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
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
Tuesday Sep 14, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
Drake's Certified Lover Boy reeks of stagnation.
Stagnation in the tired song topics and formulas, where the listener has heard different versions of just about every single song here.
And although more of a good thing can be... a good thing... the 6 God is doing the same thing with some of the least inspired performances of his entire career.
This stagnation is all but validated by the fact that many of these songs were leaked a year ago, and appeared on this album more or less in that same state
This shows that the lack of fresh ideas are not some hater fabrication I am concocting unfairly. The truth is plainly obvious.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "Champagne Poetry"
Stream Certified Lover Boy here: https://open.spotify.com/album/3SpBlxme9WbeQdI9kx7KAV?si=Ab1KghVeQs-Kb5-Tl3FEww&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
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Thursday Sep 09, 2021
Thursday Sep 09, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
Ka is one-of-one, and is easily one of the best lyricists in the game.
With Ka albums, the commonality to them all is that Ka is consistently committed to giving the listener true wisdom that come from a place of tried and true lived experience... with A1 level wordplay, with clever turns of phrase in almost every line.
The lyrical detail he brings makes every situation he paints feel remarkably surreal and urgent, where the gravity of a single decision, or thought of a character in a Ka song, feels like life or death.
This lyrical picture he paints is devoid of hyperbole, devoid of any romanticism... its the cold hard truth.
Yet, with most or all of his albums... the wisdom in learning and the concept of growth is always present in his music, which never makes any of Ka's albums come off as cynical.
This brings us to Martyr's Reward, which I think communicated this complex idea of hope better than any of his previous work.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "Subtle"
Stream A Martyr's Reward here: https://open.spotify.com/album/5MOODX5ZNXcbIyMLSluNbw?si=k4Z5aXwDQLaaPdjunH0xUQ&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:
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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 08, 2021
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
Boldy James continues on his hot streak with his latest Bo Jackson album, which features production from the legendary Alchemist once again.
Boldy is in top-form, blending his blunt and cold delivery with evocative imagery in his street tales that give Bo a strong sense of surrealism.
However, it is the legend in this case, The Alchemist, that doesn't hold up his end of the bargain to the best of his abilities.
Alc left earth on Haram, brought exotic textures and decadence to Fetti, but on Bo Jackson he keeps things to one relatively formulaic lane.
I have no problem with straight to the point, more simplistic production... but these beats are all super clean, and don't have that rugged grit that an album like this could've benefitted from.
I think Boldy improved on all fronts from A Price of Tea in China from a rapping perspective.
However, although I think Alc brought some good production to this album, the sound was too tame for my liking and didn't leave enough of an impression on me.
There just lacked an instrumental bite that makes me wanna go back to this album.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "Fake Flowers"
Stream Bo Jackson here: https://open.spotify.com/album/1KHFw3hsKvNGGCkXKQMrbT?si=h-WGm0BIR7SfWuoSZR_Ipg&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 01, 2021
Wednesday Sep 01, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
Making hip-hop music well into your 40s and 50s is an astonishing feat to accomplish on its face, especially within a genre where many of the greats have sadly passed away. Legends in Black Thought, Jay-Z and Nas are not only still breathing... but are still making music at the forefront of the hip-hop scene.
With Nas, his technical ability is still mostly intact, but with most or all of Nas records post-It Was Written... there has always been something off.
The common gripe with his music is his beat selection, but I think that's a lazy argument. Nas has picked good enough production for the most part, just not to the level that his rapping ability has demanded.
For me, I think what has kept Nas' modern output at arm's length was his music's social commentary, and the inconsistencies between that and his personal life, and my personal socio-political opinions.
The core issue I have with King's Disease II, and most of Nas' later releases is that Nas merges black excellence/liberation ideas with what I call “mimosa rap”... where the end-point of all of this struggle is the accumulation of obscene levels of material wealth.
Nas makes all of this content sound super decadent and well painted lyrically, but it lacks the depth that I am looking for.
