North St. Louis County native Riley B is a veteran rap emcee extraordinaire, a hip hop freestyle champion, and the host and co-creator of “Connect the Dots” podcast. This new St. Louis-based platform serves up lyricism, hard-hitting beats, and insightful interviews.

“Connect the Dots” began in September 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as a platform for emcees, releasing three episodes before pausing due to the pandemic. On April 19, 2024, the show made a triumphant return, once again featuring DJ Durrty Burdd, filmed by Takeover Films at Suburban Pro Studios, and hosted by Riley B. On “Connect the Dots,” Riley B explores the minds of both veteran and emerging St. Louis artists, offering viewers insight into the culturally aware musicians and emcees of the city, many of whom are actively pursuing musical careers and performing both in and outside of the Lou.

A Show by an Emcee for Emcees

“Connect the Dots” follows a tried-and-true format that appeals to hip hop enthusiasts. Hearing an artist freestyle or rhyme “off the top” is always a worthwhile experience. The show delivers a Lou-style “Five Fingers of Death,” reminiscent of “Sway in the Morning” or a Hot 97 Funk Flex Freestyle, but with a St. Louis twist—courtesy of the “New Found Lou Sound” – Riley B. As a celebrated hip hop freestyle champion himself, Riley B feels it’s only right to provide this opportunity.

Riley B emphasizes that the show is a platform for Midwest and STL artists to express themselves and share information with St. Louis hip hop culture—a culture he has been a part of since adolescence. As an artist who has gained notoriety as a “Team Back Pack” and Jack N For Beats freestyle champion, he understands the pressures and pitfalls emcees face. “I’m still the regular guy. You know, I work a day job too. I’m a husband, I’m a father, you know, so all those things combined. Being a huge rap fan, I decided to create a platform to support and showcase talent in the genre”, he proudly tells DELUX.

As of this article, there are 22 episodes of “Connect the Dots,” and we urge you to tap in and witness the immense talent that St. Louis and the Midwest region have to offer. Heavy hitters such as Ackurate, A-Game, Bo Dean, Tef Poe, NandoSTL, and others have already blessed the show, with more on the way.

If the show draws the attention of Murphy Lee, Buddy Luv, Aye Verb, Ju, and T-Dubb O, it will accomplish what few platforms have been able to do, in my opinion—bridge the gap created by the seemingly invisible wall that separates the St. Louis scene, even among lyricists and their fans.

As “Connect the Dots” continues to shine a spotlight on the incredible talent in St. Louis and the Midwest, it’s more important than ever for the community to tune in and support this budding platform. In a city where the support system for hip hop artists is limited, this podcast is dedicated to giving rap lyricists the exposure they deserve. We urge all lyricists to reach out to Riley B and his team—come on the show, give it your best bars, and share your story with a hip hop audience that craves lyricism. Together, we can build a stronger, more united hip hop scene in the Midwest.

“If you’re a rapper, whether you’ve been around for a while or have something to promote—be it a show, a single, a music video, an event, or whatever you’re into at the time—and you want to showcase your skills as a lyricist, I created “Connect the Dots” to highlight that.” – Riley B. Connect the Dots

Tap into Connect the Dots on Socials an on Youtube:

Connect the Dots on Youtube

Instagram: Connect the Dots on Instagram

DeWarren Smith
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