This week, we’re tapping into the intersection of hip-hop, technology, education and startups with a true pioneer—Arabian Prince.
If you know your rap history, you know Arabian Prince as one of the founding members of N.W.A, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame rap group that redefined music and culture. But what you might not know is that he’s also a lifelong technologist, entrepreneur and futurist—a kid from Compton who got his hands on a computer early and never looked back.
From songwriting, rapping and DJ-ing to producing electro-funk beats and Grammy-nominated #1 hit song Supersonic to leading innovation in 3D animation, video games, and blockchain, he’s been pushing the boundaries of technology for decades.
In this episode, we talk about how a chance encounter with an N.W.A-inspired crypto-merch baseball cap led to this conversation, and from there, we cover everything—his early love for tech, how music and technology shaped his career, and his mission as founder of INov8 Next Open Labs and co-founder of INov8 Capital to bring the next generation of kids into the world of tech.
Form beats to bytes, Arabian’s story is all about curiosity, hustle, creativity, and breaking boundaries—whether it’s in music, business, or technology, so this is one you don’t want to miss.
EPISODE LINKS
QUOTES FROM THE EPISODE
“I was just a kid with a computer in Compton. That changed everything for me.”
“If you want to make real change, you have to give kids access—not just knowledge, but tools, networks, and opportunities.”
“Most of the people running tech companies today grew up on our music. That connection helps me open doors to push innovation forward.”
SHOW NOTES
01:45 – The backstory: A crypto merch cap leads to this conversation
04:10 – Growing up in Compton, discovering computers, and early influences
08:50 – Blending music and technology: from electro-funk to hip-hop
11:15 – The birth of N.W.A and leveraging tech in the studio
14:40 – Why Arabian Prince left N.W.A and pivoted into animation and video games
16:20 – Working on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Silver Surfer, and Casper
18:30 – Founding iNov8 Next Open Labs and building tech education initiatives
21:05 – The regional approach: Adapting tech education to different U.S. communities
24:15 – Leveraging relationships and hip-hop’s legacy to open doors in tech
27:40 – Thoughts on blockchain, AI, and the future of digital ownership
29:50 – The impact of teaching kids about technology and entrepreneurship
32:00 – Fun facts about Arabian Prince: his love for SpongeBob and video games
34:00 – Arabian’s connection to Ireland and plans for visiting soon
35:00 – Closing thoughts and where to find Arabian Prince online
Keywords:
#arabianprince #nwa #rap #hiphop #tech #education #inov8next
Shout-outs and hat-tips: Amor Sexton, Philipp Pieper, Timo Lehes, Katie Evans, Kene Ezeji-Okoye
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