Unbeknownst to most of you, I've been attempting to parlay this gig into a hip-hop career for some time now. I've got the skills (obviously), but the only holding me back has been the reluctance of any established artist/producer in the game to take a chance on me.

Until now.

@CardChronicle It's no secret you are the #1hiphop head in the city hands down. You can deny it all you want but we all know the truth ;)

— Audio Stepchild (@audiostepchild) May 23, 2012

S/O to @CardChronicle for the support... look for Mike Rutherford to spit hot fire on the next album, mark it!

— Audio Stepchild (@audiostepchild) May 23, 2012

I've spent the past 12 hours locked in a room with nothing but a pen and a pad. Have yet to come up with any puns for the name "Russ." Am I deterred? Absolutely not.

Do you know that Nas originally went with "Santa Cruz State of Mind" on Illmatic instead of "New York State of Mind?" Did you know that I just made that up? I did. Doesn't change the fact that "Santa Cruz State of Mind" would have ruined the entire album.

Inspired.