DJ Lynnée Denise on KPFK, Los Angeles

One of the most striking parts of La based director Ava Duvernay's film "Middle of Nowhere," was the soundtrack. I would describe it as humanizing, especially considering the context, a movie about mass incarceration and its impact on Black families.  Imagine my joy when I learned that KPFK radio DJ Morgan Rhodes, a Black woman, was the soundtrack supervisor. Impressed by her selections I reached out to her and shared my podcast. We've been in contact ever since. Upon returning to Los Angeles, my hometown last week for a two month long visit, I was invited to join Morgan Sunday December 1, 2014 for an interview on her show, The Listening Station. Something happens when two DJs enter a conversation about music, magic and scholarship. Together we took a trip through our earliest memories of influential LA music from the 1980s and early 90s.

KDAY, LA's first hip-hop station, Dr. Dre's World Class Wrecking Crew, Egyptian Lover and Uncle Jam's Army came up as we recalled how "freestyle" and "electro funk,"  led us both to the path of  house music. Morgan did an excellent of reminding her listeners that black folks have always played a role in the development of electronic music.  We called the names of UK soul artists Loose Ends, Soul II Soul, Goldie, Roni Size, Brand New Heavies and D'Influence to name some of the pioneers of black electronica. This conversation took us into our shared loved for house music, which we stated, definitely was Black. We shouted out and sent love to Detroit, Chicago and New York City for the dance floor jams they've offered our "Luv Dancing." Catch me on the KPFK 90.7 FM for a live DJ set in the studio with Morgan Rhodes for her weekly show The Listening Station. Big tings a g'wan. Thank you LA.

DJ Morgan Rhodes driving the mothership board live and direct from KPFK Hollywood studios.