Heat Rocks
216 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 440 ratingsScorching guests and sizzling records: join music writer Oliver Wang and music supervisor Morgan Rhodes each week as they invite their favorite artists, critics and scholars for in-depth conversations about the albums that shape our lives. Each week our special guests will take you deep into their heat rocks from the world of hip-hop, soul, dance, jazz, funk and more. Get with us!
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Episodes
Patrick Paige II on The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ready to Die" (1994)
June 03, 2021 18:43 - 52 minutes - 50.9 MBBassist/producer/rapper Patrick Paige II joins Oliver and Morgan to discuss Biggie's debut studio album Ready To Die. We get into Big's knack for storytelling, Patrick's very cool math teacher, and what Biggie's career might've looked like if he were still with us today. More on Patrick Paige II Check out If I Fail Are We Still Cool? Bass to Bass: In Conversation with Patrick Paige II and Thundercat (Complex) Twitter | Instagram More on Ready To Die The Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Ready to Die...
Steve Arrington on Heatwave's "Too Hot To Handle" (1976)
May 27, 2021 20:56 - 50 minutes - 49.3 MBMusician/producer/minister Steve Arrington sits down with Morgan and guest co-host Jocelyn Brown to discuss Heatwave's debut scorcher, Too Hot To Handle. We talk about the music scene in Dayton, Rod Temperton's prolific career, and Heatwave's ability to meld various genres into one cohesive and funky record. More on Steve Arrington Steve's interview on NPR Check out Down to the Lowest Terms: The Soul Sessions Twitter | Instagram More on Heatwave Unsung: The Story of Heatwave Greg Phi...
Pell on N.E.R.D's "In Search Of..." (2002)
May 20, 2021 18:30 - 55 minutes - 53.9 MBRapper/producer Pell sits down with us to talk about N.E.R.D's "In Search Of..." We get into the sex, drugs, rock & roll of it all, The Neptunes' prolific career, and N.E.R.D's influence on Pell's own work. More on Pell Website Check out glbl wrmng Twitter | Instagram More on N.E.R.D. Explaining the Cult Popularity of N.E.R.D. (Vulture) Pharrell's Signature 4 Count (Genius) ‘In Search Of…’: N*E*R*D’s 21st-Century Hip-Hop Mission Statement (uDiscoverMusic) Show Tracklisting (all son...
Kemp Powers on De La Soul's "De La Soul Is Dead" (1991)
May 13, 2021 20:56 - 1 hour - 64.2 MBIt’s #MaxFunDrive and if you like what we’re doing here on Heat Rocks, please consider supporting us and our network and help keep the show going! https://maximumfun.org/join Director and screenwriter Kemp Powers sits down with us to discuss De La Soul's sophomore effort, De La Soul Is Dead. We get into DLS's shift in image and tone, the growth of Prince Paul as a producer, and Kemp's very , ahem, special connection to the song "Let, Let Me In" And stay tuned to the very end for a sho...
Karriem Riggins on A Tribe Called Quest's "Midnight Marauders" (1993)
May 06, 2021 20:39 - 1 hour - 58.6 MBIt's #MaxFunDrive and if you like what we're doing here on Heat Rocks, please consider supporting us and our network and help keep the show going! https://maximumfun.org/join Drummer and producer Karriem Riggins sits down with us to discuss a bonafide classic, A Tribe Called Quest's third studio album Midnight Marauders. We get deep into the samples used on this record, Q-Tip's growth as a producer, and how Bob Power helped shaped the sound of the LP. More on Karriem Riggins KCRW ...
Nite Jewel on Kraftwerk's "Computer World" (1981) [redux]
April 29, 2021 17:49 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBIn honor of Computer World's 40th anniversary (!!!) we decided to rerun our episode with Nite Jewel discussing this classic album. [show notes from the original post] When we invited L.A.’s own Nite Jewel to join us, it probably shouldn’t have been a surprise that she picked Kraftwerk’s Computer World; after all, she’s toured the world performing the album. In sitting down with us, NJ (aka Ramona Gonzalez) broke down how she first became obsessed with the album, walking the streets of Ber...
