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
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Wednesday Oct 19, 2022
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
The Hook (0:21).
The Interview (1:30).
In today’s political climate, music that speaks to real issues is something I gravitate to more than ever. If you add on wildly creative music to back said real issues, you’ve got me hooked. That’s exactly what we have with today’s guest on the show, Ghais Guevara.
Ghais is a Philly rapper who is unapologetic about his strong communist beliefs, who’s music has quickly achieved strong critical acclaim this year (from the likes of NPR, The Needle Drop, and more), with the release of his impressive new album There Will Be No Super-Slave.
Listen on and get to know an artist you will surely be hearing about for years to come.
Ghais speaks to how it’s felt receiving such widespread critical acclaim from his latest album, There Will Be No Super-Slave (1:59).
Ghais explains how he developed his political consciousness growing up (4:30).
Ghais speaks on if the label of “communist rapper” bothers him, or pigeonholes him in his career (10:09).
Ghais elaborates on his critiques of the Nordic political model, as it relates to his track off of BlackBolshevik, “F*** the Nordic Model“ (12:58).
Ghais gives his thoughts on the growing trend of pretentious leftists and academics that often alienate folks with their flowery vocabulary and narcissism (16:50).
Ghais illustrates how he developed his lyrical craft (22:31).
Ghais details what the main purpose was for his fiercely political There Will Be No Super-Slave (26:30).
Ghais describes his key musical influences, and the sound he was going for on There Will Be No Super-Slave (28:44).
Ghais elaborates on a compromising and settling, as it relates to the creation of There Will Be No Super-Slave (34:37).
Ghais details what to expect with his new FBFC mixtape (39:46).
Ghais gives a sneak peak to what we can expect with his next album (44:43).
Ghais names some dream collaborations of his (48:43).
Support Ghais Guevera's music here: https://ghais.bandcamp.com/music
Follow Ghais Guevera on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/GhaisGuevara?s=20&t=_YYrNe2FcHmAT3Ng_ac_KQ
Follow Ghais Guevera on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/ghaisguevara/
--
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
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Wednesday Oct 12, 2022
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
The Hook (0:21).
Main Body of Discussion (2:12).
When I started this Album Alchemy series, I wanted to get laser-focused on the intricacies found in some of the best rap albums being made, with the artists themselves.
So I feel like a series like this was tailor-made for the pair of artists we have featured in today’s episode.
Lukah, Memphis MC, has been on a tear in the past couple of years, who’s approach to music is as well-thought out as it comes.
He is joined by his right-hand man, Hollow Sol, who is the primary engineer for Lukah that mixes all of his music.
Together they joined forced to create one of the hardest and biggest sounding rap albums of the year, titled Raw Extractions.
If you wanna know about the incredibly intricate concept for this album, and how it ended up sounding so grand and ambitious... this is the episode for you.
Buy/Stream Raw Extractions here: https://lukah.bandcamp.com/album/raw-extractions
Follow Lukah on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/biglukah?lang=en
Follow Lukah on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/biglukah/?hl=en
Follow Hollow Sol on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/hollowsollogansun/?hl=en
--
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
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Wednesday Oct 05, 2022
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (0:49).
The XXL Freshman Class is an annual collection of some of the most mediocre young (ish) rappers coming up in the game. Instead of re-hashing a tired idea, I collaborated with cool guys at Freemusicempire to have a different conversation.
We flipped the conversation and discussed our favourite veterans in the game, in order to compile the first iteration of the RMPP x FME Senior Class.
I hope you enjoy this bonus episode while I'm taking a week off to focus on non-pod activities.
Join the Freemusicempire here: https://freemusicempire.com/
--
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
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Wednesday Sep 28, 2022
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
The Hook (0:21).
The Interview (1:47).
Turning nothing into something, overcoming your surroundings, exhibiting incredible perseverance, have all served as major components to the stories of hip-hop's greats throughout the years.
Today I am joined by someone who absolutely fits that bill. Someone who has succeeded with his integrity and authenticity intact.
That man is Vic Spencer, who’s 2022 has been stellar, dropping great records in Still Here with Doc da Mindbenda, Mudslide with Small Professor, and most recently, Psychological Cheat Sheet 3 with August Fanon.
If you’re interested in feeling inspired or enlightened right now, this conversation with Vic Spencer is for you!
