There’s something special about two musicians who have worked together long enough to understand each other’s instincts, yet still manage to surprise one another. For Seattle rapper Nacho Picasso and producer TELEVANGEL, that creative chemistry has been developing for years, and their latest album, Stuntman, shows there’s still plenty of territory left to explore.
The pair have an established history within underground hip-hop. Nacho first made his name through his distinctive gravelly delivery, dark humor and collaborations with Blue Sky Black Death, the production duo that included TELEVANGEL under his former name, Young God.
Projects including For The Glory and Lord of the Fly helped establish Nacho’s reputation as an artist with an unmistakable personality. His lyrics frequently combine outrageous observations with darker storytelling, delivered in a style that makes even his most unexpected lines sound completely natural.
Meanwhile, TELEVANGEL has developed his own reputation for production that moves beyond conventional hip-hop arrangements.
His work often incorporates atmospheric textures and cinematic influences, creating musical environments that give artists room to experiment. That approach has made him a natural collaborator for Nacho, whose personality brings a contrasting energy to the production.
Their paths eventually reunited through projects including Jesse’s Revenge and Montage Music, setting the stage for another chapter with Stuntman.
One of the album’s most interesting moments comes through “For The Record.”
Inspired by 1950s doo-wop and Motown, the track takes a different approach from the darker sound many listeners associate with Nacho’s music. Its laid-back, jazzy atmosphere creates space for a more melodic delivery, while his familiar sense of humor remains intact.
The story behind its creation is equally unconventional. With TELEVANGEL’s studio unavailable, Nacho recorded his vocals at another artist’s home studio over an entirely different instrumental. Rather than asking him to record everything again, TELEVANGEL reconstructed the production around the existing performance.
It’s a revealing example of their working relationship. The song wasn’t forced into its original arrangement; instead, the music changed to accommodate what Nacho had already created.
That flexibility extends throughout their collaboration. TELEVANGEL approaches albums with an interest in creating a recognizable musical world, but without allowing consistency to become an excuse for avoiding new ideas. Nacho shares that ambition, continually searching for ways to bring his creative vision closer to what he imagines.
Their experience certainly gives them the freedom to take those chances.
Nacho has toured nationally, appeared at Bumbershoot and Capitol Hill Block Party, and collaborated with artists including Danny Brown, Gucci Mane and Flatbush Zombies. TELEVANGEL’s history includes performances at Red Rocks and Electric Forest through Blue Sky Black Death.
With Stuntman, those years of experience become a foundation rather than a limitation.
“For The Record” is proof that their partnership doesn’t depend on repeating what worked before. Even with an established catalog behind them, Nacho Picasso and TELEVANGEL are still finding unexpected ways to bring their ideas together.
https://open.spotify.com/track/7fSPzfxXcfsR4lZlwjB6Gu?si=207272fff278451f
