Heat Rocks

Latest Episodes:

Vijay Iyer on Prince's "Sign O' The Times" (1987) Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

This week, we discuss Prince for the SIXTH time on Heat Rocks with musician/scholar Vijay Iyer. We get into Prince's love of the drum machine, Vijay's love of the 80s, and the many sides of Prince we see on this record.

More on Vijay Iyer

More on Sign o' The Times

Is Prince’s Sign O’ The Times the greatest album of all time? (BBC)
The Story of Prince's Sign o' The Times (Classic Album Sundays)
Prince's 'Sign O' the Times' Turns 30: All the Songs Ranked (Billboard)

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Sign o'The Times unless otherwise indicated):

Housequake
Starfish and Coffee
Vijay Iyer: Night and Day
Prince: Little Red Corvette
Slow Love
Sign O' The TImes
Starfish and Coffee
It
Housequake
If I Was Your Girlfriend
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
If I Was Your Girlfriend
It
Hot Thing
The Cross
Adore
U Got The Look
It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night
Hot Thing
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
Lords of the Underground: Flow On (New Symphony)
The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
Forever In My Life
The Cross
Slow Love
Vijay Iyer: Human Nature
Mystic Brew
If I Was Your Girlfriend
The Cure: Just Like Heaven
Madhouse: Three
Prince: Sometimes It Snows in April

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Patrick Paige II on The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ready to Die" (1994) Jun 03, 2021

Show notes

Bassist/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

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Ready to Die unless otherwise indicated):

Respect
Mary J Blige: What's the 411 (Remix)
Friend of Mine
Patrick Paige II: Voodoo
Big Poppa
Suicidal Thoughts
Mary J Blige: What's the 411 (Remix)
Super Cat: Dolly My Baby (Remix)
Notorious B.I.G.: Party and Bullshit
Unbelievable
One More Chance
Gimme The Loot
Warning
Things Done Changed
Juicy
Gimme the Loot
Everyday Struggle
Machine Gun Funk
Me and My Bitch
Who Shot Ya
Things Done Changed
Machine Gun Funk
Unbelievable
Big Poppa
The What
Unbelievable
Respect
Me and My Bitch
Juicy
Machine Gun Funk
Wun Two: Juicy
Craig Mack: When God Comes
A Tribe Called Quest: Phony Rappers

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Steve Arrington on Heatwave's "Too Hot To Handle" (1976) May 27, 2021

Show notes

Musician/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

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Too Hot To Handle unless otherwise indicated):

Always and Forever
Ain't No Half Steppin'
Slave: Watching You
Steve Arrington: Nobody Can Be You
Boogie Nights
I'll Beat Your Booty
Too Hot To Handle
Super Soul Sister
Boogie Nights
Lay It On Me
All You Do Is Dial
Sho 'Nuff Must be Luv
Slip Your Disc To This
Rock With You (Rod Temperton Demo)
Slip Your Disc to This
Boogie Nights
Ain't No Half Steppin'
Michael Jackson: Off The Wall
Boogie Nights
All You Do Is Dial
Too Hot To Handle
Always and Forever
Super Soul Sister
Ain't No Half Steppin'
Ohio Players: (I Wanna Know) Do You Feel It?
The Brothers Johnson: Closer to the One That You Love
Prince: Condition of the Heart

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Pell on N.E.R.D's "In Search Of..." (2002) May 20, 2021

Show notes

Rapper/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

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 songs from In Search Of... unless otherwise indicated):

Lapdance
Pell: Eleven:11
Mase: Lookin' At Me
Mystikal: Shake Ya Ass
Kelis: Caught Out There
Britney Spears: I'm A Slave 4 U
702: I Still Love You
Jadakiss: Knock Yourself Out
Old Dirty Bastard: Got Your Money
Jay-Z: I Just Wanna Love You (Give It To Me)
Nelly: Hot In Herre
Tape You
Brain
Brain (2001 Electronic Version)
Brain
Run To The Sun
Young Franco: Juice
N.O.R.E.: Superthug
Am I High
Provider
Stay Together
Run To The Sun
Am I High
Bobby James
Things Are Getting Better
Baby Doll
Tape You
Provider
Lapdance
The Neptunes: Light Your Ass On Fire
N.E.R.D.: Perfect Defect
N.E.R.D.: You Know What

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Kemp Powers on De La Soul's "De La Soul Is Dead" (1991) May 13, 2021

Show notes

It’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 short bonus beats on Kemp's love of dancehall music!

More on Kemp

More on De La Soul Is Dead

De La Soul Is Dead Turns 30 (The Source)
De La Soul's Classic Album De La Soul Is Dead Is Turning 30. It Was The First Album I Fell In Love With (Very Smart Brothas)
An Album Found in a Trashcan: De La Soul Is Dead (PopMatters)

Show Tracklisting (all songs from De La Soul Is Dead unless otherwise indicated):

Intro
Shwingalokate
Jungle Brothers: I'll House You
My Brother's A Basehead
De La Soul: Brain Washed Followers
Pease Porridge
Bitties in the BK Lounge
Oodles of O's
Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)
Kicked Out the House
Skit 1
A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays"
Millie Pulled A Pistol on Santa
Let, Let Me In.
Bitties in the BK Lounge
Pease Porridge
Rap De Rap Show
Keepin' The Faith
A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays"
Oodles of O's
A Roller Skating Jam Named "Saturdays"
Bitties in the BK Lounge
Lou Donaldson: It's Your Thing
Bittis in the BK Lounge
Ring Ring Ring (Ha Ha Hey)
Skit 5
Black Sheep: Flavor of the Month
The Pharcyde: Otha Fish
A Tribe Called Quest: Buggin Out
Eek-A-Mouse: Border Patrol
Shinehead: Chain Gang Rap
Super Cat: Ghetto Red Hot (Remix)
Sean Paul: Punkie
Super Cat: Dolly My Baby (Remix)
Shabba Ranks: Mr. Loverman

