Podcast
Heat Rocks
Hosted by MaximumFun.org · EN
Scorching guests and sizzling records: join music writer Oliver Wang and music supervisor Morgan Rhodes each week as they invite their favorite artists, critics and scholars for in-depth conversations about the albums that shape our lives. Each week our special guests will take you deep into their heat rocks from the world of hip-hop, soul, dance, jazz, funk and more. Get with us!
10episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Introducing Primer, MaxFun’s Newest Music Podcast
May 21, 202400:49:16Tap to summarizeHello Heat Rockers! This is Producer Christian, I edited Heat Rocks and you might've heard my voice on a few episodes with Oliver and Morgan! So we've been working on a new music podcast here on Maximum Fun and I'm so excited to finally share it with you! Primer focuses on genres of music from outside the English-speaking world. This first season we're talking about Japanese City Pop and I will be hosting alongside Yosuke Kitazawa.If you like what you hear, please subscribe to Primer! I think you're really gonna love what we've made here. :) On November 5th, 1979, Miki Matsubara’s debut pop single “Mayonaka no Door/ Stay with Me” was released in her home country of Japan. It was a huge hit and remained her biggest and most beloved work throughout her entire career. Over 40 years after its original release, it soared in popularity once again when a whole new international audience discovered the song through TikTok. Its catchy hook and incredible vocals still resonate with listeners today and has become a staple in the City Pop genre. If you’ve heard one City Pop song, it’s probably Stay with Me.On our inaugural episode of Primer, radio/tv presenter Linda Marigliano joins us to discuss City Pop icon, Miki Matsubara and her debut record, Pocket Park. We get into the unexpected renewed interest in Mayonaka no Door, the story behind Miki’s sudden departure from the music scene, and Linda’s personal connection and discovery of City Pop.Check out our Spotify playlist for this episode!Follow Linda: Instagram | Twitter | Tough Love | Love LanguageFollow Primer: Instagram | Twitter | TikTok
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The Heat Rocks Appreciation Episode
Aug 12, 202100:55:55Tap to summarizeWell, we're finally here. After nearly 200 episodes, we're ending our run with Maximum Fun! We intend to come back sometime in 2022, and to celebrate this occasion, it's and Oliver, Morgan, and Producer Christian episode. We talk about our favorite moments from the show, the things we appreciate about the show, and we have a few good laughs. Follow Morgan and Oliver on Twitter to keep up with upcoming projects! Until next time, Heat Rockers. If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
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Cat Zhang on Flo Milli's "Ho, why is you here?" (2020)
Aug 5, 202100:43:10Tap to summarizeMusic writer and resident TikTok expert Cat Zhang sits down with us to discuss Flo Milli's 2020 debut mixtape Ho, why is you here? We get into what goes into making a TikTok hit, Flo Milli's unique voice, and her role in the current hip hop landscape.More on Cat ZhangCheck out Cat's latest article on TikTok trendsListen to Cat chatting with our friends at Switched on PopTwitter | Website More on Flo MilliFlo Milli Is Here. Get Used to It. (The Ringer)Flo Milli Came to Flex (Rolling Stone)Back Pack (Flora The Explorer) music videoShow Tracklisting (all songs from Ho, why is you here? unless otherwise indicated):19May IIn The PartyPaul Anka: Put Your Head On My Shoulderyung cxreal and baby frankie: dumb bitchitisSend The AddyFlo Milli: Back Pack (Flora The Explorer)Beef FloMixNot FriendlyPockets BiggerPussycat DollEthereal and Playboi Carti: BeefBeef FloMixMay ILike That BitchWeakIn The PartyMood Everyday (Intro)Pussycat DollJacki-O: Sugar WallsMC Lyte: 10% DisDoja Cat: StreetsHey Heat Rockers, if you have an appreciation for the show, we’d love to play some of them during our Aug 11th appreciation episode. You can either send use a voice memo to heatrockspod@gmail.com OR you can phone in a voicemail to (310) 986-3340. We just need them all in by August 8th (Sunday), thanks!Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on thereIf you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
