Will Smith may be an Academy Award-winning actor, but to Gen X podcast listeners he is probably just as known for his hip-hop career that pre-dated the screen. Smith will turn back the clock with them on a new limited-run audio series called Class of ’88. Produced by Wondery and Audible, the podcast collaboration takes a celebratory look back at the year that defined the global cultural phenomenon of hip-hop.
While the world of hip-hop celebrated its 50th anniversary in August, the show makes the case that 1988 was just as pivotal a year as 1973. From Public Enemy to the Fresh Prince, 1988 gave rise to the superstars and styles that continue to mark music today. On the podcast, Smith will talk about the milestone moments, albums, and artists that inspired what he believes is hip-hop’s most important year. The eight-episode series will feature interviews with the artists that helped define the genre, including Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa, Darryl ‘DMC’ McDaniels, Rakim, Fab 5 Freddy, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Chuck D, J.J. Fad, and DJ Red Alert.
“Hip-hop has been a central part of my life for over four decades,” Smith says in a statement. “I’m hyped to share my first-hand experiences and those of some of hip-hop’s greatest legends as we delve into the origins of one of the most influential genres of music in history.”
All eight episodes of Class of ’88 will be released on October 26, exclusively on Amazon Music and Audible. The podcast is produced by Wondery, Audible, Westbrook, and Awfully Nice.
While 1988 may be a big year for Smith, it was in 1999 that he won the Best Rap Solo Performance Grammy for “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It.” The classic '90s track is from his 1997 debut studio album. “Big Willie Style” which also features the Grammy-winning track “Men In Black” for the film of the same name.