Joshua Abrams on Arthur Verocai's "Arthur Verocai" (1972)
April 22, 2021 18:05 - 39 minutes - 39.3 MBBassist/composer Joshua Abrams sits down with Oliver and guest co-host Jocelyn Brown to discuss Arthur Verocai's underrated self-titled debut record. We discuss the rediscovery of this album via sampling, the texture of Arthur's synth work, and why we connect with the album even though our Portuguese is, uhh, a bit rusty. More on Joshua Abrams Joshua Abrams' Chameleonic Quartet Gets Exuberantly Ornery On 'Cloud Script' (NPR) Joshua's Quarantine Concert Website More on Arthur Verocai Ar...
Jason King on Sylvester's "Living Proof" (1979)
April 15, 2021 18:47 - 58 minutes - 56.3 MBWriter and musician Jason King sits down with Oliver and guest co-host Jocelyn Brown to discuss the Sylvester live album Living Proof. We talk about Sylvester's vision of wholeness and sharing good vibes, the countless gorgeous moments captured in the live setting, and the medley of genres he blended together. Please stick around to the end of the episode to hear a snippet of our past conversation with Shea Serrano about DMX. Rest in Power. More on Jason King Jason in conversation with D...
The Twilite Tone on Stevie Wonder's "Hotter Than July" (1980)
April 08, 2021 19:28 - 57 minutes - 55.5 MBProducer and DJ The Twilite Tone sits down with Oliver and guest co-host Jocelyn Brown to discuss Stevie Wonder's 1980 comeback album, Hotter Than July. We get into Stevie's foray into country western and reggae, his return to All I Do, a song he cowrote over a decade prior as a teenager, and the impact Disco Demolition Night had on black music. More on The Twilite Tone Do It Properly music video Twilite Tone @ Vinyl Factory Twitter | Instagram More on Hotter Than July Master Blaster...
Xenia Rubinos on Abbey Lincoln's "Abbey is Blue" (1959)
April 01, 2021 18:31 - 51 minutes - 50.2 MBMulti-instrumentalist & songwriter Xenia Rubinos joins Oliver and guest co-host Jocelyn Brown to discuss Abbey Lincoln's underrated jazz LP, Abbey is Blue. We discuss Abbey's melancholy voice, her work in the civil rights movement, and how her work has influenced Xenia's own music. More on Xenia Rubinos Check out Xenia's newest music video "Did My Best" Bandcamp Twitter | Instagram More on Abbey Lincoln Max Roach & Abbey Lincoln performing live in 1964 Abbey Lincoln: The Power Of Voic...
MF DOOM Special with Dante Ross
March 25, 2021 17:51 - 1 hour - 63.4 MBThis week marks the 17th anniversary of Madvillainy and we invited A&R man and producer Dante Ross to discuss working with KMD, Dumile's move from Zev Love X to MF DOOM, and the stories behind the production of Mr. Hood and Black Bastards. Buckle up, we go deep on this one. Rest in power, Villain More on Dante Ross Dante on NPR's Mic Check Check out Dante's legendary discography Twitter | Instagram More on DOOM ALL CAPS: The Legacy of MF DOOM, Rap’s Greatest Supervillain (Mancunion) ...
Megan Pattison on Teena Marie's "It Must Be Magic" (1981)
March 18, 2021 17:38 - 49 minutes - 48 MBDJ and record collector Megan Pattison AKA DJ Mamabear sits down with Oliver and guest co-host Jocelyn Brown to discuss Teena Marie's It Must Be Magic. They get into Teena's growth as an artist and producer, the growing rift between her and Motown Records, and how roller skating was the best way to get into new music More on Megan Pattison Check out DJ Mamabear's mixes on Dublab Sweaterfunk on SoundCloud Instagram | Twitter More on Teena Marie Teena Marie: An Accidental Hero to Fellow ...
Sheila Burgel on The Ronettes' "Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica" (1964)
March 11, 2021 19:26 - 53 minutes - 51.5 MBWriter and DJ Sheila Burgel sits down with Oliver and guest co-host Jocelyn Brown to discuss The Ronettes' Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica. We talk about impact of girl groups through the decades, the "wall of sound" formula, and the influence of girl groups across the globe. More on Sheila Burgel Check out Sophisticated Boom Boom on WFMU Sheila's astonishing record collection (Dust & Grooves) Website More on The Ronettes It's Time To Recognize The Ronettes As Rock ...
Jeff Parker on John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" (1965)
March 04, 2021 19:12 - 51 minutes - 49.8 MBIt doesn't get much more classic than this, John Coltrane's A Love Supreme is a bonafide heat rock. Musician/DJ Jeff Parker sits down with Oliver and guest co-host Jocelyn Brown to discuss this truly iconic album, it's unexpected gospel leanings, and the intentionality behind every aspect of this album. More on Jeff NPR's Fresh Air discusses Jeff's album Suite for Max Brown Jeff Parker Collaboration with Artist Harold Mendez Twitter | Instagram More on A Love Supreme The Story of A Lov...
Samm Henshaw on Kirk Franklin's "The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin" (2002)
February 25, 2021 23:48 - 58 minutes - 56.3 MBSinger/songwriter Samm Henshaw sits down with us remotely to discuss Kirk Franklin's gospel masterpiece, The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin. The blending of secular music and gospel, Kirk Franklin's role in the gospel music scene, and how his own work has been influenced by Kirk's work. More on Samm Henshaw Check out Samm's new single All Good Instagram | Website More on Kirk Franklin Kirk's Tiny Desk Concert The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin Live Show Tracklisting (all songs from The Rebirth o...
Take Two #8: Mary J Blige's "What's the 411?" with Naima Cochrane
February 19, 2021 00:38 - 57 minutes - 55.6 MBWe wrap up another edition of Take Two and discuss Mary J Blige's debut album What's The 411? We get into Mary's role in hip-hop soul, the story of Uptown Records, and Mary's image at the time. More on Naima Check out #MusicSermon Naima’s chat with the National Museum of African American Music Twitter | Instagram More on What's the 411? Mary J. Blige, 'What's The 411?' at 20: Classic Track-By-Track Review (Billboard) ‘What’s The 411?’: When Hip-Hop And R&B Collided On Mary J. Blige’s...
Take Two #7: Mary J Blige's "Mary" with Naima Cochrane
February 12, 2021 00:01 - 50 minutes - 48.7 MBTake Two is back again with another couple of iconic albums from an iconic artist. This time, Morgan is talking about Mary J Blige's album "Mary" with music industry vet Naima Cochrane. We get into Mary's shift in tone on this album, the production and talent behind the scenes, and what Mary means to New York. More on Naima Check out #MusicSermon Naima's chat with the National Museum of African American Music Twitter | Instagram More on Mary 20 Years Later: A Look Back on Mary J Blige'...
J Dilla Special
February 04, 2021 18:14 - 49 minutes - 47.9 MBIn honor of J Dilla's birthday, we've put together a medley episode featuring our conversations on Donuts and Fantastic, Vol. 2 with Nate Patrin and Dan Charnas, respectively. Happy Birthday Jay Dee, we miss you. If you like these snippets, please check out our full episodes in the archives! Show Tracklisting J Dilla: Two Can Win Pharcyde: Drop Slum Village: Players Erykah Badu: Kiss Me On My Neck J Dilla: One For Ghost Pharcyde: She Said (Remix) Motherlode: When I Die J Dilla: Don...
Valerie June on Etta James' "At Last!" (1960)
January 28, 2021 20:10 - 47 minutes - 46.1 MBIn January 1960, 22 year-old Etta James began recording her debut album, At Last! It would go on to be her best selling record and the title track is undoubtedly one of the greatest songs ever to be put on wax. Etta lived the blues and effortlessly moved through pop, R&B, and rock. She went on to release countless more records, but never reached the commercial success of At Last, partially due to the changing musical landscape and her struggles with addiction throughout her life. Singer/s...
