When Don Trip and Starlito dropped the primary Stepbrothers mixtape in 2011, they carved out a uncommon lane in Hip-Hop: a duo constructed not simply on beats and bars however true brotherhood. Now, almost 15 years later, the Southern spitters return with Step Brothers 4 Life, proving that consistency and chemistry nonetheless rely in a recreation constructed on traits. Their newest challenge is out and AllHipHop sat down with the pair to debate the lengthy journey, how Tennessee formed their sound and why their bond nonetheless runs deeper than rap.

What follows is a hilarious, insightful and typically deep dive into the whole lot from PlayStation versus promotion to firearm philosophy. With these two, realness comes first. Watch the video for the complete, unedited dialog.

AllHipHop: Y’all are working at a excessive stage creatively, however you stated you have been “hanging on by a thread.” What’s happening?

Don Journey: I ain’t have my nap. That’s all it’s.

Starlito: We’re in grind mode. The album’s executed. Now it’s about presentation and advertising and marketing—journey, little sleep, and no naps.

AllHipHop: So let’s speak Step Brothers 4 Life. Why the lengthy hole?

Starlito: Life. It’s been eight years since Stepbrothers 3, however after we lastly locked in, it solely took six weeks. We had six studio periods and got here out with 16 tracks.

Don Journey: We at all times document these in particular person. We don’t do the phoned-in factor. That’s our secret sauce.

AllHipHop: You possibly can hear that connection. Most individuals can’t even rehearse collectively, not to mention construct like that.

Starlito: Loads of teams develop aside. However we grew nearer—weddings, funerals, youngsters’ birthdays—we’ve been there for one another in life, not simply rap.

Don Journey: There’s no ego between us. No huge “I’s” or little “u’s.” We transfer like a workforce.

AllHipHop: Who was the primary Tennessee rapper that influenced y’all?

Don Journey: For me, it was Three 6 Mafia, Playa Fly, Gangsta Blac—. I grew up listening to them collectively.

Starlito: A rapper named La Mike. He was from East Nashville, received his haircut at my cousin’s store. That’s once I realized, “Oh, somebody from round here’s a rapper.”

AllHipHop: Folks don’t notice how far Nashville and Memphis are from one another.

Don Journey: It’s three and a half hours. We ain’t neighbors.

Starlito: Memphis is extra of a Hip-Hop hotbed. Nashville’s nation music enterprise. I went to Tennessee State and that helped me construct bridges. However yeah, outsiders assume we’re from the identical place.

AllHipHop: We’ve talked about maturity. Hip-Hop’s over 50. The place do y’all suppose it’s headed?

Don Journey: I don’t suppose gatekeeping issues anymore. Now, anybody can add music. That’s good and unhealthy, however it’s simpler for actual artists to discover a lane.

Starlito: We now have to personal our affect. Hip-Hop’s getting fused with nation, pop—you title it. And the stuff with a message is disappearing. It’s on us to inform actual tales and protect the tradition.

Don Journey: Substance outlasts pattern. We’re centered on giving individuals music that speaks to one thing actual, not simply chasing what’s scorching.

AllHipHop: How do y’all really feel in regards to the advertising and marketing aspect of issues—movies, social media?

Don Journey: It’s like sustaining a home. You need the home, you gotta repair the roof. You need the profession, you gotta do the work.

Starlito: Advertising is storytelling. If I can get 3 minutes of your time, perhaps I can get you to hearken to 51 minutes. We’ve needed to do everybody’s job in some unspecified time in the future—PR, digicam, engineering—you title it.

AllHipHop: Do y’all return and hearken to the outdated Stepbrothers tapes?

Don Journey: Probably not. I don’t even have a look at outdated photos. I don’t wish to get caught previously. My glory days are forward of me.

Starlito: An excessive amount of reflection can maintain you again. You begin evaluating numbers, chasing outdated sounds. That’s a lure. We’re constructing ahead.

AllHipHop: Let’s lighten it up. High 5 Hip-Hop duos?

Don Journey: Kriss Kross, Ball & G, Clipse, CNN and I’ll say me and ‘Lito.

Starlito: UGK, Outkast, Run-DMC, Boosie and Webbie, and yeah—me and Journey.

AllHipHop: Y’all included yourselves?

Starlito: Why not? The chemistry is actual. We’re in that dialog.

AllHipHop: Closing random matter: weapons. Don, you bought a favourite?

Don Journey: I received like 200. It’s therapeutic. Like portray. Hitting the identical gap in a goal 30 occasions? That’s artwork.

AllHipHop: So it’s a inventive factor?

Don Journey: Yeah. It’s about management and precision. I train my youngsters the way to shoot. It’s not about violence—it’s about understanding energy and being accountable with it.

Starlito: You speak to him lengthy sufficient, you’ll be Googling calibers by the tip of the day.

AllHipHop: Closing ideas?

Don Journey: Stepbrothers 4, out now. We touring, including cities every day.

Starlito: We respect the love. This ain’t no pattern. It’s a motion.

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