B-Side

Navy Gangs is a pop quintet currently residing in the washed out and overly demanding area of New York City. Singer/Guitarist Matthew Tillwick, Guitarist Noah Kohll, and Drummer Gavin Cordaro began orchestrating music together in 2012 at Central High School in the red light district of Omaha where they failed their junior years miserably.

For 2 months they took jobs working in the desert dome at the Henry Doorly zoo until they saved enough of their dismal wages for one way bus passes to New York City, where they moved in temporarily with Kohll’s grandmother Estelle.

After making some new friends in Washington Square Park, the three boys found themselves in a basement scene in little Italy. It was there that they met their bassist, Wilson Keithline from Providence, Rhode Island. Together they became Navy Gangs, a troupe who’s songs grab influence from dark rooms, hopeless romanticism, table wine, and back page humor.

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The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

With their politically charged raps, taut rhythms, and dedication to raising African-American consciousness, the Last Poets almost single-handedly laid the groundwork for the emergence of hip-hop. On May 19, 1968, at a celebration of Malcolm X’s birthday at Mount Morris Park in Harlem, they officially formed the Last Poets, deriving their name from a poem titled A Walk In The Sun, by South African poet Keopetse Kgostilie. B-Side is delighted to welcome Abiodun Oyewole, Umar Bin Hassan, and percussionist Baba Donn Babatunde into the studio for a night of poetry, rhythms, and conversation.

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The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Johnny Polygon is a musical artist who combines classic melodies with unconventional song structure for an alternative blend of hip hop, soul and R&B. His lyrical content skews dark and cynical with love stories laced with wit.

Johnny premiered on the national stage with the EP Group Hug, which URB magazine called "risky yet authentic." Johnny has collaborated with Nas, Kid CuDi, Dead Prez, Adele & Green Lantern. "The Riot Song" music video from Johnny's mixtape Rebel Without Applause, appeared on MTV2, MTVU, VH1 Soul and BET Centric. The single also saw heavy radio spins on Radio Nova (France) and later included on the soundtrack for HBO's How To Make It In America (curated by Kid Cudi and Scott Vener). Johnny's full length LP, The Nothing, kicked off 2013 and was supported by 30 city tour throughout North America. 2015 brings two offerings slated for summer and fall. In anticipation for Johnny’s upcoming album, a compilation album of leaks and unreleased songs entitled Water Damage ships on the 18th of March. Short on the heels of that release, the haunting album I Love You, Goodnight will be supported by North American and European tour dates and four music video releases. As a charming side project, Johnny lent his voice as the starring and supporting characters in 50 episodes of a National Geographic sponsored children's show entitled 50 Birds, 50 States.

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The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Len Xiang is an award winning singer/songwriter, acoustic guitar player and actor in New York City. His music is inspired by the likes of Sam Cooke, Nina Simone and Michael Jackson. Their influence has created in him a sultry sound that distinguishes his engaging acoustic soul folk style. This multi-talented artist was awarded New York’s Star of the Day on New York’s own televised talent showcase where he premiered his latest original work, “Waiting on the Sun”.

A provocatively soulful guitarist vocalist. Len Xiang’s acoustics tell a story of social consciousness that artfully addresses the issues of the collective masses. Whether they are matters of the heart, sacred relationships or civil injustices, his is folk music that strums your soul.

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The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

If you’ve heard him, you’ve felt him! WordSpit was born and bred in East New York, Brooklyn to a young mother and a hustling musician for a father. With humble beginnings as his inspiration, WordSpit realized his gift for lyrics in the third grade and has been honing his craft ever since. Having been dubbed “WordSpit” by his brother, he set out to insure that the verses that flew from his lips were nothing short of potent. From corners to lunchrooms, from Youtube to your television set, WordSpit’sword play has become an inescapable force that one can’t help but succumb to. Having Cannibus, Nas, and Rakim as influences, combined with an energetic yet charismatic stage presence, WordSpit is the representation of everything that has been great about hip-hop in the past and takes it to the next level.

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The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Armed with her violin, loop pedal and voice, sonic weaver Hannah Epperson arranges musical landscapes without indulgence or over-saturation. As a stirring solo performer and talented collaborative artist, she has joined forces with a versatile cast of collaborators across a spectrum of genres and disciplines. More recently, these creative explorations have included composing and performing for interdisciplinary film and dance projects across the country and in New York, where she now resides. Hannah's breadth as a collaborative and compositional powerhouse stems from from an eclectic experiential and educational background: from learning Appalachian folk tunes by ear with a cowgirl in Utah to travelling through Scandinavia and Europe as an accompanist; or from touring her solo project by sailboat with permaculturists to accompanying Flamenco dancers in Spain, before finishing her Honours Degree in Human Geography and representing Canada at World Championships for ultimate frisbee in 2015.

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The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Rock and Roll. Soul. Jazz. Hip Hop. Rhythm and Blues. While everyone continues to use their gauging barometer readily boxing in creativity to confined spaces, along comes an album to defy the norm. Fusing hip hop, soul and jazz together to create ‘soul hop’, drummer Daru Jones (Jack White, Slum Village, Jamie Lidell), guitarist Marcus Machado (The Family Stand, Kid Capri, Buddy Miles) and bassist Doug Wimbish (Living Colour, Sugarhill Records, Rolling Stones) are combining their respective skills and influences to create a sound and experience like no other. Three generations of musicianship and a meeting of the minds have brought together Daru, Marcus and Doug, otherwise known as the collective DMD. Daru, Marcus and Doug are each adept and knowledgeable in their individual instrument’s power.

The soulful energy between Daru, Marcus and Doug is undeniable. Their camaraderie and artistry radiates throughout each note. It’s a fantastic blend of sounds that will leave music connoisseurs of all genres wanting for more.

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The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Braxton Cook, (born March 27, 1991) is one of this generation’s emerging voices on the alto saxophone. He is also a talented vocalist and songwriter who’s sound blends both his Soul and R&B influences with his musical background in Jazz.The releases of his 2014 EP “Sketch” and 2015 album “Braxton Cook meets Butcher Brown” amassed him an audience that now spans across the United States. He's since performed sold out shows in major venues such as Bohemian Caverns in Washington DC, Ginny's Supper Club and Rockwood Music Hall in New York City and has even performed at a key Jazz Festivals in the states such as DC Jazz Festival, Art of Cool Jazz Festival, Gardena Jazz Festival, and Central Avenue Jazz Festival. His track record and digital following gained him features in diverse music and culture outlets such as The Washington Post, Downbeat Magazine, Okayplayer, and Saint Heron.

Braxton’s sound and musical identity has always been in between the Soul music that he was raised on and the Jazz that he has studied and grown to love. This album serves as inspiration to artists and people in all walks of life to embrace their uniqueness and own it.

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The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Sunny Gang is a 4-man Rap/Punk band from Newark, NJ that’s been described as “a burning rap-rock rager that instantly smacks of DIY venue beer soaked moshing!” Bandmates “Nasty" Nate Hitchcock, Chris Bacchus, Joe Sap, and Marshal were drawn to each other over a shared love of partying and performing, that’s evident in every note they play. On this episode of B-Side, they join [Host] live, in-studio to talk about [literally any one thing they talked about in the episode] and to test the limits of our glass-walled studio with their raucous sound. Tune in!

For more Sunny Gang, check out: https://soundcloud.com/sunnygang

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The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio

Rue Brown is a multifaceted singer, with a strong background in dance and musical theater. Born and raised in D.C. and now residing in Brooklyn. Ms. Brown is a blend of jazz, hip hop & soul, a unique sound that reflects her journey, love, and the times.

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The B-Side Podcast is produced by Charlie Hoxie, Kecia Cole, Ro Johnson and Sachar Mathias; recorded by Onel Mulet; and edited by Khyriel Palmer and Emily Boghossian. For more information on B-Side and all BRIC RADIO podcasts, visit www.bricartsmedia.org/radio