Luxury fashion brand AMIRI recently announced the new faces of their new campaign. Their selection includes iconic hip-hop duo Black Star, consisting of Yasiin Bey (formerly known as Mos Def) and Talib Kweli, as their brand ambassadors for the upcoming Fall/Winter 2023 campaign. AMIRI Autumn-Winter 2023 The California-based brand made the exciting revelation on August […]
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.
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.
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.
Various universities and colleges have recognized rappers for their contributions to music and culture, as well as their activism, philanthropy, and entrepreneurship. Each has significantly impacted hip-hop, paving the way for future generations of artists. Cultural influencers like Diddy, KRS-One, LL Cool J, Missy Elliott, and Queen Latifah would go on to be recognized by higher education officials.
An honorary degree is also a significant achievement recognizing their dedication and contributions to society. It also inspires young people interested in pursuing a music or art career, showing them that anything is possible with hard work and perseverance. While this list is not exhaustive, we’ve pulled together seven names in hip-hop who have been bestowed with honorary degrees. The acknowledgment speaks to just how powerful music’s movement can be and how many doors it can open.
Diddy: Howard University
WASHINGTON, DC – MAY 10:
Sean Combs, who received an honorary degree, processes out after Howard University’s commencement ceremonies have conclude on May, 10, 2014 in Washington, DC.
(Photo by Bill O’Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Sean “Diddy” Combs received an honorary doctorate from Howard University in 2014 for his ongoing contributions to entertainment. The media mogul has also employed thousands through various companies and branding, but his philanthropic work stole attention. The New York native is known to give back to the communities that helped raise him. Those efforts did not go unrecognized.
Further, Diddy has strongly advocated education, establishing a scholarship fund to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds who aspire to attend college. In 2016, Diddy announced that he would donate $1 million to Howard University, his alma mater, to establish the Sean Combs Scholarship Fund. The donation is reportedly the largest in the university’s history. It has helped to provide greater access to higher education for students from underprivileged communities.
LL Cool J: Harvard University
LOS ANGELES, CA – FEBRUARY 15: Host LL Cool J speaks onstage during The 58th GRAMMY Awards at Staples Center on February 15, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
LL Cool J, a hip-hop pioneer, received an honorary degree from Harvard University in 2018. He started his career in the 1980s and later branched out into acting and entrepreneurship. His trophy room may be pouring over with awards, including several Grammys, but his social justice and philanthropy efforts are what warmed hearts. He is a strong supporter of the American Cancer Society, especially as his wife endured her battle with breast cancer. LL Cool J has also worked to raise awareness about the importance of early cancer detection. Additionally, the rap icon has been involved in various initiatives to promote education and fight poverty in disadvantaged communities.
Kendrick Lamar: University of Hartford
HOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 02: Recording artist Kendrick Lamar performs on stage during the Coca-Cola Music Mix at the NCAA March Madness Music Festival Day 2 at Discovery Green on April 2, 2016 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for Turner)
Kendrick Lamar is considered a leading voice in contemporary hip-hop spaces. The Los Angeles native shines a light on the lives of the marginalized and disadvantaged, even earning himself a Pulitzer. His innovative production, fusion of genres, socially conscious lyrics, and unique style set him apart from his contemporaries. It’s no wonder that in 2018, the University of Hartford in Connecticut awarded him an honorary degree.
In addition to his music, Lamar has been involved in various social justice initiatives. He has used his platform to raise awareness about police brutality, systemic racism, and inequality. His music has also been celebrated for its ability to address these issues meaningfully and powerfully. He’s hailed as a role model for young people passionate about social justice.
Missy Elliott: Berklee College Of Music
Missy Elliott had this inspiring message for Berklee College of Music students when she received an honorary degree pic.twitter.com/PaStnx4jVu
Missy Elliott is arguably one of the most beloved talents in the industry. She received an honorary doctorate from Berklee College of Music in Boston in 2019, and it didn’t come as a surprise. Missy has a longstanding influence in entertainment. When she isn’t topping the charts, she’s helping a new generation of creatives find their footing. She’s been hailed as a GOAT in music, but her socially conscious efforts haven’t gone unnoticed.
From the onset of her career, Queen Latifah has dominated. Her music videos stunned young girls around the globe as the rapper was a commanding force, often surrounded by street bikes and crew primarily made of men. She is a hip-hop pioneer unlike any other, demanding that the world refers to her as “queen.” Outside of winning Grammys and storming hip hop, Dana Owens developed a lucrative acting career that has continued until now.
Queen Latifah has always used her platform to advocate for the disadvantaged, especially about issues involving Black women. She has also been involved with the Lancelot H. Owens Scholarship Foundation, which provides financial assistance to students who want to pursue higher education.
Chuck D: Adelphi University
NEW YORK – August 25: Public Enemy front man Chuck D poses for a portrait in his hometown of Roosevelt on August 25, 1999 in Long Island, New York. (Photo by Karjean Levine/Getty Images)
Chuck D, one of the frontmen for the legendary hip-hop collective Public Enemy, received an honorary doctorate from Adelphi University in New York in 2014. His work on the fronts of activism, education, and sharing the lesser-taught facts of Black history has made him an admirable figure. He has been involved in various initiatives to promote equality and fight systemic racism, including the Black Lives Matter movement.
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 27: Rapper Ice Cube performs onstage during the Ice Cube, Kendrick Lamar, Snoop Dogg, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Jay Rock concert at Staples Center on June 27, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson/BET/Getty Images for BET)
Los Angeles icon Ice Cube has been actively involved in entertainment since his NWA days in the 1980s. He has gone from being perceived as a rapper with a chip on his shoulder to an actor who has starred in family-friendly films. Additionally, Cube has long spoken out about the plight of his community. This was made evident in his fight against systemic racism with his proposed Contract with Black America initiative.
