What makes a rap duo special is more than just the quality of beats and rhymes. It’s more than even the stylistic fit between the two elements. The secret sauce lies in a personal bond that extends beyond the music

That’s what today’s guests, New York-based duo Gabe ‘Nandez and Preservation, have in common.

With Gabe’s track record of sharp lyricism and a distinct voice, I knew that pairing him with a musical savant like Preservation would yield strong results (said producer has created masterpieces with yasiin bey, billy woods, Ka, Marci, and more). But even with that said, they completely blew me away, exceeding the lofty expectations I had for them on their new collaborative album, Sortilège.

In this episode, we dive into their personal relationship, their musical chemistry, the magic of the late great Ka, myth-making through rap, and the creative process behind their stellar new record.

Finally, for folks in Toronto, I have a special treat for you... I will be hosting an evening of amazing hip-hop and experimental music featuring cross-country acts that include: Wave Generators, jesse the Tree, NAHreally, GhostboyRJ, and bridge of sand.

Join us on October 16th at BSMT 254 - tickets on sale now, buy here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rmpp-presents-wave-generators-jesse-the-tree-nahreally-live-in-toronto-tickets-1672174632339?aff=oddtdtcreator 

The Plug (1:11).

The Interview (3:05).

The genesis of the Gabe x Preservation collaboration (4:50).

The spiritual connection between Sortilège & Aethiopes (8:04).

What made Ka special (12:23).

The recording process for Sortilège (17:50).

The influence of mythology on Gabe’s writing (22:58).

The idea of transformation explored on Sortilège (29:48).

Gabe’s ‘surfer dude’ vibe (34:00).

The stylistic fit between Gabe & Preservation (38:48).

Specific musical choices Preservation made to complement Gabe’s style (43:07).

Importance of current events on war-focused lyrics on Sortilège (47:18).

Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (52:18).

Buy Sortilège and merch here: https://backwoodzstudioz.com/collections/preservation-gabe-nandez-present-sortilege 

Follow Gabe 'Nandez on Twitter here: https://x.com/GabeNandez 

Follow Preservation on Twitter here: https://x.com/mondieumusic 

Follow Gabe 'Nandez on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/champiyawn/ 

Follow Preservation on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/mondieumusic/ 

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

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