The Rap Music Plug Podcast is the remedy to the “I don’t have anything good to listen to” problem. Through in-depth artist interviews, album reviews, and general rap commentary on the best that the underground rap scene has to offer, this is your one-stop shop to knowing what to add to your queue, play next, or pop into your record player. Are you a rap music fan? And not just any fan... but a true rap music fan that wants to move past the surface level discussion, and get into the nitty-gritty of what makes rap music so great? Are you someone who loves the feeling of discovering new music, but find it hard to navigate through the thousands upon thousands of new albums that get released every single day? If any of this applies to you, this show is EXACTLY what you need. My absolute PASSION is music. So I gladly do the dirty work of virtual crate digging, searching for the next great rap album... so you don’t have to. My name is Rohan. I am The Rap Music Plug, at your service. -- 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 qlctv.podcast@gmail.com
Episodes
Thursday Nov 11, 2021
Thursday Nov 11, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
As he has done on many Westside Gunn albums in the past, AA Rashid provides some words of wisdom at the beginning of both sides, but I want to key in on what he did on Side B.
This was probably my favourite contribution of his to-date, because it applied so well to Westside Gunn as an artist.
Rashid speaks about revolutionizing, shifting the paradigm... and what has Westside Gunn, BUT shift the paradigm? Two key waves I believe Gunn has spearheaded over the years are the following.
The first being that Gunn has shifted large factions of the rap game to not only accept, but celebrate the "curator" role that he has now settled so comfortably in.
Before him, the idea that an artist could have this many features, and not always be the focal point of his own album, would be a negative to many.
Now it is revered as one of the most admirable traits of Gunn's music, taking what I think an artist like Kanye West has historically been great at, in selecting the best collaborators and getting the best out of them... and taking it even further in this direction, where Gunn's presence doesn't always need to be on one of the songs if it doesn't need to.
The second wave he has led is popularizing the minimal dusty boom bap and drumless beat movement, which is now incredibly popular in the underground.
Again there are others who helped push this style to prominence... but part of being influential is being able to successfully make a certain level of impact. Gunn as the mastermind behind Griselda, certainly did that.
H***** Wears Hermes 8 was a fitting curtain call for Westside Gunn, and properly showcased all that has made his artistry so impactful to the art form.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "Free Kutter"
Stream H***** Wears Hermes here:
Side A - https://open.spotify.com/album/0M5cyXHBV0en8q02019vaC?si=GayzT-xiR4KMibj_rJO9og
Side B - https://open.spotify.com/album/0KtFP56RU7bd32pcvdeWOU?si=F9OROMjJRQWG3ZNuvcBsvQ
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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 Patreon, 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 qlctv.podcast@gmail.com
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Wednesday Nov 10, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
After their self-titled studio album debut, with features from the likes of Freddie Gibbs, Rico Nasty, JPEGMAFIA... the sky was seemingly the limit for Injury Reserve.
But then during a chaotic June 2020 for us all, tragedy hit the group as Groggs passed away for unknown reasons.
When this happened, I like many I assume, thought this was the end of the group's run. No more music was to come from Injury Reserve.
However, surprisingly they had an album coming out in September of 2021, titled By the Time I Get to Phoenix.
On top of that, it was not just a money grab posthumous album. Instead it was a fully-fledged left-field put all the chips on the table-type album, which thankfully was largely created while Groggs was still with us.
It's safe to say that the album we got was NOT what I expected.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "Knees"
Stream By the Time I Get to Phoenix here: https://open.spotify.com/album/7L7oMPboBCeyGLJVsHSWM2
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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 Patreon, 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 qlctv.podcast@gmail.com
Wednesday Nov 03, 2021
Wednesday Nov 03, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
The Backwoodz Studioz invaision continues in Episode 80, as we are joined by fiery lyricist, Curly Castro. Castro has been on a tremendous run in recent years, from his collaborative LP with PremRock, ShrapKnel, his scorching-hot feature on Armand Hammer's Haram, to his powerful Bobby Hutton-inspired record, Little Robert Hutton.
Curly's perspective on how it feels being part of the impactful Backwoodz Studioz movement (2:26).
Curly discusses how working with greats like ELUCID, Prem, woods, helps him hone his craft, and sets an unspoken standard of excellence (9:10).
Exploring the crew dynamics of The Wrecking Crew (11:35).
How the idea of ShrapKnel materialized (20:58).
Castro speaks on his bold outspokenness in his music, and not being afraid to say how he feels (27:23).
What Castro aimed to achieve with his Black Panther, Bobby Hutton-inspired album in Little Robert Hutton (31:46).
The vision behind this boldly explosive sound for Little Robert Hutton (41:40).
How Castro manages to weave in many guest verses into his lyrically-heavy albums (49:57).
The inspiration behind the Call Out Culture podcast (56:52).
Castro gives his take on the health of indie artist scene in our current music landscape (1:01:31).
Curly's future plans (1:06:22).
