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Pop the Trunk

Vinnie Paz and Brendan Long

Everyone has a podcast, but Vinnie Paz finally has one about the thing that changed his life: Music.

“Pop the Trunk” is Vinnie’s first podcast where he’s actually going to talk about music and all the different realms it touches from pop culture to sports, movies, books...it’ll be a free-flowing conversation from his scattered brain. So, come join Vinnie , Brendan, and Billy for what’ll be an unhinged tour through a wide range of topics that all started with a career in music that is one of the more unlikely DIY success stories.

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22 episodes
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Avg 1 hr 43 min
English

Episodes 22

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S1 · E28
Wednesday · 2 hr 23 min
The Making of Visions of Gandhi: 23 Years Later | Ep. 28 | Pop the Trunk
Vinnie and the guys dig into the anniversary of Visions of Gandhi, tracing how the record came together. From a makeshift studio to Chung King in New York, it's a rare look at the making of a record straight from the source. The group also gets into the usual off-topic detours, so stick around for the stuff that has nothing to do with the album too.
S1 · E27
August 19 · 1 hr 31 min
Industry Plants: Is your favorite rapper an industry plant? Vinnie breaks down the definition | Episode 27 | Pop the Trunk
Vinnie and the guys tackle one of hip hop's most loaded accusations: what actually makes someone an "industry plant"? They lay out the real definition, argue over where the line is between a plant and a straightforward nepo baby, and put some names under the microscope to see who holds up. The conversation swings from the self-made billionaire myth to Malcolm Gladwell to comedy's own version of the plant debate. Tune in for it all on Episode 27 of Pop the Trunk!
S1 · E26
August 12 · 1 hr 49 min
Not Your Average Joe: Joe DeRosa talks Hip Hop roots with Vinnie Paz | Episode 26 | Pop the Trunk
Comedian Joe DeRosa joins Vinnie and the guys for Episode 26, and the group digs into Joe's early days of hip hop — including who his "cheat code" was, the one that got him hooked on the culture in the first place. From there the conversation moves into Joe's early comedy days, the influences that shaped him, and how he found his own voice on stage. As always it wanders well beyond that too, hitting career stories, some unexpectedly honest reflection, and a run through the Five Spot questions to close it out. Of course, Joe joins right in on the typical banter with no topic being too ridiculous. Check out Joe’s new special, Never Promised You a Rose Garden, on Netflix.
S1 · E25
August 5 · 2 hr 11 min
Cult 45: Vinnie breaks down his conspiracy research
Episode 25 gets into where Vinnie's fascination with the occult and conspiracy theories actually started, how deep it pulled him in over the years, and how it eventually found its way into his writing. It's a rare look at the research behind the references fans have picked up on for years, told from the source. From there the conversation wanders through everything from childhood habits to internet rabbit holes and heated debates that go nowhere, plus another Dear Vin reading that goes about how you'd expect.
S1 · E24
July 29 · 1 hr 51 min
Behind Enemy Lines: The Making of Uncommon Valor | Episode 24 | Pop the Trunk
Today’s episode is a full breakdown of how "Uncommon Valor" actually got made — twenty years after it dropped, still one of the most talked-about concept records in hip hop. The making of that song, the friendship with R.A. the Rugged Man that had to exist before it could happen, and the real history and personal stakes behind the writing. Plus the usual detours you come here for.
S1 · E23
July 22 · 1 hr 56 min
Bronx Bombers | Jaÿ-Z’s Record Breaking Yankee Stadium Residency
In Loving Memory of Kristine Barlam aka “Krissy”. Before diving into the main event, Billy has some explaining to do after coming back from a three-day meditation retreat. Then, the guys jump into Jay-Z's record-breaking Yankee Stadium residency, the surprise guests, an old beef finally squashed, and what it means for hip-hop's legacy artists getting their touring moment. Plus: Michael Bay movies, crying at Armageddon, and whether Wu-Tang can still sell out anywhere. Pop the Trunk with Vinnie Paz streaming on all DSPs and your favorite podcast app. @popthetrunk.pod
S1 · E22
July 15 · 1 hr 31 min
Summer Madness | Breaking Down Hip Hop’s Greatest Summer Releases
Episode 22 is a summer heat wave of hip-hop history. The crew runs down the classic albums that dropped between May and September across the decades — the records that defined car windows down, block parties, and the last day of school. Expect deep cuts on why summer releases hit different, some contested "greatest ever" arguments. Pop the Trunk with Vinnie Paz streaming on all DSPs and your favorite podcast app. @popthetrunk.pod
