Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

Beginning of Episode (1:05).

This edition of the Conversation Pieces series is a little different, and music-adjacent at best to be honest.

In what was mostly a therapeutic exercise, I explored how my love for music was borne out of a dark place, and what that made me realize about myself.

It may sound like a depressing listen, but I promise that it ends on a happy note.

If you end up checking out this super rap music focused bonus episode…

Don’t worry, we’ll be back to regularly scheduled programming with some amazing guests soon enough, I promise

Thanks for listening to me publicly vent when no one asked; and

I invite you to reflect on how music first became a major component in your life, maybe you’ll learn something new about yourself like I did.

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

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

The Plug (0:21).

The Interview (1:32).

Few embody a true DIY ethos, and a genuine appetite to be bold and different quite like today’s guest, Fat Tony.

Tony is a Houston-native, who’s charisma and eccentric tastes have led him down a highly unique artistic journey, making waves in the rap game with his diverse-sounding albums, and a wide array of collaborations with the likes of Paul Wall, A$AP Rocky, and more. His impact was not limited to just music though, as he’s hosted TV shows on VICE as well.

Fat Tony is a multimedia star, who joins the show to discuss the key lessons he’s learnt as an artist, the importance of following your authentic North Star, and his latest album with Taydex, I Will Make a Baby in this Damn Economy.

Key lessons Fat Tony as learnt throughout this career (1:44).

How working in non-music artistic mediums impacted Tony’s growth (12:45).

The influence of Houston on Tony’s tastes and artistic development (22:52).

Fat Tony’s “north star” when making music (27:26).

What inspires Tony’s strong risk-taking appetite (40:44).

Key pieces of wisdom Tony wanted to share on IWMBTDE (45:00).

Why Tony’s desire to be a father has grown since the pandemic (54:05).

The sound Tony and Taydex set out to create on IWMBTDE (58:10).

The significance of ending IWMBTDE with the heavy “Jasper, TX” (1:01:47).

Upcoming / current work to check out from Fat Tony (1:10:18).

Support Fat Tony's music here: https://fattonyrap.bandcamp.com/music 

Check out Found Me Magazine here: http://foundmemag.com

Check out Fat Tony's tour dates here: https://www.fattonyrap.net/tour

Follow Fat Tony on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/fattonyrap?s=20 

Follow Fat Tony on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/fattonyrap/ 

--

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]

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

The Plug (0:21).

The Interview (1:29).

When you unveil the cloak of darkness that shrouds much of Chester Watson’s music and his public persona, you are presented with a personable, inviting, and highly creative artistic soul.

In today’s conversation, Chester’s thoughtful observations add colour to his typically murky grey-sounding music. Chester illustrates how his art helps him tap into his spirituality, his attraction to all things unknown, his distinct rapping style, and his excellent new album fish don’t climb trees.

Influence of Japanese culture (2:17).

Chester’s experience achieving notoriety as a young teenager, growing as an artist under the spotlight (5:10).

Chester’s distinct style of rap (12:32).

What attracts Chester to dark and hazy sounds (16:50).

The exploration of spirituality and mindfulness in Chester’s music (24:10).

How Chester harnesses creative inspiration (26:08).

Influence of Chester’s musician-father (29:01).

Key inspirations for the deeply emotional and honest fish don’t climb trees (33:05).

The musical world of fish don’t climb trees (40:18).

How Chester’s artistic growth manifested on his latest album (43:35).

Upcoming projects / work (48:45).

Support Chester Watson's music here: https://chesterwatson.bandcamp.com/music 

Buy/stream fish don't climb trees here: https://chesterwatson.bandcamp.com/album/fish-dont-climb-trees-2 

Follow Chester Watson on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/chstrwtsn?s=20 

Follow Chester Watson on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/chesterwatson/ 

--

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]

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

The Plug (0:21).

The Interview (1:31).

Within about 10 seconds of hearing Fly Anakin for the first time, I knew this guy was born to rap. Immediately, his raspy voice caught my attention, sounding like he had a built-in plug-in in his vocal chords… making his dazzling bars sound so special.

In this episode, Richmond-born Frank, otherwise known as rapper-producer Fly Anakin joins the show. We discuss how he found his voice, established his vision for the almighty Mutant Academy, his recent achievements in FlySiifu’s and Frank, and the impressive world-building that went into creating his cheeky and romantic new album, Skinemaxxx.

The strain of hip-hop Frank likes to create, and making “mindless music” (1:39).

How Frank developed his voice - RMPP patron q from nogod (8:27).

The Richmond, Virgina music scene and its influence on Frank’s musical tastes (12:51).

The moment Frank realized music could be a real career path (15:54).

The vision that Mutant Academy was founded on (18:27).

FlySiifu’s and the creative chemistry with Pink Siifu (23:57).

The importance of Frank, and overcoming insecurity (28:35).

Why Foisey is the jelly to Frank’s peanut butter (34:35).

The thinking behind separating the release of Side A and B of Skinemaxxx (38:34)

The concept and sound of Skinemaxxx (40:45).

The artistic growth Frank experienced creating Skinemaxxx (46:36).

Upcoming work and shows from Fly Anakin, and Mutant Academy (51:05).

Frank overcoming his hatred of jeans (54:34).

Support Fly Anakin's music here: https://flyanakin.bandcamp.com/music 

Buy/stream Skinemaxxx here: https://flyanakin.bandcamp.com/album/skinemaxxx-side-a-side-b 

Follow Fly Anakin on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/flyanakin?s=20 

Follow Fly Anakin on Instagram here: https://instagram.com/flyanakin?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

--

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]

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

The Plug (0:21).

Main Body of Discussion (2:23).

On rare occasion, we get two artists that come together at a moment where their skillsets and mindsets align in sublime harmony. That is what I see with Fatboi Sharif and steel tipped dove’s latest album released on Backwoodz Studioz, titled Decay.

Sharif’s been progressively growing as a vocalist and lyricist… who’s unique gifts mesh perfectly with the vast, atmospheric, and cutting-edge brand of experimentation found in steel tipped dove’s production.

Decay is a soundtrack for the times. Not necessarily the times that are upon us at this very moment, but what may soon be our reality in just a few decades from now.

Decay is a psychedelic masterpiece - a result of two creative minds joining forces at the exact right time in their careers.

Sharif and Dove are here today to breakdown how this excellent new album was created, in the latest installment of the 'Album Alchemy' series.

The sonic landscape of Decay (4:03).

Lyrical themes and inspirations of Decay (8:29).

The heavily gothic and creepy sound of Decay (13:40).

Sharif’s continued evolution as a vocalist (16:00).

The thinking behind having no features on Decay (21:37).

Releasing the album on Backwoodz Studioz, and the label’s influence on the final product (24:38).

The structure of shorter songs - longer tracklist of Decay (28:50).

Favourite songs (32:48).

Upcoming projects (38:31).

Buy/Stream Decay here: https://fatboisharif.bandcamp.com/album/decay 

Follow Fatboi Sharif on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/fatboyprospect?s=20 

Follow steel tipped dove on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/steeltippeddove?s=20 

Follow Fatboi Sharif on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/fatboi_sharif/?hl=en 

Follow steel tipped dove on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/steeltippeddove/?hl=en 

--

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]

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

The Plug (0:21).

The Interview (2:53).

If you weren’t already aware, hip-hop is in a great place. One of the biggest reasons why I feel this way is because the genre has become like a Republican’s nightmare… it’s borderless.

It has become second nature for a rap album to feature countless different influences, incorporating multiple subsets of music within the hip-hop realm, and outside it as well.

Richmond, Virginia-based McKinley Dixon is an artist who folks throughout the years would attempt to classify, as the "conscious rapper", and then after the "jazz rapper".

But with artists like McKlinley Dixon, and his new album Beloved Paradise Jazz?!, whether the music is technically jazz rap, pop rap, big band rap is irrelevant. The mixture of these varying styles of music is so seamless, which makes the end-product defy previous formulas and classifications that your mind may want to tack on to it.

McKinley simply makes good music, following his ambitious artistic vision wherever it takes him. So I am honoured to welcome McKinley Dixon to the show to speak about how he creates such rich eclectic music, his take on music’s ability to inspire change in the world, and the making of his fantastic new album, Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!?

McKinley’s passion for making holistic, narrative-driven albums (4:27).

McKinley’s musical background and love for jazz (9:04).

The role music can play in inspiring change (14:16).

The musical vision for Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? (22:38).

The concise nature of Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? (25:21).

The key lyrical themes of Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? (30:16).

How to support McKinley Dixon (35:54).

Support McKinley Dixon here: https://www.mckinleydixon.com/ 

Buy Beloved! Paradise! Jazz!? here: https://shop.cityslang.com/collections/mckinley-dixon 

Follow McKinley Dixon on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/McKinleyDixon?s=20 

Follow McKinley Dixon on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/freemckinley/?hl=en 

--

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]

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

The Plug (0:21).

Main Body of Discussion (1:52).

Music that strikes an emotional nerve is always my cup of tea, whether that emotion is fueled by the production, or the vocals.

In the case of the album Incorruptible Saints, we don’t have to choose. The emotional impact is supplied in equal parts through rhyme, and instrumental.

Honest introspection in the lyrics come from Nebraska rapper Sleep Sinatra, which were placed atop gorgeous, warm, abstract soundscapes created by Portland producer Televangel. Televangel is formerly known as Young God, and previously served as one half of the critically acclaimed production duo, Blue Sky Black Death.

Televangel’s creative musical brushstrokes did wonders to bring out Sleep Sinatra’s thoughtful perspectives and vulnerability.

These two joined forces to make music that truly does its beautiful artwork justice, and they joined the show to dig into the making of Incorruptible Saints, in the latest instalment of the 'Album Alchemy' series.

What sparked the collaboration between Sleep and Televangel (3:54).

The musical palette of Incorruptible Saints (7:54).

The lyrical direction of Incorruptible Saints (13:16).

