Prologue

Prologue

Up next

Ep 1: Toronto was always a hip-hop city

Drake is the poster boy of Toronto, although the city's hip-hop scene was thriving long before it became known to his fans as 'The 6ix.' But the Canadian music industry’s history with its homegrown hip-hop talent is long and fraught—this is a look at that relationship. Plus, the ...  Show more

Ep 2: How the mixtape went digital

Even as its popularity grew, hip-hop was ignored by most commercial radio. DJs and artists intervened and underground mixtapes became *the* medium for distributing new music and gaining clout — But then, a raid by the FBI in Atlanta changed hip-hop distribution forever. Plus, how ...  Show more

Recommended Episodes

A Decade of Drill Rap
Popcast

Pop Smoke, Lil Durk, Fivio Foreign and more have taken the sound that emerged in Chicago in different directions. What might come next? Guests: Joe Coscarelli and David Drake. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via you ...  Show more

Around The World With Drake
Switched on Pop

How do you create a hit that both breaks sound barriers and chart records? Drake has done this with a unique mix of international sounds from Africa, the Caribbean, the U.K. and Canada. But is his chart topping success musical appropriation or celebration? A deep listening reveal ...  Show more

The Sing-Rap Generation Branches Out
Popcast

How melody has continued to reshape hip-hop via the work of Polo G, Rod Wave, Lil Tjay and more rising artists. Guest: Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here ...  Show more

What’s Next for Jack Harlow?
Popcast

He’s one of hip-hop’s biggest emerging stars, and he’s cutting a very different path than the white rappers who came before him. Guests: Hunter Harris, Larisha Paul and Peter Rosenberg. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. You can also subscri ...  Show more