Salaam Remi on Jungle Brothers' "Straight Out The Jungle" (1988)
January 21, 2021 20:34 - 53 minutes - 51.9 MBThere's a certain lo-fi feel to Jungle Brothers' debut effort, Straight Out The Jungle. The group made the record at home using early sampling technology, but its influence is undeniable. It brought together house music, jazz, and hip-hop, and marked the beginning of the Native Tongues family. Groups like De La Soul and ATCQ would become the biggest members of the collective, but don't sleep on this heater. Record producer Salaam Remi sits down with us to chat about the JB's place in the...
DJ Soul Sister on The Meters' "Rejuvenation" (1974)
January 15, 2021 01:23 - 53 minutes - 51.9 MBThe Meters helped change the New Orleans sonic landscape with their funky records and signature "second line" rhythms and in 1974, they released the heater Rejuvenation. The biggest difference on this record: vocals. Most of the members got a chance to flex their vocal and instrumental talents. This change up proved to be successful, becoming one of the group's most influential records and was heavily sampled all throughout 80s and 90s hip-hop. DJ Soul Sister AKA The Queen of Rare Groove, j...
Brittany Spanos on Mariah Carey's "The Emancipation of Mimi" (2005)
January 07, 2021 23:38 - 53 minutes - 52.2 MBBy 2005, Mariah Carey had been through the wringer. Her debut film Glitter bombed at the box office and the accompanying soundtrack performed poorly, at least in comparison to Mariah's previous efforts. Her intended comeback album Charmbracelet received some praise but still failed to bring her back into the limelight. Mariah took a break from music for three years to focus on herself and came back with The Emancipation of Mimi. She worked with top producers in hip-hop like The Neptunes, J...
Our Heat Rocks of 2020
December 31, 2020 20:39 - 52 minutes - 51.1 MBOliver and Morgan discuss their personal favorite records of 2020 and talk about their hopes for the new year. Thanks for sticking with us through this year, Heat Rockers! We are selling custom 45 adapters with the proceeds going to the Downtown Women’s Center. You can find a link to preorder here Show Tracklisting SAULT: This Generation Jay Electronica: The Neverending Story Thundercat: Fair Chance Lianne La Havas: Out Of Your Mind - Interlude SAULT: The Beginning & The End SAULT: ...
Phonte on Intro's "Intro" (1993)
December 24, 2020 19:29 - 40 minutes - 36.9 MBWe are re-airing one of our all-time favorite episodes. It's our discussion with Phonte about Intro's self-titled album from way back in 2017. This week rapper, producer, and songwriter Phonte (Foreign Exchange, Little Brother) joins Oliver and Morgan to talk about R&B group Intro’s 1993 self-titled debut album. The release was part of the changing tide of R&B music, when slow jams were giving way to more uptempo hits and singers were exchanging suits for Timbs and jeans. Phonte shares abo...
Heat Rocks Holiday Music Special 2020
December 17, 2020 22:45 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBOliver and Morgan sit down with music supervisor Jocelyn Brown to discuss their favorite holiday songs, Christmas trap music, and the tightrope novelty songs must walk to become a great holiday classic. More on Jocelyn Jocelyn's interview with the Music and Sound Awards Twitter | Instagram We are selling custom 45 adapters with the proceeds going to the Downtown Women’s Center. You can find a link to preorder here Show Tracklisting: James Brown: The Christmas Song Shawn Lee's Ping P...
Take Two #6: Drake's "Scorpion" (2018)
December 10, 2020 21:57 - 42 minutes - 41.6 MBIn this installment of Take Two, we’re looking at two albums from the one and only Drake. Last week, we talked about Nothing Was The Same and this time around, we're chatting about the 2018 double album Scorpion. As mentioned in the show, we are selling custom 45 adapters with the proceeds going to the Downtown Women’s Center. You can find a link to preorder here Show Tracklisting (all songs from Scorpion unless otherwise indicated): Nonstop In My Feelings Survival Sandra's Rose March...
Take Two #5: Drake's "Nothing Was The Same" (2013)
December 03, 2020 19:49 - 52 minutes - 50.6 MBIn this installment of Take Two, we're looking at two albums from one of the biggest and most prolific rappers of the 2010s, Toronto's very own Drake. Next week, we'll be diving into his 2018 double album Scorpion, but for now, we're talking about Nothing Was The Same from 2013. As mentioned in the show, we are selling custom 45 adapters with the proceeds going to the Downtown Women's Center. You can find a link to preorder here More on Nothing Was The Same ‘Nothing Was The Same’: How D...
Bonus Beats: Formative Songs with G Yamazawa
December 01, 2020 19:41 - 19 minutes - 17.7 MBOliver invites G Yamazawa back on the show to talk about three songs that shaped his life and rap style. Check out our full discussion with G Yamazawa and listen to his new album! If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
Soulquarian Medley
November 26, 2020 17:22 - 46 minutes - 45.2 MBThis week, we're giving thanks and replaying our three episodes on albums produced by the Soulquarians, all of which turned 20 this year: Ill Camille on Common's "Like Water for Chocolate," Bosco on Erykah Badu's "Mama's Gun," and Tall Black Guy on D'Angelo's "Voodoo" If you like these snippets, check out the full episodes in our archives! If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
Bonus Beats: Discovering Music Through Samples with Joseph Schloss
November 24, 2020 21:40 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBOliver sits down with ethnomusicologist Dr. Joseph Schloss to discuss the origins of sampling in hip-hop and a few of their favorite music discoveries through samples. Pick up Joseph's books! If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
VanJess on Amy Winehouse's "Back To Black" (2006)
November 19, 2020 21:50 - 54 minutes - 53 MBWhen Amy Winehouse released her debut studio album Frank back in 2003, it made waves in her native UK, but it didn't quite make it across the pond. Those who heard it, loved her contralto vocals, relatable lyrics, and blending of musical genres. A few years later, she would go on to release her second and final album, Back to Black, to both critical and commercial success, earning the Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album and selling over 16 million copies worldwide. Unfortunately, the success was...
Bonus Beats: Favorite Breaks with Loren Kajikawa
November 17, 2020 18:50 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBOliver sits down with musicologist Loren Kajikawa to discuss why instrumental breaks hit us in such a specific way, the different ways musicians have approached breaks, and their personal favorite moments in music. If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
Anjimile on Oliver Mtukudzi's "Vhunze Moto" (2002)
November 16, 2020 17:35 - 43 minutes - 43.1 MBOliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi is perhaps Zimbabwe's most renowned and iconic musician. His thoughtful songwriting and exceptional guitar playing spoke truth to power and gave him a loyal fanbase. He went on to become a star in his home country and pioneered a whole new genre of music, Tuku music. His wisdom and messages of affirmation resonated with millions and his music continues to inspire to this day. Singer/songwriter Anjimile sits down with us (remotely) to discuss Tuku's 41st album (!!!) Vh...
Bonus Beats: Nas & Unused Samples
November 10, 2020 17:21 - 14 minutes - 12.9 MBOn this week's edition of Bonus Beats, Oliver takes a couple of questions from the mailbag about overlooked samples and Nas' best LP (besides Illmatic) If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
Kevin Smokler & Christopher Boone on B.T. Express' "Non-Stop" (1975)
November 05, 2020 20:39 - 45 minutes - 44.2 MBThe disco funk group B.T. Express hit the ground running with their debut studio album Do It ('Til You're Satisfied), which reached the top spot in the US R&B albums chart and went gold. The title track went on to become a staple in club playlists and the band started work on their next project. Just a year later, their sophomore album Non-Stop was released and it once again reached the top of the R&B chart, but did not enjoy the same amount of commercial success. Nonetheless, the album's fu...
