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

The post Episode 144: OutWest appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 143: Omar Apollo appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 142: Epic Beard Men appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 141: Hunnah appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 140: ROLE MODEL appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 139: phem appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 138: a l l i e appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 137: IDK appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 136: Wes Period appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 135: Childish Major appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleborate continues a counterintuitive trend in my listening habits. He's a rapper influenced by J.Cole that I personally find more listenable than J.Cole. I guess that specific generation is starting to gain traction. KN alums like J.I.D. and Deante' Hitchcock are prior examples of the phenomenon.

Caleb 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

The post Episode 134: Caleborate appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 133: Travis Thompson appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 ever 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

The post Episode 132: Open Mike Eagle appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 131: Reo Cragun appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 130: Ravyn Lenae appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 129: Cuco appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 128: Ivy Sole appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 127: Nedarb appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 126: Dave B. appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 125: Gizzle appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 124: SpeakPanther appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 123: EarthGang appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 122: Deante' Hitchcock appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 121: Buttress appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

The post Episode 119: Night Lovell appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 118: Wicca Phase Springs Eternal appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

The post Episode 117: Kenny Segal appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 116: wifisfuneral appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 115: Audio Push appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 114: Allan Kingdom appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

The post Episode 113: Cozz appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 112: JID appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 111: Rebecca Haithcoat appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 110: Ghostemane appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 109: Van Styles appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

The post Episode 108: K.Flay appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 107: Bobby Hundreds appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 106: Johnny Polygon appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

The post Episode 105: Tommy Genesis appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 104: Sol appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 103: JMSN appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

SUPPORT THE PODCAST ON PATREON!!!

The post Episode 100: Daddy Kev appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 99: Dizzy Wright appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 98: Wiki appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 97: Prayers appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 96: Karen Shaner (My Mom) appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 95: Wax appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 94: The Grouch appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 93: Busdriver appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 92: Illmaculate appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 91: Nacho Picasso appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See The Internet Perform “Special Affair” Live In Studio

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

The post Episode 90: The Internet appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 89: Scallops Hotel (aka Milo) appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 88: Marc E. Bassy appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 87: Sahtyre appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 86: Rome Fortune appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 85: pennybirdrabbit (Pt. 2) appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 84: Danny Seth appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kamasi Washington and Miles Mosley Improvise “MK 1” Live In Studio

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

The post Episode 83: Kamasi Washington appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 82: Daye Jack appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 81: Marvel Alexander appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 80: POS appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 79: Kreayshawn appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 78: Boogie appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mr. MFN 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 publicatiom. 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

The post Episode 77: Mr. MFN Exquire appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 76: Michael Christmas appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 75: Father appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 74: Dominic Cooley appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 73: Seshollowaterboyz appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 72: Karen Shaner (My Mom) appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

See Johnny Polygon Perform “Dead Meat” Live In Studio

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

The post Episode 71: Johnny Polygon appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 70: Pell appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 69: Dream Panther appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 68: Lakutis appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 67: Jensen Karp appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 66: ItsTheReal appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 65: Conrad Loebl appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 64: Nova Rockafeller appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 63: TV Girl appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 62: Nocando appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 60: Weekend Money's Ne$$ appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 58: Grieves appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 57: Intuition & Equalibrum appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 56: Herbal T appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 55: Christian Clancy appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 54: Anderson Paak appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 53: Quelle Chris appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 52: Watsky appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 51: DJ Nobody appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 50: Raquel Rodriguez appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 47: Yonas Michael appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 46: Karen Shaner (My Mom) appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 45: Aston Matthews appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 44: Jeff Weiss appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 43: Gavlyn appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 42: El Prez appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 41: Low Leaf appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 40: Busdriver appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 39: Anthony Fantano appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 38: Kyle appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 37: Dumbfoundead appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 36: Open Mike Eagle appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 35: Kid Sister appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 34: Daedelus appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 33: Sol appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 32: Kail appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 31: Toy Light appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 30: ILLFIGHTYOU appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 29: The Koreatown Oddity appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 28: Brick Stowell appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 27: Nylo appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we sit down with Clayton Blaha of Biz3 Publicity and OWSLA.

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

The post Episode 26: Clayton Blaha appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 25: Rheteric Ramirez appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 24: Coolroy appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 23: Blockhead appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 22: Chippy Nonstop appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 21: Caleb Stone appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 20: Mestizo appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 19: Mike G appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 18: Zeroh appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Watch Alexander Spit Perform “The Othersiders” Live In Studio

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

The post Episode 17: Alexander Spit appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 16: David Romo (Ham On Everything) appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

You can find this episode on iTunes or Stitcher.  Thanks for all the comments and 5 star ratings pals.

–Lee

The post Episode 15: Adam Weiss (Ham On Everything) appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 14: Wax appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our guest Shaun Kaplow is the label manager and co-owner of Anticon. They've been putting out some of the most interesting music in LA.

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

The post Episode 13: Shaun Koplow appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 12: VerBS appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kyle Gray (aka Avocado) is one of my closest friends. He's also the director of the last four Intuition & Equalibrum music videos.

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

The post Episode 11: Kyle Gray (Avocado) appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 10: Kitty appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 9: Nocando appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 8: Bago appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 7: Speak appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 6: pennybirdrabbit appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 5: Milo appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 4: Cadalack Ron (Part 2) appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 3: Cadalack Ron (Part 1) appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

The post Episode 2: Chuck Inglish appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 design.

Please search for Kinda Neat on Itunes and subscribe, rate and comment!

–Lee

The post Episode 1: Baths appeared first on KINDA NEAT.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.