The Birth of Queue Points Podcast
Uniting Gen X Vibes, Black Music History and Cultural Conversations Since 2021
Queue Points debuted on May 12, 2021, but the seeds of the show were planted four years prior. If not for the extended period of time indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 and 2021, the show may not have ever been born.
Here’s the short version of a long story about the founding of Queue Points …
Co-Founders DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray had begun working together in 2016 as DJ Sir Daniel began to conceive of his idea for his Shuffle and Repeat parties. Shuffle and Repeat would be parties that celebrated the music of important artists in Black music - The Neptunes, Missy Elliot Foxy Brown. Jay Ray would work behind the scenes on event planning, sound, photography and on site management. The vibe was always great.
The parties were also accompanied by a separate podcast where he would speak to artists, influencers and tastemakers. Like with the parties Jay Ray would provide the behind the scenes support. It’s in the bones of Shuffle and Repeat: The Podcast that you can most see the foundation of Queue Points. Not only did the duo produce audio episodes; they also taped in front of a live audience.
During the onset of the pandemic, DJ Sir Daniel launched a Mixcloud program called “Wild Girl Wednesdays” on Twitch while Jay Ray was working on a YouTube program called Black Music Mixtape.
In January, 2021, after watching the fallout from the Salt ‘N Pepa biopic, the duo just started to talk about the history of Black music and how important it is to preserve legacies. After some discussion in April of 2021 the duo decided to combine forces. Fun Fact: Queue Points was almost named Cultural Currency. They are so glad they didn’t pick that name, because there was already a show making waves out of Philly - Culture and Currency.
After Queue Points’ began airing, Sir Daniel and Jay Ray began to put together the foundation of the show with the following components - website, weekly live shows on Facebook and YouTube, digital publication and fanmail. In 2023 Queue Points hosted two events, in front of live audiences, to great response. Our first event was about health, fitness and music featuring Master Trainer Fitzroy Smith and legendary Singer/Songwriter Kipper Jones. Our second event honored the importance of music in the relationships of parents and children.
So why should you join us? Answer these questions…
Are you an 80s and 90s baby who wishes folks talked about the artists you loved from your childhood?
Are you an 00s baby who absolutely loves music from the 70s, 80s and 90s?
Do you listen to radio and think, "I remember when I first heard that sample?"
Are you a fan of going deeper into music conversations with other music heads in an educational and fun environment in-person and online?
If you answered yes to any of those questions then Queue Points is for you!We're the podcast that drops the needle on Black music history, and we want everyone who loves music to join us on our journey! Come vibe with us!
"Y'all are keeping that tradition alive. Y'all are in the lineage of Donnie Simpson and Sherry Carter on Video Soul. Y'all are in the tradition of those great magazine journalists, and we need it, so thank you for it."
- Donovan X. Ramsey, author of When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era
Here are Four Facts About Queue Points
Queue Points is a visual podcast.
Queue Points is a podcast by Gen Xers for Gen Xers (and folks interested in Gen Xers talking about culture).
Queue Points celebrates Black music and Black culture.
Queue Points has an established philosophy that guides our movement. Queue Points is a podcast that is open and supportive to all. Guests who come on our show are asked to confirm that they are joining us with the understanding that our show takes an intersectional approach to conversations and that meaningful use of language and respect are paramount.
"Not only are y'all musical encyclopedias it the love that you all have for one another that creates the spirit of the show. So you all are modeling what love for Black men should look like. Because absent your relationship and love, the show doesn't work."
- Dr. Ed Garnes, Therapist
Here Are Six Queue Points Accomplishments, So Far
Queue Points has been downloaded more than 15,000 times.
Queue Points has an average rating of 5 stars on Apple Podcasts, Podchaser and Spotify.
Queue Points has been listened to in 62 countries (that's more than a quarter of the world's countries).
Queue points has been nominated for Best Black Music Podcast at the Black Podcasting Awards (2022 and 2023) and Best Entertainment Podcast at The Ambies (2023)
Queue Points is ranked in the top 10 on Feedspot’s “25 Best Black Music Podcasts”
Queue Points was a 2022 brand partner with Carnegie Hall for Rhiannon Giddens: Songs of our Native Daughters
Hosts
Recent Episodes
Five Cringe Moments in the Career of Kanye West
In this episode of Queue Points, hosts DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray break down the top five cringe moments in Ye’s career … before today (because that’s a whole other story). They explore everything from the notorious Hurricane Katrina broadcast to the unforgettable TMZ meltdown, delving into how thes...
From Soul Train to TikTok: The Evolution of Teen Dance Shows
In "From Soul Train to TikTok: The Evolution of Teen Dance Shows," hosts DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray take you on a journey through the ever-changing world of teen dance. They explore the groundbreaking era of Soul Train, American Bandstand, and Dance Party USA, sharing personal memories and cultural ...
Triple Threat Queens: Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad & Sheryl Lee Ralph’s Musical Legacy
In this electrifying episode of Queue Points, DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray drop the needle on the musical legacies of three legendary Black women who dominated stage, screen, and sound—Debbie Allen, Phylicia Rashad, and Sheryl Lee Ralph. Did you know these powerhouse performers also pursued music care...