A party in the Bronx on August 11th, 1973 is widely considered to be the birthplace of hip-hop. The art form has since touched every corner of our world and evolved into one of the most significant cultural forces today. 50 Years of Hip-Hop, hosted by KEXP’s Larry Mizell Jr, celebrates the anniversary by highlighting a different year of its history each week. Jumping around the timeline from 1973 to today, expect personal reflections, iconic tracks and albums, and conversations around the genesis of the culture. Episodes drop weekly starting February 1, 2023.
.
Jasmine Albertson revisits 2015 with the track “The Blacker the Berry” by Kendrick Lamar. Subscribe: .
Roddy Nikpour talks with Canadian author Mike Sholars about the 1997 Playstation game PaRappa the Rapper. Subscribe: .  …
Dusty Henry takes us back to 1980 to pay homage to rap’s first superstar, Kurtis Blow, and his legendary hit “The Breaks.” Subscribe: .  …
Janice Headley looks back at the 1983 kung-fu film Shaolin and Wu Tang, and its influence on the iconic New York hip-hop collective, Wu-Tang Clan. Subscribe…
Dusty Henry takes us back to 2005 with the track “luv(sic) pt 3” by the late, legendary Japanese producer Nujabes. Subscribe: . &n…
Rachel Stevens takes us back to 2021 with the track “Industry Baby” by Lil Nas X. Subscribe: .
How Aminé helped provide the soundtrack for a somber transition in U.S. politics. Subscribe: .
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. …
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. Subs…
Roddy Nikpour revisits 1986 with the track “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” from the Beastie Boys’ debut album. Subscribe: . &…
Dusty Henry revisits 2000 with a look at the legendary Soulquarian collective. Subscribe: .
Martin Douglas revisits a Clipse classic and digs into the legacy of production team The Neptunes Subscribe: . &…
