The Shadow People

The Shadow People hit their one–year anniversary with a holiday episode that somehow manages to be equal parts true-crime autopsy, sports therapy session, and Christmas group hug.Nigel and Derrick kick things off with a deep dive into the new Diddy documentary produced by 50 Cent: the year of peak pettiness, Bad Boy’s legacy, the Tupac timeline finally “making sense,” witness tampering on camera, and what it means when one of the architects of the culture becomes its cautionary tale. From Shine to Mase and Cam’ron, they connect all the messy dots while trying not to laugh at things that really aren’t funny.Then it’s back home: the Saints are trash-but-not-that-trash, the Pelicans suddenly look alive, and the guys talk sloppy wins, Rasul’s good-luck trip to the Dome, and why Denver might quietly be headed to the Super Bowl in one of the weirdest NFL seasons in memory.In the spirit of the season, there’s Jazz Fest news (Lettuce is in, plus Nigel’s own sets), a recap of the Harry Shearer/Judith Owen Christmas show, and a mini–Christmas music war: Irma Thomas vs everybody, Donny Hathaway vs Chris Brown, Prince vs Sinéad O’Connor, and why some songs simply belong to the originals.Finally, Derrick breaks out gifts from his Thanksgiving trip to Houston: a Jimmy Smith Blue Note classic, a Houston rap history book, and a gloriously chaotic Taylor Swift poster that will haunt the Brown Hound Sounds studio forever. Nigel closes with a genuinely heartfelt reflection on gratitude, surviving the holidays, and taking fifteen minutes a day to remember what’s still good.Recorded at Brown Hound Sounds in New Orleans. Like, subscribe, and hit up [email protected] with questions, comments, and sponsors who aren’t afraid of a little truth.Timestamps:00:00 – One year of The Shadow People and a very pagan Christmas02:40 – Breaking down the Diddy doc, 50 Cent’s pettiness & Bad Boy fallout10:59 – “No Diddy”: victims, hubris, and the culture taking an L20:02 – Saints, Rasul’s good-luck game, and the Pelicans finally hooping25:24 – NFL playoff chaos and why Denver suddenly looks dangerous35:23 – Harry Shearer’s Christmas show, Irma Thomas, and Jazz Fest news37:45 – This Christmas discourse: Donny vs Chris Brown, Prince vs Sinéad49:23 – Houston gifts, Taylor Swift poster chaos & Nigel’s holiday gratitude sermon

Back in the studio after a couple months on the road, Nigel and Derrick get right to it. Nigel’s fresh off Europe, Australia, Tokyo, Hawaii, and a stop at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco, and the contrast between “the world” and “home” hits hard. The fellas talk travel whiplash, culture shock, and why San Francisco’s reputation does not match the Tenderloin reality, even if the city’s still got magic and history all over it.Then the episode flips into a full Nigel sermon. First on the state of the country and the clown parade running things, then into a deep, personal rant about D’Angelo’s passing and the tribute machine that turns on the second somebody dies. Nigel is not here for fake flowers, sloppy cover bands, or performative grief. His point is simple and heavy. If an artist changed you, honor them by building your own work, while you are alive, while they are alive, and while the chance to mean something is still on the table. If you want to mourn, mourn. If you want to celebrate, create. And if you are waiting for permission, stop waiting.Timestamps0:00 Nigel returns, no guest today, the gang back together2:00 Nigel on the country getting dumber and leadership looking worse by the day3:20 Wild FBI press conference and Nigel’s cokehead radar goes off7:30 History repeating itself and everybody in power looking high12:45 Travel recap Europe, Australia, Tokyo, Hawaii17:10 San Francisco dirt, Hyde Street Studios, and the Tenderloin contrast20:10 Perception vs reality in “black cities” and getting robbed in San Francisco33:10 D’Angelo passing and why tribute shows feel off46:10 The real way to honor artists is to make your own music57:40 Next episode tease with Nigel’s son and brothers

Nigel is somewhere over the Pacific. Danny slides from the dark corner into the hot lights. We talk Mississippi childhood, art schools, Tulane to UNO, Marsalis and Peterson lore, and the strange path from guitar ensemble to Guitarmy. There is a Hornets band saga, a Pelicans kid-night meltdown, and a food-court survival guide.We also wander into fruit heists, Red Rocks with Jack Black, why backup QBs have the best job in sports, and a quick plea to feed people when SNAP gets cut. Music, jokes, and a little civic sense.

Timestamps00:00 Cold open and roll call01:10 Setting up the Danny deep dive02:06 Mississippi memories and first bands06:38 Tulane to UNO and the Funky Butt era08:35 Katrina semester and the mystery diploma29:08 Pelicans pain and the kid-night rant33:46 NBA house band stories and the jovial music request41:09 Red Rocks tale with Jack Black45:54 SNAP talk and feeding people59:09 Quote of the day and sign-off

Episode 25 opens like a family room. Nigel’s voice drops in from the road, Lettuce dates on the horizon, and a heavy moment reflecting on losing heroes and what that does to musicians our age. Julian “Juice” joins as guest host, part New Orleans memory book, part announcement of a new chapter.

