In a recent interview, Trap Lore Ross revisited DJ Vlad’s early documentary work, notably the 2008 film *Ghost Ride the Whip*, which captured the Bay Area’s hyphy movement. Vlad shared how making the film was a labor of love amid a shifting hip-hop media landscape. As he launched Vlad TV, Vlad filmed and edited the documentary largely on his own, navigating distribution deals that offered little financial reward despite the film’s local success. Reflecting on the risk involved, Vlad highlighted the limited resources and exposure compared to today’s digital platforms like YouTube and Netflix. He acknowledged the challenges of engaging with gang culture and sensitive interview topics back then but emphasized that the real danger came from the uncertainty of the industry rather than personal safety. Vlad’s experience underscores how hip-hop media has evolved from niche DVDs to booming streaming content, with documentary filmmaking now a viable path for storytelling and revenue.