The Shadow People

Nigel Hall, Derrick Freeman
  • 5.0 (5)
  • MUSIC COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Welcome to The Shadow People, a podcast where New Orleans musicians Nigel Hall and Derrick Freeman bring their unfiltered, unapologetic, and often hilarious takes on politics, music, sports, and the chaos of life. From behind-the-scenes tales of musician life to spirited debates about controversial internet comments and the state of pop culture, The Shadow People keeps it real, raw, and unpredictable. Whether you're here for the jokes, the insight, or just to feel like you're hanging with two of NOLA's finest, this is the podcast you didn’t know you needed.

  1. JAN 22

    The Shadow People Ep29 - Raj Smoove: Cash Money Tours & the Gallier Hall DJ Debate

    Nigel’s out on the road, so Derrick holds it down in-studio with a real New Orleans legend: DJ Raj Smoove a.k.a. the “world’s greatest DJ” (self-appointed, but… also kind of true).Raj walks us through coming up in Gentilly, learning the craft the hard way (crates, records, no shortcuts), and how the city’s hip-hop scene grew from local identity into national waves. Then we get into the actual story behind the Gallier Hall/Mardi Gras DJ budget discourse: the nuance, the misquotes, the media framing, and what it means when culture gets reduced to a “Spotify playlist.”Also: Danny Abel appears from the shadows like a benevolent studio gargoyle.(For context: Helena Moreno was sworn in as New Orleans mayor on January 12, 2026.) Timestamps 00:00 – We’re back in 2026 + Raj Smoove joins the pod01:05 – Gentilly upbringing + music in the house (piano lessons + artists)01:46 – Beat Street / DJ-as-hero origin story02:44 – Radio mix shows, Sound Warehouse runs, and learning blends by ear03:36 – “I’m tall and awkward… so I became the DJ” (strategy)05:00 – Did New Orleans catch hip-hop late? Scene vs. city culture11:20 – Why early NOLA rap held its own (UNLV, DJ Jimmy, local records everywhere)16:58 – The rain-soaked “Reggie meeting” at C-St. / industry reality check22:22 – Physical-era grind: CDs, barcodes, printing, BMI publishing, copyright forms26:46 – Sin Night / House of Blues ecosystem + paying dues before the main room34:30 – Getting on the Cash Money tour train (New Year’s 2000 pivot)37:52 – The “Wayne runs out” moment — when the room changes44:21 – Gallier Hall DJ budget talk: what got lost in translation (and why it blew up)52:02 – COVID-era streams: House of Blues stage sets + Gallier Hall sessions1:02:44 – Respecting culture without living in pitchfork mode + closing thoughts

    1h 4m

  2. 12/21/2025

    The Shadow People Ep28 – Puff, Petty & a New Orleans Christmas

    The Shadow People hit their one–year anniversary with a holiday episode that somehow manages to be equal parts true-crime autopsy, sports therapy session, and Christmas group hug.Nigel and Derrick kick things off with a deep dive into the new Diddy documentary produced by 50 Cent: the year of peak pettiness, Bad Boy’s legacy, the Tupac timeline finally “making sense,” witness tampering on camera, and what it means when one of the architects of the culture becomes its cautionary tale. From Shine to Mase and Cam’ron, they connect all the messy dots while trying not to laugh at things that really aren’t funny.Then it’s back home: the Saints are trash-but-not-that-trash, the Pelicans suddenly look alive, and the guys talk sloppy wins, Rasul’s good-luck trip to the Dome, and why Denver might quietly be headed to the Super Bowl in one of the weirdest NFL seasons in memory.In the spirit of the season, there’s Jazz Fest news (Lettuce is in, plus Nigel’s own sets), a recap of the Harry Shearer/Judith Owen Christmas show, and a mini–Christmas music war: Irma Thomas vs everybody, Donny Hathaway vs Chris Brown, Prince vs Sinéad O’Connor, and why some songs simply belong to the originals.Finally, Derrick breaks out gifts from his Thanksgiving trip to Houston: a Jimmy Smith Blue Note classic, a Houston rap history book, and a gloriously chaotic Taylor Swift poster that will haunt the Brown Hound Sounds studio forever. Nigel closes with a genuinely heartfelt reflection on gratitude, surviving the holidays, and taking fifteen minutes a day to remember what’s still good.Recorded at Brown Hound Sounds in New Orleans. Like, subscribe, and hit up shadowpeoplepodcast@gmail.com with questions, comments, and sponsors who aren’t afraid of a little truth.Timestamps:00:00 – One year of The Shadow People and a very pagan Christmas02:40 – Breaking down the Diddy doc, 50 Cent’s pettiness & Bad Boy fallout10:59 – “No Diddy”: victims, hubris, and the culture taking an L20:02 – Saints, Rasul’s good-luck game, and the Pelicans finally hooping25:24 – NFL playoff chaos and why Denver suddenly looks dangerous35:23 – Harry Shearer’s Christmas show, Irma Thomas, and Jazz Fest news37:45 – This Christmas discourse: Donny vs Chris Brown, Prince vs Sinéad49:23 – Houston gifts, Taylor Swift poster chaos & Nigel’s holiday gratitude sermon

