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Salaam Remi on Jungle Brothers' "Straight Out The Jungle" (1988) Jan 21, 2021

Show notes

There'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 Native Tongues family, the countless flipped samples throughout the record, and his personal journey as a super producer.

More on Salaam

More on Jungle Brothers

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Straight Out The Jungle unless otherwise indicated):

Jimmy's Bonus Beat
Jimbrowski
On The Run
Behind the Bush
Slick RIck: Children's Story
MC Lyte: Paper Thin
EPMD: You Gots To Chill
Big Daddy Kane: Ain't No Half Steppin'
Braggin' and Boastin'
The Magictones: Good Old Music
Jimbrowski
Sly & The Family Stone: You Can Make It If You Try
Because I Got It Like That
Isaac Hayes: Joy
Behind the Bush
The Meters: Groovy Lady
I'm Gonna Do You
The Meters: Rigor Mortis
I'm Gonna Do You
Mandrill: Mango Meat
Straight Out The Jungle
Marshall Jackson: Move Your Body
I'll House You
Super Cat: Ghetto Red Hot (Remix)
Lou Donaldson: It's Your Thing
De La Soul: Bitties In The BK Lounge
Poor Righteous Teachers: Shakiyla
Super Cat: Ghetto Red Hot (Remix)
Because I Got It Like That
Behind The Bush
I'm Gonna Do You
Because I Got It Like That
On The Run
Straight Out The Jungle
Queen Latifah: Come Into My House
KMD: Peachfuzz
Chill Rob G: Court Is Now In Session

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!

DJ Soul Sister on The Meters' "Rejuvenation" (1974) Jan 15, 2021

Show notes

The 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, joins Oliver and Morgan to discuss the funkiness of The Meters, the New Orleans music scene, and what it's like to DJ at George Clinton's birthday.

More on DJ Soul Sister

More on The Meters

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Rejuvenation unless otherwise indicated):

Africa
Jungle Man
Lee Dorsey: Can You Hear Me
The Meters: Thinking
Heavy D & The Boyz: Gyrlz, They Love Me
Hey Pocky A-Way
It Ain't No Use
Love Is For Me
People Say
Aaron Neville: Hercules
Aaron Neville & Linda Ronstadt: Don't Know Much
Neville Brothers: Dance Your Blues Away
Just Kiss My Baby
Public Enemy: Timebomb
Just Kiss My Baby
Africa
Red Hot Chili Peppers: Hollywood
Hey Pocky A-Way
Africa
Just Kiss My Baby
People Say
Hey Pocky A-Way
It Ain't No Use
People Say
Lee Dorsey: Yes We Can Pt. 1
The Meters: A Message From The Meters
Dr. John: (Everybody Wanna Get Rich) Rite Away

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!

Brittany Spanos on Mariah Carey's "The Emancipation of Mimi" (2005) Jan 07, 2021

Show notes

By 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, Jermaine Dupri, and Kanye West, but still featured her signature ballads with that unmistakable whistle register. It was a much more personal album, but with enough jams to succeed in the clubs.

Music writer Brittany Spanos sits down with us remotely to discuss the tough road that led to this album, the timelessness of some of the singles, and where Mariah belongs in the current music landscape.

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 Brittany

Check out Brittany's work with Rolling Stone
500 Greatest Albums podcast
Twitter | Instagram

More on The Emancipation of Mimi

‘The Emancipation Of Mimi’: Mariah Carey’s Record-Shattering Comeback (uDiscover Music)
Mariah Carey on Why 2005's Iconic 'The Emancipation of Mimi' LP Was 'More Than a Comeback Album' (Billboard)
15 Times Mariah Carey’s Pen Game Shines on ‘The Emancipation of Mimi’ (Rated R&B)

Show Tracklisting (all songs from The Emancipation of Mimi unless otherwise indicated):

I Wish You Knew
Mariah Carey: Vision of Love
Mariah Carey: Dreamlover
Mariah Carey: Fantasy (Remix)
Joy Ride
I Wish You Knew
Circles
Mine Again
To The Floor
Say Somethin'
Shake It Off
We Belong Together
It's Like That
Fly Like A Bird
Shake it Off
Get Your Number
Mine Again
Stay the Night
Mariah Carey: Fourth of July
Alicia Keys: Teenage Love Affair
Mariah Carey: A No No

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!

