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Don Toliver

Psycho tour - with special guests teezo touchdown & monaleo.

• Date October 19 , 2024
• Event Starts 7:30PM
• Doors Open 6:30PM
• Availability On Sale Now
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• October 19 , 2024 / Saturday at 7:30 PM Add to Cal Buy Tickets

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Bags, backpacks, purses, totes, clear bags, fanny packs, and camera bags are not allowed. Small clutches and wallets smaller than 5” x 9” x 1” are permitted and are subject to security inspection. Medical and parental bags smaller than 14” x 14” x 6” are required to go through an X-Ray machine security screening.

The exciting events hosted at Crypto.com Arena often attract large crowds. It is recommended that you plan your trip before you leave home and allow extra time for unanticipated delays due to traffic congestion, road construction, etc. Always follow traffic safety precautions when traveling to and from events. 

For up to the minute traffic conditions we recommend using  WAZE . For more information on parking please visit our Getting Here page.

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Don Toliver

Psycho tour - with special guests teezo touchdown & monaleo.

• Date Oct 19 , 2024
• Event Starts 7:30 PM
• Venue Crypto.com Arena
• On Sale On Sale Now

Dates & Times

• October 19, 2024 / Saturday 7:30PM 7:30 PM Buy Tickets

More Information

The exciting events hosted at L.A. LIVE often attract large crowds. It is recommended that you plan your trip before you leave home and allow extra time for unanticipated delays due to traffic congestion, road construction, etc. Always follow traffic safety precautions when traveling to and from events.

There are lots of things to do before and after your event at L.A. LIVE, the leading entertainment district in Los Angeles! Grab a drink, get a meal, catch a movie, visit a museum and much more!

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Veterans Memorial Coliseum

Rogers Arena

WAMU Theater

Bill Graham Civic Auditorium

Footprint Center

Crypto.com Arena

Viejas Arena

Moody Center

Walmart Arkansas Music Pavilion (AMP)

Toyota Center

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Want to see Don Toliver in concert? Find information on all of Don Toliver’s upcoming concerts, tour dates and ticket information for 2024-2025.

Don Toliver is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 26 concerts across 2 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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Veterans Memorial Coliseum | Portland, OR

Don toliver - psycho tour, rogers arena | vancouver, bc.

• PARKING: ROGERS ARENA - Don Toliver

WAMU Theater | Seattle, WA

• Parking: WAMU Theater Don Toliver

Bill Graham Civic Auditorium | San Francisco, CA

Footprint center | phoenix, az, crypto.com arena | los angeles, ca.

• Parking: Don Toliver

Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl San Diego State University | San Diego, CA

Moody center atx | austin, tx, walmart amp | rogers, ar, toyota center | houston, tx, american airlines center | dallas, tx, state farm arena | atlanta, ga.

• State Farm Arena Parking - Don Toliver

Spectrum Center | Charlotte, NC

Nationwide arena | columbus, oh, ppg paints arena | pittsburgh, pa, the liacouras center | philadelphia, pa, don toliver -psycho tour, eaglebank arena | fairfax, va, agganis arena | boston, ma, barclays center | brooklyn, ny, centre bell | montreal, qc, scotiabank arena | toronto, on, little caesars arena | detroit, mi, credit union 1 arena at uic | chicago, il, chaifetz arena | saint louis, mo.

• Chaifetz Arena Parking - Don Toliver

Ball Arena | Denver, CO

Club level seating - don toliver.

• BALL ARENA EVENT PARKING - Don Toliver

Hard Rock Stadium | Miami, FL

Rolling loud, latest setlist, don toliver on august 31, 2024.

LIV, Las Vegas, Nevada

Note: Setlist incomplete and out of order

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Don Toliver Reveals Details for Psycho Tour: How To Get Presale Code Tickets

Don Toliver will perform at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles this October. Presale for his tour begins Tuesday, July 16.

Don Toliver  has announced plans for a North American arena tour that will feature support from Teezo Touchdown and Monaleo . The Psycho Tour will kick off in Portland, OR at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, followed by performances at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles , Toyota Center in Houston, and Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Fans can get presale tickets using the presale code  STRUM  during the promoter presale on  Thursday, July 18th at 10am  local time. VIP tickets and the artist presale begin even earlier—find out how to access them using a presale code below!

FIND A DON TOLIVER TOUR DATE NEAR YOU

The upcoming tour comes in support of Don Toliver’s new album HARDSTONE PSYCHO , which dropped last month via Cactus Jack/Atlantic Records. He also recently shared a short film that accompanies the album, building on its biker gang aesthetics, and including a guest appearance by Kali Uchis . With features from Travis Scott , Future , Metro Boomin , and Teezo Touchdown—who will join Toliver on tour alongside Monaleo—the album continues the Texas rapper’s rise as a dominant voice amongst those forging hip-hop’s future. The Psycho Tour marks the biggest headlining outing of his career so far and fans won’t want to miss out when he takes the stage in arenas around the U.S. and Canada this fall.

SEE A FULL LIST OF DON TOLIVER TOUR DATES

When Do Don Toliver Tickets Go On Sale?

Tickets for Don Toliver go on sale to the general public on Friday, July 19th at 10am local time.

The VIP Package presale starts Tuesday, July 16th at 10am local time.

A Citi® Cardmember presale begins Tuesday, July 16th at 10am local time.

The Don Toliver artist presale opens Wednesday, July 17th at 10am local time.

A promoter presale takes place Thursday, July 18th at 10am local time.

What Is The Don Toliver Presale Code?

Fans can get presale tickets for the Psycho Tour through any of the applicable options listed below. Remember if you happen to see Official Platinum tickets that you do not need a presale code to purchase them!

VIP Package Presale

The VIP Package presale is on Tuesday, July 16th at 10am local time . You won’t need a presale code to buy VIP tickets for Don Toliver . Just keep an eye out for VIP options when selecting your seats. Packages can vary but may include everything from access to a preshow VIP lounge (appetizers, drink tickets, and a photo booth), exclusive merchandise, early entry, an on-site concierge, and more.

Citi® Cardmember Presale

The Citi® Cardmember presale is on Tuesday, July 16th at 10am local time . You will need to be a Citi cardholder to join this presale. Enter the first 6 digits of your Citi credit card or Citibank Debit Card as the presale code to purchase tickets for Don Toliver .

Artist Presale

The Don Toliver artist presale is on Wednesday, July 17th at 10am local time . Once you’ve decided on a tour date for Don Toliver head to his website to sign up for his mailing list . Most artists typically announce their presale codes the morning of. We also recommend checking his Instagram for updates or back here!

Promoter Presale

The Live Nation presale is on Thursday, July 18th at 10am local time . After choosing a Don Toliver tour date  enter the promoter presale code to unlock access:  STRUM .

Pro Tips When Buying Your Tickets

First, on the day of the presale or general onsale (whichever you prefer), login to your Ticketmaster account ( go to my account or sign in located on the upper right corner of the page ) at least 15 minutes ahead of the sale time. If you don’t have one,  create one now .

