The Hilltop Glove Podcast

The Hilltop Glove Podcast
  • 4.9 (17)
  • Society & Culture
  • Weekly

The Hilltop Glove Podcast is where culture meets economics. Based in the Carolinas, THG explores Southern creative life through candid conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, musicians, organizers, and cultural leaders. We talk about hip-hop, art, business, politics, identity, community, and the forces shaping the South—but underneath every conversation is a bigger question: Who creates the culture, who owns it, and who gets to benefit from it? The Hilltop Glove: Where Culture Meets Economics.

  1. 1d ago

    Anawetha: The Pawn Shop Snare That Beat Everybody

    Send us Fan Mail You can hear an artist’s whole backstory in the way they build a song, and Anawetha makes that real. We start with the roots: growing up around church, having strict “what you can listen to” rules, then catching a wider world of radio hits and internet-era influences that shaped his ear. From The Temptations and Michael Jackson to the unexpected lane of Linkin Park and early 2000s pop, the path isn’t a straight line, but it is a clear one. From there we get into musicianship and the grind that most people never see. He breaks down how he taught himself drums, took the underdog route in band with a pawn shop snare, learned tuning and control, and still ended up first chair. That curiosity opens the door to tuba, reading music, and understanding arrangement and composition, which leads to a bigger conversation about why old-school artists like Rick James still matter in a world of templates, plugins, and AI tools. Then we talk music business like adults. Talent is real, but it’s not the whole game, so we dig into business acumen: packaging yourself, telling a story, funding the work, and building a creative team that believes in “crazy” ideas until they become real. We also hit home studio workflow and why he records at home using Studio One, plus how to stay balanced so you don’t burn out while chasing the dream. Tap in for mindset, practical strategy, and a reminder that community still matters. If you rock with it, subscribe, share this with an artist friend, and leave a review. What part of the artist journey do you want us to unpack next? Support the show BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording @asylum_digital @celebstudio_ @caddypack . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

  2. 4d ago

    Lenayah Rayford: No Face No Case In The Gallery

    Send us Fan Mail A faceless portrait can say more about you than a selfie if the artist knows how to leave space for your story. We talk with Lenayah Rayford, a rising mixed media artist whose path runs from childhood sketchbooks and moving between Newburgh, New York and South Carolina to finding momentum through mentorship, volunteering, and a personal rule that changed everything: say yes more often, even when you feel shy. Along the way, she shares how COVID-19 lockdown became a turning point for self reflection and identity, and how she built confidence through repetition, public speaking, and taking real opportunities before she felt “ready.” We get into the craft too: how she chooses between acrylic, oil, sculpture, and design by starting with a clear vision, then problem-solving her way toward the final piece. Lenayah breaks down why her figures often have no identifying facial features, and how that choice lets other women of color step into the narrative instead of feeling shut out. She also explains specific symbolism in her work, from bathrooms as vulnerable spaces to surreal mirror imagery that connects who you think you are with who you really are. Then we go where art meets everyday life: Black hair discrimination, natural hair acceptance, and why showing hair-centered work in predominantly white spaces can challenge the room on purpose. We talk the CROWN Act, workplace double standards, texture bias, and the pressure behind the word “presentable.” If you care about contemporary art, identity, and the lived reality behind cultural conversations, this one stays with you. Listen now, share it with a friend, and subscribe so you do not miss what Lenayah creates next. If you like the show, leave a review and tell us: what detail in her work would you want to ask her about? Support the show BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording @asylum_digital @celebstudio_ @caddypack . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

