Good Convo

Let the Charlotte-bred MC tell it... the South still got sum'n to say, but the sun's not talking right now. The storm's approaching, and Mavi's been preparing himself. He's had a whirlwind year full of wins and lessons, sparked by an outpour of support for his riveting debut album. But the world remains the world, and we are still all we need. Calling in from Harlem, Mavi and Michael link for the first time outside a brief dap in L.A. before it all went bad. Only the real will relate, but everyone's welcome.

As a maker, Sen Morimoto's used his music as a canvas to pour his insides onto, sorting through the big questions and little pleasures of a vibrant life. Mere neighborhoods apart, Sen checks in with Michael for the third Sooper Records edition of Good Convo. As he assembles his belongings in a new crib, Sen dives into the details of his career trajectory and working practice, and provides a first look into the making of his self-titled sophomore album, due this Fall. Also on the docket: living in love, sorting through feelings, and rarely reaching conclusions.

From the gridiron to the Grammy race, Rexx Life Raj has built his career through the lens of flight. The Bay Area artist has become a deeply-affecting songwriter through the spoils of constant growth and ceaseless collaboration. He leans on his community, and will stop at nothing to foster support for where he came from. Calling in from Berkeley, Raj checks in with Michael to discuss his recent Father Figure 3 album through all its moving parts: transit, transitions, and truth-seeking.

Live from the backyard of his family's Pennsylvania home, ARTHUR checks into Good Convo livestream, fresh off the release of his sophomore album Hair of the Dog. This episode features Michael's deep inquiries into the rewarding eccentricities of ARTHUR's work, attempting to unravel the truths behind each little universe and character. But, much like life, there's rarely a straight answer; at its best, the journey provides more than the ending ever could. Tap in for an extended exercise in honesty and self-reflection, live from Pandemicland.

On this Good Convo Live, Michael checks in with the beloved rapper-speaker-postdoc Sammus for a freewheeling conversation of practice, ethics and aesthetics. In a lively hour, they work to untangle the politics behind engaging hip-hop from places of privilege, reconciling one's love for music rooted in violent structures, and how technology works to both assist and inhibit the growth of the independent artist. Thankfully, there's plenty of joy to find as they collectively maneuver through the unending struggles of being.

In this episode of Good Convo, we tune our feeds to the West Coast to tap in with Naeem: the Baltimore-born rap legend formerly known as Spank Rock. After two decades of international touring and fighting the current, Naeem's on the verge of a public rebirth, putting the past to rest and creating Startisha: the most engrossing album of his career. This is the first interview detailing how Startisha came to be, what Naeem had to learn to create it, and how he navigates legacy and autonomy as a Black Queer artist.

In this Good Convo Live episode on VMP's Lost Sounds Radio, Michael interviews the DMV duo April + VISTA in a feature-length spree of nostalgia and light. From two different homes, A+V delve into an oral history of their experiences in the DMV scene before finding each other and collaborating exclusively. They also disclose the realities of navigating the industry independently: their strongest victories, most edifying failures, and the ways they maintain motivation to stay present in the process.

In our first Good Convo Live, we have Michael's second interview with Ivy Sole... powered by wine, water, and the Internet. In the year since their first VMP feature, Ivy's relocated to Brooklyn, released an Overgrown live album, and faced the ever-shifting hellscape of independent artistry in a post-COVID world. But Ivy's energy remains as the world relentlessly presses onward; she serves the listener with an optimistic clarity to stay afloat in the current and stay in the house. Michael and Ivy also discuss developing healthy habits, navigating queerness in the industry, and the ethical potential of Black folks having a Zoom cookout.

Welcome back to Good Convo, Vinyl Me, Please's interview podcast that puts the content into context. This latest episode features Souper Record's KAINA who put out Next to the Sun last year intricately warm pop songs to melt into and get lost in. Joined by the presence of her producer, Sen Morimoto, Michael and the Chicago artist talk everything from the trials of their shared aquariusness to self-preservation to sharing knowledge with your community as an artist.

Get KAINA's 'Next to the Sun' in the Vinyl Me, Please Store now.

This episode features El-P: one half of Run the Jewels, founder of Def Jux, relentless artist settling into his next act. He's the most popular he's ever been, and the most thoughtful. But as the sunset approached Wilshire, another darkness enveloped our surroundings: the death of the young. The air of that day permeated all of our discussion: surveillance, collective grieving, and losing oneself in process to find oneself again. In other news: new information on RTJ4, completed days before the recording.