Take Two #4: Jay-Z's "The Black Album" (2003)
October 29, 2020 22:47 - 51 minutes - 50.1 MBWe finish our Jay-Z Take Two series with what was supposed to be Hova's swan song, The Black Album. We discuss the hype surrounding this album, the ridiculous amount of remixes we got out of this, and Just Blaze's extraordinary production. More on The Black Album Ranking the Beats: Jay-Z's The Black Album (Vibe) Revisiting The Black Album (Albumism) The Making of The Black Album Show tracklisting (all songs from The Black Album unless otherwise indicated) Dirt Off Your Shoulder Dec...
Take Two #3: Jay-Z's "Reasonable Doubt" (1996)
October 22, 2020 21:55 - 46 minutes - 45.7 MBWe continue our Take Two miniseries and looking at two albums from an iconic artist. This time, it's Jay-Z and his debut studio album Reasonable Doubt. This marks the first time we're talking about a Hova album in depth and we discuss why that may be, Jay's features before this album dropped, and what the future of New York rap and Jigga's career might have looked like if Biggie was still with us. More on Reasonable Doubt Jay Z's 'Reasonable Doubt' at 20: Classic Track-by-Track Album L...
Hanif Abdurraqib on The Beach Boys' "Surf's Up" (1971)
October 15, 2020 22:54 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBThe Beach Boys are often regarded as one of the most prolific and influential American bands of all time. However, the group has has its fair share of missteps and controversies over the years. They found early commercial success with songs like "Surfin' USA" and "I Get Around" and critical success with the album Pet Sounds. As time went on and the musical landscape changed, the band struggled to find their voice. Their follow up albums flopped commercially and critically, inner turmoil cr...
The Art of Sampling #3B with Dan Charnas on Slum Village's "Fantastic, Vol. 2" (2000)
October 08, 2020 22:44 - 59 minutes - 54.9 MBThis week, we're wrapping up the third edition of The Art of Sampling and talking about Slum Village's album Fantastic, Vol. 2 with music exec and writer, Dan Charnas. We discuss J Dilla's sampling techniques, the great lengths the label went through to keep this project under wraps, and the influence of Dilla on future beatmaking. More on Dan Charnas Dan chatting about his book The Big Payback Check out his other books here! Twitter |Website More on Fantastic, Vol 2 Fantastic, Vol 2 T...
Three Year Anniversary Special
October 01, 2020 20:14 - 1 hour - 59.4 MBThis week, we're celebrating our three year anniversary (!!!) and talking about our personal favorite moments of the show. Thank you so much for listening and sending in your favorite moments! And here's to many more unforgettable episodes, scorching hot albums, and wonderful conversations. If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
The Art of Sampling #3 with Nate Patrin on J Dilla's "Donuts" (2006)
September 24, 2020 20:09 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBThe long awaited third installment of The Art of Sampling series is finally here and we're talking about one of the most influential beat tapes in the history of hip-hop and producer Christian's favorite album of all time, J Dilla's Donuts. Music writer Nate Patrin sits down with us (remotely) to discuss the cult following of J Dilla after his passing, the emotionality of the sample flips, and his role in neo soul movement. More on Nate Patrin Pick up Nate's new book Bring That ...
The Art of Sampling #3A with Nate Patrin on J Dilla's "Donuts" (2006)
September 24, 2020 20:09 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBThe long awaited third installment of The Art of Sampling series is finally here and we're talking about one of the most influential beat tapes in the history of hip-hop and producer Christian's favorite album of all time, J Dilla's Donuts. Music writer Nate Patrin sits down with us (remotely) to discuss the cult following of J Dilla after his passing, the emotionality of the sample flips, and his role in neo soul movement. More on Nate Patrin Pick up Nate's new book Bring That Beat Back...
Syreeta Gates on Cardi B's "Invasion of Privacy" (2018)
September 17, 2020 19:19 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBWhen Cardi B dropped her first single Bodak Yellow back in the summer of 2017, it was a bit of a slow burn. It spent a few months moving around in the charts, but eventually became a number one single and one of the biggest hits of her career. She quickly followed up with a few more singles "I Like It" and "Bartier Cardi" which showed her versatility as a rapper, incorporating wildly different genres of music like trap, Latin boogaloo, and R&B. Cardi was hungry and made it clear through her ...
