In Episode 9 of the Uncut Game Podcast, “Hustle and Strategy,” the team gets into the weeds of what separates motion from momentum—and why most indie artists are confusing chaos for progress. Tony “IamThaConnect” Guidry and Mark “Rapjuggernaut” Hernandez take us inside a recent discovery: an artist making noise on the surface, but underneath the metrics told a different story. Was it clout-chasing? Was it smart investment? Or was it a lack of planning dressed up as motion?

They break down how indie artists can easily fall into the trap of mistaking visibility for viability—especially when money and big features are involved. The team exposes how even the illusion of progress can stall an artist’s trajectory if there's no foundation, no strategy, no intent behind the grind.

Kingpin flips the metaphor on its head, comparing the music game to buying lottery tickets. If all you’re doing is hoping your one big single hits, you’re playing like a tourist—not a tactician. But if you’re investing social currency into consistent content, quality music, videos, and relationships—you’re buying tickets every day. And that? That increases your chances to actually win.

From war stories on tour to real-life artist examples, the episode leans into the value of preparation, proper planning, and using motion as a vehicle—not a destination. They close by giving flowers to the indie artists really in the race and dropping this week’s Cheat Sheet on planning vs. motion, available free for all listeners.

 🎧 Tap in now. 📥 Grab the Cheat Sheet. https://linktw.in/kQBHQN 

[email protected] | @uncutgamepod | uncutgame.com

YouTube Optimization ain’t just about pretty thumbnails and clickbait—it’s about infrastructure, intention, and income. In Episode 8 of Uncut Game, Tony “IamThaConnect” and Mark “Rapjuggernaut” pull back the curtain on what it really means to optimize your presence on YouTube—whether you’re an artist, a brand, or a creator building community through content.

We kick off with fun YouTube facts and a deep dive into creator culture: why the Hoof GP, MrBeast, and backyard BBQ channels are quietly teaching us all about audience retention, engagement loops, and loyalty. Then we get tactical. From channel tabs to tags, from thumbnails to testing, this episode lays out the real choreography to level up your YouTube game.

Tony breaks down the facts behind monetization thresholds—1,000 subscribers, 3,000 watch hours—and why most artists are leaving money on the table by failing to organize their catalogs. Kingpin lays out the YouTube-to-Brand Channel-to-OAC flow and explains why switching distributors can mess up your YouTube Topic and VEVO placements if you’re not careful.

We highlight the two distributors we trust (WeAreRGM and Organic Music) and drop the official YouTube Optimization Cheat Sheet (linked below) that details everything you need to organize your content for visibility and partnership opportunities.

This episode is part game, part strategy, and all gas—no fluff. Just the facts, the blueprint, and the cheat code.

 🎧 Tap in now. 📥 Grab the Cheat Sheet. https://linktw.in/kiPeyo 

[email protected] | @uncutgamepod | uncutgame.com

Episode 7: “1,000 Streams or Bust. The Real Blueprint To Make It Count” goes straight at the heart of what separates motion from momentum. Tony “IamThaConnect” Guidry and Mark “Rapjuggernaut” Hernandez dive into the overlooked but pivotal milestone: getting your song to 1,000 streams—organically, strategically, and without blowing the bag.

This episode sheds light on the fact that 86% of music on Spotify isn’t even monetized. That’s not a music issue—that’s a knowledge gap. We break down how just 3 plays a day can shift an artist’s trajectory, and why those first thousand streams are often worth more than your first thousand dollars.

From DMs to playlist pitching, to fan engagement and properly targeted ads, we lay out the real blueprint that turns listeners into lifers and momentum into money. We also drop the “1,000 Streams or Bust” Cheat Sheet, a free guide that outlines the steps artists should take to achieve—and surpass—that critical threshold.

We also shout out this week’s sponsor, Powered By Hustle, for providing dope merch and backing independent voices like ours. And as always, we close with a strong CTA—reminding the audience to like, comment, subscribe, and stick around for next week’s episode.

For the artist who’s tired of seeing no traction, this one’s for you.

Episode 7 Cheat Sheets: https://linktw.in/NnsQaW 

Contact: [email protected] | Follow @uncutgamepod on ALL platforms

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"Optimization! What Is It?" takes a real-world look at a buzzword that's been thrown around more than it's been understood. This week, Tony “IamThaConnect” Guidry and Mark “Rapjuggernaut” Hernandez lock in on the real definition of optimization—not just as a concept, but as a weapon for independent artists.

Tony opens up with the math: of 11 million artists on Spotify, the top-performing 1 million share one thing in common—optimization. Kingpin brings it home with his “race car” analogy, comparing artist development to tuning a high-performance machine. If your car (aka career) ain't built for speed AND durability, it’s not gonna finish the race. And if it does win? The sponsors (brands, labels, fans) want their stickers all over your vehicle.

We unpack what optimization looks like for artists: linking bios, claiming pages, uploading assets, and understanding how the .99 you make from your song gets chopped by Apple, your distributor, and your lack of backend knowledge. It’s not just about dropping music—it’s about building infrastructure.

This week’s Cheat Sheet https://linktw.in/IIOnhi  is a companion guide built to help you audit your profiles across DSPs and social media. It’s a primer for the Artist Academy Optimization Master Checklist—which is exclusively available to alumni.

We also officially welcome Double R to the Uncut Game squad. As our new Project Manager, he’s overseeing audio and video edits, as well as social media coordination. Big salute to the newest member of Team Art Rev Sol. 🔧💪

🧩 This episode ain’t optional. It’s the blueprint. 🎧 Tap in now. 📥 Grab the Cheat Sheet. https://linktw.in/IIOnhi 🔗 Join the Academy. https://www.laylo.com/artistacademy 

[email protected] | @uncutgamepod

In this no-fluff, full-pressure episode of Uncut Game, Tony “IamThaConnect” Guidry and Mark “Rapjuggernaut” Hernandez confront the elephant that keeps stomping through artist budgets—radio spins and DJ support.We break the silence on what it really costs to get your song on the radio, the difference between buying spins and building relationships, and why some artists sabotage their own songs by skipping the basics like formatting, timing, and follow-through.Tony pulls up with real figures—not fairy dust—and dives deep into the myth that radio is dead. He makes it plain: radio still matters, but only if you’re moving with strategy, performance metrics, and the right timing. That means stop thinking $250 will get you nationwide spins, and start planning with intention.Kingpin holds no punches. He calls out the artists faking radio love for clout and talks real positioning—what you need to have in place before even dialing a DJ's number. From how to actually service a record, to why DJ drops still matter, this episode is a masterclass in unlearning the shortcuts and doing it the right way.We also introduce this week’s Cheat Sheet: DJ Servicing Checklist, giving you the essential tools you need to start building a real support network without wasting money on dead plays and fake promotions.This one’s not just conversation—it’s curriculum. Tap in.Episode 5 Cheat Sheets (Single Service + Dj Drops): https://linktw.in/PWnkrd

Sign up for Access to The Artist Academy to get Alumni Access: https://www.laylo.com/artistacademy

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In Episode 4 of Uncut Game, Tony “IamThaConnect” Guidy and Mark “Rapjuggernaut” Hernandez flip the switch on the hype machine and center the conversation around what really moves the needle—strategy, timing, and execution. This one’s for every artist tired of chasing TikTok trends and hoping for overnight wins.

Tony takes the lead and breaks down the real reason distribution partners and DSPs overlook your release—you didn’t give them time, you didn’t give them data, and you didn’t have a plan. He talks about walking away from artists who refused to listen, shares the painful lessons from campaigns that lacked proper rollout structure, and makes it clear: ads don’t replace planning—they enhance it.

Together, the hosts discuss the value of time as one of the most underutilized resources in the music business and how artists constantly undercut themselves by thinking visibility is enough. They touch on why rollout dates matter, how far in advance DSPs need to be prepped, and the mistakes artists make by launching without a back-end strategy.

This episode also comes with exclusive Cheat Sheets and a blog post from the CEO Whisperer, focused on optimal dates, ingestion schedules, and pitching timelines.

Whether you’re indie or major, this episode will shift how you think about your next release. No shortcuts, no trends needed—just Uncut Game.

