I’m a music writer, radio journalist, and beatmaker with a passion for the intersections of culture, history, and sound. At Utah’s 92.5 The Beat (U92slc.com) and X96, I create digital content that highlights hip-hop, indie rock, and the stories behind the music—whether that’s a tour announcement, a deep-dive feature, or an exploration of how technology keeps reshaping the listening experience.

My interests stretch wide, but they always circle back to the roots of music history. I’ve long been drawn to Memphis rap and the legacy of Stax Records, the raw energy of 1990s indie rock, and the angular grooves of dance-punk. I love tracing connections across genres—from Otis Redding’s soul and Thelonious Monk’s improvisations to the cinematic soundscapes of Wu-Tang Clan and the explosive orchestrations of Tchaikovsky.

In addition to my radio work, I run hip-hop-history.com, a project dedicated to exploring the lineage, culture, and evolution of hip-hop. I also produce beats under the alias LBOWDEEP, working with a Maschine MK3, SP-404, and Logic Pro. Digging through crates of vinyl, I get a kick out of finding obscure samples and flipping them into something new.

I’m currently writing a book, Bang: The History of Gunshots in Music, which traces how cannon fire, gunshot samples, and sonic violence have echoed through centuries of music—from the 1812 Overture to modern hip-hop sound libraries.

Outside of journalism, I’m a fan of professional wrestling, which I see as a cousin to rap. Both worlds thrive on persona-building: taking a piece of your personality, amplifying it, and turning it into something larger than life. That blend of theater, bravado, and cultural storytelling is what inspires me across everything I do.

Donald Barthelme