Shows
The Donnie Houston PodcastThe Mr. Lee EpisodeLegendary producer Mr. Lee sits down with Donnie Houston for an exclusive interview, breaking down his incredible career in hip-hop. From his early days producing for Rap-A-Lot Records and working with artists like Scarface, 5th Ward Boyz, and Bun B, to crafting hits for Slim Thug, Z-RO, Lil Keke, and Nipsey Hussle, Mr. Lee shares untold stories and insights into his creative process.Listen as he reflects on his journey, his impact on Southern hip-hop, and the timeless records he’s helped create. Don’t miss this deep dive into the mind of one of the most influential prod...2025-04-291h 40The Donnie Houston PodcastThe Play-N-Skillz EpisodeIn this episode of the Donnie Houston Podcast, we’re joined by Play from Play-N-Skillz, with special guest co-host Sama’an Ashrawi, for an in-depth conversation about his journey in music. Play shares how he and his brother Skillz built their career starting in Dallas, Texas, and how they went on to produce major hits like “Ridin’ Dirty” for Chamillionaire, “Got Money” for Lil Wayne, and collaborations with Daddy Yankee, Pitbull, and more.From winning Grammy Awards to shaping the sound of hip-hop and reggaeton, Play gives insight into the creative process behind some of the biggest records of the 2000s a...2025-04-291h 45
Free City RadioCultural workers for Palestine - Kareem SamaraThis is the second edition of Cultural workers for Palestine, a monthly program focused on highlighting the ways that artists are involved in and expressing support for Palestinian liberation in their respective work. For this edition we hear from London based Palestinian musician Kareem Samara. Kareem speaks about the project Azraq, with Kam Franklin, which is produced by Sama'an Ashrawi.
In this interview Kareem reflects a lot on the unprecedented mobilization for Palestine on the streets of London over the last months.
This interview series hosted by Stefan Christoff airs on the first Monday of each month on Radio AlHara...2024-04-0130 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeGrandpa & JohnIn the early days of the pandemic, I found a record poking out of a bookshelf. I must've walked past that shelf a million times, how had I never noticed it? Turns out: the record was written for my grandfather by future Broadway titan: John Kander.
The story doesn't stop there and only gets better. I invite you to listen and enjoy and share.
This story began as a twitter thread that went super viral, amassing tens of millions of views.2022-12-3012 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeHouston Astros Manager Dusty BakerHouston Astros manager Dusty Baker is probably one of the coolest people to ever set foot on Planet Earth. The man literally invented the high five in 1977 (seriously, look it up, I'm not lying) and yet somehow that isn't the coolest thing about him. His love and passion for music runs very deep, you'll hear that in the stories he tells.
PS shoutout to Sydney Colson.2022-10-191h 01
The Nostalgia MixtapeWhen Jay-Z Turned Noel Gallagher Into A Sham Pain SupernovaOnce upon a time, Jay-Z was announced to be the first rapper to headline Glastonbury. Noel Gallager from Oasis didn't like that very much, he told the press, "I'm not havin' hip-hop at Glastonbury. Fookin no way."
The way Jay-Z responded was equal parts class and ether.2022-10-1013 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeJamel JohnsonComedian and sports enthusiast Jamel Johnson stops by the campfire to tell a few funny and affecting coming-of-age stories; tales of romance, fisticuffs, and maybe a little bit of the ganja. His stories are soundtracked by Ludacris and Lil' Wyte, and boy are they worth hearing.
Follow:
https://twitter.com/nonprofitcomic
https://instagram.com/broccolihouse
We are @nostalgiatapes on IG and Twitter.2022-09-131h 08
The Nostalgia MixtapeLenoraLenora, a singer from Houston, Texas, (the Hiram Clarke area to be specific) stops by the campfire to get a little vulnerable, tell some stories, cry a little, and laugh a lot.
3:20 - Growing up in Hiram Clarke
14:15 - Almost got a Ginuwine Whoopin'
22:04 - The album 'Girls', the 'Cool' music video
27:05 - A happy memory
35:26 - "Goin Up Yonder" is *the* song that shaped Lenora
41:30 - Songs Lenora sang as a kid
49:00 - Long Live Mama Lenora
1:02:00 - Water (hug) break
1:02:45 - Grieving
1:06:46 - Outro
Follow on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/sincerelylenora/
https://www.instagram.com/sam3an/
...2022-08-221h 09
The Nostalgia MixtapeWhen I Interviewed Bill WithersOne fateful day, I found myself holding a camera and staring into Bill Withers' eyes. Or, I should say, he was staring into mine. No, he was gazing into my soul. He could see all the highlights of my life, he could see every mistake I ever made. And he was smiling.
