Rasheed Chappell FULL INTERVIEW: Big Dookie Chain Episode 58

Rasheed Chappell FULL INTERVIEW: Big Dookie Chain Episode 58

Rasheed Chappell Interview: Project City, Industry Heartbreak, & Hip-Hop Redemption Growing Up in "Project City" & Early Influences - The Aspen Place Projects: Rasheed grew up in the Alfred Speer Village projects in Passaic, New Jersey. He nicknamed it "Project City" because it had everything internally (laundromat, school, groceries, basketball court), which kept residents from ever leaving. He wrote a song about the window bars being designed to keep residents in, rather than keeping outsiders out. - The Birth of a Performer: Originally obsessed with R&B group New Edition, Rasheed's desire to perform was sparked in 2nd grade when he read MLK Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Moving his teacher to tears, he realized the immense power of words. - Family Hardship: Rasheed's mother had a million-dollar record collection but lost it to addiction during the crack era. With his mother going to prison and his father struggling, a teenage Rasheed cared for his sister. By age 17, his girlfriend became pregnant. - Straight Edge Lifestyle: Rasheed has never drank or smoked in his life, a strict personal boundary he set after watching addiction ravage his parents' lives. Knowledge of Self & Early Emcee Days - The Nation of Islam: In high school, his father introduced him to the Nation of Islam. Rasheed joined at 15 and became a Junior Minister by 16 before moving on. His father named him "Rasheed," meaning "the righteous or one who leads to the right path." - The Worst Rap Alias: Rasheed started writing rhymes at 14 under what he calls the worst rap alias ever: Baby Squirt. He later became The Prophet before using his government name. - The Writing Challenge: Inspired by local project legends World Renown signing to Warner Bros., Rasheed began battling. Early on, his uncle challenged his skills by forcing him to write a complete rhyme without using the words I, me, my, or mine. The Industry Rollercoaster: Sony, Rawkus, & Kenny Dope - The Near-Misses with Majors: Shopping his analog demos from 1995 onward, Rasheed landed meetings with Trackmasters and Loud Records. By his mid-20s, a Sony A&R loved him but hated his beats, suggesting a collab with producer Chops that never panned out. Later, a track he made with Jacques Slade (now a massive sneaker influencer) blew Sony away, but the deal fell through. - The Rawkus Heartbreak: Rasheed was finally promised a deal with indie powerhouse Rawkus Records—only for the legendary label to suddenly shut down operations entirely, taking his contract with it. - The Kenny Dope Era: In 2008, Rasheed aligned with iconic producer Kenny Dope. Rasheed rapped over production masterpieces originally meant for Raekwon, creating their acclaimed album Future Before Nostalgia. Raekwon wanted to sign him, but logistics failed, leading to an independent release before Rasheed and Kenny split due to differing career visions. Manager DJ Eclipse & A Legendary Legacy - Iconic Collaborations: Now managed by DJ Eclipse, Rasheed has cemented himself as an underground giant. He has released two albums produced by 38 Spesh and collaborated with icons like De La Soul, Pharoahe Monch, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Roc Marciano, Rome Streetz, Che Noir, Da Beatminerz, Lil Fame, Slaine, and Peter Rosenberg. - Old New York Love: Rasheed also discusses his track "Old New York Love," which tells the true story of meeting his girlfriend at one of his live hip-hop shows. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more exclusive hip-hop history! #RasheedChappell #Rap #HipHop #IndieHipHop #UndergroundHipHop #BoomBap #HipHopCulture #GrandmasterFlash #TheFuriousFive #TheMessage #AfrikaBambaataa ##DougEFresh #SlickRick #Beatbox #Beatboxing #NewEdition #MartinLutherKing #MalcolmX #TheJackson5 #Jackson5 #BeatStreet #CrazyLegs #StyleWars #Graffiti #BBoy #BBoying #Breakdance #Breakdancing #RecordCollector #Analog #KnowledgeOfSelf #NationOfIslam #FivePercentNation #PublicEnemy #XClan #BrandNubian #Rakim #PoorRighteousTeachers #Kwame #Redman #EPMD #NaughtyByNature #WorldRenown #MarleyMarl #BigPun #LivingstoneBramble #WesleyHodges #WesleyHogges #SteveRifkind #Trackmasters #DefJam #LoudRecords #TheBeatnuts #BlackEyedPeas #KanyeWest #Chops #JacquesSlade #Kustoo #Nas #Onyx #NWA #NewKidsOnTheBlock #WuTang #WuTangClan #Rawkus #RawkusRecords #KennyDope #PeteRock #FutureFlavas #Cormega #KDef #BizMarkie #JuiceCrew #BigDaddyKane #KoolGRap #GhostfaceKillah #Raekwon #JazzyJeff #ApolloBrown #HusKingpin #DJEclipse #FatBeats #WilSwink #LordFinesse #Wordsworth #ReekDaVillian #MethodMan #BustaRhymes #Buckwild #DITC #Crimeapple #DanielSon #Arcitype #DJScratch #LilFame #MOP #PlanetAsia #XPTheMarxman #RocMarciano #JayRoyale #LittleVic #LamarTyree #YolandaSargeant ##DyaniStarMyles #Aidan #RomeStreetz #LisaBello #STLGLD #Slaine #NoelPancho #TheMusalini #BeatsByJBlack #MickeyBlue #PeterRosenberg #DaBeatminerz #EvilDee #MrWalt #DeLaSoul #PharoaheMonch #Griselda #BernadettePrice #Daringer #RoadsArt #FrankG #Hieroglyphics

#Aztech FULL INTERVIEW: Anime’s Most Featured Emcee!

- The Roots: B-Boying, AZNRaps, & Early Influences First Influences: - Aztech started as a b-boy (breakdancer) in elementary school before transitioning to an emcee by high school. His first cassette was A Tribe Called Quest's Low End Theory, but skipping school to buy Wu-Tang Forever was the first time lyrics truly blew his mind. The "Asian Seouljah" Days: - Growing up in a Latino neighborhood where people assumed he was Mexican, Aztech wanted to embrace his roots. He started out under the name "Asian Seouljah" on AZNRaps.com, writing his earliest rhymes exclusively about the Asian experience. He notes how much times have changed for Asian entertainers, shifting away from soft-spoken stereotypes. The Early Grind: - To get his music out, Aztech would label his CDs "free" and sneakily place them behind popular rap albums in music stores. He later ran the Grind Time Boston battle rap division alongside local legend Edo G. The Jin Friendship & Unreleased Heat Before the Fame: - Aztech’s friendship with Jin started long before Jin’s legendary 106 & Park freestyle run. Back then, the tight-knit community of Asian rappers all knew each other. Jin's Secret Stardom: - He discusses Jin's massive transition from a Ruff Ryders artist to a Hollywood actor and absolute icon in Hong Kong. Aztech reveals he has an unreleased song with Jin, discusses future collabs, and talks about Jin’s comedy career and new label venture with Ne-Yo. The Anime Pivot: Becoming a Legend in Japan The Chance Encounter: - Losing faith in his hip-hop career, a chance encounter with famed jazz musician Yuki Kanesaka changed Aztech's life. Alongside Paranom, they resurrected their group Hybrid Thoughts, pitched it to a Japanese label, and scored a record deal on their very first try—debuting at the top of the charts. Anime's Most Featured Rapper: - This link-up led to Aztech rapping on anime soundtracks, making him the most featured hip-hop artist in anime history. He first fell in love with the vibe watching Samurai Champloo in 1993, and now he has traded traditional hip-hop shows for massive anime conventions. Soundtrack Lore: - He recorded 6 songs in a single session, only discovering he was on the Dr. Stone soundtrack while flipping through TV shows. His work on the Jujutsu Kaisen soundtrack completely changed his life—garnering over 10 million streams. He even admits that a verse he originally hated was recycled for an episode and has since gone viral. Industry Secrets: - Aztech breaks down how to get hired for anime tracks. Rule #1: Don’t rap about anime! Write authentic lyrics instead. Japanese Culture, Commercials, & Personal Life Accidental Placements: - Aztech accidentally rapped for a Japanese Reebok commercial after laying down a 30-second verse without knowing what it was for. He also recorded a "nerdy white radio host" voiceover that randomly ended up on Disney Japan. Why Japan Loves Hip Hop: - Aztech explains that Japan truly appreciates hip-hop culture more than America because their shows still holistically include all four elements: graffiti, breakdancing, DJing, and emceeing. Creative Family & Fun Facts: - He debunks common myths about Japan and discusses traveling there. On the personal side, his wife Nicole “Lola” Lyons is an elite fashion stylist who designs outfits for Erykah Badu. Aztech also wrote a children's book about his cat. Also in the studio: - Aztech's protege, Kold Kwan. #Aztech #HybridThoughts #KoldKwan #AsianRap #AsianHipHop #Rap #HipHop #IndieHipHop #UndergroundHipHop #BoomBap #HipHopCulture #BostonHipHop #NewEnglandHipHop #JujutsuKaisen #Anime #FunkyAztecs #SlippinIntoDarkness #ATribeCalledQuest #BBoy #BBoying #Breakdance #Breakdancing #FreestyleMusic #NativeTongues #WuTang #WuTangClan #NWA #Tupac #2Pac #Jin #BlackEyedPeas #BooYaaTribe #SnackyChan #KPop #AZNRaps #106AndPark #RuffRyders #SoundClick #Limewire #Nas #BattleRap #BattleRapper #PatG #ErykahBadu #YukiKanesaka #Leedz #LeedzEdutainment #BloodBlockadeBattlefront #DrStone #Graffiti #DJ #DJing #NeYo #AnimeConvention #Beastars #TOHOAnimation #EdoG #Disney #DisneyJapan #SamuraiChamploo #RZA #FlyingLotus #Substantial