    58 min

  3. 11/24/2025

    The Shadow People Ep27 - Cokeheads in Charge and Tribute Yourself

    Back in the studio after a couple months on the road, Nigel and Derrick get right to it. Nigel’s fresh off Europe, Australia, Tokyo, Hawaii, and a stop at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco, and the contrast between “the world” and “home” hits hard. The fellas talk travel whiplash, culture shock, and why San Francisco’s reputation does not match the Tenderloin reality, even if the city’s still got magic and history all over it.Then the episode flips into a full Nigel sermon. First on the state of the country and the clown parade running things, then into a deep, personal rant about D’Angelo’s passing and the tribute machine that turns on the second somebody dies. Nigel is not here for fake flowers, sloppy cover bands, or performative grief. His point is simple and heavy. If an artist changed you, honor them by building your own work, while you are alive, while they are alive, and while the chance to mean something is still on the table. If you want to mourn, mourn. If you want to celebrate, create. And if you are waiting for permission, stop waiting.Timestamps0:00 Nigel returns, no guest today, the gang back together2:00 Nigel on the country getting dumber and leadership looking worse by the day3:20 Wild FBI press conference and Nigel’s cokehead radar goes off7:30 History repeating itself and everybody in power looking high12:45 Travel recap Europe, Australia, Tokyo, Hawaii17:10 San Francisco dirt, Hyde Street Studios, and the Tenderloin contrast20:10 Perception vs reality in “black cities” and getting robbed in San Francisco33:10 D’Angelo passing and why tribute shows feel off46:10 The real way to honor artists is to make your own music57:40 Next episode tease with Nigel’s son and brothers

    59 min

  4. 11/04/2025

    The Shadow People Ep26 - Danny Deep Dive with the Assistant DA

    Nigel is somewhere over the Pacific. Danny slides from the dark corner into the hot lights. We talk Mississippi childhood, art schools, Tulane to UNO, Marsalis and Peterson lore, and the strange path from guitar ensemble to Guitarmy. There is a Hornets band saga, a Pelicans kid-night meltdown, and a food-court survival guide.We also wander into fruit heists, Red Rocks with Jack Black, why backup QBs have the best job in sports, and a quick plea to feed people when SNAP gets cut. Music, jokes, and a little civic sense. Timestamps00:00 Cold open and roll call01:10 Setting up the Danny deep dive02:06 Mississippi memories and first bands06:38 Tulane to UNO and the Funky Butt era08:35 Katrina semester and the mystery diploma29:08 Pelicans pain and the kid-night rant33:46 NBA house band stories and the jovial music request41:09 Red Rocks tale with Jack Black45:54 SNAP talk and feeding people59:09 Quote of the day and sign-off

