Contributors

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Host

ULTRAMAG7

Aaron Phillips aka ULTRAMAG7 is a social media video editor and creator of what he calls Culture Clips. Clips of Hip-Hop culture intertwined with Pop culture. He also hosts the Prospective Podcast along with his partner, Kotta Ranks, where they interview an interesting array of Hip-Hop icons. Lastly, he is a co-host on the It's C-Doc Again show on YouTube (Executive Produced by Chuck D of Public Enemy) where he, C-Doc, Jennifer 'O' Jenny and Flatline talk to a who's who of Hip-Hop, weekly. In the 2000's you may have found ULTRAMAG7 on stages all over the world with Princess Superstar, these days you can find him rapping on songs alongside Chuck D. ULTRAMAG7 has been labeled an "incredible Hip-Hop historian" by Chuck D of Public Enemy.

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Co-host

Kotta Ranks

DJ Kotta Ranks is more than a selector — he’s a tastemaker with an unshakable pulse on culture, sound, and style. With a deep-rooted passion for music, he brings a distinct aesthetic to everything he touches — both behind the decks and beyond them.

Hosting his own radio show on 89.9 WLIU for three years, he interviewed emerging artists such as Queen Latifah, A Tribe Called Quest, Redman, EPMD, and Das EFX.

At Lincoln, he also connected with fellow student The Last Emperor, a relationship that would evolve into future collaborations. After graduation, Kotta Ranks worked alongside The Last Emperor, gaining hands-on experience across all facets of the music industry — from artist management and record production to pressing vinyl, distributing music, and designing merchandise. 

As a co-creator of The Prospective Podcast, Kotta Ranks brings years of real-world insight to a platform dedicated to music, culture, and conversation. 


Guests

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Guest

Grand Agent

Grand Agent is an emcee whose first album, entitled By Design, was released in February of 2001. He got his start as one-third of the group, NAME alongside Mr. Cisum and Ozzie (Old Man). He is co-founder of Philly Truce, which is a non-profit who's motivation is stop gun violence in the city of Philadelphia.

https://phillytruce.com/

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Jazzsoon

Jazzsoon is a Hip-Hop EVERY MAN. A native Brooklyn NYC Hip-Hop producer, deejay, hustler, collector, ocassional emcee and proveyor of all things FRESH. Check out his multiple albums on bandcamp from Strictly Cassette and Thick Crates records. Fashionable music for fashionable people.

https://jazzsoon.com/

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Jetty

It all started in 2003 with five friends on a strike mission to the mountains - inspiration and enthusiasm plus $200 a piece in a hat. It was created on a shared love of surf, fishing, art, travel, and music. We wanted to draw our own line – and it’s a good thing too, because coming from New Jersey, there was certainly no line to follow.

Now in our 22nd year of business,Jetty continues to offer eco-minded, durable apparel that embodies the fickle conditions of northeast surf and encourages outdoor adventure despite the weather. As B-Corp Certified company, we prioritize reducing waste, creating premium products, and supporting coastal communities through our nonprofit, the Jetty Rock Foundation, which has donated millions of dollars to clean water initiatives and disaster relief efforts for over a decade. Supporting Jetty strengthens our commitment to protecting our oceans, waterways, and the communities that rely on them.

https://jettylife.com/

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Judah Priest

Judah Priest is a Philadelphia-born,  New York City Raised  hip hop artist, actor, and studio engineer whose name resonates through the corridors of East Coast rap and the Wu-Tang Clan universe. A spiritual lyricist with street-hardened wisdom, Judah blends raw storytelling with conscious themes, making him a standout figure in the underground hip hop scene.

Mentored by Buddha Monk of Brooklyn Zu at just 17, Judah Priest was baptized into the Wu-Tang legacy early. By 19, he was signed to Chamber Musik Records and later collaborated with Sony Red and G Unit Rydahs. His affiliations run deep—he’s a member of Zu Bulliez, Hell Razah’s - Ghetto Government Officials, and the visionary founder of 144,000 Chosen Few.