Be sure to add your billing info (aka credit card info) before jumping into the digital queue for a quick check-out. Once the presale starts, remain in the digital queue. Only use one browser window because using multiple browsers or devices and multiple accounts with the same phone number can result in errors. Trust, it’s happened to us before! Don’t refresh your page, do be patient, don’t leave your page, do get those tickets!

What To Do If Tickets Are Sold Out?

If tickets sell out, your other option is to buy them via online resellers like VividSeats or StubHub. When all else fails, we prefer these resell options because both offer a 100% Guarantee. You can also purchase resell tickets through Ticketmaster’s resell program. Just search for the concert or event you want to attend , and see if they have any resell tickets available. We recommend you compare the three options and find out which works best for you.

Alternatively, you can hit it old school style and show up at the concert when the box office opens and wish upon a star that they release more tickets, or hopefully, another concert-goer has an extra ticket to sell at face-value or even giveaway for free. Trust, this happens more often than not! We’ve given away many tickets to sold-out shows simply because our +1 couldn’t make it.

Also, more standard tickets are often released via Ticketmaster 1-3 days leading up to the show date. We’ve seen it with Beyonce , Taylor Swift , Arctic Monkeys and many more! It’s a secret gatekeeped by many, but if you’re reading this, now you know! So be sure to set your calendar notifications!

MUST-SEE UPCOMING CONCERTS IN LA!

Where Is Don Toliver Touring In 2024?

AUG 08 SUDOESTE FESTIVAL 2024 @ PORTUGAL AUG 24 LIV LAS VEGAS @ LAS VEGAS, NV, US AUG 30 GRANARY LIVE @ SALT LAKE CITY, UT, US OCT 10 VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM @ PORTLAND, OR, US OCT 12 ROGERS ARENA@ VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA OCT 13 WAMU THEATRE @ SEATTLE, WA, US OCT 15 BILL GRAHAM CIVIC AUDITORIUM @ SAN FRANCISCO, CA, US OCT18 FOOTPRINT CENTER @ PHOENIX, AZ, US OCT 19 CRYPTO.COM ARENA @ LOS ANGELES, CA, US OCT 20 VIEJAS ARENA @ SAN DIEGO, CA, US OCT 23 MOODY CENTER ATX @ AUSTIN, TX, US OCT 24 WALMART ARKANSAS MUSIC PAVILION @ ROGERS, AR, US OCT 26 TOYOTA CENTER @ HOUSTON, TX, US OCT 27 AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER @ DALLAS, TX, US OCT 29 STATE FARM ARENA @ ATLANTA, GA, US OCT 31 SPECTRUM CENTER @ CHARLOTTE, NC, US NOV 02 NATIONWIDE ARENA @ COLUMBUS, OH, US NOV 03 PPG PAINTS ARENA @ PITTSBURGH, PA, US NOV 06 THE LIACOURAS @ PHILADELPHIA, PA, US NOV 08 EAGLE BANK ARENA, GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY @ FAIRFAX, VA, US NOV 10 AGGANIS ARENA @ BOSTON, MA, US NOV 11 BARCLAYS CENTER @ BROOKLYN, NY, US NOV 13 BELL CENTRE @ MONTREAL, QC, CANADA NOV 14 SCOTIABANK ARENA @ TORONTO, ON, CANADA NOV 15 LITTLE CAESARS ARENA @ DETROIT, MI, US NOV 17 CREDIT UNION 1 ARENA @ CHICAGO, IL, US NOV 19 CHAIFETZ ARENA @ ST LOUIS, MO, US NOV 21 BALL ARENA @ DENVER, CO, US

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Taylor Swift's ‘Eras' Tour Will Spend Two Days at SoFi Stadium

Taylor swift will perform at sofi stadium as part of her "eras" tour on aug. 4 and aug. 5, 2023., by maggie more • published november 1, 2022 • updated on november 1, 2022 at 1:31 pm.

Taylor Swift ushered in a new era in her discography with the release of record-setting "Midnights," and the pop superstar is celebrating with a new tour, announced Tuesday morning.

She'll hit the road in 2023, making stops in 20 U.S. cities for 27 different concerts for "The Eras Tour," which starts in March.

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Two of those concerts, on Aug. 4 and Aug. 5 of 2023, will be in SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

International concert dates will be announced "as soon as we can," Swift said in her tweet about the tour.

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"I’m enchanted to announce my next tour: Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour, a journey through the musical eras of my career (past & present!)," Swift said on Twitter on Tuesday morning.

I’m enchanted to announce my next tour: Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour, a journey through the musical eras of my career (past & present!) The first leg of the tour will be in stadiums across the US, with international dates to be announced as soon as we can! https://t.co/KFuqvrhSGo pic.twitter.com/eVyTcuW8sK — Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) November 1, 2022

Artists tagging along on the tour include Paramore, Phoebe Bridgers, HAIM and several others.

It's the first tour since Swift's 2018 "Reputation Stadium Tour," which kicked off in 2018 in support of her "Reputation" album.

"Midnights," the star's 10th album, has made Swift the first-ever artist to occupy all 10 spots at the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

The song "Anti-Hero" has the top spot, followed by "Lavender Haze" and "Maroon." Two official music videos for "Bejeweled" and "Anti-Hero" have combined over 60 million views on YouTube since the album's release.

How to Get Tickets

The tickets go on sale for the general public on Nov. 18 at 10 a.m.

Fans can register now for the TaylorSwiftTix Presale until Nov. 9 through Ticketmaster.  Invitations for that presale will be sent on Nov. 14, and the presale goes live on Nov. 15 at 10 a.m.

Ticketholders of the Lover Fest — which was canceled during the pandemic — will get preferred access to participate in the presale.

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Offset Reveals His Favorite Verses: Inside "WORTH IT," "SAY MY GRACE" & More

Before Offset returns to Atlanta for a special GRAMMY U “Unwrapped” event, the rapper breaks down how Takeoff, "Bad and Boujee," and superstar collaborators like Travis Scott and Future inspired some of his best bars.

Offset understands the weight he shoulders as a former member of Migos , the eternally influential hip-hop trio that made Atlanta trap a global phenomenon. He carries his past with pride, even as he works relentlessly to define his artistry outside of Migos' shadow.

"People always relate back to my group, and I'm putting so much into my creativity to be a standout artist," Offset tells GRAMMY.com. "Carrying the legacy of that is a challenge, too. [Migos] was big — massive — so I'm just trying to make it as big as possible on my own. I want to get to the point where Offset is selling out arenas. That's a dream of mine, so the next album has to be an arena album."

Offset has steadily built toward an arena-ready album. With Migos, the three-time GRAMMY nominee delivered the "Bad and Boujee" hook heard around the world, setting the bar for Migos' world-beating Culture trilogy. His clever wordplay and infectious flow yielded anthemic results outside of Migos, including the six-time-platinum-certified "Ric Flair Drip" from Without Warning , his collaborative album with 21 Savage and Metro Boomin , and the GRAMMY-nominated Cardi B team-up, "Clout," from his 2019 solo debut, LP Father Of 4 .

