151: Listen Now: Class of 88 Featuring Will Smith

In the US, hip hop reigns as the genre that influences every aspect of our culture. From

fashion to film, the dominance of this prolific sound can be traced back to one year -

1988.

From Public Enemy to The Fresh Prince, these twelve months gave rise to the

superstars and styles that still resonate in songs released today. Through the unique

perspective and personal experiences of Will Smith, Class of ’88 reveals the milestone

moments, albums and artists that inspired a sonic evolution and secured 1988 as hip



hop’s most important year. Rich with archival material, new interviews with hip hop’s

biggest stars, and personal recollections from Will himself, Class of ’88 delivers fresh

untold stories from the year that hip hop overcame the forces that were hell bent on

blocking its rise.

This series features interviews and stories from the revolutionary Artists that impacted

that year and many more afterwards, including: Queen Latifah, Jazzy Jeff, DMC, Salt-N-

Pepa, Chuck D, Fab Five Freddy, Rakim, Slick Rick, DJ Red Alert, and Rick Rubin.

Follow Class of ‘88 on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can

binge all episodes of Class of ‘88 early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery+ in the

Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Listen now: