In this profoundly personal episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers speaks with musician, actor, and visual artist Tunde Adebimpe—best known as a founding member of TV on the Radio—about identity, ancestry, and surviving deep personal loss.

Tunde traces his journey from growing up between Pittsburgh and Nigeria, through his family’s expectations, to building an unconventional artistic path grounded in music, animation, and punk culture. He shares vivid memories of his Nigerian roots, his father’s gentle influence, and his extended family’s blend of spiritual traditions—from Baptist Christianity to Yoruba priestesses.

Much of the conversation centers around grief. Tunde opens up about the heartbreaking losses of his father, his older brother, his bandmate Gerard Smith, his closest friend, and most recently, his younger sister. He reflects on how creativity, community, and fatherhood have helped him navigate the void—and how his daughter’s compassion gave him a reason to keep moving forward.

This is an episode about what it means to lose family—and to hold on even tighter to those who remain.

In this profoundly personal episode of Identified, Nabil Ayers speaks with musician, actor, and visual artist Tunde Adebimpe&mdash;best known as a founding member of TV on the Radio&mdash;about identity, ancestry, and surviving deep personal loss.
Tunde traces his journey from growing up between Pittsburgh and Nigeria, through his family&rsquo;s expectations, to building an unconventional artistic path grounded in music, animation, and punk culture. He shares vivid memories of his Nigerian roots, his father&rsquo;s gentle influence, and his extended family&rsquo;s blend of spiritual traditions&mdash;from Baptist Christianity to Yoruba priestesses.
Much of the conversation centers around grief. Tunde opens up about the heartbreaking losses of his father, his older brother, his bandmate Gerard Smith, his closest friend, and most recently, his younger sister. He reflects on how creativity, community, and fatherhood have helped him navigate the void&mdash;and how his daughter&rsquo;s compassion gave him a reason to keep moving forward.
This is an episode about what it means to lose family&mdash;and to hold on even tighter to those who remain.

Welcome to 'Identified', a podcast hosted by Nabil Ayers, music executive and author of 'My Life in the Sunshine'. This show explores the intricate and often complicated world of family and identity.

In his memoir, Nabil shared his journey of understanding his mixed-race identity, navigating a distant relationship with his father, renowned jazz musician Roy Ayers, and discovering new family connections. 'Identified' continues this exploration, broadening the scope to encompass universal themes of family dynamics.

Join Nabil as he engages in heartfelt conversations that traverse cultural histories, the impact of non-traditional childhoods, and the ways our relationships shape our identities. Through personal stories, the show confronts the challenges of loss and grief, while celebrating the unique bonds that define us. Each episode seeks to answer the profound question: What is family?

Discover remarkable stories from individuals of diverse backgrounds as 'Identified' unravels the complexities that make family so unique.

The executive producer for 'Identified' is Kieron Banerji, and is produced by Palm Tree Island.

Welcome to 'Identified', a podcast hosted by Nabil Ayers, music executive and author of 'My Life in the Sunshine'. This show explores the intricate and often complicated world of family and identity.
In his memoir, Nabil shared his journey of understanding his mixed-race identity, navigating a distant relationship with his father, renowned jazz musician Roy Ayers, and discovering new family connections. 'Identified' continues this exploration, broadening the scope to encompass universal themes of family dynamics.
Join Nabil as he engages in heartfelt conversations that traverse cultural histories, the impact of non-traditional childhoods, and the ways our relationships shape our identities. Through personal stories, the show confronts the challenges of loss and grief, while celebrating the unique bonds that define us. Each episode seeks to answer the profound question: What is family?
Discover remarkable stories from individuals of diverse backgrounds as 'Identified' unravels the complexities that make family so unique.
The executive producer for 'Identified' is Kieron Banerji, and is produced by Palm Tree Island.

Identified with Nabil Ayers

Welcome to 'Identified', a podcast hosted by Nabil Ayers, music executive and author of 'My Life in the Sunshine'. This show explores the intricate and often complicated world of family and identity.
In his memoir, Nabil shared his journey of understanding his mixed-race identity, navigating a distant relationship with his father, renowned jazz musician Roy Ayers, and discovering new family connections. 'Identified' continues this exploration, broadening the scope to encompass universal themes of family dynamics.
Join Nabil as he engages in heartfelt conversations that traverse cultural histories, the impact of non-traditional childhoods, and the ways our relationships shape our identities. Through personal stories, the show confronts the challenges of loss and grief, while celebrating the unique bonds that define us. Each episode seeks to answer the profound question: What is family?
Discover remarkable stories from individuals of diverse backgrounds as 'Identified' unravels the complexities that make family so unique.
The executive producer for 'Identified' is Kieron Banerji, and is produced by Palm Tree Island.

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