Stop Asking Artists To Draw You For Free

Gumbo Sound: Alexis "AP" Pipkins Jr.

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1498243/fan_mail/new] A band can sound amazing and still fall apart if nobody owns the vision, the structure, and the hard conversations. We sit down with Alexis Pipkins Jr. (AP) to unpack what it really takes to lead a creative team and why he treats bandleading like management, not vibes. From his Florence, South Carolina roots to building AP & Soulful Touche in Columbia, AP shares how early church music, drumline, and years in media production shaped the way he hears, arranges, and delivers a show. We talk about his “gumbo” philosophy: unique melodies and many ingredients working together, from horns and rhythm section to spoken word poetry, background vocalists, and even a live painter. He breaks down his rehearsal process (references, voice memos, clear arrangements), the reality of nurturing relationships in a rotating lineup, and why “long money” comes from trust, consistency, and systems that still work when you’re not in the room. The conversation goes deeper into AI in music and what gets lost when creativity turns into prompts, plus the uncomfortable questions about ownership and where revenue should go. AP also opens up about faith as his routine, the pressure leaders carry, and how direct communication and accountability can keep small issues from turning into blowups. We close with upcoming show dates and how to follow AP & Soulful Touche so you can catch the G.U.M.B.O Experience live in Columbia. Subscribe for more conversations with artists and builders, share this with a creative friend, and leave a review if it hits home. What part of leadership do you think most people underestimate? Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/hilltopglove] BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909] BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f] https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e] Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove [https://www.instagram.com/hilltopglove]. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording [https://www.instagram.com/lynxrecording] @asylum_digital [https://www.instagram.com/asylum_digital] @celebstudio_ [https://www.instagram.com/celebstudio_] @caddypack [https://www.instagram.com/caddypack] . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

Stop Asking Artists To Draw You For Free

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1498243/fan_mail/new] A shoe polish drawing on a grandfather’s door turns into a lifelong blueprint for confidence, craft, and calling. We sit down with Shaneka Jackson-Kinsey, a South Carolina mixed media visual artist and art teacher known for soulful portrait work and bold self-portraits, to talk about how belief at the right moment can shape an entire creative life. We get into why eyes are her favorite feature to draw, how a terrifying COVID experience pushed her to “leave her mark,” and what changed when she stopped chasing photo-perfect realism and started chasing essence. Shaneka walks us through her process for commissioned portraits, including memorial pieces, and how prayer, music, and attention to spirit guide the choices she makes on the page. If you’ve ever wondered what makes a portrait feel alive, her approach is a clear window into the emotional side of realism. Then we go practical: the evolution from charcoal to color, why she’s loyal to Prismacolor colored pencils, and what it really takes to balance teaching with a steady stream of commissions. Shaneka also speaks honestly about pricing your artwork, learning to say no, and staying grounded in your message while the conversation around AI art keeps growing. The through-line is simple and challenging: stop believing the lies, protect your voice, and make work that tells the truth. Subscribe for more conversations with working artists and creatives, share this with a friend who needs permission to start, and leave a review with the one line from Shanika that hit you the hardest. Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/hilltopglove] BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909] BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f] https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e] Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove [https://www.instagram.com/hilltopglove]. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording [https://www.instagram.com/lynxrecording] @asylum_digital [https://www.instagram.com/asylum_digital] @celebstudio_ [https://www.instagram.com/celebstudio_] @caddypack [https://www.instagram.com/caddypack] . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

The Musical Mind Of Maxx Good$

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1498243/fan_mail/new] A lot of artists talk about “the grind,” but Maxx Good$ [https://www.instagram.com/notmaxxgoods/] breaks down what the grind actually looks like when you are an artist, producer, and self-taught audio engineer building your sound from the ground up. We kick things off with his story, born in Brooklyn and moved to upstate South Carolina, and how his mom’s weekly adventures to libraries, museums, and plays shaped the way he thinks about art. That foundation shows up in everything he makes: music is the output, but the real craft is turning feelings into something you can live with. From there, we get into the deeper creative process. Maxx explains why some of his biggest inspirations come from outside hip hop, pulling from architecture, fashion, film, and design, with Virgil Abloh as a north star for work ethic and taste. We talk sampling as pop art, classical training and sight reading, and the surprising early “beat making” moment that came from a Cartoon Network Andre 3000 game. If you care about music production, songwriting, or building a unique artistic identity, this is packed with practical mindset gems. We also go places most music interviews avoid: trends versus timeless records, Kanye West as influence and contradiction, and how mental health looks different when the whole world is watching. Maxx gets honest about being a bedroom producer who struggles with collaboration, why teams still matter, and the question we all wrestle with sooner or later: fame or respect. Tap play, then share this with a friend who loves hip hop culture, sampling, and the real behind-the-scenes of making music. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us your answer: fame or respect? Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/hilltopglove] BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909] BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f] https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e] Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove [https://www.instagram.com/hilltopglove]. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording [https://www.instagram.com/lynxrecording] @asylum_digital [https://www.instagram.com/asylum_digital] @celebstudio_ [https://www.instagram.com/celebstudio_] @caddypack [https://www.instagram.com/caddypack] . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

