With today’s guest, from the moment his signature vinyl needle drops and the crackle is heard… you know you’re in for some hard, gritty, soulful, hip-hop s***.

Apollo Brown is a Detroit producer extraordinaire who has caught my ear for over a decade, with amazing collaborations with the likes of Planet Asia, Westside Gunn, Skyzoo, Ghostface and more. Additionally, he has crafted incredible instrumental albums that are rich with emotion and introspective beauty.

Personally, Apollo’s instrumental works have been what excited me the most with his art, as he's consistently put together sonic experiences that make me think and make me feel.

From the moment I heard Clouds over a decade ago, and right now with his brand new, outstanding instrumental album, No Pressure, No Diamond.

In today’s episode, we discuss his signature sound, his affinity for music that is emotional and introspective, and the inspiration behind his new instrumental album, No Pressure, No Diamond.

Apollo is one of the absolute best producers out. You do not want to miss this.

Intro (0:00).

The Plug (0:50).

The Interview (2:28).

DJ Premier and other formative music (6:38).

Apollo’s choice to become a producer (13:35).

Apollo’s “I’ve arrived” moment (18:46).

Apollo’s signature sound (21:28).

Production workflow (30:29).

The emotionality of Apollo’s art (36:16).

Apollo’s journey to becoming a ‘diamond’ (53:43).

The sonic vision of No Pressure, No Diamond (1:03:29).

What Apollo hopes listeners take away from No Pressure, No Diamond (1:09:01).

What brings Apollo pride with No Pressure, No Diamond (1:13:30).

Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (1:18:26).

Buy/stream No Pressure, No Diamond here: https://apollobrown.bandcamp.com/album/no-pressure-no-diamond 

Follow Apollo Brown on Twitter here: https://x.com/ApolloBrown 

Follow Apollo Brown on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/apollobrown/?hl=en 

Edited by: Alyssa Rodriguez

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

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Want to support and help us grow? Become a RMPP Patron, and gain access to exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/therapmusicplugpodcast

Looking to connect? DM @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot us an email at [email protected] 

Fiending for some more quality rap content? Visit the RMPP website: https://www.rapmusicplugpod.com/

Another day, another incredible duo dropping inspired rap music in 2026. The last two episodes of the RMPP highlighted great rap duos, and today’s episode is just another example of collaborative heat, provided by Brian Ennals and Blockhead.

Blockhead’s layered melodic production has blessed many great MCs in the past, such as Aesop Rock and billy woods. But up until now, I don’t think he’s worked with a rapper as brash an energy as Ennals.

And likewise with Brian, he’s made a name for himself atop the highly experimental production from Infinity Knives, which was its own unique beast entirely.

So on both ends, this collaboration put both Blockhead and Brian in a unique spot for a change of pace... and boy were the results terrific on their collaborative album, Boatshoes.

In this episode, we seek to understand their creative and personal bond, the dark and personal inspiration behind the subject matter of Boatshoes, and its dramatic and dynamic production… which all came together to make it one of the absolute standout releases of 2026.

Intro (0:00).

The Plug (1:10).

The Interview (2:55).

Favourite Blockhead-produced album (3:46).

Brian Ennals’ special sauce (6:26).

Brian and Blockhead’s personal bond (11:47).

The raw personal lyricism on Boatshoes (15:36).

The drama-filled, dark production on Boatshoes (23:29).

Taking risks on Boatshoes (37:30).

Expected audience response to Boatshoes (41:50).

Song most proud of creating on Boatshoes (44:30).

Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (47:01).

Buy/stream Boatshoes here: https://blockheadnyc.bandcamp.com/album/boatshoes 

Follow Brian Ennals on Twitter here: https://x.com/BrianEnnals?lang=en 

Follow Blockhead on Twitter here: https://x.com/blockheadnyc 

Follow Brian Ennals on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/brianennals/?hl=en 

Follow Blockhead on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/blockheadnyc 

Edited by: Alyssa Rodriguez

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

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Want to support and help us grow? Become a RMPP Patron, and gain access to exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/therapmusicplugpodcast

Looking to connect? DM @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot us an email at [email protected] 

Fiending for some more quality rap content? Visit the RMPP website: https://www.rapmusicplugpod.com/

Musical collaborations can be successful for a myriad of reasons. The artists in question can have similar life experiences, musical influences, styles, or differ tremendously within those same categories, and complement each other in unique ways.

But with today’s guests, Nappy Nina and Swarvy, their secret sauce revolves around their friendship, mutual trust, and a shared versatility that allows them to make remarkably fresh music from track to track, album to album.

