Episode 93 - Bleubird (Part 1)

My guest this week is Bleubird, aka Jacques Bruna. Jacques is a solo MC, as well as a member of Gunporn, Les Swashbuckling Napoleons and Triune Gods. I first met him when I set up a Baltimore show for his group S.M.T.H. in 2001.

He talks about his early days working with Florida’s Nature Kids, and their ill-fated first and last national tour. We discuss our mutual history of cutting our teeth opening for Pittsburgh’s Grand Buffet. He talks about putting together his own European tours and eventually moving to Europe, but ultimately yearning to get back to the states to make moves.

Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Poison Clan’s Ruff Town Behavior. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

Episode 92 - Eze Jackson and PT Burnem (Tour Recap)

Eze Jackson and PT Burnem, (the first and second Height Zone World guests) return for a roundtable discussion of our recently-completed rap round robin tour. I spin a few of their tunes that stood out to me on this trip, plus some tracks by the MC’s on the upcoming northeast leg of the tour.

Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Boogie Down Production’s Criminal Minded. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

Episode 91 - Josh Rogers (Illuminated Paths)

My guest this week is Josh Rogers. Josh runs the Illuminated Paths label, and releases music under the moniker Broken Machine Films. We first met in Orlando in 2007, and my 10,000 Devastating Watts EP came out on his label.

We discuss Illuminated Path’s nonstop release schedule, and how the label manages to consistently release multiple projects a week. I ask him about his habit of filling every Illuminated Paths package with strange ephemera, and his odd tape-dubbing system. We talk about the Vaporwave sound that the musicians under the Illuminated Paths umbrella have helped to create.

Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to DJ Shadow’s “Endtroducing….” This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

Episode 90 - Dosotaku (Nasa 8)

My guests this week are Bito Sureiya and Jiro Sama of DosOtaku. They’re members of the NASA 8 collective. I first saw them last summer at the Ratscape festival, and I’ve been a fan ever since.

They talk about linking up in high school, and cutting their teeth at Baltimore’s Beet Trip night. I ask them about their NASA 8 collective, and what connects the NASA 8 members around the world. They talk about their passion for freestyling, and how their freestyle skills enhance their writing process.

Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Stetsasonic’s In Full Gear. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.

Episode 89 - Jones

My guest this week is Jones. Jones is a rapper and producer from Baltimore. We’ve been friends since third grade, and we’ve been making music together since 1998.

We talk about our early group called Wounds, and his first forays into making beats. We discuss his full-length debut, his remix projects and his role in the band Hungry Bodies. He breaks down why he put music on the back-burner for the last few years, and his plans to get back in action.

Mike Riley’s art this week is an homage to Ghostface Killah’s Ironman. This episode is hosted by Splice Today.