The Low End Theory weekly event in Los Angeles shed light into one of the most important and influential movements that hip-hop production has ever seen. Their podcast rose to the top of iTunes and their sold out weekly event sparked a worldwide movement. Los Angeles producer Dibiase’s forward-thinking sampling and unmistakable drum swing made him an integral part of the movement along with names like Flying Lotus, Gaslamp Killer, Ras G, and Samiyam. In…

Making beats is one of the most rewarding musical endeavors, but also one of the most challenging, especially at the beginning stages. In this episode, Blueprint and Illogic break down ten tips for music producers they wished somebody told them when they first started out.  Hit the link to watch/listen to episode 262 of Super Duty Tough Work, “How to Become a Better Music Producer”:

As more and more artists realize that putting all of their eggs in the music streaming basket isn’t as lucrative as they would like it to be due to the low pay out rates, many are searching for alternative ways to survive in the music industry.  One of the ways that is growing more popular every year is one that never actually went anywhere–selling direct to fans.  In this episode, Blueprint and Illogic discuss the…

The internet was buzzing last week from the versuz battle between The Lox and Dipset crews. By the time it was all said and done, one thing was clear–the majority of fans felt that Jadakiss of the Lox had stolen the show and along with it Dipset’s thunder. In this episode, Blueprint and Illogic break down the strategies Jadakiss used on stage to impress so many people and help his crew come out victorious.

With the passing of hip-hop Biz Markie, hip-hop fans mourned the loss of a legendary artist and contributor to the artform.  And while many of the tributes about him have focused on his iconic song catalog, Blueprint and Illogic decided to pay tribute to Biz by breaking down his creative genius and explain what made his work so special.  Hit the link to watch or listen to Super Duty Tough Work episode 259 “The Creative…

Although we all must work to build a better live for ourselves, there comes a point where our work lives can become harmful to our relationships. In this episode, Blueprint and Illogic break down all the ways we subconsciously ruin healthy relationships with our work-related decisions.  Hit the link to watch or listen to episode 258, How Work Can Ruin Relationships:

Although we speak a lot about the importance of working hard and being disciplined, we rarely speak about one of the consequences, which is becoming consumed with your art.  In this episode, Blueprint and Illogic speak about the fine line between working hard and being too consumed with your art, and how to avoid it.  Hit the link to watch/listen to episode 257 of Super Duty Tough Work is Being Too Consumed With Your Art:

Two months ago, in an effort to shed some pandemic pounds, Blueprint and Illogic embarked on a health challenge.  They hoped to take on some new healthy behaviors and get back in shape.   This challenge was also extended to the listeners of the show.  In this episode, Blueprint and Illogic break down how they did in their health challenge and play calls from listeners who share their results as well.  Hit the link to watch…

Every writer has things that they do to that help them write better and faster.  Some of those habits are normal, but others would be classified as weird or crazy.  In this episode of Super Duty Tough Work, Blueprint and Illogic break down their ten craziest writing hacks and explain how each one has helped them become a better writer.  Hit the link to watch/listen to episode 255 Ten Crazy Writing Hacks: Super Duty Tough…

As artists, we are firm believers in the power of writing.  Across all mediums, the ability to express ourselves is key to executing our ideas effectively.  Yet, very few academic curriculums express what it really takes to get better at writing.  In this episode, Blueprint and Illogic break down nine things that your english teacher never told you that you needed to do to become a better writer.  Hit the link to watch or listen…

There’s an old saying that goes, “he who fails to plan, plans to fail” that refers to how important planning is in achieving our goals.  And even though we all know this saying is a fact, we often fail to plan, which opens the door for our failure.  In this episode, Blueprint and Illogic break down how their lack of planning in certain areas has caused delays in their art and discuss the subtle signs…

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. …

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…