Even if they don’t quite fit the criteria for my favourite shows, there’s a variety of hip hop related podcast that are most definitely worth a mention. They are either very new, or don’t exactly fit the Hip Hop podcast criteria, but they are doing great work and deserve celebrating!

Wax Poetics

Hosts: Andria Lislie and Matt Rogers

This is an artistic and creative podcast, that chucks in samples and cuts up the hosts talking. If you’re new to Wax Poetics, they are one of the most trusted sources of written media surrounding hip hop. Their vast knowledge and deep love of music has led to them being ambassadors of the scene. After a long absence from the scene, the team ran a successful crowdfunding campaign to relaunch the magazine in physical and digital form, seeing them enter the world of podcasts. Just like with the sequels, there’s a benefit to knowing the world of WP, but it’s a great journey. This pod is available on their website and Mixcloud. A brand new podcast for early 2021, it’s well worth keeping this on your radar. Listen now >>

Questlove Supreme

Hosts: Questlove, Phonte, Boss Bill, Laiya, Suga Steve, Unpaid Bill

This is a different kind of podcast, bridging the gap between interviews and group chat shows, think Drink Champs meets Letterman!
There’s an organic feel to this show which draws you in. It’s not just about the guest, it’s about Quest and his team, which is a stellar like up in itself. It’s an old one, but suggestion as to where to start would be the Q-Tip episode, as I it gives you a sense of what the show is all about. Listen now >>

Who We Be talks

Hosts: Henrie Kwushue and Harry Pinero (formerly DJ Semtex)

Recently revamped, Who We Be is a strong brand within the podcast community. As an official Spotify podcast, it has a defined structure and flow. On a personal level, I preferred DJ Semtex as a host, as he was much more embedded within the scene, and had personal relationships with the artists, which led to some profound interviews. A stand out episode being his interview with Common which led to the Chi Town MC talking incredibly openly and honestly with him due to their longstanding affiliation. The new format sees Henrie, a former Reprezent DJ and Harry, a Stormzy affiliated host join a variety of guests from the emerging UK rap scene. The podcast is filmed and available on a wide variety of platforms. Listen now >>

Big Rap Cookbook

Hosts: Fatty & Booda French

This is a passion led podcast, fusing hip hop and food. The duo created a book of the same name that explores some of Hip Hop’s most respected artists in the scene. They find connections between the artists and their culinary interests and dig deep to find out how food has inspired their music. The limited edition books had a huge buzz around them which prompted the beginnings of the podcast. It’s a simple yet unusual concept and works really well with some great guests. Standouts include Last Skeptik, Masta Ace and Juga-naut. Listen now >>

Sneakernomics

Hosts: DJ Ace & Nicholas Smith

BBC Sounds offer possibly the most in depth sneaker history podcast to date. This pod series mixes truth with imagined history, with voice actors recreating pivotal moments in sneaker history. With Smith’s encyclopedic knowledge of the history of trainers, alongside Ace’s passion and context. Listen now >>

Shotgun The Aux

Hosts: Aidan, Tom and Jake

Through interviews and classic album reviews, the podcast stemmed from a Bournemouth, UK based clothing label. The team have developed a strong online following, and really focus on UK hip hop. It’s a good listen, with some hosts who are passionate about exploring their scene. Stand out guests include Chester P, Mac Lloyd, Genesis Elijah and a vast range of UK hip hop luminaries. Listen now >>

Legacy podcasts

The following podcasts either no longer run or are no longer running in their original form, but they’re hugely influential to the world of hip hop podcasts so they need to be in the mix here.

Microphone Check

Hosts: Ali Shaheed Mohammed and Frankie Kelly

With the last episode launched in 2019, this is now a legacy podcast, but the guest list is stellar! Starting as an NPR show, it’s hosted by the legendary Ali Shaheed Mohammed of A Tribe Called Quest alongside Frankie Kelly. The hosts are both deep within the hip hop scene, and often their guests are friends, previous collaborators or similar, allowing for in depth conversations that span complex and at points challenging topics. The hosts aren’t scared to ask challenging questions, and the production on the show is flawless. Some of their guests are very rarely interviewed, which added to the mystique of Microphone Check. Guests include Mac Miller, Raphael Saadiq, Talib Kweli and a real mixture of other hip hop / music luminaries. Listen now >>

The Combat Jack show

Hosts: Reggie Osse

One of the original Hip Hop show, hosted by the former editor of The Source Magazine. Reggie (aka Combat Jack) was the go to for all things hip hop, with a near on encyclopedic knowledge of the scene. His show was in depth, well produced, and highly respected. The show also had a TV version on Complex. Reggie’s death in 2017 rocked the hip hop world, and many current shows still cite the Combat Jack Show as an influence. Listen now >>

NB: Reggie was the host of the Gimlet produced Mogul, a series base podcast that dug deep into hip hop. Each season focuses on a particular time in the genre and the wider impact on the creative communities.

