Some years ago for Valentine’s Day, I recorded this soul mix as an installment of my now defunct Spine Magazine radio show, “Spine Blowing Decisions.” It’s a collection of some classy ’60s and ’70s crossover soul 45s – most of which share the distinction of being melodically catchy, but lyrically largely about heartbreak, doubt, and/or misery. Enjoy!

The Loser's Seat: Anti-Valentine's Day Soul Mix.

Esteemed musical host and 'balloon whisperer' Douglas Sherman (of The Loft, Joy, and Adventures In Flight), joins me to chat houseparty ethos under the influence of David Mancuso, and share a lovely selection of tunes, from Zeppelin to ’Love Injection’ & lots more.

(Produced by Jordan Rothlein, engineered by Ryan Woodhall.)

Across 135th Street w/ guest Douglas Sherman, 3.17.19

Hip-hop production great Easy Mo Bee (Biggie, Tupac, Craig Mack et al) joins me on air to spin an original school set of breaks and disco in homage to pioneering Brooklyn park jam DJs of yore. Such a treat to witness him rock!

(Produced by Jordan Rothlein, engineered by Nat Weiner.)

Across 135th Street w/ guest Easy Mo Bee, 2.27.19

My friend & esteemed colleague, author, New Yorker columnist, & fellow hoarder Hua Hsu joins me on air to play raerz & not-so-raerz & spread nuthin but +POSITIVITY+ out into the universe. Topics discussed include Marie Kondo’s influence on the record collecting game, useless music ephemera accumulation trends to look for in 2019, & the emotive beauty of YouTube & Discogs comments.

(Produced by Harley Brown, engineered by Joe Hazan, photo by Max Schiano.)

Across 135th Street w/ guest Hua Hsu, 1.23.19

From Coltrane(s) to Karin Krog to Arkestra, an hour of a few of my favorite renditions of "My Favorite Things."

(Engineered by Mike Bloom, photo by Max Schiano.)

Across 135th Street - My Favorite Things, 12.18.18

My friend & colleague, author Vikki Tobak joins me to discuss her wonderful book, 'Contact High: A Visual History of Hip-Hop,' along two of its contributors, legendary photographers Joe Conzo and Daniel Hastings. Amongst the anecdotes discussed: original school pioneers the Cold Crush Brothers’ first gig at storied BX nightspot the T-Connection, how Nas nearly died during the 'I Am' album shoot and why the Wu wore masks on the cover of '36 Chambers.'

(Produced by Matthew Ismael Ruiz, engineered by Mike Bloom, photo by Daniel Hastings.)

Across 135th Street - Contact High Special, 11.20.18

On the cusp of 'Humble Pi''s release, Homeboy Sandman and Edan join me on air to drop philosophy rappin’ sprees and other transcendental numbers. Behold the maths of glory!

(Produced by Matthew Ismael Ruiz, engineered by Ryan Woodhall, photo by Johnny Navarro.)

Across 135th Street w/ guests Homeboy Sandman & Edan, 10.16.18

The great Ge-ology joins me on air to partake in record nerd chatter & drop a superb set of heavyweight raers & 5-dolla hollas. This gentleman not only has joints but (important distinction here) knows how to use them - one of thee best doing this for years!

(Produced by Matthew Ismael Ruiz, engineered by Joe Hazan, photo by Max Schiano.)

Across 135th Street w/ guest Ge-ology, 8.21.18

In 2018 I had the honor of working as an associate curator on the Red Bull Arts New York exhibition 'RAMMΣLLZΣΣ: Racing for Thunder,' the most comprehensive survey to date of the work of the visual artist, hip-hop visionary and classic New Yorker, RAMMΣLLZΣΣ. The exhibition spanned artworks, music, writings, rare archival documentation and ephemera gathered from disparate sources around the world, outlining the chronology of this remarkably complicated artist. My primary role in all this was to conduct oral-history interviews with dozens of Ramm’s friends and colleagues, including artists Lee Quinones, Futura, Toxic and Kool Koor; filmmakers Jim Jarmusch, Charlie Ahearn, Henry Chalfant and Celia Bulwinkle; musicians Estzer Balint, K-Rob and Stuart Argabright; and Ramm’s brother, KP. These interviews, along with archival rarities of Ramm himself in lecture and performance modes, compose the basis of this radio special. Some things to listen for: The Equation dropping a few chaotic bars over ‘Funky Music Is the Thing’ and ‘Nautilus,’ sharing the mic apparatus with Ice-T, and schooling an Amsterdam audience on the evolution of Gothic Futurism and Ikonoklast Panzerism. My co-pilot on the produced segments here, Ryan Woodhall, and I are really proud of this one. 

IF THIS KNOWLEDGE SCARES YOU THE EQUATION IS WORKING.

