Ricky Ray is one half of The Doc and The Desperado. He’s a seasoned MC who is most widely known for his work on CX Kidtronik’s Krak Attack albums. He got his start at Morehouse, working with Lil Jon, Saul Williams, Zion-I and others.

He has a unique perspective on hip-hop, and he broke down what groups like UTFO, Mantronix and Run-DMC felt like to a young kid in Cherry Hill in the 80’s. He explains his disillusionment with “drug dealer instruction music,” and how he seeks out rap that feels more fun. He talked about how he’s liberated himself from his past writing constraints to find a more natural way of making music.

Mike Riley came correct with this homage to Run-D.M.C.’s Raising Hell. This was recorded at The Lineup Room.

Brandon Lackey is a producer and engineer from Baltimore, MD.  He runs The Lineup Room, where this podcast is recorded. He also runs Mania Music Group, along with his partner Dwayne Lawson.

We talked about facing up to some of the tougher aspects of the music business, and having the moxie to stick with your dream when the universe sets you back. I’ve always admired his ability to not take things personally, and keep steamrolling through this rap game. I was glad to get his philosophy down to tape.

This time, Mike Riley hooked up an homage to Public Enemy’s It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back. We laid it all down with the help of The Lineup Room.

Mickey Free is a rapper, producer and comedian out of Baltimore. Mick and I have been friends since second grade, and official best friends since sixth grade.

We talked about our very early music-making ventures. Mick went in about some of the confusion and ambivalence he’s felt in trying to make a place for himself in the music world. He told me about his recent entry into standup comedy, and his recent travels with the Wham City Comedy Tour.

This time, Mike Riley hooked up an homage to EPMD’s Strictly Business. It all went down at The Lineup Room.

My guest this week is Ben O’Brien, the hilarious comedian. He’s the main man behind Wham City Comedy. We go back to 2004, when I first started playing shows with his then-band, Nuclear Power Pants.

He gave me a very articulate breakdown of how the standup comedian game is different than being a musician, an artist or anything else. He breaks down how rough tours and shitty open-mic nights have made him into a more solid comedian. He gave me the inside scoop on Live Forever As You Are Now, his collaboration with Alan Resnick, which aired on Adult Swim.

Artwork by Mike Riley. Recorded at The Lineup Room.