Welcome to ‘A Nametag Is Necessary’, where we oftentimes break down the complex world of music and entertainment into simple, and digestible discussions. Hosted by indie songwriter and MC, Nametag Alexander.
Are Hip-Hop Podcasts the New Rap Groups? | How Hip-Hop Collectives Evolved | #78
In Episode 78 of A Nametag Is Necessary, I ask: Did rap groups and rap labels evolve into content creator agencies and multimedia companies?
From Joe Budden and N.O.R.E. to Drink Champs, Less Rap About It, KevOnStage and the Stage Crew, we're seeing artists and comedians build entire ecosystems around podcasts, personalities, community, merch, and multiple forms of content.
So are today's podcast collectives essentially what rap groups and record labels once were?
And with personality and content becoming such a major driver of audience, where does that leave the music? That's the conversation.
A Nametag Is Necessary: music and cultural conversations worth having.
Send your questions through to the YouTube Community through the following link, using the “⁉️”
https://youtube.com/@nametagalexander/community? (https://youtube.com/@nametagalexander/community?si=JEfWyJexlIJ_85D6)
Music & Merch
https://nametag.bandcamp.com/merch (https://nametag.bandcamp.com/merch)
Audio version of pod👇🏾
https://pods.link/i/1223760474 (https://pods.link/i/1223760474)
25 Aug 2026
“Should Artists Keep Dropping Albums In 2026?” | E77
The way we consume music has changed, and singles, short-form content, and constant releases can make a full album feel like a lot of work for something people might forget about in a couple days. But I don't think albums are dead. I think the way we promote albums is dead.
In Episode 77, I break down the pros and cons of dropping albums as an independent artist, why a body of work still matters, how albums can create moments and build catalog, and why artists shouldn't feel like they have to drop 15–20 songs just to play the streaming game.
More importantly, we talk strategy: singles leading into an album, keeping the project concise, continuing to work the album after release, and building something people can discover years from now.
A Nametag Is Necessary, music and cultural conversations worth having.
Got a music or cultural related question?
Send it through to the YouTube Community through the following link, using the “⁉️”
https://youtube.com/@NametagAlexander/community?
Music & Merch
https://nametag.bandcamp.com/merch
Audio version of pod👇🏾
https://pods.link/i/1223760474
25 Aug 2026
“How My ‘Do Work’ Single Almost Ended Up With Another Beat” | E75
Quick story on how I scrapped the original version of my single “Do Work” from “The LABL LP”. available now on Bandcamp + music streaming apps, and also available on Vinyl & CD.
The LABL LP👉🏾 https://hypeddit.com/nh1y32
Vinyl & CD 👇🏾https://elasticstage.com/thelabllp/releases/the-labl-lp-album
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.8 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 37 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
62
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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