Season SIX opening interview with rapper and producer Ishmael Butler ( @shabazzpalaces ). We talked a whole lotta Jazz, it’s pioneers, and his influences including the many things his father Reginald Butler imparted to him. Of course we talked about Digable Planets, Cherrywine, Knife Knights, and Shabazz Palaces productions. Follow @shabazzpalaces Follow @digableplanets Follow @knifeknights Follow @VirtuousOptimistPodcast Shop @VoOutletStore or virtuousoptimist.com (All funds from store directly...
Jun 28, 2021•52 min
”What His Hair Do?” Icebreaker segment, reflecting, giving thanks, laughing, crying, venting, “Show Yo Naked Skillz” Freestyle - Gib$on and everything MEN in Los Angeles, CA . Recorded at the Lighthouse Studio12/18/2020 Tune Samples: Ohio Players – Ecstasy D'Angelo and The Vanguard - Really Love (Audio) Erykah Badu – WOO Groundation - Jah Jah Know Masego - I Do Everything (More For Cruisin') RAHEEM DEVAUGHN - BELIEVE (SLOWED) Jaheim - Finding my way back [2010] Nelly-Body on me Lyrics It's Love ...
Jan 01, 2021•1 hr 25 min
The very first "What His Hair Do?" Icebreaker segment on Vo Podcast featuring Actress Maya Rai'Jean. We throw out men's hairstyles such as locs, afros, plaits, cornrows, fade, baldy, perms, etc. Press play to hear our thoughts/opinions of the brothas rockin em. So much fun! Tune Samples: Ohio Players – Ecstasy D'Angelo and The Vanguard - Really Love Erykah Badu – WOO Groundation - Jah Jah Know Masego - I Do Everything (More For Cruisin') RAHEEM DEVAUGHN - BELIEVE (SLOWED) Jaheim - Finding my way...
Dec 28, 2020•27 min
A bunch more road stories, groupies , vocal theory and analysis, coaching Britney Spears during performance, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, George Clinton & The Cinderella Theory AND my most fav, JAZZ TALK. Press play for great stories and groovy soul music! Follow @singwithdoc Follow @VirtuousOptimistPodcast Shop @VoOutletStore or virtuousoptimist.com (All funds from store directly benefits this podcast's sustainability) Tune Sample Playlist: Leon Bridges - Sweeter (Official Audio) ft. Ter...
Oct 05, 2020•1 hr 6 min
Tales of the road with vocal coach Doc Holliday. Doc is most known for starting the singing careers of Tyrese Gibson & Backstreet Boys and on to coaching Britney Spears, TLC, En Vogue, Nsync, Eric Benet, Brandy, George Clinton, Mali Music and many many more. He's a music industry hidden gem. Stay tuned for part two of the full audio interview with Doc Holliday on next Sunday October 4, 2020. You can find us on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Anchor, Stitcher & wherever else you listen to your f...
Sep 28, 2020•39 min
Go behind the music with soul musician Son Little aka Aaron Livingston. Son tells us every instrument he can play, about music education, Twitter rants, songs of protest, Curtis Mayfield, Pop Staples, singing with Mavis, new record Aloha and on and on.. Tune Samples in rare form: Cross My Heart Live (Acoustic) on @sonlittlemusic IG 7/16/2020 Hot dreams – Timber Timbre Who's She Coo - Ohio Players Loser Blues - Son Little Toes – Son Little Loser Blues - Son Little Cookout - MastermindMose Gypsy W...
Jul 27, 2020•1 hr 21 min•Season 5Ep. 24
J King stops by the Lighthouse Studio in Los Angeles, CA to discuss his rap history, being the son of Motown Records soul singer Bobby King & Cadillac Classics Vol 1 & 2. This episode features two UNRELEASED tracks by J King & a fire "Show Yo Naked Skillz" freestyle over some of my favorite funky soul beats. Press Play @iamthejking on all social media platforms Season 5, Episode 1 Tune Samples: Golden Days (Vo Theme Song) - MastermindMose Midnight - Willie Lindo Nawf - Justin Money S...
