About this episode
• Childhood and Upbringing in the Crest ◦ Mattsuuii introduces Sleep Dank, Mac Dre's great friend, and mentions his connection to the Bay Area. Sleep Dank describes his upbringing in an all-black neighborhood called the Country Club Crest, Vallejo, highlighting its tough elements and strong community support. The community played a significant role in raising the children, with neighbors looking out for each other. He also emphasizes the neighborhood's history of being one of the worst in Vallejo since the 1960s. • Early Days with Mac Dre Sleep recounts how Mac Dre started rapping and used to sleep at his mother's house, leaving his equipment for him to play with. He also mentions making beats with Marlon Dubee and Mac Mall, and how they were young and making demos. Mattsuuii shares his own background, including his involvement in the ecstasy movement and his subsequent seven-year prison sentence for manslaughter. Sleep clarifies the difference between the hyphy movement and mob music, emphasizing that he identifies more with gangster rap. • Impact of Mac Dre's Death Mattsuuii asks about the impact of Mac Dre's death on the Crest. Sleep Dank explains that it was a significant blow, as Dre was just reaching his pinnacle and was unexpectedly cut from them. The community had to bear down and keep the legacy going, with each member holding onto what they learned from Dre. Sleep expresses that he doesn't celebrate Dre's death but keeps him in his heart, while Suuii celebrates and prays for him every year. Sleep Dank's Music Career Mattsuuii inquires about Sleep Dank's first real project. Sleep talks about his first album, "Murder Book Author," which sold over 5000 units and was distributed by Coolio. Sleep discusses the current music industry, emphasizing the shift towards singles and the importance of making people want the album. He also mentions his two new singles, two digital albums, and an upcoming collaboration with Glasses Malone. • Differences Between Rap and Hip Hop Mattsuuii asks Sleep Dank about the difference between rap and hip hop. Sleep explains that a hip hop artist has topics and can speak on various things, making emotions and sticking to the story. A rapper, according to him, uses money as their image and doesn't focus on the lyrics. He then emphasizes the importance of being true to one's craft and not using images to gain fame. True Artistry and Writing Process Mattsuuii asks about true artistry. Sleep Dank defines true artistry as someone who writes music consistently, even when not at home, and always writes from personal experiences He also shares that he never experienced writer's block because he writes from his life experiences. Sleep advises rappers to make themselves happy and tell their stories their way, without worrying about pleasing others. • Battle Rap and Future Plans Mattsuuii mentions his background in producing and engineering music.Sleep talks about his love for battle rap and his involvement in various leagues, including starting his own league, Headshot Battle League. He says he plans to bring battle rap to the 707 area and is looking for new talent to join his league. He also mentions his new label, Bay Area Drill Music, which combines Chicago drill music with a Bay Area melody. • Final Thoughts and Shoutouts Matt and Sleep discuss their upcoming projects and potential collaborations. Sleep shares his social media handles and encourages people to check out his music and videos on YouTube. He gives shoutouts to the universe, Mac Dre, and the Bay Area rappers, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to share his story. Suuii thanks him for the insightful conversation and mentions sending him two free beats for potential collaboration.