May’s cover stars are one of the most unlikely, yet sublime duos that Hip Hop has produced. Global viral sensation Skai Isyourgod is the southern Chinese rapper that the world discovered they needed in 2025. Project Pat is the super OG Memphis rapper who has had hits since co-signing his brother Juicy J and Three 6 Mafia back in the 1990s. Skai just happened to mix the Memphis sound with his own Cantonese cultural touchstones [including Cantonese opera samples] and his laconic Rap style, to create a new sound. His tracks, ‘Stacks From All Sides’ and ‘Blueprint Supreme’ have resonated around the globe.

Project Pat doesn’t need his flowers; he’s already got ‘em. Seeing what Skai has done with the sound he helped popularize, it must have been tempting to collaborate on a new track—and that’s just what they did. Aided by the early production and East-West connections of two long-time cultural ambassadors to China, Dell Harris and TONE Will, the two got connected, and ‘The Diplomat’ dropped on May 1, along with an AI-led music video featuring both artists. Sonically, it’s right in the Memphis meets Mandarin sweet spot. You can tell that Skai is ‘sai lo’ [little brother] to Project Pat’s ‘dai lo’ [big brother] in the MV, but the respect is real. It’s fun to see the two bridge the cultural divide through Rap diplomacy as they trade bars.

LiFTED got a chance to catch up with these two unlikely comrades in bars to hear about how ‘The Diplomat’ came together.

Skai Isyourgod interview:

To be honest, the success of ‘Stacks From All Sides’ wasn’t some mystical thing like people on the outside make it seem. For me and the bros, it was simply about doing everything we could and leaving the rest up to fate

[其实《Stacks From All Sides》能爆起来，真没外界想得那么神乎其神。对我和兄弟们来说，无非就是‘尽人事，听天命’。”]

Being able to share the Rolling Loud stage with Pat really felt incredible. We actually performed together for the first time during last year’s U.S. tour, but that was at our own headlining show in Boston. Overall, both experiences were completely different in their own way.

能和 Pat 哥一起站上 Rolling Loud 的舞台，感觉确实顶。去年美巡的时候我们也有过第一次同台，不过那次是在波士顿的专场，总而言之两次都是很不一样的经历。

I feel at home everywhere. Wherever I’ve got brothers, wherever there are listeners who understand me, wherever I can put down roots and build something bigger, that’s my home turf. Both places I consider home.

揽佬四海为家，哪里有兄弟、哪里有懂我的听众、哪里能让我扎根做大，哪里就是我的主场。这两边，我都当是自己家.

Pat is a real legend—a veteran of Memphis Rap. When you collaborate with someone like that, it’s all about mutual respect. The moment he starts rapping, you can immediately feel that street-earned experience and pressure in his voice. Being able to create that kind of spark with an OG taught me a lot, and it also gave me a clearer vision of how I want to move going forward.”

Pat 哥是真正的传奇，Memphis Rap 的老江湖。跟这样的人合作，讲究的是‘互相尊重’（Respect）。他一开腔，那股街头的沉淀和压迫感直接就出来了。能和老前辈碰撞出这种火花，学到了不少东西，也让我更清楚自己接下来该怎么玩。”

Project Pat interview:

Hey, mane! Blessed to be here. I appreciate it.

DJ SQUEEKY, Slice T, Paul and Juicy. I wasn’t as much a producer as they were but I was always down for their sound and what Memphis had creatively.

No, never competitive but supportive. We always support each other. Mista Don’t Play and the albums were all to support my brother’s dreams. We are closer now than we have ever been, and our upcoming co-album will be something the fans will enjoy.

When Chickenhead went platinum and then the Mista Don’t Play mixtape, that was the moment things shifted. I realized that I could make a career and focus on this.

Beautiful. I was shocked but, hey mane, music can go far. That’s what it’s for. I thought it was a very blessed situation and God always favors you when you put Him first!