Support Curly Castro's music here: https://curlycastro.bandcamp.com/
Follow Curly Castro on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/curly_castro?lang=en
Follow Curly Castro on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/curlycastro/?hl=en
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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 Patreon, 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 qlctv.podcast@gmail.com
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Wednesday Oct 27, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
In a very special Episode 79, we host our first Backwoodz Studioz member, producer/engineer/mixer/masterer, sound mastermind Steel Tipped Dove. Dove is a phenomenal artist, who has graced the best works in hip-hop, from Haram and BRASS, to his own work in 2021's great Call Me When You're Here LP.
De-mystifying what audio engineering, mixing, and mastering actually means (2:49).
Steel Tipped Dove's views on the emergence of more care and attention being put on engineering and mixing in recent years (11:23).
The role an audio engineer, mixer, or masterer, plays in the creative decisions of a record (14:58).
How Dove's deep passion for music begin, and how his work evolved from beat-making to post-production work (19:30).
How Dove initially linked up with Heems, Big Baby Gandhi, and Lakutis, which jumpstarted his career and garnered him an initial buzz (22:21).
The importance that his home studio in Brooklyn played in Dove's career (25:06).
The meaning behind the Steel Tipped Dove moniker (29:26).
Steel Tipped Dove recounts how his relationship with Backwoodz Studioz first began (32:57).
What about the Backwoodz Studioz camp inspires Dove (36:57).
Dove explains the unique vision and structure behind his 2021 instrumental album, inside.outside.inside.outside (41:23). +57
The conception of Dove's new album, Call Me When You're Outside (49:36).
Dove describes the sound that he attempted to create on his latest LP (54:16).
What Dove looks for in potential collaborators (58:40).
Why Dove is content with being in the background, and why he felt it was time to put out an album like Call Me When You're Outside (59:52).
Dove's favourite record to be a part of (1:04:43).
What Dove has in store in the near future (1:08:15).
Support Steel Tipped Dove's music here: https://steeltippeddove.bandcamp.com/
Follow Steel Tipped Dove on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/steeltippeddove?s=20
Follow Steel Tipped Dove on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/steeltippeddove/
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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 Patreon, 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 qlctv.podcast@gmail.com
Thursday Oct 21, 2021
Thursday Oct 21, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
It would've been easy for Lukah to rest on his laurels after a very successful When the Black Hand Touches You, and just make another version of that album... but this isn’t When the Black Hand Touches You Part 2, or Chickenwire Part 2 either.
If Black Hand sounded like soul food, Why Look Up literally sounds like the absence of food. On this album, there is nothing but pure hunger.
Unlike the more wide-spanning subject matter on Black Hand, which spoke from a contemplative or reflective perspective that applied generally to Lukah's life, and acted as an educational document for his newborn son… the lyricism on Why Look Up is more laser-focused to specific moments, putting you in the heat of the action of some really dark and trying situations.
It creates this visceral hair-raising feeling that is downright intoxicating.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "IMMACULATE CONCEPTION"
Buy/stream Why Look Up, God‘s in the Mirror here: https://lukah.bandcamp.com/album/why-look-up-gods-in-the-mirror
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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 Patreon, 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 qlctv.podcast@gmail.com
Wednesday Oct 20, 2021
Wednesday Oct 20, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
UK's Little Simz released the GREY Area back in 2019, which was a very thoughtful album. However, her perspective felt, as the title would suggest, not fully realized and fleshed out… like she was still working things out, and was more combustible as a result.
Sometimes I Might Be Introvert on the other hand, sounds like someone who has gone through those mental struggles, and came out the other side.
I basically see this album playing out like a coming of age story for Simz, seeing her embrace her womanhood, understanding who she is, her introversion, and being comfortable with it, and feeling herself a little bit now as a result.
The thoughtful subject matter though is supported by an even more ambitious soundscape provided mainly by Sault producer, Inflo.
This album is the closest to baroque rap we’ve gotten since Kanye West's Late Registration. Except in the presentation of this album, it’s even more grand and ambitious in scope, with different styles being explored incorporating Simz's Nigerian roots.
The production is so beautifully mixed, organic, and big in feel, with a really natural energy that doesn’t sound forced.
It's no surprise that Simz remarks in a recent NME interview, that her chemistry with Inflo is unmatched. The beats and rhymes are in lockstep, seeing Simz and Inflo perfectly working together on SIMBI.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "I See You"
Stream Sometimes I Might Be Introvert here: https://open.spotify.com/album/0DBoWQ52XUHtrZQdfAqOVj?si=SGT8FragSlqEnrkTLIkprQ
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For artist development/writing services, DM me @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at qlctv.podcast@gmail.com
Let's stay connected! Find me here: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/
Wednesday Oct 13, 2021
Wednesday Oct 13, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
In Episode 76, the remarkably honest and talented Teller Bank$ joined the show for a conversation that will surely make it clear why this Iowa artist is worth checking out.
How Teller developed his voice and recognized that this unique delivery could work (2:47).
Why Teller gravitates towards Ed Glorious' production (18:25).