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Karriem Riggins on A Tribe Called Quest's "Midnight Marauders" (1993) May 06, 2021

Show notes

It'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

More on Midnight Marauders

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Midnight Marauders unless otherwise indicated):

Midnight Marauders Tour Guide
Electric Relaxation
Jahari Massamba Unit: Etude Montrachet
A Tribe Called Quest: I Left My Wallet In El Segundo
Award Tour
Steve Biko (Stir It Up)
The Chase, Part II
Common: The Hustle
Clap Your Hands
The Roots: Push Up Ya Ligher
Sucka N****
Award Tour
J Dilla: Beej-n-Dem Part 2
Midnight
Q-Tip: Let's Ride
8 Million Stories
Electric Relaxation
Oh My God
God Lives Through
Kool & The Gang: Who's Gonna Take The Weight
Oh My God
A Tribe Called Quest: Oh My God (Remix)
A Tribe Called Quest: Oh My God (Know Naim Remix)
Cal Tjader: Aquarius
Midnight Marauders Tour Guide
Lyrics to Go
Minnie Riperton: Inside My Love
James Brown: Just Enough Room For Storage
Lyrics to Go
Ronnie Foster: Mystic Brew
Electric Relaxation
Brethren: Outside Love
Electric Relaxation
Jack Wilkins: Red Clay
Sucka N****
The Meters: Handclapping Song
Clap Your Hands
Bob James: Nautilus
Clap Your Hands
Lou Donaldson: Ode to Billie Joe
Clap Your Hands
Weldon Irvine: We Gettin' Down
Jade: Don't Walk Away
Award Tour
Lyrics to Go
God Lives Through
Digable Planets: Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)
The Roots: Good Music
Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth: They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)
Slum Village: Keep It On
De La Soul: Breakadawn

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Nite Jewel on Kraftwerk's "Computer World" (1981) [redux] Apr 29, 2021

Show notes

In 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 Berkeley, thinking about German philosophy (no, really!) and why the LP is such a masterpiece of fusing a variety of musical elements all colliding in the early 1980s.

More on Computer World

How the album invented “computer funk” (Rolling Stone)
The “sampling legacy” of the album (The Vinyl Factory)
DJ Food’s appreciation (Clash Music)

More on Nite Jewel

Nite Jewel on performing Computer World (Pitchfork)
2017 interview (Bandcamp)
Interview with KALX (aka the best college radio station out there, according to O.W.)
Website | Facebook | Twitter

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Computer World unless indicated otherwise):

Computer World
Nite Jewel: 2 Good 2 Be True
Nite-Funk: Let Me Be Me
Pocket Calculator
Computer Love
Zapp: Computer Love
Home Computer
Model 500: Future
Cluster: Prothese
It's More Fun To Compute
Gillette: Short Dick Man (Bass Mix)
Afro-Rican: Give It All You Got
Numbers
Nite Jewel: Artificial Intelligence
Home Computer
Night Jewel: Numbers
Numbers
Home Computer
Computer World 2

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Joshua Abrams on Arthur Verocai's "Arthur Verocai" (1972) Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

Bassist/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

More on Arthur Verocai

Arthur Verocai: Return Of A Brazilian Secret (NPR)
The Legend of Arthur Verocai (The Vinyl Factory)
I Threw Everything Away: An Interview with Arthur Verocai (Sounds and Colours)

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Arthur Verocai unless otherwise indicated):

Pelas sombras
Seriado
Velho parente
Caboclo
Little Brother: We Got Now
Dedicada a ela
Seriado
Velho parente
Presente grego
Sylvia
Caboclo
Aaliyah: Are You That Somebody?
Caboclo
Que mapa?
Caboclo
Na boca do sol
Sylvia
Na boca do sol
Que mapa?
Karina (Domingo no Grajaú)
Dedicada a ela
Ivan Lins: Hei Você
Celia: Na Boca Do Sol
Gal Costa: Relance

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

Jason King on Sylvester's "Living Proof" (1979) Apr 15, 2021

Show notes

Writer 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 Dua Lipa (NPR Music)
Check out Jason's work with Pitchfork
Twitter | Instagram

More on Sylvester

Love Me Like You Should: The Brave and Bold Sylvester (Amazon Music)
The Extraordinary Musical Legacy of Sylvester (The Guardian)
Bigger Than Disco, 'You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)' Is A Celebration Of Self (NPR)

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Living Proof unless otherwise indicated):

Overture - Live
Happiness - Live
Sylvester: You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
Sylvester: Over and Over
Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?) - Live
Herbie Hancock: Magic Number
Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?) - Live
Sharing Something Perfect Between Ourselves - Live
Body Strong - Live
Sylvester: Fever
Medley: Live
Blackbird: Live
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real) - Live
Blackbird - Live
Sharing Something Perfect Between Ourselves - Live
You Are My Friend - Live
Medley - Live
Dance (Disco Heat) - Live
You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)
Sylvester: I Need Somebody to Love Tonight
Patrick Cowley & Sylvester: Do You Wanna Funk?
Sylvester & The Hot Band: A Whiter Shade of Pale
Sylvester: Be With You

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!

The Twilite Tone on Stevie Wonder's "Hotter Than July" (1980) Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

Producer 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

More on Hotter Than July

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Hotter Than July unless otherwise indicated):