Music at the Intersection

Zapp (aka Zapp & Roger, Zapp and Roger, Zapp Band, Human Body, Roger & The Human Body & Zippy), was a soul & funk band, formed in 1978, by brothers: Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Lester Troutman & Terry Troutman. Other members included: Bobby Glover, Eddie Barber, Jannetta Boyce, Jerome Derrickson, Sherman Fleetwood, Gregory Jackson & Michael Warren. This band launched the career of Shirley Murdock and, in later years, employed keyboard stylings of Ohio Players' Billy Beck. Most recognizable influence on their sound came from, original Parliament / Funkadelic vocalist, Raymon Davis. Zapp is best known for its 1980 funk hit More Bounce to the Ounce (produced by Bootsy Collins). The group recorded five albums as 'Zapp' & Roger recorded five others under his own name. Roger & Zapp are known for the distinctive synthesized sound produced by recording vocals through a Talk box fed by an electonic synthesizer. Roger's voice can be heard on the Dr. Dre-produced 1996 Tupac Shakur hit "California Love". Roger also appeared on songs by Johnny Gill, Keith Sweat, Eric Benet and H-Town amongst others. On Sunday, April 25, 1999, Roger Troutman was found shot and critically wounded outside a recording studio in Dayton, Ohio; he died during surgery at a local hospital. Roger's brother Larry was found dead in a car a few blocks away with a single gunshot wound to the head. It is likely that a personal dispute had developed between the two brothers; as far as can be determined, Larry shot Roger, then shot himself.

Michael Santiago Render, known professionally as Killer Mike, is an American rapper, singer, actor, and activist. He made his recording debut on Outkast's fourth album Stankonia (2000), and guest appeared on the duo's Grammy Award-winning single "The Whole World" from their greatest hits album Big Boi and Dre Present... Outkast (2001). He signed with Big Boi's Purple Ribbon Records and Columbia Records to release his debut studio album Monster (2003), which was met with critical acclaim and peaked at number ten on the Billboard 200. He parted ways with the label and released two albums—I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind (2006) and I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II (2008)—before signing with T.I.'s Grand Hustle to release his fourth album, Pledge (2011), and later Williams Street to release his fifth album, R.A.P. Music (2012). His sixth album, Michael (2023), was met with continued acclaim and won three awards at 66th Annual Grammy Awards, including Best Rap Album.

Jonathan Michael Batiste is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, bandleader, television personality and actor. He has recorded and performed with artists including Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Prince, Willie Nelson, Doja Cat, Lenny Kravitz, ASAP Rocky, Ed Sheeran, Lana Del Rey, Roy Hargrove, Juvenile, Mavis Staples, and Lauryn Hill. Batiste appeared nightly with his band, Stay Human, as bandleader and musical director on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert from 2015 to 2022.

Nelust Wyclef Jean is a Haitian rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born in Haiti, Jean emigrated to the United States as a child. He gained fame as a member of the Fugees, a hip-hop trio he formed with Lauryn Hill and Pras, serving as the group's lead producer and guitarist. Their second album The Score (1996) became one of the best-selling albums of all time. Jean launched a solo career with Wyclef Jean Presents The Carnival (1997), which spawned the hit singles "We Trying to Stay Alive" and "Gone till November".