The Cobain 50

Janice Headley dives into Beach Party by Marine Girls. Their lo-fi instrumentation and girlish vulnerability helped set the standard for twee pop. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Janice Headley and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Dusty Henry dives into Green by R.E.M., a band that set the stage for indie rock as this larger idea of staying authentic despite commercial success. The band left a particularly noteworthy impact on Kurt, both professionally and personally. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Roddy Nikpour dives into Get The Knack by The Knack. The album’s catchy lead single came out when Kurt was a preteen. Despite its questionable lyrics, “My Sharona” did for new wave what “Smells Like Teen Spirit” did for punk — brought a genre to the mainstream. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Michael Azerrad joins us to talk about his relationship with Kurt Cobain, reviving a 30-year-old biography, Nirvana's legacy, and some of the records on Kurt’s list. Michael wrote the 1993 biography "Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana," and he recently released an annotated version titled "The Amplified Come As You Are: The Story of Nirvana." 

Next week, we'll return to our regularly scheduled stories about the albums on Kurt's list, resuming with Get the Knack. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

0:00:00: Intro
0:01:38: Meeting Kurt for the first time
0:09:26: From acquaintance to friend
0:13:00: Why Michael annotated the biography 30 years later
0:19:18: Michael on revisiting his work
0:21:39: Navigating self-made mythologies
0:24:31: Kurt's antagonists and his collaging methods
0:27:47: Kurt on "Calvinists" and riot grrrl
0:30:31: Nirvana ≠ grunge ("hot take territory")
0:33:03: Kurt didn't like Sub Pop's marketing of Nirvana
0:38:00: Kurt as a working-class guy
0:39:34: The REAL list? Bands that Kurt talked about a lot
0:46:05: Michael on Sex Pistols
0:48:04: Michael on Wipers
0:50:51: Michael on Mudhoney
0:51:54: How do you compare Dan Peters to Dave Grohl? 
0:53:03: Michael on Beat Happening
0:56:04: Michael on Black Flag
0:59:21: Michael and Kurt's eternally intertwined legacies
1:02:32: Thank you
1:03:27: Credits

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Seattle's own Jack Endino joins Dusty, Martin, and Albina for this month’s roundtable. June marks the 35th anniversary of Nirvana's debut studio album, Bleach, which Endino produced. They discuss the unmistakable imprint of the Northwest sound.

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Special thanks: Jack Endino and Albina Cabrera, host of El Cancionero de Kurt
Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

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Martin Douglas dives into Jamboree by Beat Happening. Hailing from Olympia, Washington, the trio lived and breathed the punk rock ideology. Cofounder Calvin Johnson released the band’s albums on a label he founded, the iconic K Records, which practically turned indie music into a religion.

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Martin Douglas and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas dive into the three albums by the Portland band Wipers, the band with the most entries on Kurt's list (unless you count "anything by Kleenex"). Greg Sage's melodic punk riffs not only inspired Nirvana, but also other Northwest bands before them, including The Melvins and Mudhoney. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

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Dusty Henry dives into Superfuzz Bigmuff by Mudhoney, whose debut represents the culmination of ideas that we now categorize as “grunge.” Nirvana picked up the grunge baton from Mudhoney and carried it to the finish line. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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In this special bonus episode, we break format away from Kurt Cobain and Nirvana and look at the legacy of Soundgarden from the lens of founding member and original bassist Hiro Yamamoto. This year marks the 40th anniversary of Soundgarden’s formation — starting with Yamamoto and Chris Cornell in Yamamoto’s basement. While Yamamoto was there from the beginning, he left the band of his own accord just as they were about to have mainstream success. He went on to perform with bands like Truly and Stereo Donkey and was inducted into the Asian Hall of Fame in 2022. In conversation with Dusty Henry, Yamamoto looks back on those early days with the band, representation in Seattle’s 80s punk scene, and the lessons he’s taken from a life in (and out of) music.

