Good Convo

Let the Charlotte-bred MC tell it... the South still got sum’n to say, but the sun’s not talking right now. The storm’s approaching, and Mavi’s been preparing himself. He’s had a whirlwind year full of wins and lessons, sparked by an outpour of support for his riveting debut album. But the world remains the world, and we are still all we need. Calling in from Harlem, Mavi and Michael link for the first time outside a brief dap in L.A. before it all went bad. Only the real will relate, but everyone’s welcome.

As a maker, Sen Morimoto’s used his music as a canvas to pour his insides onto, sorting through the big questions and little pleasures of a vibrant life. Mere neighborhoods apart, Sen checks in with Michael for the third Sooper Records edition of Good Convo. As he assembles his belongings in a new crib, Sen dives into the details of his career trajectory and working practice, and provides a first look into the making of his self-titled sophomore album, due this Fall. Also on the docket: living in love, sorting through feelings, and rarely reaching conclusions.

From the gridiron to the Grammy race, Rexx Life Raj has built his career through the lens of flight. The Bay Area artist has become a deeply-affecting songwriter through the spoils of constant growth and ceaseless collaboration. He leans on his community, and will stop at nothing to foster support for where he came from. Calling in from Berkeley, Raj checks in with Michael to discuss his recent Father Figure 3 album through all its moving parts: transit, transitions, and truth-seeking.

Live from the backyard of his family’s Pennsylvania home, ARTHUR checks into Good Convo livestream, fresh off the release of his sophomore album Hair of the Dog. This episode features Michael’s deep inquiries into the rewarding eccentricities of ARTHUR’s work, attempting to unravel the truths behind each little universe and character. But, much like life, there’s rarely a straight answer; at its best, the journey provides more than the ending ever could. Tap in for an extended exercise in honesty and self-reflection, live from Pandemicland.

On this Good Convo Live, Michael checks in with the beloved rapper-speaker-postdoc Sammus for a freewheeling conversation of practice, ethics and aesthetics. In a lively hour, they work to untangle the politics behind engaging hip-hop from places of privilege, reconciling one’s love for music rooted in violent structures, and how technology works to both assist and inhibit the growth of the independent artist. Thankfully, there’s plenty of joy to find as they collectively maneuver through the unending struggles of being.

In this episode of Good Convo, we tune our feeds to the West Coast to tap in with Naeem: the Baltimore-born rap legend formerly known as Spank Rock. After two decades of international touring and fighting the current, Naeem’s on the verge of a public rebirth, putting the past to rest and creating Startisha: the most engrossing album of his career. This is the first interview detailing how Startisha came to be, what Naeem had to learn to create it, and how he navigates legacy and autonomy as a Black Queer artist.

In our first Good Convo Live, we have Michael’s second interview with Ivy Sole... powered by wine, water, and the Internet. In the year since their first VMP feature, Ivy’s relocated to Brooklyn, released an Overgrown live album, and faced the ever-shifting hellscape of independent artistry in a post-COVID world. But Ivy’s energy remains as the world relentlessly presses onward; she serves the listener with an optimistic clarity to stay afloat in the current and stay in the house. Michael and Ivy also discuss developing healthy habits, navigating queerness in the industry, and the ethical potential of Black folks having a Zoom cookout.

Welcome back to Good Convo, Vinyl Me, Please’s interview podcast that puts the content into context. This latest episode features Souper Record’s KAINA who put out Next to the Sun last year intricately warm pop songs to melt into and get lost in. Joined by the presence of her producer, Sen Morimoto, Michael and the Chicago artist talk everything from the trials of their shared aquariusness to self-preservation to sharing knowledge with your community as an artist. 

Get KAINA's 'Next to the Sun' in the Vinyl Me, Please Store now. 

This episode features El-P: one half of Run the Jewels, founder of Def Jux, relentless artist settling into his next act. He’s the most popular he’s ever been, and the most thoughtful. But as the sunset approached Wilshire, another darkness enveloped our surroundings: the death of the young. The air of that day permeated all of our discussion: surveillance, collective grieving, and losing oneself in process to find oneself again. In other news: new information on RTJ4, completed days before the recording.

This latest episode features Chicago’s own NNAMDI: a musical polymath and DIY legend, known for relentless innovation that’s always unpredictable. This hour’s equally as unpredictable: we discuss his come-up, the present and future of Sooper, how to survive a crushing musical ecosystem, and how to smile and go outside enough.

NNAMDÏ 's new album, BRAT, is out on April 3. You can grab the Vinyl Me, Please edition of the album over here. The latest single from the album, "Flowers to My Demons," is everywhere now. Stream it here.

Good Convo is Hosted by Michael Penn II

Executive Produced by Amileah Sutliff

Post-Production by Jonah Graber

Original theme song produced by knowsthetime

Art by Caleb Vanden Boom

Recorded at Tightrope in Chicago by Max

On the season one finale of Good Convo, we talk with the O.G. rap superstar, DMC of Run-DMC, about everything from how he made rappers with sneaker deals possible, to his adoption, to everything else he felt like talking about over the course of an hour. 

Hosted by Michael Penn II
Executive Produced by Amileah Sutliff
Post-Production by Jonah Graber
Original theme song produced by knowsthetime
Art by Caleb Vanden Boom

Good Convo is a music interview show that puts content in context, no cap necessary. In the fourth episode of this season, we go to A3C in Atlanta to talk with Yoh, the writer behind your favorite rapper’s favorite content. We talk about #invoiceboyz and everything else we felt like, damn near.

Hosted by Michael Penn II
Executive Produced by Amileah Sutliff
Recording by Michael Saba
Post-Production by Jonah Graber
Original theme song produced by knowsthetime
Art by Caleb Vanden Boom

Good Convo is a music interview show that puts content in context, no cap necessary. This episode marks the second convo with Dua Saleh in a year filled with elevation and revelations. They go long on everything: gaining visibility in a toxic world, expanding their repertoire to curate the slaps, and declining passivity in the face of bullshit. Rest assured, mixed vegetables were present, and fits were gotten off.

Hosted by Michael Penn II
Executive Produced by Amileah Sutliff
Recording by Jeyca Maldonado at Fool Proof Studios in Northeast Minneapolis
Post-Production by Jonah Graber
Original theme song produced by @knowsthetime
Art by Caleb Vanden Boom

Good Convo is a music interview show that puts content in context, no cap necessary. This episode we sat down with legendary hip hop producer Psymun, who co-produced (with Wheezy and SinGrinch) "Fine China" by Future & Juice WRLD and "Chanel (Go Get It)" by Young Thug, Lil Baby and Gunna, has worked with artists from Dizzy Fae to Justin Vernon, and routinely drops killer solo projects of his own. He even brought a gift. 

Brought to you by Vinyl Me, Please
Hosted by Michael Penn II
Executive Produced by Amileah Sutliff
Recording by Jeyca Maldonado at Fool Proof Studios in Northeast Minneapolis
Post-Production by Jonah Graber
Original theme song produced by @knowsthetime
Art by Caleb Vanden Boom

The premiere episode of Good Convo features JPEGMAFIA and Clairo, live from Pitchfork Music Festival, in a conversation about everything and nothing. Topics include: pre-album pressure, fame and criticism, authenticity on the internet, and whether or not Ted Bundy was f*ckable.

Brought to you by Vinyl Me, Please
Hosted by Michael Penn II
Executive Produced by Amileah Sutliff
Recording and Post-Production by Jonah Graber
Original theme song produced by knowsthetime
Art by Caleb Vanden Boom