For a time, it appeared that we’d gotten all the Mac Miller music we were ever going to after the rapper died in 2018. However, there was one project left that many fans still held out hope for: Maclib, a collaborative album with legendary Los Angeles producer Madlib, who has previously released well-received joint albums with the likes of J Dilla, Freddie Gibbs, and Talib Kweli.
Unfortunately, the likelihood of Maclib‘s release has been in doubt ever since shortly after producer Thelonious Martin revealed its existence. Although Madlib has occasionally played bits and pieces of the project in his live sets, he also noted that only about an EP’s worth of material was recorded and it wasn’t likely to see release.
However, Madlib restored hope this week when he and Kweli appeared on Sway In The Morning to talk about their latest album Liberation 2. In an aside during the interview, Madlib began listing some of the projects he has in the works including albums with Planet Asia and Erykah Badu. But it was the mention of Mac Miller that perked up Sway’s ears.
Madlib announces in his new interview with Sway that his collaborative LP with Mac Miller, ‘Maclib’ is being wrapped up and is on the way pic.twitter.com/sJ8ZYs9UO8
“Is that the same project that was mentioned years ago after he passed that was never released?” he asked. “Yessir,” Madlib confirmed. Sway, like the rest of us, couldn’t contain his excitement: “We ’bout to some new Mac Miller!” he exclaimed. Let’s all hope it’s sooner rather than later.
You can watch Madlib’s full interview with Talib Kweli and Sway above.
Talib Kweli, Madlib, and Diani have dropped their new music video for the “Air Quotes” collab. The free-flowing song finds them reflecting on the current state of the rap industry.
“Most rappers cowards cuz they scared to be conscious / They only care about they pockets / This is not a popularity contest,” Kweli raps during his verse. “B*tches is tasteless and disappointing / And I didn’t give ’em my ear to / Air sh*t / I’m a heiress / I’m the one they compare to.”
The video, which was shot by Chino Chase, finds the trio rapping in front of various backdrops, including a stack of boomboxes and an artsy mural.
Kweli and Madlib most recently released their joint album, Liberation 2, which is available to stream on Luminary. It includes additional features with Q-Tip, Roc Marciano, Westside Gunn, Mac Miller, Roy Ayers, Goapele, Seun Kut, and more.
“Liberation 2 with Madlib will be on Luminary as well as vinyl after the Luminary release. People’s Party is still going strong — headed into a third season and just dropping our Season 2 finale, with Yasiin Bey — and I am happy about that,” Kweli told Uproxx about the album last fall.
Check out Talib Kweli and Madlib’s “Air Quotes” featuring Diani above.
Iconic partners rapper Talib Kweli and producer Madlib will release Liberation 2 exclusively on Luminary next month. Liberation 2 is their first album in 17 years, following the release of their seminal collection Liberation in 2006.
Subscribers to Luminary will be able to access the album. “After These Messages,” the album’s first song, is available exclusively on Luminary today.
“After These Messages” is notable for including a special performance by Kweli’s son Amani Kweli — a groundbreaking father-son duet in a rap song. Diani Kweli, Kweli’s daughter, will appear on additional tracks in Liberation 2.
“This album was written, recorded and mixed over ten years. It’s expansive in concept but tight in its substance and approach,” Kweli said of the forthcoming album. “People today are taking stock of what is most important – family, health, wellness, love. The materialism and debauchery that is stereotypically associated with hip hop has lost some of its luster. Madlib and I have been consistent in our messaging. Never has there been a better time for such honest, message driven music that pays tribute to the sounds that came before us.”
On the “After These Messages” video, Kweli and Madlib collaborated with Austin, Texas, videographer Chino Chase to create a simple and austere style that highlights the bars and performance. The video includes artwork by Brooklyn artist Voodo Fé and African artist Aissata Pinto Da Costa, who currently lives in New York.
Kweli made two journeys to Africa while recording the album and music videos for Liberation 2, visiting Ghana for the Black Star Line event, as well as Tanzania and South Africa. It also includes appearances by Q-Tip, Wildchild, Roc Marciano, Westside Gunn, and a posthumous contribution from Mac Miller.
Kweli added, “Liberation 2 is a story of how agents can never stop true creatives from linking up and building. Our partnership with Luminary allows us to retain ownership, allowing us to create an exclusive experience for listeners. I’m excited to be at the forefront of Luminary’s foray into the music space, and we have a chance to change the industry for the better with the release of this album.”
Talib Kweli and Madlib have announced that they are reuniting for a sequel to one of their most beloved projects. Liberation 2, due March 6, will be released through the Luminary podcast network, echoing the nontraditional release of the original in 2007.
The album is set to feature collaborations with Q-Tip, Roc Marciano, and Westside Gunn, along with a posthumous appearance from Mac Miller. In a statement accompanying the announcement, Kweli detailed the album’s decade-long recording process and its content:
“People today are taking stock of what is most important — family, health, wellness, love. The materialism and debauchery that is stereotypically associated with hip-hop has lost some of its luster. Madlib and I have been consistent in our messaging. Never has there been a better time for such honest, message-driven music that pays tribute to the sounds that came before us.”
In 2007, Kweli and Madlib teamed up to release Liberation, which was available as a free download from Stones Throw’s Rappcats website. The album was seen as a return to form for Kweli after 2004’s The Beautiful Struggle disappointed some listeners.
Madlib’s beats were seen as a perfect compliment to Kweli’s rhymes; the two have since collaborated a few more times, including most recently on Kweli and Yasiin Bey’s Black Star reunion album No Fear of Time, which was also released through Luminary. Madlib also recently released a critically acclaimed project with Freddie Gibbs, Bandana.
The first single is “After These Messages,” the video for which you can watch above.
