This episode of Gems with Shom features Dan Charnas — bestselling author of Dilla Time, award-winning music and business journalist, record producer, television creator, and Associate Arts Professor at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute.
From his early days working in the mailroom at Profile Records, to shaping hip-hop journalism at The Source and authoring the definitive hip-hop history The Big Payback, Dan’s fingerprints are all over music culture.
We discuss his life’s work and the creative ethos behind Dilla Time — his landmark biography of J Dilla, which explores how Dilla reshaped rhythm, time, and feel in music. We also reflect on the recent passing of D’Angelo, his connection to J Dilla, and the spirit of soul that ties generations together.
🎙 We dive into:
• The emotional aftermath of D’Angelo’s passing
• J Dilla’s rhythmic genius and the making of Dilla Time
• The birth of hip-hop journalism
• Life inside Profile Records & Def Jam’s golden years
• The rise of Chino XL, The Pharcyde & Slum Village
• Dan’s evolution as author of Work Clean and The Big Payback
• What he cares about most today — creativity, community & conscience
📚 Books by Dan Charnas:
Dilla Time
The Big Payback
Work Clean
🎧 Listen everywhere: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube @GemsPodcast
📸 Follow: instagram.com/gems.podcast
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