50 Years of Hip-Hop

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.

Recent Episodes

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Recent Reviews

M. B. Gonzalez

A thoughtful podcast for and by creative people

What a cool way to examine an artist as influential as Cobain. I like listening to it while I draw and paint. I enjoy all the host’s takes, including international perspectives! Give it a listen—it’ll make you excited about the bands you love and may introduce you to new sounds.
DKN667

Astrology?

If I wanted to listen to unironic discussions of astrology I’d find some New Age podcast to rot my brain with. This is a disappointing and shallow discussion of great records.
ravencrowgracklecaw

A Punk/Grunge Primer

Nicely produced and in digestible installments, this is a fantastic overview of roughly 20 years of music leading up to Nirvana’s short, brilliant reign in music. If you’re well acquainted with this era and style of sound, yeah, you’re not going to hear anything too revelatory. But that’s not the point. This is an accessible and even inspirational breakdown, curated by Cobain himself (in a slightly removed way) that leads the curious headbangers among us to dig in to the discographies and stories of some awesome artists. It got me to seriously reconsider The Clash and to get into PJ Harvey in earnest! Loving it!
ChaucerXIV

Low IQ

Dopes trying to sound intellectual instead of making an interesting topic... interesting.
Maiden M

Bad Brains’ Homophobia AndMisogyny

Why ignore the well-documented severe homophobia and misogyny of the Bad Brains in your episode on them? The hosts repeatedly mention Cobain’s political and social views in the context of the 50 albums, yet conveniently ignore the bigotry of the Bad Brains. Biased journalism, simply put.
MM!!toobadcbs

Why?

I love KEXP, but I have to say, The Cobain 50 is a disappointing podcast. So much could be said about this list and each production on it, but instead it’s just a boring conversation between two dudes, blah at best.
Brosgolbabe

Remedial

I simply do not understand the heaps of praise on this podcast. Absolutely no insight, grating “like” commentators, and a hard lean on previously released and far superior source material. Just watch the Jarmusch doc instead of listening to the endless fair-use clips featured here. I guess this is fine for “beginners”, but even there I don’t get any meaningful history or context. Just dull and dim.
jflobot

Exciting

Thanks for educating us on amazing music history. Look forward to the next show, Cobain 50!
Martymall

Facts

I fell in love with West Coast Hip Hop in 1980. Since , then I sleep, Hip Hop, eat, Hip Hop, and just live for Hip Hop!!!
Vernon Green

It’s been 50 YEARS Of HIP HOP 1973

One Of the best years to be born if not the best !?
hcs1016

Thank you!

I know a lot about hip hop and I learn something new every time I listen to this podcast. I look forward to this every week and so thankful to KEXP for producing amazing content like this.
ADJNAMEDSLASH/

Peace, Peace

Thank You for your time educating us all. The in depth interviews and choppin’ up other interviews. The pod is well done and done with care.
Carm77@

Love this series!

Great writing and great series!
schlenky1

WOW

Thank You 🙏🏻 For 50 years of the Birth of A Genre of Truth to Power!!!! Here’s to the NEXT 50 🍾 !!!!! Can’t wait for what it will bring!! 🙌🏻
BikingInSeattle

Larry Mizell Jr *teaches* through joy

KEXP’s team has done it again. Amazing podcast. I didn’t have any idea about the history and significance of Hip Hop in music history until tuning into Larry’s new show. Highly recommend! You’ll enjoy listening to the genre even more once you gain the full scope of it’s influence.

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