John Morrison

Hey! My book, Boyz II Men 40th Anniversary Celebration, is available for pre-order. This is a big, beautiful, hardcover book detailing the story of Philly's finest R&B group. To properly contextualize the Boyz II Men story, the book also includes a lot of history on Philly soul, hip-hop, and how race has shaped Black pop music. Hit the link in my bio and grab a copy!

@rageagainstthemachine 's Evil Empire turns 30 years old today. Today, Culture Corner correspondent @john_liberator explains what made the rock band's second studio album such and explosive and unifying project. Check out the full session at worldcafe.org! 📠

In this episode of Gems with Shom, I sit down with John Morrison @john_liberator — author, journalist, DJ, and sample-flipper from Philadelphia — for a conversation on hip-hop culture, record digging, and the evolution of music and ideas. John’s journey starts in Philadelphia, coming up in a deeply competitive freestyle and battle rap scene. Those early experiences shaped his approach to music, performance, and creativity. He later transitioned into writing, building a career as a journalist across platforms like NPR and beyond. We talk about how writing about music changed the way he listens, and how understanding samples, production, and context provides a deeper perspective on the culture. A key theme in this conversation is the role of politics in art. John reflects on a time when hip-hop carried clear perspectives — when artists engaged with the world and pushed listeners to think. Today, that layer often feels less present. This isn’t about agreement or disagreement, but about the importance of having a point of view.: #GemsWithShom #JohnMorrison #beatdigging #beatmaking #vinyl

New in the cinéSPEAK Journal: a conversation with the filmmaker behind Speakn' Trane! 📓🎷⁠ ⁠ Speakin’ Trane is a narrative short film about the jazz great John Coltrane, set in Philadelphia. Local filmmaker Anyabwile Love provides context and insight into his process of making the film, which explores the true nature of the mythic saxophonist. 🎥♫⁠ ⁠ After reading the article, be sure to grab a (free) ticket for cinéSPEAK x @TwoLocals Brewing's screening of Speakn' Trane on Monday, April 13, 6:00pm at Two Locals Brewing Company. 🎟️🍻⁠ ⁠ At the link in bio, you can read this journal article and RSVP to see Speakn' Trane. ⭐

Marcus will be out of town for a few weeks which means no Golden Hour Jazz this Thursday (4/2) - but Marcus wouldn’t leave us hanging and has enlisted one hell of a subistute teacher- someone Marcus has credited as “the best music journalist in Philly and easily one of the best on the planet…” John Morrison is a DJ, radio host, and music journalist from Philadelphia. Morrison got his start as a teenager in the late ‘90s, writing for independent hip-hop and punk zines. Since then, his work has appeared in The New York Times, Complex, NPR Music, Spin Magazine, and more. Morrison is also the author of Boyz II Men 40th Anniversary Celebration, a comprehensive book on Philly R&B legends, Boyz II Men. Published in Spring 2025 by Quarto Books/Epic Ink. We are deeply honored to welcome John into the lounge to share music from his life in stereo Hi-Fi for two special dates, April 9th + 16th from 5-8pm. Percy Happy Hour runs 3-6, so get here early for cheap drinks and bites while John takes you somewhere special 🪐

⏰ Happening next week! Movie 2nd Mondays returns Monday, April 13 at @TwoLocals Brewing Company and this one is special! 🎷✨⁠ ⁠ We're celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month with Sylvie's Love 💕 and the Philadelphia-made 16mm short Speakn' Trane 🎞️⁠ ⁠ Romance in 1950s Harlem.⁠ Spiritual jazz meditation rooted in Sankofa.⁠ Following the films, culture writer John Morrison (@john_liberator ) will be in conversation with local filmmaker @anyabwilelove . 🎤⁠ ⁠ Together, these films are a love letter to jazz, Black artistry, and creative evolution.⁠ ⁠ 🎥 Screening and conversation runs 6–9 PM⁠ 🍷 Happy Hour 5-7 PM - $9 sangria, $1 off beer and wine, $10 bartender special⁠ 🍿 Free popcorn⁠ 🥡 BYO dinner⁠ 🎟️ Free to attend (suggested $5 donation to support artists + licensing)⁠ ⁠ Bring a friend. Bring your dinner. Bring your love for jazz and cinema. RSVP in the link in bio. 🎶🎬

In 1969, former NFL allstar and soul singer James united to found The Black & Brown Trading Stamp Corporation. This short-lived program offered consumers stamps that they could trade in at local businesses for discounted groceries and services.