(Produced by Matthew Ismael Ruiz, engineered by Ryan Woodhall, original interviews edited by Hasan Insane, photo by Brian Williams.)

Across 135th Street - RAMMΣLLZΣΣ Racing for Thunder Special, 7.17.18

TaharQa Aleem of the legendary Ghetto Fighters/Fantastic Aleems/Prana People joins me to talk Harlem history, collaborations w/ Jimi Hendrix, uptown street figure/Rojac Records boss Jack 'Fat Man' Taylor, the original Harlem World club, Nia Records and much much more.

(Produced by Harley Brown, engineered by Mike Bloom, photo by Max Schiano.)

Across 135th Street w/ guest TaharQa Aleem, 6.19.18

The (Fender) Rhodes Scholar Brian Jackson joins me on air from RBMA Studios in Berlin to talk tunes & play a few of my requests in-studio from he & Gil Scott-Heron’s mighty repertoire. Really special episode, heavy late night/after hours vibes. Hope you guys enjoy.

(Produced by Matthew Ismael Ruiz, engineered by Ryan Woodhall, photo by Max Schiano.)

Across 135th Street w/ guest Brian Jackson Live From Berlin, 9.18.18

Legend has it that when Monica Lynch arrived in New York in 1978 she went straight from LaGuardia Airport to Studio 54. She soon found herself immersed in the city’s burgeoning hip-hop and dance music scenes at the seminal Tommy Boy Records, where as label president she shepherded the careers of Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force, Stetsasonic, Queen Latifah, De La Soul, Naughty by Nature et al. Joining me on air, Monica shares a few classic (and lost classic) Tommy Boy favorites, and discusses her memories of this most special NYC era.

Across 135th Street w/ guest Monica Lynch, 4.17.18

The great Wendell Harrison, co-founder (along w/ his longtime colleague Phil Ranelin) of legendary jazz collective Tribe & the Kresge Foundation’s 2018 Eminent Artist honoree, joins me live from Detroit. In addition to discussing Tribe's heyday in the heady early 70s and Wendell's post-Tribe work on his own independent labels Wenha and Rebirth, he and his guitarist Jacob Schwandt play a special in-studio live performance. Their rendition of 'Where Am I' (a tune longtime fans may recognize in incarnations from the LPs 'An Evening With the Devil' and 'Dreams of a Love Supreme') is especially magical. Was a lot to pack in w/ this episode so they gave us an extra hour.

Across 135th Street w/ guest Wendell Harrison Live From Detroit, 5.22.19

The great James ‘Plunky’ Branch of Oneness of Juju joins me on air - revisiting classics from his group’s recorded repertoire & discussing the creativity of communities and scenes that spawned essential independent labels like D.C.’s Black Fire Records. Such a treat to be in this gentleman’s presence. 

(Produced by Jordan Rothlein, engineered by Joe Hazan, photo by Max Schiano)

Across 135th Street w/ guest Plunky of Oneness of Juju, 5.14.19

Stopped into TTLab in February to play a few lovers rock, reggae covers, funk/soul/breaks & disco/boogie records. Enjoy!

LIVE! AT THE LAB w/ Chairman Mao

Final episode of my Red Bull Radio show, ‘Across 135th Street.' When I began doing the show circa '06(!) it was called RBMA Radio & there was no physical studio. I’d just record a mix from my apartment uptown, hence the name of the program. In this spirit I took the occasion of this last ep to keep the chatter to a minimum & reflect back & play some tunes I’ll associate in one shape or form w/ my involvement in RBMA since ‘03(!!) whether it’s tracks by ppl I had the pleasure of hosting lectures with, songs that got played in lectures, music by ppl I met via the Academy or just things that conjure a personal memory. If by some chance any friends were around when we heard one or two of these tunes then perhaps they’ll recall the significance. But hopefully everyone else will just enjoy the sounds, which includes music by Hugh Masekela, Clive Chin, Steinski, Leroy Burgess, Patrick Adams, DJ Premier, DOOM, Madlib, DJ Rashad, Dam-Funk, Frankie Knuckles & a classic Brainstorm track from a ‘06 term 1 farewell rooftop soirée in Melbourne when the Academy still managed to feel intimate yet also on the cusp of becoming something somewhat more... If I were to pull songs for this show again the selections would likely differ entirely, but this is what I got for now. Enormous thnx to everyone who helped make the show an actual show these past few yrs: all the great guests, the entire radio crew but esp producers Julian Brimmers, Harley Brown, Matthew Ismael Ruiz & Jordan Rothlein, the engineering team headed up by Uncle Joe Hazan & Ryan Woodhall & ofc Maxwell Schiano for the 📷 & slick promo 🎥. Till next time - wherever or whenever that might be - thnx for listening & good night & good luck.

