Roderick Miller has lived a life that reads like a Hollywood script. Born in small-town South Carolina the son of a military engineer & Baptist Pastor who traveled the world at a time America feared the danger of the USSR. Miller’s education placed him in Historically Black Colleges and Harvard for a Master’s degree in Urban Development. Work in Phoenix developing the Economic Growth & Community Development, and work in New Orleans in post-Katrina revitalization while starting a family. Recently he left a post leading Detroit’s Economic Growth Corporation. Today he’s working in Puerto Rico and fighting for the resources needed there for Americans being treated unfairly. This podcast is unique in exploring race, poverty, accessibility, and resources. Click here to visit and listen to the Detroit is Different podcast interview with Roderick Miller.

Kwame Kenyatta’s journey connecting him to the discrimination of Black people in America began early as he was one of the original Black students in the state of Alabama to attend a formerly ‘White Only’ elementary school. There Kenyatta dealt with daily fist fights, rocks being tossed at him, and more. As he journey led him to Detroit he soon joined school walk-outs and rebellions throughout the 1970’s. Soon after Kenyatta was permanently expelled from all DPS schools for challenging the administration of Cooley HS for lacking African Centered education. His GED instruction was led by Mama Imani Humphrey (founder of Aisha Shule) and other teachers independently teaching students African Centered education (visit the Dan Aldridge & Njia Kai Detroit is Different interviews) and fundamental learning. Kenyatta later became a member of the Detroit Public School Board with the support of the Malcolm X Grassroots organizations and many others. In office Kenyatta led an initia [...]

Stretch Money’s a rap star. For over a decade his music has been played at Family Reunions, Roller Rinks, and even every strip club throughout Detroit. Eastside’s own son has embraced working with all rappers throughout Detroit regardless of style, age, and background. His voice and pattern in speaking arms him naturally to stand out in conversation and on the song he does as well. Charting the Billboard 100 throughout the 2000’s & 2010’s his time in jail changed his ethics in work and decision making. We explore creativity, free-styling, and leadership. Currently, Stretch Money is working with Fearless Rebels teaming with Crane Novacane producing music, clothing, and content. Opportunities and platforms for a team of young hungry Detroiters is his vision and through creativity, he’s doing it. We both go in depth about the lyricism of Tupac Shakur and examine the talent and skill displayed by Tupac on his song ‘(Shed) So Many Tears,’ (featured on Tupac Shakur’s [...]

Lumumba Reynolds is a creative consultant specializing in sound reinforcement, light design, audio engineering, videography, video editing, photography, and event production. Work with Mosaic Youth Theatre, Detroit’s Fellowship Chapel, the Detroit Windsor Dance Academy, Detroit High School of Fine and Performing Arts, and dozens of organizations and people all have benefited from the services of Studio Lumumba. In this podcast interview we explore his start into production, performing, and love for music. He opens up about starting off a career as a DJ and blossoming into a creative institution. Starting a technical career working at Specs Howards School of Broadcast Journalism, the New Dance Show with Henry Tyler & RJ Watkins, and music video shoots with World One Records. Lumumba tells the story of meeting his wife on the set of a hip-hop music video and how that led to 25 years of marriage with Mayowa Reynolds. The podcast is full of thought-provoking, comedic, and Detroit [...]

Detroit is a place that intersects arts and advocacy often. Dr. Martin Luther King’s ‘I have a Dream’ speech was originally recorded by Milton Henry and released on Motown records. Dudley Randall of Broadside Press provided laureates of the Black community a platform to explore stories of police brutality, racial discrimination, and human rights as a premise and platform for a voice. The talents of Gwendolyn Brooks, Nikki Giovanni, and Haki Madhubuti all were given a national stage from the streets of Detroit’s Broadside Press.

The friendship and love between Amp Fiddler & Lauren Hood carries the tradition on. Amp Fiddler is the musical genius that’s always the coolest person in the room. Born and still residing in the Pershing HS neighborhood Amp travels the world and comes home to Detroit’s Eastside. His unique blend of Funk, Soul, and R & B was crafted through his work with George Clinton and late great brother Bubs Fiddler. His welcoming spirit to enc [...]

Learning percussion from listening alone led Carl ‘Butch’ Small to travel the world with the Undisputed Truth, the Dramatics, Parliament, and the Four Tops. Small’s understanding of music led to a respect, knowledge, and love for studio engineering which guided him to production, arrangement, and composition for Bootsy Collins at the height of his success in the 1970’s & 1980’s. Butch Small was a center piece providing all the sounds you notice but can’t recognize in records like Parliment’s ‘Tear the Roof Off,’ Dr. Dre & Tupac Shakur’s ‘California Love,’ and LJ Reynolds ‘Key to the World.’ Also, his love and support of his son led him to start Detroit’s flagship hip-hop record label World One Records. His encouragement of his son DJ Los moved him into open one of Detroit’s first studio’s welcoming rappers to perform, release, and shares their music with the world. Acts like Kaos & Maestro, DICE, and Nikki D all were given a national st [...]

Running Rebel was originally on the 2008 Khary WAE Frazier ‘Preaching to the Choir’ album released on General Population Music & EAPro. This performance features Joey Spina on acoustic guitar.

Written by K. Frazier & Produced by J. Spina | Recorded at the 1440 Studios Detroit MI

From sharing a barber with Malcolm X to having Dorothy Height get you enrolled in college Dan Aldridge has a unique story. Aldridge was born in Harlem but has made Detroit his home since the 1960’s. We explore his work too many stories: him losing a job with Chrysler because his stance against Chrysler profiting from Apartheid in South Africa; his friendship with Milton Henry & CL Franklin; and how he was the rebel in Mayor Jerome Cavanagh’s office and a leader in Mayor Coleman Young’s office. Watch and listen to the Detroit is Different interview with Dan Aldridge.

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Do you want to know what’s happening in Detroit communities? Do you want to find out what neighborhood groups, block clubs, and businesses outside of downtown Detroit give to the city? The HUB is a true voice for Detroit. The HUB was founded by Jackie Berg. I had a one on one heart to heart with Jackie about her inspiration to start the HUB from the late Sam Logan who led the Michigan Chronicle for years. Jackie also talks about how corporate sales became a gateway for her to grow a love for Detroit neighborhoods. Watch and listen to the Detroit is Different interview with Jackie Berg.

The story of the 6 year old girl featured in the Michigan Chronicle who is now the event planner for over 500 events in throughout Detroit’s Downtown is a story for the ages. Njia Kai grew up in the heart of Detroit and excelling throughout her grade school years earning her scholarship to Howard University where she studied film. Howard University and Washington DC’s African Centered community groomed Njia in the ethics of value systems, leadership, and cooperative economics. Listen to the podcast where Njia shares and opens up her methods of understanding, process, and system. Njia’s Detroit Event’s Team is one of the most recognized and successful brands covering Noel Night, Campus Martius, Red Wing Championship Celebrations, African World Festival, and more.