This week’s guest is one of the most successful independent artists in modern music.
He’s a rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer who built his career from the ground up. in this rare conversation, he opens up about the side of the journey we don’t usually hear:
The emotional weight of ownership, the mental toll of doing it all alone, and the belief system that kept him going when no one else did.
This is a blueprint for any creative who wants to build something real without losing their peace.
And The Writer Is... Russ!
Chapters
00:00 – Intro
02:14 – How Russ Beat the System Without Selling His Soul
04:16 – Childhood Chaos, Cop Cars & Creative Spark
07:06 – Soulja Boy, Pep Rallies & Atlanta Music Culture
08:19 – Rock Ballads & Soul Roots You Didn’t Expect
10:11 – The Guitar That Started It All
11:49 – GarageBand & Making Beats for Friends
12:41 – Wayne, Wiz & Folk Rock: A Weird Musical Diet
13:56 – Why Russ Doesn’t Sound Like Anyone Else
15:29 – Publishing Wars: Russ vs. Drum Programmers
26:18 – Why Songwriters Are Fighting for the Wrong Money
29:32 – The $850K Sample Mistake
30:21 – Power, Control & Protecting His Business
34:05 – Why He Still Handles His Own Deals
35:11 – A Wake-Up Call to Songwriters: Keep Your Records
39:03 – When a Song Hits Mid-Dinner, You Leave
41:44 – Burnout, Collaboration & Creative Revival
45:11 – The Line He’ll Never Cross in Rap
48:01 – Turning Fights Into Hits (Literally)
50:07 – Writing in the Shower & Whispering Hooks at 2AM
54:14 – Harmonizing with His Partner—In Music and Life
56:02 – When He Doesn’t Create, Everything Unravels
57:09 – The 20% Rule That Changed His Sanity
58:07 – How Columbia Let Him Stay Indie (Kind Of)
61:06 – Ownership, Spending, and Where the Real Money Is
63:56 – What Russ Would Do If He Had to Start Over
65:19 – Vulnerability vs. Confidence: The Real Inner Battle
66:07 – Why He Samples Even Though He Can Write Anything
66:38 – Burnout & Building a Life Outside of Music
67:52 – Being Your Own Engine (and Breaking Down)
69:25 – The Hidden Prison of Fame
70:38 – Panic Attacks, Depression & Healing
72:01 – Therapy, Faith & Finding Balance
75:17 – Music as Medicine (and a Mental Trap)
78:42 – Dopamine Detox & Spiritual Warfare
81:11 – Why He Hates LA
82:22 – “I Can Make a Hit in 20 Minutes”—But Should I?
83:33 – Escaping the Productivity Hamster Wheel
84:38 – A $25M Lesson Every Artist Should Hear
86:51 – Love, Identity, and the Power of a Creative Partner
89:09 – Real Talk on Timing, Trust, and Tension
90:54 – What Actually Grounds Russ (That You Don’t See Online)
92:33 – What He Hopes to Be Remembered For
94:10 – For the Dreamer Who’s Almost Out of Gas
96:22 – Why Gratitude Isn’t Optional
97:47 – Ego vs. Purpose: The Shift That Saved His Career
99:21 – Navigating Hate, Criticism & Longevity
102:06 – Owning Your Story Without Needing a Comeback
104:33 – Faith, Flow & Letting Go
107:18 – Redefining Wealth: What Energy Are You Leaving Behind?
109:55 – Art as Therapy: Why He’ll Never Stop Writing
112:11 – Leaving a Legacy Without Forcing It
115:03 – What He Still Doesn’t Feel Comfortable Sharing
117:12 – A Final Message to Artists Who Feel Alone
120:10 – Outro: What Russ Hopes You Take From This Episode
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And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan 