KINDA NEAT
Kinda Neat is a music discovery platform where you might find your new favorite rapper, singer, beatmaker, or pop star. Host, Lee Shaner (aka Intuition), is one of the earliest music podcasters having started his first music podcast over a decade ago in 2011. KN has been the first podcast / YT channel to break artists like Kali Uchis, Ghostemane, J.I.D., and so many others. Tune in for an in-depth look into each artist's journey and the common themes that make people pursue careers in music.
Wed, June 30, 2021
Mavi
Mavi was one of the first artists I reached out to when deciding to relaunch Kinda Neat, so it's only fitting he ended up as the last guest of this "season" before I take a little summer break. When I reached out I'd recently gotten hip to his triumphant debut, Let the Sun Talk . I t turns out Mavi had recently decided to take a break from school to concentrate on playing shows and building on the momentous buzz of the record. Then the world came to a halt. I can't help but feel for all the young artists who were about to embark on their first tours when 2020 was stolen from them. Not being able to touch audiences and feel the palpable energy of a record like LTST can make an artist feel like the record quickly became a distant memory. In talking to Mavi, he seemed almost surprised someone (me) would still care about the album. But on the heels of his latest EP, END OF THE EARTH , with venues opening back up, hopefully 2021 will make up for lost time last year. This was a very thought-provoking episode. We broke format and talked less about Mavi's journey than we did his worldview. I'm thoroughly impressed and in awe of his intellect, insight, and insatiable curiosity. The breadth of knowledge available at his fingertips on a wide range of subjects is enviable, and the wisdom that shines through his songs is just as easily on display in conversation. Tune in to hear us talk about his deep connection to South Carolina, how America is deeply haunted, and why his name is nothing to play with. - Lee
Wed, June 23, 2021
demahjiae
When ovrkast . came through last year, demahjiae came with him to the studio. I wasn't hip yet, but ovrkast. promised me he was next up. He was right! demahjiae's 2020 release " And, Such Is Life. " boosted itself right into my favorite albums of the year upon it's release. The self-produced opus features a litany of guests that stay in my rotation (Navy Blue, Pink Siifu, Zeroh, ovrkast.), thoughtfully cohesive production, and constantly inward facing lyricism. It's well worth your time and truly shows the potential for a long-lasting and impactful career. Tune in to hear us talk about legendary bass player great grandfather, the influence of video game soundtracks, and a pivotal tech deck rejection.
Wed, June 16, 2021
SG Ali
SG Ali was brought to my attention by a trusted source and I've loved everything I've heard so far. She has a deeply intuitive sense of melody, and consistently creates inspirational ear worms. Turns out she's been honing her craft since childhood. Born and raised in Near North Chicago, in the Cabrini-Green Homes, she was lucky enough to be a part of a music education program in middle school called "Friday Crew" where members learned to make beats, make raps, and make music videos. While she was initially only excited to get out of class, she quickly realized she had vast potential as a rapper, and it wasn't long before early teenage Facebook posts of her raps were going viral. Now after almost a decade of honing her craft, her first record with upstart label Steady Leanin is on the way soon. Tune in to hear us talk about Mayor Daly tearing down Chicago's housing projects, being born to young parents, and her pivotal time in "Friday Crew." - Lee
Wed, June 09, 2021
Travis Thompson
Travis Thompso n and I go way back now. Even before his performance of “ Need You ” went massively viral back in 2017, he was following my friends and I online, and occasionally asking for guidance, as far back as 2011. He’s one of the friendliest folks to ever come on the show, and I feel a bit like a big brother (whether he wants me to or not). After “Need You” blew up, labels came calling, and he signed with Epic. His first release with them Reckless Endangerment admittedly didn’t do what he wanted it to, and he’s been looking inward since. While fans and followers continued to wonder — and occasionally harass him about — where the new music was, he was in a spiritual crisis that’s helped inspire, what he feels is, the best music he’s ever made. Tune in to hear us talk about overcoming self-doubt, artistic growth, and rocking Bape on the Rez. - Lee
Wed, June 02, 2021
Njomza
Been a Njomza fan for a long time now. After hearing about her way back in 2014, inviting her to perform on the show (I have an unreleased GEM of hers in the archives), and having her play one of my last shows back in 2015, I was thrilled to have her team reach out about performing the latest single on KN. A theme of this episode is drive and ambition. Njomza learned she could sing very young, and by the time she was in junior high she held auditions to start a band. She began posting cover songs to YouTube in high school, where she was quickly discovered by Mac Miller, and eventually she moved to Los Angeles on her own to pursue music. But interestingly her confidence and assuredness in making life decisions around music is in sharp contrast with her, at times crippling, perfectionism when releasing music. With her upcoming LIMBO EP, she finds herself in a new headspace, in her bag, and ready to release more music moving forward. This, to me, means it's only a matter of time until she's a household name. Tune in to hear us talk about her parents immigration story, overcoming perfectionism, and a fateful night in Wisconsin. - Lee
Wed, May 26, 2021
Lou From Paradise
Lou From Paradise hit it big in 2016 with a video that took him from never playing a solo show, to playing festivals within a matter of months. He was quickly swept into the major label system, and describes it as all being too much too soon. Feeling trapped by a machine that didn't want to see him grow and evolve, he asked to be released, and is now back on the indie grind feeling fully recharged. Lou's set to have a very busy year. With 3 releases already in the pocket, including the soon to be released tape produced completely by Statik Selektah, he seems set to have another big breakout very soon. He played me a bunch of new music after this episode and I can vouch, he's got all the bars, multiple styles, and seems to never run out of new ideas. Hear us talk about growing up a troublemaker in Staten Island, his journey through the major label system, and his dad not letting Eve in the club. - Lee
Wed, May 19, 2021
Kipp Stone
Kipp Stone 's 2020 release HOMME was a carefully crafted and perfectly cohesive album. It was a stylistic leap forward for Kipp, and the first time he'd genuinely felt he found his voice on record. "Sprague Street" featuring Mick Jenkins was picked up by a number of playlists, and Kipp's buzz has been steadily on the rise. Born and raised in Cleveland, this was Kipp's first trip to Los Angeles. With the release of his excellent new EP Faygo Baby , and the "three perfect albums" he has plotted in his head, it definitely won't be his last trip out here. Tune in to hear us talk about cappin' and wreckin', getting fried in junior high, and ending up with a best friend by dissing every rapper in the city. - Lee
Wed, May 12, 2021
Kear
Was recently put on to Kear and intrigued by her innate pop sensibilities, confident delivery, and sensational ear for beats. The Philadelphia native was on her first trip to Los Angeles and it turns out she may never leave. After only working on music for a year, she has fully thrown herself into it, gathered a team, and made the trek across country to see if they can make it work. She seems to have all the right weaponry to achieve her goals. This episode contains a somber story of housing insecurity, constant uprooting, and overall uncertainty about even the most basic childhood needs such as attending school. Kear's had some tough years, but has kept an upbeat attitude, is quick to laugh, and has a magnetic personality to match her music. Tune in to hear us talk about FKA Twigs influence on her style, the uncle that inspired her to rap, and bouts of homelessness. - Lee
Wed, May 05, 2021
Airøspace
I came across Airøspace in a Twitter thread. I asked people to put me on to new music, and out of the hundreds of responses, 2020's Senjougahara Hitagi, Vol. IV tape really stood out. His 2019 release Sorry to Bother You further solidified how asleep I'd been. He lives in DC, and trying to arrange an episode of KN during the pandemic became touch and go due to the fact my wife was approaching her due date during the week he was in town. My wife was having contractions the evening we recorded the episode , but we weren't sure if was actual labor or not. We left for the hospital an hour after I finished talking to Airø, and my son was born the next day. Tune in to hear us talk about attending nightmarish boarding schools, drumming in metal bands, and spending time in a psych ward as a kid. - Lee
Wed, March 24, 2021
Carpetgarden
Carpetgarden 's latest EP, " The Way He Looks ," blew me away. The songwriting is impeccable, the production is great, and their gently deep resonant tone really hits an emotional soft spot. I gush over their talent in the episode because I really do think they have hit-record potential. With such a wide range of influence and consumed media throughout their youth, Carpetgarden has a established a sound with crossover appeal to all sorts of music lovers. Growing up on social media and online gaming, they're truly a product of the internet with an intuitive knack for marketing that will surely build a cult following over the next few years. Very excited to follow along on the journey. Tune in to hear us talk about growing up in a small conservative city, finding actual community in community college, and a very inspirational teacher. - Lee
Wed, March 17, 2021
Clip
You're not going to find a lot of Clip 's music on streaming platforms yet. Her underground hit " SAD B!TCH " sits alone on DSPs, but a quick trip to her Soundcloud page will show you why the industry is salivating over her. Her versatility and style is instantly apparent, and with the well established aesthetic of someone raised on the internet, it's only a matter of time until she and her gang Burn All Sex Dolls pop off something major. Born in Brooklyn to scholarship athlete parents, and raised partly in Fort Worth, TX after the family relocated, her journey into music started when her NFL player uncle bought her an iPod touch with GarageBand installed on it. The first song she ever put online, a cover of SZA and Willow Smith's "9" got attention from former guest Cuco, and she was on her way. Clip has a magnetic energy, and a natural penchant for gaining a following so I really think she might be a sure thing. Tune in to hear her talk about her extremely athletic family, the similarities between small town Texans and big city NY models, and being accidentally popular. - Lee
Wed, March 10, 2021
Jacks Haupt
Put Jacks Haupt on your radar now. We're tapping in extremely early in her career, and this could be a sure bet. With her sultry pop-savvy sound, and bilingual lyrical sensibilities, I could envision her being an international phenomenon. Big words to live up to, but we can look back on this post in a few years and see how it went. Jacks grew up in Dallas and recently had her first whirlwind trip to LA, where she filmed music videos, became part of a documentary, and got her first taste of the music industry. A big step for someone who was thinking about removing her entire catalog from streaming platforms and quitting just a few months prior. A fateful DM from a friend of our show changed all that. Hear us talk about living with bipolar disorder, skipping school to skinny dip, and the Vine covers she doesn't want you to find. - Lee
Wed, March 03, 2021
Jansport J
Jansport J has been working working. In 2020 alone he dropped four beat tape projects, and he's already released his first of 2021 in Save My Soul II . He's also been getting amazing placements from the likes of Benny The Butcher, Freddie Gibbs, Snoop, Ty Dolla Sign and many more. His soulful sample chops and swingy drums are a perfect palette for rappers, or wonderful standalone pieces that hold up just as well in headphones as they do knocking in your vehicle speakers. I've known of, and been acquaintances with, J for over 10 years now. During some of the best (and brokest) times of my life, when I was religiously attending every rap show and party I could get into, J was a similar fixture of the scene. I would always see him at shows or on flyers and he's always been a good dude with a big smile. I love talking to people that stuck with it long enough to see it pay off whether or not they ever became a household name, and J's one of those guys. Tune in to hear us talk about being born in Alaska, buying Fruity Loops instead of cracking it, and how he chose beats over raps. Don't miss his 8 minute beat set on our YouTube page . - Lee
Wed, February 24, 2021
Rexx Life Raj
Been wanting to have Rexx Life Raj on the show for some years now and finally worked it out. The Bay Area native has a butter smooth delivery, intuitive sense of melody, and a plethora of range in topics and emotional depth. His latest release California Poppy 2 finds him releasing the sequel to his heralded 2018 tape. While that release found him collaborating with Bay legend E-40, the follow up welcomes New Orleans legend Juvenile to the party as well. Raj started rapping in high school, when Berkeley High was bubbling with an immense amount of talent, but being a D-1 football prospect led him to college in Boise State. While athletics kept him busy from 5am to 9pm with workouts starting at 5:45 in the morning, he still found time to work on music whenever he could. Upon returning home to the Bay and writing raps while running delivery routes for his parents' business, the music slowly but surely started to catch on. By the time his single "Handheld GPS" took off, he knew he'd found his path. Tune in to hear us talk about majoring in communications, starting therapy during the pandemic, and still doing deliveries for his parents in his new Tesla. - Lee
Wed, February 17, 2021
N8NOFACE
N8NOFACE has been making music for almost 30 years, but for over 20 of those years he made it in secrecy. His first love, east coast rap music, inspired him to order an SP1200 from the back of a magazine when there wasn't a single music store in his home state of Arizona selling them. For years he toiled away learning how to make beats and rap, but never showed anyone. Even when he and his brother both owned hip hop shops in Tucson, hosting open mics and battle events in store, he still kept it secret. Finally, when DJ Kutmah heard some of his songs on his brother's Myspace page, he was pushed into playing his first ever performance and hasn't looked back since. His former group, Crimekillz, is where he started to develop his signature synth punk style. They had glimpses of success in the early to mid 2010's, but it always seemed as though self-sabotage kept them from reaching the promised land. Recently N8's solo career has been seeing an uptick in notoriety and fandom, and he credits it to his newfound sobriety and, surprisingly, Covid-19. Be sure to check out his latest record Bound To Let You Down out now on Eyeball Records. Tune in to hear us talk about growing up in coyote country (not the animal kind), owning a record store, and recently becoming a grandfather(!?). - Lee
Wed, February 10, 2021
Nana
Nana's recently released Save Yourself LP is an absolute gem. Looking at the complete picture - extremely high production value, master class level bars, cinematic visuals, polished and professional album photography - it's hard to believe the record was released independently. Even the collaboration with TDE's Reason was an organic introduction from family and friends in the Crenshaw District. Nana's been quietly honing his craft for over 10 years. Save Yourself, and 2018's Nana's EP , are carefully crafted battering rams that will surely kick down the door for this exciting new voice. Get familiar now, because the whole industry will know his name by the next record. Tune in to hear us talk about visiting his parents home country of Ghana, working with my ex at Abercrombie & Fitch, and James Harden making the basketball team he didn't. - Lee
Wed, February 03, 2021
The Khan
The Khan has been bubbling in the underground for a few years now, but underground rap wasn't his first foray into music. Originally inspired by classic rock, he started a band inspired by the likes of Led Zeppelin while still in middle school. Born and raised in DC, Khan's unique experience has inspired his political activity. The song he performed, "BLM PLAZA," was created after weeks of protesting in front of the White House (Pen Ave & 16th). After weeks of BLM protesters being beaten, belittled, and berated by police and the president, the corridor was renamed BLM Plaza, and a song was born. He's been in the lab cooking up new styles, and lately he and his peers have been incorporating Drum n' Bass into their beats, which leads to a refreshing twist on a retro sound. You might be familiar with some of Khan's bangers like "Tires" and "Vices," but in speaking with him you really get the sense he's always trying to grow and expand as an artist, and the fact he and his friends may be birthing a new sub-genre is very exciting. Tune in to hear us talk about immigrant parents, his first underground show, and learning to take his time. - Lee
Wed, January 27, 2021
Oliver the 2nd
Oliver the 2nd is a rapper out of Fontana, CA (the I.E.) who's been honing his craft for years. He's been collaborating with his cousin Jeremiah Jae since before Jae was signed to Brainfeeder, he was featured in a Boiler Room episode with Jon Wayne, Zeroh, and Azizi Gibson, and he's had the opportunity to work with Alchemist multiple times over the last few years. Clearly he's in a circle with some of rap's elite, so why did he almost disappear for 6 years? He released his last project in 2014, only popped up on collaborative records and compilations, and then released the spectacular "Lingua Franca" EP in November seemingly out of the blue. After running across the record I wanted to get to the bottom of his hiatus, and how we knew so many of the same people without ever running into each other in the past. Hear us talk about battling at both lunch periods, working with Alchemist, and approaching his music with refreshed dedication. - Lee
Wed, January 20, 2021
Dana Dentata
Dana Dentata 's story is a real roller coaster ride. After becoming a model at age 14, her journey has been filled with seedy men, shady scenes, and lots of demons. Those demons were a signature part of her visual aesthetic to this point, but she's recently brightened her outlook after signing to legendary metal label Roadrunner Records and, through therapy, learning about her dissociative disorder. From close encounters with Jeffrey Epstein, to being the face of American Apparel, and eventually being mentored by Kanye West, Dana has stories for days and experiences that run the gamut. Hear us talk about starting an all-girl band in her teens, dissociating from traumatic experiences, and losing a modeling competition thrown by Jeffery Epstein. - Lee
Wed, January 13, 2021
YUNGMORPHEUS
YUNGMORPHEUS had a busy 2020. Starting off the year dropping the impressive collaboration Bag Talk with Pink Siifu, before continuing with solo project Black Schemata, a beat tape Pieces, and wrapping it up with the great EP Mise En Place. He's started 2021 with the same feverish pace dropping the States of Precarity LP last week. In the song he performed for us, "Championship Spliff," he states he "took time to hone the pen, I had something to say." His progress as a rapper and beatsmith have been on a constant upward trajectory, and I find that line to be poignant because he seems to have really hit his stride this year and sounds more comfortable and formidable on the mic than ever before. You can tell he's been taking the time to hone the pen. We discuss hitting that stride and much more. Hear us talk about growing up in Miami, skipping grades in elementary school, and why he's pursuing art rather than academia. Head to YouTube to see him perform "Championship Spliff." - Lee
Wed, December 16, 2020
Episode 176: Huey Briss
Huey Briss is a Long Beach, CA native who's recently come into his own as a rapper after years of working on his sound. What's his new x-factor? His producer Niko Beats. When the two started working together he noticed an immediate chemistry and growth in his sound. The fact Niko's father is hip hop legend DJ Babu has helped them both learn to polish their industry acumen and professionalism. With a string of releases set to flood this holiday season, he'll be ending up on a lot more radars in 2021. Tune in to hear us talk about the poignant guidance a teacher gave him, befriending Buddy in high school, and asking Pharrell for advice. -Lee See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Wed, December 16, 2020
Huey Briss
Huey Briss is a Long Beach, CA native who’s recently come into his own as a rapper after years of working on his sound. What’s his new x-factor? His producer Nikobeats . When the two started working together he noticed an immediate chemistry and growth in his sound. The fact Niko’s father is hip hop legend DJ Babu has helped them both learn to polish their industry acumen and professionalism. With a string of releases set to flood this holiday season, he’ll be ending up on a lot more radars in 2021. Tune in to hear us talk about the poignant guidance a teacher gave him, befriending Buddy in high school, and asking Pharrell for advice. – Lee
Wed, December 09, 2020
Eyedress
Eyedress is effortlessly cool. His latest record “ Let’s Skip to the Wedding ” is an exercise exploring every genre that made him such a chill dude. With styles ranging from Joy Division inspired 80’s new wave goth, to Zapp & Roger funk fueled vocoder anthems, the record is simultaneously all over the place, and absolutely cohesive. That’s probably because he carries all the heavy lifting from song-writing, to production, to instrumentation himself. Born in the slums of the Philippines, raised in the San Clemente anarcho-punk scene, before heading back to Manila where he really found his sound, Eyedress has already lived a lot of life. Now with a newborn son having just arrived, his record “ Jealous ” is going viral almost a year after its release. Hear us talk about being 4’11” and scared his first time performing, getting signed and dropped from XL, and how Prefuse 73 is the guardian angel he’s never met. – Lee
Wed, December 09, 2020
Episode 175: Eyedress
Eyedress is effortlessly cool. His latest record " Let's Skip to the Wedding" is an exercise exploring every genre that made him such a chill dude. With styles ranging from Joy Division inspired 80's new wave goth, to Zapp & Roger funk fueled vocoder anthems, the record is simultaneously all over the place, and absolutely cohesive. That's probably because he carries all the heavy lifting himself, from song-writing to production to instrumentation. Born in the slums of the Philippines, raised in the San Clemente anarcho-punk scene, before heading back to Manila where he really found his sound, Eyedress has already lived a lot of life. Now with a newborn son having just arrived, his record "Jealous" is going viral almost a year after its release. Hear us talk about being 4'11" and scared his first time performing, getting signed and dropped from XL, and how Prefuse 73 is the guardian angel he's never met. -Lee See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Wed, December 02, 2020
Open Mike Eagle
Mike Eagle is one of the people I've known longest in my strange career path. We met over 15 years ago, we've worked together on countless little things like this episode, and he's someone I used to see almost every weekend at functions in my mid to late 20's. The first time I ever toured, Mike was on the tour. We were just dudes in the same "scene." Our lives diverged at some point, as scene friends' lives often do. But unlike most compatriots I don't seen as often, Mike's continued to release fantastic music, garner a following big enough to live off of, and at one point ended up on a billboard he could see from his bedroom window. Mike and I do an episode like this every few years, at this point it's our main way of catching up, and I cherish these conversations while knowing he's one of the most compelling friends I've ever made. Tune in to hear us talk about the new record, TV shows he developed, hosting the best podcast of the year, and going through a divorce during all of it. - Lee
Wed, November 18, 2020
smrtdeath
Last time I interviewed smrtdeath , he told me off-air, he was in talks with Epitaph about potentially signing a record deal with them. Now, a year and a half later, his Epitaph debut is being released this week. "Somethjngs Wrong" is a step forward for smrtdeath sonically, visually, and professionally. Graduating from an indie artist who accomplishes everything by favors and beneficial collaboration, to being a signed musician with a budget for marketing, visuals, and even paying producers up front is a big deal. That said, we spent a lot of this episode just BS'ing and joking around. If you're interested in learning more about smrtdeath the human, there's a more official "life story" type episode on the podcast I was doing last year. Tune in to hear us talk about his upcoming release "Somethjings Wrong," covid quarantining in Canada, and currently couch surfing. - Lee
Wed, November 11, 2020
Remy Banks
Remy Banks is rapper out of Queens that emanates New York grittiness, street smarts, and smoothness. I first started hearing of Remy as a solo artist way back in 2014 when he released a single produced by King Krule called "7th heaven. (interlude)." I didn't realize how long he'd already been involved in the scene and working as a rapper by then, so you can imagine all the stories he has by now. Episodes like this are a joy for me because I love hearing about scene origins, and the beginnings of artists now known nationally when they were only known locally. Remy's been around and involved in all sorts of NY subcultures since his youth -- from skating, to streetwear, to underground hip hop -- he's the epitome of a social chameleon who feels comfortable in any room he walks into. A spoon that stirs the pot, and connector of dots, Remy's not only a formidable rapper, but also a great ear for talent, early adopter and collaborator with all sorts of now household names. Tune in to hear us talk about seeing the Tony Supa dunks before Nike SB was even announced, touring with Earl, and the origins of the now legendary NY underground hip hop scene of the early 2010's. - Lee
Wed, November 04, 2020
Brennan Savage
Brennan Savage never had dreams of being a musician, but meeting a young Gus Åhr in his adolescence accidentally put his life on crash course towards rap life. Now, half a lifetime later he's racked up hundreds of millions of streams, garnered an enormous following, and seems to have pop-crossover potential. His latest EP, Slow Motion, finds him broadening his sound and horizons as major labels are surely foaming at the mouth. Hear us talk about growing up skating, moving to LA with Lil Peep, and how his successes have only made him more hungry. - Lee
Wed, October 14, 2020
Karen Shaner (My Mom pt. 4)
In this episode I kept saying it was the third time I've had my mom on the show for some reason, turns out this is actually the 4th episode with her. Interviewing my mom and trying to get a record of her (and our) life story is a time honored KN tradition. We haven't done one since January of 2016, so I'm glad I was able to even see her this year due to COVID, let alone get time to do an episode with her. She was down helping my grandmother out for a couple weeks and we recorded the night before she flew out. We only get through roughly 3 years of life, but during that time she got her master's degree, landed her dream job, and bought a house. - Lee
Wed, October 07, 2020
Prayers
My first conversation with Leafar Seyer of Prayers was quite possibly one of the most intriguing episodes we've ever done. It was an emotional rollercoaster filled with energy, stories, and even a few tears. His voice was a bit fried from a sold out show the night before so we didn't record a performance. I've gotten dozens of requests for a follow up interview with Leafar since then, so I was geeked when he randomly reached out to come through again, and this time he wanted to perform a song as well. The thing about interviewing Leafar is: you just sit back and listen, the interview takes care of itself. He's lived so much life, and has so many stories, there's barely a need to ask questions, one story leads to another. This time we caught up about marrying the love of his life Kat Von D, astrology and mysticism, and a personal guru that magically appeared at the restaurant he owned. - Lee
Wed, September 30, 2020
Lil Zubin
Lil Zubin is someone I've wanted to have on the show a few years now. From his string of solo EPs, to his work with Misery Club, and now If I Die First, Zubin's output as a singer has been widely varied in style and genre. His "Misery" EP is up there with some of my favorite EPs released in the decade. But he got off to a late start vocally. Zubin didn't make his foray into lead vocalist until a few years ago, even though he's been in bands since he was 12 years old. His upcoming project with Yawns titled "Perfect Hell" finds him veering away from the atmospheric R&B sonics of previous solo endeavors and leaning into goth, rock, and 80s influences. Been riding for Zubin since Nedarb put me on some years back, and am excited to watch "Perfect Hell" push him further into the limelight. Hear us talk about junior high cover bands, Working On Dying convincing him he could be a lead singer, and Covid helping him concentrate on his career. Head to YT to see him perform the title track "Perfect Hell" live in studio. - Lee
Wed, September 23, 2020
St. Panther
St. Panther is a multi-instrumentalist / singer / producer from Irvine, CA. Her latest EP, "These Days," is a funky, soulful, genre-crossing, moving, and often danceable display of all her talents. As comfortable laying down her own drums as she is rapping and singing, SP is a creative powerhouse. Shes actually had to slow herself down and be more picky about when and what she creates so she can feel like all her songs have purpose. Now under the wing, and label, of Grammy nominated smash hit producer Ricky Reed, she's set to have a big moment any day now. She has all the talent and charisma to be a huge crossover act, and "These Days" is just a small sampling of what surely awaits. Tune in to hear us talk about growing up in a conservative area of Southern California, her piano teacher recognizing her as a composer in elementary school, and bouts of homelessness before getting signed. Head to YouTube now to see her perform "Something's Gotta Give." - Lee
Wed, September 16, 2020
Liv.e
Liv.e 's latest record "Couldn't Wait To Tell You..." is a masterpiece in my eyes. She and producer Mejiwahn put together a wonderfully warm, cohesive album that feels unrestrained by convention or structure. It dabbles across different genres and styles, showcasing Liv.e as a multi-talented singer, rapper, and poet. The record feels like the beginning of a long and important career, and I'm so excited to have her on the show. I say it a lot, but her project really is one of my favorite albums of the year. Hear us talk about attending a well known performing and visual arts high school, the making of "Couldn't Wait To Tell You..." and a college roommate nightmare. Head to our YT channel to see her perform "About Love At 21" now! - Lee
Wed, September 09, 2020
Dbangz
Dbangz had a huge smash record in 2017. It was meme rap, it was childish, it was vulgar, it was sexually explicit, purposefully offensive, and it was written when he was 15. The song has garnered hundreds of millions of plays across streaming platforms, and was one of the original Tik Tok smashes. D's always been different, a self-described outcast and weirdo, he concentrated his quirky sense of humor and ability to flame his classmates into lyrically dexterous raps after commandeering some equipment from his parent's burgeoning radio station. Now, just a few years later, he's got skin in the game, releasing multiple EP's and having more than a few major labels trying to get their hands on his virality. His latest EP, "Been A Long Time," may seem like an ironic title coming from a 19 year old, but the five plus years he's been releasing music is more than a quarter of his life so, for him, it's indeed been a long time. His latest records see him growing up a bit and tackling more adult topics, while maintaining his off-kilter sense of humor and rapid-fire delivery that always seems to have a sense of urgency like if he doesn't fill up every piece of the beat with his thoughts he might just get consumed with them. Hear us talk about MF DOOM changing his life, getting flown to New York at 16, and semen retention (yes I double-taked at that too). Head to YouTube to see him perform the title track from his new EP, "Been A Long Time." - Lee
Wed, September 02, 2020
Swarvy
Swarvy has become an integral and trusted part of the LA music community. He's produced, recorded, mixed, or mastered numerous songs and projects for friends of the show. But I invited him on because his new solo project, "Sunny Days Blue," is a magnificent accomplishment produced and performed almost entirely on his own. A a formally educated musician, muli-instrumentalist and engineer from Philadelphia, Swarvy moved to LA and immediately immersed himself into the scene. - Lee
Wed, August 26, 2020
DeathByRomy
DeathByRomy is unique amongst KN guests in that she's been navigating the major label system since the beginning of her career. While most of our prior guests have years of independent building and experimenting outside of the spotlight, she was pursued and signed by a major label at while most kids would still be in high school. It seems like a complex and intimidating task for anyone, let alone a teenager, but she's been doing a bang up job so far. We talk extensively about her experience being signed to a major, being given the room to grow as an artist, find her sound, and build her team. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Romy grew up in the heart of the entertainment industry and knew she wanted to be a singer and songwriter from a very young age. There's video footage floating around of the first fully structured song - verse, hook, and bridge - she wrote when barely even elementary aged. Romy has a warehouse party aesthetic, and a stadium sized sound. It's only a matter of time until she's ruling the radio airwaves, so we're glad to have the opportunity to showcase her now. Tune in to hear us talk about dropping out of school to pursue her career, her fear of subways, getting kicked out of 6th grade choir, and head to YouTube to see her perform an exclusive rendition of "Fiending For A Lover" live in studio. - Lee
Wed, August 19, 2020
Uno Hype
Uno Hype has been making music since he was 8 years old. By that measure he's already got almost 20 years of chops under his belt. It puts him in a unique standing amongst his peers as someone who began learning in an analog world (on pause tapes nonetheless!) and grew into the digital realm. He's been uploading music online since Soundclick; heads will remember this predates even Myspace. He's been grinding for years now and, with all the right weaponry aligned, 2020 was primed to be his big statement year. There were SXSW plans, a tour lined up, album ready, all the things. Then, of course, COVID hit and delayed everyone's plans slightly. But Uno has been releasing consistently strong singles for months now, and with a new record surely locked and loaded in the holster, there's no doubt you'll be hearing a lot more of him soon. Tune in to hear us talk about sending demos to labels when he was a child, his collab with the late great Capital Steez, and the gems he picked up from his high school rap group. - Lee
Wed, August 12, 2020
Amindi
We sat down with Amindi , whose recently released tiny piece of perfection "minztape" made me an instant fan. I was sleep, turns out she had a big moment in 2017 with the release of her biggest song "Pine & Ginger" that got her signed to a major deal before she even graduated high school. Only problem was, "Pine & Ginger" was an outlier from most of the music she made. While she is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, and grew up with dancehall rhythms coming from the speakers of her childhood, she doesn't consider herself a dancehall artist. After spending the last few years in writing camps, and in rooms with various producers, she's fulfilled her label agreement and is back to writing and recording whatever she wants. With her new found agency, she's ready to show the world who she is. Hear us talk about growing up in Inglewood and attending high school in the Palisades, being voted "Most Likely To Be A Celebrity," and the pink racecar bed in her first apartment. Head to YouTube to see her perform the amazing single "Cocoa Butter Shawty." - Lee
Wed, August 05, 2020
Cashius Green
Cashius Green is someone I've known for years through my guys Speak & Westside Ty. We've always been cool and he's exactly the type of dude you gravitate towards while you're backstage at shows, or at various functions. That said, while we're long time acquaintances, we know next to nothing about each other, and I always look forward to learning about folks from the scene I came up in. Cashius just released an excellent album called "Best Western" that really puts his talents and charms on display in a brief and ultra digestible package. I've always know Cashius rapped, but I'd never seen him perform other than appearances on stage with other friends at the time. I assumed he was an indie rapper on the come up like the rest of us. Come to find out, he was scooped up by a major labels in the early part of last decade, and had a chance at becoming a household name like collaborator Vince Staples, or former tour mate Joey Badass. Unfortunately, trying to navigate the industry without a manager made things much more complicated, and after being dropped, going through a dark phase of depression, and continuing to experiment with his sound, "Best Western" finds Cashius emerging as the rapper he always dreamed of being. Hear us talk about growing up Black in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood, getting signed to Epic Records, and ending up the valedictorian at his credit recovery school. - Lee
Wed, July 22, 2020
Guapdad 4000
This week we talk to Gordon Scamsey aka Shia Labustdown aka Bitcoin Batman aka Stone Cold Steve Flossin better known as Guapdad 4000. Guap has quickly become one of the most beloved characters in rap music and he's probably friends with everyone on your current playlist. He's also been busy during quarantine. His "Rona Raps" series has kept everyone stuck in the house entertained with features from all across the hip hop spectrum from Isaiah Rashad to EarthGang to Murs. This year's "Platinum Falcon" release shows a multifaceted Guap both floating over gentle melodies on songs like "Trade Place With Them Jeans," and firing off cold bars over original productions on joints like "Greedy." Easily one of the charismatic guests to have ever appeared on KN, and he'd be sure to tell you so. Hear us talk about being just as creative and attention-seeking as a kid as he is now, losing the family house to tech gentrification, moving to Los Angeles on his last 20 dollars, locking himself in the studio for 8 months before going viral, and see him perform "Platinum Falcon" live in studio. - Lee
Wed, July 15, 2020
Rae Khalil
Rhythm & Flow began as a hate-watch for me, but quickly grew into a show I looked forward to every week, and Rae Khalil was my early favorite to win. She started off quietly, no flashy style or big forced personality that would normally make someone jump out on a reality show. What made her standout to me was she could actually rap. I noticed a lot of other contestants making rookie mistakes, or using bars that were just unexplainably bad to the untrained ear, but Rae's verses were all flawless (no Real Talk). I thought she'd easily end up in the finals and was very publicly rooting for her amongst my friends that were as invested in the show as me. When she was (spoiler) eliminated in the battle round I felt short changed and ripped off. She's a good sport about the show, and seemed to know from the start that D-Smoke would end up taking it all the way, but nonetheless, when KN restarted she was one of the first artists I reached out to. I needed to know if she was as talented as she seemed in the short time she was on the show (she is), and I wanted to know how such a talent was flying under the radar in LA before the show (she was in the South Bay bubble). The Covid crisis, of course, put our initial interview plans on pause, but the timing now couldn't be better as she just released her record, FORTHEWORLD, in June and hints at more new music coming before the year is out during our conversation. Make sure you check out her performance on our YT page, it's unbelievable. There are going to be a lot of "this is lip synching" comments, but i promise we watched with jaws drops as she nailed the song in one-take. Hear us talk about her stint on Rhythm & Flow, getting into and deciding not to attend American Musical and Dramatic Academy, and keeping a positive mindset as she navigates through the world. - Lee
Wed, July 08, 2020
Adam Weiss
Adam Weiss has become one of my closest friends and confidants since the last Kinda Neat episode we did in together in 2013. That first conversation centered around the journey into his addictions, and his eventually path to sobriety and recovery, and building one of the most well known underground party brands in Los Angeles. Since then his life has continued to change as he’s delved into Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA). After years in various recovery programs, he felt like SLAA really helped him learn about and deal with the childhood trauma at the root of his addictions. Since beginning his journey into self-care to build his self-esteem and allowing himself permission to enjoy being alone, Adam has turned his instagram into a sort of self-care instructional guide and a means to hold himself accountable to his self-care routines. I make fun of him for it a lot, but I know that it helps people, and I know it's really made him a better person to be around over the last 5 years or so. Hear us talk about recognizing the problematic patterns in his relationships, going on self-dates, and setting boundaries in your work and private life. - Lee
Wed, July 01, 2020
Nedarb
Nedarb wears many hats. Musician, producer, A&R, talent scout, manager, and overall connector of dots are just a few of those hats. We spoke on an episode a few years ago shortly after he'd produced an EP for Lil Peep and became a big factor in Peep's meteoric rise. In this episode we catch up on everything that's happened in his life since, and it's been a lot. Peep's tragic passing, not long after our last conversation, obviously had a huge impact on his life, and shortly thereafter Ned found out he was going to be a father. He's now officially a platinum producer, and father to adorable baby Shavo. But beyond all of his perceptible achievements, some of Ned's most important work are the things he might never get credit for: introducing like minded artists to each other, convincing people they have the talent to succeed, being a mouthpiece for completely unknown artists, pushing affiliates toward their big breaks, and just being overall help to multiple scenes (and media outlets) for the better part of the last decade. He also formed a new band, a supergroup of sorts, with previous guest Lil Lotus, future guest Lil Zubin, From First To Last member Travis Richter, and more called If I Die First, who's first release is dropping later this week. Tune in to hear us talk about fatherhood, constantly dealing with "punishers" online, and how his new band name, If I Die First, is an homage to his late friend Chynna. - Lee
Wed, June 24, 2020
Maxo
Maxo's "Lil Big Man" was one of my favorite releases of 2019, and really introduced into the scene of rappers I've been gushing about since KN came back. We did a full "life-story style" podcast together last year on the "You Feel Me" podcast I was doing while KN was on hiatus. You can find that podcast here: Maxo on "You Feel Me?", you will get some real insight into his upbringing in the I.E. and his journey into rapping. This podcast was really a chance to catch up, test the waters of podcasting after a 2.5 month Covid break, and an excuse to have him perform in front of the comic book wall and become part of the Kinda Neat legacy. We recorded this before the social uprisings, or I'm sure Maxo would have had plenty of insight on the situation at hand. As is we talked about what he misses most about pre-pandemic times, the process behind "Lil Big Man," and when I saw him at a MOCA event and all eyes ended up on him for a moment. Head to YouTube now to see Maxo perform "Clouds Say My Name." - Lee
Wed, June 17, 2020
Jonah Mutono
Jonah Mutono 's recently released GERG is a deeply personal and beautiful record. Full of movement and life, GERG takes you on a roller coaster of emotions and musical stylings all carried by Jonah's wonderfully resonant voice and impressive range. Jonah's been bouncing around his whole life, raised between Philly, Uganda, Kenya, London, and stints in NY and LA, he's a rolling stone with a big bag of influence. A classically trained pianist, GERG also shows his depth as a producer and instrumentalist. We caught him during the tail end of the (first?) COVID-19 lockdown and he let us know this wasn't his first quarantine, he'd lived through it as a child in Uganda with the EBOLA crisis. Hear us talk about that, where the name GERG, comes from, writing plays as a child, his vast travels, and go see him perform "If You Mean It" live in studio on our YouTube channel now! - Lee
Wed, June 10, 2020
Lil Lotus
Lil Lotus is someone I've known about for a while, one of those friends of friends type people who I'd yet to meet. He orbits around a scene in LA that I have a lot of respect for so I figured it was high time we sat down for a chat. To keep it a buck, with my current mindset and musical preferences his style is not something that would generally pique my interest, but I can also honestly say his sound is something I would have been absolutely obsessed with in high school when I was listening to a lot of punk that went on to inspire the pop-punk wave of the early 2000's. Lotus is an open book, wears his heart on his sleeve, and I completely understand why he attracts such a diehard audience. He's magnetic, charismatic, gentle, caring, and easy to be around. Even before we sat down for the conversation, I already knew him as a likable guy from texting with him. Needless to say, this was a good conversation and we dove right into the deep stuff almost immediately. Tune in to hear us talk about his father passing, becoming a rockstar at church, his move to LA from Dallas, and getting signed to Epitaph. - Lee
Wed, May 27, 2020
Hook
This week we caught up with Hook , who caught my attention last year with the release of her stellar tape "Bully." Had the opportunity to meet up and talk with her last year on the "You Feel Me?" podcast where I learned she's been gearing up to be a musician since childhood. She was in a girl group some family members as a kid, and the bootcamp-like environment of training to be a pop star has influenced her work ethic as an adult. She seemingly bootcamps everything now, an avid learner that obsessively studies music and philosophy, she'd rather be at home working on something than be out partying. That work ethic has clearly been paying off, as she's skyrocketed into the rap landscape and ended up collabing and working with some of the artists that inspired her in the first place. Hear us talk about endlessly journaling, growing up a Barb, and how being called "weird" is a compliment to her. - Lee
Wed, May 20, 2020
Linafornia
Linafornia is a beat maker who honed her craft in Leimert Park. The swing, bounce, and intangible funk of her beats express a true sense of soul that many producers are never able to achieve. She's part of the first generation of beat makers to be inspired by the Low End Theory / LA beat scene mainstays like Ras G, Dibia$e, and FlyLo. In fact, seeing Ras G perform one night moved her to pick up beat making. Finding out he was a friend of her brother's who only lived a few blocks away from her only furthered the desire, and Ras quickly became a big brother and mentor. I saw her perform at his memorial last year and was almost moved to tears watching her fight back her own. Knew then I needed to talk to her and learn more about her journey. Hear her talk about growing up Garifuna, attending and eventually leaving Catholic school, and Pharrell inviting her to the studio. - Lee
Wed, May 13, 2020
Ovrkast
Ovrkast . (stylized period) is a rapper / producer out of Oakland, CA. I started hearing about him in late '19 as he was getting tweeted about by other guests we've had on the show, right before he got a huge beat placement on Earl's "Feet of Clay." Soon thereafter he released his "Try Again" tape and I knew I had to get him on the show. Ovrkast. was super patient and a pleasure to talk with and learn about, even as the episode experienced a disastrous technical difficulty. Our talk was very inspiring, and learning that he makes his soulful, bouncy, beats in FL Studio inspired me to download the program for Mac (yup FL is on Mac now) and start playing around with making beats during the safer-at-home orders. We squeezed this episode about 2 weeks before the world shut down, and the intro almost sounds naive in hindsight. Hear us talk about the changing landscape of Oakland, picking up beat-making in continuation school, and staying at home long before it was mandatory. - Lee
Wed, May 06, 2020
Deborah's Child
I found out about Deborah's Child as she released a string of hypnotic singles in 2019 (including "Margaret's Hymn" that she performed for us). Her recent EP "Look, Maw! A baby deer!" puts those loose singles and a couple new songs together in the context of a perfectly concise alt pop project. The level of polish on the songs is mind-blowing, particularly for how relatively unknown she seems to be at this moment. She and production partner Miles are making songs that would sound at home on the Billboard charts, and they are surprisingly doing it from home. I promise when you give them a listen you'll think they were made in state of the art studio with top industry song writers. Needless to say I think she's set for a big breakthrough very soon, and we're happy to be one of the first platforms to interview her. Hear us talk about growing up in Florida, how an ADHD drugs changed her life despite not having ADHD, and moving to LA after high school to make it. - Lee
Wed, April 29, 2020
Jelani Aryeh
San Diego native Jelani Aryeh is a genre-fluid standout from the crew Raised by the Internet. 2019's "Helvetica was a display of heartfelt songwriting, textural production, and an early look at a potential superstar. Hear us talk about quitting a promising football career to pursue music, how "Because the Internet" fittingly changed his life, and scouring reddit for like minded creatives. Head over to our YouTube page to see him perform "Patagonia" live in studio. - Lee
Wed, April 22, 2020
lojii
lojii is part of a rap scene I've been loving the last couple years. Guys like him, Mike, Pink Siifu, Maxo, Medhane, Earl, and a bunch of others are taking rap to places it's never been, while still making reference to and pulling influence from those that came before. The loose style of song structure, and deceivingly stream of conscious songwriting seem to dissect the genre to its most basic needs: a loop and some raps. Songs often come in under the 2 minute mark, and if the idea is finished after one verse, then so be it, don't force more verses. The lack of bells and whistles seem to help transcend to a level of concise depth I've been very impressed by. lojii's January release "lo & behold" is a beautiful record in its simplicity, sense of community, and laser focused cohesiveness. It was getting heavy spins around the time I linked with lojii for this conversation. I hope all of you go check it out and remember to support indie musicians during a time when a lot of their revenue sources might have dried up. Hear us talk cheesesteaks, getting in trouble for rocking headphones at school, and gush over the talents of our mutual friends. - Lee
Wed, April 15, 2020
Armani White
Armani White talks losing his father, growing up in Philadelphia, managing himself, and performs "Thanksgiving" live in studio. Armani White has been on my radar a few years now. We've been trying to get this episode together for since then, but every time we got close, something came up where I was unable to get it together. When KN went on hiatus I just stopped answering emails about it because I didn't know what to tell people, and Armani got caught in that crossfire. So now that we're back he was one of the first people I wanted to hit up, and he happened to be in town when I reached out. Could talk to him all day, this was a very easy episode and we went on long tangents (that probably got cut out) because we seem to have a lot in common to diverge into. We both recently lost our fathers, and (WARNING) not only do I cry talking about my dad in the intro, I start crying hearing him talk about his father's passing within the first 15 minutes of our conversation. Nonetheless this one felt really great and I'm excited to introduce you all to Armani. Tune in to hear him talk about losing his father, life in Philadelphia, and being his own manager. - Lee
Wed, April 08, 2020
Zelooperz
We’re back. Feels good to say it. It’s been too long since I’ve made an official Kinda Neat podcast. For the last two years I’ve been working on a corporate podcast that made KN take a backseat. It was close to what I was doing with this, and it paid really well, but I obviously couldn’t have full control of the creative decisions, and that was a strange place for me to be. So it’s wonderful to be back in the house Ben and I built, doing the show Ben and I do. Our first guest is Zelooperz , a prolific and off-kilter rapper and painter from Detroit who released two full length albums in 2019 and has already released a new record “Gremlin” in 2020. Full disclosure, we had this conversation at the beginning of February, before his new record, and before the pandemic. Hoping at this point it might be refreshing to hear two people talk about something other than isolation. Hear us talk about how Detroit’s changed over the years, balancing his visual art with his music, and showing bullies what a yellow belt in taekwondo look like. - Lee
Wed, August 29, 2018
Episode 144: OutWest
OutWest talks their unique blend of country tinged post-emo, growing up in a sleepy beach town called Ventura, being in bands by the time they were preteens, and perform the title track of their Through Highways EP Lil Racecar and Gravelust grew up together in Ventura, a sleepy beach town north of LA, south of Santa Barbara. It's known as a small mecca for pop-punk and surfing, but it might've birthed the next big thing in post-emo. Already being dubbed “country trap,” I think they're more than a gimmicky subgenre. Upon closer inspection, you'll find them at their best trading contemplative lines over vaguely country twanged acoustic guitars. Sure there are occasional 808 subs and machine gun high hats, but it's the songwriting that will keep you around. The duo met around junior high and each knew about the other making music. It wasn't until Gravelust heard Lil Racecar's experiments with autotuned melodic rap they realized they should be working together. Products of the music internet, whereupon regional influence is essentially nullified, SoundCloud filled their heads with all sorts of cross genre hybrids. Gravelust's love for industrial pop like Depeche Mode, and Racecar's modern rap influence inspired much of their early collaborative efforts. But a fateful trip, getting fucked up in the desert, caused a realization that their direction should take a more country / western turn. OutWest is still young, 18 and recently out of high school. They're still honing their sound and will surely evolve over time, but I think they have a very interesting base and the songwriting and chemistry is there. They remind me of music I would've cried to as a lovelorn teen. The passion is clear in their voices, and their tunes would be as fitting around a campfire as they would be at a festival. Hear us talk about growing up in a sleepy beach town, early music experiments and much more. – Lee See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Wed, June 27, 2018
Omar Apollo
Omar Apollo surprised me in a lot of ways. Beside dad issues, an ongoing personal theme of this show has been “people will surprise you.” It ties into plenty of old adages, but we tend to paint a picture of who a person is before we meet them. Every time I do this, I come to find out I'm completely wrong in my assumptions. With Omar ‘s dreamy vocals, purposefully polished lo-fi aesthetic, and multi-instrumental self-produced musicianship, I made the assumption he might be an “industry plant.” I thought he'd come in to the studio dressed to the nines with a small entourage of label execs. Nope. People will surprise you. Turns out Omar is a really fucking normal 21 year old with an above average curiosity for music. I say that because until 2 years ago he claims to not have had any outstanding musical talent. He wanted to impress his dad so he started taking vocal lessons…on YouTube! It was via that glorious site he learned to play the guitar, make beats, and produce his own records. So what are you doing with your time on YouTube? Needless to say the last two years have been fruitful. His recent Stereo EP is receiving good reviews and garnering him a strong fanbase. His numbers are on the rise, and this summer he'll be playing shows and touring with heavy hitters. So he's definitely a name to watch. Beyond that he gave me a little bit of personal flattery because he and his team have been actual KN fans since our humble beginnings in 2013. They even cracked a few jokes about past guests that only true viewers would've gotten. Tune in for a conversation that swayed more towards goofiness and good times than anything too serious. We talk about growing up in Indiana, his immigrant family, and his lack of media training. – Lee
Wed, May 30, 2018
Epic Beard Men
Epic Beard Men is the collaborative effort of Sage Francis and B. Dolan. The two have been touring and working together for a decade now and finally decided to team up for a full length effort. Their release Season 1 was an exercise for the established solo acts. Songwriting and conceptualizing music as a team was a new experience for both of them. Their immense performance chops, and vast knowledge of rap styles and history shine through on the project. Full disclosure: Sage Francis was one of my favorite rappers when I was about 20 years old. He was the second artist I ever opened a show for (the first one was MC Paul Barman). Dudes like him, Slug of Atmosphere, Aesop Rock, and Grouch of Living Legends made me feel a little less weird for growing up as a white kid loving rap music and wanting to participate. Mark and I used to post on Sage's Strange Famous message board. Sage was a known curmudgeon online, blocking people that reached out in even the most polite way. My friends and I were terrified and intimidated to meet him back then. Needless to say I've wanted to try my hand at interviewing him for quite sometime. I found out about B. Dolan through my Sage fanboying. Dolan has always been an excellent rapper and technician. His deft ability with words led him to the spoken word poetry scene that was thriving in the early 2000's. The fact he and Sage were both from Rhode Island and rapper / poets led to fast friendship. I've always respect Dolan's outspoken political activism. His “Make Racists Afraid Again” hats were one of the first MAGA protest items I recall seeing. It was a pleasure meeting him for the first time. Felt an instant comfort and kindred bond with him, prolly because we look like long lost cousins. Tune in to hear us talk about their stories. While both completely unique, they have many surprisingly similar themes. – Lee
Wed, April 11, 2018
Hunnah
Hunnah is one of the purest vocal talents we've ever had on the show. Jaws drop and spines tingle as soon as she begins to belt out notes. Still a relative unknown at this point, she gained traction and attracted music industry insiders via her YouTube cover videos. Having heard a few unreleased originals, I can vouch for her potential as a future powerhouse. Born in Toronto to Ethiopian immigrants, Hunnah's childhood was relatively strict. Raised in church, no cable tv, and a strict regiment of classical piano lessons led to her being an excellent student. While she didn't love the piano lessons, eventually her musicality began to show itself through her voice. Her older sister, who wouldn't directly compliment her talents, forced her to sing in front of the school music teacher. Her sister's vague acknowledgement led to her pursuing her singing and the rest is (the beginning of) history. Hunnah is simply darling. She was a joy to converse with and an easy conversationalist. Her family history is intriguing and her work ethic is commendable. Highly recommended episode that'll lead to you bragging to your friends about how early you were in a few years. – Lee
Thu, April 05, 2018
ROLE MODEL
Tucker Pillsbury, soon to be much better known as ROLE MODEL, still has a boyish charm. In a movie he'd be the artsy kid next door the cheerleader secretly has a crush on. At 21 years old, he's only recently begun leaving his quaint Maine upbringing to explore the world. His songwriting is already world-building and impressive. I can only imagine how the music will develop as he continues his personal growth. Raised the son of a “ski bum,” Tucker picked up a video camera initially to film his friends skiing. This led to him learning to edit short films and music videos. Despite terrible grades in school, his talent with a camera didn't go unnoticed. He was accepted into the film school at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. It was there he had his first drink, first smoke and eventually made his first song. Like many humble beginnings on our show, ROLE MODEL's first song attempts were in a dorm room. He admits his early work was derivative auto-tune reliant rap that didn't really feel like him. Working out the kinks went quick though. A couple years later, he's released his Arizona In The Summer EP. The addictive four song project lends itself to playing on repeat for hours. Tucker was serendipitously in LA the week I heard “i don't rly like u” and we're excited to have found the time to feature him. – Lee
Fri, March 30, 2018
phem
phem is the latest and most permanent iteration of Liv Marsico's creative alias'. She's been making music for years in the LA scene. Cutting her teeth in the Low End Theory world, I first heard her on Nocando ‘s “Little Green Monsters.” At the time she was making waves with her band Liphemra. She also as a hired gun drumming for studio sessions and touring acts. An accomplished jazz drummer, phem went to a creative arts high school where the emphasis was on musicianship. But while working on Liphemra, Liv felt uncomfortable in her own skin, and living space. Renting a dingey recording space, and living illegally in it, her life hit an uncomfortable low. Thankfully a strong support group helped her out of the situation, and she emerged stronger. Now more comfortable with herself, her art, and her sexual identity (“I just like people, man”), phem is ready for her moment. “Blinders” is a fantastic summary and, in turn, elevator pitch of her music and personality. I was instantly drawn to the song and think you guys will be as well. Go check out phem's latest EP Can't Kill Me and hear our long convo about her journey. We talk about growing up in the valley and commuting for school. She reveals her lifelong relationship with drumming. We get in depth about her low point living out of a studio. Then, of course, she performed an excellent rendition of “Blinders” live in studio. – Lee
Thu, March 01, 2018
a l l i e
a l l i e is a soulful sultry singer from just north of the border in Toronto. I stumbled on her thoroughly groovy “ Bad Habits ” video. That led me to her debut LP Nightshade. It's a laid back journey of modern soul with nods to the 90s R&B sound. Hear us discuss her Toronto upbringing, and her half Jamaican heritage. We talk about the Toronto music scene that's bubbling. We talk about coping with depression and what works for us. She also tells a touching story about the revelations of growing her natural hair out for the first time. – Lee
Wed, January 17, 2018
IDK
IDK grew up in PG County, Maryland, a sprawling suburb of Washington DC. It's one of the most affluent predominantly black counties in America. He lived in a safe neighborhood. He was raised responsibly by hardworking African immigrants. They expected him to thrive in school and work ethic. Yet and still, he ended up as the first member of his family to go to jail and eventually prison. What could cause a seemingly good kid to end up entangled in the law? His new record IWASVERYBAD tries to unpack that question. IDK's technical ability and the scope of his vision are nearly unmatched in his generational peer group. His records are dense, concisely thought out, and often paint clear cinematic visuals with his descriptive lyrics. IWVB is no exception. The record has a cohesive “press play and let it ride” feel, with high production value and attention to detail. Songs pivot on a dime and topics are explored from many angles with a precision that might make his easiest comparison Kendrick. That's a lofty statement, but there aren't many others layering sounds and styles like IDK can. I've interviewed IDK twice now (once for a written article and once for a podcast). Neither was what I'd call ‘easy.' He comes off quiet, doesn't seem quick to trust anyone (or maybe it's just me). Due to that you can tell he's very protective of his energy. You'll hear me struggle to find a way in and get him to open up. I was curious why he was drawn to crime as a kid. As he tells it, it was more of a choice than a need for survival. I was curious about the relationship with his mother. He discusses it to devastatingly sad results on IWVB. I was also curious how he got so good at rap so quickly. Not sure how successful I was at getting him to open up about anything. Maybe that's more telling than the answers. – Lee
Wed, December 13, 2017
Wes Period
Wes Period is a product of the nondescript Orange County suburb tucked between Whittier and Fullerton. La Habra is one of those places that people ask “where's that?” It's probably why folks from the OC just say their from Orange County. The only other person I know from La Habra is Jonwayne. I only know that because of La Habra's Wikipedia page. But Wes made the most of his OC upbringing. As a mixed race youth he often felt like an outsider in his city's distinctly white and Latino sociological makeup. Searching for a way to find his place in life, and satisfying his early musical dreams, he started local bands. Frequently playing local punk venues like Chain Reaction has given him stage chops many peers his age lack. Turns out his band even performed with your favorite podcast host and VerBS at the Glasshouse way back when. Now, as a rapper and producer, Wes has all the talent and charisma to be a real threat. His beats are polished and catchy, his smile's contagious, and his raps are triumphant and joyous. The latest single “Big Bag” which he performed live, was licensed as the theme song for “Ball In The Family” about Lavar Ball and sons. Was trying to put my finger on why I recognized Wes for most of the episode. Turns out KN alum Tommy Genesis was working on a project with him right around the time of her episode. She's shown me pictures, and eventually the 1 degree of separation made sense. Tune in to hear Wes talk about his bands, his dreams of meeting a rap crew in high school, and recently finding god. – Lee
Wed, November 15, 2017
Childish Major
I've tried booking a Childish Major episode for a hot minute. Found him around 2015 as a rapper that I knew made beats. By the time we had J.I.D. on the show, I knew I had to reach out (I assumed he was part of Spillage Village). But I honestly wasn't aware of this man's pedigree. As it turns out his production credits are about a mile long. He's got placements with KN alums like the aforementioned J.I.D., along with EarthGang , and Rome Fortune . Not to mention works with J.Cole, Jeezy, 6lack, Big K.R.I.T., OG Maco, Two9, and Key!. But perhaps he's best know for the Rocko, Future, and Rick Ross collaboration “UENO.” A beat like that is a huge blessing, but it can also be the bane of a creative existence. When your art gets pigeon-holed and people want more “UENO style beats” it can become jarring. We touch on that in the conversation. From his beginnings in Minnesota with a father pursuing a rap career, his move to South Carolina, and eventually settling down in Atlanta, we discuss all of his geographic influence. Beyond that we talk about when he knows if a beat is for him or for someone else, and grinding it out sleeping on a couch when he moved to Atlanta before his first big placements. Tune in to learn more about Childish Major, and don't forget to visit our Patreon page to support the show! -Lee
Wed, November 01, 2017
Caleborate
Caleborate breaks breaks our ongoing theme of bad dad relationships leading to great art. When his folks split as a kid, he and his brother decided to stay with their father. His dad was a working playwright and occasional teacher. They were no strangers to making a dollar stretch, and making it work. He instilled a sense of wonder and creativity in Caleb, acting in many of his fathers plays as a kid. After quitting basketball at 16, He started working on raps. His dad knew a guy with a studio and he started to hone his skills. After bouncing around a few colleges in the Bay Area, he met his current manager while working at the flagship Levi's store in SF. He's been putting in a ton of work, releasing Real Person, 1993, and Hella Good all within a 2 year period. Hear us discuss all of this and more and see him perform “4 Willem.” – Lee
Wed, October 18, 2017
Travis Thompson
Travis Thompson has been on my radar subliminally for many years now. Upon first hearing his music I was sure his name seemed familiar, but didn't research it. Then I saw Macklemore announce his recent Key Arena shows only to realize Travis follows me on Twitter. When the tracklist for Gemini was released, where he's featured with KN alum Dave B. , I put it all together. Travis was a kid that had been reaching out on socials for years. Did some searching and realized he used to ask for music and podcasting advice way back. We'd tweeted back and forth multiple times. Travis was born in Alaska and raised in Seattle. As we've all figured out by now, Seattle really supports their own. That said, he's quickly gaining a following back home and with a big support slot on a national tour, the reach will surely be growing. His burgeoning love of rap started at skate parks in the area where they were bumping…Intuition songs!?!? It's always a pleasure, and a bit surreal, to meet someone that claims you as an influence. It's even more satisfying to see that influence translate into accomplishing focused goals. After a successful stint as a young spoken word artist, he began his own podcast (see that influence agan?) where he interviewed rappers in an attempt to break into the Seattle scene. He even ended up interviewing buds like Watsky . Now, at 21, things seem to be taking off quickly for Travis. But behind every quick success is years of hard work and opportunities that were taken advantage of. Listen in as we talk about knowing what he wanted to do at an early age and pursuing it with fervor. – Lee
Wed, October 11, 2017
Open Mike Eagle
I met Mike in 2005 at a Project Blowed anniversary show. Our mutual friend invited us to join their crew onstage for a big cypher during their set. The dj for the set was supposed to switch instrumentals for each rapper. He ended up blending the instrumentals completely off beat in the middle of people's verses. In turn everyone sounded like they had no idea how to rap on beat. About 4 people out of the 12 or so onstage got to rap before they cut the power off because we were doing so poorly. I got to rap (poorly and off beat), in my recollection the mic never got to Mike. Before the show, our motley crew of ragtag early 20's rappers gathered in a parking garage to practice. We all traded the verses we'd planned to perform onstage. Mike's instantly stuck out to me. Clever punches, original angles, and interesting cadence choices were already in his repertoire. He'd just moved from Chicago and was already making a name at the Blowed. I lived in Santa Barbara at the time and was an outsider in the LA scene. We exchanged props and phone numbers. Our first phone call was basically me gushing over his raps and telling him I wanted to help however I could. All that is to say this: you don't forget your first time meeting someone like Mike. He's special. If you're new to the show and listening to learn more about Mike, this probably isn't the episode for you. We talk the way we'd talk off mic. I'm not asking a lot of questions about the new record. Not asking that much about his upbringing (there's another episode about that). I talk more than I usually would in an interview (my bad). I let my guard down a lot around him because he's surrounded by a force field of comfort. We talk life, talk shop, and talk trying to find happiness and peace in our creative endeavors without making ourselves crazy. – Lee
Wed, August 16, 2017
Reo Cragun
Reo Cragun first popped up on our radar in January (2017). He dropped “Inconsiderate” seemingly out of the blue. His polished song writing, confident delivery and unique vocal tone instantly caught my attention . We started making arrangements to be on KN way back then. Serendipitously when I reached out via DM he was already following us. Turns out, being from the Washington, he'd found out about KN through our ILLFIGHTYOU episode. It took a while for this episode to finally come to fruition. Turns out Reo was in the lab crafting a masterful debut project. Growing Pain features 11 mostly self-produced tracks from the prodigious singer / songwriter. Ranging from full fledged bangers to slowed down ballads, Growing Pains shows range and expertise. Not bad for a guy that was in Washington working at Costco two years ago. To be fair, he'd planned on going to med school, but sometimes you just have to pursue the creative endeavor first. Honestly Reo nothing like I pictured him. His music is so forthright, blunt, and self-assured. But in person he couldn't be more quaint and polite. We even get into kidding around about his use of G-rated colloquialisms like “gosh” and “jeez.” Either way, if you're a fan of folks like 6lack, Bryson Tiller, even The Weeknd, I think Reo will catch your ear. Hear us talk about the new record, moving to LA with nothing but faith, and signing to Virgin Records. -Lee
Wed, July 19, 2017
Ravyn Lenae
Ravyn Lenae is a phenomenally talented singer from the South Side of Chicago. She's part of Zero Fatigue crew with the likes of rapper Smino, producer Monte Booker, and others. Consequently, her sound has a familial feel next to her musical comrades. Her angelic falsetto, story telling lyrics, and the chosen bouncy on-beat-off-beat rhythms create a soulful dreamscape of every song. A wunderkind of sorts, Ravyn has been a standout since childhood solos at church. By high school she'd been accepted to the Chicago High School for the Arts to continue honing her craft. Soon thereafter she met Booker, and they created Moon Shoes when she was 15. By her sophomore year she was mentally checked out of high school. Music and touring seemed to become viable options. She was adopted into a thriving Chicago music scene. She's collaborated with the likes of Mick Jenkins, Noname, Saba, and the aforementioned Smino. If you're a fan of the broodingly poetic music coming from Chicago currently, you're probably already familiar with Ravyn. We've been working towards this episode for a while now. I've been observing Ravyn's artistic growth over the last few years, and hoping to have her on before her certain explosion. We caught her while she was in LA working on new music with Steve Lacy. Be on the lookout for her next record, it may very well be her big cross over. – Lee
Wed, June 28, 2017
Cuco
Cuco celebrated his 19th birthday with us in the studio. The young singer / songwriter / composer / multi-instrumentalist is having quite the year. He's in the middle of an initial explosion that's seen his following double in only a couple months. That's because his sugary sweet pop ballads can melt the heart of a teenage girl, or catch the ear of a jaded mid 30's music fan. Upon first listen I assumed Cuco's music was sample based. Figured he must be digging through heaps of vinyl to find obscure loops from tender old love songs. But it turns out his music journey started as an 8 year old picking up a guitar and learning at least 6 others since. He's a one man band. Every layer of his songs are recorded through a humble home studio set up. Even his vintage lo-fi sound is a purposeful accident caused by a janky mixer channel. He prefers the warm grit the channel supplies over the high gloss mixing you'd expect in the pop world. In any case if you're a fan of previous guests Kali Uchis , TV Girl , or Dream Panther , you will love Cuco. Cuco was (is?) a shy kid. He grew up an only child in Hawthorne, spending much of his youth alone with video games and music. As a result his appeal lies in the lack of pretense. The music is openly in it's feelings, accordingly about puppy dog love, infatuations, and loneliness. It's cute and goofy just like real teenage love. Combine this with his self-deprecating online presence and you have a very relatable teenage pop star. At this point Cuco's at the beginning of his journey, but with how things are going, we have a feeling he's going to become the face of introverted outsiders everywhere. – Lee
Wed, June 21, 2017
Ivy Sole
Ivy Sole is a wonderful talent out of Philadelphia by way of Charlotte, NC. Ivy's a very thoughtful and self-aware person, it is apparent in her music and this conversation. Her latest EP, East, is a quick listen packed with poetic bars and soulful melodies. Her deep smokey voice is an outstanding tool for delivering hooks that won't leave the back of your head. From an early age, her placement in advanced curriculums gave her an outsider's experience. Residing throughout East and West Charlotte she'd go to school in affluent neighborhoods of North Charlotte. As a kid she didn't understand why her local friends couldn't attend with her. She faced culture shock, microaggressions, and knowing that in order to succeed she would need to portray perfection. Her diligence led to an Ivy League school for college, where she came into her own as a student, artist, and human. I found out about prior guest Dave B . through their outstanding collaboration on “Life.” So if you enjoyed Dave's episode and music, I think this will be up your alley. We sat down with Ivy as she arrived in LA on a road trip from Philly. – Lee
Wed, May 03, 2017
Nedarb
Finally sat down with the legend: Nedarb . This dude's name regularly gets brought up on the show . Not only is Ned racking up production credits, he's one of the most prolific connectors in the LA underground. Truly a “guy behind the guy that did the thing” type. We go way back. Ned used to reach out about working on KN right as I started it. Oftentimes people reaching out get on my nerves pretty easily. There's simply something off about a lot of folks' approach. But Ned was always respectful, inquisitive, and really willing to soak up game. We became online friends a while before he and Milo decided to move to the West Coast from Wisconsin. In the 4 years I've known him, Ned has quickly blossomed into a true force. He's known as a guy that knows everyone. And everyone that knows him, knows he has an ear for what's next. He's produced multiple songs for Lil Peep, Lil Tracy, and other Goth Boi Clique affiliates. But beyond that he's largely responsible for connecting a lot of the members in the first place. I've always thought Ned had a bright future, a ton of potential, and I've been waiting for the right time to have him on . When you're watching a little homie put in work, it's easy to miss the fact they've become a peer. While watching him find himself, and his place in the world from a distance, I've been really happy to see him get such a solid foothold in the scene. – Lee
Wed, April 26, 2017
Dave B.