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Dusty Henry, Emily Fox, and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr.Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, Albina Cabrera, and Janice Headley discuss the idea of "punk" through the lens of four bands. Each of them provides a distinctive approach to punk both as a genre and as a mindset. Nirvana is named as one of the core bands of 1991, "the year punk broke." 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

00:00: Intro
01:21: What is punk? 
05:07: The spunk (punk via Shonen Knife)
07:20: What punk means to us
13:00: The attitude (punk via The Shaggs)
16:55: The aesthetic (punk via Sex Pistols)
21:18: Origins of punk
23:08: The grit (punk via Black Flag)
27:24: Punk as DIY
31:42: Punk today
35:31: Commodification of punk
39:26: "Rollingas" vs. Punks
41:53: The time when Janice joined a work call during a street race
42:51: The time when our facilities manager, Barry, received a telepathic message from our producer, Roddy
43:31: Credits

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Larry Mizell Jr. dives into My War by Black Flag. This proto-punk sophomore album upset the fast-paced expectations of hardcore by slowing it down, complete with all-out screams confessing deep-seated emotion. This sound set the precedent for Seattle's famous grunge sound. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Written by: Larry Mizell Jr. 
Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili

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Martin Douglas dives into Philosophy of the World by The Shaggs. As prophesied by a palm reading, this band of sisters from a small town in New Hampshire would become famous. However, nobody could have predicted the band's "intriguing" sound — or whether they would actually have a fun time performing music. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Martin Douglas and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

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Dusty Henry dives into Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols by the Sex Pistols. They set the stage for mainstream views of punk in terms of style, substance, and attitude. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

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Kicking off KEXP's month-long Pushing Boundaries celebration, Martin Douglas and Janice Headley dive into Shonen Knife’s Burning Farm, which was released in America by Olympia, Washington’s own K Records. Founding members Naoko and Atsuko Yamano share stories of touring with Nirvana in 1991. Plus, we celebrate this Osaka-based trio’s 40-year history of songs about food, animals, and toys. 

Special thanks to Yuko Headley for translation assistance. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Producers: Martin Douglas and Janice Headley
Mixing and mastering: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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The Cobain 50 returns May 1 with Shonen Knife's Burning Farm (K Records version) from 1985. 

This week, we'd like to share another KEXP podcast: In Our Headphones, the evolution of our longstanding Song of the Day podcast. Hosted by Janice Headley and Isabel Khalili, this weekly interview series features KEXP DJs sharing their new favorite music. You'll hear the backstory about each artist and song, as well as each DJ’s personal connection to the music.  

Support KEXP podcasts at kexp.org/cobain

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The Cobain 50 returns May 1 with Shonen Knife's Burning Farm (K Records version) from 1985. 

This week, we'd like to share another KEXP podcast: A Deeper Listen, where Emily Fox and other storytellers at KEXP talk with artists about the stories behind their songs and the experiences that inform their work. Through each conversation, we uncover the humanity behind the music, allowing us to hear it in a whole new way. 

Support KEXP podcasts at kexp.org/cobain

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Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, Albina Cabrera, Janice Headley, and Roddy Nikpour explore some of the women-led bands on Kurt's list, Kurt's feminism, and the very notion of grouping bands together based on gender identity. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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In this special episode, marking 30 years since Kurt's death, we recorded a roundtable "love letter" at the Kurt Cobain Memorial Bench in Viretta Park in Seattle, where Kurt is said to have written some of his lyrics. We'll also hear from contemporary bands and music industry workers about the impact that Kurt had on them. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, and Albina Cabrera
Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour
Audio production support: Isabel Khalili
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

00:00: Intro
02:23: About the bench
07:15: Our earliest memories of Nirvana
10:58: Testimonials from Nicolle Swims (Black Ends), AJ Suede, Donita Sparks (L7), Aramis Johnson (Enumclaw)
17:31: Our relationships with Nirvana over time
21:43: Kurt's short and fast life
23:33: Our favorite Nirvana songs
28:14: Testimonials from Rachel Ratner (Wimps), Dave Ramm (Wimps), Alicia Bognanno (Bully), Shaina Shepherd
35:08: Nirvana moments that bring us joy
41:36: Testimonials from DJ Riz Rollins (KEXP), Annina Rodriguez (X 102.1), Emi Pop, Ana Espinosa (Vondré), Diego Ramirez (Joudy), Fran Straube (Rubio)
48:18: Nirvana's impact on the Pacific Northwest and beyond
54:41: Final thoughts on Kurt's legacy
59:40: Credits

