Dr. Evans sits down with Columbia, SC cultural connector Preach Jacobs, a journalist, rapper, DJ, curator, event producer, and founder of SoulHAUS.

They discuss Columbia’s creative identity, “low city self-esteem,” the power of staying and building in the South, and how SoulHAUS became a platform for Black art, storytelling, and community.

The discussion also turns to the relationship between the University of South Carolina and Black Columbia, the responsibilities institutions have to local communities, and the role of critique in creating meaningful change. They close by discussing South Carolina politics, generational engagement, and why analog forms of community building, from potlucks to door knocking, may matter even more in an increasingly digital world.

Uncommon Naledge is hosted by Dr. Jabari Evans and edited and produced by Ava Strauss.

Follow @naledgesince82 on Twitter and Instagram.

Original music for introduction and outro produced by Michael "Double 0" Aguilar.

In this episode of Uncommon Naledge, Dr. Jabari Evans talks with Sowmya Krishnamurthy, a journalist and author. The discussion centers on Sowmya's forthcoming book, The Blueprint: Inside the Business of Roc-A-Fella Records, which reframes Roc-A-Fella Records not merely as a rap label but as a legitimate startup and business case study. The conversation explores the entrepreneurial foundations of the label, the roles of its three founders — Jay-Z, Dame Dash, and Biggs — and the broader cultural and economic significance of hip-hop as an industry.

Uncommon Naledge is hosted by Dr. Jabari Evans and edited and produced by Ava Strauss.

Follow @naledgesince82 on Twitter and Instagram.

Original music for introduction and outro produced by Michael "Double 0" Aguilar.

In this episode of Uncommon Naledge, Dr. Jabari Evans speaks with Dr. Lambros Fatsis—Senior Lecturer in Criminology at the University of Sussex, award-winning educator, and lifelong champion of Black musical cultures. Fusing the lens of cultural criminology with the radical traditions of the Black diaspora, Dr. Fatsis’ work traces the criminalisation of Black/Afro-diasporic music culture from the era of colonial slavery to the present day, with a sharp focus on how policing practices reproduce racial injustice.

Their conversation unpacks the systemic surveillance of genres like reggae, grime, and drill, exploring how the same creative expressions that foster community and joy are often targeted as threats. Dr. Fatsis shares why understanding music as a site of both cultural innovation and political struggle is essential for dismantling institutional racism.

But the discussion doesn’t stop at theory. Lambros opens up about his parallel life as a dedicated vinyl collector and all-vinyl DJ—performing under Boulevard Soundsystem and collaborating with some of the most respected voices in the UK and European reggae scene.

Uncommon Naledge is hosted by Dr. Jabari Evans and edited and produced by Ava Strauss.

Follow @naledgesince82 on Twitter and Instagram.

Original music for introduction and outro produced by Michael "Double 0" Aguilar.