  3. 6d ago ·  Bonus

    Rylie Dae: A Young Emcee Explains Why Real Stories Matter

    Send us Fan Mail A 12-year-old rapper shouldn’t be able to explain storytelling, fame, and money better than most adults, but Rylie Dae does. We talk with Rylie, a young artist from the Charleston, South Carolina area who’s grown up around music and creativity, and she brings a clear point of view: if your lyrics aren’t real, people can feel it. She shares her earliest music memories, what it was like recording a first song at eight, and why she’s determined to keep her writing grounded in truth and narrative. We also get into the bigger stuff that comes with being a young creative. Riley compares her style to her dad’s, talks about learning boundaries, and opens up about the pressure that can come with recognition. She has sharp takes on influencer culture and insecurity, plus a surprisingly practical idea for a music discovery app that automatically sorts PG-13 vs explicit songs by age and even organizes tracks by mood. Then we go deeper on faith, spirituality, and what it means to keep learning as you grow. Rylie reflects on a Disney opportunity that didn’t work out and why she’s grateful she still gets to have a real childhood. We wrap with honest talk about teen money habits, saving strategies, and the discipline it takes to chase big goals without losing yourself. If you care about youth artists, storytelling in hip hop, parenting creative kids, and building confidence in a noisy world, you’ll get a lot from this conversation. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. Support the show BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording @asylum_digital @celebstudio_ @caddypack . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

  4. Oct 29

    Elijah Bradford: How A Church Kid Built Mr. Thaddeus On Stage

    Send us Fan Mail Church culture can make people laugh, wince, and rethink everything they’ve been taught, sometimes in the same minute. We sit down with Elijah Bradford from Sumter, South Carolina, the creator of Mr. Thaddeus, to talk about why comedy can be a real form of ministry and why a stage play can reach people that church language pushes away. We get into Elijah’s creative pivot from a deep music background into writing and producing live theater with no formal scriptwriting training. He shares how a simple promotional parody turned into a fully formed character with a family, a voice, and a mission, plus what he studies to deliver excellence on stage. If you’re trying to break into something new, build an audience, or turn online storytelling into live events, his process is packed with practical clues. Then the conversation goes where many rooms won’t. We talk about the topics churches often avoid, fear-based responses, and how families get torn apart when people confuse “having a stance” with withholding love. Elijah explains why he uses Mr Thaddeus to confront hard realities directly, and why so many people are feeling disillusioned with church as usual, especially after COVID. We also dig into holiness versus perfection, performance-based faith, and the generational divide driving younger people away from the Black church. If this hit home, share it with a friend, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can find the conversation. What part do you want us to go deeper on in Part 2? Support the show BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording @asylum_digital @celebstudio_ @caddypack . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

  5. Oct 26

    Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon: Stop Rapping Like You Texting

    Send us Fan Mail You can hear it in the way he talks about the work: Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon is not chasing a moment, he is building a system. We sit with the Charlotte-based hip hop artist Jahmonte Lyde to trace the full arc, from writing at age 10 in Akron, Ohio to shaping a sound that cuts through the Carolinas and travels far beyond it. Along the way, we dig into why certain songs earn repeat listens, how Beautifully Black connected with fans, and what it takes to keep authenticity when the stakes rise. We get specific about craft: the jump from poetry to structured rhymes, the lesson that changed everything (“stop reading and use your voice”), and the influence stack that shaped his cadence from Redman and boom bap to the blog era indie underground. Jahmonte also opens up about early experiences with colorism at school and how those moments pushed him toward expression instead of silence, turning personal pressure into sharper writing. Then we go deep on the business of being an independent rapper: daily studio runs, filming content, emailing labels, throwing shows, working the door, pressing vinyl, and building leverage city by city until Lex Records becomes a real home base. He breaks down the difference between having a squad and having a team, why roles matter, and how touring feels when the machine is built right. We also tackle a bigger cultural flashpoint he wants more people to address: diaspora wars and what unity could look like in real life. If you care about Charlotte hip hop, independent artist strategy, music marketing, and culture meeting economics across the Carolinas, hit play, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Support the show BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording @asylum_digital @celebstudio_ @caddypack . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

