E237: Tonya Pendleton on Prince + Lil' Kim + D'Angelo + Amy Winehouse

About this episode

In this new episode we invite the splendid Tonya Pendleton to join us online from her adopted Philadelphia – in her own words "the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection". The former Vibe scribe turned Philly radio host tells us about growing up in New York City and listening to WBLS legend Frankie Crocker and, later, DJ Red Alert. She also remembers the internship that led to her becoming music director at WILD in Boston, where she befriended New Edition and New Kids On The Block! After recalling her stints at Def Jam and Arista Records in New York, Tonya talks about her move from New York to Philly, where she fell in with the scene around the Roots and Jill Scott. We ask our guest about the early pieces she wrote for YSB (Young Sisters and Brothers) magazine, including her 1994 interview with the infamous and now-incarcerated R. Kelly. We then move on to her fascinating XXL cover story about the late great D'Angelo, who died a year ago this week, plus Tonya revisits her 1998 trip to Paisley Park for an audience with the Prince then known as The Artist. After discussing X-rated female hip hop pioneer Lil' Kim, we mark the 20th anniversary of the classic Back to Black al