Dave B. is another phenomenal talent coming out of the Seattle scene. In a city known for supporting local rap acts, I wouldn't be surprised if he was the next heir to the Seattle throne. His latest record, Tomorrow , is a collaborative effort with Soulection's Sango (another Seattleite). The record brings the best out of both of them, and bottles up Seattle's vibe into beats and rhymes. Dave is cool and calm. His talking voice is reminiscent of a whispery old-timey radio disc jockey, smooth and warm. He's unassuming…reserved bordering on shy. That's why it's all the more impressive when he steps in front of a microphone. You aren't expecting this quiet fellow to unleash a masterful, booming performance with no warmup. This ain't some studio shit…Dave B. can really sing. We caught up with Dave in the middle of his first headlining tour. He's already gone out with other PNW faves like Macklemore and Sam Lachow. Laying those roots helped him garner even bigger turnouts than expected in every city he hit. Hear us talk about working with JakeOne and other local legends, growing up in church, and his extensive theater background. – Lee
Wed, April 19, 2017
Gizzle
Gizzle is currently working on an expansive self-assignment. She plans to release four tapes she'll record in four different cities by the end of the year. Each will be seven songs, representing the seven days she'll spend there catching the vibe, writing, and recording. So far she's released the first in the series, 7 Days In Atlanta. 7DIA caught my ear via “Oh Na Na,” which you can see her perform above. The infectious beat coupled with the immediate charm of Gizzle's gruff voice instantly drew me in. Her prodigious song writing talents are also easily recognized, and vaguely familiar. That's with good reason. She's spent much of her life in the studio writing with artists like Ty Dolla $ign, Kanye, T.I., Snoop, Travis Scott, and Boosie Badazz. 2017 will surely see her stepping into the spotlight. It makes perfect sense why artists would want to be in the studio with her. Beyond her obvious writing talents, she has a certain presence when she walks in the room. Her smile is contagious, and her energy is motivating. She's a big personality, but lacks the sort of pretentious ego that craves constant validation. All these factors lead to a certain comfort and instant familiarity, which must be great for collaborating. Be on the lookout for her next few tapes (Denver, Philly, and LA), hear us talk about her constant need to create, and rap battling on the set of Usher's “Yeah” video. – Lee
Wed, March 01, 2017
SpeakPanther
This week we welcome back two friends of the show that went on to form a group together. Speak is an unpredictable and mischievous rapper that I've watched grow up. We met when he was just seventeen on a road trip to a rap battle in the Bay Area. Since then I've watched him adapt and readjust to the ever changing rap scene. He moved to Mexico after a revealing hallucinogenic experience. This new record puts his cultural growth and expanding maturity on display. Dream Panther is Greg Sheran's open ended alias. Sometimes it's a group, sometimes it's a solo project. Before moving to Detroit, KN alum Caleb Stone was in the group for a while when he was living with Speak. During this time Greg and Speak began toying with the idea of making an album together. SpeakPanther is the result of a few very intense studio sessions spread out over a few months. As Greg put it, “it was a really fast, and slow process.” With Speak in Mexico, and Greg in LA, they'd work whirlwind sessions during the short stints Speak was back in the States. Greg would often make beats on the fly while Speak would listen and write. The album, in turn, is cohesive and tightly constructed. Speak's intensity and verbosity fit like puzzle pieces with Greg's laid back vibes and willingness to listen. Listen below as we talk about Speak's move to Mexico, the SpeakPanther process, and alt-right white rappers. – Lee
Wed, February 22, 2017
EarthGang
EarthGang is comprised of rappers Johnny Venus and Doctor Dot. The duo's been putting in work for the better part of a decade and the payoff seems inevitable. They've been brought up on show by guests multiple times. Their crew, Spillage Village, includes KN alum J.I.D. who recently signed to J.Cole's Dreamville imprint. So needless to say it seems like EG and SV are in for a big year. Last year's Bears Like This Too Much compilation was a shining example of Spillage Village's effortless style. The tape was the 3rd entry in a series of “Bears” releases. Its opening track “Can't Call It” with the aforementioned Cole was also featured on Dj Khaled's Major Key . Bears was a late favorite of 2016 personally, and it proved the ATL underground is not to be ignored. SV are proper torchbearers of that Dungeon Fam / Goodie Mob bugged out ATL shit of yore. I'm always trying to piece together what that ATL scene is like. This episode showed how surprisingly small and tight knit the scene really is. They reminisce about knowing 808 Mafia before they became the worlds most desired production crew, 6lack crashing on their couch, Makkonen before he was going up on a Tuesday, knowing Two9 from high school, and Young Thug performing at one of their shows. We also discuss the changes Atlanta is going through with gentrification, and how hard they worked on music in college. Listen in below. – Lee
Wed, January 25, 2017
Deante’ Hitchcock
Deante' Hitchcock 's song “No Secret” blew me away on the first listen. That led me to his slept on 2016 release “ GOOD .” It's a solid and consistent effort that slipped under a lot of people's radar. He's got bar-heavy heady raps any backpacker would love. But he has the confidence and swagger only a Southside Atlanta native can emit at the same time. This episode seemed to have a lot of fate involved. Days after hearing “No Secret,” a viral Twitter video of Deante' thanking Barack Obama showed up in my timeline. That further inspired me to reach out to folks who might have his contact info. The day after I found his email address, I saw him tweet he was coming to LA. Bing bang boom, we got the episode in during his 4 day trip. Sometimes things go according to plan. After spending time with Deante ‘ I'm convinced he's got something special. He's grounded and hardworking, an understated but magnetic performer, relatable but awe-inspiring. Turns out he's been practicing for a while. After an uncle got him rapping in his pre-teens, he found viral success multiple times through dance vids and rap vids. So you might already subconsciously recognize him through his solid organic marketing ability. Hear us talk about those viral successes, the culture shock going to Georgia Southern University, and skating like Bow Wow. – Lee
Wed, December 14, 2016
Buttress
Buttress is an in-your-face character. She doesn't hold back as a performer, an artist, or as a conversationalist. Born to a strictly religious mother and attending Christian schools throughout her youth, she was once “punched in the gut by God” during a Pentecostal ceremony. While many would've used that experience to validate their belief in God, it made her believe in telepathy and begin reading up on the occult. Questioning everything and constant contrarianism seem to be ongoing themes in Buttress' life. She left home for art school in Savannah, GA to pursue dreams of a career in animation. Like many art students her initial goal soon changed. Realizing Savannah, that school, and animation weren't a good fit for her, she transitioned into studying film. She moved to Chicago and ended up in an art school with cliched snobby art students… the kind you see in movies. Finding the school's student body mostly obnoxious, she rebelled against the cultural norms. That's when she started experimenting with noise music and rapping. Her Youtube channel is filled with dark imagery and dense raps. Her music videos have high production value. She's able to get across her emotive themes without losing any technical prowess in her aesthetic. Early work has a boom-bap rap vibe, but she assured us she wants to move past that. As she continues on her music journey, experimenting and finding her voice, it seems like she'll be taking it farther towards left field. Press play below to hear our conversation. – Lee
Wed, November 02, 2016
Night Lovell
This week we sat down with Ottawa's Night Lovell. The baritone voiced teen was a phenomenon from the jump. The first music video he released quickly gained traction, garnering millions of views in no time. Meanwhile, the quiet and shy student was still in high school, his classmates none the wiser to his meteoric rise. Hear us talk about his dad's past as a emcee, dealing with Ottawa winters, and how he will beat that ass at Call Of Duty. – Lee
Wed, October 26, 2016
Wicca Phase Springs Eternal
Wicca Phase Springs Eternal has spent most of his life actively pursuing music. It's been the constant ever since starting bands in middle school. He went on to finding success with Tigers Jaw, and has now pivoted into the current form of Wicca Phase. You'd never guess that his hometown of Scranton was a hotbed of late era emo bands and record labels. But growing up there he found mentors and inspiration in local heroes. Now his somber lyrics laid over lo-fi trap beats are genre defying and bending the limits of modern rap music. He's found kindred spirits in Goth Boi Clique and Thraxxhouse, Hear us talk about growing up in Pennsylvania, reaching his goal of signing to a local label and needing to make new goals, and his step dad basically being the pope of the religion he grew up in. – Lee
Wed, October 12, 2016
Kenny Segal
Kenny Segal has a long and colorful history with Los Angeles rap. He's been a part of the underground scene in one way or another for 20 years now, dabbling in everything from Drum n' Bass, Turntablism, Blowdian rap production, to the current beat scene. He's had a rebirth of sorts in the last few years working with artists like Milo and Busdriver, his project The Kleenrz with Self-Jupiter, and becoming a part of Team Supreme. This episode paints a broad stroke of Los Angeles music scenes from the late 90's to today. Hear us talk about moving to LA for school (but really for the weed), keeping his sound relevant after 20 years of work, and P.E.A.C.E. being the guy on his dorm couch throughout college. – Lee
Wed, October 05, 2016
wifisfuneral
We caught up with wifisfuneral as he wrapped his first headlining tour. The Palm Beach rapper is only 19 yet has a surprising depth of knowledge about old school rap. He's faced hardships from abandonment to addiction. These struggles have helped him achieve a maturity beyond his years. He's got a good head on his shoulders. His music is firmly planted in the fundamentals but maintains a modern aesthetic. Hear us talk about dropping out of school, and discuss the ever-looming dad issues. We also have a debate about the merits of modern rap and classic rap. – Lee
Wed, September 28, 2016
Audio Push
Audio Push have been working together for years. Surprisingly their debut studio album 90951 was only released last week. They met in middle school but lost contact with each other. They were reunited after a happenstance dance battle in high school and joined forces. They've been in and out of the major label system twice. This led to them independently releasing their official debut. They utilized the breadth of knowledge picked up along the way. Audio Push had a smash jerk record in 2009. They've since developed, matured, and polished their sound to it's current iteration. Hear us talk about growing up with Hit-Boy, traveling to krumping competitions, and keeping a family structure with a sense of normality by narrowly avoiding CPS. – Lee
Wed, August 24, 2016
Allan Kingdom
This week we had the pleasure of sitting with the talented Allan Kingdom . Allan's has a unique rap voice, angelic falsetto, and a cold climate upbringing. This leads to music that can be dense, dark, contemplative and uplifting all at once. He's a young man with an aged veteran's demeanor. His career has already had a number of individual peaks (i.e The Stand4rd with Corbin neé Spooky Black, and a feature on Kanye's “All Day” that lead to 3 Grammy noms) with surely many more to come. Hear us talk about his small familial unit, why he felt “African” in Canada and “Black” in America, and recording his first raps at a church while his mom watched over his shoulder. – Lee
Wed, August 17, 2016
Cozz
The 1st bar of the 1st song I heard from Cozz convinced me he was the truth. His sparse, dark, and deeply South Central LA looking video for “Dreams” came out of nowhere in 2014. We've been trying to get him on the show ever since. His story is a modern rarity in the music world. While most folks toil in obscurity for a few years working out their sound, Cozz came out of the blue with a powerfully developed voice and the first song he put out in the world started an industry bidding war. He talked to a number of labels and ended up finding a home in Dreamville, J.Cole's imprint. His first tape, Cozz & Effect , is a surprisingly masterful debut of youngster with a fully formed outlook. His latest release Nothin Personal finds him pushing his sound and limits and continuing to develop. I'm looking forward to a long fruitful career from Cody. Hear us talk about the contrasts of South Central living and Redondo Beach schooling, how getting a record deal doesn't mean you're instantly rich, and how his first time performing was in front of a bigger crowd than most artists will see in their whole career. – Lee
Wed, August 03, 2016
J.I.D.
