When Kool Herc deejayed his sister’s party in the Bronx on August 11, 1973, no one could have predicted the cultural revolution that would follow.  That now-iconic event, credited as the birth of hip-hop, is as monumental in music history as Dylan going Electric at Newport Folk Festival in 1965, as Sly & The Family Stone and Santana playing breakout sets at Woodstock in 1969, as Miles Davis releasing Bitches Brew in 1970, and as The Sex Pistols playing Manchester’s Free Trade Hall in 1976. It was a turning point that revolutionized music, and America, with an immediate and widespread impact on popular culture.

WXPN celebrates this distinct music style with a variety of features that explore the significant influence hip-hop has made on the music of today. While sure to delight those who are already fans, Hip Hop 50 offers greater context and understanding for our listeners who are simply musically curious and enjoy taking deeper dives into influential genres.

Check out the broadcast calendar for WXPN’s Hip Hop 50 programming here, tune in between August 7 and August 18th of 2023, and explore our full collection of Hip Hop 50 articles, playlists and more, here.