S1 · E21
July 8 · 1 hr 49 min
Assassin's Creed | Vinnie Paz Breaks Down Season of the Assassin on Its 16th Anniversary
The boys are back and the crew opens up talking hoops, the World Cup, and why American sports broadcasts hit different. From there it's straight into a milestone: Vinnie's debut solo album, Season of the Assassin, just passed its 16th anniversary, and the guys sit down to break down how it actually came together. Vinnie gets into why he waited as long as he did to go solo, the uncertainty of stepping out from Stoupe and the JMT sound , and the real story of the album's original title before it became Season of the Assassin. He walks through building the record from scratch, tracking down producers he grew up idolizing, and a session at a legendary New York studio that made the whole thing feel real. They dive into how the features and production actually got picked and, sixteen years later, we get Vinnie's take on what it means to him today. Pop the Trunk with Vinnie Paz streaming on all DSPs and your favorite podcast app. @popthetrunk.pod
July 2 · 55 min
KEOTB 210 | The Boots Ennis - Xander Zayas Aftermath
Vinnie flies solo this week to break down Jaron "Boots" Ennis's dominant, multi-knockdown stoppage of Xander Zayas that unified the 154-pound titles at the DAZN’s Barclays Center PPV. He also covers the rest of that card (Jahi Tucker's win, a controversial Ben Whitaker stoppage loss), runs through news and notes — Usyk vacating his heavyweight belts, Floyd Mayweather's exhibition falling through amid his financial troubles, the WBC's questionable 154-pound rankings — and previews the July 4th weekend card topped by Abdullah Mason vs. Albert Bell. Pop the Trunk presents Knock ‘Em Out the Box streaming on all DSPs and your favorite podcast app. @popthetrunk.pod
S1 · E20
July 1 · 1 hr 53 min
Mailbag, Maniacs, Mediums, and Mutants | Episode 20 | Pop the Trunk
Vinnie and Billy hold things down two-man-band style with Brendan out this week, and crack open the mailbag for a round of listener mail and recommendations — including no shortage of opinions on the top 50 list they've got cooking. They also bring back a beloved segment from Broad Street Breakdown and things get weird from there: a debate over psychics and mediums, an unexpected detour into a heavier real-world topic, and the usual cast of internet oddballs that keep this show interesting. Pop the Trunk with Vinnie Paz streaming on all DSPs and your favorite podcast app. @popthetrunk.pod
June 26 · 1 hr 44 min
The Boots Ennis - Xander Zayas Special | Knock ‘Em Out the Box | Episode 209
Boots Ennis and Xander Zayas finally collide for two junior middleweight titles, and the boys can't wait any longer to break it all down. From the questionable promotion (thanks, Knicks playoff run and World Cup chaos) to the undercard sleepers worth watching, no angle gets left on the table — including a few overdue predictions on exactly how this one ends. Plus: news on Joshua-Fury's bizarre venue problem, Tank Davis' next move, Floyd Mayweather's legal troubles, and a friendly wager that might leave somebody's hair a very different color by the weekend.
S1 · E19
June 24 · 2 hr 18 min
What’s Beef? | Ranking Hip-Hop's Biggest Rivalries and Who Actually Won
Hip-hop runs on competition and nothing fuels it like a good beef. In this episode, the fellas do a deep dive into the genre's most legendary rivalries, tracing the lineage from the earliest battles through the records, subliminals, and feuds that shaped rap history. Some squashed it, some didn't get the chance to. We break down who we think really won.
S1 · E18
June 17 · 1 hr 50 min
“I’m Happy for My Dad” | Knicks Championship alongside Wu-Tang & Building Our Greatest 50 Rappers
The boys are back, and this week there's an elephant in the room the size of Madison Square Garden. Vinnie and Billy are doing their best to ignore it, but Brendan isn't making it easy. The Knicks just won the championship and someone in the studio is way too happy about it — and it isn't the Philly guys. The debate over whether Wu-Tang's halftime performance had anything to do with the outcome is very real, and very heated. From there the conversation shifts to something that's been brewing for a while — the guys announce plans to put together their own Greatest 50 Rappers of All Time list, a direct response to the clickbait list culture dominating hip hop media. Names get floated and opinions get spicy. Don’t miss this one!
S1 · E17
June 10 · 1 hr 48 min
Feds in My Rearview | Episode 17 | Pop the Trunk
