Heat Rocks

By MaximumFun.org

Scorching guests and sizzling records: join music writer Oliver Wang and music supervisor Morgan Rhodes each week as they invite their favorite artists, critics and scholars for in-depth conversations... more

4.9

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FAQs about Heat Rocks:

How many episodes does Heat Rocks have?

The podcast currently has 222 episodes available.

Heat Rocks episodes:

May 21, 2024 Introducing Primer, MaxFun’s Newest Music Podcast
Hello Heat Rockers! This is Producer Christian, I edited Heat Rocks and you might've heard my voice on a few episodes with Oliver and Morgan! So we've been working on a new music podcast here on Maximum Fun and I'm so excited to finally share it with you! Primer focuses on genres of music from outside the English-speaking world. This first season we're talking about Japanese City Pop and I will be hosting alongside Yosuke Kitazawa.
If you like what you hear, please subscribe to Primer! I think you're really gonna love what we've made here. :)
On November 5th, 1979, Miki Matsubara’s debut pop single “Mayonaka no Door/ Stay with Me” was released in her home country of Japan. It was a huge hit and remained her biggest and most beloved work throughout her entire career. Over 40 years after its original release, it soared in popularity once again when a whole new international audience discovered the song through TikTok. Its catchy hook and incredible vocals still resonate with listeners today and has become a staple in the City Pop genre. If you’ve heard one City Pop song, it’s probably Stay with Me.
On our inaugural episode of Primer, radio/tv presenter Linda Marigliano joins us to discuss City Pop icon, Miki Matsubara and her debut record, Pocket Park. We get into the unexpected renewed interest in Mayonaka no Door, the story behind Miki’s sudden departure from the music scene, and Linda’s personal connection and discovery of City Pop.
Check out our Spotify playlist for this episode!
Follow Linda: Instagram | Twitter | Tough Love | Love Language
Follow Primer: Instagram | Twitter | TikTok
...more
50min
August 12, 2021 The Heat Rocks Appreciation Episode
Well, we're finally here. After nearly 200 episodes, we're ending our run with Maximum Fun! We intend to come back sometime in 2022, and to celebrate this occasion, it's and Oliver, Morgan, and Producer Christian episode. We talk about our favorite moments from the show, the things we appreciate about the show, and we have a few good laughs.
Follow Morgan and Oliver on Twitter to keep up with upcoming projects!
Until next time, Heat Rockers.

