Tunde Adebimpe Channels His DIY Roots Into Raw Solo Debut

TV on the Radio co-founder Tunde Adebimpe is a force of positivity. In the face of unimaginable loss, Adebimpe has channeled his grief into Thee Black Boltz, an upbeat, high-energy solo debut. You might know Tunde Adebimpe from TV on the Radio, the band whose era-defining hits like “Wolf Like Me” helped shape the 2000s New York indie scene. Or you’ve seen his work in film and television, with standout roles in projects like Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, Twisters, and Spider-Man: Homecoming. But this is his first time going solo, and he’s poured years of personal loss and growth into Thee Black Boltz. In this episode, Adebimpe opens up about that journey. We learn how underground cartoonists like Robert Crumb, Joe Matt, Mary Fleener, and Maurice Vellekoop taught him to mine the personal for his art, and how a lifelong DIY punk ethos continues to shape his multidisciplinary practice. He reflects on hitting the reset button, rediscovering the basics, and finding the joy of creating art once again.

You can listen to Tunde Adebimpe Channels His DIY Roots Into Raw Solo Debut online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Tunde Adebimpe Channels His DIY Roots Into Raw Solo Debut is an episode from American Masters Podcast by American Masters | PBS.

This episode is 37:28 long.

This episode was published on Jun 6, 2025.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from American Masters Podcast when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.