Podcasting has existed since the early 2000s but is now bigger than ever. Hip hop podcasts have rapidly grown in popularity as many rappers and musicians have transitioned into broadcasting. Some were ahead of the curve, diving into podcasting before it became more lucrative, while others started fairly recently.
This is a list of the top 11 best hip hop podcasts. The shows, listed in no particular order, focus primarily on hip hop or are centered around music. Many explore other topics, but what makes them hip hop podcasts is that they are centered around music. There are a variety of different styles of podcasts on this list: talk, commentary, history, and interview-based podcasts. Take a look at the list below.
The Joe Budden Podcast
Perhaps the most popular hip hop podcast, Joe Budden has arguably been more successful as a podcaster than a rapper. His broadcasting history goes far back into the 2000s, landing a regular radio gig at Hot 97 in New York. Budden started his podcast, originally called I’ll Name This Podcast Later, in 2015. The podcast has rebranded a few times, changing names and co-hosts. It is a talk show that is centered around hip hop music and culture, but also discusses pop culture, sports, politics, relationships, and an array of other topics. The show is not guest-based but will have the occasional guest interview or phone call.
The prime era of The Joe Budden Podcast saw Budden making podcast history alongside Rory and Mal, landing a historic deal with Spotify in 2018. The relationship between Joe Budden, Rory, and Mal soured over time in a highly-publicized breakup, leading to The JBP rebranding again. Joe currently hosts his podcast alongside Parks, Ice, Ish, QueenzFlip, and Melyssa Ford.
New Rory & Mal
Following their departure from The Joe Budden Podcast, Rory and Mal quickly pivoted into their own independent venture. The New Rory & Mal podcast debuted in 2021 following their response video to Joe Budden. The podcast is a talk show centered around music, pop culture, and current events. Though not a guest-based podcast, they have interviewed musicians, comedians, and other public figures. They have also occasionally created short skits to go along with their content. Last year, New Rory & Mal toured North America, as well as a sold-out show in London.
Drink Champs
Drink Champs is one of the earliest and most prolific guest-based podcasts. Hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN interview their guests, drinking and taking shots throughout the lengthy show to loosen them up. Their guests are often high-profile figures within hip hop culture, including Kanye West and Pharrell Williams. The show often consists of funny banter and legendary stories from the guest’s past. Since the show began in 2016, Drink Champs has had its fair share of viral and controversial moments, such as their unhinged Kanye West interview.
People’s Party With Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli is among many rappers who have stepped into the podcast space. Unlike his contemporaries who have focused on talk shows, he has developed his skills as a journalist to create one of hip hop’s most fascinating interview shows. Alongside co-host Jasmine Leigh, Talib Kweli interviews actors, activists, comedians, and rappers, many of whom are his contemporaries. He often interviews people he has a relationship with, which allows the chemistry between him and his guest to shine. Kweli provides wisdom in his stories and experiences, while Leigh shines through her personable interview skills.
Rap Radar
The Rap Radar podcast is a masterclass in hip hop journalism. Elliott Wilson and Brian “B.Dot” Miller manage to provide thought-provoking questions no matter who they interview. Most of their interviews happen during press runs, usually in the promotion of a new album. Wilson and Miller tend to combine questions about the artist’s new work along with a look at the general scope of their career. Rap Radar usually consists of questions about the artist’s work and some friendly jokes between the hosts and the guests. Some of their most well-known interviews include JAY-Z, Drake, and Will Smith.
Juan Ep Is Life
Peter Rosenberg and Cipha Sounds were way ahead of today’s influx of hip hop podcasts when they started Juan Epstein in 2007. The two used to work together at Hot 97, and Juan Epstein was their way to nerd out about hip hop authentically, separate from their work in the music industry. Rosenberg and Cipha Sounds conducted many interviews, including Kanye West, JAY-Z, and Eminem. The podcast continued to grow and survived through many eras, proving that podcasting in hip hop was the future. The podcast took a brief hiatus in 2018, restarted in 2019, and rebranded as Juan Ep Is Life in 2020.
Questlove Supreme
Questlove of The Roots is known for his depth of knowledge in music, which makes Questlove Supreme so compelling. Alongside a multitude of co-hosts, including Phonte, Questlove expresses his love and knowledge of music as he conducts genuine interviews. The guests often have stories to tell, and Questlove often appears just as fascinated as the listener. The Questlove Supreme podcast is a crash course in the music lineage, often including hip hop. Some guests include Jill Scott and Solange.
The Combat Jack Show
Combat Jack was a seasoned hip hop journalist, attorney, executive, and broadcaster. These skills resonated in The Combat Jack Show, which launched in 2010. He was well-educated and tried his hand in many different career fields, enhancing his podcaster skills. He often provided his thoughts and opinions, and featured plenty of interviews, including J. Cole and Black Thought. Before Jack’s passing in 2017, The Combat Jack Show was highly influential for hip hop podcasts. Joe Budden had once cited Combat Jack as one of his inspirations for getting into podcasting.
The Travelers Podcast With Brother Ali
Brother Ali is one of the latest rappers to tap into podcasting, starting The Travelers Podcast in 2021. Much like his rap voice, Ali’s podcasting voice is soothing. The conversation-based interviews that he conducts do not need to be overproduced. Ali provides wisdom as a seasoned veteran in hip hop, as well as a religious and politicized person. He has interviewed many rappers, some of whom include his labelmates, along with politicians, activists, and authors.
The Blog Era
The Blog Era is a brand new podcast that takes a deep dive into the history of hip hop’s “blog era” of the late 2000s and early 2010s. Eric and Jeff Rosenthal, writers and sketch comedians, among other things, look into the impact of the blog era on hip hop and the stories behind it. They explore the importance of specific blogs and rappers that sparked a renaissance in hip hop in the early days of the internet. The first season of the podcast began last month.
The Midnight Miracle
Talib Kweli had already proven his ability as a podcaster with People’s Party, but he expanded his repertoire with The Midnight Miracle. Kweli, alongside Dave Chappelle and his Black Star group member Yasiin Bey, explores a variety of concrete and abstract topics that make for a unique listening experience. The commentary podcast is produced in a way that weaves in conversations, audio excerpts they reference, and a wide range of guests contributing to each episode. The Midnight Miracle can be found on Luminary, the same platform on which Kweli and Bey released their long-awaited second album as Black Star.
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