Slaine Interview Part 1: Addiction, Hip Hop & Survival

In this raw and unfiltered interview, Slaine opens up about addiction, survival, hip hop, acting, and the chaotic road that shaped his career. Growing up in 17 different homes around Boston, Slaine talks about discovering hip hop as a kid after seeing Donnie Wahlberg breakdancing in Dorchester and hearing the Beastie Boys “Licensed to Ill” album for the first time. He started writing rhymes at just 9 years old, long before rap felt accessible for white artists. Moving to New York in the mid-90s completely changed his mindset about authenticity, culture, and what it really meant to represent something bigger than yourself in hip hop. The conversation dives deep into Slaine’s early years — attending Don Bosco Technical High School, studying film at School of Visual Arts in Manhattan, performing at the legendary Nuyorican Poets Cafe in 1996, and eventually developing the “Slaine” persona while working with Lordz of Brooklyn. Slaine also reflects on the darker side of his rise: cocaine and alcohol binges that blurred the line between day and night, repeated hospital visits, and blowing major opportunities because of drugs and alcohol. He shares stories about hustling ecstasy between Boston and New York during the late-90s club era, living in abandoned warehouse studios with no electricity while recording “White Man Is The Devil Volume 1,” and the period that eventually led to the formation of Special Teamz & La Coka Nostra. Along the way, he talks about mentorship from figures like iLL Bill, Danny Boy, MC Shan and DJ Lethal, and how art ultimately became the thing that saved his life. Slaine also reflects on his transition into acting, including being told by an acting teacher that he was a natural before eventually landing roles in major Boston crime films. He shares stories from the set of “Killing Them Softly,” including conversations with Brad Pitt about divorce, life, and navigating personal struggles while working in Hollywood. The interview also explores sobriety, ADHD, creativity, acting, and how fear and love finally pushed him toward recovery after years of self-destruction. From open mics in New York to acting in iconic movies, Slaine reflects on the highs, the crashes, and the lessons he’s still learning today. Topics include: - Addiction and recovery - Early Boston & NYC hip hop culture - The origins of Special Teamz & La Coka Nostra - Recording "White Man Is The Devil" - Acting and discovering natural talent - Creativity vs sobriety - Surviving the music industry - Life lessons from Ozzy Osbourne - Discussing divorce on the set of “Killing Them Softly” with Brad Pitt #Slaine #LaCokaNostra #Rap #HipHop #IndieHipHop #UndergroundHipHop #BoomBap #HipHopCulture #BostonHipHop #NewEnglandHipHop #Addiction #Sobriety #Recovery #Detox #Leedz #LeedzEdutainment #WhiteManIsTheDevil #DonBosco #StretchAndBobbito #CatholicSchool #Fashion #DonnieWahlberg #NewKidsOnTheBlock #Breakdancing #BBoy #BeastieBoys #LicensedToIll #KRSOne #RunDMC #BigDaddyKane #KoolGRap #LLCoolJ #Eminem #HouseOfPain #Everlast #DannyBoy #DjLethal #NuyoricanPoetsCafe #iLLBill #Necro #CompanyFlow #Juggaknots #FatBeats #RickRubin #DrugEpidemic #2Pac #Tupac #DMX #StickyFingaz #FredroStarr #Onyx #Acting #MovieDirector #Film #VideoEditing #Screenwriting #MickeyFeatherstone #Westies #ADHD #Kaves #LordzOfBrooklyn #BustaRhymes #DiamondD #MCShan #RunDMC #JamMasterJay #RCA #TommyBoy #360Deal #CBGB #DeryckWhibley #Sum41 #MTV #Roslindale #Boston #SpecialTeamz #EdoG #Jaysaun #Krumbsnatcha #UGHH #UndergroundHipHopDotCom #MattyTrump #ChrisFaraone #Nox #AWOL #BigLeft #EmersonCollege #FenwayPark #StatikSelektah #PeterParker #BrianLife #MCSerch #MedicationAssistedTreatment #DMS #DannyDiablo #TheArcitype #OzzyOsbourne #KillingThemSoftly #BradPitt

#Slaine FULL INTERVIEW Part 2: Music, Movies, & Redemption

Hollywood Realities & "The Town" Lore The Brad Pitt & Ben Affleck Connections: * On the set of "Killing Them Softly," Slaine bonded with Brad Pitt over navigating a divorce. He also credits Ben Affleck for championing his music, placing his tracks in "Gone Baby Gone" and "The Town." The Chaos of Mainstream Fame: * Acting took his recognition to a jarring level. Movie fans regularly yelled quotes at him from passing cars or screamed his name across airport terminals. His iconic nun-mask character from "The Town" spawned tattoos and Halloween costumes. The Fenway Park Shootout Incident: * While filming "The Town" at Fenway Park, Ben Affleck’s prop M16 kept jamming. When a technician test-fired it to clear it, a civilian wedding party gathering in the right field box suites thought it was a live shooter and dove to the floor. Paranoia in Active Addiction: * This explosion of public adulation was terrifying because Slaine was still actively using drugs. Being high in public while strangers suddenly jumped out of cars or ran up on him on the street was a deeply paranoid experience. Co-Founding Treatment Facilities Frontline Recovery Work: * Today, Slaine co-founded Charles River Recovery—an inpatient, in-network detox and treatment facility offering top-tier clinical care designed for Boston's blue-collar community. The center has helped over 7,000 people. He also co-founded Grand Rising Behavioral Health. The Snoop Dogg Resume: * To get state licensing for his facilities, he built his first resume. Realizing independent music gives you transferable skills, he jokes that his resume features Snoop Dogg as a reference—whom he and Big Left actually ghostwrote lyrics for on a La Coka Nostra track. The La Coka Nostra Era Joining Childhood Heroes: * Formed in 2005, La Coka Nostra (LCN) united Slaine with his idols: the entire lineup of House of Pain. The Studio Bathroom Pep Talk: * Feeling immense pressure as the "new guy" among legends, Slaine recalls running to the studio bathroom, splashing cold water on his face, and demanding of himself: "This is your moment. Do you got the moment?" The Baggage of a Supergroup: * The hardest part of LCN was that House of Pain had already achieved global success and undergone a breakup. Everlast left the group before their acclaimed second album, "Masters of the Dark Arts." Sober on Stage: * During his first 3–4 years of sobriety, fans didn't realize he was clean and would hand him cocaine on stage, forcing him to quietly toss it aside. He confirms LCN is currently working on new material reflecting where they stand today. Lost Masters, Industry Shifts & Personal Legacy The Album Pullout Blow: * Right before his debut solo album "A World With No Skies" was set to drop, "The Town" hit #1 in America. Panicked by the mainstream spotlight, his label pulled the album at the last second over uncleared sample fears—the first devastating blow of his career. Lost Music & Louis Bell: * Slaine opens up about losing music, including an accidentally deleted track with Royce Da 5’9” (whose album "Book of Ryan" he considers a masterpiece). He also sits on unreleased music by pop-titan Louis Bell, whom Slaine championed back when Bell was just pitching underground beats. Altered Voice & Legacy: * Years of vocal strain on tour permanently altered his voice, which he now embraces. In 2020, he stopped using the alias "Slaine" for movie credits, switching to his legal name, George Carroll, so his grandkids can see their family name on screen. The Present & Ultimate Message: * Produced by Statik Selektah, his new album features Millyz and Paul Wall ("the nicest guy in hip-hop"). He credits Ill Bill with teaching him how to survive independently, while his dream collab remains Nas. Ultimately, Slaine notes that the era of label-provided artist development is dead. As one of the first rappers to authentically rap about doing drugs rather than selling them, he hopes his journey proves that anyone can get sober. #Slaine [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/slaine] #LaCokaNostra [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/lacokanostra] #Rap [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/rap] #HipHop [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/hiphop] #IndieHipHop [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/indiehiphop] #UndergroundHipHop [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/undergroundhiphop] #BoomBap [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/boombap] #HipHopCulture [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/hiphopculture] #BostonHipHop [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/bostonhiphop] #NewEnglandHipHop [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/newenglandhiphop] #Addiction [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/addiction] #Sobriety [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sobriety] #Recovery [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/recovery] #Detox [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/detox] #KillingThemSoftly [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/killingthemsoftly] #BradPitt [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/bradpitt] #CharlesRiverRecovery [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/charlesriverrecovery] #GrandRisingBehavioralHealth [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/grandrisingbehavioralhealth] #GeorgeCarroll [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/georgecarroll] #iLLBill [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/illbill] #Napster [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/napster] #SnoopDogg [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/snoopdogg] #BigLeft [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/bigleft] #2Pac [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/2pac] #Eminem [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/eminem] #RoyceDa59 [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/royceda59] #MattyTrump [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/mattytrump] #LouisBell [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/louisbell] #PostMalone [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/postmalone] #HouseOfPain [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/houseofpain] #Everlast [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/everlast] #DannyBoy [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/dannyboy] #DjLethal [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/djlethal] #AWorldWithNoSkies [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/aworldwithnoskies] #WhiteManIsTheDevil [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/whitemanisthedevil] #CheckMark [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/checkmark] #SuburbanNoize [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/suburbannoize] #TheDevilNeverDies [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thedevilneverdies] #TheTown [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thetown] #BenAffleck [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/benaffleck] #Fenway [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/fenway] #FenwayPark [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/fenwaypark] #BReal [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/breal] #CypressHill [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/cypresshill] #BoneThugsNHarmony [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/bonethugsnharmony] #JumpAround [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/jumparound] #NaughtyByNature [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/naughtybynature] #HipHopHooray [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/hiphophooray] #Onyx [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/onyx] #Slam [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/slam] #NotoriousBIG [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/notoriousbig] #ABrandYouCanTrust [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/abrandyoucantrust] #Nas [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/nas] #JohnSeymour [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/johnseymour] #SweetChick [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/sweetchick] #Frauenfeld [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/frauenfeld] ##FrauenfeldFestival [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/frauenfeldfestival] #RockTheBells [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/rockthebells] #TechN9ne [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/techn9ne] #NonPhixion [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/nonphixion] #StatikSelektah [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/statikselektah] #PaulWall [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/paulwall] #StrangeMusic [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/strangemusic] #ThomasMenino [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thomasmenino] #MastersOfTheDarkArts [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/mastersofthedarkarts] #BlackThought [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/blackthought] #SallieWong [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/salliewong] #NewEnglandPatriots [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/newenglandpatriots] #Celtics [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/celtics] #Termanology [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/termanology] #ToddPhillips [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/toddphillips] #TheJoker [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/thejoker] #BubbaRogowski [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/bubbarogowski] #GoneBabyGone [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/gonebabygone] #Millyz [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/millyz] #Nems [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/nems] #Tekashi69 [https://www.youtube.com/hashtag/tekashi69]

Big Dookie Chain Episode 55: PNLZ