This week we sat with East Atlanta's own JID . Always happy to show you guys someone with so much potential so early in their career. He has industry insiders buzzing without even putting a tape out yet (it's coming in the fall, in the meantime check out the Spillage Village tapes Bears Like This and Bears Like This Too ). His style is so effortlessly confident and cocky it almost distracts from the fact the he's a technical wizard with words. The dude bars out. Hear us discuss being the youngest of 7 siblings, his fateful meeting with Earthgang while he was in college on a football scholarship, and the age old debate of who won the Jay / Nas battle. – Lee
Wed, July 27, 2016
Rebecca Haithcoat
Rebecca Haithcoat has steadily become a trusted voice in music journalist. She's written for Billboard, SPIN, Pitchfork, Noisey, Complex and countless others. I met her weeks after she arrived in LA. We were frequently attending rap shows around the turn of the decade. I was instantly drawn to her warm personality and easy conversation style. Those traits helped her become a excellent interviewer. It surely put folks like Nicki Minaj, YG, and Miguel at ease while covering them. She's a prime example of hard work and being open to opportunities. Hear Rebecca Haithcoat talk about growing up in the South, heading to Chicago to pursue her acting dreams, and writing her Master's thesis on LA rap music. – Lee
Wed, July 06, 2016
Ghostemane
One of my favorite subjects to harp on is becoming a middle aged rap fan. I try to stay open minded and excited about the evolution of the art. Last week I was at a $uicideboy$ show, feeling extra old. It was there I saw Ghostemane come out and kill a quick guest appearance during an opening dj set. I'm only surface level familiar with the burgeoning sub-genre of aggressively dark underground rap I would compartmentalize him in. It's amazing to see this younger generation of underground rappers make their audience go berserk. The shows feel more like hardcore or metal performances than a rap show in a traditional sense. Hence I wanted to talk to the new Los Angeles transplant about this scene, and how he got involved in it. Listen to us talk about how the prescription opioid epidemic affected his family, moving to LA 3 weeks ago, and why most young goths have it all wrong about satan. – Lee
Wed, June 15, 2016
Van Styles
Van Styles is a king of Instagram. He's garnered 700K followers on the app by expertly photographing the feminine figure. He's translated that success into a thriving upstart clothing brand “Visual Apparel.” But it doesn't seem like that was ever the end goal. As a young man he loved skateboarding but ended up directing porn. It seems the only common theme in his career path is “stay open to any opportunity.” Hear us discuss his outlier-like opportunity to learn how to photograph women on the job (of a porno set). Also how he bought two cars and a condo in his early 20s. He also reveals why Instagram started to feel too formulaic. – Lee
Wed, May 25, 2016
K.Flay
K.Flay is Dope. Couldn’t really think of another way to start this blurb. If you mention Kristine Flaherty to musicians you'll hear nothing but praise for her talent and personality. Since she's been a road warrior for a few years now. Due to that she's crossed paths with plenty of artists to sing those praises. K.Flay is Ivy League level intelligent and rap star level swagged out. Our conversation proves the former, and her performance of “FML” on proves the latter. Hear us talk about the beginnings of her rap career at Stanford, being a member of the real life Brady Bunch, and listen as we go absolutely apeshit with the “shoutouts.” Shoutout former guest Clayton Blaha for facilitating this episode. – Lee
Wed, May 18, 2016
Bobby Hundreds
Bobby Hundreds and Ben Hundreds have created a brand you can't help but root for. Bobby's diligent content creation over the years has created a cast of characters that revolve around planet Hundreds. Being cool is the baseline, and being talented is the norm. While known for creating one of the preeminent streetwear brands of the last 2 decades, take a closer look and you realize he's prodigious writer, photographer, and cultural curator. This was a very open and enjoyable conversation with a lot of insight into emotional themes of successful people. Felt very much like reading Outliers while listening to his story. – Lee
Wed, May 11, 2016
Johnny Polygon
This week we sat down with friend of the show Johnny Polygon . Always fun to sit and have a rambling conversation with a friend. We talk about his (very original) sleep over shows, my current rap existential crisis (honestly I kinda blacked out on this one and he became the therapist), and how it's far more intimidating to perform to 10 people than 1000 people. – Lee
Wed, April 27, 2016
Tommy Genesis
We talked to Awful Record's own Tommy Genesis . She began making music after leaving her small Canadian hometown for art school. While living in Vancouver she eventually caught the ear of Father . Last summer's World Vision gave us a glimpse of what's to come. She's been in LA busy at work on World Vision 2 . She'll be joining Father on tour starting in a couple weeks, so catch them in a city near you. Hear us talk about astrology (yeah yeah I know), growing up as a mixed kid, and demolishing walls in art school. – Lee
Wed, March 30, 2016
Sol
Our guy Sol is on tour in support of his new record The Headspace Traveler. He's a “welcome whenever” friends. So it was good to catch up. We talk about him moving into the studio where The Heist was recorded. He explains what it was like to watch a local friend become extremely famous. And he talks about moving to a cabin in the woods with no phone to help his writing. – Lee
Wed, March 16, 2016
JMSN
This felt like one of the best conversations I've had in a while. JMSN had just finished his record and was re-entering society after his self induced creative hermitude. There was next to no small talk and we dove right into anxiety, depression, and loneliness like we were old friends catching up (we'd never met). Even when I know better, occasional I make the mistake of assuming things work out immediately for talented people. When I first started hearing JMSN a few years ago I thought “hmm a dude with a great voice, great songs, great hair, and no vowels in his name?…people must've rolled out a red carpet to fame for him.” Turns out like any good success story, JMSN had plenty of failures in the industry. That eventually led him to finding himself and his voice. Hear us talk about being creative loners, mental health coping strategies, and wishing every show could be in his backyard. – Lee
Wed, March 02, 2016
Adam22
An interview with Adam22 long before No Jumper was a household name.
Thu, February 25, 2016
Daddy Kev
We talked to the man that helps it all happen for our 100th episode. Daddy Kev is a staple of the Los Angeles music scene. Bringing shine and helping artists in LA for over 2 decades. He's been hugely influential in pushing the boundaries of electronic music as the proprietor of Low End Theory. He's also released 100s of records into the universe as the proprietor of Alpha Pup Records. Furthermore Kev's mixed and mastered records you've surely heard as the owner of Cosmic Zoo studio. Not only has he provided us a platform, but he's provided a working space for some of your favorite musicians. Kev's passion for music and deft business maneuvers have inspired countless people. Listen in as we talk about balancing so many tasks, self-motivation, and how to reboot after a failed venture. – Lee
Wed, February 03, 2016
Dizzy Wright
Dizzy Wright's life has not been a cake walk. He understands what it is to struggle. Diz was raised by a single mother of five children while his biological father was imprisoned. Yet and still, his attitude is refreshingly positive and his work ethic extremely strong. He's mature far beyond his years. It's no wonder he's gathered such a huge following in a short amount of time. Wisdom and Good Vibes makes perfect sense as an EP title after hearing his life perspective. We're happy to finally get him on the show. He's been one of the most requested guests. Listen to us discuss his family in Flint dealing with the water crisis, meeting his father for the first time at age 20, and his mother's ghostwriting skills. – Lee
Wed, January 27, 2016
Wiki
Wiki Talks Growing Up In NY, Putting The Right Team Together, Misconceptions About Quakers and Performs “Seedy Motherfucker” Live In Studio I've wanted to interview our guest Wiki for a while now. The “Wikispeaks” video blew me away. It was so authentic, so New York, and seemed to come out of nowhere. The music was firmly planted in the now while still reminding me of music I grew up on. Fast forward 4 years, a few EPs, an album, tours, mixtapes, and Wiki is a grizzled veteran at 22. His work with Ratking has made him one of the leading voices of the next generation of rap musicians. The new mixtape “ Lil Me ” further proves that. Hear us talk about growing up growing up on the Upper West Side, the power of putting together the right team, and misconceptions about Quakers. – Lee
Wed, January 13, 2016
Prayers
Prayers have become known as the originators of “Cholo Goth.” Rafael is quick to remind you the connection between dark emotional music and the Chicano community is nothing new. The connection is well established and widely known in Southern California. Rafael has been many things in his life. To date he's been a gang member, restauranteur, inmate, and now rock star. Prayers is clearly on a roll. They sold out the El Rey the day before this interview. Days after the conversation it was announced they'll be performing at Coachella. Rafa has stories for days so I had a great time with this episode. Listen to us talk about his history as a San Diego gang member. He explains the difference between gangster and criminal. There's also a moving story about coming to terms with his father's passing – Lee
Wed, January 06, 2016
Karen Shaner (My Mom)
Brought my mom back in for the first episode of 2016. May be biased, but these are my favorite. We are ramblers, so we only make it through about a 6 year span in this conversation. Hear her talk about the birth of my brother, our move to Alaska, and give awkward shoutouts to family friends. – Lee
Wed, December 23, 2015
Wax
Wax put out a new record called Livin Foul . We've done a whole bunch of podcasts in the last 4 or 5 years, so this one breaks format and we essentially don't talk about anything. But that's cool. He definitely sings the Full House theme at some point. Go get that new album, I'm on a song. HAPPY HOLIDAYS HOMIES. – Lee
Wed, December 16, 2015
The Grouch
I was very excited to talk to The Grouch. He was the first “underground rapper” (read: independent artist) I heard of after moving to California. Living Legends performing at KAOS Network was the first underground rap show I ever attended. It was at the home of Project Blowed , before I even knew what Project Blowed was. He was the first artist I ever ordered online merch from. Also the first rapper I ever photographed at a show. Not to mention the first rapper that made me think “underground rapper” could be a feasible career. As a fresh faced California transplant, The Grouch was someone I immediately looked up to, revered, and learned from. Needless to say, I geeked out a bit during this conversation. He was very open during our talk and it was a real pleasure to converse with someone I hold in such high esteem. Listen to us talk about music in his genes and buying a house at age 23 from slanging CDs out the trunk. Of course we also dove deep into the Living Legends history. – Lee
Wed, December 09, 2015
Busdriver
This week we sat down with friend of the show Busdriver. Been meaning to have him on since the release of his excellent new record Thumbs . Moments before we started I saw the video of Mario Woods being executed by a firing squad of police officers. This is another in a long line of video taped police killings. We discussed race and politics issues before we began recording. It carries over into this conversation. This episode is different than our usual direction. Bus and I explore opinions more than life stories. There are probably some moments that we're wearing our hearts on our sleeves. We talk about some sensitive subjects that many Americans would rather avoid. That being said, I always have a great time talking to Busdriver because he's such an amazing thinker, artist, and poet. – Lee
Wed, October 21, 2015
Illmaculate
I met Illmaculate when he was 16 years old on his first trip to California. He was already getting flown out of state by promoters to battle in their events. The Portland bred rapper has spent half his life pursuing a career as a rapper. He started in middle school. It felt like he put the whole world onto our West Coast scene when he won Scribble Jam in '04. He's still considered one of the best working battle rappers a decade later. The current KOTD champion talks about dropping out of school and his history of ultra backpacker crew names. We also go really deep into the pivotal moment he won Scribble Jam. – Lee
Thu, October 08, 2015
Nacho Picasso
Nacho Picasso is a Seattle raised rapper. He's a clear alternative to what comes to mind when discussing “Seattle Rap.” Seattle is known for churning out safe, marketable, pseudo-uplifting, boom-bap inspired rap. Nacho's music lives in a dark world of gun violence, drugs, and sexual deviance. After talking to him it seems that art truly imitates life. I'm aware many of our listeners are quickly turned off by those tropes and themes in rap music. But Nacho's music is filled with layered lyricism and obscure pop culture references. He's undeniably charismatic and has one of the most unique voices currently rapping. On top of that the raps are often over thumping Blue Sky Black Death instrumentals. Hear Nacho Picasso talk about his late start to rap, getting his first tattoo at 13, and the abusive mom's ex-boyfriend that stole Christmas one year. – Lee
Wed, August 26, 2015
The Internet
In our 90th episode we talked to Matt Martians and Syd of The Internet. Soon they're heading for a city near you on tour. Their new record, Ego Death , is a breezy dreamscape of a soul album. It finds Syd more mature, more comfortable, and more revealing than their prior releases. It's easy to pick up on why these two would work together creatively so well. Their energies almost seem opposite. Syd is laid back, cool and quiet, seemingly scoping things out. At the same time Matt is boisterous and opinionated, speaking with authority on a myriad of subjects. But the longer you talk, the more you see their dynamic occasionally flip flop and realize there's a definitive give and take that alludes to their obvious teamwork. Hear The Internet talk about learning as you go and improving along the way, first impressions being hard shake, and why you should be nice to venue security. – Lee
Wed, August 12, 2015
Scallops Hotel (aka Milo)
When we last spoke to Milo he'd recently won the favor of his rap heroes and joined their team. At the time he was thinking of moving to LA. He eventually did, but things didn't go quite as planned. He's since moved back to Wisconsin and begun to regroup and rebuild. Hear Milo talk about record label woes, neighborhood threats, and the great tape debate. – Lee
Wed, August 05, 2015
Marc E. Bassy
This week we sat down with singer-songwriter Marc E. Bassy. Kendrick tweeted the link to his East Hollywood EP . Due to that I spent the afternoon listening to it twice in a row. The record is filled with vibey stylized pop music. Furthermore you can tell it was written by someone who grew up loving rap music. The tape seemed to come out of nowhere. But like any good music story, there were many years of hard work behind the scenes. He got signed after moving to from the Bay to LA a decade ago. His band ended up scoring a Top 40 song, and people left surprisingly great jobs to join the band. They eventually parted ways since all good things must end. Mark's finally found a renewed passion as an artist after taking his turn writing for others. EHEP is a sign of that. Listen to us talk about touring frat houses to garner buzz and throwing a blazer over his t-shirt to play the mid-2000's image game. – Lee
Wed, July 29, 2015
Sahtyre
I've known Sahtyre for almost a decade now. We've never been close. If anything there's always been a strange tension between us. Because of that learning about his background during our discussion was a bit of a mind fuck. His childhood was tumultuous to say the least. While I'd heard murmurs about his upbringing, hearing the extent of his family's dark moments directly from the source was moving. We came to realize our past differences probably stem from similarities in our character. This was a very open and cathartic conversation that we waited far too long to have. Hear us talk about his drug addled early family life, starting kindergarten at age 3, and our mutual textbook need for validation. – Lee
Thu, July 23, 2015
Rome Fortune
This week we sat down with Rome Fortune. The Atlanta rapper was in LA to escape for a bit. But he ended up in a few studios, like any hard working artist would. Sometimes it's just harder for artists not to work. To be honest I'd labeled him a “fashion rapper” in my head. In my bias I feared he would be snobby or overly egotistical. He proved me very wrong. Rome Fortune is jovial, warm, thoughtful, skilled and humble. He's a true student of the game. He's a rapper not afraid to experiment, and striving to make his music as open and personal as it can be. Listen to us talk about his jazz lineage, Home Depot hustles, and how the beard ended up green. – Lee
Wed, July 15, 2015
pennybirdrabbit (Pt. 2)
pennybirdrabbit was our sixth episode ever. Her performance went a bit viral. It was our first to hit a hundred thousand views. Major life changes have taken place since we last spoke. It was high time for a catch-up conversation. We talk about her new motherhood and how she balances it with music. We also discuss maneuvering through the music industry. – Lee
Wed, June 10, 2015
Danny Seth
We're happy to welcome Danny Seth to the show. He's been back and forth between LA and London working hard. He's collab'd with the likes of G-Eazy and A$AP Ferg. In addition to being a talented lyricist, his live show is electric. But he's working diligently on an album that will show he's a very well-rounded artist. He further proves that heartfelt song he performed. Listen to us talk about a miserable mushroom trip and being detained for 9 hours in an airport. We also discuss having the foresight to remove his first viral song from the internet. – Lee
Wed, May 13, 2015
Kamasi Washington
This week we talk with saxophonist, composer, and jazz aficionado Kamasi Washington. His latest record The Epic is a 3 hour dreamscape through the mind of a master craftsman. LA's jazz scene seems to revolve around a group of friends who've been playing music together since childhood. For example Kamasi has known Thundercat “since he was in his mom's belly.” The players–Kamasi, Terrace, Thundercat, Ronald, Miles, Ambrose, etc–have been getting a lot of shine lately. Many of them worked on Kendrick's To Pimp A Butterfly . But make no mistake, they've been honing their craft in a vibrant LA scene for years . Hear Kamasi Washington talk about how he almost ended up as a physicist instead of a musician, how playing hip hop live changed his thoughts on how to play jazz, and how the saxophone chose him and not the other way around. – Lee
Wed, April 22, 2015
Daye Jack
Daye Jack recently moved to LA. Born in Nigeria, raised in Atlanta, and schooled in New York. Consequently his music is as eclectic as the places he resided. He represents a new breed of rap artists as comfortable singing as they are barring out. Comparisons could be drawn to previous guest Pell . Listeners will appreciate his dense lyrics and ear worm melodies. Listen as we talk about leaving NYU, his first show 6 months ago, and his surprising love for John Mayer. – Lee
Wed, April 01, 2015
Marvel Alexander
I enjoyed Marvel Alexander's last project Don't Die Yet . It has avant-garde sounds from the likes of Sango, Kaytranada, and features from Wiki and Hodgy. There's a lot of great self-production as well, and it turns out he's also behind the scenes making hit records as a producer. I had no idea. Really fun conversation with a perfect stranger, the dude can spin a yarn. Hear us talk about basketball scholarships, his friend Dennis' advice on getting girls, and waking up in the hospital with shaved pubes. – Lee
Wed, March 18, 2015
POS
We always love when we get to link with an artist you guys request. POS gets requested a lot. He's been a road warrior for a long time. So of course we caught him as he traveled with Doomtree in support of All Hands . Listen to us talk about touring at the tender age of 14, why Minneapolis has such a strong history of music, and how the video for Guns N' Roses “Paradise City” changed his life. – Lee
Wed, March 11, 2015
Kreayshawn
This is the 2nd time I've interviewed Kreayshawn . We did a podcast with her 4 years ago the same week that “Gucci Gucci” blew up. She was only 21 years old then. One of her first songs had become a smash hit. Is anyone is ever ready for that? A lot has changed since. She got signed, she toured, put out an album, became a media punching bag, got dropped, became a mom, and has been out of the public eye for a bit now. But here's the thing about Kreayshawn: she wasn't cool because she had a hit record. Her record became a hit because she's cool as fuck. This conversation is proof of that. I hope it serves as a reminder that media figures are still human beings. Life goes on after fame. We talk about having a punk rock goddess for a mom, Job Corp gangs, and her journey through the major label system. – Lee
Wed, February 04, 2015
Boogie
This week we talk to Long Beach native Boogie. Found out about him last year when our old pal Clayton started tweeting out his songs and vids. I knew listeners needed to hear Thirst 48 when it dropped last summer . The tape lays his cynical outlook on the social media generation over soulful, summery beats. Littered with production and features from former Kinda Neat guests, it's the perfect soundtrack to your next long drive. Listen to us talk about singing in church, raising his son, and the difference between cliques and gangs. – Lee
Wed, January 07, 2015
Mr. Muthafuckin Exquire
Mr. Muthafuckin Exquire had a palpable buzz in 2011. The video for “ Huzzah ” was so raw, grimy, and stylized. It skyrocketed him into the limelight of every major music publication. Every rap fan I knew was excited by his potential. Then, somewhat surprisingly, he signed with a major. Things seemed to get a bit quieter. From the outside looking in it seemed like the label didn't know what to do with him. Eventually he announced he was no longer signed to Universal. I find the early 2010's to be an amazingly interesting time in music. The labels really started to see themselves losing their stronghold and began trying to get their hands on anything that was building a buzz on the internet. These stories are so intriguing and relatable, it goes without saying I was excited to hear his side. Highly recommend this convo, we had a great time talking about his rolling stone of a father, his stint on Universal, and his success being anything but “overnight.” – Lee
Wed, December 24, 2014
Michael Christmas
Michael Christmas joined us on this most fitting of occasions. The 20 year old Boston bred emcee recently moved to Los Angeles. He's already being talked about in all the right circles. He started gaining traction last year with videos like “ Michael Cera ” and “ Daily ” before releasing his Is This Art? mixtape early in 2014. If you don't already love him you will after listening. We talk about his early aspirations of being the next Soulja Boy, watching his dad and step dad play Madden together, and freezing up at mansion party full of fine model chicks. – Lee
Wed, November 12, 2014
Father
Father was our 75th guest. My favorite tape of the year might be Young Hot Ebony . The project is filled with infectious hooks, a cohesive sound, and clever wordplay. It's no wonder the Atlanta rapper was able to kick the door down after his frequent collaborator iloveMakonnen got his foot in it. We discuss his self-inflicted isolation as a youth, and meeting the Awful Media affiliates in college. We also talk about the whirlwind life has become since the rest of the world found out about their enclave. – Lee
Wed, October 29, 2014
Dominic Cooley
My main hustle is photography. I travel a lot with my best friend and photographer Dominic Cooley. This is our first non-music guest. But his story of hard work and perseverance is going to inspire you to follow your dream whatever the dream may be. I love this guy like a brother and respect his hustle and work ethic. We talk about being a social chameleon, raising a son with autism, and why our rag tag crew of knuckleheads keeps getting hired on photo jobs. – Lee
Wed, October 22, 2014
Seshollowaterboyz
This week we talked with SESHOLLOWATERBOYZ. Chris Travis, Eddy Baker, Bones, and XavierWulf are standing left to right in the above photo. This was a really tough interview. It was 4 close friends versus a curious old rap fan with a surface level knowledge of their music. I probably come off like an idiot. Even still, I wanted to put it out because these guys have an absolutely undeniable movement going on. From their prolific output (all of them have put out multiple tapes this year), to their rabid fan base, to their raucous (and always sold out) shows, to the way they innately handle themselves like old pros, and treat their followers like family…I haven't felt such a palpable movement taking place independently in a long time. I initially reached out to try and interview Bones, but their manager Elliot (who becomes a big part of the interview as well) informed me that this thing is working because they move as a unit, and I fully respect that. We set up as many mics as we could and tried to learn how they came together as a team, how they learned to do everything (beats, raps, recording, filming, editing) themselves, and why they don't care if you like them or not. – Lee
Wed, October 15, 2014
Karen Shaner (My Mom)
My folks were back in town this week so here's part 2 of our conversation about her life history. You can hear our first one back on Episode 46 . I let her get VERY specific this time around. We only cover about 5 years of her life, but it was a huge transitional phase. We discuss my parents' wedding, moving to San Antonio, and the birth of your favorite rapper . – Lee
Wed, October 01, 2014
Johnny Polygon
Been 3 years since I last interviewed Johnny Polygon. Not sure why I waited so long. We always have a great time shooting the shit. Those of you that've been around a while will remember him from the other show we used to do. Those of you who haven't will love his charm, wit, and easy demeanor. This convo was a bit of a break from the norm. Rather than delving too deep into Johnny's personal history, we do a lot of bullshitting, meandering down long tangents, and musing about life, which makes us realize we're a whole lot alike. Hear him talk about his father's recent passing, getting the taste of success we all chase very early in his career, and being the Justin Bieber of Tulsa, OK. – Lee
Wed, September 24, 2014
Pell
Listeners will love this dude. Dream Panther brought Pell to my attention last week. Then I serendipitously got a text from our dude Caleb Stone saying he was interested in doing the show. Have to admit, I was sleeping. Checked out his music and videos and they're great. While showing wisdom beyond his years, he effortlessly transitions between rapping and singing. We talk to him about growing up in New Orleans, having to leave after the hurricane, and we relate to eachother in our college dorm room rap antics. – Lee
Wed, September 17, 2014
Dream Panther
Dream Panther is a name I've been hearing from the mouths of LA musicians for a long time now. Every few months I visit his Soundcloud page and leave his tunes on repeat for hours. It's dreamy electronic pop with easily digestible lyrics that sets the mood for chilling. That being said he was a complete mystery to me. I'd never seen him perform and rarely saw him on show flyers. Realistically I'd never actually even seen a picture of him. His name has been popping up on big music sites due to his connection to IloveMakonnen (they're cousins). I figured it was time to crack the case of the mysterious gent. Dream Panther talks about growing up in Mid-City Los Angeles, the culture shock of moving to a nearly all white school in Orange County, and buying a warehouse so he could have a place to perform. – Lee
Wed, September 10, 2014
Lakutis
This week we talked to Washington Heights, NY native Aleksey Weintraub, better known as Lakutis. The first time I saw him perform at Los Globos was intriguing. He was on stage shirtless, hair covering his face, screaming like a rap game Danzig. The catchy dark pop hook for “Body Scream” caught my ear. This year's 3 Seashells finds him experimenting on the outskirts of rap in a dark, party friendly world. We talk about growing up in New York in a one parent household, serendipitously falling into rapping, and trying to make a song he won't hate when it's done – Lee
Wed, August 20, 2014
Jensen Karp
Jensen Karp is our guest this week. He's been brought up on 3 of the last 4 episodes. He was signed as a rapper at the tender age of 13. As such he maneuvered his way through the industry as Hot Karl through his 20's. Jensen is a prolific writer, podcaster, comedian, art curator, and artist manager. We talk to him about getting talent scouted at a bar mitzvah, finding out he has brain tumors, and Mack 1o showing up to his doorstep with a briefcase full of money. – Lee
Wed, July 23, 2014
ItsTheReal
Eric and Jeff Rosenthal are brothers who've been creating hip hop sketch comedy for nearly a decade. Whether it be parody rap songs, irreverent interviews, journalism, or sketches; they keep the artists laughing as hard as the audience. Their loving homages to the culture always have a fresh and funny take on what's happening in rap. Simply put: they crack me up. They're able to laugh with the culture and not at it. Make sure to check out their mixtape Urbane Outfitters (I call it by the wrong name in the intro, my bad) and visit their site for hours of great content. We talk about holding back vomit while interviewing Jay-Z, cosigns from Maino and Bun B, and throwing up the Roc in a glass elevator for all to see. – Lee
Wed, July 09, 2014
Conrad Loebl
Show booking can be a tiring and thankless job. Thankfully we have folks like Conrad Loebl behind the scenes. Working as the booker for IHEARTCOMIX for the last 2 years, he's been responsible for curating some of the most forward thinking and “up on shit” lineups that LA has to offer at venues like the Echoplex, Los Globos, and the El Rey. Love these episodes where folks aren't necessarily full time musicians, but are still heavily involved in music. This is one of those episodes. Hear about how Conrad started throwing shows as a teenager, being straight edge for 10 years, and why it pays to just be a good guy. – Lee
Wed, July 02, 2014
Nova Rockafeller
We sat down with Canadian ex-pat and Los Angeles transplant Nova Rockafeller. I've been paying attention to her music for quite some time. We asked her to be a guest after finding out she's working with friend of the show Dj Nobody . Hear Nova talk about her chaotic youth, her rebellious nature, and perpetually running away. – Lee
Wed, June 25, 2014
TV Girl
Brad Petering (the man behind TV Girl) put out an album by surprise last week. French Exit entered our world via a solitary tweet. When the music's that good, sometimes that's all it takes. We talk to Brad about how the group has changed since we last spoke in '11. Trung has amicably parted ways with the group. We also discuss his experiment with skipping the PR bullshit, and his stint as a stand up comedian. – Lee
Wed, June 18, 2014
Nocando
Nocando just released Jimmy The Burnout. He returned to the show to talk about juggling family, music, and business. He's been trying to figure out alternate means of rap success. We also continue our argument about whether or not metrics matter. – Lee
Thu, May 22, 2014
Weekend Money’s Ne$$
This week we sat down with Ne$$ of Weekend Money. Paired with producer Baghdaddy, the two put out an LP in February called Freddie Merkury. We talk about Ne$$' beginnings in Philadelphia and growing up in a boarding school. We also discuss being a part of the scene that spawned Dead Prez, and finding Knowledge of Self. – Lee
Wed, May 07, 2014
Grieves
Grieves was out touring his latest record Winter and the Wolves. We only had a small window of time available to chat. Come to find out the studio mistakenly got booked the morning we'd scheduled. Thankfully our guy travels with extra recording gear. Therefore we were able to make our first mobile recording from the green room of the Roxy. Hear us talk about the making of the record, a huge gamble that ended up helping break his career, and narrowly avoiding becoming a drug kingpin. – Lee
Wed, April 30, 2014
Intuition & Equalibrum
Equalibrum and I just released our self-titled album “Intuition & Equalibrum.” We got together to reminisce about how we met and reflect on where we're going. We also talk about how skating influenced him and dropping out of high school. Mark also tells a great story about the acid trip that changed his life. Thank you for following along on our journey to get this record out. Go check out the album now, available on ALL DIGITAL MUSIC platforms. We appreciate you waiting patiently for it and we're so elated with all the support you've shown. – Lee
Wed, April 16, 2014
Herbal T
Herbal T might look familiar to you. He is the identical twin brother and long time (life long?) collaborator of Wax . He released a solo rap project called Lo-Fi Blow Dry. It's jam packed with old school funk and air tight rhymes. Hear us talk about juggling family, work, and music. He talks about finding the right girl, and burner band backlash against dumpster baby lyrics. – Lee
Wed, April 09, 2014
Christian Clancy
This week we sat down with Christian Clancy. Clancy is an industry Legend. He's responsible for marketing classic records like MMLP and Get Rich or Die Trying . He currently manages Odd Future. His team played a big hand in developing their brand, and helped create a massive international following. Clancy talks about turning his life around after being a rebellious youngster and his time spent as a marketing director for Interscope. Hear his story of meeting some skate kids that would end up reinvigorating his passion for the music business. – Lee
Wed, April 02, 2014
Anderson Paak
We're back with our dude Anderson Paak. It's interesting that sometimes we know next to nothing about our friends and acquaintances. This was one of those instances. We learn about Anderson's turbulent family history. His is mother, father and step father all ended up doing stints in jail. We also learn about him having to navigate his way with no parental guidance while he was still in school. At one point, quitting music to change diapers in an old folks home. This was a great conversation with an extremely talented artist that develops and impresses me more each time I see him. Editor's Note: When we first made this post Anderson .Paak premiered a song called “Suede.” It was unknowingly a bit too early to release the song. It ended up coming out 2 years later on the NxWorries project. This video for “Miss That Whip” was recorded a little less than a year after the conversation. – Lee
Wed, March 05, 2014
Quelle Chris
Rapper / beatsmith / Detroit transplant Quelle Chris stopped by this week. We talk about moving around all over the Midwest, he and his brother starting to rap as youngsters, and the benefits of learning through experience rather than books. – Lee
Wed, February 19, 2014
Watsky
On our 1 year anniversary episode we sat down with old pal George Watsky. George and I had a lot to catch up on. He's fresh off a year of touring, and days away from starting to work on his next album. We got right into it discussing his infamous two story stage dive that ended badly. He reveals the importance of investing in yourself, and he takes on a wonderful journey with a mystical narwhal tusk. – Lee
Wed, February 12, 2014
DJ Nobody
This week we sat down with DJ Nobody. This is part of my never ending quest to hear all sides of how Low End Theory came into existence. His history runs deep into the LA Underground. That's a subject I never get tired of hearing about. DJ Nobody talks about his new found sneaker obsession, being a collector of collections, and fighting in flip-flops. – Lee
Wed, February 05, 2014
Raquel Rodriguez
You guys have been asking for it, so you got it. We finally sat down with Raquel Rodriguez. Raquel's a close friend, collaborator, and the guest on the second podcast I ever attempted back in '11. We probably spent more time in this convo laughing and joking than actually covering any pertinent information about her, but so be it. We go into depth about our first time meeting and working together, Paco's Vs Gilbert's, and farts. – Lee
Wed, January 15, 2014
Yonas Michael
This week we sat down with Yonas Michael. Back when VerBS and I dropped the Buzz EP in '09 we opened for UNI quite a bit. I was always impressed with Yonas' (Y-O back then) stage presence and showmanship. We had a good talk about what he's been up to, early hoop dreams, and the best omelette in Santa Barbara. Look out for his Black Swan Theory project coming soon. – Lee
