DJ King Flow interviews REKS and Artisin for Mixtape Addict 54.

French DJ and producer DJ King Flow has announced the playlist and special guest for the latest episode of his renowned weekly show, Mixtape Addict. This week’s segment includes an exclusive interview with the esteemed REKS & Artisin (AR16), further solidifying the show’s reputation as a leading platform for underground hip-hop culture. Scientific Sound Asia, a significant player in the Asian music industry, continues to back the series as a radio station, music news site, event organiser, and DJ agency.

DJ King Flow, an exceptional talent from France, began his musical career at the age of 14 and has since established a distinct presence in the international hip-hop scene. Known for his dynamic mixtapes and innovative outlook, he has been praised for pushing genre boundaries while staying true to hip-hop’s core traditions.

At the cutting edge of modern hip-hop production, DJ King Flow is celebrated for his inventive mixing techniques and genre-crossing creativity. His collaborations with influential artists such as Ras Kass, Torae, Juicy J, Tragedy Khadafi, O.C., and Khujo Goodie of Goodie Mob highlight his versatility and widespread respect within the global rap community.

His music crosses borders, acting as a powerful medium for storytelling, emotion, and cultural exchange. Through unwavering dedication to his craft, DJ King Flow continues to inspire both new artists and long-time fans, establishing himself as a leading figure in contemporary hip-hop.

Since starting his career in 2012, he has forged meaningful connections across major American cities, including New York, Dallas, Providence, Miami, and Seattle. Alongside his long-time collaborator Young Amsterdam, he has cultivated a vibrant, cross-border rap community. Their shared passion for authentic hip-hop has led them on extensive journeys across the United States, fostering partnerships and encouraging creative collaboration.

In 2015, DJ King Flow launched Mixtape Addict, a hip-hop radio show that quickly gained popularity on stations globally. By 2019, the platform expanded with Mixtape Addict Report, a video interview series offering in-depth discussions with key figures in hip-hop. Touring France, Canada, and New York, the series marked a new chapter in delivering raw, unfiltered hip-hop journalism to international audiences.

With REKS & Artisin (AR16) featured in this week’s episode, Mixtape Addict continues to highlight voices that define and challenge the limits of hip-hop. DJ King Flow’s commitment to showcasing genuine artistry and his dedication to connecting global rap communities remain central to his ever-evolving legacy.

Interview Guests: REKS & Artisin.

REKS and Artisin (AR16) are two lyricists representing the true spirit of boom bap hip-hop, combining sharp lyricism with gritty, classic production. Together, REKS and Artisin have formed a strong lyrical partnership that bridges generations of hip-hop artists while staying true to the roots of the culture.

REKS, originally from Lawrence, Massachusetts, has been a staple of underground hip-hop since the early 2000s. With albums like Grey Hairs, R.E.K.S. (Rhythmatic Eternal King Supreme), The Greatest X, and T.H.I.N.G.S. He has consistently delivered music that blends thought-provoking lyrics with soulful, hard-hitting beats.

Known for working with legendary producers like DJ Premier, Statik Selektah, The Alchemist, Hi-Tek, Pete Rock, and Nottz, REKS is widely respected for his dedication to hip-hop’s foundational elements. He remains a key figure among hip-hop heads and fans of lyrical rap.

Artisin, based in Boston, is a rising force in underground hip-hop, known for his introspective writing and raw delivery. His work with REKS under their joint name AR16 has been gaining momentum, with their recent tracks like Super Powers and Eat What You Kill showcasing a powerful blend of storytelling, street wisdom, and classic boom bap energy.

Between them, REKS and Artisin represent nearly three decades of dedication to hip hop music, boom bap rap, and the independent spirit. Their interview on the show promises to explore their creative process, storied careers, relationship with producers and beatmakers, and the vision behind AR16. For listeners who value real bars, authentic hip hop record producers, and lyric-driven rap music, this conversation is set to offer deep insight into the craft and culture.

Mixtape Addict 54 by DJ King Flow opens with REKS and Artisin establishing a raw Boom Bap foundation through Exclusive Freestyle, Super Powers and Eat What You Kill, combining gritty drum work with sharp, focused lyricism. Readings On The Wall deepens the tone with darker intensity, while Ghouls introduces a slightly more experimental edge without losing the underground feel.

Momentum builds through WeaponIZE and In And Out, both reinforcing the East Coast hip-hop grit that runs through the mix. Grown Adults and Mogul bring a more measured, reflective approach, while Gen X Party shifts the energy with a throwback feel that bridges past and present.

The middle stretch continues with Jersey, where Redman injects pure Golden Era attitude, before Just Like You brings a smoother, soulful groove into the mix. Think Critical sharpens the atmosphere again with DJ cuts, while Popular and Body Bag return to harder underground textures.

The closing run balances energy and grit as Ya Bitch Gonna Like This keeps the tone playful but grounded in Boom Bap tradition. French host DJ King Flow returns with another edition of Mixtape Addict, this time joined by underground stalwart REKS and producer-emcee Artisin for a conversation centred on DJ culture, mixtapes, artistic independence and their collaborative project Kill Writer’s Block.

The interview brings together two artists with a long shared history and a clear respect for the foundations of hip hop. As expected on Mixtape Addict, the discussion opens with the traditional question about favourite DJs.

REKS sticks with the names he has mentioned before, DJ Jazzy Jeff and DJ Premier, while also taking time to acknowledge figures such as Roc Raida, DJ Revolution and other turntable legends. Artisin names DJ Deadeye and Pete Rock, grounding his choice in both admiration and personal experience.