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Music & Popcorn #7: Daphne A. Brooks on the "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack (1995)
Jul 30, 202100:54:22Tap to summarizeWe continue our Music and Popcorn miniseries, where we chat about some of our favorite movie soundtracks. This week, we're talking to professor and writer Daphne Brooks about the soundtrack to Waiting to Exhale. We get into Babyface's prolific career, Whitney Houston's presence on both the soundtrack and the movie, and the mystery surrounding DJ Theo Mizuhara.More on Daphne A. BrooksCheck out her book Liner Notes for the RevolutionAnd check out the accompanying playlist!WebsiteMore on Waiting to ExhaleOfficial trailerShocking Omissions: 'Waiting To Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album' (NPR)100 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time: 'Waiting to Exhale' (Albumism)Show Tracklisting (all songs from the Waiting to Exhale OST unless otherwise indicated):Exhale (Shoop Shoop)My Funny ValentineMy Love, Sweet LoveCount On MeIt Hurts Like HellWhy Does It Hurt So BadLet It FlowNot Gon' CryMy Funny ValentineSittin' Up In My RoomWey UKissing YouLet It FlowPrince: HeadExhale (Shoop Shoop)Maxwell: Sumthin' Sumthin'A Tribe Called Quest: Hot SexDionne Farris: I KnowOleta Adams: Get HereEn Vogue: Don't Let Go (Love)Hey Heat Rockers, if you have an appreciation for the show, we’d love to play some of them during our Aug 11th appreciation episode. You can either send use a voice memo to heatrockspod@gmail.com OR you can phone in a voicemail to (310) 986-3340. We just need them all in by August 8th (Sunday), thanks!Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on thereIf you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
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Music & Popcorn #6: '90s OSTs with Jocelyn Brown
Jul 22, 202101:02:40Tap to summarizeWe reboot our Music and Popcorn series, where we talk about some of our favorite movie soundtracks. This week, we invite our friend Jocelyn Brown to discuss a few iconic 90s OSTs, Love Jones, Boyz N The Hood, and Trainspotting. We get into what makes these soundtracks so memorable, the shift in tone from 80s and 90s OSTs, and proper record care etiquette.Show Tracklisting: Primal Scream: TrainspottingRefugee Camp All-Stars Presents Melky and Day: I Got A Love Jones For YouIce Cube: How To Survive in South CentralMonie Love: Work It OutIce-T: New Jack HustlerKid 'N Play: Fun HouseToo $hort: It's Your LifeQuincy Jones: SetembroStanley Clark: Boyz N The Hood ThemeMain Source: Just A Friendly Game of Baseball (Remix)Yo Yo: Mama Don't Take No MessIce Cube: How To Survive In South CentralQuincy Jones: SetembroTony! Toni! Toné!: Me and YouIce Cube: A Bird In The HandThe Five Stairsteps: O-o-h ChildNewcleus: Jam On ItCompton's Most Wanted: Growin' Up In The HoodBlur: SingLou Reed: Perfect DayNew Order: TemptationUnderworld: Born Slippy (Nuxx)Primal Scream: TrainspottingGoldie: Inner City LifeBrian Eno: Deep Blue DayIggy Pop: Lust for LifeLou Reed: Perfect DayBrian Eno: Deep Blue DayMaxwell: Sumthin' Sumthin'Cameo: Shake Your PantsMeshell Ndgeocello & Marcus Miller: Rush OverRefugee Camp All-Stars & Lauryn Hill: The Sweetest ThingDionne Farris: HopelessRefugee Camp All-Stars & Lauryn Hill: The Sweetest ThingDuke Ellington and John Coltrane: In A Sentimental MoodRefugee Camp All-Stars Presents Melky and Day: I Got A Love Jones For YouSWV: AnythingDinosaur Jr.: Turnip FarmLarge Professor and Pete Rock: The Rap WorldHere is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on thereIf you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
