Accolades

In episode 33 I talk to Demone Carter and Nate LeBlanc from Dad Bod Rap Pod about Traxamillion, an American hip hop producer from San Jose, California. He produced records such as Keak da Sneak's "Super Hyphy" and Dem Hoodstarz "Grown Man Remix". His first album, The Slapp Addict, was a compilation of Bay Area hyphy artists and was released August 22, 2006.

In episode 32 I talk to Tash (Tha Alkaholiks) about King Tee, an American West Coast Hip hop rapper from Compton, California. Emerging as one of Compton's earliest hip hop artists, he was signed to Capitol records, where he released his debut album Act a Fool in 1988 with the hit singles "Act a Fool," "Payback's A Mutha," "The Coolest," and "Bass” [Remix], all of which were considered hip-hop clas...

In episode 31 I talk to Ras Kass about Stan Lee, an American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and producer. He rose through the ranks of a family-run business called Timely Publications which would later become Marvel Comics. He was the primary creative leader for two decades, leading its expansion from a small division of a publishing house to a multimedia corporation that dominated the comi...

In episode 30 I talk to Guillermo E. Brown (Pegasus Warning, The Late Late Show with James Corden) about Pete "La Roca" Sims, an American jazz drummer.

In episode 29 I talk to Al Jackson (Daily Blast Live) about his friend Hannibal Buress, an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He started performing comedy in 2002 while attending Southern Illinois University. He starred on Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show from 2012 to 2020, and was featured on Comedy Central's Broad City from 2014 to 2019.

In episode 28 of Accolades Series I talk to Juice Aleem about Divine Styler, an alternative hip hop artist from Brooklyn, New York. He first emerged as part of Ice-T's Rhyme Syndicate.

In episode 27 I talk to Slug (Atmosphere) about Prodigy. With Havoc, he was one half of the hip hop duo Mobb Deep.

In episode 26 I talk to Mike Ladd about Emma Harris, an American-born Russian actress, singer, dancer, cabaret artist, and writer.

In episode 25 I talk to Vast Aire (Cannibal Ox) about Funky Four Plus One, an American hip hop group from The Bronx, New York, composed of Jazzy Jeff, Sharon Green, D.J. Breakout, Guy Williams, Keith Keith, The Voice of K.K. and Rodney Stone. The latter two members also performed together as the duo Double Trouble, notably in the film Wild Style. They were the first hip hop group to receive a reco...

In episode 24 I talk to Blockhead and Open Mike Eagle about Prince Paul, an American record producer, disc jockey and recording artist from Amityville, New York. Paul began his career as a DJ for Stetsasonic. Since then he has worked on albums by Boogie Down Productions, Gravediggaz, MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane and 3rd Bass, among others. Major recognition for Prince Paul came when he produced De La S...

In episode 23 of Accolades Video Series I talk to Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices) about Tony McPhee, a blues guitarist from Humberston, United Kingdom. He is the founder of The Groundhogs. An early version of this band backed Champion Jack Dupree and John Lee Hooker on UK concerts in the mid-1960s. He is often credited as Tony (T.S.) McPhee. He was given this name by the producer Mike Vernon who s...

In episode 22 of Accolades Video Series I talk to singer-songwriter, trombone player & actress Alanna Vicente about Peggy Lee, a jazz and popular music singer, songwriter, composer, and actress from Jamestown, North Dakota, United States. Her career spans over seven decades. From her beginning as a vocalist on local radio to singing with Benny Goodman’s big band, Lee created a sophisticated person...

In episode 21 of Accolades Video Series I talk to Jeffrey Lewis (The Bundles) about Diane Cluck, a singer-songwriter from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States. She describes her music as intuitive folk. She began taking piano lessons at the age of seven and was classically trained on scholarship at the Pennsylvania Academy of Music. Although known as a solo performer, she has often collaborated...

In episode 20 of Accolades Video Series I talk to Geoff Farina (Karate) about David Plotz, a journalist from Washington, D.C., United States and podcast host of the Slate Political Gabfest, with Emily Bazelon and John Dickerson.

In episode 19 of Accolades Video Series I talk to Page Hamilton (Helmet) about John Stowell, a jazz guitarist, composer, author, and lecturer from New York City, New York, United States. He holds his guitar in a diagonal position, which facilitates playing close, piano-like voicings more comfortably. He has been a contributing columnist for several magazines, including Down Beat, Guitar Player, an...

In episode 18 of Accolades Video Series I talk to Oliver Ackermann (A Place To Bury Strangers) about LaTosha Brown, a community organizer, political strategist and consultant from Selma, Alabama, United States. She is the co-founder of Black Voters Matter, a voting rights group first noted for its work on the 2017 U.S. Senate special election. Brown focuses on issues related to political empowerme...

In episode 17 of Accolades Video Series I talk to Kim Coletta (Jawbox) about Nellie Bly, a journalist, industrialist, inventor and charity worker from Cochran’s Mills, Pennsylvania, United States. She was widely known for her record breaking trip around the world in 72 days, in emulation of Jules Verne’s fictional character Phileas Fogg. She was a pioneer in her field and launched a new kind of in...

In episode 16 of Accolades Video Series I talk to Craig Finn (The Hold Steady) about Will Johnson, a musician, singer-songwriter, author, and painter from Kennett, Missouri, United States. He is the lead singer of the bands Centro-Matic and South San Gabriel. Called one of the most prolific artists in American indie rock, Johnson has also released solo records, and is a member of the bands Monster...

In episode 15 of Accolades Video Series I talk to Wouter van Asslbergh (Shht) about Andrej Tarkovsky, a filmmaker, theatre director, writer, and film theorist from Zavrazhye, Soviet Union. He is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential directors in thehistory of Russian and world cinema. His films explored spiritual and metaphysical themes, and are noted for their slow pacing and...

In episode 14 of Accolades Video Series I talk to Blaise Garza (Violent Femmes) about Steve Mackay, a tenor saxophonist from Daly City, California, United States. After sitting in with the Stooges on several occasions, he formally joined the group two days before they left Detroit for Los Angeles to record Fun House in May 1970. In 2003, Mackay rejoined the Stooges when they played their first sho...

In episode 13 of Accolades Video Series I talk to Jehnny Beth (Savages) about British Sea Power, an alternative rock band from Reading, Berkshire, England. The wide-ranging nature of the band’s material has led critics to liken their sound to a variety of groups, from The Cure and Joy Division to the Pixies and Arcade Fire. The band are famed for their live performances, the unusual lyrical conten...

In episode 12 of Accolades Video Series I talk to H.C. McEntire about Pauli Murray, a civil rights activist from Baltimore, Maryland, United States. She became a lawyer, women’s rights activist, Episcopal priest, and author. Drawn to the ministry in1977, Murray was the first African-American woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest, in the first year that any women were ordained by that church.

In episode 11 of Accolades Video Series I talk to Skyler Skjelset (Fleet Foxes) about Merzbow, a Japanese noise project started in 1979 by Masami Akita. Merzbow is best known for a style of harsh, aggressive noise. Since 1980, Akita has released over 400 recordings and has collaborated with various artists. As well as being a prolific musician, he has been a writer and editor for several books and...

In episode 10 of Accolades Video Series I talk to Steve Albini about Alan Dower Blumlein, an electronics engineer from Hampstead, London, United Kingdom. Blumlein is known for his many inventions in telecommunications, sound recording, stereophonic sound, television and radar. He received 128 patents and is considered one of the most significant engineers and inventors of his time.

In episode 9 of Accolades Video Series I talk to Mattias De Craene (Nordmann) about John Lurie, a musician, painter, actor, director, and producer from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. He co-founded the Lounge Lizards jazz ensemble, acted in 19 films, including Stranger than Paradise and Down by Law, composed and performed music for 20 television and film works, and produced, directed, and s...