Roddy Nikpour and Martin Douglas revisit 2009 with an earworm: the Reese’s Puffs rap. From cereal to sneakers, we'll explore how hip-hop’s commercial success made it a useful marketing tool.

Written by Roddy Nikpour and Martin Douglas.

Audio production by Roddy Nikpour. 

Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop

Roddy Nikpour and Martin Douglas revisit 2009 with an earworm: the Reese’s Puffs rap. From cereal to sneakers, we'll explore how hip-hop’s commercial success made it a useful marketing tool.
Written by Roddy Nikpour and Martin Douglas.
Audio 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 - 2009: Reese's Puffs and the Commercialization of Hip-Hop

Martin Douglas dives into Philosophy of the World by The Shaggs. As prophesied by a palm reading, this band of sisters from a small town in New Hampshire would become famous. However, nobody could have predicted the band's "intriguing" sound — or whether they would actually have a fun time performing music. 

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

Support the podcast: kexp.org/cobain

Martin Douglas dives into Philosophy of the World by The Shaggs. As prophesied by a palm reading, this band of sisters from a small town in New Hampshire would become famous. However, nobody could have predicted the band's "intriguing" sound — or whether they would actually have a fun time performing music. 
Hosts: Dusty Henry and Martin Douglas Audio producers: Martin Douglas 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>

The Shaggs – Philosophy of the World (1969)

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>

50 Years of Hip-Hop - 2009: Reese's Puffs and the Commercialization of Hip-Hop

In 1 playlist(s)

The Cobain 50

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips