Flatbush Zombies’ Erick The Architect sits down with HOT 97’s Mornings With Mero to talk about a decade-plus in the game, the state of hip hop in 2026, and why real artistry matters more than ever.
From sampling Jennifer Lara and Evelyn “Champagne” King on his new single “No Doubt,” to bridging dance, reggae, and hip hop on his latest EP Auxstrumentals 3, Erick breaks down his creative process and why he refuses to stay in one lane. He shares stories about DJing for Jamiroquay, learning production at Guitar Center, the five elements of hip hop, and the difference between making music as a group vs. standing on stage solo.
Plus: Erick teases his upcoming single “Yer” featuring Fergie Baby and Ghostface Killah, explains why he tells aspiring producers to never delete anything, and has some strong words about AI in music.
Chapters:
0:00 – Intro & Welcoming Erick The Architect
0:48 – The State of Hip Hop in 2026
2:29 – “Factory Music” & Chart Culture
3:27 – A Decade In: What’s Next?
4:05 – Hip Hop Crossing 50 Years
4:25 – New York Needs to Lead Again
5:14 – Parasocial Relationships & Real Collaboration
6:04 – Multi-Instrumentalism & Why It Matters
7:48 – Dilla, Sampling & Learning Instruments
9:02 – “AI, F*** Outta Here”
10:26 – Know Your Gear: From LinnDrums to DX7s
10:51 – The Doo-Wop Era & Respecting the Craft
11:31 – Chart Sales vs. Cultural Impact
12:02 – Auxstrumentals 3: Going Back to Producing
13:03 – Blending Genres: Jungle, Electronic & Hip Hop
14:06 – The Studio Process: Trial & Error
15:14 – Never Delete Your Ideas
15:46 – The Five Elements of Hip Hop
17:26 – Learning to DJ: From iPods to Jamiroquai
19:54 – New Single “No Doubt” & the Jennifer Lara Sample
21:31 – Going Solo vs. Group Dynamics
24:07 – What Erick Learned About Himself
25:06 – The Pressure of Following Up a Debut Album
26:15 – Competing in Hip Hop Again
27:45 – The T-Pain Story & Wanting One-of-One Artists
29:05 – Upcoming Single “Yer” ft. Fergie Baby & Ghostface Killah
33:14 – Outro
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