This episode of Gems with Shom features KON - legendary DJ, record collector, producer, and one half of KON & Amir of the famed On Track series that are core to the world of beat digging.
From growing up in Boston and witnessing hip-hop culture take shape in New York to digging for rare records around the world, KON has built a life around music, discovery, and an extraordinary ear.
KON and Shom get into the story behind KON & Amir and the legendary On Track series, which introduced a generation of listeners to obscure soul, funk, jazz, disco, and the original records sampled by some of hip-hop’s greatest producers.
The conversation follows KON’s journey from hip-hop and beat digging into disco, re-edits, remixes, house music, and production — including The Vision with Ben Westbeech and “Heaven,” Saturday Love with Fiorious, and a career that has taken him from Boston to Brazil and beyond.
🎙 In this episode, we dive into:
• KON & Amir, On Track, rare samples, and the art of beat digging
• Growing up around Boston hip-hop and witnessing the culture develop in New York
• Producing, remixing, re-editing, and the transition from hip-hop into disco and house
• The Vision, “Heaven,” Saturday Love, and KON’s evolution from hip-hop into disco and house
• Record collecting, musicianship, production, and why making a great record is about more than making a great beat
KON also shares incredible stories from a lifetime in music — playing an early show with KMD and Gang Starr, his connection to Boston hip-hop, meeting musical heroes, digging around the world, and the experiences that shaped his ear.
The conversation also takes a deeply personal turn as KON reflects on facing cancer, undergoing a bone marrow transplant, and returning cancer-free with a renewed appreciation for music, creativity, and the relationships he has built along the way.
From rare sample sources to dance floors around the world, KON’s story is ultimately about where a lifetime of listening can take you.
For fans of KON & Amir, On Track, beat digging, rare records, hip-hop samples, disco, soul, funk, house music, record collecting, production, and deep music conversations — this is a real gem.
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