My guest this week is David Jacober. He’s a member of Holy Ghost Party and Dope Body, and he also works as a solo artist. We first met when we played a show together in 2009, and I’ve been a fan of both of his bands ever since.
He talks about his childhood in Arbutus, and his teenage collaborations with (his current bandmate) Zach Utz. He tells me about Dope Body being slowly courted by Drag City Records and how working with them led to their band gaining traction in Europe. We commiserate about the inherent wackness of being compared to Rage Against The Machine and Kid Rock.
Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Boo-Yaa Tribe’s New Funky Nation. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.
Episode 47 - 83 Cutlass /
My guest this week is Chad Dawson, aka 83 Cutlass. He made his debut with a self-titled EP in 2012. We met recently when him and I played the parts of Inspectah Deck and Cappadonna, (respectively) at a Wu-Tang tribute show.
He talks about being equally inspired by the older R&B he heard at his grandmother’s card parties, and the hip-hop his younger uncles were digging. He talks about his days as a graffiti writer, and how graffiti inspired his approach to music. We talk about his debut EP, and the full-length album he’s working on now. Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to King Tee’s Payback’s A Mutha. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.
Episode 46 - Josh Kuderna and Mike Moran /
My guests this week are Josh Kuderna and Mike Moran. Josh and Mike are Baltimore-based comedians who host the long-running Digression Sessions podcast. We first met when I appeared on a live episode of their show, and I was excited to have them on my show this time around.
They tell me how they met while busing tables, and how their day jobs led to Mike attending a Landmark Forum retreat. They talk about their earliest standup experiences, and how they sharpened their skills through the years. They tell me how Digression Sessions started, and we swap notes on the podcasting game.
Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Three Times Dope’s Original Stylin’. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.
Episode 45 - Height Spinning Tunes 4 /
This is the first all-music episode in a while. It’s a mix of songs by people that have appeared on the podcast, and acts that I played with on this recent rap round robin tour.
Boogie Boy Metal Mouth – Downstairs Neighbor (Ode to Koala)
Sandman the Rappin’ Cowboy – The Cowboy’s Life Is a Very Dreary Life
Shark Tank – Nighttime Men Pt. 2
Passalacqua – Long Hair Anthem
Doc Waffles and Eddie Logix – After ‘The Ruiner’
Ed Schrader’s Music Beat – Radio Eyes
PT Burnem – Kng Dck
Kate Ferencz – Worshipping the Devil
Paulie Think w/ DMLH – Ride Wit’ Me
Lil Cake and Jack Toft – Somebody Call in a Bomb Threat (My Baby Just Broke Up With Me)
Height Keech – Bring Your Soul (To the Function)
Brzowski – I’m The Atlantic
Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to How Ya Like Me Now, by Kool Moe Dee. This episode is hosted by splicetoday.com.
Episode 44 - The Plural MC /
My guest this week is Neal Tyson, aka The Plural MC. He’s been releasing albums since 2003, including a full-length collaboration with Chris Freeland of Beat Babies / Oxes / Frenemies. We’ve been friends since high school, and he made his debut on my first solo album in 2000.
We talk about his days as a high school hip-hop bootlegger, and how this secret hustle widened his musical palette. He tells me about putting his early albums together, and how starting to work with Chris Freeland led him to finding a unique voice. We discuss balancing the passion to make music with the hassle of promoting it.
Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Tone-Lōc’s Lōc-ed After Dark, which itself is an homage to Donald Byrd’s A New Perspective. This episode is hosted by Splicetoday.com.