In this episode, we explore their musical chemistry, the LA beat scene, the making of their 2nd collaborative album, Sow & So, and much more.

Intro (0:00).

The Plug (0:52).

The Interview (2:02).

Genesis of Nina and Swarvy’s creative relationship (2:32).

Match between Swarvy’s production and Nina’s raps (3:53).

Impact of the LA beat scene on Swarvy (9:45).

Swarvy’s formal musical education and multi-instrumentalist background (13:31).

Nina’s take on the current scene of femme rap (18:30).

Nina and Swarvy teaming up for a 2nd time on Sow & So (23:30).

The refreshed sound of Sow & So (24:47).

Lyrical focus of Sow & So (29:27).

Notable differences between Sow & So and its predecessor (33:42).

Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (40:23).

Buy Sow & So here: https://nappyninaswarvy.bandcamp.com/album/sow-so 

Follow Nappy Nina on Twitter here: https://x.com/Nappy_Nina 

Follow Swarvy on Twitter here: https://x.com/Swrvy 

Follow Nappy Nina on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/nappy_nina/?hl=en 

Follow Swarvy on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/swarvy/?hl=en 

Edited by: Alyssa Rodriguez

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

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Fiending for some more quality rap content? Visit the RMPP website: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/

Want to support and help us grow? Become a RMPP Patron, and gain access to exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/therapmusicplugpodcast 

Looking to connect? DM me @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at [email protected]

From the music, to the politics, to the bold aesthetic presentation that accompanies the music... Brooklyn-based producer/electronic musician DJ Haram and San Francisco MC SHA RAY were a match made in heaven. Their shared love for experimental, boundary-pushing sound, and radical political messaging coalesce beautifully in their amazing new album, Critical Thot, released on Backwoodz Studioz.

In this episode, we dig into the creative process and bold sound of Critical Thot, the strange discourse surrounding femme rap, the power of feminine sexuality explored through their album, and much more that will make you think, and laugh along the way as well.

Critical Thot is a serious AOTY contender for 2026. Make sure you stay tuned to learn more about it.

The Plug (0:45).

The Interview (2:10).

Haram and SHA RAY’s relationship beginnings (2:38).

Initial musical impressions of Haram and SHA RAY's music (4:16).

Expectations for the listener's reception of Critical Thot (9:03).

Experience of working together as two femme musicians (13:10).

Similarities between Haram and SHA RAY as artists and people (20:09).

SHA RAY’s artistic development (26:37).

The creative process of Critical Thot (32:30).

Feminine power and sexuality in Critical Thot (39:13).

Femme rap and misogyny (46:50).

Haram’s sonic approach to Critical Thot (57:58).

Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (1:10:49).

Rapping in a corset - patron q from Dan-O (1:14:02).

Buy Critical Thot here: https://backwoodzstudioz.com/collections/sha-ray-dj-haram-critical-thot 

Follow SHA RAY on Twitter here: https://x.com/kanekalonia 

Follow DJ Haram on Twitter here: https://x.com/premiumharam 

Follow SHA RAY on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/kanekalonia/ 

Follow DJ Haram on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/djharam/ 

Edited by: Alyssa Rodriguez

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

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Fiending for some more quality rap content? Visit the RMPP website: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/

Want to support and help us grow? Become a RMPP Patron, and gain access to exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/therapmusicplugpodcast 

Looking to connect? DM me @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at [email protected]

Few artists have a career as unique and prolific as today’s guest, Richmond Virginia’s own, Nickelus F. Over multiple decades, F has dazzled listeners with his ridiculous technical skills as an MC, the authenticity and honesty in his subject matter, and his production chops that feature a degree of stylistic variety that was always impressively pulled off.

With that said, he’s recently taken aim at carving out what will eventually be known as the “Nickelus F sound”. And in this episode, he talks about this pursuit through the lens of his terrific new album, The Undisputed, dives into his artistic process as an MC and producer, and reflects on key lessons he’s learnt from previous chapters in his career.

You rarely hear such wisdom, honesty, and genuine excitement from one of rap’s OGs. Don’t miss this.

The Plug (1:01).

The Interview (2:34).

Formative hip-hop connections (2:59).

Current chapter of F’s career and lasting legacy (7:03).

Learning from earlier eras of F’s career (14:42).

Improving as an MC over time (22:00).

Writing process (26:09).

Richmond music scene (33:47).

The Undisputed as Nickelus F’s “North Star” (41:35).

Honing in on the fundamentals of rap on The Undisputed (44:57).

