For Hanif Abdurraqib’s 68to05, I wrote a personal essay on how Gil Scott Heron’s music soundtracked my experience during the Texas freeze, in the middle of the pre-vaccine era of the pandemic. This essay was a […]
+972 Mag: A Case of the Palestinian Blues
Writer and Journalist Henriette Chacar wrote with beautiful depth a story on the way the song I co-produced, “Baby Please Don’t Go” by Azraq (Kam Franklin and Kareem Samara) closes a musical circle. For the […]
The Geeby Dajani Story – PIA Mag
In 2020, I had the honor of editing the Music Edition of Palestine In America magazine. The cover story I wrote on Geeby Dajani, a then-unsung hero of early 80s hardcore punk and eventually early […]
Sama’an’s Favorite Music of 2021
Every year I vote for my favorite music (songs and albums) in an annual music critics poll and this year I submitted my ballot for the Uproxx installment. You can view my ballot here. Since […]
25 Years of the Beastie Boys ‘Ill Communication’
Q-Tip, Money Mark, and producer Mario Caldato Jr. reflect on the making of the Beastie Boys’ classic album Ill Communication. The process of making the Beastie Boys fourth album, Ill Communication, began on the tour for […]
Texas Monthly: 20 Essential Texas Rap Tracks
I contributed three entries for Texas Monthly’s 20 Essential Texas Rap Tracks feature, writing about UGK’s “Touched,” Lil’ O’s “Can’t Stop” featuring Destiny’s Child, and “Still Tippin’” by Mike Jones featuring Slim Thug and Paul Wall. […]
“Baby Please Don’t Go” by Azraq, Kam Franklin & Kareem Samara
This one is exciting, my first full production: a cover of the classic Lightnin’ Hopkins tune “Baby Please Don’t Go” by Kam Franklin and Kareem Samara. You may know Kam from being the lead singer […]
Sama’an’s Favorite Music of 2020
Every year I vote for my favorite music (songs and albums) in an annual music critics poll and this year I submitted my ballot for the Uproxx installment. The original music critics poll I voted […]
The Sound of Victory Presents: Sounding Off With Sama’an
SMNTCS founder Sama’an Ashrawi (me, writing this post) appeared on The Sound of Victory podcast Sounding Off to talk with hosts Courtney Cox and Perry Johnson about the intersections of music and sport in his […]
Afrofuturism Interview on Dr. Courtney Cox’s (U of Oregon) Af Am Studies Podcast
SMNTCS founder Sama’an Ashrawi appears for an interview on Dr. Courtney Cox’s (University of Oregon) Intro to African American Studies podcast to discuss the animated series he created, Afrofuturism, and what inspired it. The series […]