Your remedy to the “I don’t have anything good to listen to” problem… below.
Access all RMPP episodes here: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / YouTube.
#131 - SZA - SOS REVIEW
This album hit me at a very pivotal time in December of last year when I needed it most, where I was fragile, spiraling, and deeply ashamed.
Yet SOS managed to give me a bit of juice, providing me with sweet sounds and honest perspective related to emotions I directly was processing at the time, genuinely keeping me afloat throughout a rough time.
It’s funny how all that self-love and acceptance talk starts to actually resonate… when you stop loving yourself, and can’t accept mistakes you’ve made in the past.
If you're intrigued to know why SZA’s SOS left such a mark on me, listen on...
Conversation Pieces - Our Loss - A commentary on Drake and relatability in art
Relatability in art is often erroneously mistaken for this idea of “x artist explicitly talking about things that are directly relevant to my life, talking only about things I dealt with personally".
Obviously this is a form of relatability, but I’d argue that relatability is a concept more broad and less rigid than that. Relatability to me is simply the idea of identifying with what an artist stands for.
This edition of Conversation Pieces examines the boy, Drizzy Drake and his latest collaborative album with 21 Savage, Her Loss, through the lens of relatability to see what has gone wrong for the 6 God in recent years.
#130 - Koncept Jack$on INTERVIEW
There are few rappers that I consider true aliens of the rap game. By aliens, I mean rappers who’s style feels one of one, incomprehensible, otherwordly. The kind of rapper that sounds good on any beat you throw at them.
I was honoured to be joined by one of said rappers, Mutant Academy’s Koncept Jack$on, who gave us a peak inside the mind of one of rap’s most unique lyricists.
Listen on to hear how the incredible Koncept Jack$on does what he does.
#129 - Album Alchemy - Preaching in Havana (w/ Fatboi Sharif & noface)
Weirdness and experimentation in music is a tricky thing. It’s very easy to go too far and make music that is so unlistenable to many listeners.
It is also easy to make music that feels pushes musical boundaries, but to no meaningful end. Where the end product doesn’t come together into a cohesive statement that says anything coherent.
Lucky for us listeners of Fatboi Sharif and noface’s latest album, Preaching in Havana, none of the above applies.
Havana is a true mindf*** of an album that is stunning, and I'm pleased to be joined by the creators of this record, Fatboi Sharif and noface, to explain how the h*** this twisted record was made.
#128 - R.A.P. Ferreira - 5 to the Eye with Stars REVIEW
The packaging, from the beats to the way Ferreira rhymes, has evolved tremendously from when I first heard him on things that happen at day // things that happen at night in 2013… to where he is now, with his latest album 5 to the Eye with Stars.
Ferreira has continuously sculpted his sound to great results, and I can’t wait to explain how.
#127 - AKAI SOLO INTERVIEW
Something I told AKAI, and what bares repeating, is that an idea sounds simple when it is presented in his music. He’s that special.
With a fresh, and raw rap style that is reminiscent of Vordul Mega, and that’s not my words… that comes from the Backwoodz Studioz head honcho himself.
This conversation was as insightful as you’d expect it would be with an artist like AKAI. Enjoy!
#126 - ewonee INTERVIEW
The Mutant Academy collective has been the launching point for many of rap’s most innovative creators over the past half decade. With uber-talented spitters such as Fly Anakin, and Koncept Jack$on, and captivating beatmakers such as ohbliv, Tuamie, Foisey, and our guest on today’s show... ewonee.
ewonee has fueled the sound for not only Mutant Academy releases, but has also worked with the brightest stars in the game right now. From Mach-Hommy to Estee Nack, to YUNGMORPHEUS, crafting beats for their outstanding collaborative album, Thumbing Thru Foliage.
#125 - billy woods & Messiah Musik - Church REVIEW
Vulnerability is an interesting concept. The more vulnerable you get, the likelihood of you achieving true happiness and connection rises... just as the likelihood you get deeply hurt and traumatized rises as well.
In other words, vulnerability is a double-edged sword.
Vulnerability is the only true path to acceptance, healing, and growth.
This is the path that we find billy woods on in his latest album Church, in collaboration with producer phenom Messiah Musik.
#124 - Mr. Muthaf*****’ eXquire INTERVIEW
When I first heard today's guest on the show on El-P's "Oh Hail No" off of Cancer 4 Cure… I was sold immediately.
Even if it was just one feature, without me being aware of who this guy was and what projects he had under his belt, his flows, his bars, and his charisma were off the charts.
The talent of Mr. Muthaf*****’ eXquire was undeniable.
And luckily for me, he also had a catalog to back up this strong first impression by the time I tapped in around the year 2012, since eXquire had already dropped a fun and rugged mixtape in Lost in Translation, and then soon after would drop the terrifically thoughtful Kismet.
From then on I was a fan for life.
Now a decade later Brooklyn’s eXquire has released his most mature and reflective album yet, and is here today to discuss that and much, much more.
#123 - Ghais Guevara INTERVIEW
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, 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.
#122 - Album Alchemy - Raw Extractions (w/ Lukah & Hollow Sol)
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.
BONUS - RMPP x FME Senior Class w/ Freemusicempire
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.
#121 - Vic Spencer INTERVIEW
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. That man is Vic Spencer. If you’re interested in feeling inspired or enlightened right now, this conversation with Vic Spencer is for you!
#119 - Alexander Richter INTERVIEW
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.
#118 - Album Alchemy - Metal Lung (w/ ShrapKnel)
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.
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.
Conversation Pieces - The importance of representation in hip-hop
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 albums and artists along the way.
#117 - Album Alchemy - NBA STREETZ: GANGSTA EDITION (w/ BLOODBLIXING)
In my opinion, NBA STREETZ 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.
#116 - Lupe Fiasco - DRILL MUSIC IN ZION REVIEW
Lupe worked with a producer named, Soundtrakk, a frequent longtime collaborator of his, to create DRILL MUSIC IN ZION in just three days.
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.