Hip Deep Fourteen years ago, with support from the NEH, we created Hip Deep, a subseries integrated into the overall Afropop Worldwide program offering. Hip Deep programs build on the techniques and format developed for Afropop Worldwide, but are enhanced by rigorous academic and field research that translates into higher production values. Every episode of Hip Deep actively involves leading humanities scholars to illuminate a wealth of history, culture, politics, ethnic and spiritual contexts. Over 15 years, Hip Deep has produced over 110 humanities-focused programs and a wide range of supplementary Web resources (interviews, videos, text/photo features, podcasts), all easily accessible within the Hip Deep section of our website. Hip Deep amplifies Afropop Worldwide’s longstanding commitment to disseminate humanities themes to the general public through world music via a growing set of media pathways.
Closeup June 5, 2018
Closeup May 22, 2018
Hip Deep May 10, 2018
Hip Deep May 3, 2018
Beneath the gloss of Nigeria’s contemporary pop, older roots styles, mostly derived from Yoruba tradition, still thrive.
Afropop Classic April 19, 2018
Hip Deep March 15, 2018
Hip Deep February 1, 2018
Hip Deep January 11, 2018
Afropop Classic January 4, 2018
Alex Wolfe, director of the film "Santo Domingo Blues: The Story of Bachata" brings us live ambience and stories of bachata stars Luis Vargas, Antony Santos, Luis Segura, Adridia Ventura.
Hip Deep December 14, 2017
In recognition of the end of Robert Mugabe's 37-year rule in Zimbabwe, we are rebroadcasting our program on the career of Thomas Mapfumo during the Mugabe years.
Closeup November 14, 2017
Sound clashes have been a mainstay of reggae culture for decades. Mobile sound system teams face off to see who can best move the crowd with their selections of records and exclusive "dub plate" jingles. On a recent late night in Queens, seven sounds competed for the U.S. champion title, and many were surprised by the winner. We meet the sound-system operators and talk to fans about why they love the clash scene. Produced by Noah Schaffer.
Hip Deep November 9, 2017
Hip Deep November 2, 2017
Hip Deep October 19, 2017
Closeup October 3, 2017
Two very different Bay Area artists, Meklit Hadero and Zena Carlota, use their music to explore what it means to live on two sides of a hyphen: African-American, black-artist, Ethiopian-American, female-musician, to name a few.
Afropop Classic September 21, 2017
Closeup September 19, 2017
Afropop Classic September 14, 2017
Afropop Classic September 7, 2017
Closeup September 5, 2017
Afropop Classic August 17, 2017
Closeup August 15, 2017
Here we encounter the musical and philosophical movement called rapso–an infectiously danceable rhythmic oration style that comes with a philosophy championing a Trinidadian identity in the face of a colonial history and a globalized present.
Hip Deep August 10, 2017
This week, Afropop revisits the home of styles such as merengue and bachata, but this time we’ll be looking towards the most deeply African side of Dominican music—little known outside of the island.
Afropop Classic June 22, 2017
Afropop Classic April 20, 2017
Closeup April 11, 2017
Afropop Classic March 16, 2017
Hip Deep April 10, 2025
Hip Deep April 3, 2025
Blog April 1, 2025
Hip Deep March 20, 2025
Afropop Classic March 6, 2025
Hip Deep February 25, 2025
Afropop Classic February 20, 2025
Funk is a perennial favorite. In this panoramic history of the grooviest of genres, we hear track after track of absolute boogie-down classics.
Hip Deep February 13, 2025
Afropop Classic February 6, 2025
Blog February 4, 2025
Hip Deep January 30, 2025
Hip Deep January 30, 2025
Hip Deep January 23, 2025
Blog January 21, 2025
Afropop Classic January 16, 2025
Hip Deep January 2, 2025
Hip Deep December 19, 2024
Every year on Sierra Leone’s Independence Day in late April, musicians and revelers descend upon Freetown from throughout the country.
Afropop Classic December 12, 2024
Planet Afropop December 10, 2024
Afropop Classic December 5, 2024
Paris has been one of the most important incubators of African music on the planet. On this program, we look back on 30 years of adventures with African music in Paris.
Afropop Classic December 5, 2024
Afropop Classic November 28, 2024
