If you'd like to see full video of this and other episodes, join the Reel Notes Patreon at the Homie ($5/month) tier or higher. You also get early access to episodes, an invite to our Discord server, access to the Reel Talk movie night archives, and more!

My guest this week is Bronx rapper Hester Valentine. We spoke about the current state of music media and streaming, Donnie Darko, Opus, Mulholland Drive, how David Lynch and Danny Brown influenced his music, pursuing rap in his 20s, defining his style, bringing clarity to abrasive production, and the creative process behind projects like I Can’t Cut Your Hair, Valenta, and his latest, hunan slurp (your vegetables eat you). Come fuck with us.

I Can't Cut Your Hair and make me, make me are available wherever music is sold, streamed, or stolen. Valenta and hunan slurpare available exclusively via Bandcamp.

Read my piece How Playboi Carti and Clipping Are Channeling Rap Retrofuturism on Hearing Things.

My first book, Reel Notes: Culture Writing on the Margins of Music and Movies, is available now, via 4 PM Publishing. Order a digital copy on Amazon.

Reel Notes stands in solidarity with the oppressed peoples of Palestine, Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and Haiti. Please consider donating to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, The Palestinian Youth Movement, The Zakat Foundation, HealAfrica, FreeTigray, and/or Hope For Haiti. For information about contacting your representatives to demand a ceasefire, finding protests, and other tools, check out CeasefireToday!

Follow me on Instagram (@cinemasai), Twitter (@CineMasai_), Bluesky (@cinemasai.bsky.social), TikTok (@cinemasai), Letterboxd (@CineMasai), and subscribe to my weekly Nu Musique Friday newsletter to stay tapped into all things Dylan Green.

Support the show

How to Reduce (but Not Eliminate) Covid Risk at Holiday Gatherings