Best Daphne Phil Wang Podcasts (2024)

1
Introducing Primer, MaxFun’s Newest Music Podcast 49:16

2M ago49:16

49:16

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 w…

1
The Heat Rocks Appreciation Episode 55:55

3y ago55:55

55:55

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…

1
Cat Zhang on Flo Milli's "Ho, why is you here?" (2020) 43:10

3y ago43:10

43:10

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 …

1
Music & Popcorn #7: Daphne A. Brooks on the "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack (1995) 54:22

3y ago54:22

54:22

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 Th…

1
Music & Popcorn #6: '90s OSTs with Jocelyn Brown 1:02:40

3y ago1:02:40

1:02:40

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 eti…

1
Yola on Jill Scott's "Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds, Vol. 1 (2000) 59:47

3y ago59:47

59:47

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 …

1
Kris Bowers on Kendrick Lamar's "Section.80" (2011) [redux] 32:41

3y ago32:41

32:41

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 Bo…

1
Benny Sings on Phil Collins' "Face Value" (1981) 47:31

3y ago47:31

47:31

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', B…

1
Marzz on Kierra Sheard's "This Is Me" (2006) 40:31

3y ago40:31

40:31

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 T…

1
Celebrating Lil' Kim's "Hard Core" (1996) 50:22

3y ago50:22

50:22

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 …

1
Vijay Iyer on Prince's "Sign O' The Times" (1987) 59:21

3y ago59:21

59:21

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 Ti…

1
Patrick Paige II on The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Ready to Die" (1994) 52:29

3y ago52:29

52:29

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: …

1
Steve Arrington on Heatwave's "Too Hot To Handle" (1976) 50:46

3y ago50:46

50:46

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 intervie…

1
Pell on N.E.R.D's "In Search Of..." (2002) 55:47

3y ago55:47

55:47

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 …

1
Kemp Powers on De La Soul's "De La Soul Is Dead" (1991) 1:07:05

3y ago1:07:05

1:07:05

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 …

1
Karriem Riggins on A Tribe Called Quest's "Midnight Marauders" (1993) 1:00:56

3y ago1:00:56

1:00:56

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 sample…

1
Nite Jewel on Kraftwerk's "Computer World" (1981) [redux] 39:06

3y ago39:06

39:06

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 t…

1
Joshua Abrams on Arthur Verocai's "Arthur Verocai" (1972) 39:53

3y ago39:53

39:53

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 Josh…

1
Jason King on Sylvester's "Living Proof" (1979) 58:27

3y ago58:27

58:27

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 …

1
The Twilite Tone on Stevie Wonder's "Hotter Than July" (1980) 57:30

3y ago57:30

57:30

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. Mo…

1
Xenia Rubinos on Abbey Lincoln's "Abbey is Blue" (1959) 51:45

3+ y ago51:45

51:45

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 …

1
MF DOOM Special with Dante Ross 1:06:11

3+ y ago1:06:11

1:06:11

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 ou…

1
Megan Pattison on Teena Marie's "It Must Be Magic" (1981) 49:17

3+ y ago49:17

49:17

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 ou…

1
Sheila Burgel on The Ronettes' "Presenting the Fabulous Ronettes Featuring Veronica" (1964) 53:09

3+ y ago53:09

53:09

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 Bo…

1
Jeff Parker on John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" (1965) 51:21

3+ y ago51:21

51:21

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…

1
Samm Henshaw on Kirk Franklin's "The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin" (2002) 58:24

3+ y ago58:24

58:24

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 …

1
Take Two #8: Mary J Blige's "What's the 411?" with Naima Cochrane 57:38

3+ y ago57:38

57:38

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. Bli…

1
Take Two #7: Mary J Blige's "Mary" with Naima Cochrane 50:06

3+ y ago50:06

50:06

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 N…

1
J Dilla Special 49:11

3+ y ago49:11

49:11

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 Slu…

1
Valerie June on Etta James' "At Last!" (1960) 47:13

3+ y ago47:13

47:13

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 th…

1
Salaam Remi on Jungle Brothers' "Straight Out The Jungle" (1988) 53:35

3+ y ago53:35

53:35

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 bigges…

1
DJ Soul Sister on The Meters' "Rejuvenation" (1974) 53:33

3+ y ago53:33

53:33

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 o…

1
Brittany Spanos on Mariah Carey's "The Emancipation of Mimi" (2005) 53:55

3+ y ago53:55

53:55

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 musi…

1
Our Heat Rocks of 2020 52:45

3+ y ago52:45

52:45

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 Electr…

1
Phonte on Intro's "Intro" (1993) 40:20

3+ y ago40:20

40:20

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…

1
Heat Rocks Holiday Music Special 2020 1:01:36

3+ y ago1:01:36

1:01:36

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 Jocelyn's interview with the Music and Sound Awards Twitter | Instagram We are selling custom 45 adapters with the proceeds going t…

1
Take Two #6: Drake's "Scorpion" (2018) 42:22

3+ y ago42:22

42:22

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 t…

1
Take Two #5: Drake's "Nothing Was The Same" (2013) 52:11

3+ y ago52:11

52:11

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 p…

1
Bonus Beats: Formative Songs with G Yamazawa 19:21

3+ y ago19:21

19:21

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!By MaximumFun.org

1
Soulquarian Medley 46:16

3+ y ago46:16

46:16

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’r…

1
Bonus Beats: Discovering Music Through Samples with Joseph Schloss 42:08

3+ y ago42:08

42:08

Oliver sits down with ethnomusicologist Dr. Joseph Schloss to discuss the origins of sampling in hip-hop and a few of their favorite music discoveries through samples. Pick up Joseph's books! If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!By MaximumFun.org

1
VanJess on Amy Winehouse's "Back To Black" (2006) 54:46

3+ y ago54:46

54:46

When Amy Winehouse released her debut studio album Frank back in 2003, it made waves in her native UK, but it didn't quite make it across the pond. Those who heard it, loved her contralto vocals, relatable lyrics, and blending of musical genres. A few years later, she would go on to release her second and final album, Back to Black, to both critica…

1
Bonus Beats: Favorite Breaks with Loren Kajikawa 29:51

3+ y ago29:51

29:51

Oliver sits down with musicologist Loren Kajikawa to discuss why instrumental breaks hit us in such a specific way, the different ways musicians have approached breaks, and their personal favorite moments in music. If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!By MaximumFun.org

1
Anjimile on Oliver Mtukudzi's "Vhunze Moto" (2002) 43:58

3+ y ago43:58

43:58

Oliver "Tuku" Mtukudzi is perhaps Zimbabwe's most renowned and iconic musician. His thoughtful songwriting and exceptional guitar playing spoke truth to power and gave him a loyal fanbase. He went on to become a star in his home country and pioneered a whole new genre of music, Tuku music. His wisdom and messages of affirmation resonated with milli…

1
Bonus Beats: Nas & Unused Samples 14:06

3+ y ago14:06

14:06

On this week's edition of Bonus Beats, Oliver takes a couple of questions from the mailbag about overlooked samples and Nas' best LP (besides Illmatic) If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!By MaximumFun.org

1
Kevin Smokler & Christopher Boone on B.T. Express' "Non-Stop" (1975) 45:09

3+ y ago45:09

45:09

The disco funk group B.T. Express hit the ground running with their debut studio album Do It ('Til You're Satisfied), which reached the top spot in the US R&B albums chart and went gold. The title track went on to become a staple in club playlists and the band started work on their next project. Just a year later, their sophomore album Non-Stop was…

1
Take Two #4: Jay-Z's "The Black Album" (2003) 51:37

3+ y ago51:37

51:37

We finish our Jay-Z Take Two series with what was supposed to be Hova's swan song, The Black Album. We discuss the hype surrounding this album, the ridiculous amount of remixes we got out of this, and Just Blaze's extraordinary production. More on The Black Album Ranking the Beats: Jay-Z's The Black Album (Vibe) Revisiting The Black Album (Albumism…

1
Take Two #3: Jay-Z's "Reasonable Doubt" (1996) 46:49

3+ y ago46:49

46:49

We continue our Take Two miniseries and looking at two albums from an iconic artist. This time, it's Jay-Z and his debut studio album Reasonable Doubt. This marks the first time we're talking about a Hova album in depth and we discuss why that may be, Jay's features before this album dropped, and what the future of New York rap and Jigga's career m…

1
Hanif Abdurraqib on The Beach Boys' "Surf's Up" (1971) 47:59

3+ y ago47:59

47:59

The Beach Boys are often regarded as one of the most prolific and influential American bands of all time. However, the group has has its fair share of missteps and controversies over the years. They found early commercial success with songs like "Surfin' USA" and "I Get Around" and critical success with the album Pet Sounds. As time went on and the…

1
The Art of Sampling #3B with Dan Charnas on Slum Village's "Fantastic, Vol. 2" (2000) 59:47

3+ y ago59:47

59:47

This week, we're wrapping up the third edition of The Art of Sampling and talking about Slum Village's album Fantastic, Vol. 2 with music exec and writer, Dan Charnas. We discuss J Dilla's sampling techniques, the great lengths the label went through to keep this project under wraps, and the influence of Dilla on future beatmaking. More on Dan Char…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Daphne Phil Wang Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide