Super Duty Tough Work Podcast

As rappers and producers, we have had the fortunate opportunity to collaborate with other artists, sometimes producing for other rappers and sometimes rapping on other producers tracks. During our experiences in working with other producers, we've noticed many things that they do that are counter-productive to their end goal, which is to get people to listen to their music. In many ways, they are shooting themselves in the foot before people even get a chance to listen to their beats. In this episode, we break down some of the annoying things that producers do that bug the hell out of us and we wish they would stop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We recently realized that it's been five years since Dame Dash's iconic interview on The Breakfast Club. In this interview he introduced the hip-hop world to several concepts and philosophies that are routinely ignored by large media platforms like entrepreneurship, ownership mentality, sticking together, and hustling for your last name so your children can have it better than you did. Although he was met with a lot of initial resistance for his approach and blunt honesty, time has revealed the truth in his words. In this episode we discuss how Dame Dash was right all along. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listeners of this podcast know that we are both into making beats and digging for records. But what most don't know is how many wack records you have to buy before you really learn how to find good records consistently. As a result, we've got more wack records in our collection than we would ever care to admit. However, there is a silver lining in this, as buying wack records has taught us several crucial lessons along the way. In this episode, we break down the lessons we've learned from buying wack records over the years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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, we 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the last month, the internet has been abuzz with conversation about the "Last Dance" documentary, which chronicles Michael Jordan's final championship run with the Chicago Bulls. One of the biggest conversations has been about Jordans relentless will to win and his drive to push everybody around him to their fullest potential. Some have praised it, others have criticized it, but over here we consider it the result of having a winners mentality. In this episode we discuss the traits of someone with a winners mentality and how you can apply it to best the best at your art. Let's go!! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 we breakdown what those skills are and why they will be important to be successful moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Due to the fallout of the corona virus, we are living in a very special time. A 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. Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Super Duty Tough Work, we bring the second part of Blueprint's conversation with the "rapper with the most chords", none other than Count Bass D! Since the first part of our interview got so much love and we reviewed his new album "CBD" on last week's episode, it felt like the perfect time to drop the second half of this conversation. In this part of the conversation we break down mobility and how living different places has impacted his music, the business versus the art, spirituality, and balance! Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After doing our first album reviews episode a few months back, we were told by our listeners that they would like to see us doing them more frequently. Well, the most infamous podcast on planet earth is back again with more album reviews. In this episode we review the new albums from Royce the 5'9, Jay Electronica, Count Bass D, Boldy James, and Midaz the Beast. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Considering the events taking place around the world in relation to the corona virus and all the fear and uncertainty that already exists, we decided to go the opposite direction. This week, we will be talking about the silver lining in all of this. We believe that there are actually a good number of positives to come out of this that many people aren't talking about. Information is good, but the people also need inspiration, so that's what this episode is about. Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Super Duty Tough Work, we're joined by none other than "the rapper with the most chords" himself, Count Bass D. On the heels of his brand new album "CBD" that was released this week, Blueprint and Count Bass D sit down for a dope conversation about being signed during the golden era of hip-hop, how he learned production, and the musicality that's played such a huge role in his career. This is just the first part of this interview that we will be breaking up over the next several weeks. Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since our recent episode about branding received so much positive feedback that we figured it's time to talk about the next logical step, which is making money. What many people fail to understand is that it's much easier to make money when your brand is built. So this episode is for those who understand the concepts we presented in Episode #196 The Truth About Branding, have consistently applied them to establish yourself and what you do, and are ready to monetize your craft/brand. Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this era of social media and its constant distractions, most people have a very difficult time focusing on what needs to be done. This is because all the competition for our attention has left our minds all over the place, divided amongst too many different things to ever work effectively. In this episode we talk about how to quiet your mind so that you can work better, socialize better, and even sleep better. Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If there were one concept that has become cliche in the music industry and hip-hop artists, its the word brand. Once only a concept spoken about only be marketers and salesmen, the concept of branding has now been adopted into the lexicon, leaving artists and publications always talking about their "brands." Naturally, most artists are annoyed by this, and mostly with good reason. In this episode, we break down why artists don't like branding, and give out some simple tips for understanding it more so you can maximize everything you do, because it's likely you're already doing a lot of it properly. Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices