Roughneck Jihad & Slippa Interview: Third Sight, GOOD DARTS, Topps, Wrappers Delight & More…

Few artists embody the spirit of independent hip hop and DIY culture like Roughneck Jihad and the unique artwork of Slippa. A veteran West Coast poet/lyricist, Roughneck Jihad first made his mark with the acclaimed underground trio Third Sight alongside legendary turntablist D-Styles and producer DJ Du Funk, building a catalog defined by abstract lyricism, turntablism, and boom bap production.

Across the Atlantic, UK-based illustrator and GOOD DARTS founder Slippa has made his own lane through official artwork for Topps, including Garbage Pail Kids and Wacky Packages, while creating album covers, trading cards, toys, cassettes, and vinyl releases that celebrate hip hop, aerosol, and collectible culture.

We ask Roughneck Jihad and Slippa to talk about Third Sight, Wrappers Delight, physical media, Topps, underground culture, artwork, cassette releases, and why staying true to your vision is key to success.

Jihad, for heads, your name is connected to Third Sight alongside D-Styles and DJ Du Funk. Looking back, what do you think made that chemistry work, and how has that experience influenced everything you’ve created since?

Roughneck Jihad:
I think the quality of that run was based on tensions within the group about releases and pacing alongside a creative vision that was unified in its intention to create high quality underground music. Not distracted by a level looking for chart topping hits or club bangers.

Slippa, working on Garbage Pail Kids and Wacky Packages for Topps is a dream job for illustrators. How did that opportunity come about, and what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned working on such brands?

Slippa:
Around 8-9 years ago I had the itch to collect Garbage Pail stickers, but couldn’t get my hands on any here in UK, so got into the community groups and started offering sketches to collectors for donations, which ended up being an everyday thing for couple years, slowly improving, doing trades with the official sketch insert artists, they recommended that I put a portfolio through.

Later in, I got an invite at the end of 2020 for GPK “Food Fight” and its been full steam ever since! The Wacky Packages invite rolled in naturally, being another sureshot from Topps, like Mars Attacks!

Theres probably been lessons learnt here and there. I jumped in at the deep end of learning how to draw, into big workloads and tight deadlines. Ive had some big projects crumble, some big franchises out there I’ve passed on due to ethics. im quite selective with who i work with. I’m here for the cult classic stuff that satisfies the nerd in me.

Wrappers Delight has grown into a multiple trading card series, a toy line, and promotional vinyl release. What inspired you to combine hip hop culture with collectible art, did you expect the project to grow this far?

Slippa:
Wrappers Delight started when the covid lockdown hit, near a year before I was working with Topps.

So while doing trades and making friends with the artists, I had a ragtag crew onboard. I been away from the Hiphop scene for couple years, busy with learning how to draw, i wanted to merge the two.

I got some Hiphop illustrators and graff writers involved, along with some tattoo artists to mix it up a little, but the majority of the artist’s onboard were Topps certified. It came together like Voltron!

The coolest thing was putting the promo vinyl out, which featured the late, great Tame One from Artifacts and various known graffiti crews, MC Brainpower from Holland and from UK, Junior Wordsmiff FLIP and Junior Disprol, with Mark 563 on cover duties, they even made their own trading cards for it!

Shout out to D-Stroy at “Showoff Your Gems” show for showing it off in its early days too.. it was stuff like this that made me carry it on.. I wasn’t expecting to push it so far, but here we are!

GOOD DARTS is a creative platform for music, artwork, and physical releases. What was the vision when you started, and how important is it to keep physical media alive in this streaming era?

Slippa:
There was a lot going on at this point. I was setting to put the vinyl out to promote the Wrappers trading cards, which took a little while in the making, so I built a house like to pile everything together as a one stop shop.. I started off with music releases from local friends, which kept the name up and pulled some ears while I worked on my own stuff.

This carried on with US artists like Calcei, Dwellers On The Threshold and now with the mighty pal, Roughneck Jihad. Who I first heard feature on a Dead Residents track with Junior Disprol in the early 00’s. I been a fan since.

I’ve always collected physical media and never really dialled into digital/streaming. I let the artists manage the digital side, while i do a limited run on physical media, which im also a massive fan of. In this digital drenched world, we gotta preserve the dope, on plastic!

Im here to get it together so you can put it in your 20x D Energizer loaded Boombox, Walkman or whatever you got going on. I play most my tapes in the kitchen while i’m cooking!

You’ve managed to build multiple creative businesses while staying true to underground culture. What advice would you give independent artists who want to make a living from their creativity without compromising their vision?

Slippa:
I’ve not been looking at it from a business perspective here. I’ve made sure everything I create or release is important to me and also something that I’d buy personally. I’m a nerd & fan of a few things and I just want to contribute and do my part for the art! GOOD DARTS is a space & conduit for art for me and my people.

It’s hard graft living off the art with no compromises. Ive passed on plenty opportunities and taken plenty L’s working on projects that never came to be.

Im building a body of work, like an evolving portfolio.. the more work I do, the more I get.

Just keep doing it! no breaks and no brakes, be obsessed with it, don’t look back and do all the things you want to do! Especially if its not what everyone else is doing. Run it till the wheels fall off!

You’ve created cover art for Fly Fishing Mixtapes from Cut Beetlez through Chopped Herring Records. When you’re designing for someone else’s music, what do you hope listeners feel before they hear the first track?

Slippa:
When I found out it was Cut Beetlez on the mix, I knew exactly what was needed, while keeping to the past themes by KEO, NOXER, AROE, MARK 563, who’s work is cemented in my mind when I hear those mixes. Its the whole package that makes it undefeatable.

Cover designs for physical releases add that extra level of sense to the piece, especially with music. Getting the listener involved with a visual aspect to it adds another level. Its also cool being able to share how I see it.

Theres obviously great albums with (subjectively) trash covers, but when you get all boxes ticked, its a wonderful thing. It adds more depth and lore to the project.

Whether you’re sketching for Topps, designing trading cards, what does your creative process look like? Are you someone who waits for inspiration, or do you stick to a disciplined routine?

Slippa:
I like to understand the project before I approach. Getting the feel of it, whether im researching the history and content. if im a fan already then its easier work.

Your audience includes hip hop fans, vinyl collectors, toy collectors, and art enthusiasts. Have you found that those communities overlap more than people realize, and how has that shaped the way you release your work?

Slippa:
Yeah, theres some consumer overlaps naturally happening here. its like ive hit a niche interest with some folk, its not quite a global phenomena yet, so If you’re reading this and it feels like this is your bag, come check it out!

Hiphop and Counter Culture art in one spot.

Slippa, you’ve already built an impressive catalog across music, illustration, trading cards, and physical releases. What’s next for Roughneck Jihad and GOOD DARTS, and what should fans be watching for over the next year?

Slippa:
Roughneck Jihad’s catalogue of work has always been inspiring. Dudes got a serious run of albums with the best turntablists in the world alongside, spanning multiple generations. To be releasing his work through the label and also working album covers with him is perfect. One of my favourite emcee’s going. Expect more from us, on and off the GOOD DARTS label.

By the time you read this, we’ll have a third cassette release out, which is the third instalment with Senz Beats, named “Methanol”, which also has a vinyl release through Boot Records.

I’ve recently finished some LP cover design work for another Roughneck release too.

Roughneck Jihad:
In the next year I have a handful of releases ready to drop. E Pluribus Urine 2 is ready to go with a massive cover by Good Darts. MK Uber the second Uber Magnetic album with Junior Disprol. A collaboration EP with Skratchlords and a reunion project by Third Sight members Du Funk, Smooth Tone and myself.

Hip hop has always been about creating something from nothing. Looking back, from Third Sight to GOOD DARTS, what keeps you inspired to keep creating after all these years, what does success mean to you today compared to when you first started?

Roughneck Jihad:
I was initially inspired by the artistry and the dream to work in a job that often feels like play. You get 10-12 years in as an independent and you’re not thinking RUN DMC stadium platinum sales fame. At that point it was can we make the best music we possibly can outside the mainstream.

By the mid 90s labels were investing in dope MCs and turntablists as much. It was about the most profitable styles. Real bars were on the back burner and some of my biggest inspirations started chasing trends or letting their pen game falter. At that point I had to draw inspiration from within. If I couldn’t compete with my idols I could compete with myself.

Slippa:
Im here for the art. The more I do, the better it gets. Im hyped to be working with my favourite people, labels and brands. I’m inspired by everyone im rocking alongside with, so im striking while the irons hot and representing the best way i can.

The success means nothing here. Im a weird one. Rap nerd thats in it for the art and true to the darts! Biggup Lamont! MRC Promo!

Check out Roughneck Jihad here, & Slippa here, and stay tuned for more from both artists!