Still, Offset didn't feel like he'd come into his own until SET IT OFF , his sophomore solo LP that he released in October 2023. He developed a mood board around Michael Jackson , even cosplaying the late pop icon on the album's cover and in his self-directed video for "FAN." His hands-on approach to video direction and creating a bold aesthetic bled into autonomous lyricism. The album opens with "ON THE RIVER," where Offset showcases his signature bravado and proclaims his solo star power. But with the album closer "HEALTHY," he isn't afraid to admit that he's still human, and striking out on his own is scary.

"That was my statement to let people know — and let myself know, too — I'm here to stay," the 32-year-old polymath says of the LP. "For my next album, I'm thinking about naming it Kiari , my real name, so I can break barriers and say things that I haven't spoken on before." 

SET IT OFF opened the door to bottomless vulnerability. While he didn't specifically mention Takeoff , who was fatally shot on Nov. 1, 2022, Offset alluded to his former Migos groupmate and the trauma from his death on tracks like "SAY MY GRACE" (which features Travis Scott ), "DON'T YOU LIE," and "HEALTHY." Writing about his suppressed emotions reminded Offset why he committed his life to music in the first place.

"I'm back to enjoying making music," he says. "I've pushed through so much hardship. I feel more confident — like I can breathe."

On Sept. 20, Offset will return to his native Atlanta for a special GRAMMY U "Unwrapped" event in collaboration with the Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter and the Black Music Collective , as well as participating sponsors Amazon Music and Mastercard. The panel will see the rapper go in-depth about the creative process behind SET IT OFF and offer tips to aspiring artists.

Ahead of the event, Offset sat down with GRAMMY.com to reminisce on his favorite memories with the late Takeoff and dissect some of his favorite verses from SET IT OFF and his latest release, “STYLE RARE” with Gunna . Below, in his own words, the rapper details the stories behind lines in "SAY MY GRACE," "WORTH IT," and more.

"ON THE RIVER"

"I had got off the juice / Then the money start blowing up out of the roof / I'm telling the truth, I became the one when I got out the group"

People be taking s— wrong. I ain't want them to flip it as if I was saying something negative about [my time with Migos], but "I became the one" is like I found myself. I found myself when I stepped out and could be myself fully, and I could have control of everything around me. I feel like I'm going to hold the [Migos'] legacy down at the same time. 

When I started making my own songs, I think I was just more confident. After "Bad and Boujee," I was real confident because I had finally brought something to the table. People didn't think about it, but the whole time [in Migos], I was like, Damn, I haven't brought no hit yet to the group. I did that with "Bad and Boujee." Following that, I did "Ric Flair Drip." Finally, after "Clout," it was right there for me to go grab and reach at it. I wouldn't have been able to write "I became the one" if I didn't do those songs.

"DON'T YOU LIE"

" Where would I be if I didn't have Atlanta?"

[This song] came down the line in September, right before I dropped the album. I don't be in Atlanta a lot, you know? I'm in New York because of family. I'm in Los Angeles for business. I just wanted to tell those people I wouldn't be as big — or where I'm at, period — without their support. It's not like me being from Atlanta; it's Atlanta supporting the culture and the music scene in Atlanta that brought me into the doors. I never want to forget that. I don't know where I'd be without Atlanta.

The line came about because it rhymed, to be honest. And it was just a great statement. I did the song in Atlanta, too. "Don't You Lie," even when I performed it at my concerts, that song and this line really made me go down memory lane. 

I was thinking about Takeoff, honestly, and the greatest times we ever had. Me and him playing basketball. We sucked. Our jump shots were bricks, and he'd be laughing about it. 

He'd sleep late, no matter what. Times when we was smoking and s—, laughing at jokes and what we'd seen online. He always put me on some good movies I'd never heard of or seen. Sci-fi movies. It'd be a good-ass movie every time. He's like 100-for-100 on movie [recommendations]. 

He'd also humble you. He's so down-to-earth that he'll make you feel like you're not being down-to-earth. He'd be like, "What you got to do, bro? You always got to do something. Just sit down, smoke, watch the movies, and laugh." And then just [remembering] how great of a human being he is. Bro is non-problematic. He says what's right, what's true, and what's real. There ain't no human like him because he's so soulful. Even if you had the right to be mad at something, he'd be like, "Bro, just let that go."

I felt like the production was kind of soulful, where you should be talking about real s—. It wasn't a beat that you should be having fun on.

"WORTH IT" (feat. Don Toliver)

"I'm watchin' on your 'Gram, you givin' them angles / I'm payin' for it, you ain't never gotta stress about no landlord / You ain't never gotta ask me, 'What you plan for?' / Private jet, we're puttin' stamps all on your passport / I got plans for it, leave your man for it"

I'm talking about things that women always talk about online — like the supportive man who makes sure he's taking care of the bills. You ain't never gotta ask me, "What you plan for?"

"Worth It" was a very special record to me because it's timeless music. Fifteen, 20 years from now, you could play that, and it's a vibe. Also, I wanted to show people that I can get into that bag. Everything ain't just rah-rah-rah. It was a really musical record for me. We even broke down the stems of the beat. Like, "These levels need to be a little lower because the instrumental of the beat is just beautiful." 

[ Don and I] were already cooking. Every time he'd be in L.A. or I'd be in L.A., we'd pull up on each other. We've got like five joints. We picked that one because, to me, that one got your ear immediately as soon as the beat plays. Before a word is even said. That guitar. It's off-rip.

Actually, here's a funny story. Don hated the song, bro. He did not like his parts. He tried to change some s— and send me some new s—. I'm like, "Hell nah!" We went back and forth about it. To this day, every time he sees me, he'll be like, "Bro, you were right! That s— crazy!" 

Something about my boy Don Toliver's voice is a different vibe. It sounds old, but it sounds new. When I heard him do that "Ooo" in the hook, I was like, "Oh, my god . This is it." I told him, "This is how you came in, bro. This is the bag you came in on." He was like, "I'm on some new s— now, bro." 

I told him this had to go on the album, and he [begged] to send me something else. No, sir. It's over with. We were doing this one. He was like, "Alright, bro. If it don't do nothing, I told you so." It was out for about a week, and he said, "I ain't gonna lie, OG, you got us one!" He performed it on tour in Europe. After he performed it, he called me, like, "Bro, they know it!" I'm like, "I told you."

"BROAD DAY" (feat. Future)

"Money bring a lot of power till the money go down / I was knockin' at the door, and then I kicked the door down"

When I say, "Money bring a lot of power till the money go down," it's like you're powerful when you got the money, but when you're broke, people treat you that way. Now, your ideas are not that good. People just turn their backs on you.

You know how some people may think in the beginning you don't have money, then you get it? I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about after you become successful, and then you lose it. It's just not respected. And so, I said that as a message to try to stay at the top. Save your money. Make sure you don't fall off or fall down because when you do, people will let you know that consistently.

And then, when I say, "I was knocking at the door, and then I kicked the door down," it's like, before I dropped my album, letting people know I'm going solo. I'm doing this on my own. SET IT OFF was me kicking the door down. I'm here. Let me in now.

"Broad Day" was a fun record for me. I was going for the do-it-for-the-city vibe. My boy Nick Papz made that beat, which he's a low-key producer. He came up with some fire. I thought, I hear Future on this s— . I know he's gonna go crazy . I sent it to Future . He called me and said, "This s— hard. I'm already at the studio." Future knocked it out in one day. That's how he do. He don't play. When I perform the song, they go crazy for it.

"HEALTHY"

"Praying for a sign, Lord, can You help me? / Keeping all of this to myself, oh, no, no"

This is me saying I'm a little scared and insecure about going solo at first. Help me to be able to do it. It ain't easy coming behind something so big. I know all the eyes are gonna be judging. It's not like being a new artist. You have an expectation. I had a little fear of that — just being honest, being the creative music man, especially in this time. You never know how shit will go.

It was a heartfelt record. I wasn't even going to put it on the album. I knew it wouldn't be the biggest record, but I felt like maybe I should put it on there so people could hear me in a melodic way talking about myself being solo. I made it the last song because I wanted to be a little vulnerable at the end of the album.

I was actually in Cabo making this one, too. It was nighttime. I had just walked on the beach by myself, smoking a blunt real quick — just thinking. I had a couple of shots in me, too, so I was a little lit when I made the song. I always listen to the production. The guitar on that was just so beautiful. I was like, "I'm just gonna be vulnerable." I was out in Cabo. Just me and my engineer. Nobody else. 

It gave me more confidence to be in that bag. To be in that pocket of sound with the autotune because I'm not a big autotune person. That wasn't my expertise. I started to play with it. When you have those types of records, and you got the tempo, and the template must be changed, then you have to learn which key matches the beat so that the tune doesn't skip or sound off-balance. The production put me into different settings on my vocals.

"STYLE RARE" (with Gunna)

"Flow like a butterfly, Lambo' the V"

"Float like a butterfly; sting like a bee" is a known term that Muhammad Ali said, so I caught people's ears immediately. It's the first thing I say [on the song]. I made it "Flow like a butterfly" because of my flow. When I get on the song, it's smooth as a butterfly flying. 

I was in Miami around this May. I don't know why this line hit me, either. I swear I don't even have a reason. I freestyle all my music, so sometimes, it's in my head. I'm just listening to the beat. I usually start off mumbling to see the cadence I'm gonna use for the beat, and then I feel out the words.

[Gunna and I] were just f—ing around, cooking up, and working a lot. It was in the same session in L.A. When I lock in, especially with somebody from Atlanta, we're gonna lock in . When you go in the studio like that, you're competitive. We're going back and forth. I hate saying I'm competing with people, so I don't even want to say that. It's like a fun collaboration. You're good, and I'm good. We're both from the A. I've been rocking with him since his first album. 

The fans like it when we do songs together. We made some hard s— with "Prada Dem," and then we made this. We were in a confident bag. We both fly, you know what I'm saying? 

The video was more of a fashion film vibe. That's why there weren't so many scenes or activity; it was more placements, colorations, and settings. I went crazy on that motherf—er.

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GRAMMY U Unwrapped: Offset To Explore The Creative Vision Behind 'SET IT OFF' On September 20 In Atlanta

Offset will discuss his creative journey and collaboration on his sophomore album, 'SET IT OFF,' at a GRAMMY U "Unwrapped" event on September 20 at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center in Atlanta.

Offset 's solo career continues to soar following the release of his sophomore album, SET IT OFF . To share his vision and inspirations behind the release, the three-time GRAMMY nominee is set to return to his home state of Georgia for GRAMMY U "Unwrapped" held at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center in Atlanta on Friday, September 20. 

In collaboration with the Recording Academy Atlanta Chapter and the Black Music Collective , GRAMMY U members will have the opportunity to join a panel conversation with Offset as he talks through his production techniques and concepts behind SET IT OFF. Offset will provide valuable tips highlighting how he explores creative processes in both solo and collaborative settings.

Offset gained fame as a member of the rap trio Migos , alongside Quavo and the late Takeoff . Together, the group achieved significant success with chart-topping hits like " Bad and Boujee " featuring Lil Uzi Vert , " Walk It Talk It " featuring Drake , and " Stir Fry ." At the 2018 GRAMMYs , Migos received two GRAMMY nominations: Best Rap Album for Culture and Best Rap Performance for "Bad and Boujee." At the 2020 GRAMMYs , Offset earned his first solo GRAMMY nomination for Best Rap Performance for " Clout " featuring his wife Cardi B .

Read more: Up Close & Personal: Migos Open Up About Their Latest Project, Unconventional Childhoods & Eternal Family Bond

SET IT OFF includes collaborations with industry giants Future , Don Toliver , and Travis Scott , with the lead track "SAY MY GRACE" featuring Travis Scott amassing nearly 135 million streams on Spotify alone.

Ahead of the Unwrapped event with Offset, the Recording Academy and GRAMMY U members are hyped. On August 24, the Recording Academy Philadelphia Chapter hosted an exclusive meet and greet with Offset at a local restaurant, where Recording Academy Voting and Professional Members and fans were able to converse and ask questions about his career.

Recording Academy Philadelphia Chapter Members with Offset | Photo Courtesy of the Recording Academy

Offset's journey from Migos to his solo career showcases a powerful example of artistic evolution, which will inspire GRAMMY U attendees. As one example of many great artist productions that GRAMMY U Unwrapped aims to showcase, this event will offer insights into maintaining authenticity and crafting a unique path in the music industry. 

Event Details

This event is open to GRAMMY U members only.

Date and Time: Friday, September 20, 2024 , at 8:00 p.m. EST (doors open at 7:00 p.m. EST)

Location : Ray Charles Performing Arts Center, Atlanta, GA

RSVP: By Tuesday, September 17, 2024. Space is limited, and RSVPs are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Confirmation email required for admission.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by GRAMMY U (@grammyu)

This GRAMMY U session is an exclusive opportunity for members to gain firsthand knowledge from one of the music industry's influential figures in a setting that fosters learning and growth. A special thank you to our participating sponsors, Mastercard and Amazon Music for supporting the development of emerging music industry professionals.

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Photo: OURS Co.

Epik High have released their first mixtape, 'Pump,' 20 years into their career. Frontman Tablo details their new release, U.S. tour, and why he wants to be onstage in his grandpa years.

When Korean hip-hop trio Epik High released their debut album, Map of the Human Soul , in 2003, the world seemed completely different.

"Can you believe we didn’t have smartphones? I can’t imagine, I can barely remember," says  Epik High frontman Tablo over a video call from Seoul. 

Yet, those are the years the group aimed to recall in their first mixtape, Pump . Musing on their beginnings, the trio — also composed by Mithra Jin and DJ Tukutz — breaks free from their usual formulas in favor of fluid and raw tracks, as can be seen in the single "Antihero." 

