Abiodun Oyewole - Harlem
In Our Headphones3 Nov 2021

Abiodun Oyewole - Harlem

Abiodun Oyewole - "Harlem" from the 2021 album Gratitude on Fire Records.

Abiodun Oyewole’s legendary history can be traced back to one very important day, May 19, 1968, when he read poetry in Harlem’s Mount Morris Park with David Nelson and Gylan Kain in honor of Malcolm X’s birthday and became what is now considered the first hip hop group - The Last Poets. In honor of this sacred day and Oyewole’s love for the New York neighborhood that gave him life, Oyewole recently released a single expressing his appreciation for Harlem and the people that live there.

Appropriately titled “Harlem,” the song is locked in a singular groove for nearly six and a half minutes while Oyewole waxes poetic about the music, food, history, and culture that makes this neighborhood so special. Backup singers provide meditative coos of “Harlem, sweet Harlem” behind Oyewole’s shout outs to soul food at Sylvia’s, hanging out at the Jazzmobile, the Apollo, shopping on 125th street, children jumping double dutch, high fives, and real hugs. It’s a spiritual and inspirational journey of a man with a singular legacy. In a recent interview with Pat Thomas, Oyewole had this to say about the inspiration behind the song:

“You gotta realize, Harlem was the place I wanted. It was like a desire, a dream. I was raised in Queens, New York. I would see Harlem every Sunday of my life because we went to church in Harlem. The energy of Harlem was exciting, electric. I told myself, 'I got to be here,' because there was no place in New York City that had that kind of energy and I really wanted that.

“When the opportunity arose that The Last Poets were gonna happen and Dahveed Nelson, a brother who I consider part of the group because it was his idea, he told me that we were going to read poetry at Mount Morris Park in Harlem, there was a part of me that was very happy and a part of me that was very scared. I was intimidated because I thought Harlem was a tough place to do anything.

“Harlem was where everything was going to happen. When we set up our home base in Harlem, I spent all my time in Harlem, I got an apartment in Harlem - Harlem became everything to me.”

Read the full post on KEXP.org

Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Avsnitt(1752)

KEXP Music Director Chris Sanley on Hemi Hemingway

KEXP Music Director Chris Sanley on Hemi Hemingway

Host Evie Stokes talks to KEXP Music Director Chris Sanley about Hemi Hemingway’s new song "Oh, My Albertine" from the upcoming album Wings of Desire, out on Feb. 20 via PNKSLM Recordings. Produced by Lilly Ana Fowler Mastered by: William Myers Production support: Serafima Healy Associate Director of Editorial: Dusty Henry Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube. Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones Contact us at headphones@kexp.org.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 Jan 7min

Travis Thompson on Seattle's Lazā

Travis Thompson on Seattle's Lazā

Host Evie Stokes talks to Seattle rapper Travis Thompson about learning how to rap with Lazā and one of her biggest songs — "Open until 2."Produced by Lilly Ana FowlerMastered by: William MyersProduction support: Serafima HealyAssociate Director of Editorial: Dusty HenryListen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphonesContact us at headphones@kexp.org.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

15 Jan 4min

Travis Thompson on rising rapper Oblé

Travis Thompson on rising rapper Oblé

Host Evie Stokes talks to Seattle rapper Travis Thompson about his buddy Oblé and their new song together “Roll Call,” off the album Line Leaders on UnderCurrent. Produced by Lilly Ana FowlerMastered by: William MyersProduction support: Serafima HealyAssociate Director of Editorial: Dusty HenryListen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube. Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphonesContact us at headphones@kexp.org.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13 Jan 6min

KEXP DJ Troy Nelson on Oakland’s Orchestra GOLD

KEXP DJ Troy Nelson on Oakland’s Orchestra GOLD

Host Evie Stokes talks to KEXP DJ Troy Nelson about Afro psychedelic rock band Orchestra GOLD and their new, self-released song “Dakan.” Produced by Lilly Ana FowlerMastered by: William MyersProduction support: Serafima HealyAssociate Director of Editorial: Dusty Henry Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphonesContact us at headphones@kexp.org Photo Credit: Ginger FiersteinSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

8 Jan 10min

KEXP DJ Troy Nelson on Australia’s Georgia Knight

KEXP DJ Troy Nelson on Australia’s Georgia Knight

Host Evie Stokes talks to KEXP DJ Troy Nelson about autoharps, and one his new favorite tracks – “Mingle” – by Georgia Knight, out now on her debut album Beanpole, on Poison City Records. Produced by Lilly Ana FowlerMastered by: William MyersProduction support: Serafima HealyAssociate Director of Editorial: Dusty HenryListen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphonesContact us at headphones@kexp.org photo by Laura May GroganSupport the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6 Jan 8min

Happy Holidays from the In Our Headphones team

Happy Holidays from the In Our Headphones team

Happy Holidays! We're taking a brief break and will be back on Jan. 6th, 2026. Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

23 Dec 202523s

In Our Headphones Best of 2025

In Our Headphones Best of 2025

Host Evie Stokes talks with Music Director Chris Sanley and KEXP DJ Larry Mizell, Jr. about some of the best music of the year, including Nourished By Time and Bad Bunny! Produced by Lilly Ana FowlerMastered by: William MyersProduction support: Serafima HealyAssociate Director of Editorial: Dusty HenryListen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube.Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphonesContact us at headphones@kexp.org.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

18 Dec 202521min

In Our Headphones back on Thursday, December 18th

In Our Headphones back on Thursday, December 18th

Our Best of the Year episode is coming your way… Hosted by Evie Stokes Produced by Lilly Ana Fowler Mastered by: William Myers Production support: Serafima Healy Associate Director of Editorial: Dusty Henry Listen to the full songs on KEXP's "In Our Headphones" playlist on Spotify or the “What's In Our Headphones” playlist on YouTube. Support the podcast: kexp.org/headphones Contact us at headphones@kexp.org.Support the show: https://www.kexp.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

16 Dec 202512s

Populärt inom Nöje

mellan-himmel-och-jord-med-jlc
mardromsgasten
filip-fredrik-svarar
nemo-moter-en-van
badfluence
schulman-show
dialogiskt
fordomspodden
skalla-dagen-med-mia-skaringer
podme-bio-4
fem-i-topp
chilla-med-de-vet-du
rss-p3-musikdokumentar
gott-snack-med-fredrik-soderholm
hollywood-love-stories-3
hundaren-motgangspodden-av-tomas-andersson-wij
skandal
hemma-hos-strage
mannen-utan-spar
rss-tonarsdrommar-podden