In this episode of the Sound Centric Podcast, Adam Dash sits down with music executive and creative strategist le’Roy Benros for a deep dive into the evolution of the music industry from the blog era to today’s digital-first landscape. le’Roy reflects on his time at SOBs, where some of hip-hop’s biggest names including Drake, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, and Kanye West passed through early in their careers, and breaks down what it takes to spot and develop talent at the ground level.

The conversation explores the founding and growth of Big Ass Kids, a creative platform and ecosystem built to help artists and music professionals bring ambitious ideas to life through marketing activations, storytelling, and community building. le’Roy shares behind the scenes stories from standout campaigns with artists like Smino and Meek Mill, and explains how world building has become a core part of modern music rollouts.

They also discuss the future of the industry, including how artists are monetizing beyond streaming, the rise of superfans, and why financial literacy including Bitcoin and new digital asset models is becoming increasingly important for creatives navigating their careers. This episode blends music history, business strategy, and forward thinking insight into where the industry is headed next.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/soundcentricmus

Instagram:https://https://www.instagram.com/soundcentricmusic/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soundcentricmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundCentricmusic

Website: https://soundcentricmusic.com

Podcast: https://www.soundcentricmusic.com

00:00 Introduction to the Soundcentric Podcast

02:35 The Blog Era and Its Impact on Music

04:51 Modern Marketing Strategies for Artists

09:27 The Role of Industry Plants in Music

11:40 The Importance of Live Performances

19:31 Booking Artists: Behind the Scenes

22:57 Monetizing Music in the Digital Age

26:14 The Birth of Big Ass Kids

28:00 Collaborative Projects and Artist Experiences

30:32 Innovative Campaigns and Activations

33:28 Navigating the Music Industry as an Entrepreneur

36:28 Building a Supportive Community for Artists

40:30 Addressing Industry Challenges and Future Predictions

44:19 Financial Literacy and the Role of Bitcoin

51:53 Upcoming Events and Opportunities

In Episode 119, Adam sits down with Washington Heights rapper LIFEOFTHOM to break down his journey through New York City’s rap scene and how he’s building a career in today’s independent music landscape.

Thom talks about the viral Washington Square Park freestyle moment where he ended up rapping in front of the NYC mayor, how moments like that can translate into real fans, and why artists need to learn how to leverage attention in the modern music industry.

He also shares the story behind connecting with legendary producer Plain Pat (Kid Cudi, Kanye West) and what he learned from working with someone who has helped shape some of hip-hop’s most iconic records.

Throughout the conversation, Thom gives insight into building a team, opening for artists like Conway the Machine and IDK, life on tour, and how independent rappers are navigating tech, direct-to-fan models, and the changing business of music. Whether you’re a hip-hop fan or someone interested in the music industry, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to build a rap career today.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/soundcentricmus

Instagram:https://https://www.instagram.com/soundcentricmusic/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soundcentricmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundCentricmusic

Website: https://soundcentricmusic.com

Podcast: https://www.soundcentricmusic.com

00:00:50 Washington Heights Rapper “LifeofThom” on His Rise + New Plain Pat Project 00:02:50 La Russell’s packed calendar as an indie artist 00:05:51 Inside NYC’s New Rap Scene: Building Community Like Pro Era & Brockhampton 00:11:05 Rapping for NYC’s Mayor: How a Viral Washington Square Freestyle Changed Everything 00:15:59 When Do Artists Need a Manager? Building a Real Team in the Rap Game 00:18:31 Opening for Conway, IDK & Taylor Bennett: How Rap Show Opportunities Actually Happen 00:22:11 Life on Rap Tour: The Real Experience vs. What Fans See on YouTube 00:23:41 Why Rappers Should Pay Attention to Tech, NFTs & Music Platforms 00:26:24 The Future of Rap Money: Direct-to-Fan Music, No Labels Needed 00:29:20 Working with Legendary Producer Plain Pat (Kid Cudi, Kanye) 00:33:07 How Great Rappers Write: Freestyling vs. Crafting Bars for Days 00:37:38 Rap Influences: Pro Era, ASAP Rocky, Blog Era Mixtapes & J. Cole 00:41:22 Mount Rushmore of NYC Rappers (Debate Gets Heated) 00:45:24 New Music with Kota the Friend, CJ Fly + What’s Next

