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

NBA All-Star 2026: LeBron's Starter SNUB, Two Raptors Better Than One, and the WILD West

January 20, 2026 • 63 mins
Today, Desmond shares his selections for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game! He evaluates how accurate his East & West starters were compared to the NBA's official announcement and reveals his preferences for the reserves. From LeBron James' starter snub, to whether or not the Raptors deserve two All-Stars, and the hefty amount of Western Conference players deserving a spot on the reserves, Dez offers his analysis ahead of next month's...
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How Trae Young Helps the Wizards + 3 Teams Who Exceeded My Expectations

January 13, 2026 • 48 mins
After a two month break, Desmond is BACK to discuss how Trae Young fills a noticeable void with the Wizards and how the Hawks' abundance of floor spacers benefits Jalen Johnson. Additionally, Dez reflects on his preseason predictions for the Spurs, Raptors, and Celtics while analyzing what has made each team exceed his expectations. Lastly, he ends the show with some brief thoughts on the Detroit Pistons, who despite being the #1 s...
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2026 GRAMMYs Rap Picks & Predictions

November 21, 2025 • 16 mins
In a shorter episode, Dez gives his picks and predictions for the 2026 GRAMMYs Rap categories: Best Rap Album, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, and Best Melodic Rap Performance. He evaluates each nominee's chances at winning their category, shares his winners versus who he believes the recording academy will select, dishes on Clipse's chances of winning multiple awards, and more.

Enjoy and share your thoughts! Thank you for all ...
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Early Mock Trades, Hot vs. Cold Teams, & NBA Rooks

November 7, 2025 • 68 mins
In today's episode, Desmond uses the ESPN Trade Machine to illustrate how he would help the Houston Rockets resolve their point guard dilemma and the Sacramento Kings improve defensively. Additionally, he praises the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers for their hot starts to the season, before discussing the slow starts from the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks. He then ends the show highlighting three rookies who have already sh...
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Desmond & Devaughn Unpack His Debut EP 'Open Gym'

October 24, 2025 • 138 mins
In a special edition of Hip 2 Da Games, Dez is joined by his twin, Devaughn, as they discuss and celebrate the release of Desmond's first ever Hip-Hop project Open Gym. In fact, Devaughn takes the role of being the host for the show as he helps unpack the meaning of the title and Desmond's inspirations, themes, and subject matters featured throughout the introspective project. Additionally, Devaughn shares his creative process desi...
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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:
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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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