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This week on Mixed and Mastered, Jeffrey Sledge sits down with April Walker — fashion pioneer, cultural architect, and the founder of Walker Wear, one of the brands that helped define modern streetwear before it had a name.

April traces her journey from Bed-Stuy and Clinton Hill to the clubs, studios, and streets of ’80s New York, where hip-hop, style, and entrepreneurship collided. She breaks down how Walker Wear was built from the culture outward, the story behind her iconic WW logo, and how word-of-mouth turned her designs into a movement — from early hip-hop artists to Mike Tyson making history in the ring.

They also talk legacy: being a woman in a male-dominated industry, protecting her IP, walking away at the height of success, and what’s next as she approaches 40 years of Walker Wear.

This is Mixed and Mastered with April Walker.

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Mixed and Mastered is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio, and hosted by music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to the discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @MixedandMasteredPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at www.wearemerrickstudios.com/mixed-and-mastered-pod

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This week on Mixed and Mastered, Jeffrey Sledge sits down with Steve Carless, a senior creative executive whose 20+ year career spans Def Jam, Atlantic Records, and the front lines of modern artist development. From studying liner notes as a kid in New Jersey to shaping careers for artists like YG, Jeezy, Pusha T, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, and Nipsey Hussle, Steve breaks down how relationships, risk-taking, and cultural intuition drive longevity in the music business.

Steve shares never-told stories from the Star Trak and Jay-Z–era Def Jam days, the rise of mixtape culture as a marketing engine, developing YG’s My Krazy Life, working alongside Nipsey Hussle, and earning Grammy recognition through projects with Beyoncé. This conversation is a masterclass in A&R instincts, creative leadership, and building careers that last beyond the moment.

This is Mixed and Mastered with Steve Carless.

Support the show

Mixed and Mastered is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio, and hosted by music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to the discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @MixedandMasteredPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at www.wearemerrickstudios.com/mixed-and-mastered-pod

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Jeffrey Sledge sits down with James McMillan, Esq. — entertainment attorney, label executive, and CEO of Art @ War Records (in partnership with Warner Records) — for a real conversation about power, ownership, and how leverage actually works in music.

James breaks down the mindset behind creative dealmaking, why chasing fees isn’t the same as building equity, and how his path evolved from entertainment law into management and label ownership. Along the way, he shares stories from the Swishahouse era, building with MGK, navigating high-stakes negotiations, and what artists need to understand about streaming, hits, and the next wave of AI-driven rights issues.

He also speaks on his leadership with BMAC and The Living Legends Foundation — and why protecting creators requires both cultural fluency and boardroom strategy.

This is Mixed and Mastered with James McMillan, Esq.

Support the show

Mixed and Mastered is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio, and hosted by music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to the discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @MixedandMasteredPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at www.wearemerrickstudios.com/mixed-and-mastered-pod

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Originally released March 31, 2025

"My man. Always an inspiration!!"
- A-Trak

Step into the extraordinary world of Sean C — legendary DJ, producer, A&R, and true architect of hip-hop. From Harlem block parties to Grammy nominations, Sean’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and cultural impact.

In this powerful episode, Sean shares how a cancer diagnosis became the unlikely spark that launched him from the mailroom at LOUD Records to producing era-defining records. He takes us back to where it all began — from his name being given by DJ Master Don, to co-founding the Executioners, to shaping the sound of artists like Big Pun, Jay-Z, Dead Prez, and Beyoncé.

Hear the untold stories behind the making of “Still Not a Player,” the creative battles that birthed “Hip Hop” by Dead Prez, and the cinematic vision that powered American Gangster. Sean also opens up about teaching RZA’s techniques to actors on Wu-Tang: An American Saga and his shift into music supervision and mentorship.

More than just stories — this is a conversation about the soul of hip-hop, the balance between art and industry, and the power of staying true to the craft.

Support the show

Mixed and Mastered is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio, and hosted by music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to the discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @MixedandMasteredPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at www.wearemerrickstudios.com/mixed-and-mastered-pod

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Originally released on July 10, 2025.

Jeffrey Sledge sits down with legendary music executive, producer, and A&R Dante Ross for Part 1 of a deep dive into his extraordinary journey.