From the outset, the conversation makes clear that both guests see DJs not simply as supporting figures, but as a crucial part of the culture’s original structure. When the subject turns to mixtapes, both artists make it clear that the format still matters deeply to them.

Artisin gives a more detailed answer, explaining that mixtapes are a vital part of hip hop’s ecosystem because they allow songs, beats and acapellas to be reused, reshaped and kept alive across generations. He points to records like Shook Ones Pt. II and classic Nas material as examples of how repeated flips, references and reinterpretations helped turn certain tracks into permanent cultural touchstones.

REKS agrees, praising DJ King Flow for keeping that energy alive through his radio format and recognising the role that mixtapes still play in preserving the spirit of discovery and experimentation. The interview then moves into a wider discussion of the tension between real culture and the industry structures that often try to profit from it without understanding it.

DJ King Flow reflects on receiving copyright warnings in the past for his mixtapes, while Artisin speaks about how labels often fail to understand that remixes, freestyles and alternate uses of tracks can function as a form of tribute and cultural continuity rather than theft. REKS expands the point further by criticising anonymous playlist curators and gatekeepers who now influence what listeners see and hear, despite having little visible connection to the culture itself.

For him, there is a major difference between a real DJ who has earned trust in the community and an invisible platform curator making decisions from behind the scenes. That frustration feeds directly into one of the interview’s strongest themes, the need to reclaim hip hop for the people who genuinely care about it.

Artisin becomes especially passionate here, arguing that too many outsiders have inserted themselves into the culture once it became profitable, while real artists, DJs and supporters have had to fight harder to maintain its integrity. He insists that rappers should not be ashamed to claim what they do, and that artists who have built their craft honestly should stop shrinking themselves while less committed figures profit from the image of the culture.

From there, the conversation shifts to more practical questions about artistic independence and business. When asked who influenced their entrepreneurial mindset, both artists mentioned Master P, Nipsey Hussle and 50 Cent.

REKS speaks in detail about his early years grinding independently, pressing up his own CDs, duplicating artwork, and selling music directly in the streets and outside shops. He recalls physically stopping cars at traffic lights and telling drivers to try the music on the spot, a raw but effective hustle that helped him build a fanbase long before streaming culture took over.

Artisin adds Terminology as another influence, remembering how he used to hide CDs in magazines and find inventive ways to spread music through Boston. Both artists speak fondly about the hands-on era of house parties, local DJs, direct contact with listeners and the type of community-based promotion that helped music feel personal.

The heart of the interview is the introduction of Kill Writer’s Block, their new joint project. REKS explains that he and Artisin have been connected for years through the ST Da Squad circle, which also includes names such as Terminology, Easy Money, DJ Deadeye, Superstah Snuk and others. Their collaboration, then, is not a random pairing but something built on years of musical and personal familiarity.

Artisin produced most of the album, with only a couple of exceptions, and he also raps throughout the project. Both artists present the record as a fully formed creative statement, one that brings together lyricism, production, strong concepts and a wider visual element.

One of the most interesting parts of the conversation is the mention of a comic book tied to the album. They explain that Kill Writer’s Block is intended to work not only as a music release but also as a broader artistic experience, with Crooked Hooks contributing artwork and a visual storyline that will expand the world of the record.

In that sense, the project aims to reach beyond hip hop listeners alone and invite in people who connect first through design, drawing and visual storytelling. REKS describes the album as audio-visual in spirit, something that will live both in sound and in picture form.

They also outline the rollout around the release. Eat What You Kill, featuring Estee Nack, is one of the main singles, and they mention other songs, including Losses and Another Time featuring Terminology. The album itself is framed as both fresh and layered, the start of something bigger rather than an isolated one-off collaboration. There is a clear sense that both men see it as the beginning of a wider creative run.

Part two of the interview is shorter and more direct, focusing mainly on where people can find the music and how to support it. REKS points listeners towards his Bandcamp page, while Artisin explains that his catalogue is available across major platforms and Bandcamp as well.

They both stress the importance of direct support, independent discovery and staying connected through social media and releases rather than waiting for the industry to validate the work. Overall, the interview feels like a conversation between people who still believe hip hop should be built around craftsmanship, real community and mutual support.

REKS brings the perspective of a veteran who has lived through the underground grind and still values direct connection to fans, while Artisin offers a producer’s and lyricist’s view rooted in long-term dedication and a strong sense of principle. Together, they present Kill Writer’s Block as both a record and a statement, one that pushes back against passivity, cultural dilution and surface-level thinking while embracing collaboration, tradition and growth.

DJ King Flow Mixtape Addict episode 54.

REKS & Artisin (AR16) - Exclusive Freestyle (Prod ShortFYUZ)

REKS & Artisin (AR16) - Super Powers

REKS & Artisin (AR16) feat. Estee Nack - Eat What You Kill

Casablanca The Gawd & Che Noir - Readings On The Wall

DJ Hoppa, Uncle Lush & Kail Problems - Ghouls

4-Ize - WeaponIZE (Prod D.R.U.G.S Beats)

Jamal Gasol - In And Out

Napoleon Da Legend & Clypto - Grown Adults

JimmyMack - Mogul

JimmyMack - Gen X Party

Redman - Jersey

Slum Village, Larry June & The Dramatics - Just Like You

oBleak - Think Critical (Cuts by Tone Spliff)

Lil Dee & Matt Echo - Popular

Gran Centennial - Body Bag

Agallah & Jamal Gasol - Ya Bitch Gonna Like This

DJ King Flow - Interview with REKS & Artisin

Listen on Mixcloud here.