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—writing, recording, producing, mixing, mastering, and releasing everything himself.
But 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.
We get into:
- Publishing, splits, and how he structured his business
- Why he doesn’t co-write or chase features
- The pressure of independence and learning to let go of control
- Burnout, success, spirituality, fear of falling off, and more
This is more than a career breakdown—it's a blueprint for any creative who wants to build something real without losing their peace.
And The Writer Is... Russ!
Chapters
00:00:00 - Trailer: A Glimpse Inside
00:00:57 - Ad Break: NMPA and the Fight for Songwriter Pay
00:01:39 - Welcome to And The Writer Is… with Russ
00:02:14 - Meet Russ: The Unstoppable Indie Force
00:03:50 - From NJ to ATL: Russ’s Early Grind
00:06:40 - Atlanta’s Snap Era and Soulja Boy Influence
00:07:53 - Homegrown Sounds: 70s Rock and Dad’s Secret Talent
00:10:11 - First Guitar: The Genesis of a Songwriter
00:11:08 - GarageBand Dreams: Crafting Early Beats
00:12:09 - Musical Influences: Lil Wayne and Pop-Punk
00:13:30 - Defining the Russ Sound
00:15:29 - Drum Programmers vs. Songwriters
00:18:23 - Publishing Game: Russ’s 50/50 Split Strategy
00:25:56 - Masters vs. Publishing: Where the Money Is
00:27:06 - Losin Control: The $850K Sample Mistake
00:28:28 - Building an Independent Empire
00:30:38 - Own Your Business: Russ’s Wake-Up Call
00:33:18 - Inspiration Is a Lie: Show Up and Work
00:34:28 - Weekly Releases: Discipline Over Inspiration
00:37:14 - Creative Sparks: Shower, Planes, and Life
00:47:26 - Cherry Hill: The Hunt for the Perfect Word
00:51:09 - Live First, Write Later
00:53:10 - The Power of Delusional Belief
01:03:11 - Russ’s Blueprint: 2 Songs a Month
01:06:57 - Respect Your Audience’s Ear
01:09:18 - The Pressure of Success and Family
01:13:55 - Therapy and Acceptance
01:14:37 - Breaking Into Acting and Hollywood
01:25:26 - Ad Break: Powered by peermusic
01:47:10 - Growth Through Vulnerability
01:48:46 - Why Russ Stays Independent
01:53:27 - Fair Pay for Songwriters
02:00:22 - The “Good Problems” of Success
02:07:38 - Chloe, Otto, and Life Lessons
02:08:57 - Outro: And The Writer Is...
02:11:42 - Why Not Me? Russ’s Final Word
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