First Quarter

On this episode of The Quarter Cent, Charlie Braxton stops by once again to discuss the 25th anniversary of OutKast’ classic second album, ATLiens!

2:45 How the term “ATLiens” came about

5:00 Charlie breaks down his two favorite songs on ATLiens, “Two Dope Boyz & “Mainstream”

7:15 Charlie reminiscences about listening to ATLiens for the first time

9:20 Meeting OutKast for the first time

15:00 Charlie and I discuss the conscious messaging behind OutKast’ music

17:30 A conversation about Aquemini

20:00 The stylistic cultural impact of Andre 3000

24:15 The legacy of ATLiens

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Welcome, to the Quarter Cent!

On this episode of The Quarter Cent, I chopped it up with writer, producer, director and author Tyehimba Taylor as we discussed the 25th anniversary of A Tribe Called Quest’s 4th album, “Beats, Rhymes & Life!

5:18 Tribe’s initial impact on hip hop

6:20 Cheo’s talks about giving BR&L an “A” in his review for Entertainment Weekly

10:20 How hip hop changed in the mid 90’s

12:05 The element of R&B being added to BR&L

14:02 Cheo describes how Tribe “laid the foundation” for alternative hip hop

16:28 How Tribe was ahead of their time

18:53 Music on radio today

19:45 Final thoughts on BR&L

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You’ve officially arrived at The Quarter Mark!

On this episode of The Quarter Mark I chopped it up with longtime writer & journalist Charlie Braxton as we discussed the 25th anniversary of Jay-Z’s classic debut album, Reasonable Doubt!

2:54 Source Magazine rating/controversy

4:52 Jay-Z’s publicist Tres (Tre) Sanders calls Charlie about his Source Magazine rating

8:06 Charlie says Jay-Z is a combination of Big Daddy Kane & Kool G Rap

10:07 Charlie gives his thoughts on D’Evils

12:29 Does “Ain’t No Nigga” belong on RD?

17:47 Finals thoughts on RD and the impact of Jay-Z

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You’ve officially arrived at The Quarter Mark!

On this episode of #TheQM I chopped it up with legendary producer Ty Fyffe as we discussed the 25th anniversary of LL Cool J’s classic “Mr. Smith.”

1:16 Ty Fyffe talks about his background in production and meeting LL Cool J.

4:35 Ty Fyffe discusses the thinking process behind producing “Papa Luv It.”

6:45 What does “Mr. Smith” mean for LL’s career?

9:30 Why isn’t LL respected more?

12:00 Ty Fyffe breaks down why music is a “right now” thing.

14:30 What can we take away from “Mr. Smith” 25 years later?

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You’ve officially arrived at The Quarter Mark! On this episode, I speak with the artist responsible for the song “And I Gave My Love To You” on the “Waiting To Exhale” soundtrack, as well as a poetess, astrologer, writer, and healer. The lovely, Sonja Marie.

1:30 Sonja’s childhood in Yonkers, NY.

5:20 Sonja describes being childhood friends with Mary J. Blige.

8:00 Sonja reflects on how it wasn’t initially her dream to do music.

12:00 Meeting Babyface.

17:00 Sonja opens up about her true feelings for “And I Gave My Love To You.”

21:10 Sonja shares her thoughts on being asked to be on the “Waiting To Exhale” soundtrack.

24:00 Sonja talks about a period in her life when she was “anti industry.”

30:00 Astrology.

34:00 What we can take away from the “Waiting To Exhale” movie and soundtrack, 25 years later.

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You’ve officially arrived at The Quarter Mark!

On this episode of The Quarter Mark I chopped it up with songwriter, producer, author and martial artist Dimitri Ehrlich as we discussed the 25th anniversary of Liquid Swords by GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan.

1:55 Dimitri’s background.

3:45 Dimitri breaks down his thoughts about Liquid Swords.

7:50 Dimitri talks about the production and sound of Liquid Swords, as well as the rhyme flow of GZA.

11:05 Dimitri talks about writing his review on Liquid Swords in 95.

12:05 Dimitri discusses how he felt after listening to Liquid Swords for the first time.

14:30 Dimitri and I discuss what type of audience Liquid Swords was geared towards.

16:53 Dimitri gives great advice for anyone interested in listening to Liquid Swords.

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You’ve arrived!!!! On the inaugural episode of the Quarter Mark, I chop it up with New Orleans native and longtime music journalist, Keith Spera, as we went down memory lane and reminisced on the 25th year anniversary of Mystikal’s “Mind Of Mystikal.”

Keith Spera is a writer for the Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate and the author of the 2011 book “Groove Interrupted: Loss, Renewal and the Music of New Orleans.” Keith is also a member of his newspapers Pulitzer Prize winning team for its coverage of Hurricane Katrina.

1:05 Keith talks about his upbringing.

6:55 Mystikal & Big Boy Records.

11:40 Mystikal’s style, and is he respected?

16:40 Mystikal’s legacy.

23:10 The tragic death of his sister, Michelle Tyler.

34:44 What should people know about Mystikal?

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Keith Spera speaks on Mystikal using music as an outlet for his creativity.

Keith Spera talks vividly about Mystikal’s personality & charisma, and recalls a time when he and Mystikal walked the streets of New Orleans and witnessed the way children gravitated towards him.