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The Ringer

Analyzing the music and meaning of one album per season, one song per episode. Join host Cole Cuchna as he dives deep into albums by Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Radiohead, Beyonce, Tyler The Creator, Frank Ocean, and more. Let's Dissect.

Dissect

It all comes down to this! Season 4 of Last Song Standing concludes with Cole and Charles finally crowning the Best Album of the 21st Century (so far).

Each album that advanced to the finale now duke it out in a cut-throat bracket that includes Frank Ocean's 'Blonde', Kendrick Lamar's 'To Pimp a Butterfly', Daft Punk's 'Discovery', Beyonce's 'Lemonade', MF DOOM's 'Madvillainy', and more.

What artist should be selected for next season of Last Song Standing?

Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes

Producer: Justin Sayles

Video/Audio Engineer: CT

Video/Audio Editing: Kevin Pooler

Theme Music: Birocratic
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Crowning the BEST Album of the 21st Century | LAST SONG STANDING [Finale]

The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st Century (so far) by pitting two historic albums by the same artist against each other: Kendrick Lamar's good kid, m.a.a.d. city vs. To Pimp A Butterfly. 

Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the 21st century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album. The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century. 

New episodes every Tuesday.

Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes

Producer: Justin Sayles

Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler

Video Engineer: CT

Theme Music: Birocratic
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good kid, m.A.A.d. city vs. To Pimp A Butterfly | LAST SONG STANDING [E7]

Dissect's Cole Cuchna talks to Jeremy Hecht (The Bigger Picture) and King Green (Rap Latte) about a wild slate of August albums releases:

God Does Like Ugly - JID

Star Line - Chance The Rapper

Live Love Laugh - Earl Sweatshirt

Lonely At The Top - Joey Bada$$

The trio give their initial impressions of each album and discuss the state of hip hop's maturing middle class.
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JID, Chance, Earl, Joey, and Hip Hop's Thriving Middle Class

The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st Century (so far) by pitting two landmarks in RnB history against each other: Frank Ocean's 'Blonde' vs. SZA's 'Ctrl' .

Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the 21st century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album. The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century. 

New episodes every Tuesday.

Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes

Producer: Justin Sayles

Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler

Video Engineer: CT

Theme Music: Birocratic
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Frank Ocean's 'Blonde' vs. SZA's 'Ctrl' | LAST SONG STANDING [E6]

The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st Century (so far) by pitting two landmarks in indie-hop history against each other: MF DOOM & Madlib’s Madvillainy vs. Clipse's Hell Hath No Fury.

Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the 21st century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album. The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century. 

New episodes every Tuesday.

Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes

Producer: Justin Sayles

Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler

Video Engineer: CT

Theme Music: Birocratic
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

MF DOOM's 'Madvillainy' vs. Clipse's 'Hell Hath No Fury' | LAST SONG STANDING [E5]

The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st Century (so far) by pitting two of the most influential albums in music history against each other: Daft Punk’s Discovery vs. Radiohead’s Kid A.

Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the 21st century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album. The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century. 

New episodes every Tuesday.

Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes

Producer: Justin Sayles

Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler

Video Engineer: Chris Wohlers

Theme Music: Birocratic
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Daft Punk's 'Discovery' vs. Radiohead's 'Kid A' | LAST SONG STANDING [E4]

The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st century (so far) by pitting a bonafide classic in Eminem's The Marshall Mathers LP against a modern classic in Tyler The Creator's IGOR.

Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the 21st century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album.

The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes
Producer: Justin Sayles
Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler
Video Engineer: Chris Wohlers
Theme Music: Birocratic
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Eminem's 'Marshall Mathers LP' vs. Tyler, The Creator's 'IGOR' | LAST SONG STANDING

Today's matchup pushed Cole & Charles' friendship to its limits: JAY-Z's The Blueprint vs. Beyonce's Lemonade.

The LSS Boyz continue their journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st century (so far). Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album.

The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century.