Jun 01, 2020•1 hr 17 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Season 4 Finale: An episode featuring a loud yet funny unreleased family card game that turns emotional with my aunts, uncles & cousins in Lake Charles, thoughts on the Disneyland fight w/ special guest and LA native Tamia, taking down "Just Jake & Chuck", K.R.I.T IZ HERE Mix, whats next for Vo ANDDDDDD Virtuous Optimist's FIRST "Show Yo Naked Skillz" freestyle featuring a sista, Lex Culture!!!!!!!!! Press Play Tune Samples: Travelin' Man (Remastered) – Maze feat. Frankie Beverly Big K.R...
Jul 22, 2019•53 min
Press Play to hear part two with Chazz & Rapper Jaylon Musa. Its gets deep. We talking a lot about the Almighty album, Black Kingdom, Black Power, Voodoo, the Bible, Ancestors, Influences, a whole buncha soul tunes & a "Show Yo Naked Skillz" freestyle from Jaylon Musaaaaaaaa!!! Tune Samples: Bobbi Humphrey - Mestizo Eyes Alison Wonderland - Ignore (Official Audio) Jaylon Musa – Almighty Fire Is Coming (feat. David Lynch) Jaylon Musa - Black Power Tyler the Creator - EXACTLY WHAT YOU RUN ...
Jun 24, 2019•1 hr 7 min
Press play to hear part one of Just Jaylon Musa on Season 4, Ep. 21 of Virtuous Optimist Podcast. We broke the ice with a "get comfortable with being uncomfortable" icebreaker on dominion, talked black gods, B.E.T.'s Freestyle Friday Champion of L.A., The Birth Ep and more. AND PLENTY of soulful tunes to share. Tune Samples: Blooming In The Streets ft Seven Davis Jr – Sampology Jaylon Musa – Jaylon Musa New Apartment – Ari lennox Win – Jay Rock Takashi - Flying Lotus Land Of Honey (feat. Solange...
Jun 10, 2019•54 min
Ep. 20 “Just Talkin’ Women with Danté Harris”. He believes that women will do what they want so no need for brothas to be extra cuffy (jealous, overprotective, etc.) behind their women. Press play for clarity! Tune Samples: Nipsey Hussle - Mercy feat. Stacy Barthe Intellexual - Money Guru – Plenty feat. Erykah Badu Douboyrari ft. OG- “Freak” (prod by. DjFlipp) Bonobo – Sapphire Submotion Orchestra - All Yours Dante Harris - Love Me or Love Me Not ft. Adrien Broner Music Copyright to the Respecti...
Apr 15, 2019•40 min
Breakin' the ice with Reggae Veteran, Tippa Lee was super fun. We kicked it outside the DubClub (Echo Park in Los Angeles), where Tippa broke down what Dub is to Reggae, King Tubby, smoking from a chalice & the founder of ganja. We left off on the Rastafari culture & Marcus Garvey. You can hear/watch the full ice breaker with Tippa Lee on Vo Youtube channel titled "Just Breakin' the Ice with Tippa Lee" This audio version is jam packed with Reggae, Dub, Rock Steady, & Ska tunes featur...
Mar 18, 2019•26 min
We are celebrating 1 year of Virtuous Optimist Podcast with a bunch of great soul tunes, moments (with artists like MidCityAb & Kristien Owens), bloopers, & flashbacks including unreleased audio, all recorded within our first year after birth. Thank You to all of our Loved Ones for sharing your time with Vo. Peace Give Thanks Tune Samples: Happy Anniversary - Ray, Goodman & Brown Grandma’s Hands – Bill Withers Masego & FJK – Tadow Anniversary Mix Johnson, Hawkins, Tatum & Dur...
Dec 10, 2018•51 min
Go behind the music of Veli's new EP Kickin' Vibes (California Love). We got Veli on the line to talk inspiration, California, features, track list, interludes & all of those who had parts in making the project come together in an album like manner. Peace to Mose on production Tune Samples: A.B.N. - Picture Me Guru & Erykah Badu - Plenty Montel Jordan – This Is How We Do It Veli - Runnin’ Laps Wale – Losing Eric B and Rakim - Don't Sweat the Technique (Instrumental) Wale - Bitches Like Y...
