Your remedy to the “I don’t have anything good to listen to” problem… below.
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#164 - Heems INTERVIEW (feat. Lapgan)
Hailing from Queens, NY, Heems has successfully injected his Indian roots into a brand of witty, thoughtful rap... and invariably helped me see that there was space for people like me in hip-hop after all.
So I’m pleased to welcome Heems, as well as Chicago-based producer Lapgan to the show, who produced the wonderful instrumental album History from last year, as well as the new collaborative album with Heems, LAFANDAR.
In today’s episode, we talk about incorporating Indian culture into hip-hop, Heems’ new venture Veena, and the making of this incredibly creative new album, LAFANDAR.
Conversation Pieces - The importance of representation in hip-hop
Whether it was back in 2005 when I was first starting to develop a distinct affection for the art form, or even now, a whole 17 years later.
When I look at the artists that soundscape so much of my life that I admire, who I lean on to process trauma, to escape my day to day, to instill some fun and confidence into my life... these artists rarely, if ever, look like me.
And that is why I want to take you on a quick journey through the looking glass of an Indian lover of hip-hop, and discuss the importance of representation through the art form we all love, hip-hop.
Throughout, I will also highlight a few pivotal albums and artists along the way.
#93 - Big Baby Gandhi INTERVIEW
In Episode 93, I was joined by a very special guest with me who has had a particularly affect on me as a brown hip-hop head growing up: Big Baby Gandhi.