Sweet Jesus Radio

Artist, Carla Ramos joins me to talk about her workout regimen, growing up in Juarez, beating up a classmate’s mom, her 50 Cent butt tattoo, getting roofied, her appearance in a local commercial, girls with armpit shadow and tardigrades.

On this patchwork of an episode we talk about Dee’s birthday party, Vivian’s crazy bar stories, April’s shitty date, Wu-Wednesday and much more!

Makeup artist/skincare specialist/Hip-Hop head April Torres AKA Laretta James joins the show to talk about the origins of her alias (Laretta James), how we met, what inspired her to work in the makeup industry and working with internationally published photographers, Mannon Pictures. We also discuss healthy skincare habits, some of our favorite "BUCK" Hip-Hop songs, her short stint as a "bible thumper" and much more!

In in 2018 year in review, Dee and I go in on resolutions, events she/I attended including RJD2 at Meow Wolf and Southwest Brawl 7 (MMA shit). We cover more highlights like my epic birthday “soiree” at CHILY, me attending Nas and Blackstar in Denver, the birth of the illpaso clothing line and the KRS One show at Funkmeyers. Dee shares her favorite Sweet Jesus Radio episodes of 2018 such as the Jimmy Chagra, Jr. and the Gloria Yrrobali (Bomb Beauty Products) episodes. We discuss 2018 rap albums, my top 2018 Facebook posts and MUCH, MUCH MORE! I also get drunker than usual ‘cause Jameson.

Dee and I talk about Dee’s trip to California, Christmas, my first ever panic attack (waaaaah), Las Cruces/El Paso rap beef and more!

My good friend and owner of the super dope shop, Bomb Beauty Products, drops by (along with her husband) to talk about how we met, growing up in “The Lower Valley” and the origins of Bomb Beauty Products. She shares a scary yet hilarious street fight story. We discuss supporting and working with local brands, the huge amount of luck required to “bag” her husband and balancing marriage and business. Gloria also tells us about blacking out at her wedding and her honeymoon trip to Denver. Her husband then makes me laugh the hardest I’ve ever laughed with a Wu-Tang reference to end all Wu-Tang references. LMAOOOOO

While on tour, femme-cee, Bonnie Blue joins the show to talk about her adventures in El Paso including strange fish taco encounters, her show at Prickly Elder bar and the comatose that succeeded. Bonnie tells us about how and when she started rapping and leaving the corporate world to pursue her music career. We also talk about the time she was homeless for a year and being on her own since she was sixteen. She also blesses us with a “hot 16”!

The homies, Rob Nise, Candace, Tito and Dee joined me for this Hip-Hop heavy two hour episode. We talk about Rob’s Rap Seminar (the first and only rap analytics and analysis service), Dee’s Thanksgiving adventures in San Antonio, Tito’s encounter with rap legend E-40 at a “Bay Area” airport aaaaand the time I witnessed “Trap” Candace get a crooked tongue piercing. We discuss the recent Zion I and Casual show, our new sponsor, Queen Bee’s Smoke Shop and the illpaso pop-up at Undisputed Craft House. We also talk about the 30 year anniversary of Slick Rick’s classic album, “The Great Adventures of”, the 25 year anniversary of A Tribe Called Quest’s “Midnight Marauders”, Wu-Tang Clan’s “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)”, Snoop Doggy Dogg’s “Doggystyle” and Del The Funky Homosapien’s “No Need For Alarm” and more. Rob blesses us with an “off the top” freestyle and someone named Tori thought Rolling Rock was ginger ale.

Three-time guest, Meganoke, takes a little break from her tour to tell us about her recent international tour including her adventures in Paris. We discuss being a DIY artist, The Golden Pact Tour, the importance of working with a good team and how she met her DJ, Gldnglk. She recaps her recent projects like her EPs, “Something Wolfy This Way Comes”, “Enchantment” and full album “Four Corners”. We’re also treated to the origin story of her tour van aptly named, Appa (Bing it).

My good friend and owner of Crooks Skate Shop, Jesse Perez joins me to talk about growing up in crazy ass Los Angeles, how earthquakes were the catalyst for his family moving to El Paso, meeting his wife, Vero and being inspired to open a business by working at tradeshows in Las Vegas. He tells us about how his brother, Marcelo’s bad experiences at already existing skate shops led to opening their own shops. We discuss the story behind the name “Crooks”, surviving and thriving during some tough times, working with major skate teams and brands and the ups and downs of running his now defunct indoor skate park. Jesse drops some gems for entrepreneurs, we answer Facebook friend questions and conclude with Jesse telling us about living across the street from legendary rap group, Cypress Hill.

After a long hiatus, the team makes a triumphant return! We start by thanking all of our fundraiser donors. We catch up on some events that occurred while we were gone like my birthday party and my trip to Denver to see Nas and Blackstar. I critique the legendary yet anti-old partier Red Rocks Amphitheatre. We talk about the illpaso clothing phenomenon (illpaso.com), the recent KRS-One show, the 30 year anniversary of Eazy-E’s Eazy Duz It and the 25 year anniversary of Black Moon’s Enta Da Stage. We also get blessed with an ill a cappella from Simple Wizdom not to mention some hot NBA and NFL talk from Tito!

