Episode 33

When the Drummer Becomes a Professor: A Hip-Hop Story with Raney Antoine Jr | Episode 33

Published on: 25th June, 2024

Welcome to another captivating episode of The Last Zebra Podcast 🦓! In this episode, we sit down with Raney Antoine Jr., a trailblazer in hip-hop education, to explore his incredible journey from New Orleans to becoming a professor of hip-hop and R&B at Loyola University.

Raney shares his experiences growing up in New Orleans, his early influences in music, and the pivotal moments that led him to pursue a career in music education. Discover how Raney created his unique role at Loyola University, integrating hip-hop and R&B into academia, and the challenges and triumphs he encountered along the way.

Dive deep into Raney’s creative process as a musician and producer, where he emphasizes the importance of authentic storytelling and meaningful collaborations. Learn about his innovative teaching philosophy, the impact of mentorship, and how he inspires his students to pursue their passions.

Raney also discusses his future aspirations, including expanding into film and television scoring, and his commitment to nurturing young talent in the music industry.

Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with valuable insights and motivational stories. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode with your friends and family. New episodes are available every Tuesday morning on all major podcast platforms and YouTube.


🔍 In This Episode:


🎓 Introduction and Background: Raney Antoine Jr. shares his journey from growing up in New Orleans to becoming a professor of hip-hop and R&B at Loyola University, and his experiences as a musician and producer.


📚 Becoming a Professor of Hip-Hop and R&B: The path Raney took to create his unique role at Loyola University, including the challenges and inspirations along the way, and how he turned his passion into a groundbreaking academic program.


🎶 Influences and Early Beginnings: Raney reflects on the early influences that shaped his love for music, from church drumming to his family’s musical tastes, and how these experiences led him to pursue a career in music.


👨‍🏫 Teaching and Mentorship: Insights into Raney’s teaching philosophy, the importance of mentorship, and the impact he aims to make through education, including his innovative approach to integrating hip-hop and R&B into academia.


🎧 Creative Process and Making Records: A deep dive into Raney’s creative process, the importance of authentic storytelling in music production, and how he collaborates with artists to produce meaningful records.


🎬 Future Aspirations and Projects: Raney discusses his future goals, including expanding his creative endeavors into film and television scoring, and continuing to inspire and nurture young talent in the music industry.


You can follow Raney below on social media 

- IG: https://www.instagram.com/raneyajr/


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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more insightful episodes from The Last Zebra Podcast. Your engagement helps us bring more inspiring and educational content to our audience. Check out other episodes for more enlightening discussions with professionals who are making a difference in their communities and beyond. Let us know your thoughts about this episode and more in the comments below!


Watch more episodes here:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKv8hBtOLaEyAJkOA3xfoXTnxNXOpNT_G&si=VhBRrYpt3LzkVTDc


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Special Thanks to Producer and Videographer Matt Koesy! Appreciate you my guy!


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About the Podcast

The Last Zebra
Nuanced conversations about different walks of life and those who live them
“The Last Zebra” draws its essence from the timeless medical adage:

“When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras.”

Coined by Dr. Theodore Woodward in the 1940s, this maxim reminds us to prioritize common diagnoses over rare and improbable ones.

In a medical world often defined by seeking the most likely causes, “The Last Zebra” podcast takes a different approach. Here we are looking for the common in all of us.

The common focuses on the unique, diverse, and individual experiences of medical professionals. We hope to showcase the stories of these individuals, highlighting how they infuse their backgrounds, beliefs, and characteristics into their medical practice. By doing so, they add an artistic and personal touch that goes beyond the clinical norms and transforms their work into a deeply profound and meaningful endeavor.

Through these stories, “The Last Zebra” aims to reveal the extraordinary side of medicine— "heavy on the ordinary".

The stories that deviate from dogma and delve into the exceptional. It seeks to capture the essence of these medical professionals’ journeys, shedding light on their challenges, triumphs, and the remarkable ways they shape the landscape of healthcare.

In each episode, we delve into the non-clinical nuances that define the day-to-day lives of medical professionals from diverse backgrounds and specialties. This podcast will start and go beyond the clinical, shedding light on the intricate artistry, mosaicism, and diversity in medicine.

We explore how every guest crafts their unique personality and characteristics into the very fabric of their practice.

These stories not only celebrate individuality but also embody the soul of healthcare.

In a world where uniformity is prioritized, “The Last Zebra” podcast honors the rare and unique elements that medical professionals bring to their work. Together, we’ll discover how these exceptional individuals are shaping the future of healthcare, one personalized interaction at a time.

So, come along as we embrace the zebras — the extraordinary stories that make medicine a true art.
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Ugo Ezema