Across 135th Street - Final Show 03 Til Infinity, 6.26.19

The episode that inaugurated our annual tradition! With a madman newly assuming the office of the U.S. presidency, my friend writer & cultural critic Hua Hsu digs through his record collection in search of positivity.

(Produced by Harley Brown; engineered by Joe Hazan; photo by Maxwell Schiano)

Across 135th Street w/ guest Hua Hsu, 1.24.17

My mellow my man Etienne Trinidad, co-founder of Toulouse Soul Club and one of the deepest dudes I know in the rare soul scene, joins me on the air to talk raers, get high on his own supply of acetates & spin a few ridiculous choice selects, including the demo mix of Emerson. (*Flex bomb*)

(Produced by Harley Brown; engineered by Joe Hazan; photo by Maxwell Schiano)

Across 135th Street w/ guest Etienne Trinidad, 2.28.17

NOLA's wonderful historian & DJ Soul Sister (an actual official funk scholar!) took precious time out from a NYC record shopping excursion to share some choice tracks (e.g. lost VA funk, go-go, a late-era Motown gem, and her favorite K&TG joint) & talk music w/ me.

(Produced by Harley Brown; photo by Maxwell Schiano)

Across 135th Street w/ guest DJ Soul Sister, 4.25.17

Dub and bonus beats mixes were the hidden treats on many '80s hip-hop 12-inch singles – tripped out tracks where re-imagined bass, drum and tape edit arrangements took center stage, and echo-drenched rap fragments floated in and out like ghostly guests. These mixes were also showcases for a generation of transcendent engineers/editors/producers – e.g. Aldo Marin, Carlos Berrios, Omar Santana, Marley Marl & others – at an early moment when hip-hop, R&B, electro and dance music comfortably comingled. Flying solo at the controls on this episode, I explore an hour of ’80s hip-hop 12-inch bonus beats and dub mixes, from the slept-on to the classic.

(Produced by Harley Brown; engineered by Ryan Woodhall, photo by Maxwell Schiano)

Across 135th Street - Cold Gettin Dub, 7.18.17

Inspired equally by injections of original school rapperfection and ’60s psyche-rock science friction Edan is one of music’s true originals. The emcee/DJ/producer/kazoo-ist’s 2005 opus Beauty and the Beat merged his distinct influences with unmistakable wit and attention to poetic detail, while follow-up projects such as his mega-mix Echo Party have stayed the artistic course with brilliant results. On this special episode of Across 135th Street, I rotate sets in the mix with the “Humble Magnificent” for a takeover of raw raps, soul grooves and heavy reverberation we've dubbed, The Mao & Edan Show. We even have our own theme song.

(Produced by Harley Brown; photo by Maxwell Schiano)

Mao & Edan Show, 5.16.17

California schemin' in the mix w/ an hour of classic LA/westside stories.

(Produced by Harley Brown; engineered by Joe Hazan)

Across 135th Street - LA Story Rapps, 10.17.17

Joined on the air by the good brother Sucio Smash in the place selecting tracks, kicking it, buggin out, etc. etceteracashmeresweater. This dude has been unwavering in his support of quality music for yrs via his long-running WKCR show Squeeze Radio, his independent label High Water Music & most recently his soiree A Party Called Rosie Perez & I'm amped that he rolled thru so I could steal his Cotique & Inca 45s.

Across 135th Street w/ guest Sucio Smash, 11.21.17

End of year 2017 episode featuring an hour of some of the great reissues & previously unreleased jazz, funk, disco, etc. that came out - including Paris Smith, Bell Telephunk, Richenel, Caliban, Focus, Family Attraction, Junior Byron etc. Wish I had more time to get to everything I wanted to play!

Across 135th Street - Reissues 2017, 12.19.17

In the dark ages before social media connected us the world over, connecting with the correct folks simply within the cozy community of downtown New York City nightlife was an undertaking reserved for the creatively shrewd and resourceful. Hence the utilitarian value of party flyers – those mini cardboard billboards distributed hand-to-hand – or occasionally left on the counter at select boutiques – inscribed with the vital stats on the next soiree worth checking. Designs could vary – from a lovely Keith Haring or Eric Haze creation to an equally striking DIY cut-and-paste number perfected via laborious hours spent at Kinko’s. A remarkable cross section of these handbills are compiled in No Sleep: NYC Nightlife Flyers 1988-1999 – an indispensible visual history of a classic and otherwise largely undocumented era of hanging downtown. On the this episode I discuss this lost history with No Sleep co-authors Stretch Armstrong and Evan “Upnorthtrips” Auerbach, recalling specific nights acknowledged in the book and sharing a few classic tunes from the time.