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Martin Douglas dives into the legacy of the Swiss band Kleenex, later known as LiLiPUT. Kurt's list doesn't specify a particular album from Kleenex. Their entire discography is just that good, marrying the worlds of Dada art and punk rock. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Martin Douglas and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Janice Headley dives into the legacy of The Raincoats, whose self-titled 1979 debut album inspired both Nirvana and the ‘90s riot grrrl scene. We also hear from Gina Birch, cofounder of The Raincoats, as well as Jenn Pelly, author of a book on the band as part of the 33⅓ series. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio Producer: Janice Headley
Mixed & Mastered: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Martin Douglas dives into Cut by The Slits (written in Kurt's list as "Typical Girls," the lead single from the album). They were one of the very first punk bands made up mostly of women, and their style incorporated elements from reggae and dub. Despite their innovation, the members of the Slits had to withstand a brutally misogynistic culture for it to actually mean something in the long term. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Written + Produced: Martin Douglas
Mixed + Mastered: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Roddy Nikpour dives into Dry by PJ Harvey. She’s a grunge pioneer carrying on Kurt’s spirit through her own ongoing legacy. She was one of his close peers — so much so that Dave Grohl has invited her to fill in for Kurt to perform Nirvana songs. 

As part of Women's History Month, our next three episodes will cover some of the other women-fronted bands on Kurt's list, including The Slits, The Raincoats, and Kleenex. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

As a programming note: Thank you to the 4,201 people who donated to KEXP during our spring fund drive last week! You're supporting independent, community-driven music and storytelling on the airwaves and online, including this podcast. You can always join the KEXP donor community by leaving a one-time gift or become an amplifier with a monthly donation at kexp.org/cobain. 

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Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, Albina Cabrera, and Larry Mizell Jr. explore four albums on Kurt's list that challenged the politics of their time through the lenses of punk and hip-hop. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

00:00: Intro
01:24: The impact of 1980s politics on punk
11:26: The war on drugs in America and abroad
19:20: Ska punk via Jamaica
24:46: Kurt's formative years and politics
33:36: Musical activism in the 1990s vs. the 2020s
41:08: Taylor Swift and Beyoncé name drops
43:57: Credits

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Dusty Henry dives into It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back by Public Enemy, the voice of what was really happening in America, particularly within Black communities. With their ferocious sound and in-your-face spirit, it's no wonder they resonated with Kurt. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Dusty Henry dives into Millions of Dead Cops by MDC, a prime example of the powerful fusion between hardcore punk and politics. Their frontman Dave Dictor was the anti-John Wayne. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Martin Douglas dives into Rock for Light by Bad Brains. It's a story of how Black punks from one Washington (D.C.) influenced punk in the other Washington (state). 

Link to article mentioned in the final segment: https://afropunk.com/2019/02/bhm-the-agony-and-ecstasy-of-a-queer-bad-brains-fan/ 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Martin Douglas and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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On this International Clash Day, Dusty Henry dives into Combat Rock by The Clash. Their music reminds us not to tolerate the injustice that the world throws at us. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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In the inaugural roundtable of our series, Dusty Henry, Martin Douglas, and Albina Cabrera dive into Kurt Cobain's list. Although it features a lot of traditional punk music, the list traversed many genres in a time when music fans were more accustomed to "staying in their lane." 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producer: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

00:00: Intro
06:09: Reflecting on Kurt’s list
11:30: The Stooges – Raw Power
18:15: The Vaselines – Dying for It
25:14: Pixies – Surfer Rosa
29:36: El Cancionero de Kurt
35:55: The common thread between these bands
40:45: Credits

