With his new mixtape proving to be some of his most personal and profound work to date, US rapper IDK talks intention, memory, and why he’s nearing the end of an era.

From the lecture halls of Harvard University to the biggest global stages and a collection of year-defining bodies of music, Maryland rapper IDK has proved his multi-disciplinarian worth time and again across the past decade. Sonically shapeshifting from the off-kilter maximalism of 2019’s Is He Real? to the soulful cadence of 2021’s USEE4YOURSELF, the 33-year-old is one of the most exciting and unpredictable talents in American rap.

His new mixtape is a shining example of his bold and distinctive vision. “E.T.D.S.”, or “Even The Devil Smiles”, is a sharp turn of pace, prioritising the full-frontal storytelling essence of ‘90s and ’00s mixtape culture. It feels the closest, most intimate narration from the rapper to date. Tackling injustice, criminality, Black culture, through a personal, profound lens, IDK enlists a plethora of collaborators to stitch together a tapestry of hip hop expressionism. There are excellent contributions from rapscallion duo Joey Valence & Brae, street rap heavyweight Pusha T, and production maestros like Madlib and Kaytranada, as well as posthumous additions of legends DMX and MF DOOM. 

The project is among IDK’s most potent, lyrical-provoking and instrumentally focused, a mixtape that could have been released thirty years ago but feels as refined and relevant today as ever. To candidly reflect on the tape and his time in the spotlight, below, IDK joins Wonderland for a catch-up.

Listen to the mixtape…

Read the exclusive interview…

How do you reflect on 2025?

This could have been a time where I’d be buying bars based off of my original. My reflection is rooted in gratitude. Now that I’m in a situation that I’m in it’s a reminder to live life and embrace freedom to the fullest.

What’s the boldest thing you’ve done in your career?

It’s almost like what haven’t I done? A lot of what I get and a lot of of what I make happen is based off of the fact that I have the audacity to even try. Audacity has gotten me far and sometimes in trouble lol. I never mean any harm if I’ve ever gotten in trouble, which by the way is a rare thing, I said it for shits and giggles. At the end of the day back to the first question, I realized the importance of freedom because I understood what it felt like to not have it. Every day is a day for me to push what I can accomplish to the limits.

Congratulations on your new mixtape! The cover art is so striking – what’s the story behind that?

Marygold who created the art is a genius. This ties to the bigger picture image that will come in my future work. I don’t really wanna talk too much about what that’s going to be, but just understand. This is only a small fraction of what’s to come.

Why did you decide to name it “Even the Devil Smiles”? 

Even the nicest people can be the devil and even the people you think are the devil could be the nicest people. It’s about looks being deceiving.

Why is this project a mixtape and not an album?

In prison, I wrote down in my book that contained all of my plans for when I got out that I wanted to create a mixtape. This team ties directly to my incarceration. But if we want to go deeper into the essence of hip-hop as it pertains, the bodies of work starts with the mixtape. But sometimes the idea of a mixtape can be disregarded as a lower-tier body of work. I don’t agree with that in fact, it was only lower tier because of a lack of resources. Some people took that and ran with it as the standard. Presenting it in places like MoCA allowed me to raise the standard.

The choice of features on the tape feels very considered. Talk us through your picks? 

I chose people whom I believed could speak to particular topics. I believe everyone delivered. Obviously the the ones who are no longer with us all stem from things that we’ve done prior to me being incarcerated. Those were a very special case where I had to be very delicate and use my Producer and arrangement mind to execute.

Similarly, with the production, you’ve enlisted a plethora of top-tier talent to get involved. Talk us through some of those choices. What did the individual add to the project?

I believe everyone had a cohesive production style and it was up to me to curate. What from their production style worked in the sonic bed of the mixtape. All of them started as a side quest that eventually led to what we have today.

You’ve always been prolific in releasing bodies of work. Where does this new mixtape sit within your wider canon? At what stage of your artistry and life do you feel that you’re at?

I’m currently at the end of the rap stage. At least as it pertains to solo bodies of work.

You’ve lectured at Harvard University. Why is teaching a pursuit that excites you? Where does it sit for you in your life achievements?

Ignorantly delivering knowledge is what IDK stands for heavy on the delivering knowledge part. For me, I like to teach people through my heart and whatever I do that I feel the most fulfilled. Being able to teach no label academy is my biggest accomplishment thus far outside of making a living in music.

Is there a key formative memory for you relating to a teacher or mentor that has influenced your career path?

In middle school, I played football. I was naturally talented, but a lot of those kids had been playing since they were able to walk. I never understood how to play with equipment, so I was never necessarily good on the team that I played on. For some reason, I wanted a new number. I didn’t like number 42. I remember the coach caught wind of that, and he pulled me to the side, and he gave me a new jersey, and it said number 12 on it. And when he handed it to me, he said you’re gonna be something great. I just know it. And I don’t know if he was just chatting shit or not, but I knew for a fact he knew better to not be saying that about my skills in football lol. Him saying that stuck with me until this day I remember feeling like something special was gonna happen to me. His words were so powerful. He didn’t realise it, but they were. 

What’s something you wish people asked you more often?

Are you OK?…

Words – Ben Tibbits