Here's that story + at the end a chance for you to reflect on pieces of people you care about that you carry with you.
This story was first published on the Elis Audio app in two parts, find the story here:
https://spaces.elis.io/spaces/nostalgiatapes/posts/5...2022-08-1116 min
In Our HeadphonesAl-Bara'em - IshraqAl-Bara’em - "Ishraq" from the 2021 Al-Bara'em EP on SMNTCS. A few years ago, Houston-based music journalist Sama'an Ashrawi found out a surprising fact about his Dad: back in the 1960s-'70s, his father and all but one of his aunts and uncles were the founding members Al-Bara'em ("The Blooms" in Arabic), Palestine's first original rock band, and the first Palestinian rock band to feature women on stage. “At a family gathering — either Thanksgiving or Christmas — one of my uncles told me that recordings of the band existed,” Ashrawi told The Arab News. “In that moment it bec...2021-06-1504 min
Arab-American Psycho111 | Palestinian Rock & Roll with Sama’an & Ibrahim AshrawiThis week’s guests are Palestinian father and son, Sama’an Ashrawi, a Palestinian-American writer, filmmaker, music producer, and host of the Nostalgia Mixtape podcast, and Ibrahim Ashrawi, a Palestinian refugee born in Jerusalem who along with his siblings and friends, co-founded Palestine’s first original rock 'n roll band: Al-Bara’em (The Blooms). We talk about early memories of music, Sama’an’s work in the music industry, creating the first Palestinian rock n roll band, the power of the arts, visiting Palestine as a Palestinian-American adult, being born in a refugee camp, and stay tuned until the end of the episo...2021-05-231h 09
F23 PodcastF23 Podcast Lost Tape feat Sama'an AshrawiWelcome to the F23 Podcast Sama'an Ashrawi a Palestinian American Producer, Journalist and Podcast host. We talk about, and Sama'an tells the story of, another Palestinian American called Geeby Dajani an inspiring tale of trailblazing pioneer on the New York punk and Hip-Hop scene. As will become clear Geeby had been in my life since my teens I'd just never noticed him before until I discovered his story in Sama'an's journalism. So if you've ever watch the movie The Warriors, listened to the Beastie Boys or watched that CBGBs footage of Bad Brains then geeby has been in your...2021-04-0157 min
Fawda Twenty TwentyEpisode 30 - Sama'an AshrawiSama'an Ashrawi is a Palestinian-American writer, filmmaker, music producer, and host of the Nostalgia Mixtape podcast.2021-02-1153 min
Indie Basketball: The PodcastFantasy Draft: Best Player NamesThat's right, Indie Basketball is now a podcast. In the very first episode, we do a fantasy draft of the best player names with Trey Kerby (No Dunks, Athletic), Sama'an Ashrawi (Nostalgia Mixtapes), and Blake Murphy (Columbia House Party, Athletic). We discuss the incredibly busy week that included the NBA draft, free agent signings, and trades, in addition to the draft of a wide range of names.
Be sure to check out Indie Basketball on Instagram @indiebasketball and subscribe/share.
2020-11-2339 min
Sounding OffSounding Off | Ep. 3: Sama'an AshrawiSounding Off is a podcast produced by The Sound of Victory, an interdisciplinary project that explores the historic relationship between music, sound, and sport. It's hosted by Perry B. Johnson and Courtney M. Cox. In this episode, they're joined by Sama'an Ashrawi, a Houston-based multimedia journalist and host of The Nostalgia Mixtape podcast.2020-09-0742 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Bun B EpisodeLegendary rapper, college professor, one half of the mighty UGK, and Sama'an's personal mentor, Bun B joins the campfire to tell the story of his career (and his marriage) through five of his songs.