"We wanted to create like we were rookies again," Tablo says. "We didn't want to think about the path too much, although we did make references to certain songs from early albums because it's fun." 

Released in June, Pump is a testament to Epik High’s ability to reinvent themselves. Over 10 studio albums, four EPs, and a handful of special releases , they remained a pivotal group in South Korean music. Through chart-topping hits like "Fan," "Fly," "It’s Cold" with Lee Hi, and "Born Hater" featuring rappers Beenzino, Verbal Jint, B.I, Mino, and Bobby, they helped popularize hip hop and rap in a country dismissive to those genres. Their insightful and honest lyrics encouraged larger discussions about mental health and social issues, inspiring artists such as BTS and B.I. And Their message and music led to global acclaim as well: In 2016, Epik High became the first major South Korean act to perform at Coachella; they would perform again in 2022. 

To celebrate another year of growing success, the band recently embarked on a world tour. After crossing Asia and Australia, they kicked off the first out of 23 shows in North America on Aug. 22, in Vancouver, British Columbia, and are set to play in Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Orlando, Boston, and other U.S. cities throughout September.

Ahead of the tour, GRAMMY.com caught up with Tablo to chronicle this distinct moment in their careers, how to maintain longevity as a band, and living a life worthy of a K-drama.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Epik High just released their first mixtape. In previous interviews , you've defined 'Pump'  as a mixtape because, sonically, it’s very different from your studio albums and EPs. Why are you exploring this format 20 years into your career?

We felt kind of lost as we were leading up to our 20th year, which is ironic. On the surface, it looked like we had it all together, because we were doing our 20th tour and we had a movie [showcasing the group's 20th anniversary concert] out, but it's a scary number. It was scary when we hit 10, but hitting 20 — when a human hits 20, they're like, I'm an adult. Now, what do I do with my life?

Epik High turned 20, and we [started wondering], What would we do if we were back to our first year and no one knew us? If we didn't know how to make music the way we know now? What kind of album would we create? We [thought], A mixtape, just free flowing and doing whatever we want, and breaking all the rules . Not music rules, but Epik High rules, because we've developed some of them over the years.

What are some of these rules?

Well, it's not necessarily rules. What I said to my members was, "I think our biggest weakness is that we know too much." Over the years, we've gained so much experience and our skill level has gone up to the point where we know exactly how to craft a hit, and we know exactly what kind of songs will speak to what kind of audience. Knowing all of this typically would be a good thing, but for us, it's our disadvantage — because we will immediately go to those decisions, instead of exploring something new or risky.

It took [the members] a while to accept that. I had to drag it in, and then they came to me, "You know, you're right. We do feel like that." And I was like, "Let's write these things down that we don't want to do." All of them were things that we usually do, like, let's not just go to a famous feature, because that's such an easy thing that we know how to do. Let's not make big melody hooks that we know will work. And then we just went with that, which in itself is very risky, because we didn't know how the audience would react.

Judging by our streaming, usually hit songs spike like crazy in the first couple days, and then fall off because a lot of people only listen once or twice. And then there are songs where less people listen because it's not commercial or it's not catered to everyone, but they listen over and over again, and that's what we're seeing with this album. It’s a very interesting phenomenon, and something that actually makes us very happy.

I noticed that 'Pump' is quite different from the music that you have been doing lately. You need to spend some time with it to understand what's going on and to find its magic. It's not an album of easy hooks, like you said. Do you think you guys were revisiting the Epik High of 20 years ago, or that you were rewriting that era, doing what you wish you had done?

There's both. We wanted to create like we were rookies again; we didn't want to think about the path too much, although we did make references to certain songs from early albums because it's fun. 

But we don't ever regret things, or wish we could go back to a certain era, because there was a lot of good stuff, but there were also a lot of terrible things that we don't want to ever revisit. So, we're more focused from today on.

Thinking back to 20 years ago, what are some of the changes you witnessed, either in music or in yourselves?

Literally, the entire world has changed. When we started, people were still dropping cassette tapes. Now, cassette tapes are something fun that artists do as a collector's item. We didn't have streaming. We didn't have social media. I'm sure some people who are reading this interview can't even fathom, but we did live in a world without any of that.

The downside is that it was very, very difficult to get our music to audiences. To get one listener was almost an impossibility, so we were forced to go out and perform. Back then, hip-hop was not accepted at all [in Korea]; it was just not a genre that people liked. And because we didn't have any stages to go on, we performed at a zoo, we performed at clubs with 13 people in there, we just had to do that because that was the only way to get our music out.

And the huge upside, though, is that, because we developed our skills performing to an audience that was either confused by us or didn't like us, we had to make them understand the music and make them vibe. We developed a very specific skill set that is really hard to attain. I think that's why, 20 years later, we're still able to headline festivals and to do these big tours, and people have a really good time at our shows.

Nowadays, a lot of times musicians will feel satisfied with their streaming numbers, or with their social numbers. They might not feel that it's necessary to get out there and to perform in front of 10 people. I'm sure none of them will perform at a zoo.

This mixtape’s single, "Antihero," approaches people’s perceptions and misconceptions about Epik High. When someone gets famous, they are either idolized or demonized — we see that a lot in the Korean music scene, specifically in K-pop, where fans even call artists "idols." What do you think about that? Is this related to the message you wanted to convey?

"Antihero" is less "I'm an antihero," and more "You see me as an antihero," where you may like me, but you don't fully like me. There's always some flaw, or some weakness that you're looking for, and that's sort of the stance of the song. 

Epik High has had a lot of anti[fans] over the last 20 years, and at the same time, though, we provide a lot of entertainment to these antis . They would literally have nothing to do if we didn't provide them with something to get angry about, or to harass us about. In a way, we're sort of these twisted heroes to them as well.

That's why, if you look at the music video, [there is] a hero part, and then a villain part, because those are the two sides of an antihero. But that's also the two sides of any star, or any person, actually. Some people choose to see the good parts of you, but some people will choose to ignore all of that and see just the parts that seem dark. I think that the song is touching on all of that.

The lyrics to "K-drama" use Korean TV dramas' vocabulary — like "dramatic reversal" and "OST" — to talk about real life. What do you think about the image that South Korea displays in these shows?

I'm a huge fan of K-dramas. It's just very fun, and always has you at the edge of your seat. I don't know if people outside [of Korea] think that, if you come to Korea, you're immediately stepping into a K-drama. A lot of people get deluded and think, like, all Korean men are perfect. 

But just the same, a lot of people outside the U.S. think that, if you go to L.A., it's going to be like a Dr. Dre music video, or a Snoop Dogg music video. And that's just one depiction of one part of a very complicated, beautiful, and complex place.

