Helio-Tropes 50. Please excuse the audio quality as we continue to experiment with ways to get this plane off the ground. This rare solo episode features Yash, kicking off a new chapter for Helio-Tropes — and life itself. Yash discusses the return of Clipse and their new album Let God Sort 'Em Out: what worked, what didn’t, and what was left to be desired. He also explores the pros and cons of streaming platforms; how we’re still grappling with the flawed, technological evolution of modern music consumption. The episode dives into Turnstile’s ambitious new album Never Enough, and the way it’s reshaping hardcore music for mainstream success. Yash shares thoughts on his latest Yak Ballz singles, and wraps up with his current Top 5 — featuring music from Shoreline Mafia, Tony Bontana, Glare, Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist, and Alaska, Jason Griff & Alex Ludovico.

Justin Staple is for the culture. A journalist, director, and documentarian, Justin’s days at VICE led him to shoot his 2020 Hulu documentary American Rapstar, where he chronicled a rebellious new wave of young rappers who used SoundCloud to build intense stan armies — from XXXTentacion to Lil Peep. We get into how this era turned internet fame into million-dollar record deals and opened the door for a whole new generation of artists. We also talk about the producer F1lthy and his huge impact on modern rap, going back to the SoundCloud days and working with everyone from Matt Ox to Drake to Playboi Carti. We touch on how Bhad Bhabie went from viral rap sensation to OnlyFans cash cow, and Jane Remover’s Revenge Seekers album, which sits right at the crossroads of the internet and experimental sound. Plus, we talk about the wild new EP from Varg2™ and DJ Smokey, Psychological Musical Warfare 2, and wrap it up with Justin’s Top 5 — packed with bangers from Carti, Double Virgo, Edward Skeletrix, and more.

EricTheYoungGawd is a media personality and journalist with bylines in COMPLEX and a YouTube channel that you should definitely subscribe to. We get right down to business, unpacking the return of Clipse, their new deal with Roc Nation, and how Pusha T is using familiar tricks to stir up controversy. We also talk about Brooklyn rapper MIKE and Tony Seltzer’s impressive collaborative album Pinball II and the way MIKE has turned underground buzz into a fledgling rap career. We dive into Lil Wayne's epic brick Tha Carter VI; the disconnected nature of the music and the unexpected collaborations that couldn’t save the album from itself. We talk In-N-Out versus Fatburger, and Eric shares his Top 5 songs of the moment—from Moskino, Nourished By Time, Angelo Leroi, Brother Ali, Cameron Winter, and El Cousteau.

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