The Cobain 50
KEXP
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.
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Top 10 The Cobain 50 Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Cobain 50 episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Cobain 50 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 The Cobain 50 episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
50 Years of Hip-Hop - 1997: PaRappa the Rapper
The Cobain 50
05/26/23 • 16 min
Roddy Nikpour talks with Canadian author Mike Sholars about the 1997 Playstation game PaRappa the Rapper, in which a lovesick cartoon dog raps his way through teenage insecurity. It started a dynasty of rhythm-based games, illustrating how hip-hop — and Black culture at large — set the stage for other commercially successful productions.
Written and produced by Roddy Nikpour.
Special thanks to Dusty Henry.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
05/03/23 • 17 min
Dusty Henry takes us back to 2005 with the track “luv(sic) pt 3” by the late, legendary Japanese producer Nujabes. We’ll also hear from the rapper Shing02, a frequent collaborator with Nujabes. He reflects on his friend's legacy and the luv(sic) hexalogy they created together.
Written by Dusty Henry.
Audio production by Roddy Nikpour.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
04/26/23 • 7 min
Rachel Stevens takes us back to 2021 with the track “Industry Baby” by Lil Nas X. His debut sparked controversy, which led to a loud and proud declaration of his Blackness and queer identity within the rap community.
Written by Rachel Stevens.
Audio production by Roddy Nikpour.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
50 Years of Hip-Hop - 2016: "Caroline" by Aminé
The Cobain 50
04/19/23 • 7 min
Jasmine Albertson revisits 2016 with the track “Caroline” by Aminé. This rapper from Portland helped provide the soundtrack for a somber transition in U.S. politics.
Written by Jasmine Albertson.
Audio production by Roddy Nikpour.
Listen to a conversation with Aminé on KEXP’s Sound & Vision podcast: https://www.kexp.org/podcasts/sound-vision/2020/8/27/amines-love-hate-relationship-portland-and-its-backdoor-racism/
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
03/29/23 • 9 min
Roddy Nikpour revisits 1986 with the track “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” from the Beastie Boys’ debut album, Licensed to Ill. A couple of young white guys from New York entered the growing hip-hop scene with two signature elements: quick rhymes shared between the MCs and beats that paved the way for rap rock.
Written and produced by Roddy Nikpour.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/08/23 • 12 min
Larry Mizell Jr. revisits 1975 with the track “Let’s Take It to the Stage” by Funkadelic, which featured rap before “Rapper’s Delight.” He'll also give a lesson in etymology that you won’t soon forget.
Written by Larry Mizell Jr.
Audio production by Roddy Nikpour.
Read the full transcript on KEXP.org
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/01/23 • 9 min
Dusty Henry revisits 2002 with the track “Work It” by Missy Elliott. That song helped define the turn of the millennium, and Missy’s career paved the way for a new generation of artists, including KEXP's very own Stas THEE Boss.
Written by Dusty Henry.
Audio production by Roddy Nikpour.
Special thanks to Stas THEE Boss.
Read the full transcript on KEXP.org
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/01/23 • 6 min
Gabriel Teodros revisits 1987 with “Paid in Full” by Eric B. and Rakim, whose style of rhyming left an unmistakable mark on the rhythm and flow of rap that came after them.
Written by Gabriel Teodros.
Audio production by Roddy Nikpour.
Read the full transcript on KEXP.org
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
02/01/23 • 15 min
Larry Mizell Jr. kicks off the series in 1994 with "Stress" by Organized Konfusion. The lyrics convey an epigenetic phenomenon, which many Black people experience to this day.
Written by Larry Mizell Jr.
Audio production by Roddy Nikpour.
Read the full transcript on KEXP.org
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
05/31/23 • 7 min
Jasmine Albertson revisits 2015 with the track “The Blacker the Berry” by Kendrick Lamar. He raises an alarm for the ongoing discrimination against Black people, both by systemic oppressors and within the Black community.
Written by Jasmine Albertson.
Audio production by Roddy Nikpour.
Support the podcast: kexp.org/50hiphop
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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FAQ
How many episodes does The Cobain 50 have?
The Cobain 50 currently has 105 episodes available.
What topics does The Cobain 50 cover?
The podcast is about Music, Music History, Podcasts and Music Commentary.
What is the most popular episode on The Cobain 50?
The episode title '50 Years of Hip-Hop - 1997: PaRappa the Rapper' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on The Cobain 50?
The average episode length on The Cobain 50 is 26 minutes.
How often are episodes of The Cobain 50 released?
Episodes of The Cobain 50 are typically released every 7 days.
When was the first episode of The Cobain 50?
The first episode of The Cobain 50 was released on Jan 24, 2023.
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