Nov 12, 2018•58 min
Press play to hear me (Chazz) vent about September, “figuring myself out”, standards, relationship status/goals, my fav line from E. Badu's 2018 BET HipHop Awards cypher, Maxine Waters "I aint scared!", LA lifestyle, & much more. Since I’m solo on this one, I wanted to reflect & play some groovy tunes with the theme being Blues; including the bass heavy "what i been on" mix by Tune. Adjust the bass & let the Alphine blast...... Tune Samples: Jazz Liberatorz – That’s Reality Jazz Libe...
Oct 29, 2018•52 min
The Virtuous Optimist FINALLY got a chance to sit down with Bass King Brian Worwick aka CloudsofProgression while in Lafayette, LA. We were able to get a bass "Show Yo Naked Skillz" freestyle out of Brian and a mini sess on keys. We talked Bassist Thundercat, Jaco P, & Robert Bubby Lewis. We ran Brian's tune "KOI", talked Sugar gliders aka bats (according to Chazz), playing as a union in Dphrntstrks (Different Strokes) band, Facebook being the police, Dick Gregory, and a buncha bass stuff. M...
Oct 14, 2018•1 hr 6 min
Underground Rap Vet and Musical Activist, Ray-Lov aka Ray Leezy from H Town joins us on this beautiful soul Sunday evening. Ray takes us down music memory lane, reminiscing on being in a Soul/Gospel singing group, singing in Southwestern Christian College Choir, being a Black man, the Black Lives Matter movement, and much more. He has been making music since the 1990’s and is still at with much knowledge. Ray’s latest album is also titled Black Lives Matter. If you were missing that classic boom...
Aug 27, 2018•1 hr 16 min
K. ohh vibed all over the timeless breaks. This freestyle is featured on Ep. 12 - Just Stuck with Kristien Owens Music Copyright To The Respective Artists.
Aug 14, 2018•8 min
Virtuous Optimist presents Season Three's Premier, Ep. 12 "Just Stuck with Kristien Owens". Kristien aka K.ohh is an indie Hip Hop artist from Long Beach, CA. He recently released a project titled "Stuck", which he tells us all about here on Ep. 12. K.ohh talks growing up in Long Beach, musical influences, relationships, and much more. We even did our first ever "Sample Segment" with K.ohh. And you gotta know that he vibed out to our "Show Yo Naked Skillz" freestyle segment. Catch a vibe with us...
Aug 12, 2018•1 hr 58 min
Chazz stopped by No Brakes Studio in South Central LA, with a mix (curated by Tune) for Dante' to jump on. Peep Dante' drop a lil acapella right here! This freestyle is featured on Ep. 11 - Just Journey With Dante' Harris (Pt. 2). Tune Instrumentals Tupac - I Get Around Soulja Slim - From What I Was Told Blu & Exile - Dancing In The Rain Mystikal - I Smell Smoke Phat Pat - Tops Drop Jazz Liberatorz - Ease My Mind Zapp - More Bounce To The Ounce Mannie Fresh - Real Big Future - Live From The ...
May 21, 2018•9 min
We're concluding Season Two with the second half of an interview with Rapper Dante' Harris. Dante' & Chazz run it about his artistry/music projects including his latest release Hate Me Now, Love Me Later. He talks working with a “trap legend”, Dj Flippp on the project, how the album title came about, the project being released while incarcerated & so much more. You’ll also get to hear Dante’ go off the top for our “Show Yo Naked Skillz” freestyle segment!! And as far as music, you know T...
May 18, 2018•1 hr 44 min
The Virtuous Optimist aka Chazz, meets Rapper Dante’ Harris, in the flesh, for the first time at No Brakes Headquarters in Los Angeles, CA. When I tell you they RAN it, they ran it baby!! Dante’ droppin’ jewels on Vo like yeah!!! This joint (Part One) is an “Intro to Dante’ Harris”, a blast to the past (childhood, music, influences, friendships, broken relationships, hustle, jail, death, homelessness, drug use……..) And of course, the Timeless Tunes are RUNNIN'. Peep the tune samples below. Come ...