Our Heat Rocks of 2020 Dec 31, 2020

Show notes

Oliver 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: Scary Times
SAULT: Stop Dem
Jay Electronica: Ezekiel's Wheel
Jay Electronica: Exhibit C
Jay Electronica: A.P.I.D.T.A.
Jay Electronica: Flux Capacitor
Lianne La Havas: Seven Times
Lianne La Havas: Read My Mind
Donny Hathaway: Jealous Guy
Donny Hathaway: Misty
Donny Hathaway: Thank You Master (For My Soul)
Donny Hathaway: Voices Inside (Everything is Everything)
Thundercat: Dragonball Durag
Thundercat: Black Qualls
Thundercat: Existential Dread
Run The Jewels: yankee and the brave (ep. 4 )
Run The Jewels: out of sight
Run The Jewels: yankee and the brave (ep. 4)
Chet Baker: Embraceable You
Amy Winehouse: Love Is A Losing Game
Minnie Riperton: Les Fleurs

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!

Phonte on Intro's "Intro" (1993) Dec 24, 2020

Show notes

We 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 about what Intro’s brand of new jack swing meant to him as a teenager learning about life in Greensboro, North Carolina. Don’t get him wrong: he was a hardcore hip-hop head, but he grew up both in an R&B household and in the church where singing was a big part of his musical formation. Phonte breaks down the group’s influence on his understanding of songwriting, lyrics, and the balance between uptempo and down-tempo songs. He also discusses the album’s mature themes, crediting them for helping a young brother’s macking game.

More on Intro

More on Phonte:

Heat Rocks Holiday Music Special 2020 Dec 17, 2020

Show notes

Oliver 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

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 Pong Orchestra: Little Drummer Boy
Trap Music Now: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
Mariah Carey: All I Want For Christmas Is You
Otis Redding: Merry Christmas Baby
Khruangbin: Christmas Time Is Here
James Brown: Go Power At Christmas Time
James Brown: Let's Unite The Whole World At Christmas
James Brown: Say It Loud - I'm Black And I'm Proud
Donny Hathaway: This Christmas
Musad & The Warm Expressions: Black Christmas
Yogi Yorgesson: I Yust Go Nuts At Christmas
Elmo and Patsy: Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer
Alvin & the Chipmunks: The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)
Carpenters: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Robert Glasper: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The Clark Sisters: Oh Come Emmanuel
The Clark Sisters: Silver Bells
The Clark Sisters: Chipmunk Song

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!

Take Two #6: Drake's "Scorpion" (2018) Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

In 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 14
I'm Upset
Pusha T: The Story of Adidon
I'm Upset
Is There More
Nice For What
God's Plan
Finesse
Nice For What
Nonstop
The Game: Good Girls Go Bad
Meek Mill: Amen

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!

Take Two #5: Drake's "Nothing Was The Same" (2013) Dec 03, 2020

Show notes

In 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

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Nothing Was The Same unless otherwise indicated):

Worst Behavior
Furthest Thing
Drake: Thank Me Now
Lenny Kravitz: Sunflower
Best I Ever Had
305 To My City
Tuscan Leather
Come Thru
Started From the Bottom
Pound Cake/ Paris Morton Music 2
Hold On, We're Going Home
Wu-Tang Forever
Too Much
Drake: The Ride
From Time
Furthest Thing
Worst Behavior
Drake: Too Good
Chance The Rapper: Favorite Song

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!

Bonus Beats: Formative Songs with G Yamazawa Dec 01, 2020

Show notes

Oliver 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 Nov 26, 2020

Show notes

This 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!

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