blueprint, for years before. Raised in the 70's, Al saw the rise of Hip-Hop in popular culture from the city he was born, Brooklyn, and took it with him when he relocated to Harlem as an early teen. Come on an audio journey through his life to find out how he managed to transform himself from a failing DJ to a successful MC, why he and Ill balanced each other out, and why working with Michael Jackson was the most special project he ever completed.Join the Stupid Fly community of Golden Era Gladiators at www.stupid-fly.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shyheim Franklin wasn't anything like the other child rappers of the 90's. He was from a different borough, wrote his own rhymes, and was mentored by one of the greatest crews to ever exist - The Wu-Tang Clan. Come on an audio tour of The Rugged Child's life and find out what it was like to perform at Madison Square Garden alongside Biggie & Pac at the ripe age of 13, feature on a Big Daddy Kane posse cut, and write rhymes for The Cosby Show's Raven Symone. Come join the Stupid Fly army at www.stupid-fly.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kenyatta "Buckshot" Blake is so much more than just one-third of the legendary rap group Black Moon. Not only did his debut album "Enta Da Stage" influence a whole generation of underground rappers to follow in his footsteps in the mid-'90s, but it also introduced the world to the rest of his crew, the Boot Camp Clik. Taking a page out of his father's playbook, Kenyatta saw an opportunity to seize the opportunity and build multiple thriving businesses around the success of his crew. Including one of the most successful independent hip-hop record labels, Duck Down. Come and join us on a journey through the life of Buckshot and hear how his endless drive and determination took him to the top.Come be the stupidest fly at www.stupid-fly.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Fresh Era returns OCTOBER 19 with ten brand new episodes featuring more Golden Era legends including Masta Ace, Tajai (Souls of Mischief), and Arabian Prince (N.W.A.). Each episode is jam packed with enough Hip-Hop nostalgia to cure even the most severe case of CHDS (Classic Hip-Hop Deficiency Syndrome). Subscribe now!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.