[00:01:50]
Chapter 0: Trill Foreword by Jon Caramanica
[00:11:20]
Chapter 1: Findin' Love While Ridin' Dirty
[00:23:10]
Chapter 2: It's Dark and DMX Knows My Lyrics
[00:35:56]
Chapter 3: Tupac and UGK, The Collab That Almost Was
[00:40:25]
Chapter 4: Sometimes A Knowles Checks on *You*
[00:51:02]
Chapter 5: Losing My Shit Wiv Da Mandem At Glastonbury
Read along with the annotated transcript at:
http://thenostalgiamixtape.com/creative/the-bun-b-episode/
Donate to The Nostalgia Mixtape if you're feelin lucky:
...2020-07-091h 32
The Nostalgia MixtapeAaron Stephens plays "Do Something" & "Small Axe" (Bob Marley cover)From our episode In Support Of Black Liberation, Aaron Stephens shares two songs in his live performance: his original tune, "Do Something," and a cover of Bob Marley's "Small Axe."
Buy Aaron's music here:
https://aaronstephens.bandcamp.com/
Listen to the full episode here:
http://thenostalgiamixtape.com/creative/in-support-of-black-liberation/
"Do Something" Lyrics:
Some people want
Some people need
Some people give expecting to receive
We’re earning wage they’re waging war
We made them rich, but they want more
But we won’t sit around and do nothing about it
Let’s do something
Do something about it
March on those...2020-06-3005 minThe Nostalgia MixtapeChristelle Bofale covers Solange's "Borderline (An Ode To Self Care)"From our episode In Support Of Black Liberation, Christelle Bofale shares her cover of Solange's "Borderline (An Ode To Self Care)," accompanied by Jake Smith on guitar.
Buy Christelle's music here:
https://christellebofale.bandcamp.com/
Listen to the full episode here:
http://thenostalgiamixtape.com/creative/in-support-of-black-liberation/
Christelle's Statement + Lyrics:
Christelle: I just wanted to give a quick message to anybody Black, and, that message is: just an acknowledgement of how tired you might be right now. I know a lot of us are just, plain and simple, exhausted. And that’s okay. It’s totally okay to need a break. I wa...2020-06-3005 minThe Nostalgia MixtapeIn Support Of Black LiberationA statement from us + exclusive live performances by Christelle Bofale and Aaron Stephens, in support of Black Liberation.
Buy their music at:
https://christellebofale.bandcamp.com/
https://aaronstephens.bandcamp.com/
Read an annotated transcript of this episode at:
thenostalgiamixtape.com
Abridged Transcript:
[00:00]
Jamel Johnson clip.
[00:47]
Nina Simone “Mississippi Goddamn” excerpt.
[02:34]
Our statement:
We at the Nostalgia Mixtape, and yours truly, Sama’an Ashrawi, stand firmly in support of Black Liberation, and any demands that come along with it.
We hope that, more than anything else, listening to our podcast will give you an appreciation for just how much of a beauti...2020-06-2129 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeNostalgia LIVE Tape: Hamish AndersonBonus content! Taped live at Soundworc Studios in Burbank, California, Hamish Anderson performs a short acoustic set for his appearance on The Nostalgia Mixtape.
Set List:
- "Don't Think Twice It's Alright" (Bob Dylan cover)
- "Winter" (original)
More episodes at thenostalgiamixtape.com2020-05-2209 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Hamish Anderson Episode 🎸Melbourne, Australia-based guitarist Hamish Anderson on how a Bob Dylan classic inspired "Winter," the first song he ever wrote, and how The Beatles' "Back in the USSR" made him want to pick up a guitar in the first place. This episode features two live performances from Hamish.
Donate to The Nostalgia Mixtape on Venmo @SamaanAshrawi or CashApp - $SamaanAshrawi.
Bonus content at:
thenostalgiamixtape.com2020-05-151h 13
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Rinny Perkins EpisodeHouston-raised, Los Angeles-based writer, artist, and comedian Rinny Perkins sits down with us to tell the story of how Toro y Moi soundtracked her attempt to apprehend shoplifters at American Apparel in 2009. Perkins first gained a following on Instagram through her collage art that combines vintage 1970s Black magazine aesthetic with 21st century slogans. Find her there @rinnyriot.
Foreword by New York-based writer and editor, Sydney Gore.
Artwork by Nataly Menjivar.
Hosted by Sama'an Ashrawi.
Produced by Jason Crow.
