By E. Jackson
Being a player is strategic. And after practice, it becomes rhythmic. It takes calculation. Placing your bet, and making the move. Don’t trip. Players maintain composure. Similar to the energies of persons like Bishop Don Juan, or the likes of Jay-Z, President Obama, or Master P, the player mentality is about precision, confidence, and vision. P2P Rixh is writing the blueprint, and MG is right there with him, orchestrating the next move.
When you step into the world of The Program 4 Players Vol. 1, you’re stepping into something bigger than music, you’re stepping into a mentality. For Rixh and MG, this isn’t just an album release; it’s a statement. A player’s mindset isn’t just about getting money, it’s about elevation, making the right moves, and pulling others up with you.
With the album dropping April 7th and the release party set to be an incredible night on Sunday, April 6th, I sat down with the duo to talk about collaboration, their creative process, and what it really means to be a player in the game. From cutting 25 songs down to the strongest 10 to making sure every track pushes the culture forward, Rixh and MG are here to prove that nobody’s bigger than the program.
This conversation took place at MOSS Studios, courtesy of their team, providing the perfect space to dive deep into the mindset behind The Program 4 Players Vol. 1.
And if you’re wondering what this project sounds like? Simple. This is a player’s album. If you’re about progression, making moves, and leveling up—not just for yourself but for the people around you—this one’s for you.
The Richmond Seen: Tell us a little bit about the show coming up?
P2P RixH: Well, the show is going to be immaculate. It’s going to be a good time. We’re going to preview some records that’s gonna be off the project. We got a couple guest performances, Ronnie Lux. We got my man named pressgod. Another programmer from Oakand, California. He’s good friends with MG. The Program 4 Players Vol. 1 Release Party is definitely going to be dope, man. Y’all gonna listen to some good music, and catch some vibes. It’s definitely going to be something worth talking about.
TRS: So when can we expect the album?
Rixh: April 7th. The next day. The album release party gonna be on the 6th and 12 o’clock midnight, you can go get it.
TRS: Talk to me about the collaboration aspect?
Rixh: Well, that’s one thing I admired about MG early on. When he said he wanted to do something, he meant it. He came to me and was like, “Yo, bro, I wanna do music.” Jokingly, at first, I didn’t think he was taking it seriously. But you don’t come to me and say some shit like that, and expect me not to take it seriously. So I was like, “All right, you want to do music? Let’s do it.” And ever since that day, it’s just been lock and key.
MG: I do believe the, “Say what you mean, mean what you say.” I remember telling Rixh, “Yo, I want to do a joint project with you.” Some time passed and we didn’t get the chance right away. But then he came back like, “Yo, let’s get into it. Let’s make music.” And I’m telling you, in about three to four months, Rixh and I probably pumped out 25 songs. Over that period, we were doing about two sessions a month, for four months. So in total, it was about eight sessions, and within that time, we created 25 songs. I’d like to call it a legendary run, but honestly, I’ve never been on a run before, this was my first time making music. I just wanted to add some color commentary to what that process really looked like and how serious we were about it.
“Figure out something that works for you, and then take a stab at it. Lose, take some L’s, and then figure out how to fix it. Hustling is not a specific or narrow thing. It’s universal.”
-Rixh
TRS: What were some of the deciding factors narrowing those 20 to 25 songs down to those 10?
Rixh: MG is very indecisive when it comes to decision making. He may say like, “Yeah, bro, I’m fucking with it.” And then a couple days later, “After I thought about it, I’m not sure.”
MG: Rixh might say indecisive, I would say contemplative. A synonym. But, they’re coming from different angles. But Rixh is right. I think we work towards the same goal in that we wanted to make sure we gave the best product the first time around, even if that meant debating it.
TRS: Who did you have in mind for this album?
MG: Dawg, I ain’t gonna lie. This is a player’s album. This is an album for players. If you really about getting money, elevating your life, pushing yourself forward and propelling other people forward, the way that Rixh has propelled me, the way I propel others, and the way the Richmond Seen is propelling ‘the scene’ forward – this is the album for you. This is the album for people who really are looking to prosper in life and to really take things to the next level.
TRS: Who’s on production?
Rixh: We have a bunch of different producers on here. Nobody specific. But, I do want to shout out Skit. Skit made some of our beats. But we have a multitude of producers that we work with on this project. It wasn’t like one specific person. But I do want to lock in with a specific producer. Kind of like how people do projects with Cardo. Like Curren$y.
RSVP to Program 4 Players Vol. 1 at the Boom Box, Sunday, April 6. Link provided here.
MG: And shout out to one more person too, Alex E, who did a lot of the mastering on our stuff, and really brought the fullness and a vibrancy of the sound that you’re going to hear. Definitely shout out to Alex.
TRS: Yo Rixh, I want to get into something you said on The Hustle Effect. On the 2022, Spaceships in the Suburbs, you rapped “I can’t hate on niggas that’s not in my character, out of 51 rappers best up in my area.” This is recent – not even in reference to the list. Was that something you were referring to specifically?
Rixh: No. It’s funny, though, because when I did that interview, [with Don’t Mind Me Podcast] I don’t know why it became such a big thing. If you listen to my music, I’ve been talking like that. Go back to my older records, my old projects. It’s how I talk. This is how I genuinely feel. I’m not saying this for clickbait.
TRS: Are you getting negative feedback from it?
Rixh: Yeah, I think it’s both, man. I think it’s positive feedback and I think it’s negative feedback. I think some people may feel as though that, you know, I’m kind of; I think I’m bigger than who I am. Some people may think that I think I’m better than what I really am. You know what I mean? So, you know, it’s a little bit of that. But I know who I am. And that’s really all that matters to me.
TRS: And last thing, tell me about the new single – Stolen Camry
Rixh: It’s crazy how it came about. It was one of those days where me and MG had a session. And Yohannes called me was like, “Yo, Rixh, what you doing?” I was about to go to the studio. And he pulled up.
TRS: What artists are you listening to in this city right now? We ain’t talking top, just who’s on your radar?
P2P Rixh: I’m listening to MG. Heavily listening to MG, Rule 1: Nobody Is Bigger Than The Program. On some Frsh Who – they just did a recent project that I’ve been playing. Noah-O is somebody who’s been in a rotation. I listen to Ronnie. There’s a hood dude who I like, T-Mane, dude tough. His melody game is crazy! And this female artist named Naeedy.
I like listening to people who can actually rap. That’s what I care about.
TRS: What’s your advice to those getting their papers straight?
Rixh: My advice to them is to hustle. Figure out something that works for you, and then take a stab at it. Lose, take some L’s, and then figure out how to fix it. Hustling is not a specific or narrow thing. It’s universal. You can hustle in so many different ways. But if you don’t hustle, you not gon’ win. It’s just the name of the game.
MG: I would say even before you start hustling stop, take inventory, and start counting. And that sounds cryptic, right? But, start counting your habits. Your spending habits, right? You know, my Granny would say, “A dollar saved, is a dollar earned.” You can’t start stacking, until you start saving, and putting it up. It’s not what you make, it’s what you put up. Ultimately, that will save you on a rainy day.
TRS: Yo, so we inside or we outside this summer?
Rixh: I think we’re going to do a mixture of both, man. When I’m outside, nine times out of 10, I’m outside on business now. Like, I ain’t just outside to be outside. Or, I’m celebrating something. Something happened for a celebration to occur or to be needed. So, other than that, we inside. We working. And I like my bitches inside, too. I don’t like them outside. Y’all niggas can have those outside, hoes. I don’t like them outside. I like them inside.