From growing up on New York’s gritty Lower East Side to immersing himself in punk rock, graffiti, and skateboarding, Dante shares how music became his first true escape. He talks about the artists who shaped his taste – from Chuck Berry to The Beatles to The Jackson 5 – and how the cultural collision of punk, new wave, and hip hop in downtown NYC pulled him into the scene.

Hear firsthand stories about sneaking into iconic clubs, witnessing The Specials and The Clash live, discovering the Bad Brains, and becoming part of the tight-knit crew that included the Beastie Boys. Dante also reveals how his eclectic upbringing and fearless hustle led him to work with Eric B. & Rakim, De La Soul, Queen Latifah, and ultimately become one of hip hop’s greatest A&Rs.

Check out Part 2 of this conversation with Dante Ross from July 17, 2025.

Support the show

Mixed and Mastered is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio, and hosted by music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to the discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @MixedandMasteredPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at www.wearemerrickstudios.com/mixed-and-mastered-pod

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This year-end episode of Mixed and Mastered is something special. Jeffrey Sledge sits down with Mickey Factz for a deep, unfiltered conversation that goes far beyond music. From growing up between Harlem and the Bronx to battling in schoolyards, interning at Def Jam and Loud, navigating the blog era, major-label deals, viral moments, and hard industry lessons—this is the full arc.

Mickey breaks down the mindset of a true craftsman: lyricism, independence, evolution, and longevity. The conversation traces his journey from underground standout to cultural architect, including the creation of Pendulum Ink, hip hop’s first school dedicated to rap theory, business, and mental health—and his recent turn as a professor teaching hip hop at NYU.

This isn’t just an artist interview. It’s a masterclass in survival, reinvention, and staying sharp when the culture keeps shifting.

Mixed and Mastered with Mickey Factz.

Support the show

Mixed and Mastered is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio, and hosted by music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to the discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @MixedandMasteredPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at www.wearemerrickstudios.com/mixed-and-mastered-pod

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From DJing the Stardust Ballroom at 15 to shaping Strong City Records, from Rowdy to Blackstreet, and ultimately to founding the world’s premier Hip-Hop Museum, Rocky Bucano’s journey is a masterclass in vision, grit, and cultural stewardship.

In this episode, he sits down with us inside the soon-to-open, $100M+ museum rising on the Harlem River—where he breaks down his Bronx roots, the early record-pool grind, Teddy Riley’s first sessions, the MCA rollercoaster, his years shaping Gauchos basketball, and the 16-year odyssey to build Hip-Hop’s permanent home.

It’s history, hustle, heartbreak, and triumph—told by the man who lived every chapter. This is Mixed and Mastered with Rocky Bucano.

Support the show

Mixed and Mastered is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio, and hosted by music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to the discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @MixedandMasteredPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at www.wearemerrickstudios.com/mixed-and-mastered-pod

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In this powerhouse episode of Mixed and Mastered, Jeffrey sits down with the incomparable Dyana Williams — radio icon, cultural architect, co-founder of Black Music Month, longtime Philly International insider, and the heartbeat behind some of the most important stories in Black American music.
From her Harlem and Bronx roots to her early days as “Ebony Moonbeams,” Dyana walks us through a five-decade career that includes:

• Breaking into radio at CCNY and WHUR
• Learning under the legendary Frankie Crocker at WBLS
• Working across TV at BET, VH1, and PM Magazine
• A front-row seat to Philadelphia International Records during its golden era
• Founding the National Museum of African American Music in Nashville
• Her lifelong mission to preserve, protect, and elevate Black music and its creators
• And of course… the origin story of Black Music Month, from the White House lawn with Jimmy Carter to official national recognition

Dyana’s stories reach from the Apollo to the Oval Office, from D’Angelo to Teddy Pendergrass, and from Harlem stoops to global stages. It’s a living masterclass in culture, community, and the power of music to move the world.
This is history told by someone who made it.

Buckle up — This is Mixed and Mastered with Dyana Williams.

Support the show

Mixed and Mastered is produced and distributed by Merrick Studio, and hosted by music industry veteran, Jeffrey Sledge. Tune in to the discussion on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you catch your podcasts. Follow us on Instagram @MixedandMasteredPod to join the conversation and check out all our episodes at www.wearemerrickstudios.com/mixed-and-mastered-pod