About this episode
Summary • Mikey Bon3z Background and Introduction ◦ Mattsuuii introduces Mikey Bon3z, highlighting his roles as a producer, songwriter, and artist. ◦Bon3z mentions his label, Dope Fiend Music, and his work with various artists. ◦ Mikey Bon3z shares his upbringing in Fresno, California, describing it as rough and mentioning his father leaving him at a young age. ◦ He discusses the influence of his surroundings and his decision to pursue music as a way to escape a life of crime. • Creation of Slam Music ◦ Mikey Bon3z explains the concept of Slam music, a genre he created that combines elements of grind, hardcore, trap drums, dark ambient soundscapes, and hip-hop lyrics. ◦ He compares Slam music to other genres that have mixed metal and rap, such as Public Enemy and Rage Against the Machine, but emphasizes its unique complexity and heaviness. ◦ Suuii praises Mikey for creating his own genre and asks for more details about his upbringing. ◦ Mikey Bon3z shares more about his mother, Barbara Jean Clark, and the challenges they faced growing up in a violent and drug-ridden environment. • Mattsuuii"s Personal Story ◦ Matt shares his own traumatic upbringing, including abuse from his father and his mother's addiction to gambling. ◦ He describes the extreme poverty and homelessness his family faced, including sleeping in their car during the winter. ◦ Suuii recounts his early involvement in crime, including cooking crack cocaine, packing guns, and being shot multiple times. ◦ He discusses his time in juvenile hall and his eventual transition to boxing, where he became a champion and earned a spot on the U.S. team. • Mikey Bon3z Early Music Projects ◦ Bon3z talks about his first music project, "Frequency Rapture," which combined minimal hip-hop beats with samples from Alex Jones and David Icke. ◦ He explains how he got into music production by watching YouTube tutorials and quickly realized he had a talent for it. ◦ Mikey Bon3z shares his influences, including classic rock, the Beastie Boys, and Rage Against the Machine. ◦ Mattsuuii and Mikey discuss their shared love for hip-hop and their favorite artists, including Wu-Tang Clan and Naughty by Nature. • Influences and Artistry (5:21) ◦ Mikey Bon3z and Suuii discuss the differences between rap and hip-hop, with Mikey Bon3z emphasizing hip-hop's cultural and artistic aspects. ◦ They talk about the evolution of hip-hop and the impact of artists like Rick Rubin and Dr. Dre on the genre. ◦ Mikey defines artistry as the ability to convey thoughts, philosophies, and emotions through music. ◦ Mattsuuii shares his own definition of artistry, emphasizing its role in evoking emotions and creating a deeper connection with the audience. • Mikey Bon3z Upcoming Projects (43:26) ◦ Mikey Bon3z discusses his upcoming projects, including his debut album "Skip the Phoenix" and a mini audio movie that accompanies it. ◦ He describes the storyline of the album, which follows a schizophrenic character named Mikey Bones who goes on a murder spree. ◦Bon3z talks about his second album, "Chemical Saints," and its themes of representing the marginalized and forgotten in society. ◦ He shares his vision of creating audio movies for every album release to enhance the listener's experience. • Mikey Bon3z Songwriting and Production Skills (46:58) ◦ Mikey showcases his songwriting and production skills by playing his tracks "Brutal Crucifix" and "Vaporwave Lover." ◦ Mattsuuii praises Mikey Bones' creativity and technical skills, noting the complexity and depth of his lyrics and beats. ◦ Mikey Bon3z explains his process of creating music, including writing, producing, and engineering everything himself. ◦ They discuss the importance of storytelling in music and how Mikey Bon3z uses his experiences to create unique and impactful songs.