50 For 50 | Life, Music, & Friendship

BSPN Media
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Music History
  • Updated Weekly

Mike Joseph and Garrett Gonzales have been friends for over 20 years. Their friendship began following each other's music reviews on the now-defunct website, Epinions. In 2026, they officially turn 50 and this podcast is a celebration of their 50 years, and over 20 years as friends. They will choose an album that was released each year from 1976 to 2025 and do a deep dive history and culture podcast episode about it. There will also be other episodes about artists, current music events, music documentaries and movies and more.

  1. Boyz II Men and the End of an R&B Era | The Cool Check-In

    4d ago

    Boyz II Men and the End of an R&B Era | The Cool Check-In

    We're not doing a full 50 for 50 on Boyz II Men — but with them recently finishing The New Edition Way Tour alongside New Edition and Toni Braxton, the timing felt right for a Cool Check-In. We cover the origin story (sneaking backstage to sing for Michael Bivins is still one of the best origin stories in R&B), the full discography with tiers, the Michael McCary chapter, why there's been no new original album since 2014, and Shawn Stockman's podcast On That Note. Best-selling R&B group of all time. Let's talk about it. 🌐 https://www.50for50.net 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/50-for-50-life-music-friendship/id1857746432 🎙️ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ADmN7bp4fXQzAZsnSuFQj 📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@50_For_50 🐦 X: https://x.com/roheblius 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roheblius.bsky.social 📸 Garrett: https://www.instagram.com/roheblius/ 📸 Mike: https://www.instagram.com/detoxpodguy/

    33 min
  2. Top 5 ATCQ Songs: Scenario, Check the Rhime, We The People & More

    6d ago

    Top 5 ATCQ Songs: Scenario, Check the Rhime, We The People & More

    Mike Joseph and Garrett Gonzales make their case for the Top 5 A Tribe Called Quest songs of all time — and the debate is real. The ATCQ catalog is deep enough that leaving a song off the list hurts. In this episode, Mike and Garrett each defend their picks across the full catalog — from the immortal posse cut "Scenario" and the call-and-response perfection of "Check the Rhime" to the politically charged "We The People," the infectious energy of "Buggin' Out," the criminally underrated "Find a Way," and more. Every pick gets a case made for it. Not everyone agrees. That's the point. 50 for 50 is a deep-dive podcast covering the greatest albums and artists of all time — one episode at a time. 🌐 Website: https://www.50for50.net 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/50-for-50-life-music-friendship/id1857746432 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ADmN7bp4fXQzAZsnSuFQj ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@50_For_50 📸 Instagram (Mike): https://www.instagram.com/detoxpodguy/ 📸 Instagram (Garrett): https://www.instagram.com/roheblius/ 🐦 X: https://x.com/roheblius 🦋 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/roheblius.bsky.social

    24 min

  3. Jul 1

    ATCQ's Low End Theory, the Rapaport Doc, Phife's Death & Their Final Album | 50 for 50

    A Tribe Called Quest's The Low End Theory is one of the greatest albums ever made — and on this episode of 50 for 50, we treat it that way. We cover the full ATCQ story: two childhood friends from Queens, a Native Tongues collective that changed hip-hop's culture, and a second album that stripped the genre down to bass and jazz and rebuilt it from the ground up. We get into the making of The Low End Theory — including jazz legend Ron Carter playing live upright bass, Pete Rock's fingerprints on "Jazz (We've Got)," and the Neve console John Lennon once recorded on. We also get into the harder stuff: Phife Dawg's diabetes diagnosis, the creative tensions that pulled Q-Tip and Phife apart after Midnight Marauders, why the group went quiet for 18 years after The Love Movement, and what a Tonight Show performance in 2015 sparked — and what they lost before it was finished. Plus: the Michael Rapaport documentary the group tried to block, full album tiers, trivia, and Grammy history. 50 for 50 is a deep-dive podcast covering the greatest albums and artists of all time. Find everything at 50for50.net.

    1h 22m
  4. Brandy Top 5: Brokenhearted, Sittin' Up in My Room, Long Distance & More

    Jun 26

    Brandy Top 5: Brokenhearted, Sittin' Up in My Room, Long Distance & More

    What are the greatest Brandy songs ever recorded? Mike Joseph and Garrett Gonzales rank their Top 5 favorites and defend every pick. Before the list, they play Rock With It/Stop With It on two of Brandy's most iconic tracks — "The Boy Is Mine" and "Baby" — forcing some tough choices. Then it's straight into the countdown, featuring "Brokenhearted," "Top of the World," "Sittin' Up in My Room," "Long Distance," and more. If you love Brandy, R&B, or just two people who take their music opinions very seriously — this one's for you. 🌐 Website: https://www.50for50.net/ 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/50-for-50-life-music-friendship/id1857746432 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ADmN7bp4fXQzAZsnSuFQj

    20 min
  5. Brandy's PHASES Memoir: All 7 Albums Ranked, The Boy Is Mine Legacy & Her Full Story | The Cool Check-In

