Kinda Neat

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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