Podcasts Culture Day 1 Radio Hip-Hop Soul on Ice w/ Ras Kass

Hip-Hop Soul on Ice w/ Ras Kass

Published: Oct. 12, 2019, 6:36 p.m.

b'

This week Day 1 Radio had widely respected lyricist Ras Kass stop by to talk about his new album and accompanying book "Soul On Ice 2." If you\'ve ever listened to Ras, you know you\'re always going to get a gem and a laugh, and that\'s exactly what he delivered in this wide-ranging conversation. Listen and enjoy.

1:20 Why make a sequel\\xa0of Soul On Ice: Ras talks about how he didn\'t realize he was writing SOL2 until he looked back at what he was writing and realizing it reminded him of his 1996 debut album.

\\xa0
6:25 Talks about writing his classic track "Nature of the Threat" at age 17: Ras says after people asking him to write another song like this, it manifested as the track "White Power" on his new album. He also talks about how he tries to capture the entire human experience in his music.
\\xa0
11:50 Ras speaks on censorship and "cancel culture": Ras makes a case for how 2019 is more restrictive on free speech than the past. He says he wishes he was a comedian instead of a rapper so he could get some of his points across clearer.
\\xa0
14:30 Is lyricism still alive in Hip-Hop?: After 25 years in the game, Ras is a lyrical rapper who is still in the game. But, he feels that artists need to stop listening to label execs or as he also calls them, "white people"...and the stupid black people who listen to them.
\\xa0
20:00 Why make a book? Ras talks about the process of creating a book of his rhymes. He also talks about how it is important to celebrate being 25 years in the game and giving himself some roses while he is alive.
\\xa0
33:30 What would Ras be like if he went pop? Ras Kass has a lot of high-profile cameo appearances. But would he have liked being "pop" himself?
\\xa0
36:40 Repping hard for Carson, California: Ras talks about intentionally repping for Carson and not "Los Angeles" in general after so many other parts got branded and recognized in Hip-Hop.
\\xa0
42:30 Supergroups: Ras was ahead of his time. He was a part of two supergroups before concepts like Slaughterhouse, Watch the Throne and Run the Jewels came along. He talks about why his groups Golden State Warriors (with Xzibit and Saafir) and The HRSMN (with Kurupt, Killah Priest and Canibus) did not work.
\\xa0
46:40 Ras talks about now and future plans: In addition to promoting his new album and book, Ras reveals plans to tour with longtime collaborator Xzibit.\\xa0
\\xa0
50:25 Ras used to live with Jay-Z: Ras mentioned this quickly and casually earlier in the interview, but we had to get him to talk how he used to live with Jay-Z and almost signed with Roc-A-Fella Records.

Day 1 Radio\\xa0podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, IHeartRadio, Spotify, Stitcher, Radio Public, and CLNS Mobile Media app. Follow us on Twitter, FB, and IG at @day1radio

'