Craig Seymour

Craig's Pop Life: A Black gay podcast

Music EN ↓ 48 episodes

A Black, gay celebration of song with Craig Seymour, author of Luther: The Life & Longing of Luther Vandross; All I Could Bare: My Life in Strip Clubs of Gay D.C.; & Who's Your Daddy? His forthcoming book is Special: The Life & Artistry of Janet Jackson (March 2019). Throughout his career, Craig has interviewed Jackson, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and many others. He holds a Ph. D. in American Studies from UMCP, and his research is housed at the Archives of African American Music & Culture at Indiana University.

Be sure to visit the podcast's website and support the creator: www.craigspoplife.com

Author

Craig Seymour

Episodes

Ep 23: New Whitney Houston Single & Janet Jackson Remix Reissues 01.07.2019 40:43

My thoughts on Whitney Houston x Kygo "Higher Love" and the Janet Jackson Remix Reissues: "That's The Way Love Goes," "If," "Any Time, Any Place," "Together Again," and "Someone To Call My Lover."

EP 22: The importance of Mary J. Blige ( 2019 BET Awards Recap) 24.06.2019 37:35

My take on the 2019 BET Awards, why Mary J. Blige is so important, and why D.C. gets no love.

EP 21: Janet Jackson Book Update, That Taylor Swift Video, & My Coming Out Story 21.06.2019 1:03:19

I give you an update on my forthcoming Janet Jackson book. I also discuss Taylor Swift's "You Need To Calm Down" video and my Coming Out story.

Ep 20: Pose, Season 2 Premiere 14.06.2019 1:00:35

Craig's take on the "Pose" Season 2 Premiere

Ep 19: It's Gay Pride & I Ain't Happy 07.06.2019 1:00:42

Craig discusses his ambivalence towards Gay Pride. He also talks about When They See Us, Dark Phoenix, The Life and Death of Marsha P. Johnson, The Two Killings of Sam Cooke--and his favorite new web show, Black Coffee.

Ep 18: Rocketman review, RuPaul's Drag Race finale (NO SPOILERS), Rocketman review, Teddy Pendergrass documentary & more 31.05.2019 53:17

Craig's thoughts on new releases by Cardi B, Katy Perry, & Miley Cyrus; the Elton John biopic Rocketman; the Teddy Pendergrass documentary; and the RuPaul's Drag Race finale (NO SPOILERS).

Ep 17: What Black, Gay Pride Means To Me 24.05.2019 47:42

Craig discusses Black, Gay Pride and the cultural contribution of black, gay men such as Joseph Beam, Essex Hemphill, Marlon Riggs, Issac Julien, E. Lynn Harris, and James Earl Hardy.

Ep 16: Brené Brown's "The Call To Courage" & Damon Young's "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker." 17.05.2019 39:13

Craig discusses Madonna's "Crave," Ciara's "Beauty Mark," "Shrill" with Aidy Bryant, Brené Brown's "The Call To Courage," and Damon Young's "What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker."

Ep 15: Blackness, queerness, & the Met Gala 10.05.2019 50:36

Craig discusses the so-called "camp" fashions at the Met Gala and his favorite new music from Tink, Ari Lennox, Jhené Aiko, and Tameka "Tiny" Harris. 

EP 14: Janet Jackson on the Rock& Roll Hall of Fame, and Madonna and Mariah Carey on the Billboard Music Awards 03.05.2019 51:35

Craig discusses Janet Jackson and Stevie Nicks on the Rock& Roll Hall of Fame, and Madonna and Mariah Carey on the Billboard Music Awards

Ep 13: Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace 26.04.2019 53:10

Craig reviews Avengers: Endgame (no spoilers) and discusses Aretha Franklin's Amazing Grace

Ep 12: Luther Vandross Tribute 20.04.2019 1:03:47

Craig's birthday tribute to Luther Vandross, including audio from his 2001 interview with the R&B legend.

Ep 11: Beyoncé's Homecoming #Beychella 19.04.2019 29:12

Craig talks about Beyoncé's Homecoming, the Rosa Parks Museum, and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice.

Ep 10: Little movie review (no spoilers) & more 12.04.2019 34:27

Craig reviews Little with Regina Hall, Issa Rae, and Marsai Martin. He also discusses the new FX series "Fosse/Verdon," the PBS documentary "Reconstruction: After the Civil War," and Hanif Abdurraqib's book Go Ahead In the Rain: Notes A Tribe Called Quest.

Ep 9: Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, Diana Ross, Labelle, & Mötley Crüe 29.03.2019 39:30

Craig discusses "Autopsy: The Last Days of Left Eye," Diana Ross' 75th Birthday, a new house music cover of Labelle's epic ballad "Isn't It A Shame," and the Netflix Mötley Crüe biopic, The Dirt. Links to the music at craigspoplife.com

Ep 8: Us movie review (no spoilers) 22.03.2019 35:24

Craig discusses 2 Chainz, Solange, Boomerang, Triple Frontier, and Jordan Peele's Us with Lupita Nyong'o.

Ep. 7: A Mariah Carey Remix & A Beyoncé Book 15.03.2019 46:11

Craig discusses Mariah Carey's "A No No" Remix, Normani on The Tonight Show, "Boomerang" on BET, and Veronica Chambers' book on Beyoncé, which features Luvvie Ajayi and Lena Waithe, among others.

Ep. 6: The Umbrella Academy, Monica, and more 08.03.2019 39:19

Craig discusses his latest social media interactions one of his favorite artists, Monica. He also talks about Michael Jackson stans, Solange, 2 Chainz, The Umbrella Academy, and the Studio 54 documentary on Netflix.

Ep. 5: A Review of Solange's WHEN I GET HOME 01.03.2019 22:32

In this special episode, Craig reviews WHEN I GET HOME, the brand new album from Solange Knowles.

Ep. 4: Paris Is Burning 22.02.2019 48:13

Y'all, I was kinda bugged out doing this episode. I keep congratulating myself on five shows. Chile, this one is just my 4th. But this episode is still kinda special. I've included an excerpt from a conversation I had about Paris Is Burning in 1992 with my friend, the late--and legendary--black, gay poet, editor, performer and activist Essex Hemphill. I hope you enjoy and that I learn how to count...

Special 2019 Grammys Edition 11.02.2019 1:02:25

Craig gives his take on the presenters, performers, winners, and losers at the 2019 Grammys, including Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Janelle Monae, Cardi B, Ariana Grande, Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, Shawn Mendes, Drake, and Chloe x Halle.

Ep 2: Blackface, make it stop! 08.02.2019 40:11

In this episode, Craig sounds off on the blackface controversies in Virginia, the legacy of Dilla, "The Grammy Curse," and while I'm still not feeling Craig David.

Ep 1: Craig Be Knowin' 06.02.2019 49:44

Craig updates listeners on his forthcoming Janet Jackson book and discusses the black gay politics of the work of Amanda Seales and Michael Arceneaux. He also shares what he's reading (Hanif Abdurraquib's - Go Ahead in the Rain: Notes on A Tribe Called Quest), watching ("Grown-ish," Season 2)" and listening to (Summer Walker, Dawn Richard, James Blake, iyla, and more.)