In this episode of the Soundcentric Podcast, Adam sits down with Don Chenz for a wide ranging and unfiltered conversation about the current state of hip hop. They break down J. Cole’s long awaited album after an eight year tease, debating Disc 1 versus Disc 2, KOD versus Might Delete Later, and whether Cole’s technical brilliance sometimes works against him. The discussion expands into the Grammys conversation, including Kendrick Lamar’s dominance and whether Tyler, The Creator has become the Academy’s new favorite. From there, they dive into producer GOAT debates featuring Alchemist and DJ Premier, the evolving sound of the 2020s, and whether modern rap has become too polished. They also explore marketing in the streaming era, mysterious artist branding, snippet culture, short form versus long form content, and the thrill of discovering artists early like Trevor Spitta, Doechii, and Jack Harlow. It is a passionate and layered discussion about rap nostalgia, algorithms, artistry, and where hip hop is headed next.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/soundcentricmus

Instagram:https://https://www.instagram.com/soundcentricmusic/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soundcentricmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundCentricmusic

Website: https://soundcentricmusic.com

Podcast: https://www.soundcentricmusic.com

00:00:00 NYC Apartment Studio Setup, Audio Horror Stories & Podcast Production Talk 00:00:50 Welcome to the Soundcentric Podcast + John Wall Dougie Intro 00:02:00 J. Cole “The Fall Off” Expectations After 8-Year Tease 00:03:00 “This Might Be My Favorite Album Ever” – First Reactions to J. Cole 00:05:30 Disc 1 vs Disc 2 Debate – Burna Boy Feature & Red Velvet Cake Line 00:08:30 Hip-Hop Interpolations – Nas, Common & Storytelling Comparisons 00:09:50 High School Nostalgia, Blog Era Rap & Jersey Shore Memories 00:12:30 JID, Ab-Soul & Meeting Rappers Stories 00:15:00 Best Songs Breakdown – Bun B Road, Alchemist Beat & Future Feature 00:18:00 6-Minute Songs vs TikTok Brain – Attention Spans in 2026 00:20:00 Concert Volume, Headphone Culture & “I Can’t Hear the Person I’m Talking To” 00:22:30 Album Rollouts & Marketing Strategy – Teasing vs Dropping Immediately 00:24:30 Mysterious Artist Era – Playboi Carti, Snippet Culture & Fan Hype 00:27:00 KOD vs Might Delete Later – Ranking J. Cole Albums 00:28:37 Grammys Debate – Kendrick Lamar, Drake Line & Rap Album of the Year 00:30:00 Tyler, The Creator Early Era – “Nobody Knew Who He Was” 00:32:00 Tyler’s Grammy Run – IGOR, Chromakopia & Don’t Tap The Glass Debate 00:34:00 Clipse vs Tyler vs Kendrick – Who Really Deserved the Grammy? 00:35:50 What Is the “2020s Sound”? Rage Beats, Distorted Vocals & Genre Blending 00:38:30 Late 2000s Rap vs Blog Era – Why Some Music Doesn’t Age Well 00:40:30 Is Rap Too Perfect Now? Nas, Eminem & Technical Rapping Debate 00:41:00 Producer GOAT Debate – Alchemist, DJ Premier & Schoolboy Q 00:43:30 Tyler as Producer – Should He Produce a Lil Wayne Album? 00:45:00 Long Form vs Short Form Content – Podcast Growth in 2026 00:46:10 “Would I Even Watch My Own Content?” – Creator Self-Awareness 00:48:30 Building a Recognizable Brand in Music Media 00:50:00 Jack Harlow Doesn’t Get the Love – Baby Keem & Next Rap Star Debate 00:52:00 Brent Faiyaz, The Weeknd & Modern R&B Sound 00:54:00 Discovering New Artists – PR Emails, Music Submissions & Gatekeeping 00:56:00 Being Early on Trevor Spitta & Doechii 00:58:00 Why Discovering Music Feels Elite in Hip-Hop Culture 01:00:00 Final Thoughts on Rap, Algorithms & The Future of Music

