Logic and Seth MacFarlane on How the Rapper Enlisted His Idol to Guest-Croon on New Song, ‘Self-Medication’

variety.com:

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic The rapper Logic has been unabashed about his love for Frank Sinatra, even adopting the nom de plume “Young Sinatra” for some of his mixtape releases.

But he’s been just as up-front with his adoration for the man many consider the real young Sinatra: Seth MacFarlane, who, besides irreverently having created several of the world’s most popular animated comedy series, has released seven reverent albums of standards culled from the Great American Songbook.

Logic was finally able to bring his MacFarlane fandom to the ultimate fruition by enlisting the animation mogul to croon the soothing bridge of an otherwise typically hyperactive new hip-hop song, “Self-Medication.” Although not a single per se, it’s a track that’s gotten significant streaming boosts as Logic’s (and MacFarlane’s) fans have discovered it since the late February release of the rapper’s new album, “College Park.” It’s all of a piece for Logic that his first independent album, distributed to BMG, after a long run with Def Jam, is a nostalgic look back at his youth that includes a vocal cameo from an entertainment giant that he says helped get him through a troubled upbringing. “I am the happiest guy in the whole wide world,” says Logic, as he meets up with his hero and Variety on a Zoom call to discuss the “Self-Medication” hookup and the possible beginning of a beautiful friendship.

As it turns out, MacFarlane was not fully aware of the extent to which Logic had paid tribute to his television universe, in not just one but two prior songs — 2011’s “Stewie Griffin” (saluting “Family Guy” of course) and 2022’s “Orville” (paying homage to a cult series that began in 2017). Logic, what’s at the root of