Talmage Garn: Music Writer & Radio Journalist
About Me
I’m a music writer and radio journalist covering hip-hop, indie rock, and music history. I manage digital content for Utah’s 92.5 The Beat (U92slc) and X96, reporting on releases, tours, and the culture surrounding them. My writing dives into sampling, all sub-genres, and cultural and historical connections.
A graduate of Portland State University with a degree in Professional Writing, I also produce music under the alias LBOWDEEP. If you’ve got a story to tell or beats to compare, tap the contact button below — I’m all ears.
Hip-Hop & R&B Articles
From Memphis rap and Stax soul to the latest chart‑toppers, this section dives into the beats, samples and stories that drive hip‑hop and R&B. Expect history, features and cultural deep‑dives into the genre’s most influential artists and movements.
Rap’s Triple Crown: Classic Album Runs
Cam’ron’s Trilogy: Hustle, Humor, Haze
Why “B.O.B.” by OutKast Feels Futuristic
Why 10/17 Belongs to Gucci Mane - 92.5 The Beat
On October 17, 2023, the City of Atlanta formally declared the date as Gucci Mane Day. The Atlanta City Council presented rapper Radric “Gucci Mane” Davis with an official proclamation during his album release concert for Breath of Fresh Air.
The honor recognized Gucci’s influence on music, business, and Atlanta’s cultural identity. Fans had long associated the number “1017” with the rapper, but the city’s recognition turned it into an official observance. October 17 has since become a day for f...
The honor recognized Gucci’s influence on music, business, and Atlanta’s cultural identity. Fans had long associated the number “1017” with the rapper, but the city’s recognition turned it into an official observance. October 17 has since become a day for f...
Discovering Flo Milli: Rap’s Rising Star
Flo Milli is an American rapper and songwriter from Mobile, Alabama. She burst onto the hip-hop scene with her distinctive voice, witty lyrics, and infectious energy, and quickly established herself as a rising star in the rap game.
Raised in a musical family, Flo Milli started writing rhymes at the tender age of nine. Inspired by artists like Nicki Minaj and Lil’ Kim, she began recording music and performing at local events. Her perseverance paid off when her song “Beef FloMix” went viral on so...
Raised in a musical family, Flo Milli started writing rhymes at the tender age of nine. Inspired by artists like Nicki Minaj and Lil’ Kim, she began recording music and performing at local events. Her perseverance paid off when her song “Beef FloMix” went viral on so...
Nas’ Masterpiece: The ‘Illmatic’ Story
Nas’ debut album, Illmatic, released on April 19, 1994, is not merely an album; it’s a cornerstone of hip-hop culture. With its vivid storytelling, intricate lyricism, and stellar production, Illmatic has etched its name into the annals of music history as one of the greatest albums ever produced. In this comprehensive blog post, we’ll explore the multifaceted layers of Illmatic, delving into its creation, themes, and the indelible mark it has left on the music industry. Today is the 30th annive...
Janelle Monáe and Prince | Symbiotic
The album Dirty Computer by Janelle Monáe has a tangible connection to the legendary Prince. As highlighted by Pitchfork, Monáe disclosed that Prince was an active participant in the album’s creation. As such, Prince proved instrumental in developing the sounds and even worked on the album with her before his untimely departure.
This collaboration between Janelle Monáe and Prince is particularly evident in Monáe’s single “Make Me Feel,” which bears a distinct resemblance to Prince’s signature st...
This collaboration between Janelle Monáe and Prince is particularly evident in Monáe’s single “Make Me Feel,” which bears a distinct resemblance to Prince’s signature st...
Remembering D’Angelo: Groove, Grit, Gospel - 92.5 The Beat
D’Angelo, the singer who reshaped soul music for a new century, died on October 14, 2025, at fifty-one. His passing marked the loss of one of modern music’s most elusive prophets, a man who could make rhythm feel human and holiness sound physical.
