 When Hugh Masekela speaks of Africans losing their heritage to Western culture, he is being very literal. He warns of the Western influence on South Africans’ cultural roots and the threat of losing touch with those roots altogether. But the point of his message rings true in so many more areas, including the music we consume. If we don’t understand and honour the roots of where our sound comes from, we will lose it. We can keep the core of our musical culture alive by digging, learning, and by listening with an open mind — and I’m here to set that table. Welcome to The Purple Room; my name’s Shantu and this is a show where we celebrate Black music. VV Brown VV Brown is a singer from Northampton who released this very interesting project called Am I British Yet in 2023. It’s a concept album that explores the experience of being Black in the UK, but it’s not a light listen. Check out her song No Fear featuring Liam Bailey Pete Rock People are right when they say there’s beauty in the minutia. Pete Rock is a prime example, and he helped pioneer the sample-based producer role in the world of Hip-Hop which has given us so many incredible triple-threat artists over the years … that’s musicians who are DJs and producers as well as vocalists like RZA, Q-Tip, Lord Finesse, and Oddisee. Madlib When I talk with my music nerd friends about the masterful minutia of Pete Rock’s sampling technique, it’s not long before somebody brings up Madlib - another triple-threat in the music world with groups like Lootpack, Tha Alkaholiks. He also aligned himself with Jazz label Blue Note and released Shades of Blue in 2003 - still one of my favorite producer-based albums of all time, and a string of other solo and collaboration projects. From his 2021 album Sound Ancestors, check out Road of the Lonely Ones. Jazz is Dead / Adrian Yongue & Ali Shaheed Muhammed Jazz is Dead (JID) is an incredible series that I spend so much time with. It’s headed by two brilliant musicians: Adrian Younge is a film score composer and producer. Ali Shaheed Muhammed was from A Tribe Called Quest and Lucy Pearl, and he also plays bass throughout the Jazz is Dead series of albums. Muhammad and Younge are releasing fully original jazz albums that pay homage to artists who are often sampled in Hip-Hop music and if you’re looking for a place to start, check out JID #2 with Roy Ayers, #17 with Lonnie Liston Smith, or #6 with Mr. Gary Bartz, and you’re welcome. Tune in next week! ~ Shantu The Purple Room Playlist for Jan 6, 2024Hugh Masekela
If There’s Anybody Out There VV Brown f/ Liam Bailey No Fear Makaya McCraven When Your Lover Has Gone Orgone Prisim Break Robert Finley Livin’ Out a Suitcase Pete Rock The Boss Madlib Road of the Lonely Ones Otis Junior & Dr. Dundiff Every Night Junior Mance Don’t Cha Hear Me Callin’ to Ya 9th Wonder ISawSomebodyToday!!! Katalyst & Jazz is Dead Juneteenth Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder, Kamasi Washington & Phonte From My Heart and My Soul Van Hunt Hello Goodbye Milton Wright Keep it Up (DJ Spinna Mix) J Dilla Dillatronic 37 Shafiq Husayn Crush You Comments are closed.
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The Purple RoomThe Purple Room is an NCRA award-winning hour of music by Black musicians from across the African diaspora—all genres, all eras. It airs every Saturday at 2pm MT, and replays on Sundays at 11am on CJSR FM 88.5. Archives
November 2024
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