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Yola on Jill Scott's "Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds, Vol. 1 (2000)
Jul 15, 202100:59:47Tap to summarizeThis week, we talk to singer/songwriter Yola about Jill Scott's debut studio album "Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds, Vol 1." We get into Jill's time with The Roots, how her poetry shaped her songwriting, and Jill's role in the neo-soul movement.More on YolaCheck out Yola's newest single and upcoming album Stand for Myself! Yola is Ready to Meet Her Moment (Rolling Stone)Twitter | InstagramMore on Jill ScottJill Scott’s Debut Album ‘Who Is Jill Scott? Words And Sounds Vol. 1’ Turns 20 | Anniversary Retrospective (Albumism)Check out the original version of You Got Me by The Roots w/ Jill ScottJill Scott's Def Poetry appearanceShow Tracklisting (all songs from Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds, Vol. 1 unless otherwise indicated):Love RainYola: Goodbye Yellow Brick RoadYola: Stand For MyselfA Long WalkBrothaThe Roots: You Got Me (Live)Slowly SurelyJilltroTryIt's Love Jill Scott: Gotta Get Up (Another Day)Honey MolassesThe Roots (Interlude)Do You Remember Love RainI Think It's BetterExclusivelyJill Scott: Crown Royal on IceHe Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)A Long WalkDo You RememberMoe Koffman: Days Gone BySlowly SurelyI Think it's BetterHe Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)Watching Me A Long WalkGettin' In The WayIt's LoveI Think it's BetterThe Roots (Interlude)Grenique: Star of the StoryAdriana Evans: Love Is All AroundMinnie Riperton: Les FleursHere is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on thereIf you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
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Kris Bowers on Kendrick Lamar's "Section.80" (2011) [redux]
Jul 8, 202100:32:41Tap to summarizeIn honor of Kendrick Lamar's Section.80 turning 10 years old this month, we are re-airing our convo with Kris Bowers on Lamar's debut studio album.[show notes from original post]To talk about Kendrick Lamar’s studio LP debut, we wanted to find someone of K-Dot’s generation, another L.A. young gun, and who better than pianist and composer, Kris Bowers? Like Kendrick, Kris grew up in L.A. and just as Kendrick has ascended the hip-hop ladder, so has Kris in jazz, as he won the prestigious Theolonious . But more than that, the web of Los Angeles musical ties was bound to bring the two into orbit in different ways – something we discuss in the episode – not the least of which is the fact that Kris covered one of the biggest tracks in Kendrick’s early career: “Rigamortis.”In our conversation with Kris, we got deep into how he put together both the song and video for his version of “Rigamortis,” whether or not Kendrick has a jazz sensibility in his style, and what it’s like to see a hometown kid become the Greatest Rapper Alive.More on Kendrick Lamar’s Section.80Kendrick talking about Section.80 in an interview with Complex.com.Ditto but in an interview with Billboard.Ogden Payne’s revisit of the album in 2016 for Forbes.More on Kris BowersKris on NPR’s “Piano Jazz: Rising Stars.”NY Times on Kris winning the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Prize.Website | Soundcloud | Twitter | FacebookShow Tracklisting (all songs from Section.80 unless indicated otherwise):Hol' UpA.D.H.DKris Bowers: Forget-erKris Bowers: RigamortisRigamortisMurs: Everything Chapter SixKeisha's Song (Her Pain)Kendrick Lamar: Sing About Me, I'm Dying of ThirstAb-Souls OutroPoe Mans Dreams (His Vice)F*ck Your EthnicityKush & CorinthiansRigamortisKris Bowers: RigamortisWillie Jones III: The ThornRigamortisBlow My High (Members Only)HiiiPowerAb-Souls OutroHere is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on thereIf you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
