The Rap Music Plug Podcast

When I first heard that two leaders in the experimental rap space, in rapper Fatboi Sharif and producer Child Actor, were joining forces on an upcoming album, Crayola Circles, the stylistic fit was obvious. I knew immediately that Sharif’s unique vocal style would pair well with Child Actor’s decadent psychedelia. But what I wasn’t prepared for was just how much of a beautifully tender emotional experience this record would be. I’m truly blown away by Crayola Circles, and so I’m pumped that I was able to chat with both Fatboi Sharif and Child Actor about the recording process, Sharif’s introspective lyrical focus, Child Actor’s delicate masterpieces of production, and much more. Cannot stress enough how special this album is, so make sure you listen on to learn more about what inspired it! The Plug (1:20). The Interview (2:40). Audience response to Crayola Circles (3:55). The genesis of the Sharif x Child Actor collaboration (8:33). The emotional lyricism of Crayola Circles (13:16). The serene sound of Crayola Circles (17:33). Sharif’s creative ethos (28:26). Child Actor’s production process for Crayola Circles (34:57). Impact of Child Actor’s beats on Sharif (42:18). The power of art (47:20). The circular structure of the album’s closer (56:15). Upcoming music / tour dates / merch (1:02:36). Buy Crayola Circles here: https://backwoodzstudioz.com/collections/fatboi-sharif-child-actor-crayola-circles Follow Fatboi Sharif on Twitter here: https://x.com/fatboyprospect Follow Fatboi Sharif on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/fatboi_sharif/ Follow Child Actor on Twitter here: https://x.com/chldactr Follow Child Actor on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/chldactr/ Edited by: Alyssa Rodriguez Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING -- 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

As soon as I first heard a beat from today’s guest, GAWD, off of MIKE’s Burning Desire… I was immediately intrigued. I needed to hear more of this nutty, oddball, and infinitely creative sound. So over the past few years since, I’ve dove into GAWD’s catalog as both a producer and a rapper and mined some real gold, within a stupidly prolific discography under various artistic monikers (GAWD, 65 Cent, Trick Racer, and many more). In this episode, we discuss the unique world-building in his art, his sense of humour and affinity for geese, his prolific output that has slowed in recent years, and some of his recent marquee releases in ONCE IN A PINK MOON as 65 Cent, and collaborating with the electric WiFiGawd on their latest collaborative album, Hot as Hell 3. The Plug (0:56). The Interview (2:36). GAWD’s affinity for Quasimoto dolls and geese (2:45). GAWD’s Virginia upbringing (7:32). GAWD and Iceland (10:48). World-building in GAWD’s music (14:08). GAWD’s nutty production sound (16:37). GAWD’s influence on Rage, and other high-distortion rap styles (18:58). GAWD’s loose, unstructured style of rapping (23:52). GAWD’s prolific creative output (31:33). Inspiration for the 65-track opus, ONCE IN A PINK MOON (35:51). Collaborating with WiFiGawd (43:40). The sound and vibe of Hot as Hell 3 (48:14). Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (52:07). Buy ONCE IN A PINK MOON here: https://poswrkspc.bandcamp.com/album/once-in-a-pink-moon Stream Hot as Hell 3 here: https://open.spotify.com/album/5z7rsu7bSReqnmhqNanBvt Stream GAWD's music here: https://soundcloud.com/ohmygawd-5 Follow GAWD on Twitter here: https://x.com/6512GAWD Follow GAWD on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/6512gawd/ Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING -- 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

The music of today’s guest, Birmingham, England-native, Tony Bontana, can be described in many ways: But to me, the simplest way I can describe Tony is creative… in any and every sense of the word. Tony’s music spans multiple genres from rap, to punk, no wave, harnessing an artistic ethos that is truly like none other. In today’s episode, we dig deeper into his creative ethos by discussing this “splayed” sound, the aggressively experimental 2025 collaborative record with psychedelic ensemble, The Beautiful Malaise, and his brand new opus, My Name, released on February 27th. Tony Bontana is an essential voice, rising in profile with critically acclaimed works, and a killer feature on Nourished by Time’s last album. I really can’t cosign this dude enough, so make sure you listen to this episode to learn more about a true musical visionary. The Plug (0:55). The Interview (2:41). The “splayed” sound (7:17). The aggressively experimental energy of The Beautiful Malaise (17:48). Tony’s abstract, free-form vocal style (26:18). The thematic inspiration for My Name (35:08). Tony’s keen political focus (40:44). The emotionally evocative sound of My Name (43:48). My Name as a great Tony Bontana gateway drug (48:27). Everything is Perfect Records (53:22). Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (56:37). Buy My Name here: https://tonybontana.bandcamp.com/album/my-name Follow Tony Bontana on Twitter here: https://x.com/tonybontana0121 Follow Tony Bontana on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/tonybontana/?hl=en Edited by: Alyssa Rodriguez Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING -- 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

