DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray sit down with musician, dancer, comedian, and YouTuber Calvin Michaels. Together, they discuss the influence of Black music on K-Pop, and what gets lost (or copied) in translation. Calvin shares insights about his creative path, personal projects, and the North Star that drives him as a true multihyphenate.

From Calvin’s personal journey growing up internationally, to the guys’ critique of the “factory” formula behind much K-Pop, the conversation is playful, smart, and honest.

Calvin Michaels Bio

Calvin Michaels works in many realms of entertainment as a musical producer and creative director. He's also had experience working as a choreographer, stand-up comedian, public speaker, magazine contributor, actor, and choir director. He also has several self-produced studio albums and is a graduate of Howard University.

He recently executive produced the short film "Pull Over So I Can Hit You!". The project is currently showcased at the LA International Shorts Film Festival, Micheaux Film Festival, & Urban Film Festival. This project is an adaption of an episode from his Comedically Hardheaded Podcast.

In addition, he also released his third and fourth self-produced studio albums entitled "Before Tomorrow" and "After Yesterday", available on all digital music platforms.

Calvin Michaels is most known for his YouTube channel that tackles conversations centered on popular culture, politics, music, life and current events. He also served as the director of a nationally top-ranked and critically acclaimed after school program in the Washington DC metropolitan area for 11 years.

Highlights of his creative work and choreography have also been showcased and performed at the Kennedy Center, Howard University, and in the Seattle Metropolitan Area.

Follow Calvin Michaels

Website: https://calvinmichaels.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/calvinmichaels

X: https://x.com/gimmieabeat

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gimmieabeat

BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/gimmieabeat.bsky.social

Email: calvinbmichaels@gmail.com

Chapters

00:00 Intro Theme

00:16 Introduction and Greetings

00:38 The K-Pop Controversy

01:05 Introducing Calvin Michaels

01:30 Calvin's Musical Journey

08:15 The Birth of a YouTube Channel

12:19 K-Pop: A Critical Perspective

20:24 The Rise and Fall of K-Pop Groups

21:16 Generational Differences in Music Appreciation

22:29 Cultural Appropriation and Racism in K-Pop

24:07 The Influence of Black Culture on K-Pop

25:59 The Business Model of K-Pop

26:21 The Evolution of Boy Bands

29:04 The Commercialization of Black Music

31:07 The Decline of R&B in the 2000s

35:18 Calvin Michaels' Music and Projects

38:54 Final Thoughts and Farewell

39:52 Closing Theme

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In this Pride Month episode DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray are joined by journalist and author Starr Rocque. The trio discuss Barbara Mason's 1984 banger "Another Man" - a song that tackled bisexuality in Black music long before it became a mainstream conversation.

The conversation explores how songs like this, and its later hip-hop connections by Notorious B.I.G. and Nikki D, reflect the experiences people were having but rarely discussing openly. We examine the cultural impact of these narratives, the responsibility of storytelling in music, and why diverse romantic experiences matter in our musical landscape.

Starr Rocque Bio

Starr Rocque is a journalist and author. Her work has been featured by Fast Company, Vibe Magazine, PEOPLE Magazine, Vh1, Essence Magazine, American Urban Radio Networks and more. Her debut novel, "Bloggers Can't Be Trusted" is available on Amazon.

Follow Starr Rocque

Website: http://www.starrrocque.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starr_rocque

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/starrenerhett/

Email: info@starrene.com

Chapter Markers

00:00 Opening Theme

00:16 Introduction and Hosts' Greetings

01:24 Introducing Guest Starr Rocque

03:34 Discussing 'Another Man' by Barbara Mason

09:37 Discussing the Theme of Cheating and Bisexuality in Black Music

12:33 Exposure to Queerness and Unlearning Biases

13:53 Nuanced Conversations in Music

16:30 Hip Hop and Queer Representation

23:14 Diverse Romantic Experiences in Music

27:20 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

28:51 Outro Theme

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In this Pride Month episode of Queue Points, DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray dive into Peggy Scott Adams’ 1997 blues classic “Bill.” What happens when a Blues track sparks conversations about queerness, deception, and Black family dynamics in the late ‘90s? Mayhem, y’all. Pure mayhem.

Join us as we explore the cultural shockwaves from “Bill”—from how the song tackled (and sometimes mishandled) LGBTQIA+ visibility, to the tabloid-fueled era that shaped its reception within the Black community. We break down the music video’s casting choices, the history of confronting infidelity in Black music, and why “Bill” still matters today.

We reflect honestly on outdated language and tropes used in the era, and celebrate the resilience and storytelling power of Black artists—then and now.

Happy Pride!

Chapter Markers

00:00 Intro Theme

00:16 Introduction and Welcome

01:17 Introducing Peggy Scott Adams' 'Bill'

02:55 Discussion: The Impact and Controversy of 'Bill'

04:04 Exploring the Social Context of the 90s

08:13 Analyzing the 'Bill' Music Video

10:59 Reflecting on the Song's Legacy

17:51 The Evolution of Music and Media

22:11 Conclusion and Farewell

23:17 Outro Theme

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• Pandora: https://qpnt.net/pandora
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Support Us

• Shop Our Store: https://store.queuepoints.com
• Buy Us A Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/queuepointspod
• Contribute: https://cash.app/$queuepointspod

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• TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@queuepointspod

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