    1h 2m

  5. 10/22/2025

    The Shadow People Ep25 - Juice's Journey, D'Angelo, & NOLA's New Mayor

    Episode 25 opens like a family room. Nigel’s voice drops in from the road, Lettuce dates on the horizon, and a heavy moment reflecting on losing heroes and what that does to musicians our age. Julian “Juice” joins as guest host, part New Orleans memory book, part announcement of a new chapter. Juice talks about leaving the comfort of a longrun band to build his name, why authenticity beats trends, and how the business only starts to make sense when you claim ownership. He traces a path from marching bands and brass culture to songwriting, rapping, and teaching. As musical director at the Trombone Shorty Foundation he’s drilling scales, stagecraft, and realworld habits that keep a band together when there’s no director counting you in. The conversation turns to the local scene: promoters who import “fantasy” lineups, clubs that prize bar sales over lineage, and the ongoing work of protecting New Orleans music so it still sounds like New Orleans. There’s joy in the details. Juice’s record Be Intentional gets love, along with tracks like “Colors,” “DKNY,” “Guestless,” and “Black Jobs,” plus the kid choir story that reminds everyone why we do this. Dates get stamped for the folks who want to pull up in person: Washington, DC on November 2 at Songbird and New Orleans on November 14 at Sweet Lorraine’s. Brown Hound Sounds holds the room together, sE Electronics mics do their part, and the signoff feels like it always does here—gratitude, a little mischief, and plans for next time. Timestamps 00:06: Cold open and Episode 25 roll call 00:40: D’Angelo remembrance and how loss hits musicians our age 03:20: Guest host introduction for Julian “Juice” and what he’s building 06:36: Standing your ground as an artist and tuning out the peanut gallery 11:01: New Orleans roots, Michael Jackson influence, and crossing lanes 28:53: Teaching at Trombone Shorty Foundation and real stage habits 38:04: Local scene talk, club bookings, and protecting New Orleans authenticity 41:38: Juice announces shows and plans, then album talk with favorite tracks 50:40: “Black Jobs” story and flipping a negative into community fuel 54:05: Sign-off, studio love, and what’s next

    55 min

  6. 10/06/2025

    The Shadow People Ep24 - Nigel in Barcelona, Lettuce Talk, Saints Realism & More

    Nigel Live from Barcelona: Jazzy Jeff Sessions, Lettuce’s “Rising to the Top,” + SE Mic LoveNigel checks in from Europe with road stories, studio heat, and a little airline chaos. From recording with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Corey Fonville, and rising vocalist Ronnie Lux, to Lettuce’s new take on Kenny Burke’s “Rising to the Top,” this one’s a music-nerd feast. Derrick holds it down at Brown Hound Sounds on our brand-new sE Electronics DCM8 mics (they sound ridiculous, thank you sE 🙏). We also talk Delta vs. an ARP synth (yikes), Saints realism vs. fandom, why “less is more” still wins, and why George Porter Jr. needs to come through the pod (because he asked!)Shout to Crescent Canna and to sE Electronics for the DCM8s. Next: Nigel’s back stateside around Oct 8 before Australia/Tokyo runs—expect an in-studio reunion.Subscribe for musician-insider stories, good-faith hot takes, and New Orleans flavor every episode.Timestamps0:04 — Roll call: Ep. 24 kicks off; Nigel beams in from Spain1:45 — Studio report: Sessions with DJ Jazzy Jeff, Corey Fonville & discovery of Ronnie Lux2:52 — “Put me on the show”: George Porter Jr. requests an appearance6:14 — Airline adventures: Delta vs. the ARP (and a heroic tour manager fix)22:42 — New gear: First impressions of the sE DCM8 mics at Brown Hound Sounds23:31 — Lettuce covers “Rising to the Top”: one-take feel, why minimalism slaps33:02 — The biz today: respect, discipline, and not chasing empty clicks42:09 — Travel & schedule: Nigel’s return, next tours, and closing shout-outs

