If you’ve been following me long enough, you know how much of a champion of Radamiz I am. Truly one of the most gifted artists and people that I know and have ever listened to. A relationship that started with a cold DM request back in 2020 asking him to come to Stony Brook’s campus to be a guest on my podcast, has blossomed into a friendship that I cherish dearly.

It’s rare to come across as many people as transparent, honest, intense and wise as Rad. I think everyone that I know, that has a mutual bond with him, knows exactly what I’m talking about. Simply talking to him makes you wanna sharpen up. I’ve never failed to let him know how much his music changed my life. How many times it saved me. How it acted as a mirror and gave me language for things I didn’t know how to explain or process myself at times.

I recently told @nickychulo at one of Rad’s listening sessions for his upcoming album, “LIGHTMAN,” fully produced by fellow 914 native @realfortes, that it takes life experience to fully grasp the depths of all of what Rad puts into his music. It’s not meant for a passive listen. It’s not just meant to nod your head (even though Fortes makes that difficult not to do at times.) It’s meant to be felt. To be put down, digested through a full life, filled with light and dark and picked up again with newfound perspective, a refined palate and renewed grace and faith.

With all that in mind, having him join @insidevoicesseries was a no brainer. During the shoot, I got a chance to tell him that I felt the last time we spoke on record, I was talking to Rad the rapper. This most recent instance, I was talking to Remi’s father. That means something to me.

To the homie, thank you for always taking the time. Thank you for the inspiration and the respiration. Thank you for the album dedication and the music that has changed all of our lives. Take a much deserved victory lap on the 18th loved one!