In this episode of Tapped in with Tom Flies, Tom and co-host Bang welcome special guest and music publishing executive Omar T to the studio. Moving past the internet commentary, the crew sits down face-to-face to break down the hard business realities of the music industry—from the truth about streaming payouts to how strategic relationship-building can dictate your career longevity.

As Philadelphia natives, the guys dive deep into the city's infrastructure, the legacy of the Roots Picnic, and debate their highly personal Top 5 Philadelphia and New York rapper lists. Omar also shares invaluable wisdom on the weight of responsibility that comes with giving out career-changing opportunities and what it truly takes to make it inside major label buildings today.

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📍 Chapter Breakdown

📱 Introduction & The Roots Picnic Energy

• 00:42 | Welcome Back & Checking In Tom and Bangs kick off the episode, welcome special guest Omar T to the podcast, and discuss the collective energy of Philadelphia during the iconic Roots Picnic weekend.
• 01:54 | The Hustle of Sneaking Backstage The crew shares nostalgic stories about interning for Live Nation and making fake tickets just to rub elbows with media giants like Elliot Wilson.

💿 The Rap Landscape & Music Industry Realities

• 02:42 | Wrapping Up Kendrick vs. Drake Reflecting on their previous week's opinions, the guys analyze the cultural and commercial fallout of the Kendrick and Drake battle following their respective album releases.
• 03:16 | The Economics of Streaming & Publishing Omar T pulls back the curtain on music publishing, explaining exactly how splits work and why 90 million streams doesn't translate to as much money as artists think.
• 04:36 | A&R Instincts: Discovering Ice Spice Omar T recounts his early days in the major label system and how he recognized the star power of Ice Spice when she only had ten monthly listeners.
• 05:07 | The Long Game: Signing Mariah the Scientist A lesson in dedication—Omar details chasing a publishing deal with Mariah the Scientist for three years by attending shows across the East Coast.

🤝 Networking, Access, and Added Value

• 05:54 | The Nature of Real Relationships Tom, Bangs, and Omar break down why treating the industry like a transaction fails, emphasizing that "thorough is universal" and value must be demonstrated long-term.
• 07:44 | "Somebody Always Puts You in the Room" Omar reflects on learning from veteran executives, securing access to rooms with LeBron James or Beyonce's team, and navigating industry gatekeepers.
• 08:35 | The Cultural Shift: Philly vs. Atlanta Ecosystems The guys contrast the guarded, isolated nature of Philly's music culture against Atlanta’s hospitable, collaborative, and studio-rich environment.

📊 The Great Rapper Debates

• 10:09 | Reacting to Complex’s Top 50 NY Rappers The studio reacts with heavy skepticism to Complex's New York rap rankings, debating placements for Fabolous, Jadakiss, and where Cardi B sits all-time.
• 11:54 | Drake vs. Lil Wayne All-Time A quick sidebar on legacy—who ranks higher on the all-time list? The crew evaluates Lil Wayne's selflessness as a team player vs. Drake's dominance.
• 12:12 | The Official Philly Top 5 & Honorable Mentions The hosts lay down their strictly personal Top 5 Philadelphia rap lists, paying homage to Mac, Meek Mill, Joey Haded, Eve, and Lil Uzi Vert.

🎯 Mentorship & Outro

• 13:24 | The Duty of an Executive & The Power of Internships Omar shares the heavy responsibility of holding keys to the industry, using a hungry intern's journey as proof that work ethic beats elite school backgrounds.
• 14:42 | Wrap Up & Subscribe Tom closes out the episode by thanking Omar T for coming through and reminding the audience to drop their comments and subscribe weekly.

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