Below the Surface Podcast
The Blueprint of Midwest Culture, Undiluted and Underground.
Before the algorithms and the streaming platforms, there was public access. Below the Surface Podcast is the direct evolution of The 411: Your Underground Connection, which originally hit the airwaves on Public Access Channel 16 in East Chicago, Indiana. Born from the raw, community-driven era of cable access television, the platform has spent decades documenting the architects of Midwest street and electronic music culture.
Now operating as a fully independent media network and LLC, Below the Surface continues its original mission: digging beneath the mainstream noise to preserve the true history of regional hip-hop, house music, and DJ culture. Through deep-dive artist interviews, vinyl archaeology, and unfiltered commentary, the podcast serves as a living archive for the innovators, the record collectors, and the independent collectives who built the Midwest sound from the ground up.
From Channel 16 to the digital landscape, we don't just cover the culture—we are a part of its lineage.
Send us Fan Mail Take a trip back into the vault of Northwest Indiana’s underground hip-hop history. This is the raw, unedited interview with Hammond’s own Ric Jilla, recorded live on East Chicago’s legendary pirate station, Weed FM 90.5. Before streaming platforms and social media algorithms took over, the 219 underground was kept alive by pirate airwaves, physical mixtapes, and artists who lived by the code "I Bleed Hip-Hop." In this exclusive throwback broadcast, Ric Jilla sits down to tal...
27 Jun 2026
DJ Javi Jav is a member, producer, and arranger for the Midwest hip-hop/breakbeat group 4-X-Sample
Send us Fan Mail He was responsible for writing, producing, and arranging several of the group's classic 12" vinyl releases on Livin Large Records: "Time Bomb" (1990): Arranged by DJ Javi Jav, featuring production by Kaoss-1. "Darkside" (1991): Produced and arranged by Javi Jav alongside Kaoss-1 and DJ Hyperactive, featuring bars written by regional collaborator Pony Boy. "Dis Iz A Warning" (1991): Arranged by Javi Jav, showcasing their classic breakbeat and hardcore hip-hop s...
23 Jun 2026
From the Streets to the Strains with Ponyboy of Los Marijuanos & Flavor Chasers
Send us Fan Mail This week, DJ Rick Rock goes completely below tha surface with the godfather of Midwest Spanglish cannabis culture, Ponyboy of the legendary Los Marijuanos. We’re breaking down the history from the 312 to the West Coast, surviving the independent grind, and locking in with the team at Flavor Chasers to talk the new era of the business, genetics, and staying true to the culture. Press play. https://tr.ee/kEMaS5zqC- https://tr.ee/v8U2zbh9wX
13 Jun 2026
Full Plate
Send us Fan Mail Ill Gordon and Custom Made / Chicago Hip Hop / Local talent / Tha Culture / Hip Hop music
24 May 2026
Below Tha Surface Live part 4
Send us Fan Mail Indy Uchiha / Synd Rome / Co Jack / local hip hop Artist / Live performance / Tha Culture / Local hip Hop
18 May 2026
Thrax iz Back!!
Send us Fan Mail Ty Thrax / New singles / New upcoming shows / Tha Culture / local artist /local music / Hip Hop
25 Apr 2026
Everybody Eats!!
Send us Fan Mail Smorgasbord / new album / hip hop / the culture / local talent
11 Feb 2026
Season Finale !!!!
Send us Fan Mail Live Mix Show With Tha Crew
27 Jan 2026
Everything Add Up
Send us Fan Mail Vonnie E.C. / local Talent / New album Everything add up / B Lang / local artist / The Culture
5 Jan 2026
G.A. Barz
Send us Fan Mail G.A. Barz / St Louis hip hop / Good Sis / local talent / Tha Culture
29 Dec 2025
Laugh your Drawls off
Send us Fan Mail Darren Johnson / local comedian / Comedy / Tha Culture
5 Dec 2025
In Tha Beginning There Was.....
Send us Fan Mail The origin stories of the crew / Hip Hop / House / Local Music / Tha Culture
26 Nov 2025
Furious Stylez
Send us Fan Mail Mr. furious / Detroit Hip Hop / local music / Hip Hop / The Culture
10 Nov 2025
True Headz True HipHop
Send us Fan Mail Neil Taylor / True Headz Clothing / Hip Hop / hip Hop Museum / golden era
19 Oct 2025
Back in Tha day
Send us Fan Mail throwbacks / local music / local businesses
5 Oct 2025
I am a deMond
Send us Fan Mail Demond Dushawn / Gryskll / Chicago hip hop / local artist
28 Sept 2025
Head In Tha Cloudz
Send us Fan Mail Cliff Cloudz / Chicago Hip hop / local talent / new album recap
14 Sept 2025
Write state of mind
Send us Fan Mail Write Jus / Production / music taste / hip hop / music history / engineering
7 Sept 2025
Back At It!!!
Send us Fan Mail Recap of the podcast / crate digging / local music / local art scene
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