Rasheed Chappell on Independent Hip-Hop, Lyricism & No Era for Margins | Behind the Beat

What does it take to build a lasting career in hip-hop without compromising who you are?On this episode of Music & Makeup: Behind the Beat, I’m sitting down with Rasheed Chappell, the New Jersey MC known for his vivid storytelling, and commitment to independent hip-hop.Rasheed and I talk about his journey into hip-hop, growing up in Passaic, the influence of artists like New Edition and the experiences that helped shape his voice as an MC.We also get into his impressive catalog and collaborations with some of hip-hop’s most respected producers and artists, including Kenny Dope, Buckwild, O.C., 38 Spesh, Apollo Brown, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Statik Selektah.Rasheed breaks down the importance of staying independent, what he's learned about navigating the business of music, and why longevity means more than simply staying relevant.We also talk about his latest project, No Era for Margins, the inspiration behind the title, the process behind the album, and why some of the music had been sitting in the vault for years before finally seeing the light of day.Plus, we get into The Chappell Show...Lost Episodes III and the importance of preserving the history of your own work.