Q-Unique & Rhettmatic: The Hip Hop “Code” We Lost

What happened to hip hop’s unwritten code?

On this episode of The Questions, Sean Kantrowitz sits down with underground hip-hop pioneers Q-Unique and DJ Rhettmatic to discuss The QR Code—their first collaborative album after knowing each other since the early ’90s.

They trace their parallel journeys through The Arsonists, Beat Junkies, Visionaries, Rock Steady and the legendary Fat Beats record stores. Q-Unique also explains why he rewrote lyrics from his past that no longer represented him, while Rhettmatic shares how their unlikely collaboration developed over two years.

The pair also reveals how Pharoahe Monch surprised them with a 30-bar verse, discusses the realities of releasing independent music today and explains why individuality, creative discipline and a genuine love for hip hop still matter.

Plus, hear how FYI’s AI persona Fiona became part of the album’s intro and interludes—inspired by the guiding voice of A Tribe Called Quest’s Midnight Marauders.