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Janice Headley dives into Dying for It by The Vaselines (listed as Pink EP). By the time Nirvana began covering their songs, The Vaselines had broken up. It was Kurt’s love for the Scottish indie-pop duo that reunited the pair and lifted them out of obscurity. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Written + Produced: Janice Headley
Mixed + Mastered: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Dusty Henry dives into Surfer Rosa by The Pixies. It's arguably the most influential "alternative music" album of the 90s — not just for Nirvana, but artists worldwide. Surfer Rosa was Nevermind before Nevermind. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Martin Douglas kicks off the series by diving into Raw Power by The Stooges. It's no surprise this is the first album on Kurt's list considering the muscular drumming, the dirty bass, and the way the guitar sounds like it’s on fire — all key elements for Nirvana's sound. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Martin Douglas and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Each week, The Cobain 50 will dig into Kurt Cobain's famous list of his top 50 albums and how those artists influenced the sound of Nirvana. It’s also a chance to dig into the individual histories of the albums on the list, spotlighting both artists on the fringes and some of the biggest groups of all time. The list will take us through the legacies of acts like Sonic Youth, Pixies, The Breeders, Public Enemy, PJ Harvey, Black Flag, Mazzy Star, The Shaggs, Shonen Knife, and more. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

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Martin Douglas concludes the series with a visit back to 2022 with the track “Pollo Rico” by billy woods. It’s a deeply intimate track, and the themes are almost as dense as the smoke that inspired him. Plus, host Larry Mizell Jr. sends us off with some parting thoughts. 

Written by Martin Douglas. 
Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 
Podcast managed by Isabel Khalili. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Janice Headley revisits the Cedar Park Jams, which kicked off in the spring of 1974. At this point, DJ Kool Herc’s parties became so popular that they outgrew his apartment on Sedgwick Avenue.

Written by Janice Headley
Audio production by Janice Headley

Mixed and mastered by Roddy Nikpour

Podcast managed by Isabel Khalili. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Larry Mizell Jr. talks with DJ Supreme La Rock about the original way for compiling and sharing music in hip-hop's early days: "old school tapes." Thanks to global distribution via military deployment, they became foundational for hip-hop culture around the world. 

Interview by Larry Mizell Jr. 

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

Podcast managed by Isabel Khalili. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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This bonus episode takes you on a journey through the vibrant world of Latin American and diasporic female hip-hop artists. Albina Cabrera, host of KEXP's El Sonido podcast, delves into the rich tapestry of Latin culture's influence on the genre, showcasing how Latinx identity and activism are deeply embedded in the roots of rap in español. From iconic figures like Ana Tijoux and Mala Rodriguez to rising stars like MC Millaray and J Noa, this scene is highlighting the intersection of feminism, Indigenous heritage, and social justice within the Latin hip-hop scene. 

Written by Albina Cabrera. 
Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 
Podcast managed by Isabel Khalili. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Martin Douglas revisits 2011 with the track “Thuggin’” by Freddie Gibbs and Madlib. The story behind this track involves a comeback from the streets, the power of collaboration, and on top of it all: pure luck. 

Written by Martin Douglas.
Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 
Podcast managed by Isabel Khalili. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Martin Douglas revisits 1999 with an overview of The Alchemist's career, alongside a parallel story of Martin's reignited passion for making beats of his own. 

Written by Martin Douglas. 

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

Podcast managed by Isabel Khalili. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Larry Mizell, Jr. revisits 1988 with Nasty Nes Rodriguez, a DJ formerly based in Seattle. Together, they explore the proliferation of hip-hop in the Pacific Northwest through the power of radio and the one-and-only Sir Mix-a-Lot. 

Interview by Larry Mizell, Jr. 

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

Podcast managed by Isabel Khalili. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Dusty Henry revisits 1996 with the album 3 'n the Mornin' (Part Two) by DJ Screw. The record was a culmination of a movement Screw started from his bedroom: his trademark “chopped and screwed” sound and a unifying moment for Houston’s then-emerging hip-hop scene. 

Written by Dusty Henry. 