Juice talks about leaving the comfort of a longrun band to build his name, why authenticity beats trends, and how the business only starts to make sense when you claim ownership. He traces a path from marching bands and brass culture to songwriting, rapping, and teaching. As musical director at the Trombone Shorty Foundation he’s drilling scales, stagecraft, and realworld habits that keep a band together when there’s no director counting you in. The conversation turns to the local scene: promoters who import “fantasy” lineups, clubs that prize bar sales over lineage, and the ongoing work of protecting New Orleans music so it still sounds like New Orleans.

There’s joy in the details. Juice’s record Be Intentional gets love, along with tracks like “Colors,” “DKNY,” “Guestless,” and “Black Jobs,” plus the kid choir story that reminds everyone why we do this. Dates get stamped for the folks who want to pull up in person: Washington, DC on November 2 at Songbird and New Orleans on November 14 at Sweet Lorraine’s. Brown Hound Sounds holds the room together, sE Electronics mics do their part, and the signoff feels like it always does here—gratitude, a little mischief, and plans for next time.

Timestamps

• 00:06: Cold open and Episode 25 roll call

• 00:40: D’Angelo remembrance and how loss hits musicians our age

• 03:20: Guest host introduction for Julian “Juice” and what he’s building

• 06:36: Standing your ground as an artist and tuning out the peanut gallery

• 11:01: New Orleans roots, Michael Jackson influence, and crossing lanes

• 28:53: Teaching at Trombone Shorty Foundation and real stage habits

• 38:04: Local scene talk, club bookings, and protecting New Orleans authenticity

• 41:38: Juice announces shows and plans, then album talk with favorite tracks

• 50:40: “Black Jobs” story and flipping a negative into community fuel

• 54:05: Sign-off, studio love, and what’s next

Nigel Live from Barcelona: Jazzy Jeff Sessions, Lettuce’s “Rising to the Top,” + SE Mic LoveNigel checks in from Europe with road stories, studio heat, and a little airline chaos. From recording with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Corey Fonville, and rising vocalist Ronnie Lux, to Lettuce’s new take on Kenny Burke’s “Rising to the Top,” this one’s a music-nerd feast.

Derrick holds it down at Brown Hound Sounds on our brand-new sE Electronics DCM8 mics (they sound ridiculous, thank you sE 🙏). We also talk Delta vs. an ARP synth (yikes), Saints realism vs. fandom, why “less is more” still wins, and why George Porter Jr. needs to come through the pod (because he asked!)Shout to Crescent Canna and to sE Electronics for the DCM8s.

Next: Nigel’s back stateside around Oct 8 before Australia/Tokyo runs—expect an in-studio reunion.Subscribe for musician-insider stories, good-faith hot takes, and New Orleans flavor every episode.Timestamps0:04 — Roll call: Ep. 24 kicks off; Nigel beams in from Spain1:45 — Studio report: Sessions with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Corey Fonville & discovery of Ronnie Lux2:52 — “Put me on the show”: George Porter Jr. requests an appearance6:14 — Airline adventures: Delta vs. the ARP (and a heroic tour manager fix)22:42 — New gear: First impressions of the sE DCM8 mics at Brown Hound Sounds23:31 — Lettuce covers “Rising to the Top”: one-take feel, why minimalism slaps33:02 — The biz today: respect, discipline, and not chasing empty clicks42:09 — Travel & schedule: Nigel’s return, next tours, and closing shout-outs

What happens when you hand the mic to Jelly on her birthday, invite Yolanda Ross fresh off her run on The Chi, and let Derrick cook? You get one of the most heartfelt and funniest episodes yet.Yolanda opens up about growing up in Omaha, chasing fashion before acting found her, and the unlikely path from SNL background work to starring in HBO films and working with Denzel Washington. She breaks down how she grieved her Chi character Jada as if she’d lost a friend, and why she’s now pouring her energy into directing, photography, and new creative projects.Meanwhile, Jelly brings birthday chaos, champagne, and Cash App jokes while Derrick threads it all together in true Shadow People fashion.This one’s got it all: behind-the-scenes New York randomness, New Orleans film war stories, the stringer bell effect, and the tender side of an actor who’s given life to unforgettable characters.🕒 Key Timestamps0:17 – Jelly takes the mic on her birthday 🎂0:41 – Welcoming Yolanda Ross: actress, writer, director1:16 – Random New York alleyway reunion story2:02 – Growing up in Omaha: quietness and stillness in her characters5:57 – From fashion school to SNL background work6:38 – First audition: New York Undercover10:42 – HBO’s Stranger Inside and Denzel’s Antwone Fisher16:04 – Why actors often make better directors17:04 – Avoiding the “hood movie” trap19:16 – Filming in New Orleans: magic and mayhem23:43 – Landing The Chi and building Jada over 7 seasons27:03 – How it feels when your character dies32:29 – Grieving Jada as if she were real34:01 – Go For Sisters and indie acclaim36:05 – What’s next: directing, photography, Brooklyn Museum collab38:09 – Closing love, birthday wishes, and champagne

Tipitina’s is home court for working musicians, and the room feels it. LBJ sets the table, Derrick and Nigel bring the friendly chaos, and the Shadow Band turns the stage lights into a living room. What follows is pure New Orleans: road stories and weather jokes, a tender moment about fathers and sobriety, and the reminder that music is the family business even when life gets heavy.Ivan Neville drops in straight from the bus to talk about the unglamorous glamour of touring, comfort TV between soundcheck and downbeat, and what it was like to be stuck abroad as Katrina unfolded while the city held its breath. Whistle Monster barrels onstage to argue Saints quarterback hopes and to test the decibel ceiling, because of course he does. HW wanders in for some surreal backstage color. Danny Abel closes things out with local news, shout-outs, and love for the crew that keeps this circus rolling.It is a live taping in an iconic room, with musicians who know the room well. If you are new here, this is the show: laughter, truth, and the stories behind the songs.#Timitinas #NewOrleans #ShadowPeoplePodcast #IvanNeville #WhistleMonster #LBJ #Dumpstaphunk #NOLAMusic #LivePodcast #MusicianLifeTimestamps (chapters):00:00 Cold open, LBJ warms up the room00:29 LBJ intro, first live taping at Tipitina’s02:27 Derrick and Nigel welcome, the origin story and thank-yous05:57 Sponsor shout and Shadow Band intro07:15 Travel, weather, and NOLA in August11:04 Nigel on family, sobriety, and perspective18:22 Band break, LBJ back on the mic19:02 Guest intro: Ivan Neville20:30 Bus-tour life, rest on the road23:02 Side trip with the Dead family show24:49 Marathon travel day, still playing the gig25:56 Sleeping in transit, the art of the pre-show nap27:10 Comfort shows: The Sopranos and The Godfather29:10 Katrina week memories, stuck in Brazil together33:36 Post-storm touring, Saints in Baton Rouge34:44 Surprise guest: Whistle Monster enters41:00 Quarterback talk, Saints therapy session50:02 Zen of fandom and keeping perspective52:18 Surprise guest no. 2: HW appears56:26 HW’s snack saga and backstage weirdness1:00:11 After HW, reset and housekeeping1:01:14 Guinness whistle PSA1:02:08 The whistle1:02:14 Bring up DA Danny Abel1:05:05 Shout-outs to friends and supporters1:06:00 Summer at Tips, Rick James tribute story1:10:43 Closing thanks1:11:20 Sign-off and where to subscribe

Corey Glover — legendary frontman of Living Colour, actor in Platoon, and Broadway’s Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar — joins Derrick Freeman and Nigel Hall for a raw, hilarious, and inspiring deep-dive into his career.

From grinding in Brooklyn rehearsal spaces with Vernon Reid to scoring a global hit with “Cult of Personality,” Corey breaks down the birth of the Black Rock Coalition, the struggle for Black artists in rock, and what it means to keep fighting for creativity after decades in the game.

He also shares behind-the-scenes stories from Platoon, his unexpected audition twists, time with Galactic in New Orleans, and the lifelong brotherhood of musicians that keeps him going.

⏱️ Timestamps

0:00 – Intro / Catching up with Corey
1:00 – The grind of staying creative & relevant
4:30 – Early 80s NYC & the birth of the Black Rock Coalition
8:20 – Landing Platoon & juggling acting with Living Colour
11:00 – The untold story of Corey’s audition & Mark Ledford choosing Steve Winwood
14:00 – CBGB’s, Brooklyn rehearsals, and the rise of Living Colour
19:00 – Fishbone, Bad Brains, and the fight for recognition in rock
23:00 – Michael Jackson, MTV, and breaking barriers
33:00 – How “Cult of Personality” was written in one night
37:30 – Jesus Christ Superstar & finding his dream role as Judas
46:00 – Commercials, The Wiz, and other hidden gems of Corey’s career
50:00 – Life in New Orleans & connecting with Galactic
55:00 – Brotherhood, artistry, and surviving the industry together

In a beautifully introspective episode, legendary musician and composer Patrice Rushen joins Nigel Hall and Derrick Freeman to discuss the artistry, humor, and profound wisdom behind her prolific musical journey. Renowned for her iconic hit "Forget Me Nots," Patrice's groundbreaking career spans jazz, funk, R&B, and film scoring. Tune in as she shares candid insights into the meticulous craft of composing for film and TV, stories from her transformative experience scoring "Hollywood Shuffle," and hilarious backstage anecdotes involving Prince at the Grammys.

Reflecting on influences ranging from Herbie Hancock to Stevie Wonder, Patrice eloquently explores what it truly means to innovate musically, highlighting the crucial balance between imitation and individuality. Whether you’re a vinyl enthusiast, seasoned musician, or simply love the magic behind great music, this conversation offers a rare glimpse into the mind of one of music’s most revered artists.

00:00 Intro: Welcoming the iconic Patrice Rushen
01:22 Touring Japan & backline blues
06:18 "They gave me a Casio!" - Musicians vs. Promoters
18:02 Film scoring & Patrice’s creative approach
25:23 Hollywood Shuffle: Patrice's big break34:55 Patrice reveals her top piano influences
38:15 Recording "Remind Me" & James Gadson's magic
45:02 Navigating music industry bias & breaking barriers48:42 Patrice’s early days dancing on Soul Train
1:05:34 Hilarious Grammy backstage story with Prince & Beyoncé

#PatriceRushen #FilmScoring #HollywoodShuffle #VinylCommunity #MusicPodcast #JazzFunk #ShadowPeoplePodcast #MusicianLife #BehindTheMusic

Listening to DJ Soul Sister talk about music feels like stumbling upon a secret library filled with records you've only ever dreamed existed, each groove worn deep by a thousand loving spins. In this episode of The Shadow People, hosts Nigel Hall and Derrick Freeman sit down with the beloved New Orleans DJ, whose encyclopedic knowledge of funk, soul, disco, and R&B is matched only by her passion for the craft.From her earliest days falling in love with Kool & The Gang as a child, to lugging crates of irreplaceable records across airports and clubs around the globe, DJ Soul Sister shares stories and insights that capture the rare thrill of analog authenticity. She reflects on her teenage years obsessing over Parliament Funkadelic, dressing as George Clinton for Halloween, and why “feeling the feeling” of the music--barefoot, bass-heavy, and blissful—is fundamental to her performance style.(00:40) Nigel and Derrick introduce the legendary DJ Soul Sister, calling her “the greatest DJ on planet Earth,” a compliment she humbly accepts while the hosts insist on its truth.(04:55) DJ Soul Sister explains how her lifelong love of records began at age five, sharing charming anecdotes of early record-store adventures with her father.(07:20) She opens up about the physical art of DJing with vinyl, describing the sweat, skill, and sacrifice required to blend two records into one seamless musical experience.(12:50) DJ Soul Sister recounts her pivotal Cool & The Gang discovery, a happy accident that set the tone for her musical journey.(17:00) High school memories surface as she reveals her deep teenage fandom for Parliament Funkadelic, including dressing up as George Clinton and recruiting classmates into "Uncle Jam’s Army."(21:45) Her first real DJ gig in 1997 is remembered fondly, crediting her friend Sarah Fritz for pushing her from radio airwaves onto the live stage.(23:15) The philosophy of “feeling the feeling” is unpacked, emphasizing her barefoot performances and the spiritual need to physically feel the bass vibrations.(27:10) Nigel and Derrick discuss the crossover between musicians and DJs, with Soul Sister offering friendly wisdom for those venturing into her territory: "love the music, and no train wrecks!"(32:45) An illuminating discussion unfolds around the age-old DJ dilemma: playing for the crowd versus playing for oneself, with DJ Soul Sister firmly defending artistic authenticity.(42:00) Essence Fest’s recent controversies prompt a conversation on professionalism in music events and the importance of treating artists properly—lessons everyone in the industry could benefit from revisiting.(54:30) The hosts challenge Soul Sister to pick her desert-island top five albums, leading to a vibrant exploration from Grover Washington Jr. to Slave and the Meters.(1:03:00) The episode then dives into favorite film soundtracks, touching on classics like Shaft, The Wiz, and the moody brilliance of Three Days of the Condor.(1:10:00) A passionate tribute to Washington D.C.’s Go-Go music follows, highlighting cultural parallels between DC and New Orleans, especially their shared commitment to community-driven live performance.(1:19:00) The show wraps up with laughter and gratitude as DJ Soul Sister receives an exclusive Shadow People t-shirt, fittingly described as "one-of-one" for a DJ whose record crates overflow with singular treasures.This episode of The Shadow People celebrates music as an ongoing conversation between artists, listeners, and those hidden grooves where the truth lives and dances. It’s a rich, funny, sometimes absurd exploration of why music matters, delivered through stories and perspectives as rare as the records spun by DJ Soul Sister herself.#djvinyl #neworleansmusic #funk #gogo #vinylcommunity #ShadowPeoplePodcast #DJSoulSister