Kutimba With Siima

Siima Itabaaza
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"Kutimba" is a word from Runyankole, one of the languages spoken in Uganda. It translates to dig up and it means to delve deeper into something. On this show, I explore the symbiotic relationship between art and music. I invite guests to select an album cover for us to unpack.

  1. 03/23/2025

    Brent Rollins: Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star

    This week, I'm excited to host the design titan Brent Rollins. He’s an artist, art director, designer, author, and TV producer. Brent is known for creating the logos for films like John Singleton's Boyz N the Hood  and Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues. His design prowess extends to album covers for legendary artists such as Gang Starr, Blackalicious, and Dilated Peoples.  Our conversation centers on his work for the cover of the Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Blackstar album. Brent discusses the mission of the Ego Trip Collective and explains how his role as the collective’s art director led to the opportunity to design the Blackstar album cover. We explore how he masterfully integrated Eddie Otchere’s photographs into the cover design and the references that catalyzed his creative vision. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Brent Rollins Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com IG: @kutimbawithsiima

    30 min

  2. 03/11/2025

    Eddie Otchere: Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star

    I sit down with legendary photographer Eddie Otchere. He’s known for photographing icons like The Notorious B.I.G., The Fugees, and So Solid Crew. Our conversation explores the creation of the album artwork for Black Star’s 1998 debut album, Mos Def and Talib Kweli Are Black Star. Eddie shares behind-the-scenes stories from his photoshoot with Mos Def (now Yasiin Bey) and Talib Kweli. We also discuss Eddie’s views on contemporary rappers and his vision for the visuals of Black Star’s follow-up album. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Eddie Otchere Story editing and advising: Allison Behringer of Rough Cut Collective Order the Spirit Behind The Lens here. Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com IG: @kutimbawithsiima

    27 min

  3. 02/21/2025

    Tee Max: Madonna, Ray of Light

    In the final part of my conversation with British photographer and documentarian Tee Max, we explore the album cover of Madonna's Ray of Light. We dive into the backstory behind the cover art, discuss why Tee considers it a remarkable image, and reflect on Madonna's extraordinary ability to reinvent herself. Host: ⁠Siima Itabaaza⁠ Guest: ⁠Tee Max⁠ Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: ⁠https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/⁠ Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com IG: ⁠@kutimbawithsiima⁠

    22 min

  4. 02/14/2025

    Capturing Icons: Tee Max on Music Photography

    This week photographer and documentarian Tee Max joins me for a conversation about music photography. Tee's striking black-and-white portraits depict several Hip Hop and R&B icons, including Beyoncé, Da Brat, Notorious B.I.G, and OutKast during their early years.Tee shares his journey into music photography—what shooting Nas taught him about performers, the time he almost botched a shoot with Mary J. Blige, his MTV Base show with music journalist Fusion, and more. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Tee Max Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com IG: @kutimbawithsiima

    39 min

  5. 12/12/2024

    Sydney Urbanek: Beyoncé (self-titled)

    Friday, December 13, 2013 - everyone remembers exactly where they were. Beyoncé shocked the world with the surprise release of her self-titled album, flipping the industry on its head. Writer Sydney Urbanek joins me to unpack the Beyoncé album cover and how it defies societal expectations surrounding Black women performers. We explore the evolution of typography across Beyoncé’s album covers and the lasting influence of the self-titled cover on her visual identity. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Sydney Urbanek Read A Moving-Image History of Parkwood Entertainmenthere. Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ IG: @kutimbawithsiima Email:kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com

    48 min

  6. 11/28/2024

    Charisse Kenion: Grace Jones, Nightclubbing

    Journalist and photographer Charisse Kenion joins me to discuss Grace Jones’ Nightclubbing (1981) album cover. We unpack the complex dynamic between Grace and her longtime collaborator, Jean-Paul Goude, the visionary behind the image. Our conversation also explores androgyny, the agency and complexity of Black women, and more. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Charisse Kenion Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ IG: @kutimbawithsiima Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com

    42 min

  7. 11/14/2024

    Larry Ossei-Mensah: Sade, Love Deluxe

    I dissect Sade's Love Deluxe album cover art with curator and cultural critic Larry Ossei-Mensah. He explains how the image embodies self-love. Together, we explore how the Love Deluxe cover departs from typical portrayals of the band’s lead singer, Sade Adu. Additionally, Larry and I discuss the “Sade Girl Aesthetic” on social media. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest: Larry Ossei-Mensah Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ IG: @kutimbawithsiima Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com

    37 min

  8. 11/01/2024

    Shadé Freeland: Toni Braxton (Self-titled)

    I usher in a new era with Shadé Freeland! She shares why Toni Braxton’s celebrated 1993 self-titled album cover resonates deeply. We explore Toni’s portrayal of femininity, Shadé’s platform ‘THE BLK PRSPCTV’ and the importance of recognising album cover art at music award shows. Host: Siima Itabaaza Guest:  Shadé Freeland THE BLK PRSPCTV: https://www.theblkprspctv.com/ Kutimba With Siima Newsletter: https://kutimbawithsiima.substack.com/ IG: @kutimbawithsiima Email: kutimbawithsiima@gmail.com

    22 min
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About

"Kutimba" is a word from Runyankole, one of the languages spoken in Uganda. It translates to dig up and it means to delve deeper into something. On this show, I explore the symbiotic relationship between art and music. I invite guests to select an album cover for us to unpack.

Information

  • Creator
    Siima Itabaaza
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Siima Itabaaza
  • Show Website
    Kutimba With Siima