There's always truth in fiction, so you will discover elements of K-dramas when you come here. But if life was a K-drama… A lot of K-dramas are really tragic, the plot twists. Although I will say, I've been embroiled in the TaJinYo scandal [Editor's note: Starting in 2010, Tablo was victim to a smear campaign that accused him of faking his bachelor's and master's degrees from Stanford University. The school came forward multiple times to confirm his accomplishments, and eight TaJinYo members were sentenced to prison .], and there were actual directors, even overseas, who wanted to turn it into a drama or a movie. So, I guess I did live a life that's like a K-drama, true with heroes, villains, and victims. It was crazy.

Why hasn't it become a series or a movie yet? Do you plan on making something like that?

Well, it's a very tricky story to tell. It's a timeless story, because it's about the internet, and it's about hatred and idolization, but it's not an easy thing to turn into a fictional story.

Do you feel like it would be weird to see your life depicted on screen? Or do you already feel that, since a good part of your life has been public ?

I am very good at keeping myself and my family detached from our public persona. But I don't mean to say that Tablo or Epik High are not an actual version of ourselves. It's just that Epik High is different in that, when we come off stage, we don't experience that huge drop off.

On stage we have a very specific goal, which is to make the audience have a great time. Nothing else is on our minds. And because of that, when we come off stage, there's no high to come off. We finish the concert and we're home 20 minutes later, doing dishes and vacuuming. I’m not kidding. Epik High is notorious for not having after parties, and we will just come home after a huge stadium concert and watch YouTube with our kids, or take out the garbage.

It keeps your ego in check.

Yeah. When we first became famous, we probably did have a period where we thought, This is about us . But very quickly we realized that, if this was about us, we were not going to have longevity, because that fades. But if you keep it about the audience, as long as they're there, you know that it won't change.

Since you talked about longevity, what are the most important things for a band to stay together and to still be relevant and innovative after 20 years?

Over the last couple of years, a lot of huge brands in Korea have invited me to speak to their companies. I think they look at us as a case study on the longevity of a brand, or how to stay connected for a long time. And I've declined, because speaking is not something I wanted to do, but it made me think, What is it?

First of all, you have to have no "yes men" around you.This is a very simple, but also extremely difficult thing to do, because people need an affirming environment, and that's not a bad thing, right? It's a very thin line between a supportive person, and a person who just tells you what you want to hear.

Epik High has absolutely zero of those people in our rooms. In interviews and stuff, the three of us almost seem like we hate each other. We're never not fighting, and we're doing it on screen, so imagine what we're like off screen.

Also, our staff [is] a very dedicated group of people, and we're all very, very honest — from our engineer to our art guy. Most of the people that we work with have been working with us for a long time, and none of them are scared to tell me, "Tablo, that outfit ain't it. Your hair ain't it." Or, "Tablo, your voice sucks right now." Or, "these lyrics are terrible." We're all very honest, and I think that's key to longevity.

An artist's career is sometimes destroyed by outside forces. But I tend to believe that, in a lot of cases, artists' careers get destroyed by the artists themselves. It's not their fault, but when you're constantly told what you want to hear, instead of what you need to hear, it's impossible to grow. If the people around you actually care for you, they will never prevent you from experiencing things, which is necessary for growth.

Looking ahead to the next 20 years, is there anything you want to do that you haven’t done yet?

We actually had this conversation lately: Wouldn’t it be really cool if there was a Korean hip-hop group who stayed together until they were grandpas? And we’re on stage with gray hair, but we’re still super good. And people will see us on TV or so, and will be like, "Those grandpas are dope!"

A lot of young artists tell us that they started music because they listened to Epik High. But later on, after they become big stars, they tell us that now we inspire them because we show that it’s possible to do [this] for over 10 years, 20 years, and still do what you want to do.

We never had that. We didn’t have anyone to look up to, any [groups] who stayed together and [kept making] music at the same level that they always did, so we were really scared. Hopefully, us becoming dope grandpas in the future will show people that it’s okay. It’s okay to just keep doing it.

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Ice Spice Is The Drill Queen On 'Y2K!': 5 Takeaways From Her Debut Album

The 10-track LP clocks in at just under 24 minutes, but it's packed with insanely quotable one-liners, star-studded collaborations, and bold statements.

Since Ice Spice first caught our attention two summers ago, she's been nothing short of a rap sensation. From viral hits like her breakout "Munch (Feelin' U)," to co-signs from Drake and Cardi B , to a Best New Artist nomination at the 2024 GRAMMYs , the Bronx native continues to build on her momentum — and now, she adds a debut album to her feats.

Poised to be one of the hottest drops of the summer, Y2K! expands on Ice Spice's nonchalant flow and showcases her versatility across 10 unabashedly fierce tracks. She dabbles in Jersey club on "Did It First," throws fiery lines on lead single "Think U the S— (Fart)," and follows the album's nostalgic title with an interpolation of an early '00s Sean Paul hit on "Gimmie a Light."

Y2K! also adds more star-studded features to Ice Spice's catalog, with Travis Scott , Gunna and Central Cee featuring on "Oh Shh...," "B— I'm Packin'," and "Did It First," respectively. At the helm is producer RiotUSA , Ice Spice's longtime friend-turned-collaborator who has had a hand in producing most of the rapper's music — proving that she's found her stride.

As you stream Ice Spice's new album, here are five key takeaways from her much-awaited debut, Y2K!.

She Doubles Down On Bronx Drill

Ice Spice is one of the few ladies holding down the New York drill scene on a mainstream level. She's particularly rooted in Bronx drill, a hip-hop subgenre known for its hard-hitting 808s, high-hats and synthesizers — and according to the sounds of Y2K! , it’s seemingly always going to be part of her artistry.

"It's always time to evolve and grow as an artist, so I'm not rushing to jump into another sound or rushing to do something different," Ice Spice told Apple Music of her tried-and-true musical style. 

While Y2K! may not be as drill-driven as her debut EP Like…? , the album further hints that Ice isn't ready to retire the sound anytime soon. The subgenre is the dominant force across the album's 10 tracks, and most evident in "Did It First," "Gimmie a Light" and "BB Belt." Even so, she continues her knack for putting her own flair on drill, bringing elements of trap and electronic music into bops like "Oh Shhh…" and "Think U the S— (Fart)."

She Recruited Producers Old & New

Minus a few tunes, all of Ice Spice's songs start off with her signature "Stop playing with 'em, Riot" catchphrase — a direct nod to her right-hand man RiotUSA. Ice and Riot met while attending Purchase College in New York, and they've been making music together since 2021's "Bully Freestyle," which served as Ice's debut single. "As I was growing, she was growing, and we just kept it in-house and are growing together," Riot told Finals in a 2022 interview.

Riot produced every track on Like.. ? as well as "Barbie World," her GRAMMY-nominated Barbie soundtrack hit with Nicki Minaj . Their musical chemistry continues to shine on Y2K! , as Riot had a hand in each of the LP's 10 tracks.

In a surprising move, though, Ice doesn't just lean on Riot this time around. Synthetic , who worked on Lil Uzi Vert' s GRAMMY-nominated "Just Wanna Rock," brings his Midas touch to "Think U the S—." Elsewhere, "B— I'm Packin'" is co-produced by Riot, Dj Heroin, and indie-pop duo Ojivolta , who earned a GRAMMY nomination in 2022 for their work on Kanye West 's Donda . But even with others in the room, Riot's succinct-yet-boisterous beats paired with Ice's soft-spoken delivery once again prove to be the winning formula.

