Library Rap: The Hip Hop Interviews with Tim Einenkel

About Library Rap: The Hip Hop Interviews with Tim Einenkel

"Library Rap: The Hip Hop Interviews with Tim Einenkel" is like "Inside the Actor's Studio" for hip hop. Every week, Tim gets inside the art of hip hop in interviews with the most influential emcees, artists, producers, DJs, and sound engineers. Notable guests have included, Ice T, Royce Da 5'9", Joell Ortiz, Talib Kweli, Chuck D, Big Daddy Kane, MC Lyte, David Banner, Scarface, Rah Digga, Rapsody, Smif-N-Wessun, Buckshot, along with many more.

Publisher

Library Rap: The Hip Hop Interviews with Tim Einenkel, Tim Einenkel

Category

music · music · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Dec 2011

Latest episode

13 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

589 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   13 Jan 2026

   Library Rap: Emma Lee M.C.

   In this episode, Tim sits down with Emma Lee M.C. for an open, honest conversation about growing up in Harlem and the South Bronx, finding her voice, and navigating hip hop as a woman and a true multi-hyphenate. Emma shares how her upbringing, studio experience, and creative inspirations—from Jean Grae to D’Angelo—shaped both her sound and her mindset. We dig into the stories behind her album, Chocolate Bars, including a nod to Spanish Harlem, a deep dive into 1993 as a pivotal year in hip hop, and her thoughts on nostalgia, reinvention, and gatekeeping in the culture. It’s a thoughtful, real discussion about loving hip hop, questioning it, and pushing it forward without losing its soul.

2. 

   9 Dec 2025

   Library Rap: Skyzoo Views of a Lifetime Interview

   This week on Library Rap, Tim and Skyzoo dive deep into Views of A Lifetime. We’re going track by track, line for line, beat by beat—unpacking the themes, the craft, and the double and triple entendres that make the album a masterclass in writing. Skyzoo opens up about his legacy, why he proudly embraces title of "role model," the keys to career longevity, and why not signing to a major turned out to be one of his biggest blessings. A can’t-miss episode for anyone who loves sharp pens and real artistry.

3. 

   25 Nov 2025

   Library Rap: Shad, Start Anew Interview

   Tim links with Juno Award–winning rapper Shad on Library Rap to break down Start Anew, bar for bar, explains why Ai is terrible, digs into his work as a hip-hop scholar and voice behind Hip-Hop Evolution and so much more.

Who has been a guest on Library Rap: The Hip Hop Interviews with Tim Einenkel

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Brother Ali
• Errol "Eats Everything"
• Reggie Ossé
• Jemini The Gifted One
• Teflon

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.8 / 5

26 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

81

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

51