NPR celebrates 50 years of hip hop

Specials | Aug 9, 2023

Hip hop is turning 50, and host Juana Summers takes us back to the Bronx community room where it all got started – where DJ Kool Herc became known for spinning records focusing on percussive “breaks” in the music (hence “break dancing”). With his friend “Coke La Rock” shouting out rhymes on the microphone over the beat, their parties gave way to rap.

Interviews in this special include DJ Kool Herc who was at the center of the first party where hip hop was born. Also featured: Debora Hooper, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Moses Edinborough, director and producer of Yo! MTV Raps. Interviews also feature authors and music historians Jeff Chang, Jay Quan, Nelson George and Dan Charnas.

Airs Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m. on WNYC.

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