The Art of Storytelling in Hip-Hop | Zebulon

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When rapper Zebulon stormed Paul's For You page, it wasn't just another viral moment—it was a masterclass in storytelling through hip-hop. In this episode of The Open Exchange, Paul sits down with the Georgia-born, California-raised artist to explore the intersection of artistry, mental health, and the grind of building a creative career.

Zebulon's journey is anything but linear. From picking up drums at 14 to falling out of love with hip-hop during the underground vs. mainstream era, only to return harder at 16. From pursuing film directing in Ohio to realizing his true calling was always music. This conversation dives deep into:

The Evolution of an Artist

Growing up on MTV Raps, Criss Cross, and Naughty by Nature
Why he chose drums at 14 and how it expanded his musical horizons
The moment he realized he was "nice" at rapping (spoiler: it took years)
Winning Guitar Center's 2010 drum competition and where that led

Mental Health & Creative Validation

The dangerous cycle of dopamine hits from social media engagement
Dealing with impostor syndrome even while going viral
How therapy helped him understand his relationship with music
The hidden struggles behind creative success

Building a Multi-Disciplinary Career

Why being a "rapper who directs" opens more doors than "director who raps"
The reality of streaming revenue (hint: there isn't much)
How his production company Illuminati LLC fits into his artistic vision
Gary Vee's advice on building one cohesive personal brand

The Craft of Storytelling

What separates underground hip-hop from mainstream
Breaking down the RAZ Austin collaboration that went viral on TikTok
Why narrative-driven rap resonates in the algorithm era
Influences from Biggie, Nas, and J. Cole


0:00 - Intro: When Zebulon Stormed the Algorithm
1:22 - From Georgia to California: Zebulon's Origin Story
2:24 - The Musical Journey Begins: Why Drums at 14?
4:09 - Exploring Beyond Hip-Hop: Jazz, Funk & Afro-Cuban Rhythms
5:26 - Early Hip-Hop Memories: MTV Raps & Criss Cross
6:07 - When Did You Know You Could Rap?
7:15 - The 2014 Turning Point: "Oh, I've Improved"
11:30 - Guitar Center Drum Competition 2010
14:45 - The Mental Health Struggle Behind the Music
18:20 - Dopamine, Social Media & Creative Validation
22:10 - Film School and the Director Detour
26:35 - Underground vs. Mainstream: The Hip-Hop Divide
31:15 - Why TikTok Changed Everything for Independent Artists
35:40 - The RAZ Austin Collaboration: Breaking Down a Viral Hit
38:50 - Storytelling as the Core of Great Hip-Hop
42:20 - Influences: Biggie, Nas, J. Cole, Geto Boys
45:30 - The Production Company: Illuminati LLC
47:50 - Chasing Creativity: What Drives You?
50:24 - Being an Artist First, Everything Else Second
53:12 - Where to Find Zebulon & Final Thoughts
55:13 - RAZ Austin Freestyle Story
56:35 - Outro & Wrap-Up


Follow Zebulon:

YouTube: @zebulonraps
Instagram/TikTok: @ZebulonRaps
Website: https://www.columinati.com/musicvideos

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