Class of '88 with Will Smith
Audible | Wondery
In the US, hip hop reigns as the genre that influences every aspect of our culture. From fashion to film, the dominance of this prolific sound can be traced back to one year - 1988. From Public Enemy to The Fresh Prince, these twelve months gave rise to the superstars and styles that still resonate in songs released today. Through the unique perspective and personal experiences of Will Smith, Class of ’88 reveals the milestone moments, albums and artists that inspired a sonic evolution and secured 1988 as hip hop’s most important year. Rich with archival material, new interviews with hip hop’s biggest stars, and personal recollections from Will himself, Class of ’88 delivers fresh untold stories from the year that hip hop overcame the forces that were hell bent on blocking its rise.
This series features interviews and stories from the revolutionary Artists that impacted that year and many more afterwards, including: Queen Latifah, Jazzy Jeff, DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, Chuck D, Fab Five Freddy, Rakim, Slick Rick, DJ Red Alert, and Rick Rubin.
You can binge all episodes of Class of ‘88 exclusively and ad-free right now by joining Audible or Wondery+ in the Wondery App.
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Top 10 Class of '88 with Will Smith Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Class of '88 with Will Smith episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Class of '88 with Will Smith for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Class of '88 with Will Smith episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Yo! MTV Raps, Finally, with Fab 5 Freddy | 5
Class of '88 with Will Smith
02/19/24 • 29 min
For years, rap music was mostly absent from MTV. But the debut of Yo! MTV Raps changed everything. For better, and for worse.
Featured voices: Fab 5 Freddy and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels.
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Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos, with Chuck D | 4
Class of '88 with Will Smith
02/19/24 • 32 min
In the summer of 1988, Public Enemy dropped an album that would take them to the top of the charts, to front page news, and even to a stage in New York’s most notorious jail – Rikers Island. Featured voices: Public Enemy and Chuck D.
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Where to Find Episodes 2-8 of Class of '88
Class of '88 with Will Smith
08/01/24 • 1 min
Class of '88 has moved. You can binge all 8 episodes exclusively and ad-free right now by joining Audible or Wondery+ in the Wondery App.
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The Storyteller, with Slick Rick | 8
Class of '88 with Will Smith
03/11/24 • 36 min
By late 1988, hip hop was more popular than ever. But a tragedy at a concert fueled a different narrative: that rap music was dangerous. Enter Slick Rick, an artist well-aware of the power of storytelling. Featured voices: Slick Rick, MC Lyte, and DJ Red Alert.
Listen to Class of 88 wherever you get your podcasts, or you can binge the entire series ad-free on the Amazon Music, Audible, or Wondery App.
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The Showstoppers, with Salt-N-Pepa | 6
Class of '88 with Will Smith
02/26/24 • 31 min
In 1988, Salt-N-Pepa found that they had “crossed over” with their hit song Push It. But success came with its own set of problems, especially for female rappers.
Featured voices: Salt-N-Pepa and Roxanne Shante.
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Kings of Rock, with DMC and Rick Rubin | 2
Class of '88 with Will Smith
02/12/24 • 29 min
Run-DMC were the kings of hip hop. But in 1988, they faced new competition from a generation of artists they had helped inspire. Featured voices: Run-DMC and Darryl “DMC” McDaniels.
Listen to Class of 88 wherever you get your podcasts, or you can binge the entire series ad-free on the Amazon Music, Audible, or Wondery App.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Follow the Leader, with Rakim and Queen Latifah | 3
Class of '88 with Will Smith
02/12/24 • 29 min
Hip hop started as a DJ-led medium. But with the rise of rappers like Rakim and Queen Latifah, MC’s were moving to center stage. Featured voices: Queen Latifah, Rakim, and DJ Red Alert.
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Brothers and Sisters, with J.J. Fad | 7
Class of '88 with Will Smith
03/04/24 • 29 min
NWA’s landmark album Straight Outta Compton might never have happened without the help of of three teenage girls from Rialto. This is the story of JJ Fad.
Featured voices: JJ Fad and Arabian Prince.
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Introducing: Class of '88 with Will Smith
Class of '88 with Will Smith
09/21/23 • 1 min
Hip hop reigns as the genre that influences every aspect of our culture. From fashion to film, the origins of this prolific sound can be traced back to one year - 1988. Through the unique perspective and personal experiences of host Will Smith, Class of ’88 reveals the milestone moments, albums and artists that inspired a sonic evolution and secured 1988 as hip hop’s most important year.
You can binge all episodes of Class of '88 exclusively and ad-free by joining Audible or Wondery+ in the Wondery App.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Battle for World Supremacy, with DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince | 1
Class of '88 with Will Smith
10/26/23 • 31 min
In January of 1988, the music industry was treating hip hop like a fad. But that was all about to change – along with the lives of two kids from Philly. Host Will Smith brings us straight into the most pivotal year in hip hop history. It started at the Battle for World Supremacy, the world’s largest DJ competition in NYC. Featured voices: Will Smith and Jazzy Jeff.
You can binge all episodes of Class of '88 exclusively and ad-free by joining Audible or Wondery+ in the Wondery App.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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FAQ
How many episodes does Class of '88 with Will Smith have?
Class of '88 with Will Smith currently has 10 episodes available.
What topics does Class of '88 with Will Smith cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, Music and Podcasts.
What is the most popular episode on Class of '88 with Will Smith?
The episode title 'Introducing: Class of '88 with Will Smith' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Class of '88 with Will Smith?
The average episode length on Class of '88 with Will Smith is 25 minutes.
How often are episodes of Class of '88 with Will Smith released?
Episodes of Class of '88 with Will Smith are typically released every 6 days, 23 hours.
When was the first episode of Class of '88 with Will Smith?
The first episode of Class of '88 with Will Smith was released on Sep 21, 2023.
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