And if you’re not into that sort of thing, that's cool too. I think DJ Akademiks has exactly what you’re looking for!
Vic speaks on how he remains so unapologetically authentic in his music (3:02).
Vic speaks on how he avoids the ‘crab in a bucket’ mentality that many other rap artists fall victim to (8:02).
Vic dives into his challenging childhood, and how he turned his group home experiences into a positive (16:30).
Vic speaks on the elevated sense of purpose in his recent records, and giving back to the youth (25:25).
Vic details why he likes the 1 producer-1 rapper structure for an album (29:05).
Vic provides insight into the unique 8-year long creative process for Still Here with Doc da Mindbenda (34:11).
Vic illustrates why he wanted to showcase more of his lighter side on Mudslide with Small Professor (40:12).
Vic details the deep connection he shares with August Fanon, and the inspiration behind the deeply personal Psychological Cheat Sheet series (43:29).
Vic details the meaning behind some of the most powerful lines on a Psychological Cheat Sheet gem, “Tear Duct Tape” (57:50).
Vis details upcoming projects to look out for (1:16:07).
Support Vic Spencer's music here: https://vicspencer.bandcamp.com/
Follow Vic Spencer on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/VicSpencer?s=20&t=bix8NLARPZ1K1frNpgudbg
Follow Vic Spencer on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/vicspencer/?hl=en
--
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
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
The Hook (0:21).
Main Body of Review (1:42).
2022 has been a year of marquee albums coming to fruition in hip-hop. After 20+ years, we finally got another album from Black Star. billy woods and Preservation, two artists that were a match made in heaven together, blessed us with Aethiopes. Danger Mouse and Black Thought came through with their collaborative album Cheat Codes.
But no other album in 2022 captured the intrigue of hip-hop head’s more than the long-awaited collaboration between the almighty Alchemist and Roc Marciano, titled The Elephant Man’s Bones.
Expectations were sky high, so I can’t wait to give you my take on if those lofty expectations were met… or disappointingly failed to live up to the hype.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "Rubber Hand Grip"
Stream The Elephant Man's Bones here: https://open.spotify.com/album/3Kkrsa5dgEgl2fYyO51EEf?si=zNod_K2iQ_-ymGmrYB_gVw
--
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
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Wednesday Sep 14, 2022
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
The Hook (0:21).
The Interview (2:03).
Album artwork and the visual side of hip-hop has always played a key role in how music lovers engaged with the art form.
In today’s episode we are joined by someone who’s work has provided visuals for some of rap’s finest. From legends such as Prodigy, Clipse, DJ Premier, The Alchemist, and most notably as of late, many Backwoodz Studioz artists such as Armand Hammer and ShrapKnel.
I hope you enjoy today’s illuminating conversation with the incredibly talented photographer and film director, Alexander Richter.
Richter details how he got into photography and film growing up, and why he gravitated towards the visuals of hip-hop vs. the music creation side of the equation (3:01).
Richter provides his take on if album artwork has increased or decreased in value, in our current digital streaming era (8:54).
Richter illustrates the creative process that goes into collaborating with an artist on a visual (15:03).
Richter describes how he improves his craft as a photographer (24:04).
Richter describes how he first got actively involved in hip-hop as a photographer (28:56).
Richter gives us his craziest story shooting with a rapper, working with Action Bronson on the Saab Stories album cover (31:54).
Richter explains why he and Backwoodz Studioz connect so well, becoming a fixture in the Backwoodz Studioz universe (38:55).
Richter provides insight into the striking slaughtered pig album artwork for Haram (42:26).
Richter describes the vision of his short film Dark Brother Rise (50:12).
Richter gives his thoughts on the concept of trust in film, as it relates to the jean-yuhs documentary (59:50).
Richter answers a RMPP PATREON question from Dan-O of Freemusicempire on what stands out to him in a great photo (1:06:06).
Richter shouts out where you can find his work (1:13:38) (link below!).
Support Alexander Richter's work here: https://alexanderrichterphoto.com/
Watch Dark Brother Rise here: https://www.darkbrotherrise.com/
Follow Alexander Richter on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/AlexandeRichter?s=20&t=pLthRxEsbUAaNqhXLCXGdQ
Follow Alexander Richter on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/alexanderrichter/?hl=en
--
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
Wednesday Sep 07, 2022
Wednesday Sep 07, 2022
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
The Hook (0:21).
