On this episode of CrossFade, we’re joined by Ana Diaz (@pokachee), host of Refreshed, for a little refreshment of our own: She reintroduces Matt to Frank Ocean's 2016 opus “Blonde” and Matt returns the R&B favor with Minneapolis-born trio We Are KING’s self-titled from the same year. We discuss Frank Ocean’s penchant for ‘universally personal’ storytelling, We Are KING’s lush songwriting and self-starter mindset, and great questions from the MinnMax community (our favorite bassists, music we’re completely certain you’d like, artists who keep playing with their formula, and where Three Six Mafia belongs in the hip-hop pantheon [don’t miss Jason’s stupid joke about that one]). We close with the funky brass groove stylings of Too Many Zooz courtesy of our supporter-picked song!
To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below…
12:19 - “Nikes”
19:23 - “Ivy”
25:27 - “Pink + White”
27:54 - “Solo”
31:21 - “Skyline To”
34:28 - “Solo (Reprise)”
39:04 - “Nights”
44:17 - “Futura Free”
49:08 - “White Ferrari”
53:10 - “Facebook Story”
1:03:08 - “The Greatest”
1:06:31 - “Carry On”
1:09:50 - “Hey - Extended Mix”
1:12:57 - “In the Meantime”
1:18:28 - “Native Land”
1:23:31 - Community questions
1:37:53 - Community song (“Car Alarm” by Too Many Zooz, suggested by MinnMax supporter Harrison Cook)
Follow Ana at https://twitter.com/pokachee
Catch Refreshed live at https://www.twitch.tv/minnmaxshow every other Thursday, watch the archives at https://www.youtube.com/minnmaxshow, and listen to the Patreon-exclusive podcast version by becoming a supporter
Support MinnMax on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/minnmax/
CrossFade Episode Playlist: https://spoti.fi/2vgqfvK
CrossFade Community Playlist: https://spoti.fi/3aRRgox
“Frank Ocean Remembers Prince as ‘a Vanguard and Genius’” - New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/live/prince-in-memoriam/frank-ocean-remembers-prince-as/
“Frank Ocean Is Finally Free, Mystery Intact” - New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/arts/music/frank-ocean-blonde-interview.html
“Detangling Frank Ocean's 'Blonde': What It Is And Isn't” - NPR https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2016/08/22/490918270/detangling-frank-oceans-blonde-what-it-is-and-isnt
“How Frank Ocean's 'Blonde' Inspired A Wave Of Raw Sincerity in Hip-Hop” - Cool Accidents https://www.coolaccidents.com/news/frank-ocean-blonde-3-years-on