When he appeared in the video for “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”, time seemed to hesitate. The camera lingered, the light pulsed, and D’Angelo—bare, breathing, unguarded—became something mythic. The world saw a sex symbol. He had been trying to show a s...
When he appeared in the video for “Untitled (How Does It Feel)”, time seemed to hesitate. The camera lingered, the light pulsed, and D’Angelo—bare, breathing, unguarded—became something mythic. The world saw a sex symbol. He had been trying to show a s...
Sippin’ on Soul: How Willie Hutch Fueled Three 6 Mafia
The link between Willie Hutch and Three 6 Mafia might not seem obvious at first, but their connection runs deep through the art of sampling. The Memphis rap legends have long drawn inspiration from the smooth, cinematic soul of Hutch, a Motown veteran known for his work on The Mack soundtrack.
Despite Memphis’ deep-rooted ties to Stax Records, Three 6 Mafia frequently reached for Detroit’s Motown sound to craft their hard-hitting beats. This guide breaks down the Willie Hutch samples found in Th...
Despite Memphis’ deep-rooted ties to Stax Records, Three 6 Mafia frequently reached for Detroit’s Motown sound to craft their hard-hitting beats. This guide breaks down the Willie Hutch samples found in Th...
Sampling Gucci Mane: Songs Sippin “Lemonade”
Gucci Mane’s “Lemonade,” produced by Bangladesh, hit the streets in 2009 and quickly became a hip-hop staple. Fresh off producing Lil Wayne’s smash “A Milli,” Bangladesh delivered the “crazy beat” Gucci had requested—one that other artists had passed on, feeling it was too offbeat. Gucci, running out of Sprite for his lean that night, grabbed lemonade instead, and the yellow-colored theme for the track was born.
In his autobiography, the 1017 rapper recalled being “high as hell” in Las Vegas dur...
In his autobiography, the 1017 rapper recalled being “high as hell” in Las Vegas dur...
Hip-Hop History: A 50-Year Odyssey
OutKast’s Sonic Boom: B.O.B. at 155 BPM - 92.5 The Beat
At the turn of the millennium, mainstream hip-hop and pop were cruising at comfortable speeds. The late-’90s “bling-bling” era favored mid-tempo beats and laid-back swagger, with radio hits often hovering in the 90–110 BPM range. From Dr. Dre’s G-funk grooves to Nelly’s southern drawl on “Country Grammar,” the airwaves were filled with songs that you could nod along to in your car.
That’s what made OutKast’s decision in 2000 so radical: they unleashed a song at a breakneck 155 beats per minut...
That’s what made OutKast’s decision in 2000 so radical: they unleashed a song at a breakneck 155 beats per minut...
No Malice, No Problem: Clipse Is Back
Hip-hop has always contended with the tension between street realities and spiritual consciousness. Still, few artists have embodied this struggle as visibly as Gene Thornton, formerly known as Malice, now as No Malice. After over a decade of laying low, No Malice is back, joining his brother, Pusha T, as the legendary duo Clipse. But what sparked his departure, and why has he chosen to return now?
Formed by brothers Gene “Malice” Thornton and Terrence “Pusha T” Thornton in Virginia Beach, Clips...
Formed by brothers Gene “Malice” Thornton and Terrence “Pusha T” Thornton in Virginia Beach, Clips...
How Raekwon Turned Hip-Hop Into a Crime Epic
A .38 cracks in a darkened room. Someone’s breathing hard. Strings swirl like cigarette smoke—the bassline prowls. You don’t realize it’s not a movie until the voices arrive, trading coded lines about loyalty, betrayal, and getting out alive. By the time the beat settles, you’re inside Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…
When Raekwon’s debut hit the streets on August 1, 1995, it didn’t just launch another Wu-Tang Clan member’s solo career. It opened a trapdoor into a fully formed criminal underworld. The...
When Raekwon’s debut hit the streets on August 1, 1995, it didn’t just launch another Wu-Tang Clan member’s solo career. It opened a trapdoor into a fully formed criminal underworld. The...
