Hip 2 Da Games

Hip 2 Da Games

Desmond Powell was the kid with the grandest NBA dreams and in 2017 he developed a similar obsession with Hip-Hop. Born in '98 with a soul that seems older, he knew basketball and Hip-Hop have went hand-in-hand for years, but realized that there has never been a platform that combined both simultaneously, so he decided to create it. With its name inspired by the famous Lord Finesse song, this podcast is for you: the basketball junkie AND Hip-Hop head. The goal is simple: Desmond wants you to remember why you loved both in the first place and more importantly, realize that Hip 2 Da Games is not just a podcast, it's a lifestyle.

Episodes

5 Interesting Storylines Ahead of the 2025-26 Season

October 10, 2025 • 51 mins
Desmond returns to the show this week to discuss five of the most intriguing storylines that will unfold over the course of the upcoming NBA season. He shares his thoughts on the Houston Rockets' point guard situation, the Golden State Warriors acquiring Al Horford and keeping Jonathan Kuminga, VJ Edgecombe's impact on the 76ers, the evolution of Zion Williamson and Victor Wembanyama, and Russell Westbrook's unexpected free agency....
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When Hip-Hop Lyrics From the Past Hit Different in the Present...

September 19, 2025 • 55 mins
Desmond takes the transparent route for today's episode as he uses four sets of lyrics to vent and express the ways each sequence has resonated with him recently as opposed to when he heard them for the first time. With a more raw and unpolished delivery, Dez reflects on lyrics from Nipsey Hussle, J. Cole, and Eminem; artists who have managed to perfectly summarize the feelings Desmond is now experiencing as an adult pursuing vario...
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Predicting the 2025-26 NBA Standings

September 5, 2025 • 87 mins
With the NBA gradually preparing for training camps and preseason hoops, Desmond is looking ahead to the regular season and shares his predictions for how the standings could shape up in each conference. Who takes the top spot in the East? How will teams like the Celtics and Pacers perform without their injured stars? Which sleeper teams have the best future? Dez answers all these questions and more! Find out where he has your team...
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To Pimp A Butterfly: Analyzing How Kendrick Lamar Gained His Wings (Part 2)

August 22, 2025 • 77 mins
Desmond is back this week with his eleventh album breakdown as he dives into what is arguably considered Kendrick Lamar's best album, To Pimp A Butterfly. Dez takes you on a journey unpacking the album's themes of growth, self-love, authenticity, peace, and perseverance, while highlighting the lyrical creativity and depth Kendrick showcases on each song. In Part 2, he analyzes the final eight tracks where Kendrick Lamar, metaphoric...
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To Pimp A Butterfly: Analyzing How Kendrick Lamar Gained His Wings (Part 1)

August 22, 2025 • 80 mins
Desmond is back this week with his eleventh album breakdown as he dives into what is arguably considered Kendrick Lamar's best album, To Pimp A Butterfly. Dez takes you on a journey unpacking the album's themes of growth, self-love, authenticity, peace, and perseverance, while highlighting the lyrical creativity and depth Kendrick showcases on each song. In Part 1, he analyzes the first eight tracks where Kendrick Lamar mirrors a c...
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How Michele Timms Became The W's OG Fan Favorite: "You Had To Be There" Vol. 8 ft. Tyler McDowell-Blanken

August 8, 2025 • 92 mins
Desmond returns this week with another edition of "You Had To Be There," where he is joined by 19 Media Group teammate Tyler McDowell-Blanken. Tyler sticks to his Arizona roots and makes H2DG history by giving flowers to one of the WNBA's most beloved pioneers---Michele Timms. The guys reflect on her short but impactful playing days with the Mercury, how she continues to impact the next generation through coaching, and how the WNBA...
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Why Isaiah Thomas is a Celtics Legend: "You Had To Be There" Vol. 7 ft. Derrick Myers

July 25, 2025 • 78 mins
It's the NBA offseason which means "You Had To Be There" episodes return! Today, Dez invites Derrick Myers, Celtics fan and owner of On the Sidelines Media to the show to give flowers to one of the most unique & special players to ever play for the Celtics---Isaiah Thomas. Derrick declares why he believes Thomas is a Celtics legend, discusses IT's generational impact on the Celtics' culture, explains how he understood both side...
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Dez Gives Out His 2025 NBA Offseason/Free Agency Awards!

July 11, 2025 • 91 mins
Dez puts his spin on an offseason/free agency recap in true Hip 2 Da Games fashion---a Hip-Hop-inspired awards show! Find out which team he believes experienced the most improvement, which players were the most underrated pickups, who has the most to prove going into a new situation, and much more as he analyzes many of the moves that have been made so far.

Enjoy and share your thoughts! Thank you for all the support! - Dez

Keep up w...
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NBA Finals Recap, BIG Trades, New Album Releases, & More!

June 25, 2025 • 80 mins
In a loaded episode, Desmond returns with a recap of the NBA Finals detailing how the OKC Thunder (barely) defeated the Indiana Pacers and the ways each franchise can improve to get back to the big stage. Then, he shares his thoughts on the latest trades involving Desmond Bane, Kevin Durant, and Anfernee Simons before ending the episode (finally!) dishing on the latest in Hip-Hop including: his experience at Kendrick Lamar & SZ...
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2025 NBA Finals Preview

June 4, 2025 • 65 mins
With the NBA Finals set to tip off tomorrow night, Desmond shares his thoughts on all things Thunder & Pacers including: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's leadership, the importance of Jalen Williams' aggression, OKC's old school defense, what makes Tyrese Haliburton similar to Magic Johnson, Pascal Siakam's shot creation, keys to the series for both teams, and much more.