The Cipher

Host: Shawn Setaro

Shawn is a great host and also a talented podcast producer, If his name is attached to a project it’s well worth checking out. Ending in 2019, the podcast had over 200 episodes, all interview focused, with true Hip Hop royalty. Having been immersed in the scene for a long time, Shawn knows his stuff, and really delves into the guest’s motivations and history. Listen now >>

Juan EP

Hosts: Peter Rosenberg and cipha sounds

Seen by many as the original hip hop podcast, these guys have created a die hard audience, including live shows.  Listen now >>

Book Of Rhymes

Host: Donwill

Donwill is a member of Tanya Morgan (who are great by the way!), and is also an aspiring comedian. This natural and laid back podcast has a range of guests with a common theme of exploration and self development through rhyme. Listen now >>

Let The Record Show

Hosts: Mike Pizzo and Warren Peace

The last episode of this pod was October 2020, so the hope is that it’s coming back Post-Covid. The format for this show is great, and visually stimulating alongside the sonics. The hosts sit around a turntable with their guest, having found vinyl version, often rare copies, of their guests favourite and most influential music. They then proceed to play the track in the background whilst their guest talks through the record and why they like it, often finding ways to link back to their own musical journey and collaborations. The format works well, and there’s interesting mix of guests, not just focusing on hip hop, more focusing on great music irrespective of genres. Listen now >>

Vice beats started making podcasts about hip hop in 2009, a show called Basement Sessions, and since then has hosted a number of radio shows, been a journalist in various forms, and hosted the Wordplay Podcast. His most recent venture is a podcast called Diggin’ The Crates alongside Dutch blog The Find.

The post 13 more of the best hip hop-related podcasts on the planet! appeared first on POD BIBLE.

It’s fair to say that all musical tastes, no matter how far reaching, can be served through podcasts and that includes the arena of Hip Hop. BUT…. let’s be clear here, there’s a big difference in approaches to the music covered within Hip Hop podcasts. If you’re looking for a show to accompany your particular passion for the genre, this extensive (yet far from exhaustive) list offers an insight to some better known – and some more hidden gems – within the realm of Hip Hop podcasts.

Hip Hop Saved My Life

Hosts: Romesh Ranganathan & Rumaj

This is a long running and well known podcast, in which Romesh has used his comedic clout to connect the podcast to Comic Relief (alongside the Horn Section), and secured some stellar guests including internationally renowned names like Chuck D, DJ Shadow, DJ Premier and so many more, alongside some of the UK’s hip hop royalty. The thing that makes this show brilliant, and somewhat unsurprisingly, is the comedic element. The hosts have a seriously in depth knowledge of the genre and scene, and use the platform to speak to comedians, producers, radio presenters, DJs, MCs and simply fans. It’s an easy listen, and they are natural interviewers with great charisma. Don’t rely on this pod to be weekly, as part of the allure is that new batches of episodes arrives whenever the duo are ready, but trust me, they’re well worth the wait! Be sure to check out Romesh’s radio show – For The Love Of Hip Hop on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds Listen now >>

Breaking Atoms

Hosts: Chris Mitchell (Kinetik) & Sumit

This is a highly respected pod by two hosts who make a living from the creation of podcasts, so with that knowledge alone you know the audio is going to be on point! Sumit and Chris are long standing and respected members of the UK hip hop scene, and coming from two different standpoints as an MC alongside a PR / journalist, the show’s stance is to pay respect where due and dig deep into the history and grounding of their guests. Typically lasting about an hour, it’s all talk, with well researched questions, and guests often wanting to continue the conversation. The hosts are enthusiastic, professional, and charming, and with guests including Pete Rock, Statik Selektah and Marco Polo alongside some interviews from Sumit’s crates with Nas, Lupe Fiasco and more, the pod really started taking shape mid last year when the format was really locked down and the duo’s guest list really started to fly. Their Jay-z series – Brooklyn’s Finest: The Making Of Reasonable Doubt flew up the worldwide podcast charts, and sees the duo working at stellar levels of production, matching that of Spotify’s own music documentaries. Listen now >>

DadBodRapPod

Hosts: Dem One, David Ma, Nate LeBlanc

These guys are great. There’s something very wholesome about this pod. The San Jose based hosts are so positive alongside having a deep knowledge of hip hop. With the team including journalist David Ma, the guests are often asked incisive and well crafted questions. This pod is great for connecting dots in the scene, and often finding interviews with artists who you may not have heard of, but on investigation finding that they are firmly rooted within the scene and connected in many ways. With a solid format, and the show always starting with the hosts catching up, this show serves as a celebration of the scene, and it’s easy to get sucked into the conservations. Listen now >>

Crate 808

Host: Kambi Thandi

Possibly one of the most passionate podcasts around, the intros include a very well researched and constructed rhyme all about the guest in question. Kambi Thandi has been developing Crate 808 for a number of years, and has really found his stride. This is a 90s centric show, with a mixture of formats including interviews, guest panels, mailbag sessions. video and audio features and more alongside exclusive Patreon content breaking down classic hip hop albums. Kambi has some great guests, and has a natural and inquisitive nature, which sees guests like Pharoah Monch returning regularly. Well worth a listen. Listen now >>