Doja Cat: Art of Sexy – Bold Outfits, Looks
Doja Cat excels at playing with sensuality and humor better than anyone. Doja Cat’s sex appeal, storytelling, fashion, and performance merge into armor. Whether she’s headlining Coachella or trolling Instagram in a see-through bodysuit, Doja makes “sexy” look like hot satire and naked power at the same time.
For a closer look at how she builds her sound as boldly as her style, check out What Influences Doja Cat: A Sample Breakdown, a deep dive into her creative process that mirrors the same play...
For a closer look at how she builds her sound as boldly as her style, check out What Influences Doja Cat: A Sample Breakdown, a deep dive into her creative process that mirrors the same play...
How Aaliyah & Timbaland Changed R&B Rhythm
In 1996, Aaliyah’s One in a Million didn’t just move R&B forward; it slanted the entire rhythm. Instead of gliding along polished grooves, her music limped, dragged, and jittered into an alien elegance. Timbaland was scrambling his beats’ time signatures and gridding drum machines like a mad scientist spiking the punch at prom. What they created together wasn’t just futuristic; it was a funhouse, distorted, hypnotic, and impossible to ignore.
This wasn’t New Jack Swing. It was something broken,...
This wasn’t New Jack Swing. It was something broken,...
Doja Cat’s Top 15 Tracks: Timeline & Backstory
Few artists shapeshift as fearlessly as Doja Cat. One minute, she is rapping over a trap beat in horns and latex; the next, she is crooning disco nostalgia in pastel bell-bottoms. Her songs are not just hits, they are experiments in persona. From Mooo! to Paint the Town Red, her discography doubles as a timeline of transformation, from internet curiosity to pop culture architect.
Before the world knew her as Doja Cat, she was Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, born October 21, 1995. That makes Doja C...
Before the world knew her as Doja Cat, she was Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, born October 21, 1995. That makes Doja C...
Lyrical Warfare: Unpacking Rap’s Best Diss Tracks Ever
Rap beefs have given us some of music history’s rawest, most unforgettable tracks. When tensions rise, MCs step into the booth with one goal: obliteration. From personal betrayals to full-on lyrical massacres, these tracks didn’t just take shots—they left scars.
Here are the top 10 diss tracks of all time, ranked by impact.
Rap beefs come and go, but every once in a while, one explodes and shakes the entire culture. That’s precisely what happened when Kendrick Lamar and Drake took their simmerin...
Here are the top 10 diss tracks of all time, ranked by impact.
Rap beefs come and go, but every once in a while, one explodes and shakes the entire culture. That’s precisely what happened when Kendrick Lamar and Drake took their simmerin...
How Doja Cat’s “Mooo!” Went Viral and Built a Career
In 2018, Doja Cat dropped among the strangest audition tapes in pop history. In her bedroom, rocking a cow-print top, eating fries out of a bag, rapping, “Bitch, I’m a Cow,” into a webcam in front of a green screen. The beat? Somewhere between a ’90s slow jam, a bunch of samples, and a generic but sweet 808 drum pattern to match all the hip-hop references.
It wasn’t slick or serious, but it was alive, a song made out of boredom that hit like lightning. “Mooo!” spread because it felt like the int...
It wasn’t slick or serious, but it was alive, a song made out of boredom that hit like lightning. “Mooo!” spread because it felt like the int...
Clipse Return, But This Ain’t No Re-Up
Seventeen years since their last album together, Clipse didn’t come back for the nostalgia. They came to settle something bigger between each other, and with something higher. Let God Sort Em Out isn’t a reunion in the traditional sense. It’s a reckoning between past and present, brother and brother, belief and bravado.
Pusha T and No Malice may share DNA, but across this album, they rarely share perspective. While Pusha continues to double down on his immaculate coke rap legend, No Malice moves...
Pusha T and No Malice may share DNA, but across this album, they rarely share perspective. While Pusha continues to double down on his immaculate coke rap legend, No Malice moves...
Janet Jackson: 80s and 90s Hit Songs - 92.5 The Beat
Janet Jackson rose to prominence in the late 80s and sustained her chart-topping success throughout the 90s. Born on May 17, Janet’s unique fusion of pop, R&B, and dance music marked the era and paved the way for future artists. She continues to captivate audiences and will perform in Salt Lake City on June 4, 2024. This blog post examines Janet Jackson’s most iconic songs, showcasing her artistic evolution and her profound impact on the music landscape.
Throughout her groundbreaking career, Jan...
Throughout her groundbreaking career, Jan...
T-Pain’s Greatest Hits: 10 Most Iconic Songs
Back in the mid-2000s, T-Pain made waves like a tidal force. With that signature Auto-Tune swagger, he crafted a sound that shaped the future of R&B and hip-hop. From radio anthems to club heaters, T-Pain’s music didn’t just top charts—it left a cultural footprint that echoed through the years.
This list breaks down the top 10 songs that not only defined T-Pain’s career but also struck a chord with a generation of music lovers.
We’re talking numbers—Billboard rankings, streaming stats, and how l...
This list breaks down the top 10 songs that not only defined T-Pain’s career but also struck a chord with a generation of music lovers.
We’re talking numbers—Billboard rankings, streaming stats, and how l...
How Gucci Mane Became Trap’s Mixtape King
Gucci Mane, Atlanta’s reigning king of trap, built an unparalleled legacy through his relentless mixtape output, releasing an astounding 71 mixtapes throughout his career. Known for his unmatched work ethic, Gucci has used these tapes to dominate the streets, shape Southern hip-hop, and experiment with new sounds. His flows are among rap’s most innovative, and his choice of beats astounds; he’s discovered so much beatmaking talent: Metro Boomin’, Mike Will Made-It, Zaytoven, and many more. Throu...
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Alternative & Indie Rock Articles
Here we explore the alternative and indie rock landscape—from the raw energy of ’90s icons like Pavement and Nirvana to the dance‑punk grooves of LCD Soundsystem and beyond. These stories connect the genre’s past with its present, highlighting the artists and scenes that keep rock evolving.
Needle Me This: Vinyl’s Spinning Story
In the 1960s and 1970s, vinyl records were virtually synonymous with recorded music in the United States. Vinyl was the dominant format—consumers bought 45 RPM singles for hit songs and 33⅓ RPM LPs for full albums, with turntables serving as the centerpiece of home entertainment. During this golden era, vinyl sales hit all-time highs. In the late 1970s, U.S. vinyl record sales exceeded 500 million units per year. For example, 1978 marked a peak: sales of vinyl albums and EPs generated about $2.5...
Why Daydream Nation Still Matters 36 Years Later - X96
It began with an open chord that sounded like a machine remembering how to feel. On October 18, 1988, Sonic Youth released Daydream Nation, a double album that blurred the line between art and accident. It wasn’t a crossover or a rebellion so much as a reprogramming. Noise became language. Feedback became faith.
Three decades later, its static still hums through the DNA of rock, indie, and experimental music alike. You can hear its influence in bedroom producers and festival headliners, in sh...
Three decades later, its static still hums through the DNA of rock, indie, and experimental music alike. You can hear its influence in bedroom producers and festival headliners, in sh...
Katie Schecter’s New Song Pulls No Punches - X96
Nashville’s Katie Schecter returns with “Hide My Weapons,” a raw and personal new single from her upcoming album Empress. Co-written with her husband Nick Bockrath (lead guitarist of Cage the Elephant), it’s a track that doesn’t hold back—and it’s out now, with the full album out October 17.
“Hide My Weapons” was born in the middle of a moment. The song began as an instrumental from Bockrath, but during a lovers’ quarrel, Schecter jumped in, penning the melody and lyrics off the cuff. “It’s auto...