On this Hip Hop heavy episode, we kick things off with The Brain "promoting mental health issues" with an appropriate segue to me admitting that I sobbed at the end of the (rapper) Logic installment of the Netflix doc series, Rapture. We talk about how much Royce Da 5’9 has matured on his new album, Book of Ryan. We unexpectedly discuss the dopeness that is O.C.! We share our opinions on the “Kendrick Lamar, white girl saying the N word” debacle. We also talk about the 20 year anniversary of DMX’s It’s Dark and Hell is Hot, the 30 year anniversary of BDP’s By All Means Necessary and the time KRS-One performed at legendary El Paso venue, E-9 and The Zone. The episode is sadly and unexpectedly halted by technical difficulties…Howard Dean.

Listen to Jimmy talk about his father and marijuana kingpin, Jamiel "Jimmy" Alexander Chagra, Sr., who was implicated in the assassination of United States District Judge John H. Wood Jr. (May 1979). Jimmy Chagra, Sr. was accused and acquitted of hiring hitman Charles Harrelson (actor Woody Harrelson's father) to kill Wood. We also talk about road trips to visit his parents in prison, the murder of his uncle and prominent lawyer, Lee Chagra, the moment he realized his parents weren’t “the average” inmates and his mother passing away in prison. He also tells us about his run-in with the police at legendary El Paso skate spot, The Worm, at the age of 13, his love for Hip-Hop and skating and epic family vacations with his grandparents/adopted parents.

On Cinco de Mayo evening, my peoples and I joined forces to talk about my weekend in Albuquerque with my brothers from the LNSC crew, Ready Player One, the 20 year anniversary of Big Pun - Capital Punishment and Neon Indian at Lowbrow Palace. We discuss the Kanye West/global warming connection, the uselessness of the Oxford comma, some of El Paso’s best burger and brew spots and Tito’s epic experience with Rakim and Rakim’s Yorkie Terrier, Minnie. Also, Jay admits his white privilege.

We have another “sniffley” start (see episode 81 :P) to the show, this time because of the hot ramen challenge. We talk about the American Fight League SWB 7 MMA event (March 31st) that I attended. Our in-house cicerone (as the kids say) helps us celebrate National Beer Day (April 7) by serving up some Get Elevated by La Cumbre Brewing and discussing multiple beer related current events. The Brain expresses his disdain for killer whales in captivity. Dee recounts her first visit to Topgolf and their built-in cardio workout. We talk about the 20 year anniversary of Gang Starr’s Moment of Truth and our favorite “deep cuts”. We also talk about Bobby Lee in El Paso, recent movies, Cardi B vs Lil Kim, huaraches and more!

Artists/graphic designers/entrepreneurs Idea, Geo and Nes (Rezen Nation) join us to talk about their early days as graff writers, life in El Paso in the 90s, the local shops from that era, the origins of their clothing brand (Rezen Nation), the 30 year anniversary of STK Crew and the time Geo tagged eighteen freeway signs in two days. Geo also tells us about the time he tagged on Mona the Elephant (disclaimer: he now loves elephants).

All the way from Houston, Texas, Ocho Sanchez returns to the show along with my brothers, Tito D and Groove. We kick things off with our in-house beer connoisseur, Tito, giving us a craft beer and brewery breakdown. We discuss Ocho’s upcoming banger, Hood Corridos Vol. 4, the birth of his daughter, the passing of his aunt and the filming of his new video, “El Diablo Nunca Duerme”. Tha Teacha, Groove, drops knowledge on “thinking outside the box” regarding formal education versus acquiring a trade. We cap things off with some dope a cappellas from Ocho and Tito humbly brags about his chess skills.

Dee and I talk about our laid-back Christmas and New Year’s Eve. We share our not so resolute resolutions. We recap multiple 2017 highlights such as the “Take a Knee” movement, hurricane tragedies, police shootings and #metoo. We also talk about celebrity deaths, Sweet Jesus Radio highlights and how to handle “snakes”. Dee also reveals how horrible of a roommate I am.

On the last episode of 2017, comedian, Aaron Yankosky talks about growing up in Yuma, AZ, adventures in high school dating and the beauties of being stationed in Fort Bliss, TX. Aaron shares his thoughts on his first stand-up performance, the “comedy mafia” in El Paso and performing at Bart Reed’s Comic Strip. We talk Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Minnesota Vikings and being retweeted by Randy Moss and Dave Dameshek. He also tells us about a time in Qatar when he walked in on his roommate practicing self-love and the hilarity that ensued. Skol!

Emcee, musician and “not your typical military brat” The Fifth Estate talks about his first rap group, attending West Point, his mixtape “Stuck In The 90s”, watching Logic and Kendrick Lamar perform at South by Southwest before they blew up and performing at South By. We discuss the origin of his name and the A Tribe Called Quest Grammys snub. Also, we find out when Len Perez is "getting my shirt I already payed for" (lol).