One of the best things to come out of rap’s rising global influence over the few decades is the proliferation of the art form in different cultures across the globe. Where artists can infuse their own influences into their take on the genre. Today’s guest, mary sue, is a Singapore-native who has thoroughly impressed me in recent years with a wicked degree of musical diversity, working on any kind of soundscape under the sun, with the likes of bloomcycle, pyschedelic ensemble, The Clementi Sound Appreciation Club, along with a calm lyrical delivery that is ripe with thoughtful perspective. mary sue had a big 2025, first by dropping the stellar Porcelain Shield Paper Sword, and then finishing the year off with a collaborative EP with bloomcycle. In this episode, we discuss the Singapore hip-hop scene, his unique sound, and the creative approach behind his two impressive records of 2025. This guest is one of the brightest, rising stars in the indie rap space right now… you do not want to miss this. The Plug (0:49). The Interview (2:26) Singapore’s hip-hop scene (4:29). The Mary Sue sound (17:51). The writing approach for Porcelain Shield, Paper Sword (24:20). The live instrumentation sound of Porcelain Shield, Paper Sword (38:10). The theme of Unintended Self Expressions from Selling Reflections on the Internet (43:12). The psychedelic sound of USESRI from bloomcycle (51:25). Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (54:42). Buy/stream USESRI here: https://sweetmarysue.bandcamp.com/album/unintended-self-expressions-from-selling-reflections-on-the-internet Follow mary sue on Twitter here: https://x.com/marysueraps Follow mary sue on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sweetmarysue/ Edited by: Alyssa Rodriguez Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING -- 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

Around this time last year, the show was continuing to grow… but at a lesser pace than the super strong growth trajectory it had been on a few years prior. I was more than ok with this. At least the past hadn’t been a fluke. I established myself, and had some modest growth - I was grateful. But then in 2025, that big year-over-year growth came back, and I was so pleasantly surprised. I know this niche of experimentally-tinged rap is a small one, so the numbers would never reflect the impact... but 2025 taught me that this little niche may not be so little. Maybe there’s more that can be done with this platform, than I could have ever imagined. In 2026, my goal is to the accelerator and do even bigger things. That means bigger live events, bigger guests, and more collaborations with the many interesting journalists in this space that do good work. So now, without further ado... let’s talk about what music defined my 2025. Welcome to the 6th Annual RMPP Awards. The full categorized list of the RMPP's Top 100 Albums of 2025, and list of nominations, can be found here: https://rmpp.squarespace.com/episodes/209-6th-annual-rmpps The Plug (0:21). Award show structure (5:03). Beat of the Year (5:39). Hook of the Year (7:20). Live Performance of the Year (9:25). Best Rap Performance in a Supporting Role (11:37). Rap Performance of the Year (13:33). Song of the Year (15:04). Producer of the Year (16:11). Rapper of the Year (18:39). The RMPP 25: Top 25 Albums of the Year (20:36). RMPP Patron Choices for Album of the Year (32:40). Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING -- 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

Simply put, today’s guests have been on a run for the ages. Ever since their debut album in 2013’s Race Music, Armand Hammer, NY-based duo of E L U C I D and billy woods, have been on an absolute tear. With every passing release, their chemistry has gotten tighter, and their artistic scope has expanded. In 2021, the duo elevated to another level of critical and commercial success, teaming up with The legendary Alchemist for Haram - an album that has elevated the stock of woods and E L U C I D, with no sign of letting up. Next, they delivered the amazing We Buy Diabetic Test Strips in 2023, and incredible solo records in '24 and '25 respectively. Now in 2025, they joined forces with The Alchemist once again, with their latest album Mercy. In this episode, we discuss the lean, scaled-back creative approach to Mercy, the key themes that emerged, Al’s superpowers as a producer, and much more. The Plug (0:49). The Interview (2:17). The cover art for “Super Nintendo” (2:45). The genesis of Mercy (4:35). The recording process of Mercy (10:08). The unspoken creative chemistry of Armand Hammer (17:00). The thematic direction and symbolism of Mercy (23:17). The emotional tension of Mercy (35:40). Breaking down woods’ verse on “Laraaji” (37:47). The sonic design of Mercy (44:30). The Alchemist’s superpowers (49:45). How Al tailors his sound for Armand Hammer (58:10). The feature choices on Mercy (1:01:24). Key future milestones for Armand Hammer - patron q from Robert Rau (1:04:52). Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (1:09:49). Buy Mercy here: https://backwoodzstudioz.com/collections/armand-hammer-the-alchemist-mercy Follow Armand Hammer on Twitter here: https://x.com/ArmandHammerNYC Follow Armand Hammer on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/armandhammernyc/ Edited by: Alyssa Rodriguez Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING -- 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