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Benny Sings on Phil Collins' "Face Value" (1981)
Jul 2, 202100:47:31Tap to summarizeThis week, we talk to producer/singer Benny Sings about Phil Collins' solo debut album, Face Value. We get into the incredible drum fill of In The Air Tonight, it's iconic use on Miami Vice, and the real life issues Collins was going through when making this album.More on Benny SingsCheck out Benny's new album MusicWith The Vibrant 'City Pop', Benny Sings Stakes His Claim For The Masses (NPR)Twitter | InstagramMore on Face ValuePhil explaining the origins of In The Air TonightIn The Air Tonight on Miami ViceCheck out Chris Molanphy's episode of Hit Parade on Phil CollinsShow Tracklisting (all songs from Face Value unless otherwise indicated)This Must Be LoveDronedBenny Sings: Sunny AfternoonPhil Collins & Phillip Bailey: Easy LoverOne More NightIf Loving Me Is EasyDronedHand In HandI Missed AgainBehind the LinesIn The Air TonightI'm Not MovingIn The Air TonightIf Leaving Me Is EasyI'm Not MovingGino Vanneli: Love & EmotionFrank Sinatra: Only the LonelyPaul McCartney: Say Say Say
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Marzz on Kierra Sheard's "This Is Me" (2006)
Jun 25, 202100:40:31Tap to summarizeSinger/songwriter Marzz sits down with us to discuss Kierra Sheard's gospel album This is Me. We get into the secular production of this album, Kierra's place in the Clark Sheard family, and Marzz's own experience in the church. More on MarzzCheck out Marzz's Love Letterz EP Marzz Evokes The Brightest And Most Vibrant Colors All By Living In Her Truest Aura (Uproxx)Instagram | TwitterMore on Kierra SheardKierra and Karen Sheard singing "You Loved Me"Kierra on This Is Me back in 2006This is Me music videoShow Tracklisting (all songs from This Is Me unless otherwise indicated): This is MeWhy Me?Marzz: Countless TimesIt Is What It IsNo, NeverFaithKaren Clark Sheard & Kierra Sheard: You Loved MeHave What You WantThis Is MeYesFaithNo, NeverYouYesHear ThisChangeYouKim Burrell: Open Up The DoorMary Mary, Shackles (Praise You) J Moss: RebuildHere is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on thereIf you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
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Celebrating Lil' Kim's "Hard Core" (1996)
Jun 17, 202100:50:22Tap to summarizeThis week, Oliver and Morgan are discussing Lil' Kim's debut studio record "Hard Core" which is turning 25 years old this year. We get into Lil' Kim's role in Bad Boy and Junior M.A.F.I.A., the effect she had on the Megan Thee Stallions and Cardi B's of today, and what made this record so unforgettable.More on Hard CoreA timely reminder that Lil Kim’s ‘Hard Core’ is still the greatest rap record of all time (NME)Biggie's reference track for Queen BitchHow Lil’ Kim’s ‘Hard Core’ Changed Rap (The Ringer)Show Tracklisting (all songs from Hard Core unless otherwise indicated):DrugsSpend A Little DoeJunior M.A.F.I.A.: Get MoneyBig Momma ThangNot TonightBig Momma ThangNot TonightSpend A Little DoeJeru The Damaja: Ya Playin' YaselfTotal: Can't You See112: Peaches and CreamJunior M.A.F.I.A.: Player's AnthemFoxy Brown: I'll BeFoxy Brown: (Holy Matrimony) Letter to the FirmCity Girls: Fuck On UHWA: Little DickNo TimeFuck YouRoberta Flack: Hey That's No Way To Say GoodbyeQueen BitchThe Notorious B.I.G.: Queen BitchDrugsFuck YouDreamsWe Don't Need ItCrush On YouBig PoppaDreamsScheamin'Big Momma ThangCrush On YouCrush On You (Remix)The Jeff Lorber Fusion: Rain DanceNo TimeG Yamazawa: Crush On YouMariah Carey: A No NoLido: Melodies From Heaven/Crush On YouNo TimeCrush On YouFoxy Brown: Ill Na NaNicki Minaj: Itty Bitty PiggyNicki Minaj: Barbie DreamsHere is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on thereIf you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
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