
Reel Notes w/ CineMasai
Reel Notes is a space for conversations about the relationship between rap and film with rappers, producers, journalists, directors, and more. Intro track via JWords (follow her @_jwords on Instagram & Twitter) Art direction via Big Flowers (Instagram: @watermichaelguy, Twitter: @michaelfornow_)
Latest episodes

Mar 20, 2024 • 1h 14min
Chung | S4 Episode 5
My guest this week is Montreal rapper Chung. We spoke about Killers of The Flower Moon, Titanic, Netflix’s Griselda, our respective favorite R&B and hip-hop albums growing up, the pros and cons of coming up in the Montreal hip-hop scene, working with producers Nicholas Craven and Cotola, and the creative process behind her three latest projects—2022’s See You, When I C U, and both entries in she and Cotola’s Chung Shui series. Come fuck with us.Chung Shui 2 is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping it and other music directly from Chung's Bandcamp page. Follow Chung on Instagram (@ChungIsChung) and Twitter (@ChungIsChung_) Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more!My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon here.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)Support the show

Mar 13, 2024 • 1h 42min
shemar | S4 Episode 4
My guest this week is New York rapper-producer shemar. We spoke about Mo’ Better Blue and the films of Spike Lee, Shark Boy & Lavagirl, Spy Kids, and the films of Robert Rodriguez, listening to Kendrick, Tyler, The Creator, and Earl Sweatshirt growing up, transitioning from poetry and beatmaking to rapping, labels and boxes within underground hip-hop, and the creative process behind his two latest projects—obtuse ways to say that i love you and the Child Actor-produced sunscreen. Come fuck with usobtuse ways to say that i love you and sunscreen are both available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping both directly from shemar's Bandcamp. Follow shemar on Instagram (@shemar.alexander) and Twitter (@shemar_aa). Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more!My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon here.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)Support the show

Mar 6, 2024 • 1h 19min
LIFEOFTHOM | S4 Episode 3
My guest this week is New York rapper-producer LIFEOFTHOM. We spoke about Poor Things, WALL-E, Inception, his love for anime, particularly the show Bakuman, environmental conservation, the versatility of his discography, and the concept and creative process behind his projects Floor 11 and Room 44. Come fuck with us. Floor 11 and Room 44 are available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow him on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @lifeofthomJoin the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more! My first book ever, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is out on March 8, 2024, via 4PM Publishing. Pre-order a digital copy on Amazon here.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)Support the show

Feb 29, 2024 • 1h 4min
BbyAfricka | S4 Episode 2
My guest this week is California rapper-producer BbyAfricka. We spoke about Saltburn, Joker, A Clockwork Orange, how she transitioned from producing to rapping, the difference between being funny and being real, how her battle with Stevens-Johnson syndrome changed the way she makes music, and the creative process behind her last two albums—2022’s The Art of Geekin’ and this year’s The Rapture. Come fuck with us.The Art of Geekin' and The Rapture are both available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow BbyAfricka on Instagram and TikTok (@bbyafricka) and Twitter (@jasminearmanii)Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more! My first book ever, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is out on March 8, 2024, via 4PM Publishing. Pre-order a digital copy on Amazon here.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)Support the show

Feb 21, 2024 • 1h 48min
Ms. Boogie (Live from BRIC House in Brooklyn, NY) | S4 Episode 1
My guest for the season four premiere is Brooklyn rapper and model Ms. Boogie. We spoke about Prison Song, City of God, voyeurism and representation in media, finding herself in the music of Missy Elliott, Lil Kim, and Sisqo, coming out as a woman in Paper Magazine and transitioning in 2018, the importance of being queer, particularly trans, in rap and being seen in the right way, and the creative process behind her debut album The Breakdown. Come fuck with us.Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive interviews and reviews, and more! My first book ever, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is out on March 8, 2024, via 4PM Publishing. Pre-order a digital copy on Amazon here.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday! The Breakdown is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Ms. Boogie on Instagram and Twitter: @dearmsboogieFollow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)Support the show

