Super Duty Tough Work Podcast

Although we've had several requests over the years to do an episode about mental health topics, we've always been hesitant to cover it since it's such an expansive topic. That changes this week as we invite Dr Alex MacNeil onto the show. Aside from being a hip-hop head and a fan of the podcast, Alex is a practicing clinical psychologist from Boston, MA. In this episode, Alex and Blueprint break down several topics related to mental health and creativity. From performance anxiety, to success...

Although we spend a lot of time speaking about how to be the best artist you can be, we have never touched on one of the consequences of putting your passion first, which is your health. In many instances, the most driven artists are the most susceptible to health problems due to the sedentary lifestyle and high demands of the field. We think it's time to start promoting good health as much as artistic excellence. So in this episode, Blueprint and Illogic dive deep into their struggles to...

Although we spoke about procrastination in our Self-Sabotaging Behaviors episode a few weeks ago, we didn't have the time to dive as deeply into this topic that plagues almost everybody. So in this episode of the most infamous podcast on planet earth, Blueprint and Illogic have a conversation about the truth behind why artists procrastinate so much. Because there are a lot of valid reasons that it happens that most of us are unwilling to admit. But until we can admit some of the reasons...

In last week's episode, while speaking about self-sabotaging behaviors, we touched on something that is ever present in the mind's of artists--perfectionism. The belief that our art can and must be "perfect" before we share it with anybody is one of the most prevalent beliefs in the creative field. It starts with good intentions--wanting to be the best version of yourself--but it often ends with a bunch of great art being shelved and never shared (or picked apart until we no longer like it)....

While there are many artists who never reach their fullest potential due to outside forces, there are also a lot of artists who fail due to their own mismanagement of their career. Just when things start to look good for them, they make bad decision after bad decision to set themselves back. The culprit behind their failures is something that is rarely spoken about--self-sabotage. In this episode, we break down ten self-sabotaging behaviors that artists routinely fall victim to. It gets...

While every artist wants to be successful and famous, most have never given any thought to how it would change their lives. They think being a public figure is all sunshine until they are faced with the additional responsibility and expectations that they never imagined when they went down that path. That pressure can be a lot for some to take. In this episode, Blueprint and Illogic break down things that people are never told about fame because if they knew ahead of time, they might go...

One of the biggest benefits of being a touring artist is the number of interesting people artists meet from all over the world. That's certainly the case for this week's guest, Emily Keller, the mayor of Hagerstown, MD. Long before becoming the mayor, Emily was a singer and big supporter of Rhymesayers, forming friendships with them at the shows she attended. Little did we know that she would eventually try her hand in politics! In this episode, Blueprint and the newly-elected Mayor sit down...

As two artists who have been a part of the music industry for the better part of twenty years, we've seen a lot. Along the way, we've seen a lot of artists get disappointed because they made assumptions about the industry that simply weren't true. We've even believed many of these myths at different points in time. In this episode, Blueprint and Illogic break down ten big myths in the music industry in an attempt to help artists avoid some of the same pitfalls they have in their careers....

This week we are joined by hip-hop producer and label owner IMAKEMADBEATS of the Unapologetic crew. While his production credits are vast--he actually produced the song "Perspective" for Blueprint--it is his business acumen that has propelled his label and artists to the forefront of the Memphis music scene. One of their many forward thinking ideas is their own app that has thousands of fans tuned into what they're doing in a way that social media platforms can't duplicate. In this episode,...

Whether we like it or not, classic movies like Good Fellas and Scarface have had a heavy impact on hip-hop culture. So much so that dozens of artists have borrowed their names, look, and slang from the drug dealing street characters in these movies. Unfortunately, most artists have ignored some of the most important aspects of these characters. In this episode, we break down ten things that artists can learn from drug dealers that will make them more successful. Learn more about your ad...

This week on the podcast we are joined by hip-hop artist and toy designer, Rocom. He and Blueprint sit down to talk about his journey from doing graphic design to designing his own toy line Rocom Toys that has seen massive support. He also breaks down the keys to launching several successful kickstarter campaigns where he far exceeded his goals. His story truly illustrates that anything is possible when you set your mind to it. Lots of jewels in this one folks! Learn more about your ad...

As artists we often tell ourselves that the solution to our problems is money. And while money would definitely help us reach many of our goals faster, viewing things that way causes us to overlook the simple and cheap things that are right under our noses and can help us perform our jobs better. In this episode, Blueprint and Illogic break down 10 cheap things that every artist needs to have. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the more common questions we get from our listeners is about dealing with the press. Whether it's how to get the press to cover their release, or how to prepare their releases for coverage, there isn't a lot of clear cut information. In this episode, we invite hip-hop journalist, publicist, and label manager Big Sto onto the podcast to help clarify what artists should be doing to get the press to cover them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While we may speak often on this show about achieving goals and pushing forward, we rarely speak about what happens after you achieve those goals. Most people relax and get comfortable. In fact, the more success you have, the more opportunities you will have to get comfortable, which works against your future success. In this episode, we break down the unspoken downside of success and how you can make sure you don't get too comfortable after you've reached your goals. Learn more about your...

The hip-hop community was dealt a big blow with the passing of iconic rapper MF DOOM last week. And while MF DOOM was one of the dopest rappers and lyricists of his era, there was a lot more that went into his success than his talent. In fact, his marketing was one of the biggest factors in his success. In this episode of the most infamous podcast on planet earth, Blueprint and Illogic break down the genius marketing behind the amazing career of MF DOOM. Learn more about your ad choices....

If you've been paying attention to the show, then you know we started another 90 Days of Discipline Challenge to ourselves in October. We also invited our listeners to join in on this challenge, where we choose a goal and focus on it for 90 days to see how far along we can get. In this episode, Blueprint and Illogic play the calls from our listeners who participated as well as go over our results. Happy New Year to all of our listeners! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

While we often speak about the need to be as ambitious as possible when it comes to achieving your goals, we've rarely spoken about what happens after you do. One unfortunate thing that can happen is feeling burnt out and that is where we find ourselves this week as we push into the final few weeks of our 90-Days of Discipline Challenge. In this episode, we break down how easy it is to feel artistically burned out after you achieve a goal and what to do when you feel that way. Learn more...

If there's one thing that this year has shown us, it's that the future is uncertain and unpredictable. Along with that unpredictable nature comes a lot of ups and downs. Good situations and bad situations. But how we view to those bad situations plays a big part in how we handle them. In this episode of the most infamous podcast on planet earth, Blueprint and Illogic breakdown how certain bad situations can actually be good for your art. Let's go! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

One of our most popular episodes in the last two years was one titled "Dating Uncreative People." In that episode, we laid out all the challenges that creative people face when dating people who aren't involved in the creative arts. This time around we're speaking about what it's like to date ambitious people, why it's so different from dating regular people, and how to make it work! If you're a super-ambitious person you might want to play this one for your significant other! Let's go!...

Although we've had legendary underground MC Mr. Lif appear on the show before during our real estate episode, we haven't had a chance to chop it up with him about music. That changes this week, when Blueprint and Mr Lif sit down to speak about his brand new collaborative album Vangarde with producer Stu Bangas. It's been a long time since we've done an interview so get ready because when two artists chop it up about the creative process it's guaranteed to get deep! Let's go!! Learn more...