Wed, January 08, 2014
Karen Shaner (My Mom)
My mom, Karen Shaner, can spin a yarn (she's where I get that from). My folks were in town for the holidays. We took advantage of the time here by laying down some family history. This episode is more for me than you, but you'll enjoy it as well. We only got about halfway through her life, so we decided to make this a yearly tradition. We talk about our ethnic make up, family members I never got to meet, and she tells a good story about why she still can't properly cook a steak. – Lee
Wed, January 01, 2014
Aston Matthews
We're starting off the new year with an artist I'm very excited about. Aston Matthews is a Lakewood, CA native that has been through a lot in his 23 years. He turned his life around after being shot at a party when he was 18. After that he began making waves in the rap world. Aston is poised for big things. He's affiliated to the A$AP Mob and his mixtape dropping later this month is highly anticipated. We talk to him about growing up in gang culture, losing one of his biggest influences to gun violence, and keeping a good sense of humor while thinking he was going to die. – Lee
Wed, December 18, 2013
Jeff Weiss
Jeff Weiss is a music journalist that started Passion Of The Weiss in 2005. Since then he's written for LA Times, LA Weekly, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, and countless others. His popular Shots Fired Podcast with Nocando is quickly becoming a rap fan favorite. Hear us talk about trying to escape the clutches of music journalism, frat culture pushing him out of baseball into writing, and Humpty Hump impersonations. – Lee
Wed, December 11, 2013
Gavlyn
This week we sat down with a Gavlyn. All of her music videos have exploded. That YouTube success led to a big following in Europe. In light of this revelation she's become a road warrior. She tours frequently, continually dropping records to support the tours. We talk to her about coming out of the Valley's rap scene, racists in Poland, and looking for ladders with Schoolboy Q. – Lee
Wed, December 04, 2013
El Prez
This week we sat down with El Prez. El Prez is someone in the LA scene I've known for many years now. But this was our first time chopping it up for an extended time. It's always dope to sit down with someone who's been working on the craft as long as you. Not to mention realizing your come up stories share some similarities. Prez recently teamed up with Jansport J to put out their collaborative effort PrezSport . It's been getting a lot of positive press. We talk about recently reuniting with his estranged father, going to school damn near everywhere in LA, and learning to stealing Super Nintendos. – Lee
Wed, November 27, 2013
Low Leaf
Low Leaf is one of the first artist videos Ben and I ever collab'd on. Looks like we're beginning to bring things full circle on Kinda Neat . Her impressive feat of playing harp, piano, and singing at the same time became a sensation on our old channel. Come to find out, it helped her get an opportunity to tour Europe three times since then. Hear Low Leaf discuss why that video has been a blessing and a curse, the roots of her deep seeded spirituality, and early experimenting with Barbie dolls. – Lee
Wed, November 20, 2013
Busdriver
Busdriver is one of the great thinkers of the indie rap scene. His insight, perspective, and historical knowledge never cease to amaze me. His career has spanned over 20 years. Therefore he has an extensive catalogue with fantastic bits of cross genre pollination. It's always a joy to soak up game from Driver. Fresh off the heels of releasing the Hellfyre Club compilation Dorner vs Tookie , Driver discusses making the record, our mutual anti-social personalities, and taking advantage of a healthy sense of desperation. – Lee
Wed, November 13, 2013
Anthony Fantano
This week we talked to “the Internet's busiest music nerd,” Anthony Fantano. The man behind The Needle Drop has become a trusted source for album reviews. Holding a conversation with him proves he's just as passionate about music as he seems on video. This man is really a talker, had to reel him in a few times. We caught up with Anthony while he was in LA and talked about his college radio career, his dad's power lifting, and slow motion moshing to drone metal. – Lee
Wed, November 06, 2013
Kyle
On Episode 38 we sat down with Kyle. He's a smooth young rapper with a penchant for strong visuals and a very solid work ethic. Gained a lot of respect for him during this conversation because, not only is he a clever song writer with amazingly catchy melodies, he's also a student of the game that's been working on rap music since he was 11. Bright future for this dude. We talk to the Ventura, CA native about our half-generation gap, utilizing Youtube as a rap resource, and how we're the same age in rapper years. – Lee
Wed, October 30, 2013
Dumbfoundead
This week we sat down with Dumbfoundead. People incorrectly assume we have bad blood since parting ways with Knocksteady. This is simply not the case. Our conversation gave us a chance to clear the air about that. We go deep into the transitional phase he's going through in his career and life. We talk about changing his nom de plume, his hard work and persistence, and using humor to escape a few ass whoopings. – Lee
Wed, October 23, 2013
Open Mike Eagle
On Episode 36 we sat down with Open Mike Eagle. Mike might be my favorite rapper on certain days. He's good at the talkies too, so I think you'll like this conversation. We chat about music industry gatekeepers, getting better with age, and Hammer's unfortunate “ Pumps and a Bump ” speedo. – Lee
Wed, October 16, 2013
Kid Sister
This week we talked with Kid Sister. The Chicago native tells us about classical music being the first genre she was drawn to. She tells the story of hearing her Kanye collab by surprise over the phone. And she explains how there might be something magic in the South Chicago water. – Lee
Wed, October 09, 2013
Daedelus
Alfred Darlington, better known as Daedelus, is a stalwart staple of the LA music scene. His history in the evolution of the LA beat scene runs deep. He's released an awesome collection of diverse projects throughout his career. His new record Drown Out is out now on Anticon . Hear us discuss his passion for coffee, an artist's undying need to be heard, and how feeling like an outcast has kept him inspired. – Lee
Wed, October 02, 2013
Sol
This week we talked with Seattle's Sol. Sol just finished a life-changing 10 month journey to almost a dozen countries. Now he's embarking on his first headlining tour. We talk about him rapping as a child and why Seattle's scene is bubbling. Be sure to check out his new EP Eyes Open . – Lee
Wed, September 25, 2013
Kail
This week we talk to William Thedford, better known as Kail. Kail has been a long time friend and one of the Los Angeles rap scene's best kept secrets. We talk about his extensive movie knowledge and history as a precedent setter of the modern battle scene. He explains how talking to a gal on the phone these days is like unprotected sex. – Lee
Wed, September 18, 2013
Toy Light
Toy Light is the alias of 21 year old producer and singer Walker Ashby. His melodic mixtures of found noise and instruments combine for dreamy pop soundscapes. He's influenced by and reminiscent of later Radiohead records. After this podcast he went on to be signed to Alpha Pup. Tune in as we talk about starting a band at age 11, how hard surfing is, and synesthesia. – Lee
Wed, September 11, 2013
ILLFIGHTYOU
This week we sat down with Ugly Frank and Khris P of ILLFIGHTYOU. The Tacoma, WA group's self-titled debut came highly suggested from trusted sources. I'm glad I checked it out. It's a project that feels raw but sounds polished. Just three friends constantly trying to out rap each other over filthy beats with hardly a concern for song structure or hooks. We talk about how they became a collective, growing up skateboarding, and why there's nothing wrong with admitting you were a Limp Bizkit fan at one point. – Lee
Wed, September 04, 2013
The Koreatown Oddity
We talked to The Koreatown Oddity this week. He's an interesting character that raps with a mask on. Their was an air of mystery because I'd never seen his face. The conversation gets past that pretty quickly and we have a very great talk. Hear about his history as a standup comedian, living in KTown during the riots, and getting hit by cars as kids. – Lee
Wed, August 28, 2013
Brick Stowell
This week on Kinda Neat we talk with Brick Stowell. Brick is a photographer, hustler, and Odd Future tour manager. Brick has worked his way into a position he loves through hard work, and excellent networking skills. This convo will inspire those of you who want to be involved with music, without necessarily being a musician. We talk about getting the Living Legends customized Reeboks when he was 17, how he became part of the Odd Future team, and how he found out Cleveland, Ohio has the wildest women. – Lee
Wed, August 21, 2013
Nylo
This week on Kinda Neat we sit down with electro-songstress Nylo. She has mellow grooves, smokey voice, and deceivingly aggressive songwriting. Her music is currently catching the attention of lots of artists and industry folk. Mac Miller sampled one of her songs and Nas loves her. Nylo talks about being the unhealthiest vegetarian, being a 7 year old psychiatrist to her parents, and not letting anything get in your way when you're following your dream. – Lee
Wed, August 14, 2013
Clayton Blaha
Clayton is a publicist with one of the most influential companies in indie music. He's also co-owner (with Skrillex and others) of OWSLA. He's lived a lot of life at age 28. We cover a lot of ground ranging from the inspirational to the absolutely heartbreaking. Listen in about his upbringing as a skate rat in Boise, living in flop house with 20+ Chinese immigrants in San Francisco, and how SXSW changed his life one year. – Lee
Wed, August 07, 2013
Rheteric Ramirez
This week on Kinda Neat we sit down with my pal Rheteric Ramirez. This conversation is an LA underground rap nerd's dream. Rhet has been in the scene a long time. We talk about his first hand experiences at Foundations, the Good Life, and Project Blowed. He used to have run ins with folks like Will.I.am when he was just another kid on the grind. We also talk about starting elementary school knowing no English, his controversial verse on Busdriver's record, and the balance of being a warrior/poet/artist/pugilist. – Lee
Wed, July 31, 2013
Coolroy
Coolroy wears his heart on his sleeve and you can hear it in his music. I could tell while he was walking in that the convo would get open and heavy, and it did. We talk about the end of his relationship with the mother of his daughter, his father's enigmatic living situation when he was a kid, and keeping dreams alive. – Lee
Wed, July 24, 2013
Blockhead
We finally talked with my pal Blockhead this week. He first caught the public eye working with Aesop Rock on Labor Days and Float. Eventually he went on to put out many solo records with Ninja Tune. We talk about being an integral part of a few very influential albums, letting fans down by being a “normal bro,” and his dad getting Madonna naked. – Lee
Wed, July 17, 2013
Chippy Nonstop
Chippy Nonstop is a true cosmopolitan international traveler. We talk to her about being born in Dubai and going to school in Africa. She makes claim she's influencing Miley Cyrus' new wave. She also sheds light on and copy-paste cyber sex sessions. – Lee
Wed, July 10, 2013
Caleb Stone
Caleb stone is a multi-instrumentalist producer. He frequently works with previous guests Speak , Pell , and Dream Panther . His solo tapes are great, and so is his work rappers and singers like Kali Uchis . As a kid he'd flunk ADD tests on purpose, and got expelled from boarding school. Surprisingly Ringo Starr was a huge influence. – Lee
Wed, July 03, 2013
Mestizo
This week on Kinda Neat we sat down with my old pal Mestizo to talk about his nomadic upbringing, how his crew Machina Muerte began, and the everlasting search for normalcy. – Lee
Wed, June 26, 2013
Mike G
This week on Kinda Neat we sat down with Odd Future ‘s own Mike G. He tells us about his constant uprooting and moving as a kid, meeting the OFWGKTA crew, and partying with Justin Timberlake . – Lee
Wed, June 19, 2013
Zeroh
Zeroh is an amazing rapper and producer. I'm very excited about his music. I was equally excited to learn about where it comes from. The wordsmith from Long Beach talked to us about his love of skateboarding and his new found sense of spirituality. Hear why he wakes up every morning at 6am. You can also see his first live studio performance right here on Kinda Neat. – Lee
Wed, June 12, 2013
Alexander Spit
This week on Kinda Neat we sat down with double threat (rapper / producer) Alexander Spit. We talk about the importance of creating a strong visual aesthetic to match your sound, his time spent working and learning at The Hundreds , and we have a good time reminiscing about being real fans. Be sure to check out Alex's new beat tape, Mansions 2 . – Lee
Wed, June 05, 2013
David Romo (Ham On Everything)
This week we round off our 2-parter covering the minds behind Ham On Everything. We talk to David Romo about planning and throwing a successful party, his constant urge to create, and love songs about zombies that are actually still kind of about love. -Lee
Wed, May 29, 2013
Adam Weiss (Ham On Everything)
I've talked a lot on previous shows about my buddies from Ham On Everything . Adam Weiss and Romo are an important part of the current LA music landscape. Their parties attract a wide and eclectic audience while bringing out many important acts to LA for their first time. I sat down with each of them to talk about their journeys. In this episode I talk to Adam about his dark drug-riddled past, cleaning up after a long stint in jail, and becoming LA's party mascot. – Lee
Wed, May 22, 2013
Wax
Wax is a good rapper, good conversationalist , and all around good guy. Beacause of that we could've bullshitted for another couple hours on tape, but it was too damn hot in the studio. Listen to us talk about Rosana becoming a huge hit in Europe. We also discuss how being good at too many things can be a problem. Hear about the good ol' days of hiding porn in the woods. – Lee
Wed, May 15, 2013
Shaun Koplow
Shaun takes us deep into the record label's history. His journey started as an intern in Berkley. Eventually he relocated the label to Los Angeles. It was there he became the operational manager. We also talk about being rap nerds and how his tastes changed over time. Oh and he got roofied on tour. – Lee
Wed, May 08, 2013
VerBS
This week we talked to my old compadre VerBS. VerBS is an extremely creative bar spitter. I owe him a lot for helping me hone my style while trying to keep up on the BUZZ EP. We talk about his history with the Spliff and Bananas, nomadically peddling through the city, and chakra hugs with Santa Cruz hippies. – Lee
Wed, May 01, 2013
Kyle Gray (Avocado)
Kyle is a VFX artist in the movie industry by day. By night he frantically pumps out rap battle and music videos . He's quietly played a huge role in the battle scene over the years. We talk to Kyle about his obsessive work ethic, the rise and fall of the Grindtime rap battle league, and why Sage Francis hated his rap group “Omnivorous Genitals.” – Lee
Thu, April 25, 2013
Kitty
Kitty (formerly known as Kitty Pryde) was in Los Angeles last week. We had the pleasure of sitting down to talk with her about growing up in a sleepy tourist town , how a Facebook group full of future stars changed her path, and how life is different in the year since “ OK Cupid ” blew up. Be sure to catch her on tour with Danny Brown this month in a city near you. – Lee
Wed, April 17, 2013
Nocando
This week we talked to Nocando. Learn about why the studio halls are covered in comic books, losing his father at a young age, and becoming a part of the hugely influential Low End Theory club. – Lee
Wed, April 10, 2013
Bago
This week we talked to downtempo singer-songwriter Bago. Hear us talk about working with Alexander Spit , childhood obsessions with Selena , and choreographed dances with her manager. – Lee
Wed, April 03, 2013
Speak
We spoke to Speak this week. This might be his most open and revealing interview ever. He talks about his self-destructive tendencies, learning to box for protection from his brothers, and lyme disease changing his life. – Lee
Wed, March 27, 2013
pennybirdrabbit
We spoke with pop and electronic singer-songwriter pennybirdrabbit. She talks about the path from living in her car to going internet platinum. She also talks about making insects fight each other in the desert. All this somehow led to dog sitting for Drew Carey. – Lee
Wed, March 20, 2013
Milo
On the latest Kinda Neat, our new buddy Milo was in town before heading out to SXSW. We had a chance to talk to him about his new EPs, his heroes and idols, and sharing a favorite philosopher with Sasha Grey . – Lee
Wed, March 13, 2013
Cadalack Ron (Part 2)
Listen to the conclusion of our Cadalack Ron interview. Ron discusses sobriety, recidivism and redemption. Editor's Note : Caddy has passed away since this was recorded. We are heartbroken. He was a good man. His legacy will live on through music, battles, and interviews. – Lee
Wed, March 13, 2013
Cadalack Ron (Part 1)
Robert Paulson, better known as Cadalack Ron, stopped by Kinda Neat for what became one of the heaviest and most revealing interviews I've ever been a part of. Caddy's story is at points dark, troubling, horribly morose and, in the end, up-lifting. Cadalack Ron talks about his past as a drug addict in and out of jail, cleaning up multiple times only to fall back into old habits, and finally being able to feel emotion again after running from it for so many years. This conversation ran long so we turned it into a 2-parter. Editor's Note: Caddy has passed away since this episode. He was a good man. I hope his legacy lives on through his music, battles, and conversations like this. – Lee
Mon, March 04, 2013
Chuck Inglish
Chuck Inglish Talks Convertibles, Drug Dogs, and Performs “Money Clip” Live In Studio Chuck Inglish is half of the seminal group The Cool Kids. He stopped by to reminisce about his early inspirations. We also talked about his next solo project Convertibles , and he explains that drug dogs aren't necessarily snitches. Then he recorded our first ever live performance. – Lee
Wed, February 27, 2013
Baths
For our debut episode we welcomed Baths. We had no idea what we were doing yet. Thankfully he was patient enough to bear with us. I hadn't started taking photos of guests yet which explains the terrible graphic desig Please search for Kinda Neat on Itunes and subscribe, rate and comment! – Lee
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