Hello Heat Rockers! This is Producer Christian, I edited Heat Rocks and you might've heard my voice on a few episodes with Oliver and Morgan! So we've been working on a new music podcast here on Maximum Fun and I'm so excited to finally share it with you! Primer focuses on genres of music from outside the English-speaking world. This first season we're talking about Japanese City Pop and I will be hosting alongside Yosuke Kitazawa. If you like what you hear, please subscribe to Primer ! I think ...
May 21, 2024•49 min•Ep. 213
Well, we're finally here. After nearly 200 episodes, we're ending our run with Maximum Fun! We intend to come back sometime in 2022, and to celebrate this occasion, it's and Oliver, Morgan, and Producer Christian episode. We talk about our favorite moments from the show, the things we appreciate about the show, and we have a few good laughs. Follow Morgan and Oliver on Twitter to keep up with upcoming projects! Until next time, Heat Rockers. If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Appl...
Aug 12, 2021•56 min•Ep. 212
Music writer and resident TikTok expert Cat Zhang sits down with us to discuss Flo Milli's 2020 debut mixtape Ho, why is you here? We get into what goes into making a TikTok hit, Flo Milli's unique voice, and her role in the current hip hop landscape. More on Cat Zhang Check out Cat's latest article on TikTok trends Listen to Cat chatting with our friends at Switched on Pop Twitter | Website More on Flo Milli Flo Milli Is Here. Get Used to It. (The Ringer) Flo Milli Came to Flex (Rolling Stone) ...
Aug 05, 2021•43 min•Ep. 211
We continue our Music and Popcorn miniseries, where we chat about some of our favorite movie soundtracks. This week, we're talking to professor and writer Daphne Brooks about the soundtrack to Waiting to Exhale . We get into Babyface's prolific career, Whitney Houston's presence on both the soundtrack and the movie, and the mystery surrounding DJ Theo Mizuhara. More on Daphne A. Brooks Check out her book Liner Notes for the Revolution And check out the accompanying playlist! Website More on Wait...
Jul 30, 2021•54 min•Ep. 210
We reboot our Music and Popcorn series, where we talk about some of our favorite movie soundtracks. This week, we invite our friend Jocelyn Brown to discuss a few iconic 90s OSTs, Love Jones, Boyz N The Hood, and Trainspotting. We get into what makes these soundtracks so memorable, the shift in tone from 80s and 90s OSTs, and proper record care etiquette. Show Tracklisting: Primal Scream: Trainspotting Refugee Camp All-Stars Presents Melky and Day: I Got A Love Jones For You Ice Cube: How To Sur...
Jul 22, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 209
This week, we talk to singer/songwriter Yola about Jill Scott's debut studio album "Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds, Vol 1." We get into Jill's time with The Roots, how her poetry shaped her songwriting, and Jill's role in the neo-soul movement. More on Yola Check out Yola's newest single and upcoming album Stand for Myself! Yola is Ready to Meet Her Moment (Rolling Stone) Twitter | Instagram More on Jill Scott Jill Scott’s Debut Album ‘Who Is Jill Scott? Words And Sounds Vol. 1’ Turns 20 ...
Jul 15, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 208
In honor of Kendrick Lamar's Section.80 turning 10 years old this month, we are re-airing our convo with Kris Bowers on Lamar's debut studio album. [show notes from original post] To talk about Kendrick Lamar’s studio LP debut, we wanted to find someone of K-Dot’s generation, another L.A. young gun, and who better than pianist and composer, Kris Bowers? Like Kendrick, Kris grew up in L.A. and just as Kendrick has ascended the hip-hop ladder, so has Kris in jazz, as he won the prestigious Theolon...
Jul 08, 2021•33 min•Ep. 207
This week, we talk to producer/singer Benny Sings about Phil Collins' solo debut album, Face Value . We get into the incredible drum fill of In The Air Tonight, it's iconic use on Miami Vice, and the real life issues Collins was going through when making this album. More on Benny Sings Check out Benny's new album Music With The Vibrant 'City Pop', Benny Sings Stakes His Claim For The Masses (NPR) Twitter | Instagram More on Face Value Phil explaining the origins of In The Air Tonight In The Air ...
Jul 02, 2021•48 min•Ep. 206
Singer/songwriter Marzz sits down with us to discuss Kierra Sheard's gospel album This is Me . We get into the secular production of this album, Kierra's place in the Clark Sheard family, and Marzz's own experience in the church. More on Marzz Check out Marzz's Love Letterz EP Marzz Evokes The Brightest And Most Vibrant Colors All By Living In Her Truest Aura (Uproxx) Instagram | Twitter More on Kierra Sheard Kierra and Karen Sheard singing "You Loved Me" Kierra on This Is Me back in 2006 This i...
Jun 25, 2021•41 min•Ep. 205
This week, Oliver and Morgan are discussing Lil' Kim's debut studio record "Hard Core" which is turning 25 years old this year. We get into Lil' Kim's role in Bad Boy and Junior M.A.F.I.A., the effect she had on the Megan Thee Stallions and Cardi B's of today, and what made this record so unforgettable. More on Hard Core A timely reminder that Lil Kim’s ‘Hard Core’ is still the greatest rap record of all time (NME) Biggie's reference track for Queen Bitch How Lil’ Kim’s ‘Hard Core’ Changed Rap (...
Jun 17, 2021•50 min•Ep. 204
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 Floating Along In Uncertainty With Vijay Iyer (NPR) Check out Uneasy Twitter | Instagram 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...
Jun 11, 2021•59 min•Ep. 203
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 The Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Ready to Die' at 20: ...
Jun 03, 2021•52 min•Ep. 202
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 Unsung: The Story of Heatwave Greg Phillinganes o...
May 27, 2021•51 min•Ep. 201
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 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 songs from In...
May 20, 2021•56 min•Ep. 200
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 be...
May 13, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 199
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 KCRW Presents Lockdo...
May 06, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 198
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...
Apr 29, 2021•39 min•Ep. 197
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 Joshua Abrams' Chameleonic Quartet Gets Exuberantly Ornery On 'Cloud Script' (NPR) Joshua's Quarantine Concert Website More on Arthur Verocai Arthur Veroc...
Apr 22, 2021•40 min•Ep. 196
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 Lip...
Apr 15, 2021•58 min•Ep. 195
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 Do It Properly music video Twilite Tone @ Vinyl Factory Twitter | Instagram More on Hotter Than July Master Blaster (Jammin') ...
Apr 08, 2021•58 min•Ep. 194
Multi-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 Voice ...
Apr 01, 2021•52 min•Ep. 193
This 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) The Wond...
Mar 25, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 192
DJ 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 Artists (...
Mar 18, 2021•49 min•Ep. 191
Writer 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 And R...
Mar 11, 2021•53 min•Ep. 190
It 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 Love Supreme ...
Mar 04, 2021•51 min•Ep. 189
Singer/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 of Kirk Frank...
Feb 25, 2021•58 min•Ep. 188
We 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 Debut (...
Feb 19, 2021•58 min•Ep. 187
Take 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's "Mary" A...
Feb 12, 2021•50 min•Ep. 186
In 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: Donuts (Intro) J ...
Feb 04, 2021•49 min•Ep. 185
In 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/song...
Jan 28, 2021•47 min•Ep. 184