The “Nickelus F sound” (47:37).

Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (59:53).

Support Trick Dice Records here: https://www.trickdice.co/ 

Buy/stream The Undisputed here: https://nickelusf.bandcamp.com/album/the-undisputed 

Follow Nickelus F on Twitter here: https://x.com/NickelusF 

Follow Nickelus F on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/nickelusf/?hl=en 

Edited by: Alyssa Rodriguez

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

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Fiending for some more quality rap content? Visit the RMPP website: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/

Want to support and help us grow? Become a RMPP Patron, and gain access to exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/therapmusicplugpodcast 

Looking to connect? DM me @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at [email protected]

Separating the art from the artist is a conversation that has bubbled up a lot lately, with the release of the Michael movie, as well as recent albums from ye, JPEGMAFIA, and the focus of this episode, Drake.

A lot of this discussion revolves around the validity of separating the art from the artist, and I’m here to say that the conversation around this is a psy-op. Especially for artists that demand investment in their personal lives to engage with their art to the degree of a Drake, your opinion on them as a person is a direct factor in the process of engaging with their art.

The world and life of an artist, in which their art exists within, is precisely what makes art special… and unlike anything else in the world. The meta of it all is fascinating.

In this episode, I’ll be exploring this dynamic through my feelings on Drake and his trifecta of new albums, primarily focusing on the main course, ICEMAN.

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

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Fiending for some more quality rap content? Visit the RMPP website: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/

Want to support and help us grow? Become a RMPP Patron, and gain access to exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/therapmusicplugpodcast 

Looking to connect? DM me @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at [email protected]

Today’s guest, New Jersey rapper, and co-host of radio show, Strangers LIVE, '89 the Brainchild, is as distinct an artist as they come - occupying a space in rap entirely of his own making.

But despite his singular style, he embraces collaboration tremendously, bringing in different voices into his take on rap that integrates influences of jersey club, electronic, pop, and more.

This all creates a special concoction of music that we are blessed with on his latest album Not Who I Thought I was: the evil who brought us joy.

And in this episode, we dive into the long road 89 took in creating this new album, the lessons he learnt along the way, and how he developed his eclectic sound.

The Plug (1:10).

The Interview (2:23).

Releasing NWITIW after a long wait (4:06).

‘89 the Brainchild’s eclectic sound (7:20).

‘89’s songwriting process (17:43).

The recording process of Not Who I Thought I Was (24:14).

What ‘89 learnt from creating Not Who I Thought I Was (33:58).

The connection between Night Lives and NWITIW (39:31).

The sound of Not Who I Thought I Was (44:47).

The genesis of the Gangsta Boo feature (49:48).

Upcoming projects / merch / tour dates (1:00:08).

Buy/stream Not Who I Thought I Was here: https://89thebrainchild.bandcamp.com/album/not-who-i-thought-i-was-the-evil-who-brought-us-joy 

Follow '89 the Brainchild on Twitter here: https://x.com/89thebrainchild 

Follow '89 the Brainchild on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/89aintonthegram 

Edited by: Alyssa Rodriguez

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

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Fiending for some more quality rap content? Visit the RMPP website: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/

Want to support and help us grow? Become a RMPP Patron, and gain access to exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/therapmusicplugpodcast 

Looking to connect? DM me @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at [email protected]

When I first heard that two leaders in the experimental rap space, in rapper Fatboi Sharif and producer Child Actor, were joining forces on an upcoming album, Crayola Circles, the stylistic fit was obvious. I knew immediately that Sharif’s unique vocal style would pair well with Child Actor’s decadent psychedelia. But what I wasn’t prepared for was just how much of a beautifully tender emotional experience this record would be.

I’m truly blown away by Crayola Circles, and so I’m pumped that I was able to chat with both Fatboi Sharif and Child Actor about the recording process, Sharif’s introspective lyrical focus, Child Actor’s delicate masterpieces of production, and much more.

Cannot stress enough how special this album is, so make sure you listen on to learn more about what inspired it!

The Plug (1:20).

The Interview (2:40).

Audience response to Crayola Circles (3:55).

The genesis of the Sharif x Child Actor collaboration (8:33).

The emotional lyricism of Crayola Circles (13:16).

The serene sound of Crayola Circles (17:33).

Sharif’s creative ethos (28:26).

Child Actor’s production process for Crayola Circles (34:57).

Impact of Child Actor’s beats on Sharif (42:18).

The power of art (47:20).

The circular structure of the album’s closer (56:15).

Upcoming music / tour dates / merch (1:02:36).

