— As a devoted student of rap history and an artist himself, Donwill knows exactly how to dig up unexpected anecdotes from the game’s greats. On the latest episode of his Okayplayer-presented, 2x Webby Award-winning podcast The Almanac of Rap, the Tanya Morgan emcee sits down with the legendary rapper-producer Havoc, best known for being one half of the infamous Mobb Deep.
Over the episode’s 40 minutes, Donwill and Havoc dive deep into the history of Mobb Deep, Havoc’s relationship with the late Prodigy, and the story behind Infinite, Mobb Deep’s final album, released in 2025. Though Havoc is humble about his place in rap history, Donwill makes sure his greatness is never understated, speaking about his longtime fandom of Mobb Deep (since their first album Juvenile Hell) and asserting Havoc’s place among hip-hop’s great rapper-producers. Beyond digging into Havoc’s own history, which includes stories about Raekwon, The Alchemist, Mac Miller, and more, Donwill and Havoc discuss other great rapper-producers, praise his solo career, ponder the decline of rap groups, and pick their favorite Prodigy verses.
The sixth episode of The Almanac of Rap’s Season 4 continues what Donwill calls “The Almanac of Rap’s most ambitious undertaking ever.” The podcast plans to drop a new episode every week for a whole year, alternating between audio/video and audio-only podcasts. A master of engaging conversation, Donwill uses his experience as a rapper (he is part of the group Tanya Morgan), and lifelong love of music to dig into under-explored nooks and crannies, revealing a different side of his illustrious guests. The veteran rapper keeps things fresh each week with recurring segments, including hot take-centric “The Ballistics” and “The Big Playback,” in which Donwill and his guest give flowers to an under-heralded or underrated gem.
The Season 4 Premiere, featuring an interview with Cupid, the Line Dance King, reached the Top 10 of Apple Music’s Top Shows (Music) chart. Recent guests include Bun B, 9th Wonder & Reuben Vincent, and Seattle producer Jake One. As it continues, Season 4 promises an illustrious list of influential guests, including Raekwon, Jharrel Jerome, LaRussell, Mr. DJ, and more.