Episode 211: Divine

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Divine, as he is fond of saying, has gone “from crack to rap to tech.” His wild and inspirational story starts in Newport, Rhode Island, where he started dealing drugs just as the crack epidemic took hold—and also as hip-hop was starting to blossom.

It wasn’t until years later, as he was finding his way out of the criminal life, that Divine let his passion for music take hold, and began his career as a rapper. But a chance meeting over Twitter with venture capitalist Ben Horowitz would take him on a whole new adventure.

Divine is now a coveted speaker at tech events, a startup founder himself, and still an emcee, as anyone who has listened to his 2014 album Ghetto Rhymin’ will attest.

Tracks featured in this episode:

1. Cool C, “C Is Cool”
2. Steady B, “Use Me”
3. Three Times Dope, “Funky Dividends”
4. Schoolly D, “Gucci Time”
5. Meek Mill, “Ricky”
6. Beanie Sigel f/Raheem DeVaughn, “Prayer” 0:01-0:08
7. Jay Z and Freeway, “8 Miles And Runnin’”
8. Newport Grand Casino TV Commercial - ‘Something For Everyone’ - Newport, RI”
9. Silkk The Shocker f/Master P & C-Murder, “Ghetto D”
10. Goat, “Run To Your Mama”
11. Kanye West f/Kid Cudi, Raekwon, “Gorgeous”
12. Brand Nubian, “Allah U Akbar”
13. Eric B. & Rakim, “Paid In Full”
14. Brand Nubian, “Wake Up - Explicit Reprise In The Sunshine”
15. Lord Jamar, “Supreme Mathematics (Born Mix)”
16. Kool G. Rap, “Ill Street Blues”
17. Divine, “Venture Capitalist (Like Ben Horowitz)”
18. N.O.R.E. f/Styles P & Raekwon, ”Google That”
19. Divine, “VC Life (By Any Means)”)
20. Rich Homie Quan, “Off You’
21. Nicki Minaj f/Beyoncé, “Feeling Myself”
22. Jay Z, “30 Something”
23. Jay Z, “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)”

Show notes:

1. City of Newport - Population
2. Stop the Drug War, “Supreme Court Holds Crack Penalties Apply to ‘Cocaine Base”
3. Crimetown
4. Ben Horowitz, “The Legend of the Blind MC”
5. The Coli, “Paid in Full Posse Appreciation Thread”