How did Basement Rap start?

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BUTCH DAWSON: We was just all making music and I had this idea in my head to have my man Isaiah come up to the mic and say “Basement Rap.” I basically wanted to have a drop the way that the Trapoholics tapes used to. He did it in hella different emotions and versions and I was just using what he laid down, tweaked it and played with it. At the time, DZ was doing something in L.A. and he called me and said he thought it could be bigger than a drop. We did a song called “Basement Rap,” then changed it to a genre for our music then it grew into a movement. I put a lot of faith into it. It became a collective of all my close friends but really a platform we created to present raw creativity.

When did the idea for making a radio-styled mix come about?

BUTCH DAWSON: One day we was just sitting around and playing Grand Theft Auto and it took me back to when I was young. Ask anybody that know me, I used to turn GTA on just so I could listen to the radio stations. Just listening to the radio is something I always was into since I was younger.

SHIDO: We used to fall asleep listening to the radio on Grand Theft Auto.

BUTCH DAWSON: I just loved everything about it: the humor, the transitions, selection of music. It's a part of how I create music today. That's what I wanted to do with Basement Rap Radio. I get all the MCs in the group, drop their songs, and then reach out to producers I respect and drop their beats. The commercials were made with the car ride in mind.

Do any of you make music exclusively for the mix? Like, loose tracks that won't be heard anywhere else?

DYLIJENS: That wasn't the goal at first but it's definitely turning into that kind of outlet.

RYAN P: Yeah, [there's] shit I got on there that I'll probably never drop to this day.

BUTCH DAWSON: Initially I didn't even have the idea to do that but we just said fuck it.