This episode of the Soundcentric Podcast dives deep into the mind of RJ Powell, the creator behind IBreatheMusicAllDay, one of today’s most trusted music discovery platforms. RJ breaks down how curiosity, community, and genuine love for music helped him build a following of hundreds of thousands, discover artists before they blow up, and turn content creation into a real career, all without chasing clout or trends. From dropping out of school and finding his purpose, to explaining why music is not dead (you just are not looking hard enough), to opening up about making his own music and navigating the business side of the industry, this conversation is packed with insight for artists, creators, and true music fans. If you care about underground music, creative authenticity, and how culture really moves behind the scenes, this is a must-listen

Twitter: https://twitter.com/soundcentricmus

Instagram:https://https://www.instagram.com/soundcentricmusic/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soundcentricmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundCentricmusic

Website: https://soundcentricmusic.com

Podcast: https://www.soundcentricmusic.com

00:00:00 - intro

00:01:25 - What makes RJ want to discover new music

00:04:00 - The artist RJ is most proud of finding early

00:05:00 - A preview of J. Cole’s new album “The Fall-Off” and our expectations for it

00:09:00 - What rappers and producers we want on “The Fall-Off”

00:13:10 - Our thoughts on the A$AP Rocky album

00:15:00 - The music we are most excited for in 2026

00:20:00 - How RJ built up his page to over 300k followers

00:29:35 - How does RJ find artists and what stands out to him

00:34:00 - Pages RJ goes to find new music

00:36:00 - How RJ started making music

In this episode of Soundcentric, host Adam Dash sits down with Gabe P, the founder of On The Radar, to break down how one freestyle platform grew into a global cultural force. Gabe dives into the importance of freestyles as hip-hop education, how artists are actually discovered and selected, and what separates those who capitalize on their moment from those who waste it. The conversation explores the business behind viral freestyles, the role of the internet and memes in breaking artists, and how On The Radar built trust with artists while expanding worldwide. A must-listen for rap fans, creators, and anyone curious about how culture, creativity, and strategy intersect in today’s music industry.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/soundcentricmus

Instagram:https://https://www.instagram.com/soundcentricmusic/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soundcentricmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundCentricmusic

Website: https://soundcentricmusic.com

Podcast: https://www.soundcentricmusic.com

00:00:00 - intro

00:02:15 - How Gabe feels having made a new cultural landmark within hip-hop

00:04:45 - Using the color green in all OTR branding and other people copying it

00:05:45 - How Gabe decided to format OTR to differentiate from Sway, Funk Flex, and other freestyle shows

00:07:45 - Some of the hardest OTR’s to record

00:09:20 - The importance of freestyles for hip-hop

00:16:00 - Do people pay to get on OTR?

00:17:45 - Why Gabe decided to release the freestyles on DSPs?

00:21:00 - Why Gabe has more than just rap artists and American artists on OTR

00:23:00 - How artists can capitalize on their moment after appearing on OTR

00:29:45 - Does OTR allow artists to rap on famous beats

00:31:20 - The OTR X Kai Cenat linkup

00:38:00 - How artists get on OTR and the importance of artists being visible online

00:42:40 - Tips for artists

00:45:00 - Gabe’s dream freestyle cypher

00:49:00 -How Gabe has time to listen to new artists

00:52:00 - Who we are listening to right now

00:54:00 - Closing thoughts

In this SoundCentric episode, Adam and Trent Josiah dive into the nuts and bolts of booking shows—from organic connections and managers to why timing and having your “ducks in a row” matters—then geek out on live performance, swapping best-ever concert memories (J. Cole, Kendrick, Little Brother) and why leaving everything on stage beats being too cool to perform; they also debate the greatest rap voices (ODB, 2Pac, Chance, JAY-Z, J. Cole), celebrate the comeback of freestyles (On The Radar, Hot 97, Funk Flex moments), and unpack the power of tight artist-producer chemistry in building a signature sound.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/soundcentricmus

Instagram:https://https://www.instagram.com/soundcentricmusic/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soundcentricmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundCentricmusic

Website: https://soundcentricmusic.com

Podcast: https://www.soundcentricmusic.com

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:30 - How do rising artists actually get shows booked