• Episode 4 Lead Read: https://linktw.in/GMEDGlEpisode 4

• Cheat Sheets: https://linktw.in/MYSSZL

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In Episode 3 of Uncut Game, we break down the big moves and the major misses from A$AP Rocky's Rolling Loud performance in Los Angeles. Kingpin kicks off the episode accusing Tony of being a certified Scrabble cheat, while at the same time admitting he's the coldest to ever play the game. But we don’t just keep it playful—we dive into some real game at the 5-minute mark, dissecting A$AP Rocky’s media strategy and why he left serious money on the table.We’re auditing Rocky’s entire digital presence—YouTube, social links, website, and socials—to see how well he's connecting with his audience and monetizing his moments. We lay out the step-by-step process we use to measure media value and explain the importance of CPM and CPE for every artist looking to maximize their exposure and revenue.At the 26-minute mark, we even conduct a live demo using a recent post from Rocky’s Rolling Loud set to break down the earned media value (EMV), owned media value (OMV), and paid media value (PMV). We also introduce this week’s Cheat Sheets, a Media Value Tracking Starter Pack to help you start gathering data and measuring your own media value like a pro.If you’re serious about leveling up your brand and not leaving money on the table, this episode is for you. We’re giving out game for free—don’t miss it!🔗 Download the Cheat Sheets: Media Value Tracking Starter Pack

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From the court to the stage, Gelo's transformation from NBA hopeful to charting rapper is nothing short of wild. But did his recent Rolling Loud performance hit all the right notes, or did he leave money on the table? In Episode 2 of Uncut Game, Tony “IamThaConnect” Guidy and Mark “Rapjuggernaut” Hernandez pull no punches while breaking down Gelo’s entire digital presence. We’re talking profile audits, brand consistency, streaming gaps, and missed opportunities.

We go beyond the hype and dive deep into Gelo’s Rolling Loud debut, breaking down what went right and where he fumbled the bag. From overlooked merch potential to disconnected social profiles, this episode is an unfiltered look at how artists can easily lose traction when they don’t maximize moments like these. We’re not just calling out the misses—we’re giving game on how to fix it, featuring the Plug & Play segment where Tony and Kingpin lay down strategies to capitalize on every viral moment.

Whether you're a rising artist or an industry vet, this episode is packed with practical gems to make sure your performance is more than just a fleeting moment. Tune in, take notes, and make sure you’re not leaving money on the table when the spotlight hits.

Grab YOUR Cheat Sheets: https://linktw.in/CNBexI

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 Welcome to the Uncut Game Podcast, where we drop real strategies for artists, entrepreneurs, and industry insiders who refuse to be finessed. In Episode 1, we break down SXSW 2025—not just the performances and panels, but the real business moves happening behind the scenes.

We’re talking scams, strategy, and survival in the music industry. Every year, independent artists flock to SXSW with dreams of getting discovered, but too many get played instead of playing the game right. We expose the F.A.C.T.S. (Falsehoods, Artist Cons, Traps, and Scams) that every artist needs to recognize before they drop a bag on a fake opportunity.

🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: ✅ The real opportunities SXSW offers artists (and what’s just smoke & mirrors) ✅ How to cut through the BS and connect with real industry players ✅ Why most artists aren’t ready for a festival (and what to do about it) ✅ Festival & touring optimization: Breaking down the What’s Next Artist Blueprint ✅ The SXSW volunteer hustle: How one move can change your whole career

👀 Did You Get Scammed at SXSW? Or Did You Play Yourself? We keep it raw & unfiltered, calling out common artist traps at SXSW—from overpriced “pay-to-play” slots to fake afterparties that drain your budget.

💡 The Plug & The Play Segment

• Tony (The Plug) lays out the real strategy for breaking into SXSW the right way.

• Kingpin (The Play) breaks down step-by-step moves indie artists should make to maximize their experience.

• We also introduce the “What’s Next Artist Blueprint: Festival & Touring Optimization Master Checklist”—a must-have for every independent artist.

🎤 The Cheat Sheet Every week, we drop one exclusive resource to help artists level up. This week’s free gem? The What’s Next Artist Blueprint. Download it, use it, and start moving smarter.

🚨 No Cap Files Think royalty collection is automatic? Think you’ll make money off a showcase? Think again. We expose the biggest SXSW myths artists fall for—so you don’t.

💾 Download the What’s Next Artist Blueprint: HERE 📝 Get Your Free Artist Audit:https://artrevsol.com/inquire/ 🎓 Join the Artist Academy & Learn the Game: https://laylo.com/artistsacademy 

Subscribe, Rate, & Follow: 📌 YouTube:https://linktw.in/EzmLTH 📌 Twitter/X: https://x.com/UncutGamePod 

💬 Got Questions? Drop a comment, DM us, or email [Insert Contact]. If we get enough, we might dedicate a whole episode to answering them.

Next Up: Episode 2 - "Gelo’s Move: From Hoops to the Booth. Is He Ready?"

🔥 Don’t Just Listen—Tap In!