The crew weighs in on the NBA Finals and what it really costs to be a New York Knicks fan these days. From there, the conversation shifts into hip hop beef culture and where the line is between sport and disrespect. Then Vinnie tells the story of a journalist interview that spiraled into something far more serious — and why federal agents ended up at his show because of it. That leads to a discussion on cancel culture and why nobody is actually getting canceled in 2026.
S1 · E16
June 3 · 1 hr 26 min
Buck50 | Episode 16 | Pop the Trunk
The crew kicks things off with a tale of restaurant frustration that snowballs into a broader conversation about bad service, false promises, and the unwritten code between businesses and their customers. From there, the episode digs into Complex's viral Top 50 New York Rappers of All Time list — and the crew has plenty to say. They debate whether the list is a legitimate ranking, deliberate rage bait, or a mix of both, unpacking the criteria, questioning some of the inclusions, and making the case for the names that got left off entirely. From legends who should be higher to modern acts that have no business being on a "best ever" list, it's a deep, opinionated ride through New York rap history.
May 28 · 58 min
Pyramid Scheme | Knock ‘Em Out the Box | Episode 208
Vinnie holds it down solo while his co-hosts sit this one out in lieu of other shenanigans. He runs through a loaded boxing news cycle — Lomachenko's retirement reversal, Canelo's next move, the Wardley-Dubois rematch situation, and more — before breaking down the main event everyone's been arguing about: Usyk vs. Verhoeven at the Pyramids in Giza. Was Rico closer than anyone expected, or did the crowd and the rounds fool people? Vinnie's got a take. He also weighs in on Frank Sanchez packing up Richard Torres (told you so), Hamza Shiraz's breakout belt win, and previews a deceptively busy weekend headlined by Bevo's return and O'Shay Foster vs. Raymond Ford for the WBC 130 title — a fight Vinnie's not exactly hyped for, but picks anyway.
S1 · E15
May 27 · 1 hr 14 min
Mailbag II - Heelys, Perfect Albums, and No Rite of Passage | Episode 15 | Pop the Trunk
The mailbag is back! The crew gets into the creative process behind writing rhymes, whether a perfect album is a perfect album regardless of genre, and what happens when ego convinces someone they're an expert in everything. Billy's history with Heelys comes out, fan art makes its way into the studio, and a listener writing in from Berlin has some catching up to do. Tune in for Episode 15 of Pop the Trunk, with Vinnie Paz!
S1 · E14
May 20 · 1 hr 27 min
“I Just Went to the Riot” | Episode 14 | Pop the Trunk
After the slept-on rappers episode sparked a wave of responses from the audience, Vinnie and Brendan discuss names that didn't make the original list, artists whose careers took hard left turns, and a few who quietly reinvented themselves in ways nobody saw coming. From Philly legends to Long Island crews to a Queens MC who ended up writing for Beyoncé, the conversation covers artists who deserved far more than they got, and tries to make sense of why the music industry let them slip through the cracks. Along the way, the crew gets into the Enhanced Games, a suspicious stat about NBA referees, the shiny suit era's collateral damage, and a firsthand account of one of the most chaotic nights in college basketball history. Tune in for Episode 14 of Pop the Trunk, with Vinnie Paz.
S1 · E13
May 13 · 1 hr 28 min
Episode 13 - "Bots and Buffets"
The crew kicks off Episode 13 fired up, sleep-deprived, and somehow already arguing before the intro wraps. They draw battle lines on AI and Brendan drops a Mother’s Day story of a dinner gone sideways. Vinnie and Billy express their Philly sports rage and a full indictment of New York franchises enters the picture. Somewhere between an argument nobody wins, a holiday that went completely off the rails, and a rant that earns every second of airtime, Episode 13 reminds you why you showed up in the first place.|
S1 · E12
May 6 · 2 hr 10 min
No Rewind | Episode 12 | Pop the Trunk
Pop the Trunk went live for the first time ever, and there was no safety net. What you heard was what it was. The crew wasted no time getting into it, from a big boxing weekend to the NBA playoffs, bad bets, and stories from the streets of South Philly that you genuinely had to be there for. From there it turned into exactly what Pop the Trunk does best: wrestling history, hip hop history, and the kind of arguments that don't have a clean ending. The main event was a deep discussion on underappreciated MCs — who got slept on, who got jammed by the machine, and who was simply too nice for the world to handle. The live crowd had opinions too, and they weren't wrong. Two hours of unfiltered conversation with nowhere to hide. The first live edition of Pop the Trunk. No rewind.

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