A long way from the block

Ofosu Jones-Quartey—performing as Born I—is a conscious hip-hop artist and meditation teacher. A native of Washington D.C., his early life was impacted by the crack epidemic of the 1980s and 90s. His strong, educated, cultured Ghanaian parents helped him navigate tough times. Born I talks about being exposed to Buddhism at an early age, by his mother. His interest in conscious hip-hop led him to black history and spiritual studies....

For this episode, I sat down with Brooklyn native Ken “Shadow” Goodman, founder and chief combatives coach of 52 Blocks VTK (Violent Tactics Knowledge). We talk in depth about what it was like growing up in Bed-Stuy and trying to navigate the pull of the streets. He learned early on from elders in the community, but street life eventually got the best of him, and he ended up spending over twenty-five years inside the New York State...

Guy Nattiv—the Israeli-born director, producer, and screenwriter—won an Oscar in 2019 for his short film Skin. His latest release, Tatami, is out now in select theaters. In this episode, we speak about the subject matter of Skin, his filmmaking process, and the impact it had on him and on the actors. It's a highly unconventional story of revenge, making Nattiv, in my mind, one of the most important filmmakers today. We discuss...

My guest for this episode is flautist, vocalist, and composer Naïssam Jamal. Born in Paris to Syrian parents, she entered a conservatory at age six to study classical flute. We discuss her early life in Paris and issues surrounding her cultural background; she talks about her experiences in the conservatory and her subsequent travels throughout the Middle East and Africa. Master musicians whom she’s met along the way have been majo...

In this episode, I talk with the talented trumpeter, composer, and arranger Milena Casado. Born and raised in Spain, she’s a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, where she honed her skills working with amazing teachers. She shares about growing up in a small village town, looking different from other members of that community; about meeting her father for the first time; about getting in touch with her Dominican roots; and abo...

In this episode, I talk with Ankh West, a science advocate who focuses on scientific literacy within the African-American community. Science, he explains, can be a tool for promoting rigorous academic standards within institutions. He talks about the importance of peer-reviewed scholarship, archaeological data, and linguistic research. Among his primary focuses of research are ancient Egypt, Nubia, and Nile Valley civilizations. He...

I had the pleasure of recording this episode inside the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, in L.A., hometown of the talented Wren T. Brown. Wren is an actor, film producer, and theater director, who cofounded the Ebony Repertory Theatre (ERT). We talk in-depth about what that company has meant to him and how it has affected an entire community in a positive way. Influenced by the likes of his great uncle Lester Young, black excell...

For this episode, I sat down with the young lion Kahlil Childs, an alto saxophonist and multi-reedist who leads his own quartet here in San Diego. At 15, he has already made a name for himself on the local jazz scene. We met to discuss why jazz was the path he discerned for himself, and how learning about jazz legends has inspired him to continue his journey. We talk about what it's like to study under jazz master and alto sax...

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Kamau Rashid, professor and director of the Kemetic Institute of Chicago. We speak in detail about the importance of African and African-American history and its power to transform the lives of younger generations, and he references the historians and intellectuals who were his own forebears and inspirations. We discuss Nile Valley civilizations, West African history, the Caribbean Islands, Haiti, a...

South African bassist, composer, and arranger Herbie Tsoaeli is affectionately known, in certain circles, as Malume, a term of respect for older men who serve as elders. In this episode, we discuss his origins and inspiration. He was raised in Cape Town during the 1976 Soweto Uprising and describes the effects of Apartheid on his development. His parents, wanting him to be a doctor, were initially disappointed by his musical path, ...

Liza Jessie Peterson’s parents provided her with a grounding that allowed her, she says, to teeter at the edge of the cliff but never jump. The artist, activist, poet, playwright, and actor had early success as a model but discovered it wasn’t her true path. In this episode, she shares how her writing career began with journaling and poetry, eventually leading to her performing and honing her skills at the famous Nuyorican Poets Ca...

Professor Zahalea Anderson is a second-generation student of Sanuces Ryu JuJitsu System and founder of RA Life Defense. We recently met at her makeshift outdoor studio, at Bluff Park in Long Beach, to discuss her upbringing and martial arts journey. Anderson learned from her father, Grand Master Urban Muhammad, who was a first-generation student of the legendary Dr. Moses Powell. She talks about the importance she places on incorpo...

For this too-short conversation, I sat down with Romeo Regalli, chef and co-owner of Ras Plant Based, located in Brooklyn and New York's West Village. We discussed his upbringing in Ethiopia, embedded in family and community. He described his sense of purpose to make the world healthier and happier one meal at a time, the core of his work, and we dished about his restaurant's original Brooklyn location and its new locatio...

In this inspiring episode, I talk with South African rebel singer Thandiswa Mazwai, discussing her upbringing in Soweto, South Africa, during the Apartheid era. Her memories of the violence that took place are vivid.
She recalls experiencing a great sense of freedom upon Nelson Mandela's release from prison and describes meeting South African legends Miriam Makeba and Hugh Masekela, who would become her close friends and ...

Derrick Banks is the owner and operator of Freshly Faded Barber + Shop in North Park, San Diego. Coming up, he was mentored by local barbers such as those at Gentry’s, part of the San Diego scene for over sixty years. In this conversation we start by discussing his upbringing and the standards his parents set for him. Black history and culture were always important. Banks studied with the Earth Center, an organization focused on re...

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Rux Revue, the groundbreaking debut album by Carl Hancock Rux. Not long ago, we sat down for an in-depth discussion about his hands-on involvement in its making, from bringing in his own background singers to recording the powerful song "I Recall" in a bathroom, for the acoustics. We talked through the album track by track, enriching their meaning with context. Rux’s adoptive parent...

In this latest episode, I talk with South African saxophonist and composer Linda Sikhakhane, who honors and pays homage to the great elders and master musicians, including Brian Thusi. Sikhakhane, who was raised in Umlazi township, talks about the cultural aspects of being Zulu and the importance of preserving his culture. He shares about his time attending The New School, learning from the likes of Billy Harper and Reggie Workman;...

After seeing Grammy-winning pianist and composer Kris Davis, live at the Village Vanguard, I knew I wanted to sit down with her and dive into jazz. Here we discuss her philosophy of improvisation and her energy and passion for performing live. The Canadian-born artist fell in love with jazz at an early age, studied jazz piano at the University of Toronto, and cites the legendary Don Pullen as a major influence. Along the way, as sh...

In my first-ever interview with an audience, I sat down with Lynel Allen III for the third installment of “The seat of my soul.” We revisited topics from our prior conversations (Episodes 79 and 81) while discussing his childhood in greater depth. He touched on personal issues such as his heavy drug use, the loneliness of incarceration, and when he decided to turn his life around. Finally, we discussed his current “Bounce Back” rec...