Larry Mizell Jr. revisits 2008, a pivotal year in the rise (and fall) of Kanye West. As a standout producer and Black icon, his gradual alignment with far-right ideologies has affected how we talk about hip-hop, Blackness, and mental health. 

Joining the conversation are Martin Douglas, Stas THEE Boss, DJ Yaddy, and Christy Karefa-Johnson (DoNormaal). 

Audio engineering and production by Roddy Nikpour. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop

Larry Mizell Jr. revisits 2008, a pivotal year in the rise (and fall) of Kanye West. As a standout producer and Black icon, his gradual alignment with far-right ideologies has affected how we talk about hip-hop, Blackness, and mental health. 
Joining the conversation are Martin Douglas, Stas THEE Boss, DJ Yaddy, and Christy Karefa-Johnson (DoNormaal). 
Audio engineering and production by Roddy Nikpour. 
Support the podcast: <a href="https://kexp.org/50hiphop">kexp.org/50hiphop</a>

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.

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.

The Cobain 50

50 Years of Hip-Hop - 2008: We Need to Talk About Kanye West

Dusty Henry dives into Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols by the Sex Pistols. They set the stage for mainstream views of punk in terms of style, substance, and attitude. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

Dusty Henry dives into Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols by the Sex Pistols. They set the stage for mainstream views of punk in terms of style, substance, and attitude. 
Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Dusty Henry and Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 
Support the podcast: <a href="https://www.kexp.org/cobain/">kexp.org/cobain</a>

Sex Pistols – Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols (1977)

Kicking off KEXP's month-long Pushing Boundaries celebration, Martin Douglas and Janice Headley dive into Shonen Knife’s Burning Farm, which was released in America by Olympia, Washington’s own K Records. Founding members Naoko and Atsuko Yamano share stories of touring with Nirvana in 1991. Plus, we celebrate this Osaka-based trio’s 40-year history of songs about food, animals, and toys. 

Special thanks to Yuko Headley for translation assistance. 

Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas
Producers: Martin Douglas and Janice Headley
Mixing and mastering: Roddy Nikpour
Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili
Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

Kicking off KEXP's month-long <a href="https://www.kexp.org/events/kexp-events/pushing-boundaries-2024/">Pushing Boundaries</a> celebration, Martin Douglas and Janice Headley dive into Shonen Knife’s Burning Farm, which was released in America by Olympia, Washington’s own K Records. Founding members Naoko and Atsuko Yamano share stories of touring with Nirvana in 1991. Plus, we celebrate this Osaka-based trio’s 40-year history of songs about food, animals, and toys. 
Special thanks to Yuko Headley for translation assistance. 
Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Producers: Martin Douglas and Janice Headley Mixing and mastering: Roddy Nikpour Podcast manager: Isabel Khalili Editorial director: Larry Mizell Jr. 
Support the podcast: <a href="https://www.kexp.org/cobain/">kexp.org/cobain</a>

Shonen Knife – Burning Farm (1985 via K Records)

The Cobain 50 returns May 1 with Shonen Knife's Burning Farm (K Records version) from 1985. 

This week, we'd like to share another KEXP podcast: In Our Headphones, the evolution of our longstanding Song of the Day podcast. Hosted by Janice Headley and Isabel Khalili, this weekly interview series features KEXP DJs sharing their new favorite music. You'll hear the backstory about each artist and song, as well as each DJ’s personal connection to the music.  

Support KEXP podcasts at kexp.org/cobain

The Cobain 50 returns May 1 with Shonen Knife's Burning Farm (K Records version) from 1985. 
This week, we'd like to share another KEXP podcast: In Our Headphones, the evolution of our longstanding Song of the Day podcast. Hosted by Janice Headley and Isabel Khalili, this weekly interview series features KEXP DJs sharing their new favorite music. You'll hear the backstory about each artist and song, as well as each DJ’s personal connection to the music.  
Support KEXP podcasts at <a href="kexp.org/cobain">kexp.org/cobain</a>

50 Years of Hip-Hop - 2008: We Need to Talk About Kanye West

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