Clean Stories Through The Lens: Gavin Boulware

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1498243/fan_mail/new] You can tell a lot about a photographer by what they think the job actually is. With Gavin Boulware [https://www.instagram.com/iam_gavinb/], the answer is clear: the camera matters, but trust matters more. We sit down with the Charlotte, North Carolina photographer to trace his path from an $89 point-and-shoot and “trash” early photos to weddings, portraits, and a reputation that makes clients feel safe before he ever clicks the shutter. We talk about the support system that helped him keep going, the lessons that came from undercharging, and the moment club photography taught him that access is not the same as getting paid. Gavin shares the full story of his first wedding shoot, what he missed, what he learned about the flow of a ceremony, and the small things that still make even seasoned wedding photographers sweat. He also breaks down what “style” really means in post-processing, why he prioritizes sharp and clean edits, and how he uses conversation, humor, and specific prompts to pull real personality into couples portraits and engagement photos. The business side stays front and center: respecting client privacy, following directions on professional gigs, delivering images on a timeline that helps marketing teams, and remembering that customer service is most of the work. We wrap with legacy, the difference between fame and respect, and how his podcast The Black Dad's Club [https://www.instagram.com/blackdadsclub_podcast/] is growing into a real community through service, including free headshots and resume help. Subscribe for more conversations with working creatives, share this with a photographer who needs a push, and leave a review with the biggest lesson you’re taking from Gavin’s story. Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/hilltopglove] BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909] BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f] https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e] Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove [https://www.instagram.com/hilltopglove]. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording [https://www.instagram.com/lynxrecording] @asylum_digital [https://www.instagram.com/asylum_digital] @celebstudio_ [https://www.instagram.com/celebstudio_] @caddypack [https://www.instagram.com/caddypack] . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.

What Happens When A Culture Loses Authenticity

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1498243/fan_mail/new] Fame can hit overnight and disappear even faster, so we sit down with DJ Chuck T [https://www.instagram.com/iamdjchuckt] to talk about what actually lasts: respect, skill, and a real name in your community. From Charleston, South Carolina to the Carolina hip hop scene, Chuck shares how a military household, an educator’s mindset, and deep church roots shaped his discipline, his voice, and his ability to lead rooms long before he ever touched a stage or turntables. We also go places most music interviews avoid. Chuck opens up about being ordained as a teenager, why he started studying beyond one tradition, and what he learned reading the Ethiopian Bible and thinking critically about how religion can be used for control. The through-line is personal responsibility: finding God for yourself, building knowledge of self, and refusing to let anyone hand you a ready-made identity. Then we bring it back to the culture and the craft. Chuck breaks down why authenticity in hip hop is non-negotiable, how copycat trends and “type beat” thinking keep new artists stuck, and what real mentorship sounds like when the truth is uncomfortable. We talk music industry scams, the drug narratives that pull artists off track, and why a business mindset beats short-term clout every time. If you care about artist development, music business education, DJ culture, and the future of rap, this conversation is for you. Subscribe for more, share this with a friend who needs the message, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. Support the show [https://www.patreon.com/hilltopglove] BOOK OUR SPACE (Columbia): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909 [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/673ab11c9ec72595c7e5f909] BOOK OUR SPACE (Charleston): https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67ae7cb5cb965a8e4b77028f] https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e [https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/67a92b506ec2c3b8a866f42e] Make sure to subscribe to us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Also follow us on Instagram and Facebook @hilltopglove [https://www.instagram.com/hilltopglove]. Sponsored by: @lynxrecording [https://www.instagram.com/lynxrecording] @asylum_digital [https://www.instagram.com/asylum_digital] @celebstudio_ [https://www.instagram.com/celebstudio_] @caddypack [https://www.instagram.com/caddypack] . Become a member of our Patreon channel to watch our exclusive series, Amplifying Voices: Carolina Storytellers and Cre8 Talks: SC Hip-Hop Pioneers.