Whether on stage, in the studio, or behind the scenes, Judah Priest remains a relentless force—bridging the sacred and the street, the old school and the next wave.

https://thejudahpriest.org/

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Kev Brown

Kev Brown is a Maryland music producer and artist. He is the founding member of the DMV based Low Budget Crew. Kev Brown made his recording debut as a featured artist on Re-Entry (2001), part of Marley Marl's BBE Beat Generation series. His collaboration with Grap Luva on the project gained attention within the underground hip-hop scene. Later that year, he contributed a track to De La Soul's album AOI: Bionix. Following a series of productions and collaborations during 2003 and 2004, Brown released his solo debut I Do What I Do in 2005 through the independent label Up Above Records.

https://officialkevbrown.com

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Mr. Eon

Mr. Eon a.k.a. Eric Meltzer is one half of the Hip-Hop group The High and Mighty alongside DJ Mighty Mi. Mr. Eon grew up in Philadelphia, PA. After graduating Boston University in 1994 he created Eastern Conference Records along with DJ Mighty Mi. The two released their classic debut Home Field Advantage in 1999. Their latest album, Sound of Market is available now on all streaming platforms and CD, cassette and vinyl.

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Mr. Len

Mr. Len (Leonard "Lenny" Smythe) is a Hip-Hop DJ born in the Bronx, New York. He moved to Hillside, NJ when he was 12 years old. He was a member, with Bigg Jus and El-P, of the underground Hip-Hop trio Company Flow. His debut full-length, released on Matador Records in 2001, included guest spots by Jean Grae, Chubb Rock, and Mr. Live. Later he formed a group with Kimani Rogers from The Masterminds named Roosevelt Franklin. He also collaborated with Handsome Boy Modeling School member Prince Paul to produce the faux-doo wop group The Dix. Mr. Len was also a voice actor in the American action comedy television series, Kung Faux.

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Phill Most Chill

Phill Most Chill (aka Soulman World of Beats) has been referred to as a “Hip-Hop renaissance man” for his work in various different areas- emcee/rapper, producer, mixtape deejay, magazine writer, artist and record collector/dealer. The thing that connects all of Phill’s endeavors is a love for Hip Hop culture and music, which dates back to the late 1970’s and the early Hip-Hop parties that he attended. Based in Philadelphia (but raised in Connecticut not far from the Bronx NY), Phill continues making music and art to this day, trying to live up to his self proclaimed title as a “torchbearer of traditional Hip Hop” with a goal to always make something new and fresh but never forget where it all comes from.


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Sadat X

Sadat X, born Derek Murphy, is a legendary emcee best known as a founding member of the influential Hip-Hop group Brand Nubian. Emerging in the late 1980s, Brand Nubian made their mark with socially conscious, politically charged, and Five-Percent Nation-influenced lyrics, blending sharp wordplay with jazz-infused beats. Sadat X’s distinctive nasal flow and vivid storytelling have helped define the group’s sound and influence generations of MCs. Beyond Brand Nubian, he has built a prolific solo career, releasing numerous albums that showcase his versatility, community activism, and love of Hip-Hop. With decades in the game, Sadat X remains a respected figure in Hip-Hop culture for his authenticity, longevity, and unwavering commitment to the art form.

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Shore Shot

ShoreShot is the best form of hip hop the Jersey Shore has to offer.  He has released five original LPs to date including, 'Slowly but Shorely'(2010), 'Progress Report' w/ EWald (2012), 'Return of the Tide,'(2015), 'Extra Credit' w/ EWald (2017), and 'Field Day' w/ EWald (2024). 

ShoreShot has worked with grammy nominated hip hop producers !llmind and Eric G from 9th Wonder's Soul Council.  The microphone coast guard has also published anthems for MLB star, "Todd Frazier", NBA point guard, "Ish Smith," and UFC legend Frankie "The Answer" Edgar ("Pick Em Apart", "The Answer," "48 Hour Storm").

ShoreShot and Erich 'Off The' Wald have landed multiple songs on television shows such as Y&R (CBS), All American (Netflix, CW), and Growing Up Hip Hop (WE).  They continue to work with numerous music publishers, pitching their work for licensing purposes.    

https://www.shoreshotmusic.com

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Zakaariyah "T.H.E." Hardin

Zakaariyah “T.H.E.” Hardin is a cultural educator, hip hop historian, and community advocate dedicated to preserving and teaching the true foundations of hip hop. Known by the moniker T.H.E., Hardin’s work centers on illuminating the origins, principles, and social impact of hip hop as more than music — but as a global cultural movement rooted in knowledge, unity, and self-determination.
With a deep respect for the pioneers and architects of the culture, Hardin emphasizes the original pillars of hip hop: MCing, DJing, Breakin’, Graffiti, and Knowledge. Through lectures, articles, workshops, and community engagement, he bridges generations by connecting today’s artists and audiences with the movement’s historical and spiritual roots.
His voice stands as both preservationist and visionary — honoring the past while guiding the culture forward.

https://phillyhiphopfoundation.org/

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