At some points, Nas does offer some solid commentary on issues in his community related to poverty, violence, etc. But then seems to make these disjointed jumps that connect his career and rise to glory, as the righteous end-result that all people in his community should have the opportunity to achieve as well.
In reality, we all know this is not true and is a gross simplification of how the world works.
But more importantly, what Nas paints on the other side of this journey to success, is just a bunch of material wealth of brunches and island getaways that lack self-awareness in the fact that he's participating greatly in the same system that is keeping his people down.
This all makes this brand of social commentary not resonate with me all that much.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "Nas is Good"
Stream King's Disease II here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6CM5qhYBvpgYNek5kYwuOJ?dl_branch=1&si=jAPZLalOT76CB0nOTn6J_w
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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
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Thursday Aug 26, 2021
Thursday Aug 26, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Skip intro (0:49).
What’s wild about my feelings on GUMBO'!... is that it's the kind of album that I don’t typically like.
Yes, surely the individual parts of this are all things I love. I love soul and jazz infused hip-hop, and thoughtful lyricism.
However, more than most people, I really value cohesiveness, a sense of structure… and this album is absolutely all over the place.
But somehow some way, Pink Siifu made it all flow like water.
Whether it be through mixing choices, the transitions, skits, sequencing, Siifu managed to include autotuned melodic trap, vocal jazz, neo-soul, jazz rap and noisy rambunctious bangers all on the same album.
And through it all, Siifu is as wavy and free-form as ever from a rapping-perspective.
On paper, GUMBO'! should be a mess, but Pink Siifu really pulled off the impossible. He successfully fit a square peg in a round hole countless times.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "SMILE (wit yo Gold)"
Stream/Buy GUMBO'! here: https://ronee.bandcamp.com/album/gumbo
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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
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Wednesday Aug 25, 2021
Wednesday Aug 25, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Skip intro (0:49).
The title of this album initially suggested to me that this would be a very urgent and emotionally visceral album. Instead, Isaiah Rashad is like that character in the burning house meme.
Isaiah is genuinely so calm and relaxed on this album, while being enveloped in significant turmoil that is going on in his personal life.
I'm really happy for Zay. It seems like he's genuinely in such a better place mentally...
However, I feel like my issues with THIB can be summed up by that meme. I feel like we hear "this is fine" from Isaiah without the necessary reasoning that explains why.
I think Rashad was attempting to illustrate the peace he has now achieved after these years of turmoil, through a catchy and wavy rapping style.
Unfortunately, I don't think he gets this done because I feel like there's an entire chapter of Rashad's recent years that is more or less missing, or roughly sketched at the most on THIB.
He doesn't give me enough pieces of that trauma... in order for me to understand the context surrounding this tough road he's been on, and fully connect with the music.
To top it off, generally, I don't find he's lyrically specific enough to glean a lot of feelings from this album.
This is especially disappointing considering how tumultuous his life has been recently. I feel like there was a lot of stories, and personal anecdotes he could've gotten into, but we don't get much of it.
He certainly brings a level of emotion and intimacy in his vocals that I do like, but it's not nearly evocative enough to affect me to a significant degree.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "Headshots (4r Da Locals)"
Stream The House is Burning here: https://open.spotify.com/album/6TQ8nqw43uUOWu7Yqp58ko?si=Rag_Mz8rSlqOxDZgS6WGeg&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 Aug 18, 2021
Wednesday Aug 18, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Skip intro (0:49).
It's been a minute since I've had an interview for you guys. But after a summer of falling back, and getting things in the background taking care of, this Fall expect to see a bunch of great artists join the show.
Starting with Ep. 66, hailing from New York, I have with me an unbelievably dope rapper, producer, who is probably the most played artist of the year for me, alongside my man Kincee BabyFace Pearlis.
His name is BLOODBLIXING.
The meaning of Blix's name name (2:11).
His thought's on the underground movement that he is a part of (4:13).
Backstory behind the Mach-Hommy influence (6:32).
Blix on why it's important to pay homage (12:25).
The first R&B GANGSTA EDITION w/ WHOBEJAZZZ (21:07).
