Dropping the highly-anticipated follow up to his project, Sad People Make Dope Music, Mogli the Iceburg is back! 

Sad People Make Dope Music 2 is a blend of metal and rap with lyrics filled with emotions that speak to real life matters like relationships, friendships and more. Letting his listeners in, Mogli doesn’t hold back on this project; you can truly hear every drop of excitement, sadness, happiness and love that he poured into the music. From “Distance” that speaks to the internal battle of holding onto a friendship to “Coming Back 2 U” that will pull at your heartstrings as you listen to lyrics about a lost love — SPMDM2 will open you up to a passionate musical course like no other. 

SPMDM2 is a testament that musical expansion is beautiful even when growing pains come with it. 

Take a listen to Sad People Make Dope Music 2 while you read about the journey of creating it, below.

RESPECT.: What was the inspiration behind ‘Sad People Make Dope Music 2’ and what does it mean to you?

MOGLI THE ICEBURG: I view my ‘Sad People Make Dope Music’ projects as a fun outlet creatively. I approach it with more of a mixtape mindset where there are no rules,  and I can allow myself to get as quirky, serious, eclectic or focused as I want to be. My last album was borderline not rap at all, so I wanted to bring back more hip-hop influences and continue to push boundaries blending styles, genres, and cultures. 

RESPECT.: What has the musical growth been from ‘Sad People Make Dope Music 1’ to this project?

It’s been absolutely massive. Shortly after completing ‘Sad People Make Dope Music 1’, I had a sort of ‘AHA’ moment where I fully embraced the idea that there are no rules in hip-hop anymore. Before I felt like I had to follow a certain format because I was a rapper, like if there was a hook where I was singing, I had to rap traditionally on the verses to make up for it. I don’t view music like that anymore. If I want to sing something, I’ll sing it. If I want to rap melodically I’ll do that. If I wanna use a 2004 era 3-6-Mafia flow while screaming death metal ad-libs, I’ll do that too. Above all I just want to take all the music that I’ve loved in my life and put it together in a way that’s new. 

RESPECT.: What is the message that you want listeners to get from this project?

Your life has a purpose, and that purpose goes beyond what our worst moments would make it seem. 

RESPECT.: What was the process like of creating ‘Sad People Make Dope Music 2’? Production? Songwriting?

I do all of my recording, mixing and songwriting myself from my apartment, I feel the need to kinda touch every part of it. I used to do all my own production too, but at this point in my life there are so many exceptionally talented people in my network that I’d be stupid not to collaborate with them. Most tracks have at least some co-production on my part as well. I got to work with some of my best friends on this album, as well as people I grew up listening to like Aaron Gillespie from the band Underoath, so making this album kinda felt like an actualization of everything I hoped music could be when I first started.

RESPECT.: Most people try to start an album off with the first song but if you could tell your fans to start off with a particular song, which one would it be and why?

This sounds corny but it would be the first song. I sequence my albums very intentionally (death to the shuffle button) and I always view the first song as something that sets the tone for the next 30-40 minutes. 

RESPECT.: What brought you to music and what do you love the most about creating it?

I think I was always so passionate about music that it was just a natural continuation for me obsessing over and appreciating music that I tried to make my own. I taught myself how to do just about everything when it comes to production and recording, so it was definitely a gradual process, but the best part now is having the ability to make my own favorite music. I like to think that everyone has their own song that is totally unique to them, and most people just listen to other people’s songs and try to find the closest thing to something they’re searching for but can’t describe. Artists that reach a certain level of development are able to actualize that idea and make the perfect music for themselves. 

RESPECT.: What is something you want listeners to know about you that they don’t already know?

That even though most of my music is dark and painful, I’m actually pretty happy with my life right now. Music is an outlet for me, and certain emotions and past experiences happen to be what inspires the art. And if you’re struggling with something, I really suggest trying to find something, anything in life that can be a positive outlet for you too. 

RESPECT.: Music is a big aspect of what is inspiring folks to stay positive during these tough times. How does it feel to be a part of that by releasing ‘Sad People Make Dope Music 2’?

It’s such a bizarre crazy time in so many ways sometimes that it feels weird trying to promote something, but on the other hand, we’re all living on the internet and the people that follow me have been very insistent that I put this out ASAP. So I’m just happy that I get to share a moment that matters with my supporters.

The post Mogli the Iceberg Releases Electrifying Project ‘Sad People Make Dope Music 2’ [LISTEN] appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.