    Jun 22

    Brandy's PHASES Memoir: All 7 Albums Ranked, The Boy Is Mine Legacy & Her Full Story | The Cool Check-In

    Brandy Norwood just released PHASES, her long-awaited memoir — and we're going deep on every chapter of her career. On this episode of 50 for 50, we break down the full Brandy discography: from her self-titled 1994 debut (6 million copies worldwide) to Never Say Never (16 million copies and a Grammy), through Full Moon, Afrodisiac, Human, Two Eleven, and B7. We cover the producers who shaped her sound (Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Timbaland, Keith Crouch, DJ Camper), the singles that defined her, the Babyface collaboration on "Sittin' Up in My Room," and we rank every studio album in Tiers. We also talk about what made Brandy different — the vocal architecture, the church roots, the Cinderella moment, Moesha, and what PHASES reveals about the woman behind all of it. Topics covered: • Brandy's origin story — McComb, Mississippi to Atlantic Records at age 14 • Full discography breakdown with album themes, producers & sales • The Babyface / LaFace connection • Album Tiers: Must-Listen, Mid, and For Stans Only • PHASES: what the memoir says about Brandy's life and legacy If you love R&B history, vocal excellence, or just want to understand why serious music fans consider Brandy one of the greatest of her generation — this is the episode. 50 For 50: https://50for50.net 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/50-for-50-life-music-friendship/id1857746432 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ADmN7bp4fXQzAZsnSuFQj

    40 min
  6. Luther Vandross Top 5: Never Too Much, Dance With My Father & More | 50 For 50

    Jun 18

    Luther Vandross Top 5: Never Too Much, Dance With My Father & More | 50 For 50

    Which Luther Vandross songs are the greatest of all time? Mike Joseph and Garrett Gonzales put their lists on the table and defend every pick. Before the rankings, they play a round of Rock With It/Stop With It — putting classic Luther cuts like "Power of Love/Love Power," "Here and Now," and "Superstar" to the test. Then the real debate begins. Their Top 5 pulls from across his entire catalog — "Never Too Much," "Any Love," "So Amazing," "Take You Out," "Dance With My Father," "The Best Things in Life Are Free," and more. If you have a Luther ranking of your own, you'll want to argue with at least one of these. A fun, music-deep episode for fans of classic R&B and soul. Find 50 For 50: 🌐 Website: https://www.50for50.net/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@50_For_50 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/50-for-50-life-music-friendship/id1857746432 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ADmN7bp4fXQzAZsnSuFQj 📩 Contact: GG@BSPNMedia.com

    26 min
  7. Luther Vandross – Never Too Much: The Voice, The Career & The Man | 50 For 50

    Jun 15

    Luther Vandross – Never Too Much: The Voice, The Career & The Man | 50 For 50

    Luther Vandross started where most legends do — in the background. Before "Never Too Much" made him a household name, he was singing backup for David Bowie, Bette Midler, and Diana Ross, and recording jingles you've definitely heard without knowing it was him. This week on 50 For 50, we take a deep dive into the music of 1981, trace how Luther broke through with his stunning debut album, and walk his entire discography from that first record to his final recordings. We also get into the parts of Luther's story that don't always make the highlights reel — his private life, his complicated relationship with fame and his body, and what made him such a singular artist in the R&B landscape. Plus, we share our thoughts on the CNN documentary that recently brought his story back to the forefront. If you love classic R&B, soul music, or just great voices, this one's for you. Find 50 For 50: 🌐 Website: https://www.50for50.net/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@50_For_50 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/50-for-50-life-music-friendship/id1857746432 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ADmN7bp4fXQzAZsnSuFQj 📩 Contact: GG@BSPNMedia.com

    1h 8m
  8. NKOTB: Origin Story, Fall & the 2008 Comeback | The Cool Check-In

    Jun 9

    NKOTB: Origin Story, Fall & the 2008 Comeback | The Cool Check-In

    Garrett and Mike break down the full NKOTB story: how five kids from Boston became the biggest pop act on the planet, why the Step by Step era marked the beginning of the end, and what brought them back in 2008 when nobody saw it coming. They also dig into why Jordan Knight's solo run never caught fire the way it should have, and they each rank their Top 5 NKOTB songs. Find 50 For 50: 🌐 Website: https://www.50for50.net/ ▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@50_For_50 🎙️ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/50-for-50-life-music-friendship/id1857746432 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0ADmN7bp4fXQzAZsnSuFQj 📩 Contact: GG@BSPNMedia.com

    41 min
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5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Mike Joseph and Garrett Gonzales have been friends for over 20 years. Their friendship began following each other's music reviews on the now-defunct website, Epinions. In 2026, they officially turn 50 and this podcast is a celebration of their 50 years, and over 20 years as friends. They will choose an album that was released each year from 1976 to 2025 and do a deep dive history and culture podcast episode about it. There will also be other episodes about artists, current music events, music documentaries and movies and more.

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