She Loves Her Y2K Culture

Named after Ice Spice's birthdate (January 1, 2000), her debut album celebrates all things Y2K, along with the music and colorful aesthetics that defined the exciting era. To drive home the album's throwback theme, Ice tapped iconic photographer David LaChapelle for the cover artwork, which features the emcee posing outside a graffiti-ridden subway station entrance. LaChapelle's vibrant, kitschy photoshoots of Mariah Carey , Lil' Kim , Britney Spears , and the Queen of Y2K Paris Hilton became synonymous with the turn of the millennium.

True to form, Y2K! 's penultimate song and second single "Gimmie a Light" borrows from Sean Paul 's "Gimme the Light," which was virtually inescapable in 2002. "We really wanted to have a very authentic Y2K sample in there," Ice Spice said in a recent Apple Music Radio interview with Zane Lowe. Not only does the Sean Paul sample bring the nostalgia, but it displays Ice's willingness to adopt new sounds like dancehall on an otherwise drill-heavy LP.

Taking the Y2K vibes up another notch, album closer "TTYL," a reference to the acronym-based internet slang that ruled the AIM and texting culture of the early aughts. The song itself offers fans a peek insideIce's lavish and exhilarating lifestyle: "Five stars when I'm lunchin'/ Bad b—, so he munchin'/ Shoot a movie at Dunkin'/ I'm a brand, it's nothin.'"

She's A Certified Baddie

Whether she's flaunting her sex appeal in "B— I'm Packin'" or demanding potential suitors to sign NDAs in "Plenty Sun," Ice exudes confidence from start to finish on Y2K! .

On the fiery standout track "Popa," Ice demonstrates she's in a league of her own: "They ain't want me to win, I was chosen/ That b— talkin' s—, she get poked in/ Tell her drop her pin, we ain't bowlin'/ Make them b—hes sick, I got motion." And just a few songs later, she fully declares it with "BB Belt": "Everybody be knowin' my name (Like)/ Just want the money, I don't want the fame (Like)/ And I'm different, they ain't in my lane."

For Ice, "baddie" status goes beyond one's physical attributes; it's a mindset she sells with her sassy delivery and IDGAF attitude.

She's Deep In Her Bag

In album opener "Phat Butt," Ice boasts about rocking Dolce & Gabbana, popping champagne, and being a four-time GRAMMY nominee: "Never lucky, I been blessed/ Queen said I'm the princess/ Been gettin' them big checks in a big house/ Havin' rich sex," she asserts.

Further down the track list, Ice Spice firmly stands in her place as rap's newest queen. In "BB Belt," she raps, "I get money, b—, I am a millionaire/ Walk in the party, everybody gon' stare/ If I ain't the one, why the f— am I here, hm?"

Between trekking across the globe for her first headlining tour and lighting up the Empire State Building orange as part of her Y2K! album rollout, Ice Spice shows no signs of slowing down. And as "BB Belt" alludes, her deal with 10K Projects/Capitol Records (she owns her masters and publishing) is further proof that she's the one calling the shots in her career.

Whatever Ice decides to do next, Y2K! stands as a victory lap; it shows her prowess as drill's latest superstar, but also proves she has the confidence to tackle new sounds. As she rapped in 2023's "Bikini Bottom," "How can I lose if I'm already chose?" Judging by her debut album, Ice Spice is determined to keep living that mantra.

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Photo: Richard Bord

On Rakim's 'G.O.D's Network (REB7RTH)' The MC Turned Producer Continues His Legacy With An All-Star Cast

On his first project in 15 years, "God MC" Rakim produced seven songs and called on some of hip-hop's biggest names. The legend and his team detail his new album and working with Nipsey Hussle, DMX and Snoop Dogg.

Every album comes with a backstory, but not many come with two. Rakim 's new project G. O.D's Network (REB7RTH), out July 26, came together in a few quick months, from signing a deal in February 2024 to completion in June. The process was spurred by one dedicated A&R person frantically combing through his network of rappers to get guest verses over beats produced by the God MC himself.

But to hear that A&R man, Matt "M80" Markoff, tell it, creating the seven-song project didn't take four months. It took four years .

"I've known [Rakim's longtime manager] Matt [Kemp] and Rakim since 2007," Markoff tells me when I get him on the phone in late June. "They're used to getting calls from me a couple of times a year just for, like, show referrals, verse referrals, things of that nature."

Back at the beginning of the pandemic, Markoff had been talking to the folks at Fat Beats, the venerable record store-turned-distributor that's a huge name in independent hip-hop. He mentioned Rakim's name to the company, and Fat Beats responded that they'd love a project from the God MC. The original pitch, Markoff remembers, was "a three or four song EP with some remixes."

Rakim quoted his price, Fat Beats agreed, and the project was underway, with the emcee meeting with producers to look for beats. But Rakim, who hasn't released a solo album since 2009's The Seventh Seal , is not one to be hurried.

"Ra was having [DJ] Premier and Pete Rock and Ninth Wonder and some of these people come to the studio," Markoff says. "Because of scheduling conflicts and stuff and, you know, normal course of life, it just wasn't right. The vibe wasn't there."

That's where Jazzy Jeff came into play. Rakim and the legendary DJ began working together and, per Markoff, it "just meshed." It seemed like, instead of a handful of songs, a full-length record was in the offing.

"As soon as they finish the first song, I walk into Fat Beats and say, ‘Hey, this is what we're doing now,'" the A&R man recalls. "Instead of Rakim with random producers, it's Rakim/Jazzy Jeff. That'll be huge."

Then…nothing.

A few years pass , and the Rakim and Jazzy Jeff project is still unfinished. (Rakim described its status as "We have a couple records already done.") Fat Beats, which was on the auction block (it was eventually sold in March 2024), wants its money back. Rakim obliges, and everyone seems set to forget about the whole thing.

Markoff, however, was not about to give up on working with the man he calls "my favorite emcee of all time."

The revamped album started its life as not an album at all. Instead, the original conception was a model Markoff had used before: licensing beats by people not typically thought of as producers. In this case, he'd be offering aspiring rappers the chance to get beats by arguably the most influential rapper of all time.  

"He's taken people who are not necessarily known as producers and put together beat packages for them," manager Matt Kemp says of Markoff. "And then, one of the things he does is he goes out and he licenses those beats through a company that he has. If you're a European artist that wouldn't necessarily have access to things like that, you can get it."

So that, as of February of this year, was the (revamped) plan: have Rakim do six beats and one verse, and sell non-exclusive licenses, so that any rapper, anywhere in the world, who wants to use them in a song of their own could do so. This, indeed, was a vision that was followed through all the way to the finish line — you can see the end result released July 12, priced between $700-$1,050 depending on what you want to do with the beats and the rhyme, here .

