The Man Behind The Music Podcast
Three veteran hip-hop and R&B producers—Derryck Thornton, Denaun Porter, and Rockwilder—share insider stories from their decades in the music industry.
This is a roundtable of hip-hop and R&B veterans sharing war stories and insider knowledge from the control room. The hosts, who were often directly involved in creating iconic tracks and scoring major TV shows, offer a mix of historical anecdotes, production breakdowns, and career advice. The show functions as both an oral history of modern music production and a mentorship platform for the next generation.
“Unlike many commentary podcasts, the hosts are primary sources with decades of combined experience and credits. Their collective resume gives them unparalleled access and credibility, allowing for peer-to-peer conversations with other industry legends about specific, often untold, studio stories.”
Who hosts this show
The Man Behind The Music is hosted by a trio of legendary producers. Derryck “Big Tank” Thornton is a music supervisor and composer for hit series like BMF, Power, and The Boondocks, who has worked with artists like Rihanna and Missy Elliott. He is joined by Denaun “Mr. Porter” Porter, a 2x Grammy-winning producer and member of D12, known for his work with Eminem, Snoop Dogg, and on films like *Fast 5*. The lineup is completed by Dana “Rockwilder” Stinson, the Grammy-winning producer behind the hit “Lady Marmalade” and tracks for Jay-Z, Method Man & Redman, and Janet Jackson. Together, they break down the craft and business of music for film, TV, and records.
Credentials & credits
- Derryck “Big Tank” Thornton: Music Supervisor & Composer (BMF, Power, The Chi, The Boondocks)
- Denaun “Mr. Porter” Porter: 2x Grammy Award-winning Producer, member of D12
- Dana “Rockwilder” Stinson: Grammy Award-winning Producer ('Lady Marmalade')
- Derryck “Big Tank” Thornton: Former Senior VP at Sony Music
- Derryck “Big Tank” Thornton: A&R at Geffen Records & EP Entertainment/Universal
- Denaun “Mr. Porter” Porter: Contributed to sales of nearly 40 million records
Other ventures
- Denaun Porter: Member of D12
- Denaun Porter: Member of Read The PDF
- Denaun Porter: Planit Dope (independent label)
- Rockwilder: Muzicpark Entertainment (production/record company)
- Derryck Thornton: Work with Debbie Allen on 'A Different World' retooling
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 01
- 02Carl Thomas's "I Wish" Wasn't Meant for HimJun 27, 2026 · 31s
- 03Do It Great, Even When No One is Watching!Jun 26, 2026 · 22s
- 04Jukebox From Raising Kanan Can REALLY SingJun 25, 2026 · 37s
- 05Nipsey Hussle Was Built Different… Here’s WhyJun 24, 2026 · 25s
- 06Your Ego Is Blocking Your Next LevelJun 23, 2026 · 18s
- 07Don't Quit. You're Closer Than You Think.Jun 22, 2026 · 20s
- 08If You're the Smartest in the Room, Leave.Jun 19, 2026 · 19s
Notable episodes
- 01Carl Thomas's "I Wish" Wasn't Meant for Him
A perfect example of the show's premise: a host reveals the hidden origin story of a classic R&B hit, explaining how songwriter Mike City's demo ended up with Carl Thomas.
- 02He Made a Song with 2 Chainz… Then Explained Why Hits Don't Matter Like They Used To
Features producer Hitmaka discussing the seismic shift in the music industry, contrasting old-school promotion with the current, saturated streaming landscape.
- 03Do It Great, Even When No One is Watching!
Showcases the motivational solo-segment format, with host Big Tank offering direct career advice on the importance of work ethic.
What you'll be asked on this show
As hosts, Thornton, Porter, and Rockwilder act as story facilitators for their guests. The style is built on peer-to-peer respect, creating a comfortable environment where guests can narrate long, uninterrupted stories about a song's origin or a career moment. The hosts show engagement through reactions and brief, encouraging interjections rather than structured cross-examination.
The format is a conversational multi-host roundtable, frequently featuring a guest for in-depth interviews. The tone is relaxed and anecdotal, like a behind-the-scenes studio session. The main podcast is supplemented by short, motivational solo clips, usually delivered by host Derryck "Big Tank" Thornton.
Signature segments
- · Inside the Studio Storytelling
- · Motivational Career Advice Segments
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
The show books fellow high-level producers, songwriters, and artists with significant careers. Guests are typically peers who can share detailed, firsthand accounts of creating well-known music.
- Hitmakaon He Made a Song with 2 Chainz… Then Explained Why Hits Don't Matter Like They Used To
- Mike Cityon Carl Thomas's "I Wish" Wasn't Meant for Him
- Hailey Kilgoreon Jukebox From Raising Kanan Can REALLY Sing
- Sean Barronon Nipsey Hussle Was Built Different… Here’s Why
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The podcast offers a direct monetization path for its audience of aspiring artists. Through a Patreon integration, producers can submit their music for a chance to receive feedback and potential placements in major TV and film projects the hosts are working on.
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch this show
No public contact email on file yet — try the social channels below, or claim this page if you’re the host.
Free: limited reveals · Pro: unlimited reveals + CSV export
You’re only charged when we return a verified hit.
People also ask
- Who are the hosts of The Man Behind The Music?
- The hosts are veteran music producers Derryck “Big Tank” Thornton, Denaun “Mr. Porter” Porter, and Dana “Rockwilder” Stinson.
- What is Rockwilder's real name?
- Rockwilder's real name is Dana Stinson.
- What is the podcast's format?
- It's primarily a multi-host interview show with industry guests, supplemented by short, solo motivational clips.
- Is the podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast releases clips on a daily basis.
- How can I submit music to the show?
- Aspiring producers and artists can submit their music through the show's Patreon for feedback and potential placement opportunities.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- The podcast is available on YouTube and Apple Podcasts.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · medium confidence
- [01]Official Websitetmbm.com
- [02]Apple Podcasts Pagepodcasts.apple.com
- [03]Rockwilder - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
- [04]Denaun Porter Official Biodenaun.com
- [05]Live Session with Music Supervisor Derryck “Big Tank” Thorntonthehypemagazine.com
- [06]Exclusive: Music Supervisor Derryck “Big Tank” Thornton talks Power Book IV: Forceblackfilm.com
- [07]Denaun Porter - Grokipediagrokipedia.com
Podcasts like The Man Behind The Music Podcast
Silicon Valley Girl
Silicon Valley Girl
An entrepreneur interviews the founders and scientists building the next wave of AI to uncover practical strategies for career and business growth.
The Arena
The Arena
A daily sports debate show where 3-time NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas and a panel of former pros give unfiltered takes on basketball news.
Backstage with Millionaires
Pankaj Chauhan
A weekly news show and documentary-style channel breaking down the biggest stories and trends in the Indian startup and venture capital ecosystem.
Thomas Brush
Thomas Brush
A podcast for aspiring indie game developers, hosted by a solo dev who interviews peers about the practical and emotional journey of making games.
The Founder's Dream | Abhishek vyas
The Founder
A Hindi-language business podcast featuring long-form interviews with Indian startup founders about their real-world journeys and industries.
Rusty Quill Podcasts
Rusty Quill Podcasts
A network feed from a London-based production house specializing in full-cast speculative fiction and horror audio dramas.
HAHA Podcast
Three Korean-American sisters and YouTubers bring their chaotic, unfiltered group chat to a weekly video podcast.
Sports Yaari
Sports Yaari
A high-cadence Indian sports media channel delivering daily news, reactive analysis, and passionate opinions primarily focused on the Indian national cricket team.