Take Two #2: Janet Jackson's "The Velvet Rope" (1997)
September 10, 2020 22:19 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBOur second episode of the Take Two miniseries focuses on Janet Jackson's risqué and introspective album, The Velvet Rope. We discuss Janet's move to a more neo soul sound, how she matured as an artist when creating this record, and how Janet's gone underappreciated in the last decade. More on The Velvet Rope ‘The Velvet Rope’: How Janet Jackson Tied Herself In Controversy (uDiscoverMusic) The Velvet Rope: how Janet Jackson inspired a whole generation (The Guardian) The Making of The Vel...
Take Two #1: Janet Jackson's "Control" (1986)
September 03, 2020 22:01 - 51 minutes - 47.6 MBThis week, we are kicking off Take Two, a new miniseries where we look at two seminal albums of one artist. First up, we're discussing Janet Jackson's third studio album "Control" We talk about Janet's changing image at the time, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis' production techniques that helped usher in New Jack Swing, and this album's influence on artists like Beyoncé, Britney Spears, and Taylor Swift. More on Janet Jackson and Control Music video for Control Janet on Jimmy Fallon discussing ...
Tiffany Johnson on Lupe Fiasco's "Food & Liquor" (2006)
August 27, 2020 20:53 - 47 minutes - 43.9 MBChicago has given us plenty of great artists: Noname, Chance the Rapper, Common, and of course today's focus, Lupe Fiasco. Lupe might not have known it at the time, but his debut album helped usher in a new era of rap. This new class of freshmen were raised by videogames, skateboard culture, and anime, but also addressed issues that affected them like systemic racism and gun violence. Filmmaker Tiffany Johnson sits down with Oliver and Morgan to discuss Food & Liquor, the interesting pro...
Wu-Tang Clan Special
August 20, 2020 18:33 - 54 minutes - 50.4 MBIn honor of GZA's birthday and the release of multiple members' solo debut albums, we're recutting and remastering our episodes on the Wu-Tang Clan. If you like what you hear, please listen to the full conversations in the archives! Show Tracklisting: Open Mike Eagle (ODB's Return to the 36 Chambers) Damage Shimmy Shimmy Ya Intro Baby C'mon Brooklyn Zoo Thelonius Monk: Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are Cuttin' Headz Brooklyn Zoo Goin' Down Drunk Game (Sweet Sugar Pie) Hippa To Da Ho...
Braxton Cook on Emily King's "Seven" (2011)
August 13, 2020 19:47 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBYou'd think being dropped from a major label would hurt your career, but in Emily King's case, it helped fuel her success. In 2008, she left a major label, J Records, and began working on an independent record. With the help of producer/composer Jeremy Most, she created "Seven" a seven-track EP filled with soulful ballads and heartfelt lyricism. Singer/saxophonist Braxton Cook joins Morgan to discuss this album, Emily King's powerful voice, watching her perform live (remember live shows?),...
Duckwrth on Blue Magic's "Thirteen Blue Magic Lane" (1975)
August 06, 2020 19:58 - 56 minutes - 51.7 MBWe are in the final stretch of the #MaxFunDrive! If you like what we do, please consider becoming a member and supporting our show. maximumfun.org/join Rapper/songwriter Duckwrth joins us to talk about Philly soul group Blue Magic and their spooky soul LP Thirteen Blue Magic Lane. We discuss the band's place in the Philly soul scene, pillow talk in music, and we invent a new subgenre of music #pinkysoul More on Duckwrth Check out Duckwrth's newest single "Coming Closer" Duckwrth Treat...
Camille Yarbrough on India.Arie's "Worthy" (2019)
July 30, 2020 21:09 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBWe are in the middle of our annual #MaxFunDrive! If you like what we do, and are in a good financial spot, please consider becoming a member of the network and supporting our show. maximumfun.org/join "Every one of us is worthy" This is the mantra that permeates throughout all of India.Arie's 2019 album, Worthy. It had been six years since she last released a proper LP, and India didn't miss a beat. She discusses injustice in Black America, finding love, and gives us some uplifting words ...