“Hide My Weapons” was born in the middle of a moment. The song began as an instrumental from Bockrath, but during a lovers’ quarrel, Schecter jumped in, penning the melody and lyrics off the cuff. “It’s auto...
How ‘In Utero’ Challenged & Still Went Platinum - X96
On September 21, 1993, In Utero arrived in U.S. stores. It was Nirvana’s third and final studio album, and a pointed rebuke to the very stardom their 1991 album Nevermind had delivered. If Nevermind was the band’s gateway to global recognition, In Utero was an attempt to slam that gate shut behind them.
Nirvana recorded In Utero in just two weeks at Pachyderm Studio in rural Minnesota. The sessions were engineered by Steve Albini, known for his raw, hands-off production style. Albini used analog...
Nirvana recorded In Utero in just two weeks at Pachyderm Studio in rural Minnesota. The sessions were engineered by Steve Albini, known for his raw, hands-off production style. Albini used analog...
Why Kid A Still Sounds Like the Future - X96
Did Radiohead gaslight an entire generation, or invite them to build a new one?
October 2, 2000. Out of the digital murk and mail-order fog, Kid A arrived, no single, no video, no warning. Just a scrambled signal beamed in from nowhere and now-here. It topped the Billboard charts without trying to. It rejected the entire idea of “hits” and became a cult so contagious that even the industry had to take note.
After OK Computer, the world expected a sequel. What it got instead was the sound of a ha...
October 2, 2000. Out of the digital murk and mail-order fog, Kid A arrived, no single, no video, no warning. Just a scrambled signal beamed in from nowhere and now-here. It topped the Billboard charts without trying to. It rejected the entire idea of “hits” and became a cult so contagious that even the industry had to take note.
After OK Computer, the world expected a sequel. What it got instead was the sound of a ha...
What Really Happened to Jimi Hendrix on September 18?
Jimi Hendrix spent his final night, September 17–18, 1970, at the Samarkand Hotel in Notting Hill with Monika Dannemann. She later told investigators that Hendrix had taken nine Vesparax sleeping tablets, a dose designed for half a pill. She found him unresponsive around 11:18 a.m. Paramedics transported him to St Mary Abbot’s Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 12:45 p.m.
A post-mortem confirmed that Hendrix had asphyxiated on his own vomit while intoxicated with barbiturates. He was 27 y...
A post-mortem confirmed that Hendrix had asphyxiated on his own vomit while intoxicated with barbiturates. He was 27 y...
The Secret Samples Behind Alt-Rock Classics - X96
Sampling is the art of taking fragments of existing recordings and reworking them into something new. It became one of the driving forces of hip hop in the early 1980s, but it didn’t stay there for long. Soon, the same approach started showing up in alternative rock, changing the way bands wrote songs and built their sound.
In this post, we’ll explore how that happened, starting with New Order’s experiments in the early eighties and ending with Radiohead’s bold reinvention of the idea around the...
In this post, we’ll explore how that happened, starting with New Order’s experiments in the early eighties and ending with Radiohead’s bold reinvention of the idea around the...
Why the LP Killed the 78—and Made Albums Matter
On June 21, 1948, Columbia Records unveiled a revolution in audio: the Long-Playing (LP) microgroove record at a press conference held in a suite of New York’s Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Columbia’s president, Edward “Ted” Wallerstein, accompanied by CBS Labs engineer Dr. Peter Goldmark, introduced a 12-inch vinyl disc spinning at 33⅓ RPM that could play for over 20 minutes per side. This was a dramatic leap from the roughly 4-minute limit of the old 78 RPM shellac records.
In a demonstration, report...
In a demonstration, report...
Waiting Room… No More: Fugazi Streams at Last
Fugazi has announced that, starting this month, they will be releasing a selection of their archival concert recordings on Bandcamp and various streaming services. The post-hardcore luminaries are releasing the first two installments, recordings of their first-ever show on September 3, 1987, and their final performance to date on November 4, 2002, this Friday (May 2). More live concert tapes will be uploaded each month through the end of 2025.