With most artists that I have on the show, I’m more concerned with the “why” and the “what”. Why did they take their music in this emotional direction? What inspired their style? But with today’s guests, HUMAN ERROR CLUB, I found myself often asking “how”? HUMAN ERROR CLUB is a LA-based band comprised of drummer, Mekala Sessions, and two keyboardists in Diego Gaeta and Jesse Justice, who come together to create music that can be loosely described as free jazz, with elements of hip-hop infused inside of it too. They create music through improvisational methods that genuinely amaze me. In this conversation, I sought to understand what this improvisational process looks like, some of their creative touchstones, and working with Kenny Segal on their new album on Backwoodz Studioz, HUMAN ERROR CLUB AT KENNY’S HOUSE. The Plug (0:55). The Interview (2:34). HEC’s musical background (5:20). How HEC was formed (9:18). The HEC sound (13:58). HEC’s improvisational creative process (16:40). The fun of improvisational music (19:33). HEC’s chemistry (25:22). HEC’s songwriting process (27:30). The creative process of their new album, HECAKH (30:40). The making of “Dislocated” (35:59). The impact of Kenny on HECAKH (41:40). The emotional arc of HECAKH (47:45). Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (51:30). Buy HUMAN ERROR CLUB AT KENNY'S HOUSE here: https://backwoodzstudioz.com/collections/human-error-club-at-kennys-house?srsltid=AfmBOorMXAyLZ8kO-TgpETF_3dUnnXrmz6P_NmmGm_oCZYuqWbX8Wj6U Follow HUMAN ERROR CLUB on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/humanerrorclubla/ Edited by: Alyssa Rodriguez Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING -- 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

Today’s episode highlights the beauty in artistic collaboration - creating something greater than the sum of its parts, as well as the beauty of art as a means to process emotion and get through life’s challenges. The quartet of rapper Teller Bank$, and producers Killer Kane, q no rap name, and Philth Spector joined forces to create one of the best albums of the year, DRUG$$$. They joined the show to deep-dive into the jazz-like improvisational creative process for the album, the therapeutic effect it had on Teller Bank$ in soundtracking his own personal story of triumph through adversity, and the serendipitous nature of the entire creative journey. Some wise words from some incredibly talented minds, you will not want to miss this. Finally, for folks in Toronto, I have a special treat for you... I will be hosting an evening of amazing hip-hop and experimental music featuring cross-country acts that include: Wave Generators, jesse the Tree, NAHreally, GhostboyRJ, and bridge of sand. Join us on October 16th at BSMT 254 - tickets on sale now, buy here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rmpp-presents-wave-generators-jesse-the-tree-nahreally-live-in-toronto-tickets-1672174632339?aff=oddtdtcreator The Plug (1:05). The Interview (2:50). The highly positive reception to DRUG$$$ (3:16). The genesis of the collaboration (8:00). The Flip a Beat Club between the DRUG$$$ producers (13:23). The recording process for the production of DRUG$$$ (17:34). Executing the musical vision of DRUG$$$ (21:47). The overarching narrative behind DRUG$$$ (27:38). The sound signature of DRUG$$$ (32:56). Teller’s emotional mindstate while recording DRUG$$$ (38:44). Short song structure of DRUG$$$ (57:28). The freedom that the DRUG$$$ instrumentals afforded to Teller (1:03:22). Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (1:15:27). The impact DRUG$$$ had on Teller’s life (1:24:51). Buy/stream DRUG$$$ here: https://tellerbanks.bandcamp.com/album/drug Follow Teller Bank$ on Twitter here: https://x.com/Teller_Banks357 Follow q no rap name on Twitter here: https://x.com/qnorapname_ Follow Philth Spector on Twitter here: https://x.com/Philth_Spector Follow Killer Kane on Twitter here: https://x.com/killerkanebeats Follow Teller Bank$ on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/teller_banks/ Follow q no rap name on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/qnorapname/ Follow Philth Spector on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/philth_spector/ Follow Killer Kane on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/ourleaderkane/ Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING -- 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

