Listen to an interview with Indianapolis rapper, guitarist, and songwriter Foosie, joined by his musical collaborator, keyboardist and producer Aiden Christopher.
Raised in Indianapolis’ Mapleton-Fall Creek neighborhood, Foosie served more than 20 years in prison. During his incarceration, he developed his writing through the Indiana Prison Writers Workshop and taught himself guitar after watching a PBS concert featuring James Taylor and Carole King.
Following his release, Foosie launched his music career with the 2025 debut album All American Ghetto. Blending acoustic guitar and folk storytelling with hip-hop, soul, and rock, he developed an eclectic sound that earned him the nickname the “Ghetto Bob Dylan.”
His new album, All-American Ghetto Gospel, expands on that approach, featuring elaborate arrangements and contributions from an ensemble of Indianapolis musicians. Created with Christopher, the record also reflects a life-changing experience the two musicians shared: surviving a serious car accident while traveling to a music festival in North Carolina. A photograph taken after the crash became the album’s cover, and the experience inspired the song “Highway 77.”
Foosie and Aiden Christopher join host Kyle Long to discuss the making of All-American Ghetto Gospel, their musical collaboration, and the experiences behind the album.