  6. Oct 22 ·  Bonus

    Understanding Domestic Violence Red Flags: Amber's Sancutary of Hope

    Send us Fan Mail Control does not always look like violence at first. Sometimes it shows up as “Where are you?” “Who are you with?” surprise pop-ups, phone checking, and the slow squeeze of isolation until you barely recognize your own life. We sit down with Kandace Kelly and Sharon Herndon (Amber's Sanctuary of Hope) to name those early domestic violence warning signs clearly, especially the subtle ones people explain away because nothing physical has happened yet. We also get specific about financial abuse and coercive control, including how money becomes leverage when one partner limits access to accounts, work, transportation, or basic choices. From there, we talk safety planning in a practical, real-world way: trusted people, vital documents, device privacy, and why leaving has to be strategic. If you or someone you love needs support, we share resources like the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE) and the importance of reaching out before things get worse. Finally, we zoom out to the bigger forces shaping how people define “love,” from social media fantasy to generational patterns that normalize pain. Kandace and Sharon also share how they protect their mental health while advocating, and how Amber’s Sanctuary of Hope turns grief into community care through coat drives, shelter support, and encouragement for survivors. Subscribe, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find these tools when it matters most. Support the show BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording @asylum_digital @celebstudio_ @caddypack . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

  7. Oct 20 ·  Bonus

    J00Ny3r: Can Independent Hip-Hop Survive the Social Media Era?

    Send us Fan Mail Culture doesn’t just live in playlists, it lives in places, families, and the choices artists make when nobody is watching. Skip sits down with J00Ny3r, a Charleston-based MC who’s carving out a lane in independent hip hop while still calling himself “aspiring” for a reason: he’s more interested in getting better than pretending he’s already arrived. We talk about a military upbringing that stretched from Germany to South Korea to South Carolina, and how that shaped his first real connection to rap through Eminem, early MP3 downloads, and the later realization that “free music” had a real cost for artists. From there we get into craft: why lyricism matters, what battle rap teaches you, and why writing great bars doesn’t automatically mean you can build a great song. J00Ny3r breaks down his process of catching inspiration fast, then spending days recording, editing, and refining like a mad scientist. The conversation widens to the music business and hip hop culture right now: Kendrick vs Drake as a mirror for what listeners want, why the internet can flatten regional sounds, and why building a local scene in your hometown still beats chasing a trend. We also hit the hard topics indie artists wrestle with, from gatekeeping and commodification to using AI responsibly as a tool for direct-to-fan infrastructure, not as a shortcut for creativity. If you care about independent rap, Charleston music, DIY artist strategy, and the future of hip hop culture, this one is for you. Subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review, then tell us: what does “making it” mean to you? Support the show BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording @asylum_digital @celebstudio_ @caddypack . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

  8. Oct 19

    Barry White: Drawing In The Watchtower Margins Paid Off

    Send us Fan Mail One day you’re sketching superheroes in the margins just to get through a meeting. The next, you’re using paint to pull yourself back into your own life. We talk with Barry White, also known as Typheadamus, about the long road from childhood art sparks to a grown-man decision that changed everything: stop shrinking and start being seen. Barry opens up about growing up Jehovah’s Witness, how structure can shape your personality, and what it feels like to rebuild identity after you walk away. We get into the real fuel behind his creativity, from the hand-drawn magic of the 90s to why X-Men hit deeper than any other comic universe. Then we shift into the craft: digital art vs traditional drawing, learning anatomy, perspective, and fundamentals, and how mentors like Sanford Green and Tyrone Jeter helped him trade pure talent for durable skill. The heart of the conversation is art therapy and emotional healing for Black men. Barry shares how returning to art around the pandemic helped him stay level mentally, physically, and spiritually, plus a raw story about showing vulnerable work in the wrong room and what that “failure” taught him about boundaries, audience, and courage. We wrap with what he has coming up in the South Carolina art scene and how he’s learning to share wins in real time. If you feel stuck, unseen, or out of place, this one is a reset. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more people find the show. Support the show BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording @asylum_digital @celebstudio_ @caddypack . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

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4.9
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

The Hilltop Glove Podcast is where culture meets economics. Based in the Carolinas, THG explores Southern creative life through candid conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, musicians, organizers, and cultural leaders. We talk about hip-hop, art, business, politics, identity, community, and the forces shaping the South—but underneath every conversation is a bigger question: Who creates the culture, who owns it, and who gets to benefit from it? The Hilltop Glove: Where Culture Meets Economics.

Information

  • Creator
    The Hilltop Glove Podcast
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    201
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Hilltop Glove Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Hilltop Glove Podcast