His unique rapping style (27:09).
Working w/ 2 Dolla Will and recording BUTTE BEER (34:24).
The GANGSTA EDITION series (38:19).
The essential BLOODBLIXING releases (42:18).
What's upcoming for Blix (47:47).
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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/
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
(Go to 0:49 to skip the intro)
In sharp contrast to the usual religious subject matter you hear in music, Iceberg Theory's perspective on this topic is NOT dogmatic. It's not a simplistic perspective that says "God will save us", or "God is perfect".
Ice either, uses these religious themes as cool motifs and poetic devices for his rhymes, or, is exploring the fundamental foundation of belief, and the complexity and contradictions that arise from this perspective. These thoughts are especially notable in light of the recent release of DONDA by Kanye West.
Having just listened to the DONDA album (2nd listening party version to be clear) prior to recording this review, it allowed me to see Horned Monk with a different lens, and develop a deeper appreciation for how it approaches the topic of religion.
Horned Monk deeply wows me lyrically, with production from August Fanon that never ceases to impress.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "(Untitled)"
Stream/Buy Horned Monk here: https://icetheoryrap.bandcamp.com/album/horned-monk
Interview with Iceberg Theory here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/28-iceberg-theory-interview/id1527457780?i=1000506626322
Review of Iceberg Theory & August Fanon's Dispatches from the Kali Yuga here: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/25-navy-blue-iceberg-theory-august-fanon-fatboi-sharif/id1527457780?i=1000504296233
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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 Aug 04, 2021
Wednesday Aug 04, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
(Go to 0:49 to skip the intro)
What has always gravitated me to Vince Staples, is that he is frank.
Vince is so frank in the way he paints his life in Long Beach, describing harrowing street experiences with a cold bluntness that has defined his music to-date.
These blunt observations were often layered over loud abrasive production, or lively west-coast instrumentals that emphasized Vince's charisma and ability to ride the beat in a very catchy way.
With Vince's latest self-titled effort though, the usual formulas in a Vince release have been adjusted.
... And for that reason, VINCE STAPLES was easily one of the most unmemorable first listens of a highly anticipated album that I can remember.
I think the very lowkey nature of the album took a lot of getting used to, but eventually I can say that I think this approach brought something new out of Vince lyrically that I did like, yet limited an existing strong trait of his as well.
With Kenny Beats, I think this move to subtly took his typical vibrant energy and trapped it in a box.
The subtle grooves, melodies and samples only uncovered themselves on many listens… taking trips is great, lil fade has a really dope synth loop that I thought was super fresh
What I think Vince loses from this more subtle approach is that the highly animated delivery from Vince that I always have loved, which is now restrained and less present.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "ARE YOU WITH THAT?"
Stream Vince Staples here: https://open.spotify.com/album/2suR5CCbtL2Wq8ShFo8rFr?si=u5uH7aXVTR-kEbWLwqglrw&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.carrd.co/
Wednesday Jul 28, 2021
Wednesday Jul 28, 2021
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
(Go to 0:49 to skip the intro)
When I think of MIKE, the words that come to mind are sincerity and honesty.
In absolutely every album MIKE has released, he poured his heart out.
On "Disco!", MIKE certainly leans into his soulful nature once again, but without getting overly consumed by it.
In the past, MIKE would really exude the depression that he was experiencing at the time, and it's not like there's anything wrong with that from a music perspective.
However, it's nice to see him continue the progression we saw on weight of the world, where he seems more at peace with where he is in life.
I see tears of joy and weight of the world as MIKE processing the death of his mother and coming to grips with the pressure and residual effects that this unfortunate event inflicted on his mind.
Whereas "Disco!" feels like MIKE beginning a new chapter in his life, reflecting on the past without LIVING in the past... which can only come from acceptance.
It doesn't mean he isn't still dealing with similar struggles, but now he is doing so with a stronger sense of presence and assuredness that is palpable.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "ghoulish"
Stream/Buy "Disco!" here: https://mikelikesrap.bandcamp.com/album/disco
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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.carrd.co/