We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Rahmad Hawkins. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Rahmad below.

Rahmad, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

About Slyce x Hustle
Emerging in 2025 from Atlanta, Georgia, United States, Slyce x Hustle blends hip hop, rap, and boom bap into a genre-defying sound. Slyce x Hustle represents the collision of legacy and hunger—two voices, one undeniable chemistry.

It all began in 2006 at LA Fitness, where pickup basketball games turned into freestyle sessions that revealed something rare: the kind of natural chemistry that can’t be manufactured—think Nas and Jay-Z trading bars, pushing each other to higher heights. What started on the court evolved into years of collaboration, culminating in performances together at shows and the development of a creative partnership that never truly stopped, even when life pulled them in different directions.

Slyce, born in Buffalo, NY, carries music in his DNA. His father founded the legendary Process and the Doo Rags, discovered by Rick James, which earned gold albums and a permanent place in the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame and the Brooklyn Museum. Music wasn’t a choice—it was an inheritance. Since 2008, he’s been translating that legacy into his own language, recording through relocations from Buffalo to Florida to Georgia, always with the pen sharp and the perspective wider. His path has also taken him through film, appearing in Van Wilder 3: Freshman Year and Black Panther as a Border Tribe member.

Hustle, straight out of Passaic, New Jersey, never stopped writing. Even when paths diverged, he kept sending rhymes to Slyce, keeping the flame lit. His dedication to the craft remained constant—bars honed in notebooks, verses refined in the margins of daily life, always sharpening the blade.

Now, both family men—Slyce with four children, Hustle with three—they’re back in the booth sounding like they never left. The storytelling is sharper. The lyricism is at an all-time high. The bars hit harder because they’re lived in, earned through years of experience, sacrifice, and growth.

Slyce x Hustle isn’t a comeback. It’s an arrival. And their forthcoming EP, Built Before The Algorithm, is proof—real hip-hop crafted before the culture became a formula, now refined for a world that needs it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

We’re Slyce x Hustle — two artists who came together to create something that’s bigger than just music. We both come from real-life experiences where hard work, faith, and perseverance weren’t just options — they were requirements. Our collaboration was born out of respect for the craft, for storytelling, and for representing the people who grind every day to make their vision real.

We got into music because it’s always been part of our DNA. From writing lyrics in notebooks to recording in home setups, we built our sound from the ground up. Over time, that sound evolved into what we call “Built Before the Algorithm” — a mindset and a movement that’s about authenticity, substance, and legacy. It’s about creating timeless music that connects before the world catches on.

Our creative work includes music, visuals, and storytelling. We make songs that speak to real life — from the struggles to the victories — and we do it with purpose and precision. We’re not chasing trends; we’re creating moments that last. Beyond music, we also focus on content that bridges culture, business, and motivation — giving people something to feel and something to think about.

What sets us apart is our chemistry, our balance, and our consistency. Slyce brings that sharp lyrical precision and perspective — that “cut different” energy — while Hustle brings the raw emotion, tone, and passion that hits you right in the soul. Together, it’s a blend of grit and growth — real-life lessons turned into sound.

We’re most proud of the fact that we’ve stayed independent and authentic while building momentum on our own terms. Every record, every visual, every move comes from a place of purpose. Whether we’re recording at Patchwerk Studios or performing in front of new audiences, we want people to walk away inspired to push through and believe in their own vision.

If there’s one thing we want people to know about Slyce x Hustle, it’s this: we’re here to make impact-driven music and move culture forward. We represent those who’ve been underestimated, those who create from the heart, and those who refuse to give up. We’re not here to fit in — we’re here to build before the algorithm.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Our story of resilience really comes down to the fact that we’ve been recording music together for years — long before there was any promise of a check, a deal, or a big audience. We’ve never made money off the music. Everything we’ve done has been fueled purely by love for the art, the message, and the process.

What makes it special is that we’ve managed to keep creating while juggling full-time careers, raising families, and handling all the everyday responsibilities that come with life. There were plenty of times when it would’ve been easier to just stop — when we were tired, when resources were low, when we questioned if people were even listening. But the passion never left.

We’d still find ourselves linking up late nights after work, talking about life, hitting the studio, and creating something that felt real. That’s resilience to us — showing up for the music, for the vision, and for each other, even when there’s no spotlight.

At the end of the day, Slyce x Hustle represents that grind most people don’t see — the years of unseen work, the sacrifices, and the belief that what we’re building will matter when the time is right. We’re proof that when you truly love something, you don’t need instant results to keep going. You just keep building — before the algorithm.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Answer (Slyce):

For me, resilience has always been about balance and belief. I’ve been recording music for years, but there came a point where I had to prioritize building stability for my family and my future. That meant putting a strong focus on my professional career — becoming a consultant, earning my PMP certification, and growing into an award-winning Customer Success Strategist.

It wasn’t easy. There were seasons when the music had to take a backseat so I could handle real-life responsibilities — career, kids, and everything else that comes with adulthood. But what’s kept me going is that same drive that got me into music in the first place: the hunger to create something meaningful.

Even while building my corporate career, I never stopped writing, recording, or dreaming. In fact, those experiences shaped my perspective and eventually led me to write my book, SAOP: Sharp and On Point — Steps to Creating Your Own Success in the Workplace. That project came from living both worlds — the corporate grind and the creative journey — and finding ways to win in both.

So when you hear me on a track or see me in a business meeting, it’s the same mindset — disciplined, focused, and passionate. My story is about proving that you can chase excellence in your career and still stay true to your art. Music may not have made me rich yet, but it’s kept me grounded, inspired, and connected to my purpose. That’s resilience to me — staying sharp and on point, no matter which hat I’m wearing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/SlycexHustle
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/slyce_hustle/?hl=en
• Twitter: https://x.com/Slyce_Hustle
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SlycexHustle
• Other: Slyce IG: https://www.instagram.com/slyceofficialpage/?hl=en

  Hustle IG : https://www.instagram.com/blowcharley/