How Televangel’s Blue Sky Black Death past influenced his emotionally-affecting sound (18:54).

How Televangel’s recent foray into hip-hop production has grown his artistry (22:30).

Sleep’s singing on Incorruptible Saints (26:14).

The album’s guest collaborations (29:35).

Favourite songs (35:06).

Upcoming projects from Sleep and Televangel (38:55).

Buy/Stream Incorruptible Saints here: https://televangel.bandcamp.com/album/incorruptible-saints 

Follow Sleep Sinatra on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/SleepSinai?s=20 

Follow Televangel on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/TELEVANGEL_?s=20 

Follow Sleep Sinatra on Instagram here: https://instagram.com/northsidesleep?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== 

Follow Televangel on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/televangel/?hl=en 

--

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]

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

The Plug (0:21).

The Interview (2:06).

In 2022, roughly 49K songs were uploaded to Spotify each and every day. Therefore, amidst a flurry of music releasing to listeners on a daily, being able to command the attention of a listener in this day and age is tough.

The way today's guest, Kenny Segal, acquires this attention is through creating music that simply cannot be found anywhere else.

Kenny’s one-of-one style has enchanted listeners for over a decade, creating soundscapes for some of rap’s most interesting voices in R.A.P. Ferreira, Self-Jupiter, Serengeti, and most recently, billy woods.

The LA-based producer joined the show to provide insight into his eclectic production style, his collaboration style, key learnings he’s gathered from his illustrious career, and the creation of his latest masterpiece with billy woods, Maps.

Kenny’s musical journey to becoming a producer (4:50).

Kenny’s production process (12:26).

The elements of music Kenny is primarily focused on (16:32).

The role of improvisation in Kenny’s workflow - RMPP patron q from André (26:12).

Traits Kenny is looking for a rapper to collaborate with (29:07).

How Kenny’s past work taught him important lessons, and helped him grow as an artist (34:20).

Instrumental records vs. collaborative records (42:48).

The positive press and fan reaction of Maps (47:46).

The musical blueprint of Maps (52:41).

What makes billy woods unique (1:01:14).

How working with woods impacts how Kenny produces (1:07:35).

How Maps differs from Hiding Places musically (1:11:14).

Kenny’s dream collaborators (1:12:45).

Upcoming projects (1:13:53).

Support Kenny Segal's music here: https://kennysegal.bandcamp.com/music 

Buy Maps here: https://backwoodzstudioz.com/collections/billy-woods-x-kenny-segal-maps 

Follow Kenny Segal on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/KennySegal?s=20 

Follow Kenny Segal on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/kennysegal/?hl=en 

--

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]

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

The Plug (0:21).

Main Body of Discussion (2:29).

Styles of music such as jazz, R&B, soul, and funk, have all been inseparable elements in the fabric of hip-hop production since its inception.

One particular form of music that has not played nearly as much of a significant role though, is rock music.

That brings us to the subject of today's episode, Ritual, an album by Topeka Kansas rapper Stik Figa, and producer The Expert based in Dublin, Ireland, who’s production features a healthy dose of psychedelic rock samples that are executed brilliantly. The Expert puts those sounds into a blender with traditional golden-age and jazz sounds that rap purists will surely appreciate.

The sound, however, is not all that makes Ritual notable since it is a project that may have ended up being the last album hip-hop veteran Stik Figa would ever create.

To learn more about Ritual, Stik Figa and The Expert join the show to dive deep into how this album was made, as the next instalment of the Album Alchemy series.

Stik Figa and The Expert created Ritual without ever even seeing each other’s faces (2:46).

The collaborative process used for Ritual (9:31).

Ritual was originally supposed to be Stik Figa’s last album (18:33).

The musical landscape of Ritual (24:04).

What drew Stik towards these unconventional beats (34:52).

The challenge of rapping over The Expert’s beats (39:36).

Key themes in Ritual (43:04).

Ritual’s noteworthy features (49:53).

Upcoming work to expect from Stik Figa and The Expert (57:53).

Buy/Stream Ritual here: https://theexpert.bandcamp.com/album/ritual 

Follow Stik Figa on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/STIK_FIGA 

Follow The Expert on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/itstheexpert 

Follow Stik Figa on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/stik_figa/?hl=en 

Follow The Expert on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/itstheexpert/ 

--

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]

Video animation by: Big Flowers

Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING

Beginning of Episode (1:05).

Affable with Pointed Teeth, by YUNGMORPHEUS and eyedress, is an album I liked quite a bit, and loved in moments for years now. But then out of nowhere, as I prepped for my recent interview with YUNGMORPHEUS himself, the album completely hit a new level for me.

There is a profound beauty that comes from instances like this, where months sometimes years later, a piece of music finally clicks. Since in this moment with Affable with Pointed Teeth, not only have I discovered another great album to listen to for the rest of my life, which is something I never take for granted...

... but more importantly, it serves as a reminder that patience is everything in life.

Stream/buy Affable with Pointed Teeth here: https://yungmorpheus.bandcamp.com/album/affable-with-pointed-teeth 

--

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]