Uncommon Naledge

Ep 6 | Erica Thompson In this episode of Uncommon Naledge , Dr. Jabari Evans sits down with Chicago Sun-Times arts and culture reporter Erica Thompson for a wide-ranging conversation about journalism, Black cultural memory, celebrity access, and the evolving media landscape. They discuss how arts journalism can function as accountability reporting, the contraction of race and equity beats, the cha...

Ep 5 | Preach Jacobs Dr. Evans sits down with Columbia, SC cultural connector Preach Jacobs, a journalist, rapper, DJ, curator, event producer, and founder of SoulHAUS. They discuss Columbia’s creative identity, “low city self-esteem,” the power of staying and building in the South, and how SoulHAUS became a platform for Black art, storytelling, and community.  The discussion also turns to the rel...

Ep 4 | Sowmya Krishnamurthy In this episode of Uncommon Naledge, Dr. Jabari Evans talks with Sowmya Krishnamurthy, a journalist and author. The discussion centers on Sowmya's forthcoming book,  The Blueprint: Inside the Business of Roc-A-Fella Records , which reframes Roc-A-Fella Records not merely as a rap label but as a legitimate startup and business case study. The conversation explores the en...

Ep 3 | Lambros Fatsis In this episode of Uncommon Naledge, Dr. Jabari Evans speaks with Dr. Lambros Fatsis—Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Sussex, award-winning educator, and lifelong champion of Black musical cultures. Fusing the lens of cultural criminology with the radical traditions of the Black diaspora, Dr. Fatsis’ work traces the criminalisation of Black/Afro-diasporic m...

Ep 2 | Kalonji Nzinga In this episode of  Uncommon Naledge , Dr. Jabari Evans sits down with Dr. Kalonji Nzinga—interdisciplinary scholar, educator, and cultural worker—to explore the rich intersections between Hip-Hop, moral education, and Black cultural futurism. An assistant professor at the University of Colorado Boulder with appointments in Ethnic Studies and Information Science, Kalonji’s wo...

Ep # | Title Episode notes Uncommon Naledge is hosted by Dr. Jabari Evans and edited and produced by Phillip Schlies. @naledgesince82 on Twitter and Instagram Original music for introduction and outro produced by Michael "Double 0" Aguilar. This podcast is powered by Pinecast .

Ep 16 | Zari A. Taylor In this episode of Uncommon Naledge, Dr. Jabari Evans is joined by Dr. Zari A. Taylor, critical cultural studies scholar and Assistant Professor at NYU, whose work explores how race, beauty, celebrity culture, and the creator economy intersect in digital and popular culture. Dr. Taylor, a core member of the Content Creator Scholar Network (CCSN) and Global Member of the TikT...

Ep 15 | Dr. Kareem Edouard In this episode of  Uncommon Naledge , Dr. Jabari Evans sits down with  Dr. Kareem Edouard , assistant professor at Drexel University’s School of Education and a leading researcher at the Expressive and Creative Interaction Technologies (ExCITe) Center. Dr. Edouard is also the founder of the  ILLEST Lab —a research space dedicated to designing Inclusive Learning environm...

Ep 14 | Justin Walters In this episode of  Uncommon Naledge , Dr. Jabari Evans sits down with  Justin Walters , ESPN broadcaster and sports journalist, to talk about his journey through the fast-paced world of sports media. From covering some of the biggest moments in professional and collegiate sports to navigating the evolving landscape of digital and on-air journalism, Walters shares his insigh...

Ep 13 | Christina L. Myers In this episode of Uncommon Naledge , Dr. Evans sits down with SJMC alumna Dr. Christina L. Myers, assistant professor at Michigan State University’s School of Journalism, for a powerful conversation on Black representation, media narratives, and racial bias. Drawing from her background as both a journalist and scholar, Dr. Myers shares insights on how Critical Race Theo...

Ep 12 | The Future of Hip-Hop Studies Symposium In this special monologue, Dr. Jabari Evans provides an in-depth primer on  The Future of Hip-Hop Studies Symposium  at Harvard University. Reflecting on the event’s key themes, Dr. Evans unpacks the evolving role of Hip-Hop in academia, its intersections with technology, AI, and digital culture, and the urgent conversations shaping the next frontier...

Ep 11 | The Future of Hip-Hop Studies with AD Carson In this special episode of Uncommon Naledge, Dr. Jabari Evans sits down with Dr. AD Carson, award-winning scholar, artist, and professor at the University of Virginia, to unpack the evolving landscape of Hip-Hop scholarship. Fresh off his return from The Future of Hip-Hop Studies symposium at Harvard University, Dr. Evans reflects on key takeawa...

