TIME STAMPS: 1:53 — Talib explains how his daughter Diani and son Amani were the ones who turned him onto Siifu’s music. They go on to discuss how Amani helped Siifu get established performing in New York with all the curating for shows that he’s been doing. Talib also talks about his experience as a father attending one of Diani’s shows and they get into Siifu’s history with artists Maasai and Ted Kamal. 6:52 — Siifu is asked for his take on why this new generation of hip hop artists feel so uninhibited about opening up the genre beyond the emcee-focused days of times past. Siifu gets into some of the music that impacted him the most during his formative years including artists like Outkast, Sun Ra, Madlib, as well as others, and they discuss his growing up in the Birmingham, Alabama area and how that impacted him. 13:24 — Siifu expands on a quote of his about how funerals have been his family reunions, his timing album releases to align with family members being born or passing away, and Siifu channeling their energy through his music. They also get into Siifu’s spiritual side, becoming a Muslim, challenging himself to adhere to his faith, as well as how having twin girls has changed his perspective on life. 20:52 — Siifu and Talib give their answer to the always difficult question of what album would you bring to a deserted island. They go on to discuss the power of John Coltrane’s ‘Love Supreme’ and the song ‘Naima’ that was brilliantly reimagined on ‘Neems’ for the Leather Blvd. project with his group B. Cool-Aid featuring himself and producer Ahwlee. Ahwlee chimes in and talks about his deep focus on musicianship for that track. 25:14 — Siifu is asked about his history in theater, and they go on to discuss Black Thought’s musical called ‘Black No More’ and what it’s about, which leads to conversation of Thought’s viral Funkmaster Flex freestyle and how that moment was a real eye-opener for Flex in how he viewed underground artists. They also show love for Ladybug Mecca from Digable Planets who has contributions on the ‘Leather Blvd.’ album. 32:40 — Siifu speaks on how he has been trying to get his father back on the saxophone and they discuss R&B legend Eddie Kendricks who Siifu sampled for ‘Birmingham Skies,’ and Talib sampled for his record, ‘Can I Talk To You,’ which he plays us a sample of. They also explore Siifu being so deeply influenced by Outkast, Goodie Mob, and the whole Dungeon Family crew, including Big Rube who he had the opportunity to collaborate with. 40:08 — Siifu talks about his connection to the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, how much the town shaped him with all the time spent there growing up, and how becoming a rapper wasn’t on his mind during those early years. Siifu’s efforts to uplift black women through his music is brought up, and he is asked for his take on how/if black men have been failing to do right by black women who are the most oppressed. 49:24 — Siifu’s song ‘Melanin’ is brought up as he is asked what made him want to bring his blackness to the forefront of so much of his music. Siifu goes on to talk about how trips to the drum circles at Leimert Park Village in LA inspired him as well as his grandmother’s experiences during the civil rights era. They also get into the poet Jessica Care Moore, her music, and Siifu’s drawing influence from the Five Percenter philosophy and the trip he took to the Allah School in Harlem.
Speak On It!