How Teller crafted the concept and narratives in The Grotesque & Beautiful (25:40).
Teller details the importance of spirituality in his music (32:47).
How Teller has grown as a man in recent years (38:57).
Teller explains how his creative process differs when he handles production duties on one of his albums (45:47).
Teller details how The Part & Parcel differs from the first Ed Glorious produced album, explaining how it is Part 2 of a trilogy (51:11).
Teller explains why he believes his rapping is better than ever on The Part & Parcel (58:17).
Teller's future plans (1:08:03).
Support Teller Bank$' music here: https://tellerbanks.bandcamp.com/
Follow Teller Bank$ on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/Teller_Banks?s=20
Follow Teller Bank$ on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/teller_banks/feed/?hl=en
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For artist development/writing services, DM me @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at qlctv.podcast@gmail.com
Let's stay connected! Find me here: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
Wednesday Oct 06, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of my personal diatribe (0:49).
Beginning of the core review (16:00).
I was close to not even reviewing Donda, given the recent nonsense surrounding DaBaby and Manson's involvement with the album.
But I couldn’t get over that it would be so incredibly inauthentic, if I actually didn't talk about a brand new full-length Kanye album... because Kanye’s music has played a huge part in my life.
And so, if I was going to talk about Donda, I wanted to do something special with it.
Therefore, I did discuss the music on Donda, as you'd expect from me. More importantly though, I wanted to share a piece of myself… through the lens of Kanye West.
I hope that this episode will successfully show how Kanye is stitched into my life, and how that allowed me to come to the conclusions related to Donda that you can't find anywhere else.
This won't be like anything I have ever created before.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "Hurricane"
Stream Donda here: https://open.spotify.com/album/340MjPcVdiQRnMigrPybZA?si=dKYFYO3xTfaJ2n8y6vqBXw&dl_branch=1
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For artist development/writing services, DM me @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at qlctv.podcast@gmail.com
Let's stay connected! Find me here: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/
Wednesday Sep 29, 2021
Wednesday Sep 29, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
In Episode 74, we were joined by talented rapper, producer, visual artist, and rolling paper creator, Lync Lone.
Lync first discussed the aspirational aspects of Lync's music, and how being a rapper was his dream since day 1 (2:07).
The key influences that helped Lync develop his style (2:58).
Lync talks about how his distinctly cool and chill rapping style developed over the years (12:13).
Lync details how he maintains such a positive outlook on life, and why he finds it important to promote that perspective in his music (17:18).
Lync explains why his number 1 goal in music is to synthesize his own thoughts and feelings, so that he can better understand them (22:36).
Hear the hilariously natural way Lync and BLOODBLIXING created Decibelz, one of my personal favourite Lync project (25:40).
Lync discusses his Iceberg Theory collaboration in Acid Jazz, and how Guru's Jazzmatazz inspired that project (31:33).
Lync dives into the concept behind his latest and greatest project to-date, Lost & Found: In Paradise! (35:41).
Lync talks about his visual art design work, and the importance of being self-sufficient as an artist in 2021 (49:40).
Lync talks about his new line of rolling papers, GONZO (55:25).
Support Lync Lone's music here: https://lynclone.bandcamp.com/music
Follow Lync Lone on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/lynclone
Follow Lync Lone on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/lynclone/?hl=en
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For artist development/writing services, DM me @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at qlctv.podcast@gmail.com
Let's stay connected! Find me here: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/
Wednesday Sep 22, 2021
Wednesday Sep 22, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
In Episode 73, we had the pleasure to welcome Chicago's own rapper, producer, DJ, TV host, greenSLLIME to the show.
How SLLIME's magnetic personality of sorts developed over the years (3:51).
What inspired greenSLLIME to get into hip-hop when he was younger (7:01).
SLLIME details partnering with SolarFive to open the 406 studio in Chicago, and the thought-process behind taking this bold move (12:26).
SLLIME's unique relationship with Mick Jenkins, and how it helped develop his craft (20:54).
His relationship with Qari, collaborator on the 2019 project Operation Hennessy, and how that album helped "kill the doubt" for greenSLLIME (25:40).
His creative process (32:09).
The importance of Chicago to SLLIME's artistic journey (36:51).
SLLIME on the vision behind his Broke Ass Low Budget Show, as well as some upcoming visual ventures for greenSLLIME (40:53).
How SLLIME navigates some interesting combinations of vibes in both his lyrics, and his production (58:14).
Meaning behind the title of his latest project, and how greenSLLIME entered 'monk mode' to create it (1:13:07).
What the future has in store for greenSLLIME (1:18:22).
Support greenSLLIME's music here (including monk.'s deluxe vinyl set to release on September 24, 2021): https://sllime64.bandcamp.com/music
Follow greenSLLIME on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/sllime64?lang=en
Follow greenSLLIME on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sllime64/
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For artist development/writing services, DM me @rapmusicplugpod on Twitter and Instagram, or shoot me an email at qlctv.podcast@gmail.com
Let's stay connected! Find me here: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/