Enjoy and share your thoughts! Thank you for all the support! - D...
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Semifinals Recap and Conference Finals Preview

May 20, 2025 • 74 mins
Today, Dez continues his Playoff analysis by recapping the semifinals matchups and previewing the upcoming Conference Finals series between the New York Knicks vs. Indiana Pacers & the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder. He details noticeable Playoff trends from each team thus far, observes potential hiccups they could face moving forward, emphasize strengths they have found success with, and much more. Additional...
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2025 NBA Playoff First Round Takeaways

May 2, 2025 • 54 mins
Desmond follows up H2DG's loaded Playoff Preview sharing some of his big takeaways from the first round matchups. He discusses the strategies that failed the Milwaukee Bucks in their series against the Pacers, the Timberwolves not-so-upset over the Lakers, his opinion on the future of Giannis Antetokounmpo, and much more. 

Enjoy and share your thoughts! Thank you for all the support! - Dez

Keep up with all things Hip 2 Da Games:
https...
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The 2025 Playoff Preview!

April 18, 2025 • 174 mins
THEY'RE BACK! Returning for the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Dez is joined by his twin Devaughn and friend Johnny for the 4th edition of the H2DG NBA Playoff Preview. They were each assigned four teams (two from each conference) to share their thoughts and analysis ahead of the Playoffs while also being in charge of assigning a Hip-Hop theme song for each team's Playoff run in the effort to give you THE Playoff Preview you never knew you nee...
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Analyzing 3 Potential Playoff Matchups

March 28, 2025 • 55 mins
In this episode, Desmond analyzes some of the NBA Playoff matchups that are likely to manifest this year: the Detroit Pistons vs. New York Knicks, the Indiana Pacers vs. the Milwaukee Bucks, and the variety of scenarios the Los Angeles Clippers might find themselves in. Dez addresses strengths and weaknesses of each team, the strategies/gameplans that could take place, and more as he prepares you for what could come during the most...
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NBA March Madness: The Suns' Struggles, The Warriors' New Groove, Lakers vs. Celtics, & More

March 14, 2025 • 63 mins
With March tipping off the most exciting time for NCAA basketball, Desmond uses today's episode to point out some thrilling topics in the NBA during the last full month of the regular season including: the rough offseason that may lie ahead for the Phoenix Suns, the Warriors' Jimmy Butler era starting off hot, the potential of a Lakers vs. Celtics NBA Finals, & much more. 

Enjoy and share your thoughts! Thank you for all the sup...
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Song Breakdown #20: "Golden Salvation" by Wale

February 28, 2025 • 50 mins
In today's episode, Desmond delivers a passionate breakdown of DMV artist Wale's "Golden Salvation" off his album The Gifted. Dez details the layers behind Wale's concept of rappers placing value on the wrong things (i.e. A Jesus piece chain as opposed to the peace of Jesus) and highlights how Wale essentially calls out the rap industry while representing Hip-Hop the way it's supposed to be represented. And by the end of the episod...
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WNBA Offseason Moves, NBA Rooks Finding Their Way, & Emerging Teams

February 7, 2025 • 58 mins
With an exciting WNBA offseason in the midst of a loaded NBA trade deadline, Desmond is back to discuss the WNBA side of the soap opera and share his thoughts on the latest moves. Then, he shows love to a trio of NBA rookies who have shown flashes of success as of late before ending the episode discussing one team from each conference that have surprised many fans---but not him!

Enjoy and share your thoughts! Thank you for all the s...
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Song Breakdown #19: "Da Grind" by Masta Ace ft. Apocalyspe

January 24, 2025 • 52 mins
Today, Desmond returns with an honest and heartfelt breakdown of Juice Crew legend Masta Ace's "Da Grind" off his album A Long Hot Summer. Dez provides a relatable outlook on the ups and downs of chasing one's dream, connecting the similar thoughts Masta Ace and Apocalypse share in their verses in the effort to inspire you to stay the course as you pursue your own dreams and goals.

Enjoy and share your thoughts! Thank you for all th...
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The 2025 NBA All-Star Special

January 10, 2025 • 60 mins
Desmond tips off the new year selecting his 2025 NBA All-Star teams! He selects his All-Star starters and reserves for each conference and shares why each player made his version of the teams.

Enjoy and share your thoughts! Thank you for all the support! - Dez

This episode is brought to you by 19 Media Group in partnership with:

NBA League Pass
NBA League Pass is your ticket to the ultimate basketball experience! Enjoy live games, on-d...
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Jimmy Butler & Zach LaVine Trade Rumors, The All-Star Game, & The State of the NBA

December 27, 2024 • 53 mins
In the last episode of 2024, Dez ends with a bang sharing his thoughts on the recent trade rumors surrounding Jimmy Butler & Zach LaVine and what their ideal scenarios might look like. Additionally, he passionately expresses his disgust towards the NBA's new All-Star Game format before finishing with some general thoughts on the current state of the NBA as a whole.

Enjoy and share your thoughts! Thank you for all the support! Ha...
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