May 04, 2018•1 hr 21 min
Virtuous Optimist brings you part two of a Vibe with Rapper MidCityAb, out that Nola!!! Ab talks the art of storytellin’, his direct influences, growing up a Hip Hop head, his music projects, history behind his latest release “Doctor Mary’s Monkey” & much much more!!! A major vibe!!!! Tune Samples: Parliament - P-Funk (Wants to Get Funked Up) Rapper Big Pooh & Blakksoul - Mistle Toe Minnie Riperton – Inside My Love Eric Roberson – A Tale of Two ft. Ben “Bananas” O’neill & Michelle Th...
Mar 24, 2018•44 min
Activist, Artist, Teacher & Rapper, Arnold Burks aka MidCityAb & Yo Soul Sista Chazz, play ring around the rosie, but around the moon with some good ol soul tunes. Pt. 01 of this two part episode, lays the groundwork of Arnold’s journey, some Ab history, which includes his Letter To New Orleans, Nola history, Jazz history & Black history!!!! Ab shares MAD knowledge that he’s acquired while on his journey. Who are you inspiring? SPOILER: Ab shares an experience that left a major mark ...
Mar 16, 2018•41 min
Just Purpose is an extension to the Kickstarter project we released today, March 1, 2018, with a pledge goal of $2,500. The Virtuous Optimist thought that it was important to reflect on the meaning behind the Vo platform (as we ask you to sow seeds into it) and its true intentions for the lives and purposes of others. This episode features Sultry Hip Hop artist, Mahlleh, Novelist, J.D. Arceneaux, Virtuous woman, Xavier Stewart, and Sneaker aficionado, Jaylin Poullard, who are all living in their...
Mar 02, 2018•16 min
Gib$on say he don't record freestyles, he just freestyle & the brotha never disappoints!!!!! Random rantin' clearly comes natural to this brotha. "Show Yo Naked Skillz" freestyle segment from Ep. 07 - Just Goals Feat. Gib$on "Show Yo Naked Skillz” Instrumentals: Don't You Go Home - David Ruffin Voyage To Atlantis - Isley Brothers Neighbors - J Cole Knee Deep (Not Just) - Funkadelic June 27th Freestyle - DJ Screw Cool Down - Jazz Liberatorz Rock With You - Michael Jackson Music copyright to t...
Feb 12, 2018•7 min
The Virtuous Optimist uses the Season Finale to revisit her week of concerts (3) in Los Angeles, California before easing into a flashback of Episodes 1-5. After reviewing the season, she launches into answering the question "Why am I podcasting?". Before closing the final show of the season, she talks about what you can expect when we return for Season Two. Say it with me "Artist INTERVIEWS"!!! Until we meet again, peace and blessings. Tune Samples: 1. Her Beauty Through My Eyes - Keyon Harold ...
Dec 22, 2017•44 min
The Virtuous Optimist also known as Channtanza, along with Jazz's Forefathers, Jazz Liberatorz, and Saxophonist Nicholas Richard melodically tell a story about the evolution of Jass/Jazz and how it has shaped today’s music culture (i.e. Hip Hop). All my Hip Hop heads, you need this in your life, especially if you create music. You have to be knowledgeable and acknowledge your roots. The ones that came before us. Learn about it here. This content is intergenerational. Your great great grandmother...
Nov 24, 2017•49 min
The Virtuous Optimist also known as Chazz sits down at The Lighthouse bar with her childhood best friend Meagan, who is visiting Los Angeles, CA from the Midwest. These Soul Sistas talk about what a "virtuous woman" means to them, touching on topics such as self-worth, knowing self, double standards, sex, covenants, & celibacy. DJ Tuney spins her first set featuring sounds by Dinah Washington, Hil St. Soul, The Jones Girls, and much more. Remember when we told you we had an impeccable abilit...
Nov 10, 2017•56 min
The Virtuous Optimist reminisces on her love & appreciation for music before melodically dedicating majority of the show to the musical journey of phenomenal singer, songwriter, musician, & producer Raphael Saadiq.
Oct 29, 2017•51 min