So, what set Fugazi apart? It wasn’t just blistering...
So, what set Fugazi apart? It wasn’t just blistering...
Pixies Albums Ranked | Rocking the Alternative Universe | Listen Now - X96
Pixies, an iconic alternative rock band, emerged onto the music scene in the late 1980s and quickly became known for their unique sound and influential contributions to the genre. With a fusion of punk, indie rock, and surf rock elements, Pixies created a distinctive musical style that captivated audiences and inspired countless artists. With the upcoming Pixies concert in mind, Join us as we list the Pixies albums ranked (the first four albums and one EP) and explore their lasting impact on the...
Steve Albini | Iconic Producer Passes at 61
Steve Albini, legendary audio engineer, producer, and frontman of Shellac and Big Black, died on May 7 at age 61 from a heart attack. Staff at his Electrical Audio studio in Chicago confirmed the news to Pitchfork. Albini left an indelible mark on the music industry through his influential work on albums by Nirvana, Pixies, PJ Harvey, and many others. Shellac, his final band, was preparing for a tour supporting their first album in a decade, To All Trains, set for release next week.
While Albi...
While Albi...
X96 on Weezer’s ‘Blue Album’ Legacy and Memories
Weezer is dusting off the cardigans and bringing their 1994 self-titled debut—aka The Blue Album—to life at Kilby Block Party 2025. It’s the kind of news that sends a ripple of nostalgia through anyone who grew up yelling “Say it Ain’t So” and other great Weezer songs into a hairbrush.
To celebrate, we asked the X96 crew what they remember about The Blue Album. Although, some memories are sharper than others.
Meanwhile, Todd Nuke’Em still remembers the first spin like it was yesterday:
“I remem...
To celebrate, we asked the X96 crew what they remember about The Blue Album. Although, some memories are sharper than others.
Meanwhile, Todd Nuke’Em still remembers the first spin like it was yesterday:
“I remem...
Why Radiohead’s Let Down Is Finally on Billboard - X96
Nearly three decades after its release, “Let Down” from OK Computer has finally charted on the Billboard Hot 100, entering at No. 91—and becoming Radiohead’s fourth overall entry. The climb was powered by TikTok-driven virality and major sync spots, including a poignant moment in The Bear Season 1 finale.
In mid-August 2025, Radiohead quietly dropped Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003–2009)—a live collection capturing performances from the Hail to the Thief era. The release, recorded in Lon...
In mid-August 2025, Radiohead quietly dropped Hail to the Thief (Live Recordings 2003–2009)—a live collection capturing performances from the Hail to the Thief era. The release, recorded in Lon...
The Best Pop Punk Music Videos That Defined a Generation - X96
Pop punk, a genre that perfectly blends the rebellious spirit of punk rock with the catchy hooks of pop music, has produced some of the most iconic music videos of the past few decades. These videos, often characterized by their high-energy performances, rebellious themes, and youthful exuberance, have become cultural touchstones, defining a generation and influencing countless artists that followed. Here are the best pop punk music videos.
Directed by Mark Kohr, “Basket Case” is a quintessent...
Directed by Mark Kohr, “Basket Case” is a quintessent...
Meet The Macks: Portland Rockers Drop Bonanza - X96
Portland’s genre-hopping rock band The Macks will release their new album Bonanza on September 25 via DevilDuck Records and Monotone, Inc. The announcement comes with two new singles—“Dually of Man” and “The Modern Grape”—along with a run of North American tour dates supporting Japan’s Acid Mothers Temple. The tour stops through Salt Lake City on October 12 at Aces High Saloon. Pre-save the album here.
“Dually of Man” pushes forward with a mix of heavy rhythm and psychedelic leanings while...
“Dually of Man” pushes forward with a mix of heavy rhythm and psychedelic leanings while...