00:02:45 - Making connections with other artists

00:04:30 - How Trent found his manager and built his team

00:06:30 - Making the decision to move from North Carolina to LA for music

00:12:30 - What is the LA scene actually like

00:15:45 - the important of concerts, live events, and making a community

00:18:30 - Our favorite concerts ever

00:23:20 - Why Outkast means more to people in the south

00:27:00 - The greatest rap voices ever

00:30:50 - The resurgence of freestyles in hip-hop with Kai x OTR

00:33:40 - Best freestyles of all time

00:37:00 - the benefit of linking up with one producer

In this episode of the SoundCentric Podcast, Adam sits down with Hadji Gaviota for a deep dive into the realities of touring as an independent artist. Fresh off his cross-country run on “The Blind Tour” with Damag3 and Rob Apollo, Hadji breaks down the grind behind the scenes — from sleeping on couches and eating gas-station meals to discovering how to actually make money on the road. The two unpack the economics of merch, the creative strategies behind tour budgeting, and the lessons learned from performing 13 shows in three weeks. Beyond the financials, Hadji reflects on the emotional highs of meeting fans in person and the importance of building an authentic live presence. This conversation paints a full picture of the unglamorous but rewarding hustle of modern touring — a must-listen for any rising artist trying to hit the road the right way.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/soundcentricmus

Instagram:https://https://www.instagram.com/soundcentricmusic/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soundcentricmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundCentricmusic

Website: https://soundcentricmusic.com

Podcast: https://www.soundcentricmusic.com

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:30 - What it’s actually ike to be an opener on a nation wide tour

00:06:00 - How artists make money on touring and the importance of having good merch

00:12:00 - A quick Kanye tangent and the importance of humor in hip-hop

00:17:15 - The reality of touring

00:20:30 - Hadji’s pre-show ritual

00:25:15 - Our favorite openers of all time and what makes a great opener

00:29:30 - The issue with artists who don’t have easy to search names

00:37:00 - What its like rapping on On the Radar and how artists can standout in their marketing

00:43:15 - How Hadji formed Elmjack and why they decided to have their dads act as the lead artists

00:51:00 - Closing thoughts

In this episode, I hosted my very first live SoundCentric podcast out of a secret New York City location with none other than Baton Rouge’s own Quadry. We dove deep into his project Ask A Magnolia and the new “Complete Series” expansion, unpacking how the leftover tracks still help tell the full story. We talked about album length, cover art, and what it means to compete for people’s attention in today’s music landscape.

From there, the conversation expanded into creativity and taste—why confidence and quick decision-making separate great artists, how interpolation pays homage to hip-hop’s roots, and the responsibility of passing down culture to the next generation. Quadry also broke down his use of symbolism, like painting the American flag on his face, and shared his perspective on making political statements through art.

We explored everything from fan bases and industry narratives, to J. Cole vs. Kendrick debates, to whether rappers should need a “license” to make music. Quadry even told a wild story about meeting Frank Ocean and the advice he got on performing. Toward the end, we swapped our personal “Mount Rushmore” of first-listen album experiences, celebrated the humor that makes the best MCs stand out, and teased what’s next from Quadry as he gears up for season two of his series.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/soundcentricmus

Instagram:https://https://www.instagram.com/soundcentricmusic/

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@soundcentricmusic

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SoundCentricmusic

Website: https://soundcentricmusic.com

Podcast: https://www.soundcentricmusic.com

00:00:00 - Intro

00:01:00 - The release of new tape “A Magnolia: The Complete Series” and inspiration to drop unreleased music from “Ask A Magnolia”

00:04:00 - Competing for attention on social media timelines and our ideal album run times

00:06:00 - The importance of artists being confident in their taste

00:08:40 - The importance of sampling and interpolating in hip-hop and how it educates the youth

00:15:00 - Quadry’s use of the American flag throughout his visuals and lyrics

00:18:50 - Artists who have mastered songs that have deeper meanings that are catchy

00:20:20 - The difference between surface level artists and one’s with a real point of view

00:21:50 - Quadry’s love for storytelling in rap

00:24:40 - Artitsts who are mad about who their fanbases are

00:30:00 - Excitement that the Drake and Kendrick beef actually happened

00:31:20 - What it means to really love hip-hop

00:36:50 - Quadry’s story of meeting Frank Ocean and getting performance advice

00:42:20 - Our favorite first listening experiences ever?

00:46:00 - Closing thoughts

00:47:30 - Why the best rappers are funny