    47 min

  7. 09/01/2025

    The Shadow People Ep23 - Yolanda Ross on The Chi, NYC Grind, and Life After Jada

    What happens when you hand the mic to Jelly on her birthday, invite Yolanda Ross fresh off her run on The Chi, and let Derrick cook? You get one of the most heartfelt and funniest episodes yet.Yolanda opens up about growing up in Omaha, chasing fashion before acting found her, and the unlikely path from SNL background work to starring in HBO films and working with Denzel Washington. She breaks down how she grieved her Chi character Jada as if she’d lost a friend, and why she’s now pouring her energy into directing, photography, and new creative projects.Meanwhile, Jelly brings birthday chaos, champagne, and Cash App jokes while Derrick threads it all together in true Shadow People fashion.This one’s got it all: behind-the-scenes New York randomness, New Orleans film war stories, the stringer bell effect, and the tender side of an actor who’s given life to unforgettable characters.🕒 Key Timestamps0:17 – Jelly takes the mic on her birthday 🎂0:41 – Welcoming Yolanda Ross: actress, writer, director1:16 – Random New York alleyway reunion story2:02 – Growing up in Omaha: quietness and stillness in her characters5:57 – From fashion school to SNL background work6:38 – First audition: New York Undercover10:42 – HBO’s Stranger Inside and Denzel’s Antwone Fisher16:04 – Why actors often make better directors17:04 – Avoiding the “hood movie” trap19:16 – Filming in New Orleans: magic and mayhem23:43 – Landing The Chi and building Jada over 7 seasons27:03 – How it feels when your character dies32:29 – Grieving Jada as if she were real34:01 – Go For Sisters and indie acclaim36:05 – What’s next: directing, photography, Brooklyn Museum collab38:09 – Closing love, birthday wishes, and champagne

    43 min

  8. 08/25/2025

    The Shadow People Ep22 - Live at Tipitina's!

    Tipitina’s is home court for working musicians, and the room feels it. LBJ sets the table, Derrick and Nigel bring the friendly chaos, and the Shadow Band turns the stage lights into a living room. What follows is pure New Orleans: road stories and weather jokes, a tender moment about fathers and sobriety, and the reminder that music is the family business even when life gets heavy.Ivan Neville drops in straight from the bus to talk about the unglamorous glamour of touring, comfort TV between soundcheck and downbeat, and what it was like to be stuck abroad as Katrina unfolded while the city held its breath. Whistle Monster barrels onstage to argue Saints quarterback hopes and to test the decibel ceiling, because of course he does. HW wanders in for some surreal backstage color. Danny Abel closes things out with local news, shout-outs, and love for the crew that keeps this circus rolling.It is a live taping in an iconic room, with musicians who know the room well. If you are new here, this is the show: laughter, truth, and the stories behind the songs.#Timitinas #NewOrleans #ShadowPeoplePodcast #IvanNeville #WhistleMonster #LBJ #Dumpstaphunk #NOLAMusic #LivePodcast #MusicianLifeTimestamps (chapters):00:00 Cold open, LBJ warms up the room00:29 LBJ intro, first live taping at Tipitina’s02:27 Derrick and Nigel welcome, the origin story and thank-yous05:57 Sponsor shout and Shadow Band intro07:15 Travel, weather, and NOLA in August11:04 Nigel on family, sobriety, and perspective18:22 Band break, LBJ back on the mic19:02 Guest intro: Ivan Neville20:30 Bus-tour life, rest on the road23:02 Side trip with the Dead family show24:49 Marathon travel day, still playing the gig25:56 Sleeping in transit, the art of the pre-show nap27:10 Comfort shows: The Sopranos and The Godfather29:10 Katrina week memories, stuck in Brazil together33:36 Post-storm touring, Saints in Baton Rouge34:44 Surprise guest: Whistle Monster enters41:00 Quarterback talk, Saints therapy session50:02 Zen of fandom and keeping perspective52:18 Surprise guest no. 2: HW appears56:26 HW’s snack saga and backstage weirdness1:00:11 After HW, reset and housekeeping1:01:14 Guinness whistle PSA1:02:08 The whistle1:02:14 Bring up DA Danny Abel1:05:05 Shout-outs to friends and supporters1:06:00 Summer at Tips, Rick James tribute story1:10:43 Closing thanks1:11:20 Sign-off and where to subscribe

    1h 12m
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Welcome to The Shadow People, a podcast where New Orleans musicians Nigel Hall and Derrick Freeman bring their unfiltered, unapologetic, and often hilarious takes on politics, music, sports, and the chaos of life. From behind-the-scenes tales of musician life to spirited debates about controversial internet comments and the state of pop culture, The Shadow People keeps it real, raw, and unpredictable. Whether you're here for the jokes, the insight, or just to feel like you're hanging with two of NOLA's finest, this is the podcast you didn’t know you needed.

Information

  • Creator
    Nigel Hall, Derrick Freeman
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    30
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Nigel Hall, Derrick Freeman
  • Show Website
    The Shadow People