The Cobain 50
Kurt Cobain’s influence went beyond just the music he created with Nirvana. He also put the masses on to some of his own favorite artists. One particular document from his journals has been instructive to many fans – his top 50 albums. Each week, The Cobain 50 podcast digs into albums from this famous list and how they may have influenced Cobain and Nirvana. While learning the individual histories of the different albums on the list, we gain new insights into artists on the fringes as well as some of the biggest groups of all time. The podcast takes 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. Episodes drop weekly starting January 10, 2024.
Episodes
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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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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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
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informati...
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.
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.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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/
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.
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.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 Gener...
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.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
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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.
Support the podcast: k...
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.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...
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.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information...
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