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

Podcast managed by Isabel Khalili. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Roddy Nikpour talks with Chris Read, head of content at WhoSampled, about four iconic tracks from 1990: "U Can't Touch This" by MC Hammer, "Can I Kick It?" by A Tribe Called Quest, "Fight the Power" by Public Enemy, and "Ice Ice Baby" by Vanilla Ice. Each of them incorporates iconic samples, so we're unpacking the culture of sampling in hip-hop, as well as misconceptions behind the craft. 

Written and produced by Roddy Nikpour. 

Podcast managed by Isabel Khalili. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Dusty Henry revisits 2007 with the track "Crank That (Soulja Boy)" by Soulja Boy. This iconic hit and its accompanying dance ushered in a new era for hip-hop and defined “ringtone rap” and the concept of "going viral." 

Written by Dusty Henry. 

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

Podcast managed by Isabel Khalili. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Martin Douglas revisits 1998 with the track “Ha” by Juvenile. Where we come from is an inevitable part of the stories we tell and the art we make. Juvenile’s career is packed with the rich culture of the city that made him: New Orleans, Louisiana.

Written by Martin Douglas. 
Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 
Podcast managed by Isabel Khalili. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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During KEXP’s fall fund drive, discover the variety of music podcasts we produce at KEXP and hear some of our favorite clips from each one. We’re thankful to the thousands of amplifiers who already donate to KEXP, building the foundation for our community of storytelling, and we want you to join them with a one-time donation or a recurring gift!

50 Years of Hip-Hop: https://www.kexp.org/podcasts/50-years-of-hip-hop/

El Sonido: https://www.kexp.org/podcasts/el-sonido/

Fresh off the Spaceship: https://www.kexp.org/podcasts/fresh-off-the-spaceship/

Live on KEXP: https://www.kexp.org/podcasts/live-on-kexp/

Sound and Vision: https://www.kexp.org/podcasts/sound-vision/

Song of the Day: https://www.kexp.org/podcasts/song-of-the-day/

KEXP Podcasts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kexppodcasts

Donate today: kexp.org/donate

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Janice Headley revisits 1992 with the track “Tennessee” by Arrested Development. It's a Grammy-Award-winning single inspired by grief on an immediate level — as well as an intergenerational level. 

Written and produced by Janice Headley.

Mixed and mastered by Roddy Nikpour. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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To celebrate Indigenous People's Day, Kevin Sur revisits 2014 with the album Sheplife by Briggs. Emily Fox talks with KEXP's Kevin Sur, host of Sounds of Survivance, to unpack the music and advocacy of this Aboriginal rapper. 

Produced by Emily Fox and Roddy Nikpour. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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This week, Dusty Henry takes us back to 1982 with the track “Bam Bam” by Sister Nancy. Her story is one of innovation: how Jamaican tradition contributed to hip-hop stylings that are still popular today. It's also a story of unrecognized talent: how decades passed before Sister Nancy finally received the recognition she deserved. 

Written by Dusty Henry.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Janice Headley takes us back to 1976 with an exclusive interview with graffiti artist Lee Quiñones. He and his crew, The Fabulous Five, made history by tagging a ten-car train in a single night. 

Written and produced by Janice Headley.

Mixed and mastered by Roddy Nikpour.

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop

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Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas revisit 1995 with the track “Shook Ones, Pt. II” by Mobb Deep, who we’ll hear from in this episode. After shaking off the commercial flop of their first album, their DIY mentality set them up for success with their sophomore album, which features one of the most recognizable rap songs in history. 

Written by Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas. 

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Larry Mizell Jr. revisits 2008, a pivotal year in the rise (and fall) of Kanye West. As a standout producer and Black icon, his gradual alignment with far-right ideologies has affected how we talk about hip-hop, Blackness, and mental health. 

Joining the conversation are Martin Douglas, Stas THEE Boss, DJ Yaddy, and Christy Karefa-Johnson (DoNormaal). 