But along the way to creating that package, things got significantly more complicated. As Rakim was making the beats, he found he really liked them. In some cases, he even wanted to rhyme on them himself.

"As the beats started coming together and Rakim was really in the studio and we started putting the rhymes onto them, we realized that it was bigger just than that [original vision]," Matt Kemp said.

The wheels started turning. Rakim, the God MC, as a producer? That would be a project worth sharing with the world, not just a few aspiring artists.

As it turns out, unbeknownst even to many Ra fans, the rapper has been making beats since the beginning. In fact, he produced — and played drums on — one of Eric B and Rakim's classic songs, 1992's "Juice (Know the Ledge)." So producing an entire project didn't seem like such a big stretch after all.  

"I always was attached to making beats," Rakim explains to me. "But I got to the point where I'm confident with my production now. I got the chance to produce the album and jumped at the opportunity."  

Rakim, as has been well documented over the years, comes from a musical family. His older brother Ronnie was a keyboard player of some note with his own claim on rap history , his other brother Stevie is also keyboardist who performed on some Eric B. and Rakim songs, and the rapper's aunt is the late R&B legend Ruth Brown. So when making beats, Ra will often play drums, bass, guitar, or piano. (He cops to enlisting one of his brothers if the keyboard part gets too complicated.)

He describes his production style this way: "You try to add on to the sample, and enhance certain sounds that you hear. Or you might just add a melody that you feel enhances the sample as well."  

In addition to playing instruments on the project, Rakim also plays the turntable.

"I always knew how to DJ, and I like being able to enjoy the project from a different seat," he tells me. "I enjoyed putting the music together, coming up with the scratch patterns."

So with the musical side of the equation firmly in place, what about the vocals? Rakim was inspired to add verses on a few songs, and hooks on a few more.

"It's mostly a project that I was supposed to be producing," he explains. "In the midst of that, there's certain beats that I'm playing and I'm like, ‘I gotta rhyme on this one,' or, ‘I got a rhyme that fits this one perfectly.'"

The question was, what to write about? After a decade and a half without an album, the rapper had a lot to discuss, and needed to find new ways to say it.

For the project's lead single, "BE ILL," he got in plenty of internal rhymes. And the song's tempo allowed him to come up with different rhythms.

"When tracks are at that speed, I'm able to manipulate time and space to come up with different rhythms because I have so much time and space to deal with," he says. "It was one of them songs I loved rhyming to. Just having fun with words and phrases, and at the same time having so much on my mind to say."

"I'm trying to say a lot of things," Ra admits when discussing his writing on the album. "It's hard to just come back and say a verse when you've been gone so long. So I tried to be very specific and cautious with the words that I chose, and try to be entertaining at the same time. So it was a little nerve wracking."

Even with Rakim's vocal contributions (he ends up with either verses or hooks on six of the project's seven tracks), more was needed to complete the songs. That's where Markoff really got going.

"Literally, I didn't waste a single day," he remembers. "I was calling the artists in my network. I reached out to each artist one by one, and let each artist go through the folder [of beats] with me and make their picks."

Among the artists Markoff reached out to were several members of the Wu-Tang Clan . He has a long relationship with the crew, having worked with them on several projects including the well-regarded 2005 album Wu-Tang Meet the Indie Culture .

Markoff recalls the exact moment when he lined up Wu member Masta Killa for his appearance on what became "BE ILL."

"I was at the first ever Wu-Tang Clan residency in Vegas, and I told Masta Killa, ‘Dude, I just got these Rakim beats 10 minutes ago.' I played 10 seconds of the second beat, which was the beat for ‘BE ILL.' And he was like, ‘That's the one.'"  

A different Wu-Tang show was responsible for one of the album's other notable guest appearances, Cash Money stalwart B.G. The two met at the concert, and the Louisiana rapper was in the studio "48 hours later," Markoff recalls.

For a handful of artists he had good long-term relationships with, Markoff let them choose which of Rakim's beats they wanted to rap over. In addition to Masta Killa, he names Chino XL, Hus Kingpin, 38 Spesh , and TriState as being on that short list. After that, he says, it was all his decision.  

The end result is a list of some of the top rappers in his Rolodex: Kool G. Rap, Method Man , Kurupt , Canibus , KXNG Crooked, Skyzoo , Joell Ortiz, and many more — including an outro from Snoop Dogg . But one of the most surprising things on the tracklist is that a number of the guests aren't alive anymore.

Nipsey Hussle , Prodigy, DMX , and Fred the Godson have verses on the record. All of them were people Markoff had worked with in some capacity over the course of his career. He says that all of the verses were "in my stash or under my ownership." So when he was looking for material for the Rakim project, they were a perfect fit.

The Nipsey Hussle contribution in particular stood out so much that the entire song, "Love Is the Message," was designed around it. The project's engineer placed Neighborhood Nip's verse first, and everyone else listened to that when recording.

"We kind of glorified who he is, and came up with the title ‘Love Is the Message' to put everything in perspective," Rakim tells me. " So everybody vibed off of that and everything that we implemented had to have that feel or had to be in that direction."  

One thing Rakim noticed as he was listening to the contributions coming in? Many of them were paying tribute to him. In particular, B.G. says in his verse that he's "on a song with the greatest."  

"To hear things like that from my peers is a beautiful thing," says Rakim, who also admits to tearing up when hearing Snoop Dogg praise him on the outro of one of the album's songs. "Hip-hop is one of the more, I guess, feisty genres. It's hard to get that love from your peers. So it's a real blessing to hear it from people like that, to hear what they think of you and to say that on records. A lot of people might think that of you, but would never say it on a record."

For Markoff, B.G.'s tribute was particularly meaningful because of the rapper's history. He began his career in a duo , and later a quartet , with another rapper sometimes considered the greatest of all time, Lil Wayne .

"For B.G. to have that history, but acknowledge Rakim — I was speechless," Markoff confides. "It was really cool to see. It's like, ‘I'm not just going to say my partner, my friend, my confidant Lil Wayne's the best because we grew up together.'"

Finally, after all the guest verses came in, the project was ready. Seven songs, entirely produced by Rakim, with raps by him and a broad cross-section of artists. The question, then: what exactly is this project? An album? An EP? Rakim's big comeback? A teaser for his eventual full-length return?

To Markoff, none of these labels are important. He's not concerned about fans being disappointed that a project under Rakim's name features only a handful of the rapper's verses.

 "The fan is going to look at it however they want to look at it," he says. "The negative people will stay negative. It wouldn't matter if it was the greatest album of all time. The positive people that are so grateful that I stepped up to the plate to help bring new Rakim music to the world are going to love it."

After all, he continues, "The whole point originally when we started making it was letting his peers shine on Rakim beats. The fact that this project morphed into something that Rakim literally is on 95% of, I couldn't have asked for more of a blessing."

So Matt Markoff, the boy who fell in love with Rakim's music at 12 is now, three decades later, putting out music from his hero.

"Dream fulfilled," he says right before we hang up. "Now I gotta figure out what I'm going to do for the rest of my life."  

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