If your life were a movie, what would its theme song be?

I don't have any tattoos. But, I've considered getting the words "all is full of love" marked on my arm. Love is what I strive to live by. The title of Common's first book, Let Love Have the Last Word, is a motto for me. And Death Cab, frankly, has been a steady soundtrack for my life for much of the past two decades.

How do you discover new music, and what’s the latest gem you’ve found?

Mostly Apple Music. Sometimes word of mouth. I have a friend who will share songs and artists with me. The Crucial Tracks community I'm now a part of does a good job at sharing good stuff.

What’s a hidden gem or underrated song you love?

Bilal's "All for Love" was initially on an album called Love for Sale and was due to be the follow-up to his debut First Come Second album. It was never released for various reason, both business and personal.

Recently, Bilal released a live version of the track through Glasshaus accompanied by Questlove on drums, Robert Glasper on keys, and Burniss Travis on bass. They did the track justice and then some. In the very least, they brought it back to light.

What’s your favorite collaboration between artists?

I will always be partial to the Soulquarians Era, when The Roots, D'Angelo, J Dilla, Erykah Badu, Bilal, Common, Q-Tip, Mos Def (known now as Yasiin Bey), Talib Kweli, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, and a few others all collaborated over the course of a few years at Electric Lady Studios in New York City and made music together. The Roots' Things Fall Apart, D'Angelo's Voodoo, Erykah Badu's Mama's Gun, and Common's Like Water For Chocolate albums all came out of this period. This was also the period when Slum Village's Fantastic, Vol. 2 came to light. The whole time felt like one big jam session between artists.

Which song would you use to introduce yourself to someone new?

D'Angelo hits on a lot of notes for me. He's got elements of jazz, funk, soul. He's an independent artist these days with free range to do what he likes. This song encompasses a lot of D'Angelo for me.

What was the first album you ever bought? Pick your favorite song off that album.

Most likely, it was LL Cool J’s Bigger and Deffer.

Share a song that got you through a difficult time.

I remember hearing "My Life" by Mary J Blige while in San Francisco in the spring of 1995. My family and I were out getting food somewhere, might have been ice cream, and I remember the place had local station KMEL on. I recognized it as the station that housed The Wake Up Show with Sway & Tech, which came on in the late night hours and played the more underground hip-hop of the time.

Anyway, back to "My Life". I remember hearing this song and instantly being pulled in by it, not only by the Roy Ayers sample on it, but by the raw emotion from Mary. The song would become an anthem for me as I battled with depression in my teen years. I was homesick for Florida after the move to Nebraska. I was an out of place southern kid who couldn't see the similarities with the Midwest yet. I wanted my old life, my old friends, and my old routines. I became less spiritual in the mainstream sense, but still felt a sense of spirituality and this song tapped into that. The first verse really hit home for me:

Life can be only what you make it
When you're feeling down, you should never fake it
Say what's on your mind and you'll find in time
That all the negative energy, it will all decease
And you'll be at peace with yourself
You won't really need no one else
Except for the man up above
Because He'll give you love

This song reminded me to trust in God. It also reminded me I was not alone, that my struggle was by no means singular. Mary J. Blige got me through a lot.

There comes a point where The Mountain Goats leads you to Fleet Foxes. Then Fleet Foxes leads you to Zach Bryan. Then you realize you do actually like country music, just not mainstream country music and that good music is simply good music.

Share a song that changed your perspective on music.

In the early 90s, hip-hop was using a lot of jazz samples. Groups like A Tribe Called Quest, Digable Planets, and De La Soul were known for this sound, bridging a warmer, more mellow feel with the grittiness of hip-hop. MCs like Guru of GangStarr were even releasing full on jazz/hip-hop fusion projects like the Jazzamatazz series, even making the cover art like those old jazz covers of the past.

Then the late great Miles Davis chose to put his stamp on things, teaming up with producer Easy Mo Bee to release Doo-Bop. It would end up being Miles’ last studio album, as he passed halfway through the making of the project. Through the magic of sampling, Easy Mo Bee created the last half using pieces of old Miles performances. I’d be shocked if anyone knew the difference in which tracks were made pre or post Miles’ passing.

This album kicked a door wide open for me, as it allowed me to feel comfortable as a young teen to explore jazz, something thought of as “old people’s music” to many my age at the time. Suddenly I was discovering the rest of Miles’ catalog, along with John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, Cannonball Adderly, and many others. It’s why today I can enjoy Robert Glasper, Kamasi Washington, Ambrose Akinmusire, and Jose James. So, I thank hip-hop and Miles Davis for opening up a huge under appreciated world to me. They totally changed my listening habits.

Describe a concert that changed your perspective on music or life. Pick a song from that artist or band.

I saw The Flaming Lips at the Maha Festival about a decade ago. Their show that night was in promotion of their album The Terror. It was full of psychedelic visuals and stage props. The album itself is more abrasive and unorthodox compared to other Flaming Lips albums. The whole thing was a vibe.

I’ve seen other shows like this since, but this was the first show in which a band didn’t just show up and play, but gave me an experience as well.