Audio engineering and production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Isabel Khalili talks with two members of DAM, Tamer and Maysa, about their influences, the themes from Ben Haana Wa Maana, as well as the power (and limitations) of hip-hop as a tool for change. 

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Isabel Khalili revisits 2019 with the album Ben Haana Wa Maana by the Arabic hip-hop pioneers DAM. The group formed more than 20 years ago when they saw what hip-hop was doing in the U.S., tapped into its power, and used it as a vehicle for change in their home across the world in Palestine. 

Written by Isabel Khalili.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Vitamin D and Supreme La Rock join Larry Mizell Jr. to revisit 1984, a year so foundational in hip-hop history that we couldn’t focus on just one artist. 

Engineering assistance by Dusty Henry. 

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Roddy Nikpour and Martin Douglas revisit 2009 with an earworm: the Reese’s Puffs rap. From cereal to sneakers, we'll explore how hip-hop’s commercial success made it a useful marketing tool.

Written by Roddy Nikpour and Martin Douglas.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Dusty Henry revisits 2004 with the track "All Caps" by Madvillian, the brainchild of MF DOOM and Madlib. These two underground legends brought two coasts together in the name of depravity. 

Written by Dusty Henry.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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KEXP’s DJ Supreme La Rock talks with the renowned DJ Hollywood, who was there when it all started in 1973. Hip-hop fans are quick to celebrate a certain party in the Bronx as the “official” birthday, but DJ Hollywood reminds us that there was so much more brewing in New York that led to the birth of this worldwide movement. 
Engineered by Dusty Henry. 

Produced by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Dusty Henry revisits 1989 with the track “Cha Cha Cha” by MC Lyte. This hit single represents one of the first times when a woman broke the glass ceiling in hip-hop through training, collaboration, and her own genius. 

Written by Dusty Henry.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Janice Headley revisits 1981 with the track “Rapture” by Blondie, who leveraged their celebrity to shine a spotlight on hip-hop. 

Written and produced by Janice Headley.

Mixed and mastered by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas team up to revisit the 2003 double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below by Outkast. Since Big Boi and Andre 3000 each recorded their halves separately, we'll bring you two separate perspectives on the legacies of Outkast's founding duo. 

Written by Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Larry Mizell Jr. revisits 1985 with the track "I Can't Live Without My Radio" by LL Cool J. This young upstart from Queens delivered the seminal anthem for a generation of boombox-lugging, D-battery draining peace-disturbers. 

Written by Larry Mizell Jr.

Audio production by Emily Fox. 

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Dusty Henry revisits 2013 with the track "3005" by Childish Gambino (aka the actor, writer, rapper, and all-around wunderkind Donald Glover). His album Because The Internet brought about a larger conversation about "authenticity" in hip-hop. 

Written by Dusty Henry.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Larry Mizell Jr. revisits 1979 with the track “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugarhill Gang. It was an obvious choice for this podcast. Upon release, this legendary song received mixed reactions, and we’re giving it an honest tribute with insights from DJ Lady Love and Ishmael Butler. 

Written by Larry Mizell Jr. 

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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It’s a crossover episode with El Sonido: Cancioneros! Albina Cabrera revisits 2020 with the album Atrevido by Trueno, whose influences highlight the larger connection between hip-hop and Latin America. 

Written by Albina Cabrera.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Dusty Henry revisits 2017 with DoNormaal, a rapper formerly based in Seattle, to look back at her 2017 album THIRD DAUGHTER and explore what it means to truly embrace freedom as an artist.

Interview by Dusty Henry.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Martin Douglas revisits 1991 with the track “Mind Playing Tricks on Me” by Geto Boys. The rise of Scarface isn’t just a tale about a legendary rapper. It’s also a tale of how he (and so many other rappers) relied on hip-hop to find solidarity and confront a traumatic way of life. 

Written by Martin Douglas.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Jasmine Albertson revisits 2015 with the track “The Blacker the Berry” by Kendrick Lamar. He raises an alarm for the ongoing discrimination against Black people, both by systemic oppressors and within the Black community. 

