5.14.2026
DonWill Invites Michael Holman, Host and Producer of Graffiti Rock, to Discuss the Early Days of Hip-Hop on Okayplayer’s 2x Webby-Winning Podcast the Almanac of Rap
The Pioneer Discusses the Multi-Faceted NYC Arts Scene, Jean-Michael Basquait, Fab Five Freddy, Hip-Hop on Television and much more
A Celebrated Cultural Figure Whose Graffiti Rock was the First Hip-Hop Television Program, and Who is Credited by Fab Five Freddy as the First Person to Use the Word Hip-Hop in a Mainstream Publication, Holman Drops Knowledge About the Evolution of Hip-Hop’s Elements and NYC’s Virant 1980s Cultural Scene
Critical Praises:
WEBBY AWARD WINNER 2025 – EXPERIMENTAL INNOVATION
WEBBY AWARD WINNER 2023 – BEST MUSIC PODCAST
The Announcement:
Donwill‘s 2x Webby Award-winning podcast The Almanac of Rap excels at exploring under-covered areas of rap history, providing proper context and interesting tidbits that illuminate the genre’s lore. On the latest episode of the Okayplayer-presented podcast, Donwill welcomes Michael Holman, a seminal figure in NYC hip-hop history, to drop some knowledge.
Best known as the creator and host of Graffiti Rock, the first nationally-televised hip-hop-based TV program, Holman was a quintessential behind-the-scenes figure in the early days of hip-hop in its hometown of NYC. Beyond his work with Graffiti Rock, Holman was a prolific event producer, hosting concerts for Zulu Nation, Run-DMC, and many others, and was a founding member of the noise rock band Gray, along with the one-and-only Jean-Michel Basquiat. Holman was a close friend of Fab Five Freddy, who credits Holman for being one of the first people to use the term “hip-hop” in a mainstream interview.
During his conversation with Donwill, Holman discusses his story, which is intertwined with the story of hip-hop and its integration into the broader NYC arts scene of the early ’80s. Holman describes his relationships with B-boys and DJs of the area, and mourns the eventual flattening of hip-hop from the five elements (DJing, B-Boying, Graffiti, Emceeing, and Knowledge) into a word that has become synonymous with rapping. Holman also discusses the differences between the rap scenes in all five boroughs, meeting Malcolm McLaren and inspiring his rap pastiche “Buffalo Gals,” and his efforts to convince TV affiliates across the country to broadcast a show about hip-hop, which many executives believed to be a passing fad. Throughout the interview, Donwill’s perspective helps illustrate how far Hip-Hop has come, but also mourns the artistic camaraderie and movement solidarity that seems to have gone by the wayside.
This week’s episode is the 12th episode of The Almaanc of Rap’s Season 4, which continues what Donwill calls “The Almanac of Rap’s most ambitious undertaking ever.” The podcast plans to drop a new episode every week for a whole year, alternating between audio/video and audio-only podcasts. A master of engaging conversation, Donwill uses his experience as a rapper (he is part of the group Tanya Morgan), and lifelong love of music to dig into under-explored nooks and crannies, revealing a different side of his illustrious guests. The veteran rapper keeps things fresh each week with recurring segments, including hot take-centric “The Ballistics” and “The Big Playback,” in which Donwill and his guest give flowers to an under-heralded or underrated gem.
The Season 4 Premiere, featuring an interview with Cupid, the Line Dance King, reached the Top 10 of Apple Music’s Top Shows (Music) chart. Recent guests include Mr. DJ, the Grammy-winning OutKast producer, Havoc of Mobb Deep, Bun B, 9th Wonder & Reuben Vincent, Masta Ace, and Seattle producer Jake One. As it continues, Season 4 promises an illustrious list of influential guests, including Jharrel Jerome, LaRussell, and more.
Listen to the episode HERE, or wherever you get your podcastsWatch the teaser for The Almanac of Rap Season 4 HERE
The Almanac of Rap wouldn’t exist but for the passion and curiosity of host Donwill. Born in Cincinnati before re-locating to Brooklyn, Donwill entered the music industry as one-third of hip-hop group Tanya Morgan, with his creative partners Von Pea and Ilyas. The group is best known for the 2009 album Brooklynati, now hailed as an underground classic, but performing music is only part of Donwill’s story. He is a prolific DJ, holding court at many of Brooklyn’s hottest nightlife establishments and touring as the DJ for comedian Michelle Buteau. His music production work has earned him credits on Emmy-winning programs like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, and produced theme music for award-winning podcasts like Slow Burn (Slate), Another Round (Buzzfeed), and #Adulting (WNYC).
Donwill brings that unique experience, curiosity, and dedication to his craft to each episode of The Almanac Of Rap. Don’t miss the rest of Season 4, which promises to be one of the most diverse and entertaining seasons of the award-winning podcast to date.
Credit: Kaushik Kalidindi for Okayplayer
Please contact Michelle or Kevin for more info.
The Background:
About The Almanac of Rap:
The Almanac of Rap is a weekly show hosted by Donwill that examines the origins of specific trends in hip hop and their impact over time and it’s way more fun than that description makes it sound. Each week, Donwill asks a question, presents a theory, and finds a guest to come to some sort of consensus about it. Simply put, it’s a show about rap by a rapper who loves rap music.
About Donwill:
Pulling from the crates of the blog era and the extremely online, Donwill is a certified rap encyclopedia — err, rather, a rap almanac. So then, it’s only right he’s the host of Almanac of Rap, a Webby Award-winning Okayplayer-produced series that combines the smartest, If You Know You Know™ rap conversations with deep-in-the-weeds fandom and sharp satirical humor. It’s all curated by Donwill, a former blogger who’s traded book recommendations with Lupe Fiasco and rapped with Drake as a member of the group Tanya Morgan. If he’s not the most interesting rapper alive, he could do a hell of an interview with them. In an age of less-than-ethical streamers and scandal-chasing “interviewers,” Donwill employs a workmanlike approach to the art of journalism, taking at least a week to research each episode of his show. It’s appreciation as much as attention to craft. It’s also why his podcast stands as a show by and for the culture. And that’s probably because it is the culture. More specifically speaking, Donwill is the culture. Having written for The Village Voice as a reporter, traded bars with Drake, and interviewed rap titans like Lupe Fiasco, Donwill is the coach, the player, and the opponent — the journalist and the source. In other words, he’s the rapper-turned-podcaster we deserve.
Credit: Kaushik Kalidindi for Okayplayer
Links:
Donwill: official site | instagram | twitter | mixcloud
Connect with Donwill at Donwill.Me