I’ll be real with you, I’m a complete podcast addict. Whenever I’m not making music, I have earbuds screwed in my ears and I’m listening to audio content. Podcasts can take many forms, but my favorite ones are often the ones in which you can hear to like-minded people talking about their lives and their common passions.

Although podcasts were mostly a comedy thing for a while, they have recently reached most niches out there. Beatmaking and music production is no exception. Whether you’re a beatmaker in need of inspiration and motivation, or just a fan of hip hop who’s always hungry for more info, here are a couple mandatory listens.

Producergrind Podcast

This is the most business oriented podcast of this list. The host of Producergrind and their guests go deep into the current state of beat selling. How do you make money selling beats? How do you find your niche? What are the latest creative and marketing trends? All these questions are answered by their guests, which include some big names like Bighead and CHASETHEMONEY as well as some lesser known artists.

Kyle Beats Podcast

Kyle Beats is all about great content, musical and otherwise. With the Kyle Beats Podcast, the Florida beatmaker takes a deep dive in the universe of YouTubers and creative influencers to talk about oblique ways of forming a fan base as a beatmaker. Kyle is one of those dynamos that simply radiate inspiration and creative energy.

Beatstars Podcast

Very down to earth and to the point, the Beatstars Podcast asks the real questions and get the real answers. It can be listened to very quickly, and it’s a true mine of useful informations for the producer who wants to sell beats online make a fortune and… Buy a fancy car? I don’t know what’s the end goal here. It’s currently hosted by the beatmaking’s community favorite grumpus, DJ Pain 1.

Song Exploder

This one is a little different. It takes on song crafting at large, and it’s less preoccupied with the genre. Amazingly accessible, while being super inside-baseball, Song Exploder dissects the making of popular songs, from their inception to their final form. With a skillful mix of interviews with the creators, isolated stems and narration, these bite-sized episodes are true masterclasses in music production. Some hip hop oriented episodes include Denzel Curry and Meek Mill.

Broken Record

Another podcast that isn’t specifically aimed at beatmakers, but is still very inspiring. Broken Record was co-created by beatmaking royalty : Rick Rubin. With his co-conspirator Malcom Gladwell, Rubin breaks down the creative process of some of this planet’s most successful living musicians, as well as some promising up-and-comers, through long form interviews that often become loose, free-form conversations. The 808-acular theme of the series is produced by Kenny Beats.

Rap Radar ex aequo A Waste of Time

More focused on rappers, I’ll put these 2 in the same boat. Both carried by a duo of hosts, these pods dive in the culture of hip hop by conversing with some of its greatest figures, which include the occasional producer. Start here : Listen to Rap Radar’s inspiring conversation with Murda Beatz, all about the importance of networking and taking action. Then, head over to A Waste of Time and listen to both A-Trak episodes, which offer a priceless glimpse into the world of music labels and creative strategy. Whenever I feel a little blue, I put one of those episodes on and I feel instantly recharged!