If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
...more
56min
August 05, 2021Cat Zhang on Flo Milli's "Ho, why is you here?" (2020)
Music writer and resident TikTok expert Cat Zhang sits down with us to discuss Flo Milli's 2020 debut mixtape Ho, why is you here? We get into what goes into making a TikTok hit, Flo Milli's unique voice, and her role in the current hip hop landscape.
More on Cat Zhang
Check out Cat's latest article on TikTok trends
Listen to Cat chatting with our friends at Switched on Pop
Twitter | Website
More on Flo Milli
Flo Milli Is Here. Get Used to It. (The Ringer)
Flo Milli Came to Flex (Rolling Stone)
Back Pack (Flora The Explorer) music video
Show Tracklisting (all songs from Ho, why is you here? unless otherwise indicated):
19
May I
In The Party
Paul Anka: Put Your Head On My Shoulder
yung cxreal and baby frankie: dumb bitchitis
Send The Addy
Flo Milli: Back Pack (Flora The Explorer)
Beef FloMix
Not Friendly
Pockets Bigger
Pussycat Doll
Ethereal and Playboi Carti: Beef
Beef FloMix
May I
Like That Bitch
Weak
In The Party
Mood Everyday (Intro)
Pussycat Doll
Jacki-O: Sugar Walls
MC Lyte: 10% Dis
Doja Cat: Streets
Hey Heat Rockers, if you have an appreciation for the show, we’d love to play some of them during our Aug 11th appreciation episode. You can either send use a voice memo to [email protected] OR you can phone in a voicemail to (310) 986-3340‬. We just need them all in by August 8th (Sunday), thanks!
Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there
If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
...more
44min
July 30, 2021Music & Popcorn #7: Daphne A. Brooks on the "Waiting to Exhale" soundtrack (1995)
We continue our Music and Popcorn miniseries, where we chat about some of our favorite movie soundtracks. This week, we're talking to professor and writer Daphne Brooks about the soundtrack to Waiting to Exhale. We get into Babyface's prolific career, Whitney Houston's presence on both the soundtrack and the movie, and the mystery surrounding DJ Theo Mizuhara.
More on Daphne A. Brooks
Check out her book Liner Notes for the Revolution
And check out the accompanying playlist!
Website
More on Waiting to Exhale
Official trailer
Shocking Omissions: 'Waiting To Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album' (NPR)
100 Greatest Soundtracks of All Time: 'Waiting to Exhale' (Albumism)
Show Tracklisting (all songs from the Waiting to Exhale OST unless otherwise indicated):
Exhale (Shoop Shoop)
My Funny Valentine
My Love, Sweet Love
Count On Me
It Hurts Like Hell
Why Does It Hurt So Bad
Let It Flow
Not Gon' Cry
My Funny Valentine
Sittin' Up In My Room
Wey U
Kissing You
Let It Flow
Prince: Head
Exhale (Shoop Shoop)
Maxwell: Sumthin' Sumthin'
A Tribe Called Quest: Hot Sex
Dionne Farris: I Know
Oleta Adams: Get Here
En Vogue: Don't Let Go (Love)
Hey Heat Rockers, if you have an appreciation for the show, we’d love to play some of them during our Aug 11th appreciation episode. You can either send use a voice memo to [email protected] OR you can phone in a voicemail to (310) 986-3340‬. We just need them all in by August 8th (Sunday), thanks!
Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there
If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
...more
55min
July 22, 2021Music & Popcorn #6: '90s OSTs with Jocelyn Brown
We reboot our Music and Popcorn series, where we talk about some of our favorite movie soundtracks. This week, we invite our friend Jocelyn Brown to discuss a few iconic 90s OSTs, Love Jones, Boyz N The Hood, and Trainspotting. We get into what makes these soundtracks so memorable, the shift in tone from 80s and 90s OSTs, and proper record care etiquette.
Show Tracklisting:
Primal Scream: Trainspotting
Refugee Camp All-Stars Presents Melky and Day: I Got A Love Jones For You
Ice Cube: How To Survive in South Central
Monie Love: Work It Out
Ice-T: New Jack Hustler
Kid 'N Play: Fun House
Too $hort: It's Your Life
Quincy Jones: Setembro
Stanley Clark: Boyz N The Hood Theme
Main Source: Just A Friendly Game of Baseball (Remix)
Yo Yo: Mama Don't Take No Mess
Ice Cube: How To Survive In South Central
Quincy Jones: Setembro
Tony! Toni! Toné!: Me and You
Ice Cube: A Bird In The Hand
The Five Stairsteps: O-o-h Child
Newcleus: Jam On It
