Rhys Langston on the Making of Stalin Bollywood

This week, we’re joined by vocalist, producer, and author Rhys Langston. Rhys has a talent for pairing acerbic commentary on race and class with a diverse musical approach that’s rooted both sonically and philosophically within the cultural framework of hip hop. He is also an author, with a terrific book titled Language Arts Unit that expounds upon the socio-political themes found within his album of the same name. Rhys’s upcoming album, Stalin Bollywood, finds him expanding his musical palette to incorporate the sounds of post-punk as a new medium through which he can deliver his unique and insightful worldview.

Rhys spoke with us extensively about the inception of his latest album—recorded during the lockdowns of 2020–, his views on the future of live performance, and his thoughts on the intersection between genre and race.

If you l ...