Buy Crayola Circles here: https://backwoodzstudioz.com/collections/fatboi-sharif-child-actor-crayola-circles 

Follow Fatboi Sharif on Twitter here: https://x.com/fatboyprospect 

Follow Fatboi Sharif on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/fatboi_sharif/ 

Follow Child Actor on Twitter here: https://x.com/chldactr 

Follow Child Actor on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/chldactr/ 

Edited by: Alyssa Rodriguez

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

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Fiending for some more quality rap content? Visit the RMPP website: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/

Want to support and help us grow? Become a RMPP Patron, and gain access to exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/therapmusicplugpodcast 

Looking to connect? DM me @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at [email protected]

Today’s guest, New York's yaya bey, is as talented as they come. Her unique take on R&B is propelled by a gorgeous voice, and the ability to shift to smooth effortless raps whenever she feels like it. But it’s the intangibles with her music that really make her art special to me.

Throughout her entire catalogue, she carries a grounded, worldly perspective to her music that feels both intelligent and authentically her own. She possesses an innate ability to infuse so much soul, vulnerability, and emotion into her songs - she really gets me in my feels to say the least.

In this episode, we discuss lessons she’s learnt about the industry so far in her music career, the public perception of her art, and the making of 2025’s do it afraid, and her brand new album, Fidelity, dropping April 17... two albums serving as companions to one and other, that are surely some of the best R&B I’ve heard in recent memory.

The Plug (1:20).

The Interview (2:49).

yaya’s musical background (4:12).

Most important lessons about the music industry (8:10).

yaya’s political consciousness in her art (13:01).

Key R&B inspirations (19:37).

Conveying emotion in music (24:28).

Finding her voice (28:09).

yaya’s rap abilities (33:09).

yaya’s headspace when creating do it afraid (37:43).

The mission statement guiding Fidelity (46:16).

Expressing ‘fidelity’ on Fidelity (49:47).

The bright and lively instrumentation of Fidelity (54:18).

One thing yaya is grateful for from her music career (56:17).

Upcoming tour dates / merch (57:52).

Buy/stream Fidelity here: https://yayabey.bandcamp.com/album/fidelity 

Follow yaya bey on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/yayabeybay/ 

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

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Fiending for some more quality rap content? Visit the RMPP website: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/

Want to support and help us grow? Become a RMPP Patron, and gain access to exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/therapmusicplugpodcast 

Looking to connect? DM me @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at [email protected]

As soon as I first heard a beat from today’s guest, GAWD, off of MIKE’s Burning Desire… I was immediately intrigued.

I needed to hear more of this nutty, oddball, and infinitely creative sound. So over the past few years since, I’ve dove into GAWD’s catalog as both a producer and a rapper and mined some real gold, within a stupidly prolific discography under various artistic monikers (GAWD, 65 Cent, Trick Racer, and many more).

In this episode, we discuss the unique world-building in his art, his sense of humour and affinity for geese, his prolific output that has slowed in recent years, and some of his recent marquee releases in ONCE IN A PINK MOON as 65 Cent, and collaborating with the electric WiFiGawd on their latest collaborative album, Hot as Hell 3.

The Plug (0:56).

The Interview (2:36).

GAWD’s affinity for Quasimoto dolls and geese (2:45).

GAWD’s Virginia upbringing (7:32).

GAWD and Iceland (10:48).

World-building in GAWD’s music (14:08).

GAWD’s nutty production sound (16:37).

GAWD’s influence on Rage, and other high-distortion rap styles (18:58).

GAWD’s loose, unstructured style of rapping (23:52).

GAWD’s prolific creative output (31:33).

Inspiration for the 65-track opus, ONCE IN A PINK MOON (35:51).

Collaborating with WiFiGawd (43:40).

The sound and vibe of Hot as Hell 3 (48:14).

Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (52:07).

Buy ONCE IN A PINK MOON here: https://poswrkspc.bandcamp.com/album/once-in-a-pink-moon 

Stream Hot as Hell 3 here: https://open.spotify.com/album/5z7rsu7bSReqnmhqNanBvt 

Stream GAWD's music here: https://soundcloud.com/ohmygawd-5 

Follow GAWD on Twitter here: https://x.com/6512GAWD 

Follow GAWD on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/6512gawd/ 

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

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Fiending for some more quality rap content? Visit the RMPP website: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/

Want to support and help us grow? Become a RMPP Patron, and gain access to exclusive content: https://www.patreon.com/therapmusicplugpodcast 

Looking to connect? DM me @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at [email protected]