Library Rap: The Hip Hop Interviews with Tim Einenkel

Latest Episodes:

24: The Library: Interview with Slimkid 3 May 05, 2012

Show notes

SLIMKID3 (born Tre Hardson) first introduced himself to the world as the soulful, clever vocalist and emcee in the legendary hip-hop quartet The Pharcyde...The group went on to create many classics and eventually split apart.In 2000, SLIMKID3 began to pursue a solo career with his Legend of Phoenix EP, exploring the limits of hip-hop with a full band and live instrumentation. His debut full-length album, Liberation, was released in 2002 through Artist Direct/BMG Records under his given name, Tre Hardson.Since 2009, he has also put his deep knowledge of music and beat production to work as a DJ, co-founding Live & Direct PDX, a monthly party event in Portland, Oregon, featuring live remixing of classic hip-hop favorites.SLIMKID3 stormed 2011 with an arsenal of new singles and inventive remixes, an aggressive release schedule, and a slew of Pharcyde show dates filling up his calendar. Continue to check in at Slimkid3.com for show dates, new music, and free mixtape downloads. Here's my interview with Slimkid3 on The Library

23: The Library: Extended Interview with L.A. Sunshine of the Treacherous Three Apr 30, 2012

Show notes

In his new book, “L.A. Sunshine: A True Story, The Real Accounts” legendary hip-hop artist LA sunshine of the Treacherous Three delves into his sexual victimization at the age of seven, as well as his rise to fame as a member of The Treacherous Three.

Here's the extended interview with L.A. Sunshine with music interwoven within the segment.

22: The Library: Interview with L.A. Sunshine of the Treacherous Three Apr 25, 2012

Show notes

Here's the interview as heard on And You Don't Stop with Chuck D.

21: The Library: Say it Loud: Poems about James Brown Extended Interview Apr 23, 2012

Show notes

After James Brown died in 2007, Mary Weems put out this call for poems: "We grew up on James Brown’s hit me! When he danced every young Black man wanted to move, groove and look like him. Mr. Brown wasn’t called the hardest workingman in show business because he wasn’t. Experiencing a James Brown show was like getting your favourite soul food twice, plus desert. His songs, like black power fists you could be proud of and move to at the same time. When Mr. Brown sang make it funky we sweated even in the wintertime. Losing him was like losing somebody in our family. This is a shout out for poems about the impact James Brown had on our lives. Poems that will help people remember, honour, and celebrate his legacy. Don’t be left in a cold sweat, send us your old and new James Brown poems today."

The result is Say It Loud: Poems about James Brown includes work by Amiri Baraka, Thomas Sayers Ellis, Kelly A. Harris, Tim Joyce, Patricia Smith, George Wallace and a few dozen others.

Here's the extended interview with music...

20: The Library: Interview with Boog Brown Apr 16, 2012

Show notes

Detroit native and Atlanta base rapper, Boog Brown, is one of the female MCs in Hip-Hop who continues to help lead a change in Hip-Hop. Even though she is influenced by other female rappers before here, such as Lil’ Kim, there are zero signs of “Lil Kim-isms” on her debut album, Brown Study, which is a collaboration with Hip Hop producer Apollo Brown. Boog Brown joined me earlier this year on ANDYOUDONTSTOP hosted by Chuck D of the legendary rap group Public Enemy. We discussed her career thus far and her debut album, Brown Study.

19: The Library: Say it Loud: Poems about James Brown Interview Apr 16, 2012

Show notes

The result is Say It Loud: Poems about James Brown includes work by Amiri Baraka, Thomas Sayers Ellis, Kelly A. Harris, Tim Joyce, Patricia Smith, George Wallace and a few dozen others.

18: The Library: Born to Use Mics Interview with Sohail Daulatzai Apr 14, 2012

Show notes

At the age of nineteen, Nasir “Nas” Jones began recording tracks for his debut album—and changed the music world forever. Released in 1994,Illmaticwas hailed as an instant masterpiece and has proven one of the most influential albums in hip-hop history. With its close attention to beats and lyricism, and riveting first-person explorations of the isolation and desolation of urban poverty,Illmaticwas pivotal in the evolution of the genre.

InBorn to Use Mics, Michael Eric Dyson and Sohail Daulatzai have brought together renowned writers and critics including Mark Anthony Neal, Marc Lamont Hill, Eddie S. Glaude, Jr., and many others to confrontIllmaticsong by song, with each scholar assessing an individual track from the album. The result is a brilliant engagement with and commentary upon one of the most incisive sets of songs ever laid down on wax.

17: The Library: Grandmaster Dee of Whodini Apr 01, 2012

Show notes

Behind every legendary hip-hop act is a stellar producer. And for Whodini, it was bassist Larry Smith, who helped craft the rap group’s signature sound. Once hailed as “the Quincy Jones of Rap,” Smith also worked with Run DMC and Kurtis Blow and the Fat Boys. In addition to working in hip-hop, Smith was equally versed in rock, punk, reggae and jazz. His versatility and uniqueness were indisputable as evidenced by such genre-defining hits as Run DMC’s “King of Rock,” Whodini’s “Five Minutes of Funk,” and the Fat Boys’ “Jail House Rap.”Fashioning an edgy sparse sound that often combined ’80s electronic music with rock, Smith is one of the sonic pioneers of hip-hop. His work has been sampled by numerous succeeding hip-hop stars such as Kanye West, Nas and Snoop Dogg. Sadly, Smith suffered a stroke in 2007, leaving him speech impaired. I recently had the opportunity to interview Grandmaster Dee.

16: The Library: Extended Interview with Justin Bua Mar 05, 2012

Show notes

In his new book, The Legends of Hip Hop, artist Justin Bua profiles and paints fifty key figures, including everyone from Afrika Bambaataa and Grandmaster Flash to President Obama and Jay-Z, providing a portrait of each legend in a style reminiscent of the great masters. The artwork is accompanied by an engaging autobiographical narrative that contextualizes the impact each icon has had on Bua’s personal life and on the hip-hop culture at large. With a foreword by Chuck D, this landmark volume is more than a celebration of hip hop; it is the definitive word on the subject as told by Bua, one of hip hop’s leading artists and a legend in his own right. Here's the extended interview with Justin Bua

15: The Library: Dan Charnas Final Part Feb 27, 2012

Show notes

Journalist, screenwriter, record producer, teacher Dan Charnas was one of the first writers for The Source and part of a generation of young writers who helped create hip-hop journalism. Dan is the author of a new book called The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip Hop. He joined me on ANDYOUDONTSTOP hosted by Chuck D in a three part interview to walk us through his book and the history of the business. Here is part 2 of my interview with Dan. We discuss whether the business aspect of Hip-Hop has compromised the culture of Hip-Hop, and why hasn’t a white faced become the poster child for Hip-Hop. Here is final part of my interview with Dan Charnas

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