A brief Chicago Tonight  segment with No ID, during Red Bull Music Festival Chicago— bonus video at wttw.com and pbs.org.   No ID is a Grammy award winning, superstar hip-hop producer, famous for his work with Jay Z, Kanye West, Nas, Drake and many others. He’s also a veteran music industry executive, currently EVP of Capitol … Continue reading Jeff Baraka x No ID

Interviews with Afrobeat royalty, brothers Femi Kuti and Seun Kuti, sons of the iconic Fela Kuti (produced in association with WMFC).     Nice Femi re-post at Okayafrica.      

A three-part mini-doc interview with electronic music pioneer (and former TED music director), Thomas Dolby. Produced in association with WXRT (CBS Radio) and the British Consulate General Chicago. … …

A good convo over dinner with Malian “desert-blues” royalty, Vieux Farka Toure.

A too brief conversation with The God MC, produced in association with HNHH and The Shrine Chicago. Talking with Rakim was a big deal for me personally, because he’s one of my primary early influences as an MC (along with Big Daddy Kane, Chuck D, KRS-One and others). I wasn’t prepared to interview him when … Continue reading Jeff Baraka x Rakim

Fun night. I was really just hangin’ out this time, but got swept up in all the good energy. Produced in association with The Shrine Chicago.

A brief interview with Ohio MC and MMG/BCG representer, Stalley. Produced in association with HNHH.

A brief, thoughtful dialogue with the ecstatic MC/actor, formerly known as Mos Def. Produced in association with The Shrine Chicago.

Interview with the magnificent DJ Jazzy Jeff about Red Bull Thre3style and global DJ culture (sorry for the minor audio/tech trouble on this one, there’ll be a re-do).

[update 3.07.14 – met up with one of my old AXS TV bosses, Mark Cuban last night] On-assignment for AXS Live at Dwyane Wade‘s Chicago Has Talent  2012 showcase; brief segments with him and Michelle Williams. …

On-assignment for AXS Live. Interview with Wu-Tang Clan founder, The RZA about his movie, “The Man with the Iron Fists”.

On-assignment for AXS Live @ Red Bull BC One 2012 North American qualifier, interview with host Rakaa.   Earlier that day, at the 10th annual Silver Room Sound System Block Party with owner Eric Williams.

On-assignment for AXS Live at Taste of Chicago 2012. Segments with Raphael Saadiq and Roshon Fegan. …

A candid conversation with the standard bearers of intelligent rap (follow-up from North Coast meeting).

A fun, raucous interview with Talib Kweli, plus special guest GLC shows up. (produced in association with Shrine Chicago and GWHH).

An insightful conversation with singer/songwriter/activist, Nneka, a dynamic voice of world and soul music. …

A short interview with Blitz The Ambassador, a vanguard of African-infused hip-hop, produced in association with World Music Festival Chicago. …

An enlightening interview with Common and the late, great Dr. Maya Angelou [RIP]… … And a short conversation among Chicago hip-hop godfathers, including Twilite Tone. A quick salute to our shared history (which also includes No ID).   BONUS AUDIO: Mic Illumination – Jeff Baraka (O Type Star) featuring Common, with prelude by Malik Yusef. … Continue reading Jeff Baraka x Common

HRSA x GWHH. Interviews with Melanie Fiona and Wale. …

Gowhere Hip-Hop interviews with UK soulstress, Estelle and TV personality flygirl, Rocsi Diaz. …

A short interview with Elzhi, a premier MC in independent hip-hop (follow-up from an ’09 Slum Village talk).

A short interview with international DJ and tastemaker, Gilles Peterson.

An Okayplayer interview with Black Milk, a vanguard of true-school, Detroit hip-hop. … An Okayplayer interview with Aloe Blacc, one of the new giants of soul music.

NBC Chicago digital content. … Bonus NBC Chicago segment.

A short film featuring The Roots & friends at four incredible events in three cities (Chi/Det/NYC), produced in association with Hennessy Artistry and Okayplayer. … A brief interview with DJ, photographer and hip-hop icon, D-Nice at Hennessy Artistry Detroit (2010).

A brief conversation with Senegalese superstar Baaba Maal, during my time at JBTV. This was also presented as a two-part audio story for Chicago Public Radio. See the official music video for Television and a video spot for the UNDP-MDGs we talk about. …

FYI – This is a commercial, NOT my media/journalism work (and it’s chronologically out-of-order on my Reelwork page for that reason). This is an Onion Labs-produced Christmas 2013 spot for Ritz Crackers that I was invited to participate in. It was a fun time, a nice check and we made kids happy, so please laugh … Continue reading Ritz WRappers (Onion Labs)

  The above voice-over demo features a few of my best/most rewarding spots. It includes portions of the work I did for NBA Ballers: Chosen One (below), one of the last titles released by Midway Games, before the company was acquired by Warner Brothers and relaunched as NetherRealm. This was a fun experience and I … Continue reading Jeff Baraka: voice-over