Mickey asks Dave to look back at what got him into rap as a kid growing up in East Flatbush, Brooklyn in the 80s and 90s. Dave begins with the early influences like his brother, "J Fresh", and Run DMC, then recounts the stories of his learning, growth and ultimately contributions to the art form. He and Mickey then flow into a discussion of how changes in social and cultural norms have affected the language and expression of hip-hop over the years.
A Guest in the House, a podcast hosted by rapper and journalist David Shanks (aka Traum Diggs) and professor and author Mickey Hess, celebrates the best of what hip-hop has to offer and the lessons it can teach us about the ways we relate to each other across cultural, racial and social divides.