Ep 10 | Arionne Nettles In this episode of Uncommon Naledge, I sit down with journalist, author, and educator Arionne Nettles, who currently serves as the Garth C. Reeves eminent scholar chair at Florida A&M University. Arionne’s work sits at the intersection of culture, race, and media, and she’s spent her career telling the stories of Black Chicago—its influence, its challenges, and its unde...

Ep 9 | Charisse L'Pree Corsbie-Massay In this engaging episode, Dr. Jabari Evans is joined by Dr. Charisse L'Pree Corsbie-Massay, a scholar whose groundbreaking work bridges social psychology, critical media studies, and communication research. Dr. L’Pree delves into how media shapes identity, attitudes, and behaviors, and how diverse media platforms help us connect and express ourselves in an inc...

Ep 8 | Antoine Haywood In this episode, Dr. Jabari Evans sits down with Dr. Antoine Haywood, a leading scholar and advocate for community participation in local media. With over 15 years of experience directing public engagement programs and youth media initiatives, Haywood brings a wealth of knowledge about how communities utilize local communication tools—such as community-made video, radio, and...

Ep 7 | Tyler Bunzey In this episode, Dr. Tyler Bunzey, Assistant Professor of Cultural Studies, shares his experience teaching courses on hip-hop feminism and Black womanhood at Johnson C. Smith University. Dr. Evans and Dr. Bunzey discuss how hip-hop serves as a site of critical inquiry into race, gender, and identity, particularly through the lens of artists like Rapsody. Bunzey also touches on...

Ep 6 | Evan F. Moore Chicago journalist Evan F. Moore joins the podcast to discuss his work covering the intersection of sports, race, and culture. Moore reflects on how hip-hop has shaped the world of sports, from athlete activism to the influence of rap music on athletes' public personas. He also dives into his experience reporting on police violence, urban life, and the complexities of being a...

Ep 5 | David Hesmondhalgh Renowned media scholar Dr. David Hesmondhalgh sits down with Dr. Evans to explore the political economy of the cultural industries. The two discuss the origins of hip-hop within the contexts of race, gender, and class, referencing Tricia Rose’s claim that hip-hop was initially a rehabilitative force within Black communities. Hesmondhalgh shares his insights on the commerc...

Ep 4 | Chelsea Peterson-Salahuddin Dr. Chelsea Peterson-Salahuddin, a scholar of media and technology, joins the conversation to talk about the impact of digital media on Black identity and culture. She discusses her work on how Black creators navigate online platforms, the tensions between representation and commodification in digital spaces, and the influence of social media on movements like #B...

Ep 3 | Geoff Harkness Dr. Geoff Harkness joins Dr. Evans to discuss his research on global hip-hop culture, youth movements, and the ways in which marginalized communities across the world use music as a tool of resistance. From Chicago to the Middle East, Harkness sheds light on how young people employ hip-hop to challenge authority, construct identity, and build solidarity. This episode unpacks...

Ep 2 | Maco Faniel In this episode, Dr. Evans speaks with Maco Faniel, author of  Hip-Hop in Houston: The Origin and the Legacy . Together, they explore the rich history of Houston's hip-hop scene and its unique contributions to Southern rap culture. Faniel offers insight into the social and political forces that shaped the Houston sound, the legacy of artists like DJ Screw, and how the city's hip...

Ep 1 | Toby Jenkins Toby Jenkins is an Associate Professor of Higher Education and Director of the Museum of Education at the University of South Carolina. With a focus on cultural inclusion and belonging in higher education, Jenkins is a national expert on using culture as a tool for social change within educational settings. Having authored five books on the evolving ideologies of culture, famil...

Episode 4 | Marlon Twyman II This week Dr. Evans has an insightful discussion with Marlon Twyman, Assistant Professor of Communication at USC Annenberg, as we delve into the fascinating world of computational social science. As a quantitative social scientist specializing in advanced computational and statistical methods, Twyman's research sheds light on how teams, online communities, and organiza...

Episode 3 | Taylor Crumpton In this episode, join Dr. Evans for an engaging conversation with Taylor Crumpton, a prolific music, pop culture, and politics writer hailing from Dallas. Known for her insightful work across esteemed publications like The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and NPR, Taylor explores a diverse array of topics ranging from Black Queer advocacy to underrepresented hi...

Episode 2 | Anjali Vats In this episode, Dr. Evans delves into the intersection of law, race, and media with Dr. Anjali Vats, Associate Professor of Law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. With a keen interest in intellectual property, Dr. Vats offers unique insights into her groundbreaking book "The Color of Creatorship: Intellectual Property, Race and the Making of Americans&quot...