New episodes every Tuesday.

Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes
Producer: Justin Sayles
Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler
Video Engineer: Chris Wohlers
Theme Music: Birocratic

Chapters:

00:00 So Delicious Ad

00:32 Intro / Why Jay Z vs Beyonce?

07:11 The Blueprint - Album Facts

14:41 The Blueprint - Album Trivia

18:40 Biggest Song: "IZZO" / "Renegade"

31:07 Best Song: "Heart of the City"

36:00 Worst Song: "Girls, Girls, Girls"

40:19 Best Deep Cut: "U Don't Know"

43:40 Best Moment: "Takeover" at Summer Jam

50:17 Lemonade - Album Facts

1:00:24 Lemonade - Album Trivia

1:03:16 Biggest Song: "Formation"

1:06:04 Best Song: "Freedom" feat. Kendrick Lamar

1:14:36 Worst Song: "6 Inch" feat. The Weeknd

1:16:08 Best Deep Cut: "Sandcastles"

1:21:57 Best Moment: HBO Film / Surprise Drop

1:29:07 Head to Head: The Blueprint vs. Lemonade

1:44:32 And The Winner Is...

1:51:57 Cultural Exchange
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Jay-Z's The Blueprint vs. Beyonce's Lemonade | LAST SONG STANDING [E2]

Tyler, The Creator says "Don’t Tap The Glass" isn’t a concept album. No narrative. No deep themes. Just a fun, fast, braggadocious dance record.

But what if that is the concept?

In this video essay, we dive deep into Don’t Tap The Glass to uncover the album’s hidden intentionality — from its crate-dug samples and alter-ego iconography to its sacred rules of the dance floor. Through cultural history, sonic connections, and Tyler’s own words, we explore how this album frames dance as a spiritual ritual, freedom as resistance, and joy as high art.

Topics Covered:

The spiritual meaning behind the album’s opening Hebrew sample

Big Poe as a tribute to hip hop history and Tyler’s alter-ego iconography

How Tyler uses crate-digging to honor Black dance music traditions

The deeper meaning of the album’s 3 rules — and why they matter now more than ever

Sample breakdowns: from Mantronix to Junun, “Boogie Nights” to J Dilla
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"Don't Tap The Glass" is More Conceptual Than Tyler Admits

Last Song Standing is back! Dissect's Cole Cuchna and The Midnight Boys' Charles Holmes begin a journey to crown the Best Album of the 21st century (so far).

Every episode this season, Cole and Charles each nominate one album they feel should be in contention for the century's best. Each album is discussed individually before the two albums battle head to head, where Cole and Charles argue until they can agree on the better album.

The winning album from each episode advances to the season finale Royal Rumble, where the LSS boys will face off one last time until they can finally agree on the Best Album of the 21st Century.

New episodes release every Tuesday.

Hosts: Cole Cuchna & Charles Holmes

Producer: Justin Sayles

Audio/Video Editing: Kevin Pooler

Video Engineer: Chris Wohlers

Theme Music: Birocratic
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kanye's Twisted Fantasy vs. Drake's Take Care | LAST SONG STANDING

Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers continues with Part 2 of “Mother I Sober” — the album’s emotional and spiritual climax. In this sweeping 48-bar final verse, Kendrick releases decades of generational trauma and invites listeners to witness a ritual of forgiveness, transformation, and liberation.

This episode unpacks Kendrick’s evolution from fractured self to healing vessel, as he courageously bares his soul and breaks the silence that has haunted his family for generations. Guided by therapy, the divine feminine, and the teachings of Eckhart Tolle, Kendrick reclaims his story — not just for himself, but for his community and children to come.

Host/Writer/EP: Cole CuchnaVideo/Audio Production: Kevin PoolerAdditional Video Editing: Jon JonesAdditional Production: Justin SaylesTheme Music: Birocratic
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PART 2: "Mother I Sober" by Kendrick Lamar [S13E17]

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