Read more here:
http://thenostalgiamixtape.com/creative/the-rinny-perkins-episode/2020-05-011h 40
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Thundercat EpisodeOne late night, a teenaged Thundercat and his father walked into a laundromat, around the corner from the house where Marvin Gaye was shot and killed by Marvin Gaye Sr, and changed the channel on the TV to Adult Swim. His life would never be the same. He sits down with host Sama'an Ashrawi to tell the story.
*TW - from 46:00 - 60:00 the conversation discusses depression and suicide.*
If you think you don’t know Thundercat, you there's a good chance you actually do — he’s a Grammy-Winning bass player, singer, and songwriter who, in addition to releasing his own critic...2020-04-171h 09
The Nostalgia MixtapeWelcome to Season 2 of The Nostalgia Mixtape!Hello, World! Welcome to season 2 of The Nostalgia Mixtape.
We know you could all use some good news right about now. Hell, we could too. In the middle of all this madness, a good story is a great escape, and that’s what we hope we can bring you with season two of The Nostalgia Mixtape. My name is Sama’an Ashrawi and I’ll be your guide.
If you’re new to this, it’s pretty simple: every episode we have a cool guest tell the story of a memory that’s tied to a song. What’s beautiful is that many m...2020-04-1405 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Hannibal Buress EpisodeEsteemed thespian, underrated martial artist, motocross rider, and part-time EMT, Hannibal Buress recalls his first-ever walk-up music at his second-ever stand-up gig. (We love hyphens!) Hannibal and host Sama'an Ashrawi ponder whether or not they should take credit for the Hiatus Kaiyote sample on Drake's "Free Smoke" and how reminisce about the time Hannibal dunked on Kevin Durant (figuratively).2019-03-1959 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Gary Clark Jr EpisodeGenre-bender Gary Clark Jr. gets philosophical about the psychedelia of chopped and screwed music and how winning a Grammy finally helped him earn some validation in the eyes of his parents.2019-03-071h 01
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Sam Bailey & Fatimah Asghar EpisodeSam Bailey & Fatimah Asghar look back on how Frank Ocean's 'Blonde' got them through the filming of their acclaimed web series 'Brown Girls' .... and how it continues to get them through this thing we call life.
Read along with the annotated transcript here:
http://bit.ly/TNMBGEp
More episodes at:
thenostalgiamixtape.com2019-02-2156 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Lupe Fiasco EpisodeGrammy-winning rap superstar Lupe Fiasco sits down to reminisce about how a cult classic film, 'The Last Dragon', is connected with the karate (and life) lessons his father gave him as a kid.
Read along with the annotations here:
http://bit.ly/LupeFiascoTNM2019-02-0733 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeBONUS Khruangbin Nostalgia Mix (by Sama'an Ashrawi)Host Sama'an Ashrawi shares a bonus mix based on songs from the Khruangbin episode of The Nostalgia Mixtape. Music from Sudan, Morocco, Algeria, Niger, Libya, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestine, Iran, India, plus a few dub tracks as well as some American rockabilly, blues, Jamaican soul, and Canadian disco.
Listen to the Khruangbin interview on the Nostalgia Mixtape here:
https://soundcloud.com/nostalgiatapes/the-khruangbin-episode
Check the footnotes here:
http://bit.ly/TNMKhruangbin
Tracklist:
00:00 -- "Nar" by Alsarah & The Nubatones
02:50 -- "Besaha" by Kareem Isaaq (of The Devil's Anvil)
04:04 -- "Son Moi" by Chaz Bundick (Toro y Moi) Meets The Mattson 2
05:22 -- "Agadez"...2019-02-031h 22
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Khruangbin EpisodeTag along as @Khruangbin regale us with stories of songs that have chased them around the world, from Texas to Copenhagen to India, and how they've grown along the way.2019-01-2449 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Ladybug Mecca EpisodeLadybug Mecca aka Santos Vieira, one-third of legendary rap group Digable Planets, one-whole of herself, joins The Nostalgia Mixtape to talk about the smoothest band of all-time: The Doobie Brothers. Ladybug will never forget when, in her childhood, The Doobies appeared on an episode of the 1970s sitcom What's Happening!! to teach Rerun, Raj, Dee, and Dwayne a lesson about bootlegging.2019-01-1038 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Amber Coffman EpisodeAmber Coffman, a singer, guitarist, and human person, tells an incredibly relatable teenage tale of rebellion inspired by TLC's "Creep."2018-12-2747 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Zack Fox EpisodeThe internet's most irreverent instigator, Zack Fox (aka @corduroycondom on Soundcloud), stops by to tell the tale of a heist that could only happen in Edgewood, Atlanta, Georgia. In Zack's own words, "It's a hood version of a Guy Ritchie flick."2018-12-131h 08
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Sango EpisodeSango (@sangobeats), one of the internet's most revered beat-makers, tells the story of how Daft Punk inspired his first ever remixes -- remixes you can only hear on The Nostalgia Mixtape.2018-11-291h 01
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Nneka Ogwumike EpisodeThe 2016 WNBA season ended with a championship and an MVP trophy for Nneka Ogwumike of the Los Angeles Sparks. There were a few constants during that summer: Nneka's lights-out shooting and Chance the Rapper's 'Coloring Book' album which soundtracked her best statistical season.2018-11-1557 min
CiTR -- Nardwuar The Human Serviette PresentsNardwuar vs. Sama'an Ashrawi (2018) !Guest DJ Sama'an Ashrawi (Houston, Texas) plays some toons! Doot doo !2018-11-0200 min
CiTR -- Nardwuar The Human Serviette PresentsNardwuar vs. Sama'an Ashrawi (2018) !Guest DJ Sama'an Ashrawi (Houston, Texas) plays some toons! Doot doo !2018-11-021h 24
The Nostalgia MixtapeThe Shea Serrano EpisodeNew York Times best-selling author Shea Serrano stops by to tell a coming-of-age story about Master P's "Ice Cream Man," a drug dealer named Aurelio, and three-point-shooting his way into a girl's heart (...or not.)2018-11-0152 min
The Nostalgia MixtapeIntroduction: Welcome to The Nostalgia MixtapeWelcome to The Nostalgia Mixtape. A story-telling series rooted in the music that soundtracks our memories.2018-10-2504 min
Am I Allowed to Like Anything?#AIATLA LIVE at SXSW: The Glory Of Velour Suits | 061 ft. Sama'an AshrawiLive from SXSW in Austin, I interview film director and writer Sama'an Ashrawi about life growing up in Texas as a first generation Palestinian-American, working with some of Hip Hop’s legends, and the glory of velour suits.
Follow Sama'an on Twitter! @SamaanAshrawi| IG! @sam3an
Follow Darian on Twitter! @dariansymone | IG: @darian
Here's how you can contribute to the making of #AIATLA: d.rip/darian
#AIATLA on iTunes: https://apple.co/2K11aH4
+1 SEGMENT:
— Being comfortable with your Milly Rock
— The glory of velour suits.
— Passover, filmed on stage at the Steppenwolf in Chicago, film directed by Spike Lee, stage di...2018-03-3040 min
Am I Allowed to Like Anything?#AIATLA LIVE at SXSW: The Glory Of Velour Suits | 061 ft. Sama'an AshrawiLive from SXSW in Austin, I interview film director and writer Sama'an Ashrawi about life growing up in Texas as a first generation Palestinian-American, working with some of Hip Hop’s legends, and the glory of velour suits.
Follow Sama'an on Twitter! @SamaanAshrawi| IG! @sam3an
Follow Darian on Twitter! @dariansymone | IG: @darian
Here's how you can contribute to the making of #AIATLA: d.rip/darian
#AIATLA on iTunes: https://apple.co/2K11aH4
+1 SEGMENT:
— Being comfortable with your Milly Rock
— The glory of velour suits.
— Passover, filmed on stage at the Steppenwolf in Chicago, film directed by Spike Lee, stage di...2018-03-3040 minCiTR -- Nardwuar The Human Serviette PresentsNardwuar vs. Sama'an Ashrawi plus Chris Murphy calls In !Nardwuar interviews guest DJ Sama'an Ashrawi (Houston , TX) and Chris Murphy of Tuns (Toronto, Ontario) ! Doot doo !2016-11-2600 minCiTR -- Nardwuar The Human Serviette PresentsNardwuar vs. Sama'an Ashrawi plus Chris Murphy calls In !Nardwuar interviews guest DJ Sama'an Ashrawi (Houston , TX) and Chris Murphy of Tuns (Toronto, Ontario) ! Doot doo !2016-11-261h 24