Mic Minded People - The Podcast

Genesis Elijah and Fokus get deep into conversation. From golden era UK hip hop to creativity, self-belief, independent artistry and the realities of making a living through music, this is an honest and inspiring look behind the scenes.

We dive into the making of his debut album back in the day, plus Brixton roots, open mic battles and why staying true to the craft matters more than ever.

Topics include:
• UK hip hop's golden era
• Creativity & longevity
• Building a career as an independent artist
• Brixton, sound system & rap influences
• Voiceover work, TV & transferable skills
• Self-belief, purpose & staying inspired

🎧 Listen:
🎙️ Podbean: https://micmindedpeople.podbean.com
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16ZUeZQGwA8oSvJPZCpgAd
🍎 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mic-minded-people-the-podcast/id1804623810

📺 Watch:
▶️ YouTube: https://youtube.com/@micmindedpeople

📱 Follow:
🎙️ Mic Minded People: https://instagram.com/micmindedpeople
🎤 Fokus: https://instagram.com/mcfokus

🤝 Connect with Genesis Elijah:
🎵 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7ykM9gwcxoplthUOlrih06?si=c5j91waQQi2t83fkmBV9yw
💿 Bandcamp: https://genesiselijah.bandcamp.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/genesiselijah/

For the love of MCs – the culture, the craft, the conversation.

The Craft #1: How I Made a Mixtape in 7 Days
About The Craft
The Craft is a new series within Mic Minded People. Alongside the guest conversations you've come to expect, these episodes take a deeper look at the art of MCing - exploring the creative processes, tools, techniques, and mindsets behind the music.

Episode Notes
What happens when you give yourself just 7 days to make a mixtape?

In this first episode of The Craft, Fokus breaks down the making of his 7 Day Mixtape - from beat selection and rapid-fire writing sessions to trusting instinct, embracing vulnerability, and letting the music lead. He shares the mindset behind creating under pressure, how storytelling shaped the project, and why documenting the process became just as important as the finished music.

A conversation about creativity, discipline and getting out of your own way.

In this episode:

The idea behind 7 Day Mixtape

Writing and recording at speed

Trusting intuition over overthinking

Using personal stories to build deeper songs

Blending styles, skits, and older material into a narrative

Finding the balance between quality and quantity

Keeping momentum and energy alive after release

Key takeaway
Sometimes the best way to unlock creativity is to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start creating with a deadline. Just start!

Listen to The 7 Day Mixtape
🎧 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/mc-fokus/7daymixtape?si=d7ed10c9ddab4baa94b8e8cbca1c213a&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

👇 Tap below to watch, listen and follow
🎧 Listen

Podbean: https://micmindedpeople.podbean.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16ZUeZQGwA8oSvJPZCpgAd

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mic-minded-people-the-podcast/id1804623810

📺 Watch

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@micmindedpeople

📱 Follow

🎙️ Mic Minded People: https://instagram.com/micmindedpeople

🎤 Fokus: https://instagram.com/mcfokus

For the love of MCs — the culture, the craft, the conversation. 🎙️🎤🔥

Fokus sits down with Ayah Marar for a candid conversation about her journey from growing up in Jordan to becoming one of the UK's most respected voices in drum and bass. Ayah reflects on her early musical influences, breaking into the scene, and the pivotal moments that shaped her career as an MC, singer, songwriter, and artist.

The conversation explores the culture and evolution of MCing in electronic music, the challenges of navigating a male-dominated industry, and the lessons she's learned from artist management and career development. Ayah also shares stories from her work with major artists, including Calvin Harris, and offers valuable advice for emerging artists looking to build sustainable careers in music.

They also discuss music production, publishing, licensing, the impact of AI on creativity, and why supporting grassroots music culture remains more important than ever.

🔥 In This Episode

🎤 Ayah Marar's journey into drum and bass

🎶 The history and role of MCs in electronic music

💪 Breaking barriers as a woman in the scene

📈 Artist management and industry lessons

🌟 Discovering and supporting emerging talent

🎛️ Music production, publishing, and licensing

🤖 AI's impact on the future of music

🚀 Advice for aspiring artists and creatives

🌱 The importance of grassroots culture and community support

A thoughtful and inspiring conversation packed with insights for music fans, artists, and anyone interested in the realities of building a lasting career in the music industry.

🎤 Connect with Ayah Marar

📸 Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/ayahmarar/

📘 Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AyahMarar/

🌐 Website
https://ayahmarar.co.uk/

👇 Tap below to watch, listen and follow

🎧 Listen

Podbean: https://micmindedpeople.podbean.com

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16ZUeZQGwA8oSvJPZCpgAd

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mic-minded-people-the-podcast/id1804623810

📺 Watch

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@micmindedpeople

📱 Follow on Instagram

🎙️ Mic Minded People: https://instagram.com/micmindedpeople

🎤 Fokus: https://instagram.com/mcfokus

❤️ For the love of MCs — the culture, the craft, the conversation.

👍 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, follow, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves MC culture, creativity and real conversations.

JoSoSick joins Fokus for a deep conversation on UK underground music, South London culture, pirate radio, and building a career independently without following trends.

They talk grime roots, DIY hustle, clashes, live shows, and how Jo evolved his sound into drum & bass, melodic styles, and genre-blending experimentation - all while staying authentic in a fast-changing scene.

The episode dives into the grassroots side of UK music culture, highlighting the importance of community, independence, and staying true to yourself as an artist. A must-watch for anyone interested in underground music, creative growth, and pushing creative boundaries.

⏱️ Topics include:

South London & pirate radio culture

Grime clashes and underground sets

DIY videos, branding & independence

Genre-blending and musical evolution

Mental health, authenticity & longevity

Building community in the underground scene

👇 Tap below to watch, listen and follow:

🎧 Listen:
Podbean: https://micmindedpeople.podbean.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/16ZUeZQGwA8oSvJPZCpgAd
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mic-minded-people-the-podcast/id1804623810

📺 Watch:
https://youtube.com/@micmindedpeople

📱 Follow on Instagram:
🎙️ Mic Minded People — https://instagram.com/micmindedpeople
🎤 Fokus — https://instagram.com/mcfokus

Connect with JoSoSick:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jososick/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jososick
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@jososicktv
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4plADgQTqVwQboafH6KsGL
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jososick/1460808700
Bandcamp: https://jososick.bandcamp.com/

Fokus links up with rising star Limmz to talk journey, versatility and the grind behind building his name. From lockdown freestyles with friends to making waves in drum & bass, Limmz breaks down how it all started and what drives him.

They explore his early influences - from US rap to grime via Pow - and how that shaped his sound. He reflects on coming up in Bristol’s underground, building confidence on the mic, and the difference between hosting and recording.

Limmz also gets into the realities of being independent: self-releasing, handling social media, and balancing creativity with business. He touches on his earlier, more personal rap versus his current high-energy rave sound.

The episode wraps with his latest DnB EP - a high-energy, collaborative project that marks his growth and positions him as one to watch.

🎧 Listen on Podbean:
https://micmindedpeople.podbean.com

📺 Watch on YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@micmindedpeople

Follow us on Instagram:
🎙️ Mic Minded People: https://www.instagram.com/mcfokus

Connect with Limmz:
🎵 SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/elimo-njau
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4cm0e6rUO2nxaJjkbNqNwf
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/limmzofficial/

For the love of MCs — the culture, the craft, the conversation.