How I’d describe my tastes in music would be such that, I don’t care too much about what emotion is conveyed, I just care that there IS an emotion being shared to begin with. Whether it be portrayals of depression, bliss, and everything in between, I want my music to make me feel something. On top of that, I’m partial to more intense displays of emotion, because I’m a dramatic emotional guy, what can I say? That’s why the music of today’s guests, Sunmundi and Sasco, really speaks to me, because what they created on their latest album is a wondrous achievement in putting true heartfelt passion on to wax. The young and talented New York-based duo joined the show to discuss how their relationship formed, their natural creative chemistry, and the artistic approach behind their incredible new collaborative album, Contacting. I was pleased to co-host this conversation with friend of the show, an accomplished journalist with pieces in Pitchfork, The Guardian, Bandcamp, and more. So listen on to hear about how one of 2025’s essential records was created, and why you need to have Sunmundi and Sasco firmly on your listening radar from here on out. The Plug (0:38). The Interview (2:30). Reactions to the strong positive response to Contacting (4:20). How Sunmundi and Sasco connected (7:49). How Contacting came to be (9:31). The musical direction for Contacting (13:18). Sunmundi & Sasco’s shared intuition that conceptualized Contacting (17:46). Sunmundi’s hyper-expressive rap style (21:27). Creating music as ‘a vessel’ (28:49). Future music from Sunmundi & Sasco (33:00). The post-production work for Contacting (35:54). The core statement Contacting is communicating (38:33). Buy/stream Contacting here: https://sasco.bandcamp.com/album/contacting Follow Sunmundi on Twitter here: https://x.com/sunmundi Follow Sasco on Twitter here: https://x.com/sascomusic Follow Sunmundi on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sunmundimusic/ Follow Sasco on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/sascomusic/ Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING Photo credit used in episode artwork by @suchi__mane on Instagram -- 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

In a society as broken as today’s, where the power gap between regular working people and the ruling class is expanding on a daily, finding a way to navigate your life and career is challenging. Particularly, when you aim to live your life according to your moral compass, in a way that shows solidarity with those in need, and combats oppressive systems. That’s one of the reasons why artists like today’s guest, DJ Haram, are important… because they pave a different path that takes the power back. This is the kind of impact that would be vital on its own, but is amplified when in the hands of an artist as skilled as Haram, who blends club, dance, hip-hop, electronic, and noise into a uniquely electrifying mixture. She’s been responsible for some of the most cutting-edge music in recent years, as 1/2 of 700 Bliss with Moor Mother, lacing experimental rappers like E L U C I D and billy woods with wildly creative beats, and is now fully coming into the spotlight as a solo artist with her fantastic debut solo album on Hyperdub, titled Beside Myself. This was a very fascinating and fun conversation that hopefully demystifies one of the most interesting figures in all of music. The Plug (1:17). The Interview (3:25). The initial response to Beside Myself (5:47). DJ Haram’s affinity for defying convention and norms (10:03). How Haram engages in ‘media manipulation’ (19:25). The role of an artist (27:41). Blending Middle Eastern sonics with experimental dance, electronic, hip-hop music (40:33). DJ Haram’s inspiration to use her voice more on Beside Myself (46:45). The central statement behind Beside Myself (53:37). The dynamic sound of Beside Myself (1:02:11). The connection between Armand Hammer and DJ Haram (1:07:41). Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch (1:11:25). A recent sign of hope for DJ Haram (1:12:30). Buy/stream Beside Myself here: https://djharam.bandcamp.com/album/beside-myself Read DJ Haram's Substack here: https://substack.com/@punchlinemaiden Follow DJ Haram on Twitter here: https://x.com/premiumharam Follow DJ Haram on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/djharam/ Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING -- 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

In recent years, the Canadian hip-hop scene, particularly in Montreal, has been growing in size and quality. Backxwash, today’s guest, may be the scene’s most captivating act. Sporting an eclectic sound that pulls from metal, industrial noise, trap, horrorcore conscious hip-hop, and pop... Backxwash can, and really has done it all. Her latest record, Only Dust Remains, showcases the latest evolution of Backxwash’s artistry, featuring boldly melodic songwriting, climactic hooks, and a lucid meditation on death. In this episode, we walk through her artistic journey, key influences on her musical style, the importance of identity in her music, and the making of her magnum opus, Only Dust Remains. The Plug (0:46). The Interview (2:00). Her musical journey from Zambia to Montreal (3:36). The creative community in Montreal (7:26). Trans representation in hip-hop (12:46). Blending rap with heavier styles of music (18:42). Production inspirations for Backxwash’s genre-bending style (21:54). The extended break between Only Dust Remains and His Happiness (29:39). The musical vision for Only Dust Remains (32:56). The narrative arc of Only Dust Remains (35:34). The inspiration behind the melodic sound of Only Dust Remains (40:54). The core message behind Only Dust Remains (45:18). What Backxwash learnt by creating her new album (48:40). The philosophy behind this new chapter of Backxwash’s career (52:12). Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch from Backxwash (55:55). Future sound Backxwash would like to explore (57:26). Buy/stream Only Dust Remains here: https://backxwash.bandcamp.com/album/only-dust-remains Follow Backxwash on Twitter here: https://x.com/backxwash Follow Backxwash on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/backxwash/?hl=en Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING -- 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

Today’s guest Real Bad Man, is an artist who has caught my attention in recent years because he checks two important boxes for what I typically gravitate to in music. The first box is that I’m an album guy. And when it comes to the type of albums I prefer, I’m a cohesiveness whore. I love it when an album has a consistent musical identity, with thoughtful sequencing and transitions that make the experience flow seamlessly from top to bottom. It’s for these reasons that Real Bad Man has impressed me because his respect for the album format is clear, creating cohesive full-length musical experiences with the likes of Boldy James, ZelooperZ, Pink Siifu, Lukah, Willie the Kid, and more. But as you will soon find out if you listen on, there’s more to Real Bad Man’s creative arc than meets the eye. In today’s episode, the LA-based producer enigma delves into his unique multi-disciplinary journey from art director at Stüssy to prolific producer, his love for the album format, the trademark RBM sound, working with Boldy James, and more! The Plug (0:55). The Interview (2:45). The genesis of the multi-media Real Bad Man creative project (2:52). How Real Bad Man returned to music with Real Bad Boldy (14:04). The cross-pollination within fashion design and music (21:16). Real Bad Man’s love for the album format (27:15). The trademark Real Bad Man sound (30:12). Producing the musically-rich, Temple Needs Water., with Lukah (35:41). The ideal collaborator for Real Bad Man (42:56). The special chemistry between Boldy James and Real Bad Man (47:32). What differentiates Conversational Pieces from past Boldy x RBM collabs (55:15). Upcoming projects / merch (59:59). Support Real Bad Man here: https://realbadman.com/ Buy/stream Conversational Pieces here: https://realbadman.bandcamp.com/album/conversational-pieces Follow Real Bad Man on Twitter here: https://x.com/realbadman208?lang=en Follow Real Bad Man on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/realbadman/?hl=en Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING -- 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

Today’s guest, Fly Anakin, is no stranger to delivering albums that leave a distinct imprint on the listener. As seen on past records like Frank that envelop you in dusty old soul records and introspection, and FlySiifu’s that welcomed you into this record shop concept with two homies who enjoy trading bars over some sick jazz rap instrumentals. But on his latest album, (The) Forever Dream, Fly Anakin takes a noticeably different approach. Opting not to follow a distinct concept or theme, Frank traded pre-meditated forethought for a more free-wheeling approach, allowing for the album to reveal itself through fun studio sessions with the album’s executive producer, Detroit legend Quelle Chris. The results of this approach were terrific, as this new album sees Fly Anakin operate with so much freedom, embracing new sounds and collaborators, resulting in an incredibly loose and dynamic album that manages to push all the right buttons, balancing spontaneity with expertly crafted cohesion. In this episode, we dive into how Frank's relationship with Quelle was formed, the effortlessly natural collaborative process creating this new album, and much more! The Plug (0:45). The Interview (2:44). Frank’s feelings towards the release of (The) Forever Dream (4:58). Frank touring with his partner, bbymutha (7:09). The formation of Fly Anakin and Quelle Chris’ relationship (11:48). What makes Quelle special as an artist and collaborator (16:50). How Quelle and Fly Anakin are ‘opposites’ (22:27). Creative decision-making responsibilities between Fly Anakin and Quelle (24:13). The musical direction of (The) Forever Dream (26:30). Fly Anakin’s mindset when creating (The) Forever Dream (30:42). The heartfelt and open nature of (The) Forever Dream (35:00). Why Fly Anakin feels his latest album is his best (39:54). The key collaborations on (The) Forever Dream (43:18). The thinking behind Quelle executive producing (The) Forever Dream (45:22). Upcoming projects / tour dates / merch, including a project with Real Bad Man (49:23). Buy/stream (The) Forever Dream here: https://flyanakin.bandcamp.com/album/the-forever-dream Follow Fly Anakin on Twitter here: https://x.com/flyanakin Follow Fly Anakin on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/flyanakin/?hl=en Intro/Outro beat by: BLOODBLIXING -- 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