Send us a text with your support, comments or feedback.

Navigating Identity, Community, and the Transformative Power of Hip-Hop

As we catch up with the remarkable Charlie Dark MBE, prepare to be inspired by tales of creativity, community, and cultural journeys. Charlie takes us through his transformative roles—from the vibrant club scene to the joys of fatherhood with the arrival of his third child, Baby Zen. Our conversation unlocks the power of music and subcultures that shaped us, particularly hip-hop, which offered a refuge and a voice during the turbulent days of the 1980s. Charlie’s encouragement during lockdown was pivotal in my own podcasting journey, and together, we celebrate the personal growth that springs from shared experiences and passions.

Charlie's Selections

Run DUC - Sucker M.C.’s (Krush‐Groove 1)

Fela Kuti - Africa Centre of the World (feat. Roy Ayers)

Roy Ayers Ubiquity – Running Away

Richie Rich - Salsa House

Black Renaissance - Harry Whitaker

Mista Pierre's Fortified 45s Website
Mista Pierre's Instagram

Send us a text with your support, comments or feedback.

Discover the raw and thrilling energy of 1974 New York through David's eyes. He recounts navigating the city's initial grit and discovering its vibrant opportunities, including an unforgettable Aretha Franklin concert at Radio City Music Hall. As David adjusts to his new surroundings, his connections with industry icons and attendance at a black gospel church in Harlem illustrate the profound influence of music and community on his life.

David's Selections

A Brand New Me - Aretha Franklin

Baby Hang Up the Phone - Carl Graves

Ready For This - Revelation

That's the Way of the World - Earth, Wind & Fire

Face The Music - The Dynamic Superiors

Everybody Loves the Sunshine - Roy Ayers Ubiquity

Mista Pierre's Fortified 45s Website
Mista Pierre's Instagram

Send us a text with your support, comments or feedback.

Something is electrifying about the click of a camera shutter capturing a moment in time, and no one knows that better than Normski, the man behind the lens in the golden age of UK hip-hop. My conversation with this photographic maestro takes us from chuckles over technology's quirks in podcasting to the profound depths of personal and cultural identity. Laugh along as we transcend technical malfunction, discourse dysfunction, and life's serendipitous hilarity. Then, journey with us into nostalgic memories of family influence on Normski's craft and the dance show that shaped a cultural era.

The art of storytelling through photography is much like composing music; it's about emotion, narrative, and connection to the audience. Normski delves into the arduous yet rewarding odyssey of birthing his book, 'Man with the Golden Shutter,' a visual symphony of hip-hop's raw energy and street art's vivid stories. Experience the tug-of-war of selecting just the right images, the collaborative dance with editors, and the creative crescendo that is a published anthology of one's life's work.

Preserving men's mental health is important. We wanted to ensure we could talk freely and in our own way, leaving an example of how men can express vulnerability without shame. A change of mindset historically unavailable for many of us in our formative years. A step towards remediating the effects of toxic masculinity.

Normski's Choices
Inner City Life - Goldie
Hold No Hostage - Hijack
My Philosophy - Boogie Down Productions
I Know I Got Soul - Eric B & Rakim

Hosts: Mista Pierre
Producer: Mista Pierre

Mista Pierre's Fortified 45s Website
Mista Pierre's Instagram