Episode Overview

Podcast: What Had Happened Was
Host: Open Mike Eagle (Stony Island Audio & Talkhouse)
Guest: IDK, rapper out of PG County, Maryland
Episode: What Had Happened Once: IDK on his new project Even The Devil Smiles
Date: January 29, 2026

In this episode, Open Mike Eagle sits down with IDK to discuss his new mixtape/album Even the Devil Smiles (ETDS), offering an unfiltered look into IDK’s personal journey—from prison to music industry success. They delve into the meaning behind the project, the intricacies of the independent grind, themes of redemption and accountability, and the realities of the rap industry.

Main Discussion Themes

The Mixtape vs. The Album (01:14–03:54)

• IDK views mixtapes as pivotal to hip hop’s creative spirit but feels the term's original ingenuity is often overlooked today:

  • “I don't want to say disrespect the mixtape, the name...but I think we missed the point of how genius the idea of a mixtape was...using what you have and the resources you have to make something that's great.” (02:03)

• Now, with more resources, he can elevate mixtapes to “museum-level” art, emphasizing creativity over commercial constraints.

• No longer a difference in creative approach:

  • “If it's less rap and more melodic...then maybe it's an album. But as far as rap goes, I don't think there's nothing cooler than a mixtape that's just, like, fly to me.” (03:29)

Meaning and Inspiration Behind "Even the Devil Smiles" (04:01–08:22)

• ETDS stands for "Even the Devil Smiles," a double entendre referencing both the innocence perceived in youth and the deception IDK encountered in the music industry.
  • “The smile is the innocence...I'm not a horrible person. The circumstances made me do something...I definitely wouldn't do today. The flip side...some people I thought were nice are actually the devil in disguise.” (04:28–05:38)

Prison Experience and its Impact

• IDK recounts being sentenced to 15 years, ultimately serving about a year due to circumstances around parole violations and financial struggles.
• His formative years included real struggle—sometimes the family went without electricity—pushing him toward making hard choices and ultimately prison.
• Music became a grounding force while incarcerated.

Evolution and Emotional Growth (08:22–09:33)

• On Change and Compassion:
  • “I think I have a lot more compassion, dude…there was respect for some of the things I got into…a lot of things that I did people probably would fear me to some degree...now I’m a different person.” (08:37)
• Frustration on the record comes from seeing inauthenticity and “softness” in others compared to his own past unpredictability.

Rap in Prison, Influences, and Artistic Origins (09:33–14:47)

• Prison cyphers honed his skills:
  • “My first time ever ciphering was in prison.” (11:43)
• His content and style stood out behind bars:
  • “I wasn’t really rapping about street shit. I was rapping on, like, fly shit, intellectual shit, like, storytelling.” (13:02)
• Major influences: Jay-Z, Tribe Called Quest, Andre 3000, Royce da 5’9” (highly praised), Lupe Fiasco (for writing depth).

Industry Realities & Independence (19:35–32:00)

• On not being tied to movements or “waves”:
  • “If I have any issue…it’s just that I don’t be f**ing with n***s like that… I just live such a unique life that it’s hard to relate.” (17:38)
• DM networking over label politics:
  • “I don’t need a major label when I can majorly DM n**s…That’s what I do.” (23:17)
• Major label system pros/cons:
  • Open conversation on the real value a label brings (“resources,” “packaging” on big festivals), and the “Illuminati” side of the industry that remains hard to see from the outside.
• Navigating politics of the music business:
  • “The music game is a stick figure version of the Mona Lisa, which is politics and economics.” (29:21)

Collaborations and Production Choices (32:00–37:40)

• Drum’n’Bass Influence:
  • “Jungle music, all of that stuff... Goldie is the originator of that style of music out of London. I've done a song with him prior.” (32:23)
• DMX & MF DOOM Features:
  • DMX’s posthumous feature pieced together by matching old vocal stems to new beats.
  • MF DOOM’s appearance constructed from unreleased verse segments—serendipitously, the bars referenced prison life, fitting the album’s concept.
  • “I had a little piece left... and it just so happened the piece that was left was him talking about prison. I couldn't believe that.” (36:01)

Accountability & Redemption (38:00–44:23)

• “Scary Mary” and “Scrambled Eggs”:
  • Stories are based on real or plausible youthful misdeeds—ending with overwhelming consequences (karma).
  • “I have the guy that you're talking to sitting, you know, on the screen right now...I've had people’s lives in my hands...At 17...I just be feeling sad about it.” (39:43)
  • Friend’s phrase: “The streets'll scramble your eggs if you let it.” (40:55)
• Reflects on cycles of crime, survival, lack of options—institutional and personal.

Reflections on the Industry & Personal Codes (44:47–46:55)

• Difference between the industry and the street:
  • “Where I come from, you get stabbed for that… You can’t live a comfortable life moving like that.” (44:47)
• Accountability in the industry is rare:
  • “I’m really good at calling people out before it ever gets to that point—I'll be like, ‘yo, I've been texting you...if you don't want to do it, it's all good, but let me know, right?’” (45:09)

Final Reflections & Support (47:30–49:41)

• Call to Support and Understand:
  • “Just take the time to understand my journey and understand how real this is…Don’t overlook that because they're just focused on who the features are…Just take the time to get to know me through that project.” (49:04)
• Best support: Buy the vinyl, cop merch, stream the album via official channels—ETDS.com.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• IDK explaining the mixtape ethos:

  • “The genius in using what you have and the resources you have to make something that's great. I think people forget what that is.” (02:03)

• On growth and redemption:

  • “I think I have a lot more compassion, dude...that's where a lot of the frustration in the record came from.” (08:37)

• On his independence:

  • “I don’t need a major label when I can majorly DM n****s.” (23:17)

• On the industry’s hidden mechanisms:

  • “The music game is a stick figure version of the Mona Lisa, which is politics and economics.” (29:21)

• On karma and accountability:

  • “I have the guy that you're talking to sitting... I've had people's lives in my hands... I don't like that I did that to somebody.” (39:43)

• On being authentic in art:

  • “I only really embraced [my past] because I realized how important it is to be real in your music, your art. It's got to be... the truth.” (20:39)

Key Timestamps

• Mixtape vs. Album: 01:14–03:54
• Meaning behind ETDS: 04:01–08:22
• Prison and Early Life: 05:41–09:33
• Writing in Prison & Influences: 09:33–14:47
• Rap Community & Independence: 19:35–32:00
• DMX & MF DOOM Features: 33:00–37:40
• Karma, Scrambled Eggs, & Redemption: 38:00–44:23
• Industry vs. Real World Codes: 44:47–46:55
• Support & Final Message: 47:30–49:41

Episode Takeaways

• IDK’s art is deeply personal, honest, and reflective—shaped by hardship and growth.
• The mixtape, to him, remains a symbol of hip hop’s resourcefulness and authenticity.
• He values independence and community, forging connections authentically rather than through industry machinery.
• He hopes listeners look past the buzz and features to understand the real human experience woven into the album.

To support IDK & Even the Devil Smiles:
Visit ETDS.com for vinyl, merch, and official links.