Written by Jasmine Albertson.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Roddy Nikpour talks with Canadian author Mike Sholars about the 1997 Playstation game PaRappa the Rapper, in which a lovesick cartoon dog raps his way through teenage insecurity. It started a dynasty of rhythm-based games, illustrating how hip-hop — and Black culture at large — set the stage for other commercially successful productions. 

Written and produced by Roddy Nikpour. 

Special thanks to Dusty Henry. 

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Dusty Henry takes us back to 1980 to pay homage to rap’s first superstar, Kurtis Blow, and his legendary hit “The Breaks.” 

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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We’re going back to 1983 with the release of the kung-fu film "Shaolin and Wu Tang" and its influence on the iconic New York hip-hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. 

KEXP’s Janice Headley leads a roundtable discussion with content producer Martin Douglas, DJs Gabriel Teodros, Mike Ramos, and Larry Mizell Jr., as well as two special guests: Jeff Chang, author of the award-winning book “Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation”; and Sophia Chang (no relation), widely regarded as the “first Asian woman in hip-hop" and author of the memoir “The Baddest Bitch in the Room.” 

Written and produced by Janice Headley.

Mixed and mastered by Roddy Nikpour. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Dusty Henry takes us back to 2005 with the track “luv(sic) pt 3” by the late, legendary Japanese producer Nujabes. We’ll also hear from the rapper Shing02, a frequent collaborator with Nujabes. He reflects on his friend's legacy and the luv(sic) hexalogy they created together. 

Written by Dusty Henry.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Rachel Stevens takes us back to 2021 with the track “Industry Baby” by Lil Nas X. His debut sparked controversy, which led to a loud and proud declaration of his Blackness and queer identity within the rap community. 

Written by Rachel Stevens. 

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Jasmine Albertson revisits 2016 with the track “Caroline” by Aminé. This rapper from Portland helped provide the soundtrack for a somber transition in U.S. politics. 

Written by Jasmine Albertson. 

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

Listen to a conversation with Aminé on KEXP’s Sound & Vision podcast: https://www.kexp.org/podcasts/sound-vision/2020/8/27/amines-love-hate-relationship-portland-and-its-backdoor-racism/ 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

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Martin Douglas revisits 2001 to unpack the legendary rivalry between Jay-Z and Nas, a story that starts with an empty throne for the king of New York hip-hop. 

Written by Martin Douglas.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Dusty Henry revisits 2012 with the track “Oldie” by Odd Future. The posse cut led to the rise of one of the most influential groups of the last decade. 

Written by Dusty Henry.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Roddy Nikpour revisits 1986 with the track “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” from the Beastie Boys’ debut album, Licensed to Ill. A couple of young white guys from New York entered the growing hip-hop scene with two signature elements: quick rhymes shared between the MCs and beats that paved the way for rap rock. 

Written and produced by Roddy Nikpour. 

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Dusty Henry revisits 2000 with a look at the legendary Soulquarian collective. They showed the power of real collaboration and letting inspiration light the way. 

Written by Dusty Henry.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

Read the full transcript on KEXP.org

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Become our newest amplifier today at kexp.org/50hiphop. 

This week is KEXP's Spring Drive. As a public radio station and arts organization, we depend on listener support to continue experimenting with storytelling that's varied, voracious, and vulnerable. 

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Martin Douglas revisits 2006 with the track “Mr. Me Too” by The Clipse. The Neptunes saved their weirdest compositions for a couple of longtime collaborators from their home state of Virginia.

Written by Martin Douglas.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop 

Read the full transcript on KEXP.org

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Eva Walker speaks with Vin Rock of Naughty by Nature about the legacy of their track “Hip Hop Hooray.” 

Edited and produced by Emily Fox. 

Mastered by Roddy Nikpour.

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Roddy Nikpour revisits 2010 with the track "Zodiac Shit" by Flying Lotus. His short yet spastic instrumentals double down on experimentation with electronic sounds, which defined the sonic brand of the TV network Adult Swim. 

Written and produced by Roddy Nikpour. 

Edited by Emily Fox. 

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