Across 135th Street - No Sleep Book Special w/ Stretch Armstrong & Evan Auerbach, 12.27.16

The brainchild of Bronx-bred record fanatic Lenny Roberts and b-boy/DJ/tape editor Louis “Breakbeat Lou” Flores, the Ultimate Breaks and Beats compilation series is the most vital distillation of hip-hop’s musical DNA in existence. Founded in 1986 and spread over 25 indispensable volumes, UBB anthologized music from wholly disparate genres - soul, funk, rock, Latin, jazz and new wave – with one simple, unifying concept: all of the tracks included in the series feature essential breaks, those “open” parts of a track that, when put to use by a DJ with two copies, represents the music’s foundational building blocks. UBB preserved these breaks and beats - once the exclusive domain of elite original school pioneers – and made them accessible, emerging at the very moment when sampling technology exploded, thus changing the course of hip-hop production forever. Entire chunks of hip-hop’s recorded canon are unimaginable without it. And on this special Ultimate Breaks and Beats 30-Year Anniversary episode of Across 135th Street, I welcome Breakbeat Lou to discuss the science and history of the UBB legacy.

(Produced by Harley Brown; engineered by Joe Hazan)

Across 135th Street w/ guest Breakbeat Lou, 10.25.16

DJ Love On the Run, aka Richie from Astoria, comes through to drop raers and discuss such topics as the struggles of daily life in Queens after MC Shan's loss to KRS-One, skateboarding the pyramids in 1986, the art of sneaking into Limelight, getting punched by his older sister for touching her records & his eternal love for music. Or none of the above.

(Produced by Harley Brown; photo by Maxwell Schiano)

Across 135th Street w/ guest DJ Love On the Run, 8.23.16

Rapp mix from Jay Smooth's 'Underground Railroad' program on WBAI from '03 - all vinyl, all the way live. Back then a few of us had gotten real heavy into collecting the all the dope, less celebrated late '80s/early '90s independent releases that Dave Tompkins & I privately referred to as 'random rap' (a term btw that was never really meant for public consumption or eBay keyword b.s.). This sound was beautifully paid homage on now-classic mixes like DJ Ivory's 'Hear No Evil' and Edan's 'Sound of the Funky Drummer.' And tho, unlike those sets, this one was never 'officially released,' folks seem to dig this taped-off-the-radio recording (by I believe MF Young/Old/Classy Chris - EDIT: P Duddy), which has circulated for several years now. Enjoy. Peace to Jay, Monk-Uno & Tom Cat. RIP G-Man. 

Tracklist:
Dominating MC's – Funky Terminology(Pay-Hill)
Frick & Frack – You Shouldn’t Have Done It (Romil)
The Microphone King Donald D & DJ Chilly-D – Dope Jam (Rockin' Hard)
Poetry – Everything I Do (Pow Wow)
T-Wiz – Good Thing Goin’ (DNA International)
MC Peaches – Commin Straight Rolling Hard (Bumrush!)
Yogi Bear & Tim Scratch – It Is What It Is (Zazoo)
Sir Fresh & DJ Critical – Gimme Whatcha Got (Solid Goals)
Jimmy Spicer – I Rock Boots (Def Valley)
Glamourous – Good To Go (Instrumental) (Prism)/G-Man Talkover
Supreme DJ Nyborn – Versatile Extension (A Remix) (Payroll)
Live N' Effect Posse – We Got A Message In Or Music (Excellent Choice)
M.D.S. Productions – Because I’m A Pro (Universal Sound Productions)
45 King – Kick It (45 King)
Jus Def / X-Town Posse – Funky On The Freestyle (SEC)
Get Wit It Productions / The Emperial Master Eddie Gee, The Jazzy Jew Man – Are You Ready (GWIP) 
IBM Nation – This Is For The Nation (Inner City)
Unique Poet Supreme – Lyrically Climbing (G)
Universal M.C.s – Invaders (Rough Luxury)
3'Da Hard Way – Ladies (Noontime)
MC Outloud - Clean & Sober (Tri Boro)
Lightnin Lee And Poppy P – BIg Time Chillin (Cut Up!)
Phase & Rhythm – Hyperactive (Funky Tune)
360° – Pelon (Pelon)
Mind Over Matter – Invisible Enemy (Over-Due)
Bolaji – Massive Material (Zakia)
Keek & Qagee – Don’t Say It Sing It (All Plus)

Mao Plays Rapps on Underground Railroad WBAI, 2.8.03

Yuki invited me to play records on her last Lot Radio show before moving back to Japan. I did the first hour-and-a-half or so & she took us home. Recorded live at A-1 Records in the East Village w/ a few friends in the place. Enjoy!

Yuki Noji & Chairman Mao - The Lot Radio, 9.16.20

My guest mix for the Rambo Boys Radio $how - Campus FM Toulouse - while 🇫🇷 remains in operation lockdown. Revel in the joyous/tortured emotional content of these beat ballads, psyche funk, x-over & modern soul joints. All killer no filler.

chairmanmaonyc

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks