Hey Mofos!

Remember the song "Tender Kisses?" Chile, I done found Tracie Spencer and had her on my lifestyle show "Soulibration" a couple of weeks ago! Don't judge me for forgetting to come over here and tell y'all! She was so transparent about her grief journey and so many could relate. Grief is rough and you never escape it, you just learn to live with it looming in the background. 

She also answered fan questions and we kee-kee'd a lot, so it wasn't all doom and gloom. She also shared about her career in healthcare and more! 

Catch the interview here:

Now, so you don't miss an episode --I always stream Soulibration to Check the Rhymes TV--so you have ZERO excuses for missing it! 

I'm excited about upcoming guests, so stay tuned! 

Let me know, what's your favorite Tracie Spencer song?

~Meik

 Hey Mofos!

I met saxophonist Adrian Crutchfield at a Will Downing concert. I was sitting backstage with his mom and aunt watching him perform. Once they started telling me about his amazing body of work, I had to know more about how he ended up working with Prince! 

Watch here: 

This interview was recorded in March--just days before my grandfather passed away, so it's weird to watch myself push through this knowing I was on edge waiting to hear of any news of his progress. Luckily, I got to spend some time with him before he passed so anyhoo-- sorry for taking so long to post this interview. 

Make sure you subscribe to the YouTube channel! 

~Meik

Hey Mofos!

I was super hype to chat with Gina Thompson! Talk about a throwback! I actually met her in 1997--she was one of the first music artists I had been around because she was in the building the day I interviewed Case, which was my very first celeb interview everrrrr. The place: East Tennessee State University and I was in college and sooooooooooo unprepared LOL. But, both her and Case taught me and my classmates an important lesson-- make sure all of your equipment is working, and control the interview. 

Anyhoo--I was wondering where she was, and she just happens to be back with some new music! So, here's the Check the Rhymes TV interview:

I love how she stresses the importance of mental health! 

As always, leave comments on the YouTube channel and subscribe! 

~Meik

Hey Mofos!

I'm back with another interview on Check the Rhymes TV and this time it's with my friend Noel Gourdin. It's really crazy cuz I remember talking to him backstage in 2016-2017 about wanting to start a platform--at the time it was supposed to be a website and we brainstormed back and forth for a min. Finally came up with a name, created a logo and got the domain and well.... it's still sitting collecting dust. BUT, Check the Rhymes eventually became the idea and so it was only right that he come on the show to talk about his new music. His music just makes you wanna get in the car and ride out with the windows down, sunroof open, just vibin. 

Check the convo:

Do you have a favorite Noel Gourdin song? Lemme know in the comments! 

~Meik

Now y'all know I love the Jackson family like I'm a close relative, so when I heard Tito Jackson was putting out a 2nd album, I HAD to talk to him. I interviewed Tito back in 2016 for JET and it was a fun convo, then I ran into him the following year at the Black Music Honors red carpet in Nashville. Chile, it made my entire EVERYTHING to take a selfie with Tito, Jackie, and Marlon on the carpet. Hell, truth be told, I have that photo in a frame like we for real family. 

Anyhoo, Tito dropped his new blues album, "Under Your Spell," on 8/6 and it's a must add to your playlist even if blue isn't your thing. The lead single "Love One Another" puts you in the mind of a bluesy "Can You Feel It" and I'm here for it, plus mama Katherine is in the video! The album also features George Benson, Joe Bonamassa, Marlon Jackson, Eddie Levert, Kenny Neal, Bobby Rush and Stevie Wonder. An all-star line up!

Let's get into my Check the Rhymes interview with Poppa T right here:

Let me know what you think of the album! 

~Meik

Hey Mofos!

I love learning about all things Black music history related, so it was a no-brainer that I HAD to see the documentary "Summer of Soul" by the amazing Questlove. 

"Summer of Soul (...Or When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)"  will be released in theaters by Searchlight Pictures and on Hulu on 7/2 so make sure you check it out. What is the film about? Let's get down to it. 

This is the directorial debut of Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson and honestly, I trust anything he puts out that's music related because have you seen his music collection??? His knowledge of Soul Train is impeccable which makes him a fav in my book, not to mention his own musical legacy. Anyhoo, "Summer of Soul" revisits the historical Harlem Cultural Festival in the summer of 1969. Y'all. There are never before seen performances from a young Steve Wonder, Nina Simone, David Ruffin, 5th Dimension, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and more! 

Peep the trailer: 

All I'm gonna say is I felt some kind of way not being born yet and able to attend such an amazing festival. Watching it, I swear I was in a time machine and was right there in the crowd--the smell of sweat, that blue hair grease (IF YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW), food from vendors, the stench of weed (cuz I know there was some), and the sounds of singing, laughter, being bumped from the dancing--all the makings of a great time. The "Black Woodstock" as it's called by Hal Tulchin who was chronicling as much of the festival as possible. Cameras were brought in to capture the footage of every performer and grab reaction shots of the crowd. Meanwhile, that same summer, Woodstock was in progress and a film documenting that was a hit so Tulchin was sure pinning that nickname on it, would have the same appeal. 

Nah. Not so much. That's why the footage hasn't been seen until now. 

Imagine a 19 year old Stevie Wonder doing a drum solo. I swear I don't think I even knew he knew how to play the drums! I was mesmerized. Y'all know I love those tempting Temptations, and former lead man David Ruffin didn't disappoint. He held a single note for 20 seconds before launching into a soul-scream that had me in my living room praise dancing. THAT MAN CAN SAAAANG--and it made me remember that truly, "ain't nobody comin' to see you Otis" .. we came to see David sang his face off. Sly & the Family Stone brought the funk, while Nina Simone (side note-she is a NC Music Hall of Fame inductee and I urge you to check out her exhibit), is a vision to witness performing. Other standouts include Mahalia Jackson and Mavis Staples belting out "Take My Hand, Precious Lord," so you got some church and amen on a hot summer day. It was very church tent revival and I was here for it. 

The crowd shots make this entire documentary really shine. The hairstyles, the fashions, their facial expressions from being so hype to over the summer heat. I also loved hearing the artists today talk about putting that show together and hearing the climate of how things were during that time. Honestly, that summer of 69 could very well still be summer of 21 (just add in masks) because racial tensions are still out of order. 

I was left with the question of why this glorious festival was forgotten and who can we blame? But, maybe we aren't supposed to know. Instead, we should be grateful that we finally got to see the music, and a testament to Black power and beauty live and in color. It's more than just a concert film, it's a snapshot of a powerful moment in our history. 

So let me know who your favorite performance after you watch it! 

~Meik