No Tags

Jeff Weiss is probably the best music writer we’ve got. We admire him not only for his radiant and voluminous prose – 8,000 words on the Grateful Dead, anyone? – but his willingness to put gumshoe to pavement in order to dig up the real story. That investigative instinct has placed him at the forefront of American rap scenes for the best part of two decades, from exposing the white devilry of Post Malone to reporting the killing of Drakeo The Ruler. The LA native has many strings his to bow: running the peerless rap blog Passion of the Weiss, launching a magazine, campaigning against predatory media barons, and writing a forthcoming novel about Britney Spears.We had a lot to talk about, so we invited him on the show to dissect a topic close to our hearts: the collapse of the music industry ecosystem. But fear not, we also have a laugh about the 2010s blog era, the hyper-regionalisation of rap, huffing the fumes of the ‘90s, Andre 3000’s surprising media illiteracy and a lot more.Thanks for listening to No Tags. If you like what we do, consider following us on Substack and social media (we’re @notagspodcast everywhere) or rating and reviewing No Tags on your podcast app. Get full access to No Tags at notagspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Are end of year lists over?This year it felt like end of year season came and went with minimal impact and minimal consensus. So why was that? Falling in the middle of a global crisis obviously doesn’t help, but even outside of the news context — and frankly that’s never stopped musicians tooting their own horns before — 2023’s parade of end of year lists really did feel like a damp squib. We also tackled the year’s objective stand-out hits (‘Sprinter’, ‘Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2’), the music that had a global impact but was ignored in most editorial lists (‘Water’, amapiano in general), the impact of NTS Radio on people’s tastes, dance music’s ups (Nikki Nair) and downs (Bandcamp), Chal’s #JusticeForPadam campaign, the post-millennial vibe shift, and some of our own favourite records, radio shows and films to come out this year.Thanks for listening to No Tags. If you like what we do, consider following us on Substack and social media (we're @notagspodcast everywhere) — or rating, subscribing and reviewing No Tags on your podcast app of choice. Get full access to No Tags at notagspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

A DJ's unique journey unfolds as stories shift from elite dance schools to underground raves. Ceci shares enlightening insights on the politics of DJ collectives and the dynamics of queer dancefloors. Nostalgic moments highlight Bristol's vibrant nightlife and reflect on music's role in identity. The challenges of mixing and digital archiving take center stage, alongside humorous reflections on encounters with former political figures. This blend of personal narrative and cultural critique showcases the artistry of DJing in today's music landscape.

For the second episode of No Tags, Chal & Tom meet Nick Boyd and Tony G, the duo behind one of the underground’s best dance labels.We talked about why a record label in 2023 needs to do more than just release good record, the increasing corporatisation of the underground, acid epiphanies, Boiler Room, the music press and this episode’s main theme: the network of underground dance music in North America that ultimately drives Nick and Tony's mission. This is the Sorry Records story to date — but it’s also much more than that.Thanks for listening to No Tags. If you like what we do, consider following us on Substack and social media (we're @notagspodcast everywhere) - or rating, subscribing and reviewing No Tags on your podcast app of choice. Get full access to No Tags at notagspodcast.substack.com/subscribe

For the first episode of No Tags, Chal and Tom meet JK & Bempah, hosts of NTS's go-to rap show and true scholars of street music. Early champions of everyone from Pop Smoke to Jim Legxacy, their weekly radio show is a must for anyone with even a passing interest in rap music from either side of the Atlantic. We spoke about their story so far, the Met Police’s treatment of drill artists, whether Central Cee can go all the way, the lack of breakout stars in 2023 and something called The Theory of Him, which you’ll just have to let them explain. Thanks for listening to No Tags. If you like what we do, consider following us on Substack and social media (we're @notagspodcast everywhere) - or rating, subscribing and reviewing No Tags on your podcast app of choice. Get full access to No Tags at notagspodcast.substack.com/subscribe