Compton's Most Wanted: Growin' Up In The Hood
Blur: Sing
Lou Reed: Perfect Day
New Order: Temptation
Underworld: Born Slippy (Nuxx)
Primal Scream: Trainspotting
Goldie: Inner City Life
Brian Eno: Deep Blue Day
Iggy Pop: Lust for Life
Lou Reed: Perfect Day
Brian Eno: Deep Blue Day
Maxwell: Sumthin' Sumthin'
Cameo: Shake Your Pants
Meshell Ndgeocello & Marcus Miller: Rush Over
Refugee Camp All-Stars & Lauryn Hill: The Sweetest Thing
Dionne Farris: Hopeless
Refugee Camp All-Stars & Lauryn Hill: The Sweetest Thing
Duke Ellington and John Coltrane: In A Sentimental Mood
Refugee Camp All-Stars Presents Melky and Day: I Got A Love Jones For You
SWV: Anything
Dinosaur Jr.: Turnip Farm
Large Professor and Pete Rock: The Rap World
Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there
If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
...more
1h 3min
July 15, 2021Yola on Jill Scott's "Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds, Vol. 1 (2000)
This week, we talk to singer/songwriter Yola about Jill Scott's debut studio album "Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds, Vol 1." We get into Jill's time with The Roots, how her poetry shaped her songwriting, and Jill's role in the neo-soul movement.
More on Yola
Check out Yola's newest single and upcoming album Stand for Myself!
Yola is Ready to Meet Her Moment (Rolling Stone)
Twitter | Instagram
More on Jill Scott
Jill Scott’s Debut Album ‘Who Is Jill Scott? Words And Sounds Vol. 1’ Turns 20 | Anniversary Retrospective (Albumism)
Check out the original version of You Got Me by The Roots w/ Jill Scott
Jill Scott's Def Poetry appearance
Show Tracklisting (all songs from Who Is Jill Scott? - Words and Sounds, Vol. 1 unless otherwise indicated):
Love Rain
Yola: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Yola: Stand For Myself
A Long Walk
Brotha
The Roots: You Got Me (Live)
Slowly Surely
Jilltro
Try
It's Love
Jill Scott: Gotta Get Up (Another Day)
Honey Molasses
The Roots (Interlude)
Do You Remember
Love Rain
I Think It's Better
Exclusively
Jill Scott: Crown Royal on Ice
He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)
A Long Walk
Do You Remember
Moe Koffman: Days Gone By
Slowly Surely
I Think it's Better
He Loves Me (Lyzel in E Flat)
Watching Me
A Long Walk
Gettin' In The Way
It's Love
I Think it's Better
The Roots (Interlude)
Grenique: Star of the Story
Adriana Evans: Love Is All Around
Minnie Riperton: Les Fleurs
Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there
If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
...more
1h
July 08, 2021Kris Bowers on Kendrick Lamar's "Section.80" (2011) [redux]
In honor of Kendrick Lamar's Section.80 turning 10 years old this month, we are re-airing our convo with Kris Bowers on Lamar's debut studio album.
[show notes from original post]
To talk about Kendrick Lamar’s studio LP debut, we wanted to find someone of K-Dot’s generation, another L.A. young gun, and who better than pianist and composer, Kris Bowers? Like Kendrick, Kris grew up in L.A. and just as Kendrick has ascended the hip-hop ladder, so has Kris in jazz, as he won the prestigious Theolonious . But more than that, the web of Los Angeles musical ties was bound to bring the two into orbit in different ways – something we discuss in the episode – not the least of which is the fact that Kris covered one of the biggest tracks in Kendrick’s early career: “Rigamortis.”
In our conversation with Kris, we got deep into how he put together both the song and video for his version of “Rigamortis,” whether or not Kendrick has a jazz sensibility in his style, and what it’s like to see a hometown kid become the Greatest Rapper Alive.
More on Kendrick Lamar’s Section.80
Kendrick talking about Section.80 in an interview with Complex.com.
Ditto but in an interview with Billboard.
Ogden Payne’s revisit of the album in 2016 for Forbes.
More on Kris Bowers
Kris on NPR’s “Piano Jazz: Rising Stars.”
NY Times on Kris winning the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Piano Prize.
Website | Soundcloud | Twitter | Facebook
Show Tracklisting (all songs from Section.80 unless indicated otherwise):
Hol' Up
A.D.H.D
Kris Bowers: Forget-er
Kris Bowers: Rigamortis
Rigamortis
Murs: Everything
Chapter Six
Keisha's Song (Her Pain)
