Episode 22: Ishmael Butler on Lightnin’ Rod’s “Hustlers Convention” (1973)

Episode 22

22nd February 2018

Ishmael Butler (Digable Planets, Shabazz Palaces) takes us on a trip back to the cult spoken word/funk classic, “Hustlers Convention.” Get ready to throw them bones.

Episode notes

The album: Lightnin’ Rod: Hustlers Convention (1973)

Ishmael Butler aka Butterfly of Digable Planets aka one-half of Shabazz Palaces joined us to take us on a trip back to the blaxploitation era and one of the greatest soundtracks-in-search-of-a-movie: Hustlers Convention, the spoken word/funk album by Jalal Nuriddin of The Last Poets. Backed up musicians that included Kool and the Gang, Eric Gale and others, Hustlers Convention took listeners on a trip into the world of pimps, players, police and other street characters in a vivid, cinematic story that would go onto inspire rappers the world over.

More on Lightnin’ Rod and Hustlers Convention

More on Ishmael Butler

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Hustler’s Conventionunless indicated otherwise):

  • ”Sport”
  • Digable Planets: Reaching’”The Rebirth of Slick”
  • Curtis Mayfield: Superfly “Superfly”
  • ”Hamhock’s Hall Wa Big”
  • ”Spoon”
  • ”The Shit Hits The Fan Again”
  • ”The Break Was So Loud It Hushed The Crowd”
  • ”Sentenced To The Chair”
  • ”Brother Hominy Grit”
  • Shabazz Palace: Lese Majesty “Forerunner Foray”
  • Dr. Dre: Deep Cover “Deep Cover Feat. Snoop Dogg”
  • Raekwon: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx”Heaven & Hell”

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In this episode...

Guests

  • Ishmael Butler

About the show

Hosted by Oliver Wang and Morgan Rhodes, every episode of Heat Rocks invites a special guest to talk about a heat rock – a hot album, a scorching record. These are in-depth conversations about the albums that shape our lives.

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