The Rap Music Plug Podcast

#76 - Teller Bank$ INTERVIEW

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/ 

#75 - Kanye West - Donda ”REVIEW”

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 

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#74 - Lync Lone INTERVIEW

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/ 

#73 - greenSLLIME INTERVIEW

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/ 

#72 - Drake - Certified Lover Boy REVIEW

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 

Let's stay connected! Find me here: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/ 

#71 - Ka - A Martyr‘s Reward REVIEW

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/ 

#70 - Boldy James & The Alchemist - Bo Jackson REVIEW

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/ 

#69 - Nas - King‘s Disease II REVIEW

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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#68 - Pink Siifu - GUMBO‘! REVIEW

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 

Let's stay connected! Find me here: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/ 

#67 - Isaiah Rashad - The House is Burning REVIEW

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/