| About Author/Site |
 Oliver Wang has been writing on music, culture and society since 1994. I live and work out of the San Francisco Bay Area. For more info, visit here.The Archive compiles my major published works since 2004. For older work (1998-2003), go here. All rights reserved by author; all listed works cannot be republished or used without the expressed permission of the author and/or publication. |
| The Book |
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| Liner Notes |
| 2002 - 2008 |
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| Friday, June 13 |
| JUNE 2008 |
Lil Wayne: The Carter III
(Album Review)
From: L.A. Weekly (June 13, 2008)
B-Boy Document
(Interview with Benson Lee)
From: Asia Pacific Arts (June 13, 2008)
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| Sunday, April 13 |
| APRIL 2008 |
Chatting With the Chairman
(Interview with Jeff "Chairman" Mao)
From: Asia Pacific Arts (April 18, 2008)
The Roots: Rising Down
(Album review)
From: L.A. Times (April 29, 2008)
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| Saturday, March 29 |
| MARCH 2008 |
They Like Hip-Hop! Just Like Us!
(Column on hip-hop in China)
From: Good Magazine (March/April 2008)
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| Wednesday, January 16 |
| JANUARY 2008 |
Boogaloo Nights
(Feature)
Appears In: The Nation (January, 2008)
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| Wednesday, January 9 |
| ALBUM LINER NOTES BY OLIVER WANG |
   
The following is a list of albums that I have written liner notes for, organized in reverse chronological order:- Joe Bataan: Anthology (1968-1972) (Fania/Emusica, 2008, forthcoming)
- Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Band: Puckey Puckey (Rhino Handmade, 2008)
- Charles Wright and the Watts 103rd Band: Live at the Haunted House (Rhino Handmade, 2008)
- Betty Davis: S/T (Just Sunshine/Light in the Attic, 2007)
- Betty Davis: They Say I'm DIfferent (Just Sunshine/Light In the Attic, 2007)
- Various Artists: Sugar Hill Records/The Definitive Groove Collection (Sugar Hill/Rhino, 2006)
- Various Artists: Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel & the Furious Five/The Definitive Groove Collection (Sugar Hill/Rhino, 2006)
- Bootsy Collins: The Definitive Groove Collection (Rhino, unreleased, orig. 2006)
- Various Artists: What It Is! Funky Soul and and Rare Grooves (1967 - 1977) (Rhino, 2006)[1]
- The Dereliks: Change For the Bus Ride Home (unpublished) (Sublevel Epidemic, 2004)
- Jel: 10 Seconds (Mush, 2002)
[1] Introductory essay, not liner notes
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| Friday, November 9 |
| NOVEMBER 2007 |
Jay-Z Plays 'Gangster"
(CD/Concert Review)
Appears In: Los Angeles Times (Nov 8, 2007)
Latifah Seeks Her True Kingdom
(CD/Concert Review)
Appears On: Los Angeles Times (Nov 24, 2007) |
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| Wednesday, July 25 |
| JULY 2007 |
Nicole Willis and the Soul Investigators: Keep Reachin' Up
(Album Review)
Appears On: NPR's All Things Considered (July 25, 2007)
DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist: Three the Hard Way
(Column)
Appears In: Oakland Tribune (July 20, 2007)
Common: Finding Forever
(Album Review)
Appears In: Vibe Magazine (August 2007 issue)
Common: Finding Forever
(Album Review + Interview)
Appears In: LA Times (July 29, 2007)
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| Tuesday, June 19 |
| JUNE 2007 |
Sharon Jones: Soul Survivor
(Interview)
Appears in: Stop Smiling (#31)
Turf Talk: West Coast Vaccine: The Cure
(CD Review)
Appears In: L.A. Times (June, 2007)
The Barbershop (6/8/07)
(Panel Chatter)
Appears On: NPR's Tell Me More (June 8, 2007)
Mark Ronson: Version
(CD Review)
Appears In: Vibe (July 2007 issue)
Pet Sounds
(Interview with Snoop Dogg)
Appears In: Scratch Magazine (July/Aug 2007 issue)
Main Source: UGK
(Column on UGK's Underground Kings)
Appears In: Scratch Magazine (July/Aug 2007 issue) |
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| Tuesday, May 15 |
| MAY 2007 |
Feist: The Reminder
(CD review)
Appears on: NPR's All Things Considered (May 3, 2007)
Prodigy: Return of the Mac
(CD Review)
Appears In: L.A. Times (May 16, 2007)
Devin the Dude: Waiting To Inhale
(CD Review)
Appears In: L.A. Times (May 16, 2007)
Post-hip-hop?
(Column on "The Next Big Thing")
Appears in: Contra Costa Times (May 6, 2007)
J-Dilla: Ruff Draft
(CD Review)
Appears in: L.A. Times (May 11, 2007)
Chicago's Forgotten Finest
(NPR Song of the Day)
Appears on: NPR.com (May 9, 2007)
Birmingham's Lost Soul Sees the Light
(NPR Song of the Day)
Appears on: NPR.com (May 1, 2007)
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| Tuesday, April 17 |
| APRIL 2007 |
Different Shades of Soul
(Column on New Blue Eyed Soul)
Appears in: Oakland Tribune (Apr 6, 2007)Bob & Gene: You Gave Me Love
(NPR's Song of the Day)
Appears On: NPR.org (Apr 13, 2007) Cru: Da Dirty 30
(Main Source Column)
Appears In: Scratch Magazine (May 2007) |
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| Friday, March 9 |
| MARCH 2007 |
Poisonous Paragraphs?
(Column on Hip-Hop's Values Debate)
Appears in: Oakland Tribune (Mar 9, 2007)Antibalas: Sanctuary
(NPR's Song of the Day)
Appears On: NPR.org (Mar 30, 2007) |
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| FEBRUARY 2007 |
DJ Drama Drama
(Column on the DJ Drama bust)
Appears in: Oakland Tribune (Feb 2, 2007)Mighty Voices of Wonder: I Thank the Lord
(NPR's Song of the Day)
Appears In: NPR (Feb 9, 2007) Sisters Love: Give Me Your Love
(NPR's Song of the Day)
Appears In: NPR (Feb 26, 2007) |
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| Friday, January 26 |
| JANUARY 2007 |
The Fall Off
(Column on Hip Hop In 2006)
Appears in: Oakland Tribune (Jan 5, 2007)Dennis Coffey: Scorpio
(NPR's Song of the Day)
Appears In: NPR (Jan 18, 2007) Frequency
(Profile)
Appears In: Scratch Magazine (Feb/Mar 2007)Liner Notes: Jay Z's Kingdom Come
(Column)
Appears In: Scratch Magazine (Feb/Mar 2007)
James Brown
(Career Overview)
Appears in: MTV/URGE (Jan 2007) |
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| Thursday, December 21 |
| DECEMBER 2006 |
Snow Drift
(Column on Crack Rap)
Appears in: Oakland Tribune (Dec 10, 2006)Young Jeezy: The Inspiration + Ghostface Killah: More Fish
(CD Review)
Appears In: L.A. Times (Dec 18, 2006) Finish Soul That Fuses the Past and Present
(Review of Nicole Willis' "No One's Gonna Love You")
Appears In: NPR's Song of the Day (Dec 8, 2006)Liner Notes: Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor
(Column)
Appears In: Scratch Magazine (Jan/Feb 2007) |
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| Sunday, November 12 |
| NOVEMBER 2006 |
Jay-Z: Kingdom Come
(CD Review)
Appears In: NPR's Morning Edition (Nov 21, 2006)The Dark Horse
(Column on Producer Will.I.Am)
Appears in: Oakland Tribune (Nov 11, 2006) Radiohead Gets a Cuban Remake
(Review of El Lele de Los Van Van's "High and Dry")
Appears in: NPR's Song of the Day (Nov 21, 2006)The Game: Doctor's Advocate
(CD Review)
Appears In: L.A. Times (Nov 12, 2006) Clipse: Hell Hath No Fury
(CD Review)
Appears in: L.A. Times (Nov 25, 2006) |
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| Sunday, October 1 |
| OCTOBER 2006 |
Boogaloo Bad Boy
(Interview with Joe Bataan)
Appears In: Wax Poetics (Oct/Nov 2006) |
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| Sunday, September 3 |
| SEPTEMBER 2006 |
James Brown stirs up 'Soul' for the Bowl
(Article on James Brown's 'Soul On Top' Concert)
Appears In: L.A. Times (September 5, 2006)Late Heat For the Summer
(Column on Idlewild and Game Theory)
Appears In: Oakland Tribune (September 1, 2006) |
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| Sunday, August 20 |
| AUGUST 2006 |
The Roots: Game Theory
(Album Review)
Appears In: L.A. Times (August 20, 2006)V/A: Panama - Latin, Calypso and Funk At the Isthmus
(Album Review)
Appears On: NPR's Morning Edition (August 18, 2006) Afternoons at the Groove Merchant
(Music column)
Appears In: Oakland Tribune (August 4, 2006) |
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| Friday, June 2 |
| JUNE 2006 |
Summer Grooves
(Column on Summer Songs)
Appears In: Oakland Tribune (June 2, 2006)
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| Tuesday, May 2 |
| MAY 2006 |
Revolutionary Rap: The Coup Still Kickin' After 15 Years
(Column on The Coup)
Appears In: Oakland Tribune (May 5, 2006)
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| Sunday, April 9 |
| APRIL 2006 |
Spring Mixtape
(Column on New Singles)
Appears In: Oakland Tribune (April 7, 2006)
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| Wednesday, March 29 |
| MARCH 2006 |
Pieces to Weight
(Interview with Diamond D)
Appears In: Scratch Magazine (Issue 11/May-June 2006)Dynamite D
(Story on Darondo)
Appears In: Wax Poetics (Issue 16) Mighty Good
(Story on Linda Lyndell)
Appears In: Wax Poetics (Issue 16)Champion of Sound
(Column on Jay Dee)
Appears In: Oakland Tribune (March 3, 2006) Classic Soul From an Unlikely Source
(Post on Darondo)
Appears In: NPR's Song of the Day (March 13, 2006)Telling You When To Go
(Column on the Hyphy Movement)
Appears In: Oakland Tribune (March 23, 2006) The King Is Gone
(Post on King Floyd)
Appears In: NPR's Song of the Day (March 29, 2006) |
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| Saturday, February 11 |
| FEBRUARY 2006 |
On The Cross With Kanye
(Column)
Appears In: Oakland Tribune (Feb 11, 2006) |
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| Wednesday, January 11 |
| JANUARY 2006 |
Has Hip-Hop Lost Touch With Reality?
(Commentary)
Appears On: NPR's Morning Edition (Jan 2, 2006)
Liner Notes: Get Rich or Die Tryin' OST
(Column)
Appears in: Scratch (Jan 2006) |
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| Sunday, December 11 |
| DECEMBER 2005 |
When the Levee Broke: Whom Does Hip-Hop Speak For In 2005
(Column)
Appears in: SF Bay Guardian (December 7, 2005) |
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| Tuesday, November 1 |
| NOVEMBER 2005 |
Carlos Santana: The Ringmaster
(Feature Q&A)
Appears In: Vibe (Dec 2005)Liner Notes: Lil' Kim's Hardcore
(Column)
Appears In: Scratch (Jan/Feb 2006) |
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| Sunday, October 2 |
| OCTOBER 2005 |
Liner Notes: Diamond's Stunts, Blunts and Hip-Hop
(Column)
Appears In: Scratch (Nov/Dec 2005) |
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| Saturday, August 20 |
| AUGUST 2005 |
Kanye West: Late Registration
(Album Review)
Appears On: NPR's Morning Edition (August 30, 2005)
Sweet Soul Brother: Joe Bataan Returns to S.F.
(Feature on Joe Bataan)
Appears In: SF Bay Guardian (August 31, 2005) Quasimoto: The Further Adventures of Lord Quas
(Album Review)
Appears On: NPR's Morning Edition (August 24, 2005)
The Dirty 30, Hip-Hop's Greatest Samples
(Feature)
Appears In: Scratch (August/September) All Samples Cleared: Memphis Bleek's 534
(Column)
Appears In: Scratch (August/September)
Crate Carries
(Feature)
Appears In: Vibe (September) Mathematics
(Interview)
Appears In: Wax Poetics (Summer) |
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| Saturday, July 2 |
| JULY 2005 |
Common: B-Boy For Life
(Cover Story)
Appears In: URB (July/August 2005)On Her Own: Missy Elliot Dishes Up The Cookbook
(Album review)
Appears in: SJ Metro (July 20, 2005) |
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| Wednesday, June 1 |
| JUNE 2005 |
DJ Shadow: Endtroducing (Deluxe Edition)
(Album review)
Appears In: SF Bay Guardian (June 22, 2005)All Samples Cleared: Beanie Siegel's The B.Coming
(Column)
Appears In: Scratch (July/August, 2005) |
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| Sunday, May 1 |
| MAY 2005 |
M.I.A.: Arular
(Album Review)
Appears On: NPR's Morning Edition (May 9, 2005)DJ Babu: Beating the Odds
(Interview)
Appears In: Scratch (May/June, 2005) |
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| Sunday, March 13 |
| MARCH 2005 |
Got Beef?
(50 Cent and The Game Ego Clash)
Appears In: SJ Metro (March 9, 2005)Edan: Beauty and the Beat
(Album Review)
Appears In: City Pages (March 16, 2005) The Rough Guide to Boogaloo
(Album Review)
Appears On: NPR's Morning Edition (March 28, 2005) |
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| Wednesday, January 12 |
| JANUARY 2005 |
Beat a Retreat?
(Column on hip-hop and politics)
Appears In: SF Bay Guardian (Jan. 12, 2005)Bridging the Gaps
(Review of Nas' Street's Disciple)
Appears In: Seattle Weekly (Jan. 5, 2005) Eminem: Encore
(Album Review)
Appears On: NPR's Morning Edition (Jan. 12, 2005)Mixmaster Mike
(Feature Profile)
Appears In: Scratch Magazine (January 2005)
DJ Nu-Mark
(Interview)
Appears In: Wax Poetics #11 (2005) |
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| Tuesday, December 14 |
| DECEMBER 2004 |
Lack of Definition
(Album Reviews of Talib Kweli's The Beautiful Struggle and Mos Def's The New Danger)
Appears In: Seattle Weekly (Dec. 15, 2004) |
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| Saturday, November 6 |
| NOVEMBER 2004 |
Jin: The Rest Is History
(Album Review)
Appears In: Seattle Weekly (Nov. 24, 2004)Future Primitive Sound Sessions
(Feature Profile)
Appears In: SF Bay Guardian (Nov. 3, 2004) |
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| Friday, October 15 |
| OCTOBER 2004 |
The Ballad of Brer Soul: Melvin Van Peebles
(Interview)
Appears In: Wax Poetics (#10, Fall 2004)De La Soul: The Grind Date
(Album Review)
Appears in: SF Bay Guardian (Oct 27, 2004) |
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| Thursday, July 8 |
| JULY 2004 |
Turn Up the Phonograph
(Interview with Dante Ross)
Appears in: Wax Poetics (#9, Summer 2004)
Garage-Sale Soul
(Column on soul music reissues and compilations)
Appears in: Tracks Magazine (#4)
Bite-Sized
(Review of Danny Leiner's Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle)
Appears In: Popmatters.com (July 30, 2004) |
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