Episode 203: Quilombo, Nostalgia, and Grief w/ Ice City Maroon

Ice City Maroon is a Muslim poet and rapper who joins the pod to talk about his debut book, Quilombo. The conversation begins with a discussion of his inspiration on the title and the project more broadly centering new Afrikan resistance. Ice then talks about his process. Throughout the conversation, Ice City sits with the grief he’s experienced from the gentrification and passing of loved ones (10:25). He gives insight into the archive he draws on throughout his book, particular the book’s photographs (23:33). Luke notes in one of these photos the space that intergenerational friendships between men hold (32:30) and Ice goes on to note how these intergenerational relationships formed him and other men in his community. Maurice asks him about the differences between when his words are on the page and when he performs his work (37:06). Ice talks about not being a traditionally trained musician and how it impacts his process, citing influences like billy woods. The conversation concludes with some reflections on the possibilities for future change outside nonprofits and moderate reforms, and commentary on Zendaya’s The Drama. 

Find IG on @icecitymaroon and buy his book Quilombo: shadedspace.bigcartel.com 

Notes

Darius Simpson, You’ll Never Catch Me
George Jackson, Blood In My eye
Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama
Michael Mann, Heat 
Soft Landing by billy woods and Kenny Segal