Kendrick Lamar: Sing About Me, I'm Dying of Thirst
Ab-Souls Outro
Poe Mans Dreams (His Vice)
F*ck Your Ethnicity
Kush & Corinthians
Rigamortis
Kris Bowers: Rigamortis
Willie Jones III: The Thorn
Rigamortis
Blow My High (Members Only)
HiiiPower
Ab-Souls Outro
Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there
If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
...more
33min
July 02, 2021Benny Sings on Phil Collins' "Face Value" (1981)
This week, we talk to producer/singer Benny Sings about Phil Collins' solo debut album, Face Value. We get into the incredible drum fill of In The Air Tonight, it's iconic use on Miami Vice, and the real life issues Collins was going through when making this album.
More on Benny Sings
Check out Benny's new album Music
With The Vibrant 'City Pop', Benny Sings Stakes His Claim For The Masses (NPR)
Twitter | Instagram
More on Face Value
Phil explaining the origins of In The Air Tonight
In The Air Tonight on Miami Vice
Check out Chris Molanphy's episode of Hit Parade on Phil Collins
Show Tracklisting (all songs from Face Value unless otherwise indicated)
This Must Be Love
Droned
Benny Sings: Sunny Afternoon
Phil Collins & Phillip Bailey: Easy Lover
One More Night
If Loving Me Is Easy
Droned
Hand In Hand
I Missed Again
Behind the Lines
In The Air Tonight
I'm Not Moving
In The Air Tonight
If Leaving Me Is Easy
I'm Not Moving
Gino Vanneli: Love & Emotion
Frank Sinatra: Only the Lonely
Paul McCartney: Say Say Say
...more
48min
June 25, 2021Marzz on Kierra Sheard's "This Is Me" (2006)
Singer/songwriter Marzz sits down with us to discuss Kierra Sheard's gospel album This is Me. We get into the secular production of this album, Kierra's place in the Clark Sheard family, and Marzz's own experience in the church.
More on Marzz
Check out Marzz's Love Letterz EP
Marzz Evokes The Brightest And Most Vibrant Colors All By Living In Her Truest Aura (Uproxx)
Instagram | Twitter
More on Kierra Sheard
Kierra and Karen Sheard singing "You Loved Me"
Kierra on This Is Me back in 2006
This is Me music video
Show Tracklisting (all songs from This Is Me unless otherwise indicated):
This is Me
Why Me?
Marzz: Countless Times
It Is What It Is
No, Never
Faith
Karen Clark Sheard & Kierra Sheard: You Loved Me
Have What You Want
This Is Me
Yes
Faith
No, Never
You
Yes
Hear This
Change
You
Kim Burrell: Open Up The Door
Mary Mary, Shackles (Praise You)
J Moss: Rebuild
Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there
If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
...more
41min
June 17, 2021Celebrating Lil' Kim's "Hard Core" (1996)
This week, Oliver and Morgan are discussing Lil' Kim's debut studio record "Hard Core" which is turning 25 years old this year. We get into Lil' Kim's role in Bad Boy and Junior M.A.F.I.A., the effect she had on the Megan Thee Stallions and Cardi B's of today, and what made this record so unforgettable.
More on Hard Core
A timely reminder that Lil Kim’s ‘Hard Core’ is still the greatest rap record of all time (NME)
Biggie's reference track for Queen Bitch
How Lil’ Kim’s ‘Hard Core’ Changed Rap (The Ringer)
Show Tracklisting (all songs from Hard Core unless otherwise indicated):
Drugs
Spend A Little Doe
Junior M.A.F.I.A.: Get Money
Big Momma Thang
Not Tonight
Big Momma Thang
Not Tonight
Spend A Little Doe
Jeru The Damaja: Ya Playin' Yaself
Total: Can't You See
112: Peaches and Cream
Junior M.A.F.I.A.: Player's Anthem
Foxy Brown: I'll Be
Foxy Brown: (Holy Matrimony) Letter to the Firm
City Girls: Fuck On U
HWA: Little Dick
No Time
Fuck You
Roberta Flack: Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye
Queen Bitch
The Notorious B.I.G.: Queen Bitch
Drugs
Fuck You
Dreams
We Don't Need It
Crush On You
Big Poppa
Dreams
Scheamin'
Big Momma Thang
Crush On You
Crush On You (Remix)
The Jeff Lorber Fusion: Rain Dance
No Time
G Yamazawa: Crush On You
Mariah Carey: A No No
Lido: Melodies From Heaven/Crush On You
No Time
Crush On You
Foxy Brown: Ill Na Na
Nicki Minaj: Itty Bitty Piggy
Nicki Minaj: Barbie Dreams
Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there
If you’re not already subscribed to Heat Rocks in Apple Podcasts, do it here!
...more
51min

FAQs about Heat Rocks:

How many episodes does Heat Rocks have?

The podcast currently has 222 episodes available.