In our last episode, we spoke about things that producers could learn from rappers that would help them in their careers. This week we’re doing the follow-up to that topic and speaking about the things that rappers could learn from producers. Although they’re completely different, there’s a lot that could be learned.   Episode 212 is “Things Rappers Can Learn From Producers” and is out now.  Hit the link to watch/listen.

As two guys who have been able to participate in hip-hop culture as both rappers and producers, we’ve been able to see the creative process from two opposite angles.  As vocalists, we’ve been in the spotlight dealing with people.  As producers, we’ve had to play the background and spend countless hours alone.  In this episode, we decided to have a conversation about the things that producers can learn from rappers. We’ll probably do a follow-up to this about what rappers can learn from producers next week.  Episode 211 of Super Duty Tough Work is “Things Producers Can Learn from Rappers” and is out now.  Hit the link to listen/watch:

When people think about hip-hop music’s contribution to society, one of the first things they speak about is how it brings people together, enabling them to learn more about each other. And while we have definitely gotten that from hip-hop, we’ve also gotten a lot more from it. In fact, we’ve been able to pick up many skills that we otherwise would have never learned that have helped us in every other area of our lives. In this episode, we break down ten skills that our time in hip-hop has taught us!  Hit the link to watch/listen:

Although we’ve spoken about various books over the years that have helped us as artists, we’ve never done an episode compiling all of our favorites over the years. In this episode, me and Illogic do exactly that. We break down ten books that have helped us over the years artistically and why we recommend you read them. Interestingly enough, none of these books are actually about making art, but that’s what make them so valuable.  Episode 209 of Super Duty Tough Work is “OUR DEFINITIVE BOOK LIST FOR ARTISTS” and is out now.  Hit the link to watch/listen.

When it comes to our chosen craft, we all know the importance of improving our skill level. However, when it comes to the soft skills that enable us to navigate the world outside of our creative spaces, many of us fall short. Artists in general have to be particularly careful about not developing their soft skills because they have to spend so much time alone practicing their craft. In this episode, we break down ten soft skills (plus two bonuses) that every artist should focus on learning. They are simple, but will take you far in this thing.  Episode 208 of the Super Duty Tough Work podcast is “SOFT SKILLS ARTISTS SHOULD LEARN” and is out now.  Hit the link to listen or watch.

Any fan of hip-hop understands that bragging and boasting has been a part of the art form since the beginning. From Special Ed bragging about owning Islands on “I Got It Made” to Puff Daddy bragging about having cars he hasn’t even driven yet, bragging and boasting is accepted as normal.  However, over the years we’ve noticed that there are also rappers who have started bragging about things that they probably shouldn’t be bragging about. In this episode of the most infamous podcast on planet earth, Blueprint and Illogic break down a list of things rappers need to stop bragging about!

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Since the onset of this pandemic, one of the reoccurring conversations that we’ve been having with other members of the creative community is about how different the landscape will be once this ends. It will be very different, if and when, things return to normal, and this will require us to focus our attention on developing a different skillset that will allow us to be successful. In this episode, me and Illogic breakdown what those skills are and why they will be important to be successful moving forward.  Episode 205 of Super Duty Tough Work is “The Post-Pandemic Skill Set For Artists” and is out now.  Hit the link to watch or listen.

Due to the fallout of the corona virus, we are living in a very special time where people are spending more time at home than ever and where online content is being consumed more than ever.  On the heels of the DJ Premier vs the Rza battle, live-streaming has captured artist and fans attention and now more artists are going live to broadcast for their fans. It begs the question: is live streaming the future? In this episode, we break down our observations on the emergence of live-streaming and what the future might bring for it.   Episode 204 of the Super Duty Tough Work podcast is “IS LIVE STREAMING THE FUTURE?” and is out now.  Hit continue to watch or listen to the show:

While we have both had successful careers as independent artists, there have certainly been a lot of ups and downs along the way. There were also many situations and realities that we probably could have avoided or handled much better if we had an OG to pull our coattails and put us up on game earlier. In this episode, we pull all you newer artists to the side and break down ten lessons, as your Big Homie or Uncle truly should.   Episode 203 of Super Duty Tough Work is TEN THINGS WE WISH WE KNEW AS NEW ARTISTS and is out now.  Check out the video, audio, and show notes below.

While we both have amazing mothers who have played incredible roles in our development as men, we very rarely speak about our fathers on this show. In fact, we’ve found it very rare for fathers to get their just due at all. So in this episode, we breakdown ten critical lessons we learned from our fathers that have shaped who we are and made us the men that we are today. Let’s go!

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Anyone who has worked in this country understands how trying it can be to find a job, let alone keep a job you already have. Even for those who are model employees, circumstances beyond your control can leave you jobless and unsure where your next paycheck is going to come from. In this episode, we take on a listener suggested topic and talk about how to survive a recession, so you can stay on top even when times get tough.

Any artist who’s been practicing their craft for a while understands the constant temptation to buy new gear. Every year, new things come out that can help us do our jobs better. But is it worth it? Many artists have fallen victim to gear lust, buying the latest and greatest, but have never released their creations. In this episode, we dive into the temptation to buy new gear and give you ten things that are more important, so that you can make a better decision before you make the move.

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