Chapters

00:00 ESP and the Power of Thought
03:24 The Birth of Trap Music
06:14 The Struggles Behind Trap Music
09:00 Cultural Impact of the Crack Epidemic
11:36 The Legacy of Trap Music
01:02:42 Levels 2 This Full OUTRO.mp4

Is the soul of music being averaged out? In this episode of It’s Levels To This, Dan Marshall and Fatboi stage an AI intervention. We dive into the Suno rabbit hole to ask a hard question: Can a computer ever truly recreate the "dirt" and character that makes the Blues the foundation of everything we love?

We also tackle the Gene Simmons vs. Hip Hop debate. If Run-DMC are the Kings of Rock, how can you separate the family? From Prince’s "Purple Rain" miracle to the art of mimicry used by legends like MJ and John Lennon, we trace the DNA that connects the "Big Three"—Rock, Country, and Hip Hop.

Chapters

00:00 The Creative Process: Mimicry and Originality
08:49 The Distinction Between Singers and Artists
14:23 Influences and the Creation of Unique Sound
18:06 Divine Intervention in Performance
20:03 The Impact of Iconic Performances
21:08 The Debate on Music Hall of Fame
24:51 The Interconnection of Genres
29:10 Hip Hop: Rock's Little Brother
31:33 The Power of Music Genres
37:14 Recognition in the Music Industry
38:54 The Nature of Awards and Recognition
46:12 Levels 2 This Full OUTRO.mp4

Sensei says: "I recently caught my 12-year-old son obsessing over my 40-year-old Walkman. Watching him discover that tactile, imperfect sound made me realize something: modern records are often "perfect," but they feel completely empty. They have the polish, but they’ve lost the pulse."

In this episode, we’re bridging the gap between analog nostalgia and modern digital chaos. We’re breaking down why "imperfection" is actually a production tool and how legends like George Clinton and Thundercat use creative friction to keep their music alive.

If you’ve ever felt like your tracks are missing that "soul," or you’re struggling to manage big personalities in the studio, this breakdown is for you.

What we cover in this episode:

Analog vs. Digital:
Why my son's Walkman has something modern Spotify tracks are missing.

The "No Man" Secret:
Why George Clinton avoided "Yes Men" to find true genius.

Creative Flow:
How to use mimicry to find your original voice.

The Artist Whisperer:
Navigating personalities and ego behind the console.

Chapters

00:00 The Nostalgia of Analog Music
02:34 The Evolution of Music Production Techniques
05:41 The Influence of Thundercat and Eclecticism in Music
08:39 The Art of Songwriting and Creative Flow
11:38 Breaking Musical Norms and Expectations
14:34 The Legacy of George Clinton and Creative Collaboration
20:29 The Art of Production and Control
23:50 Navigating Artist Personalities
26:31 Behind the Scenes: The Unsung Heroes
30:31 The Role of Yes Men and No Men
33:48 The Creative Process: Mimicry and Originality
36:00 Levels 2 This Full OUTRO.mp4

Fatboi is a Multi-platinum, Grammy nominated, award winning producer whose credits include: Camoflauge, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Gucci Mane, Young Jeezy, Rocko, Shawty Redd, Flo Rida, Bow Wow, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Juvenile, Yung Joc, Gorilla Zoe, OJ Da Juiceman, 8Ball & MJG, Jeremih, 2 Chainz, Nicki Minaj, Bobby V, Ludacris and Yo Gotti, Monica, Zay Smith, TK Kravitz, Future.

https://twitter.com/thefatboi
https://www.instagram.com/thefatboi_/

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Sensei Hollywood* (a.k.a. Dan Marshall) is an accomplished musician, producer, engineer, and audio educator who's performed on and engineered multi--platinum records with Big Boi, Outkast, Killer Mike, Chamillionaire, Carlos Santana, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Ron Isley, Lil Wayne, Trillville, Monica, and more...

As an instructor and chair of the Audio Production program at the Art Institute of Atlanta, he he taught a new generation of audio engineers and producers to go on to great things in their own right.