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 favo

Cat Zhang on Flo Milli's "Ho, why is you here?" (2020)

Aug 5th, 2021 43m 10s

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 l

Music & Popcorn #7: Daphne A. Brooks on the "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack (1995)

Jul 30th, 2021 54m 22s

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

Music & Popcorn #6: '90s OSTs with Jocelyn Brown

Jul 22nd, 2021 1h 2m

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

Yola on Jill Scott's "Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds, Vol. 1 (2000)

Jul 15th, 2021 59m 47s

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 mo

Kris Bowers on Kendrick Lamar's "Section.80" (2011) [redux]

Jul 8th, 2021 32m 41s

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

Benny Sings on Phil Collins' "Face Value" (1981)

Jul 2nd, 2021 47m 31s

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 wh

Marzz on Kierra Sheard's "This Is Me" (2006)

Jun 25th, 2021 40m 31s

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 MarzzCh

Celebrating Lil' Kim's "Hard Core" (1996)

Jun 17th, 2021 50m 22s

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 Car

Vijay Iyer on Prince's "Sign O' The Times" (1987)

Jun 11th, 2021 59m 21s

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 IyerFloati

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

Jun 3rd, 2021 52m 29s

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 h

Steve Arrington on Heatwave's "Too Hot To Handle" (1976)

May 27th, 2021 50m 46s

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 a

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

May 20th, 2021 55m 47s

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 PellWebsiteCheck out glbl wrmn

Kemp Powers on De La Soul's "De La Soul Is Dead" (1991)

May 13th, 2021 1h 7m

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

Karriem Riggins on A Tribe Called Quest's "Midnight Marauders" (1993)

May 6th, 2021 1h

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 b

Nite Jewel on Kraftwerk's "Computer World" (1981) [redux]

Apr 29th, 2021 39m 6s

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 b

Joshua Abrams on Arthur Verocai's "Arthur Verocai" (1972)

Apr 22nd, 2021 39m 53s

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

Jason King on Sylvester's "Living Proof" (1979)

Apr 15th, 2021 58m 27s

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

The Twilite Tone on Stevie Wonder's "Hotter Than July" (1980)

Apr 8th, 2021 57m 30s

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

Xenia Rubinos on Abbey Lincoln's "Abbey is Blue" (1959)

Apr 1st, 2021 51m 45s

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

MF DOOM Special with Dante Ross

Mar 25th, 2021 1h 6m

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. Buck

Megan Pattison on Teena Marie's "It Must Be Magic" (1981)

Mar 18th, 2021 49m 17s

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 Mot

Sheila Burgel on The Ronettes' "Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica" (1964)

Mar 11th, 2021 53m 9s

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

Jeff Parker on John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" (1965)

Mar 4th, 2021 51m 21s

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 leaning

Samm Henshaw on Kirk Franklin's "The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin" (2002)

Feb 25th, 2021 58m 24s

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 wo