Many of hip-hop's most influential albums were released in 1988. Today on Soundcheck, we find out why that year produced a bumper crop of classic beats. Plus: American teens weren't the only ones inspired by rap's salad days. We look at the rise of Palestinian hip-hop. And later: Cambodian pop and American alt-rock collide in the infectious music of Dengue Fever. The group joins us for a live performance.
It Was a Very Good Year (for MCs)
From Public Enemy’s "It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back" to DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince’s "He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper," many of hip-hop’s seminal albums were released in 1988. They spawned subgenres that erupted in the 1990s -- and endure today. We ask ...
Palestinian Hip Hop
American teens weren't the only kids inspired by hip hop of the late '80s and 1990s. Young Palestinians took lessons from the Fresh Prince's playful rhymes and Tupac's depictions of violence and power. We talk with Harry Allen about the emergence of Palestinian rap and a new documentary called "Sling ...
Dengue Fever
On a trip to Cambodia in 1997, organist Ethan Holtzman encountered two things: a tropical disease and Cambodian psychedelic pop from the 1960s. He pays tribute to both with his band Dengue Fever. Based in LA, the group features a Cambodian-born singer and five American alt-rockers. They join us to ...
Vic's SXSW Tip 1: Drive Smart
Like the rest of the Soundcheck staff, I'm traveling to South by Southwest for the first time. I've worked in music-related roles at college, community and public radio stations for about 10 years, yet I've managed to avoid this particular ...
When in Austin...
Soundcheck will broadcast live on March 12 & 13 from this year's South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas. Been there before? Tell us: What should John Schaefer and the staff should do in Austin ...