The DJ Shannon Show @ The Lot Radio 2/18/26

The latest episode of The DJ Shannon Show is here, and this one felt especially close to my heart. It was Black music at its finest.

Arel couldn’t stay for the full episode due to a USB issue (tech is the worst sometimes), but I held down the fort and took you on a journey, building a soundscape of a few of the Black artists inspiring me right now, alongside some of the legends who raised me and continue to shape my ear and influence my DJing.

We opened with Detroit’s own Char and her deeply soulful track “Fall On Me” from her debut EP Create The Life. This record has been on repeat for me. It’s tender, feminine, and emotionally rich—wrapping around you like a warm hug. It carries that familiar nostalgia Black music does so effortlessly, the kind that makes you pause and just feel.

From there, we shifted into new energy with Jill Scott’s “Right Here Right Now” from To Whom This May Concern. I’m loving the almost house-leaning, slightly pop direction of this track. It’s a testament to Jill’s ability to evolve sonically while remaining unmistakably herself. She bends and shapes genres with such ease. Truly, this album deserves a full front-to-back listen. A couple of favorites I didn’t get to spin on the show—“OffDaBack” and “Pressha”—feel like poetry in motion.

Later in the episode, we leaned into funk. I played Norma Jean Bell’s incredible rework of Erykah Badu’s “On & On.” I discovered Norma Jean during a deep YouTube dive, and when that track came on, it stopped me in my tracks. She’s a saxophonist, producer, and vocalist rooted in Detroit’s house and dance scene, and in the early ’90s, she founded the Pandamonium record label. She even performed with Frank Zappa for a period in 1975—just one highlight in a long, impressive musical career. Her artistry is fearless and deeply rooted in groove.

We rounded out the show with legacy. From George Clinton’s 1982 debut album Computer Games, I played the classic “Atomic Dog.” I own this record on vinyl; my dad gifted it to me a few years back. The first time I played it, I cried. It immediately brought me back to growing up with Parliament-Funkadelic playing through the house. That bass. That funk. That feeling of home.

I also spun George Duke’s “Brazilian Love Affair,” another gem that holds a special place in my heart. It’s soulful, funky, jazzy, tender, and honestly, it may be one of the reasons I started DJing. Some records don’t just sound good; they shape you.

This episode felt like a reflection. A reminder of where I come from and what continues to inspire me. I want to do more shows like this, diving deeper into the records that built my sound and telling the stories behind them.

Thank you so much for tuning in. Be sure to check out the full tracklist below, and stay tuned.