Take It Personal

Hosts: DJ 360, Jason Gloss, Aaron Wade, Kevlar and Roger The Announcer

This podcast makes a bold statement that they are the best hip hop show, which of course is very divisive. They definitely have the trapping of being one the best out there. Their guests are always of an incredibly high standard, and they have managed to talk to some of Hip Hop’s royalty who very rarely give interviews, including the legendary Black Thought. The Philaflava crew’s gem is DJ 360, who offers up incredibly well researched and constructed mixes, featuring a wide range of cultural references. They are long and always great to listen to. One sticking point is that the team are dead set on the golden era (as described by the hosts) to the point of saying that they don’t like new hip hop, although they do occasionally play newer music. Some of the best episodes to check out to get you started include: Black Thought, the MF Doom tributes, DJ Premier and Jeru The Damaja. Listen now >>

Can’t Knock The Shuffle

Host: Sean Kantrowitz

This is a great concept show with an experienced host who really knows his stuff. Sean Kantrowitz uses playlists to randomly select what songs the guests will talk about, leading to a deep dive into songs, albums and memories. The format is simple and perfect, plus Sean has some of hip hop’s more elusive artists, including the incredible Bahamadia and Masta Ace. Listen now >>

The Midnight Miracle

Hosts: Dave Chapelle, Talib Kweli and Yassin Bey

Recorded during 2020 at Dave Chapelle’s Summer Camp in Ohio, this podcast is different, special and offer reflection and insight in an entirely different way to quite frankly any other podcast out there. The production levels are as expected, beautifully and meticulously constructed, with a deep knowledge and love of music. The hosts talk about life lessons, their journeys and their joint love and respect for a variety of musicians. Yassin talks in depth about his journey into hip hop, including meeting Talib Kweli, Amy WInehouse and more. It’s a thought provoking show, and is available on vinyl, which is becoming a new line for podcasts to expand reach. The talks are open, honest and at times the conversations are hard to hear, but this is up there with one of the finest podcasts around, and a definite to add to your playlist. Listen now >>

Bedroom Beethovens

Host: Cello

The hook of Cello’s show is that he explores the 10,000 hours it’s taken artists to get to where they are today. His style is almost investigative, frequently using Nerdwar as a reference point and having at least one question for guests which digs deep into their early career. The guests he chooses are very much producer’s producers. It’s a great list of artists who will be known and respected by hip hop fans who dig deeper into the scene, alongside producers who steer more towards soul, and a smattering of vocalists for good measure! It’s a well produced and constructed podcast, which also has a great website to document the development of the show. Listen now >>

Drink Champs

Hosts: N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN

Basically, two heavyweights within Hip Hop get their guests drunk and talk about Hip Hop, and it’s all filmed and turned into a podcast, oh, and it’s amazing! This show has become the go-to for Hip Hop heads wanting to find out about some of their favourite artists. EFN has a great interview style, twinned with N.O.R.E. passion and direct questioning, it makes for an enjoyable, in depth and at times hilarious deep dive into Rap culture. Listen now >>

NB: DJ EFN also hosts another great podcast called the Father Hoods Podcast alongside KGB and Manny Digital, which is well worth a listen! (there’s only so many podcasts that can be written about in depth here!)

Carhartt – Relevant Parties

Host: Chal Ravens

Launched in 2020, this podcast serves as a deep dive into the motivations and stories of the most influential indie record labels around. With the likes of Jazzy Sport, Stones Throw, Exit and Ninja Tune to name but a few. They are quite traditional interviews, but the stories and the fact that each episode is over an hour in length means you really get to find out all about the labels and the people behind them, Chal engaging the guests along the way with the relaxed demeanour. Listen now >>

Not added….and why!

There’s a few others that haven’t been added here but are worth mentioning:

The Breaks – A radio show rather than a dedicated podcast (but well worth a listen!) (Hosts: Confucius and Fresh) Listen now >>
Bodega Boys – More comedy focused than music, yet a good and bizarre listen. Listen now >>
Broken Record – Not a hip hop podcast! But has some great musical insights. Listen now >>

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And that’s that! There’s still more podcasts out there, and by no means are we saying that they are any less good BUT these podcasts above are the ones that are often referenced in lists and on a personal level, having listened to all of the above regularly, they are well worth listening to. If you’re still hungry for more, be sure to check out the latest season of Diggin’ The Crates on all streaming platforms, with guests including Romesh Ranganathan, J-Live, Marley Marl, Blu, Exile and many more.

Happy listening!

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Vice beats started making podcasts about hip hop in 2009, a show called Basement Sessions, and since then has hosted a number of radio shows, been a journalist in various forms, and hosted the Wordplay Podcast. His most recent venture is a podcast called Diggin’ The Crates alongside Dutch blog The Find.

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