Dec 29, 2023 • 1h 29min
Domo Genesis (season 3 finale) | S3 Episode 46
My guest for the season 3 finale is Los Angeles rapper Domo Genesis. We spoke about Leave The World Behind, our mutual love of horror movies, The Lion King, John Q, his start as a founding member of Odd Future, how his Alchemist tape No Idols was ahead of its time, maintaining consistency in his music over a decade, becoming a big brother to the Mutant Academy collective, and the creative process behind What You Don’t Get?!, produced entirely by Graymatter. What You Don't Get?! is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Domo Genesis on Instagram (@domogenesis) and Twitter (@DamierGenesis)My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.Join the Reel Notes Patreon today for as little as $5/month to get early access to episodes, our Discord server, exclusive bonus interviews and reviews, and more!Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, Medical Aid for Palestinians, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai)Support the show

Dec 27, 2023 • 1h 43min
Lord Sko | S3 Episode 45
My guest this week is New York rapper Lord Sko. We spoke about Violent Night, The Big Lebowski, King of New York, New York pizza, food in LA, bridging age and subgenre gaps in rap music, taking his first two projects off the internet, his general creative process, and the making of his breakout projects—2022’s Museum and this year’s United Palace.United Palace is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Lord Sko on Instagram (@lordsko) and Tik Tok (@lordsko_) Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order!Support the show

Dec 13, 2023 • 1h 38min
JUNE! | S3 Episode 44
My guest this week is North Carolina-based rapper, producer, and head of the I’ll Never Die collective, JUNE! We spoke about Loki season 2, the highs and lows of the MCU, Friday, Hitch, Soul Food, Lucy, M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable, Split, and Glass, Andre 3000’s ambient album, the impact of Earl Sweatshirt’s Some Rap Songs, the history of I N D, JUNE!’s viral remixes and sample flips, working through struggle, and the creative process behind a handful of their projects, including their latest, What A Life.Follow JUNE! on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @juneayth. If you can spare, please donate to their GoFundMe, Cash App ($JUNEAYTH), or Venmo (@ShawnMayIND).Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order!What A Life is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping it directly from Bandcamp. Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

Dec 6, 2023 • 1h 29min
Da$h | S4 Episode 43
My guest this week is New Jersey rapper, producer, and photographer Da$h. We spoke about being a father, working with ANKHLEJOHN and Mac Miller, Beau Is Afraid, Killers of The Flower Moon, risk-averse Hollywood studios, tour stories, dealing with addiction, why he’s particularly inspired by the late actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman, embracing photography, physical media, and the creative process behind his music, especially his latest album Skrewface 2.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order!Skrewface 2 is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Follow Da$h on Instagram and Twitter: @HEIRDASHFollow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show

Nov 29, 2023 • 1h 27min
Gabe 'Nandez | S3 Episode 42
My guest this week is New York rapper-producer and instrumentalist Gabe ‘Nandez. We spoke about Pusher, his relationship with the Pulp Fiction soundtrack, the pros and cons of modern-day cinema, the art and value of music videos, how being multi-lingual influences his writing style, making his 2019 album Diplomacy during one of the toughest moments of his life, and the creative process behind his latest project H. T. III, produced entirely by Argov. If you're in the New York area, come to the first edition of Reel Talk, a Reel Notes movie night on Sunday, December 3 at Loudmouth BK featuring Florida rapper-producer Niontay. Tay and I will be screening the 1975 cult classic Coonskin followed by an interview/Q&A after. $13 admission. Buy tickets here.Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, the Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!Visit Dreadsock.com and use promo code "CINEMASAI" for 10% off your first order!H. T. III is available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Consider copping directly from Bandcamp. Follow Gabe on Instagram (@champiyawn) and Twitter (@GabeNandez)Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), TikTok (@cinemasai), and Letterboxd (@CineMasai) Support the show