Main Body of Discussion (2:00).
Few albums build an entirely fresh and distinct musical universe quite like ShrapKnel’s Metal Lung.
Within seconds, the duo of PremRock and Curly Castro bring you on a 40+ minute journey that features a combination of A1 lyricism, and production that is wildly psychedelic and atmospheric.
Coming off the heels of two great solo albums respectively, and the debut ShrapKnel record that was great in its own right, my expectations couldn't have been higher for Metal Lung... and I am very happy to say that these expectations were blown out of the water.
The dynamic duo of Curly Castro and PremRock joined the show to deep-dive into the creation of Metal Lung, in the 3rd installment of the Album Alchemy series.
Listen on to hear how one of the best albums of 2022 was conceived.
Buy Metal Lung here: https://shrapknel.bandcamp.com/album/metal-lung
Follow PremRock on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/PlanetPremRock?s=20&t=Y_WTB0pKsxoDf4YvG4pItg
Follow Curly Castro on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/Curly_Castro?s=20&t=Y_WTB0pKsxoDf4YvG4pItg
Follow PremRock on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/premrock/?hl=en
Follow Curly Castro on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/curlycastro/?hl=en
--
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
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
Wednesday Aug 31, 2022
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
Beginning of Episode (2:03).
Whether it was back in 2005 when I was first starting to develop a distinct affection for the art form, or even now, a whole 17 years later.
When I look at the artists that soundscape so much of my life that I admire, who I lean on to process trauma, to escape my day to day, to instill some fun and confidence into my life... these artists rarely, if ever, look like me.
And that is why I want to take you on a quick journey through the looking glass of an Indian lover of hip-hop, and discuss the importance of representation through the art form we all love, hip-hop.
Throughout, I will also highlight a few pivotal artists in Heems, Big Baby Gandhi, and Madlib along the way.
--
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
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
Wednesday Aug 24, 2022
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
The Hook (0:21).
Main Body of Discussion (1:56).
As a fan of music, one of my favourite things to witness is an artist that I love have their breakthrough moment... where their peers, or listeners truly give them the respect they deserve.
For BLOODBLIXING and his latest album, NBA STREETZ: GANGSTA EDITION, it was a little bit of both.
With a feature list running the gamut from the likes of Rahiem Supreme, Defcee, Vic Spencer, AJ Suede, and motherfucking billy woods, it is clear that other fellow great artists in the game are recognizing BLOODBLIXING’s talent.
Couple the impressive guest list with a fan response that has not felt nearly as positive as it has with this latest record, NBA STREETZ is surely a milestone achievement in BLOODBLIXING’s career.
In my opinion, this album is the definitive BLOODBLIXING experience, which is why I’m pleased to have BLOODBLIXING re-join the show as the first repeat guest we’ve ever had, to deep-dive into this record in the second installment of the Album Alchemy series.
Buy NBA STREETZ here: https://bloodblixing.bandcamp.com/album/nba-streetz-gangsta-edition
Follow BLOODBLIXING on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/bloodblixing1?s=20
Follow BLOODBLIXING on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/bigblixing/
--
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
Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
Wednesday Aug 17, 2022
Video animation by: Big Flowers
Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING
The Hook (0:21).
Main Body of Review (2:16).
Lupe Fiasco, is a stalwart in the hip-hop game, having made music for roughly two decades now, to very good and often great results.
The Chicago MC has returned with his 8th studio album, and decided to create this latest on in an entirely different way than he has made any other album prior.
Lupe worked with a producer named, Soundtrakk, a frequent longtime collaborator of his, to create DRILL MUSIC IN ZION in just three days.
The conception of this album was inspired by the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, or appreciating the beauty in imperfection.
Lupe stated that his goal with this album was to find a balance between the "whimsy and the profound". That is very telling, and serves as a useful lens to apply to this album as a whole.
Listen on to see if stepping outside of his comfort zone unlocked some new magic for Lupe… or left me wanting more.
RMPP Preferred Cut: "MS. MURAL"
Stream DRILL MUSIC IN ZION here: https://open.spotify.com/album/0UennjqMxb1SAsaf7bsSwE?si=uL_E-QEzSeydTjjkXzsglA
--
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