This upcoming Movie 2nd Monday, we celebrate Jazz Appreciation Month the cinéSPEAK x @TwoLocals Brewing Company way! 🎶✨⁠ ⁠ 🎥 Sylvie's Love⁠ A sweeping romance set in 1950s Harlem where music, ambition, and desire intertwine 💕🎷⁠ ⁠ 🎞️ Speakn' Trane (Philadelphia short)⁠ Shot on 16mm, this immersive visual meditation explores the spiritual lineage of Black musical masters. Rooted in Sankofa, the film follows a Philadelphia jazz musician returning home to reclaim lost parts of himself as he prepares to unveil a groundbreaking album 🌿🎶⁠ ⁠ Following the films, culture writer John Morrison (@john_liberator ) will be in conversation with local filmmaker @anyabwilelove . 🎤⁠ ⁠ Together, these films are a love letter to jazz, Black artistry, and creative evolution.⁠ ⁠ 📅 Monday, April 13⁠ 🎥 Screening and conversation runs 6–8:45 PM⁠ 🍷 Happy Hour 5-7PM - $9 sangria, $1 off beer and wine, $10 bartender special⁠ 🍿 Free popcorn⁠ 🥡 BYO dinner⁠ 🎟️ Free to attend (suggested $5 donation to support artists + licensing)⁠ ⁠ Come early. Stay late. Be inspired. RSVP in the link in bio.

This breakbeat, recorded by Lyn Collins in 1972, is one of the most sampled songs in music history. Everyone from Snoop Dogg and R.E.M. to Sabrina Carpenter and NewJeans have recontextualized the iconic beat. Today on the Culture Corner, correspondent John Morrison @john_liberator takes us through the lineage of this beat, from where it started in Lyn Collins' "Think (About It)" to where it cropped up in the 80s, 90s, and present. "'Think (About It)' is not only a document of its time, but it has a little bit of the future encoded within it. That's why people keep coming back to it," says Morrison.

We at @asewrestling would like to thank @theassemblync and Journalist, John Morrison @john_liberator , for their incredible article and coverage of ASÉ Wrestling and its founder/creator @dariuslockhart ! The article discusses the origins of ASÉ, the pitfalls we try to avoid, our process, and more! Read the full article now at theassemblync.com ! Next Show: ASÉ Wrestling: Live From Blume Studios! - Sunday, March 22 Tickets on sale now at blumenthalarts.org and asewrestling.com Link In Bio #ASÉWrestling #DariusLockhart #Charlottenc #theassembly #wrestling

🎷 Jazz, love, 16mm, and Sankofa! Join cinéSPEAK x @TwoLocals Brewing Company for our monthly Movie 2nd Mondays celebrating innovative Black filmmakers! ✨⁠ ⁠ Come out on Monday, April 13 at 6PM for a special Jazz Appreciation Month screening of Sylvie's Love 💕 and the Philly-made short Speakn' Trane. 🎞️⁠ ⁠ When a young woman meets an aspiring saxophonist in 1950s Harlem, love and ambition collide in Sylvie's Love. Paired with Speakn' Trane, a stunning 16mm meditation on jazz, spirit, and creative return rooted in Philadelphia.⁠ ⁠ Following the films, culture writer John Morrison (@john_liberator ) will be in conversation with local filmmaker @anyabwilelove . 🎤⁠ ⁠ 🎥 Film & conversation runs 6–9 PM⁠ 🍷 Happy Hour 5-7PM - $9 sangria, $1 off beer and wine, $10 bartender special⁠ 🍿 Free popcorn⁠ 🥡 BYO dinner⁠ 🎟️ Free to attend (suggested $5 donation to support artists + licensing)⁠ ⁠ You do not want to miss this one! Get your tickets in the link in bio.

To celebrate Black History Month, World Cafe correspondent @john_liberator has been bringing you a weekly series on the music of the African Diaspora. For the last installment of the series, Morrison looks at what's happening right now in Black music. "In addition to all of this very forward-thinking electronic music, a lot of folks have been digging into these older folk music forms and putting a new spin on them," he says. Hear the full convo at worldcafe.org. 🏃‍♀️‍➡️🏃‍♀️‍➡️🏃‍♀️‍➡️