Sha Stimuli on releasing 12 mixtapes in 2012, via his 'Rent Tape Series'

At the start of 2012, Sha Stimuli was wondering whether to pursue a major-label deal again. Once a Source magazine Unsigned Hype alum, he had signed to Virgin in 2005, only to be caught in a three-year holding pattern and wondering if he could pretend to be someone richer than he actually was.

Instead, Stimuli launched the Rent Tape Series, which entailed writing, producing and releasing a mixtape each month throughout the year. From month to month, mixtape to mixtape, Stimuli leapt from topic to topic: He explored his relationships with women (The Old Me: How I Met Your Baby Mother) and how those changed (The New Me: Sherrod Khaalis). He self-evaluated himself as a rapper, at the year's start (The Calling) and more than halfway through 2012 (The Savior). Fittingly, he also broke down his money issues, from The Chills (Broke at 30) to perhaps his biggest fear, The 9.2.5.

Stimuli has moved on from picking random beats (featured producers include J. Cole and Clams Casino) and recording at home, to posting up at Salem Psalms Library and forging a producer-emcee relationship with Focus. More importantly though, while the Rent Tape Series started as a test of endurance, it's evolved into a meaningful ritual of figuring out his strengths and weaknesses as a rapper and otherwise, granting Stimuli some much-needed sanity.

Stimuli, a former CL contributor, caught up with CL about how leveled with his listeners via the Rent Tape Series.