Audio Programs – Hip Deep
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.
Hip Deep April 9, 2026
The Art of Improvisation, Part 2
Hip Deep April 2, 2026
The Art of Improvisation: Part 1
Hip Deep January 29, 2026
Sierra Leone: Celebration, War, and Healing
Hip Deep January 15, 2026
The French Caribbean--Cosmopolitan, Colonial, Complicated
Hip Deep January 1, 2026
Jewish Communities of Sub-Saharan Africa
Hip Deep December 18, 2025
Spiritual Journeys: Tarab: The Art of Ecstasy in Arab Music
Explore the rich traditions of Tarab in Arab music, its emotional ecstasy, and cultural values, through the insights of A.J. Racy, a renowned ethnomusicologist, and the artistry of legendary Tarab singers like Umm Kulthum, set against the backdrop of Aleppo's Aleppian Tarab tradition and Syrian music culture.
Hip Deep December 11, 2025
Luiz Gonzaga: The King of Baião
Hip Deep December 4, 2025
Hip Deep In the Niger Delta
Hip Deep August 28, 2025
Islam and Music: From Prohibition to the Science of Ecstasy
From early Baghdad to Qawwali and Iraqi maqam, Joseph Braude and Islamic scholars explore how Islam shapes music across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.
Hip Deep August 21, 2025
The Music of Black Peru: Cultural Identity in the Black Pacific
This Hip Deep edition explores the sonically vibrant realm of Afro-Peruvian music, a young genre identification that has flourished since the 1950s and has now produced artists of international renown, such as singer Susana Baca, and the black folkloric company Peru Negro.
Hip Deep July 31, 2025
The Story of Bembeya Jazz
Hip Deep July 10, 2025
Nollywood: Nigeria's Mirror
Hip Deep May 29, 2025
Afro-Dominicana: The Other Dominican Republic
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.
Hip Deep May 15, 2025
Afro-Lisbon and the Lusophone Atlantic: Dancing Toward the Future
On this Hip Deep edition, we take you on a journey to Lisbon, a city facing both the sea and 600 years of its own history.
Hip Deep May 8, 2025
Seize the Dance: The BaAka of Central Africa
This program will initiate listeners into one of the most enchanting and mysterious musical practices in Africa, BaAka people music.
Hip Deep May 1, 2025
Hip Deep in Northern Nigeria
Afropop visits Kano in Northern Nigeria to meet local nanaye artists and meet young Hausa hip-hop artists.
Hip Deep April 17, 2025
African Sounds of the Indian Subcontinent
In this Hip Deep program, Afropop explores musical connections between Africa and India.
Hip Deep April 15, 2025
Spiritual Journeys: Traveling Spirit Masters, The Gnawa of Morocco
This program explores the Gnawa music and tradition in Morocco with author and scholar Deborah Kapchan.
Hip Deep April 10, 2025
A Hip Deep Portrait of King Sunny Ade
Hip Deep March 20, 2025
Women's History Month: Fairuz, A Woman for all Seasons
Hip Deep March 13, 2025
Reconstructing Somalia: Love Songs at the Birth of a Nation
This program offers a rare musical portrait of Somalia’s formative, pre-civil war years (1960-90). In a rising mood of patriotism and hope, Somalis sought to forge a culturally authentic, but also modern, national identity
Hip Deep February 27, 2025
Diaspora Encounters: Kriolu in New England, The Cape Verdean-American Story
In this Hip Deep edition, Marlon Bishop and Marilyn Halter explore the Cape Verdean, creole experience in New England.
Hip Deep February 25, 2025
The Rise of Afro-Venezuelan Music in the Hugo Chavez Era
This Hip Deep edition tells the history of African influences in Venezuelan music.
Hip Deep February 13, 2025
Shake It Fo Ya Hood: The History of New Orleans Bounce
For this Hip Deep edition, Afropop digs into the close-knit scene, talking to dancers, producers, MCs, and managers from over 30 years of bounce, all to explore the beat that drives New Orleans.
Hip Deep January 30, 2025
The Mighty Amazon
Hip Deep January 30, 2025
Hip Deep Ghana 1: Ebo Taylor and the Pioneers of Afro-Funk
Hip Deep January 23, 2025
Cairo - Hollywood of the Middle East
By the mid 20th century, Cairo had become the unrivaled center for music and film production in the Middle East. Producers, writers, composers, actors, musicians, star singers, and creators of every stripe flocked here to take part in the city's fervent, international, progressive artistic milieu.
Hip Deep January 9, 2025
A Tale of Two Rebellions: How Africans Helped Shape the Future of Islam
In this Hip Deep edition, Joseph Braude recounts the Zanj Rebellion and the origins of the Suni Shiite divide in Islam.
Recent Hip Deep Articles
Review September 27, 2012
Stefanie Alisch: The Hip Deep Interview
Feature September 13, 2012
Feature: Music and Nation in Angola
Blog September 12, 2012
Spirit of Angola: Dustrise
Hip Deep April 9, 2026
The Art of Improvisation, Part 2
Hip Deep April 2, 2026
The Art of Improvisation: Part 1
Hip Deep January 29, 2026
Sierra Leone: Celebration, War, and Healing
Hip Deep January 15, 2026
The French Caribbean--Cosmopolitan, Colonial, Complicated
Hip Deep January 1, 2026
Jewish Communities of Sub-Saharan Africa
Hip Deep December 18, 2025
Spiritual Journeys: Tarab: The Art of Ecstasy in Arab Music
Explore the rich traditions of Tarab in Arab music, its emotional ecstasy, and cultural values, through the insights of A.J. Racy, a renowned ethnomusicologist, and the artistry of legendary Tarab singers like Umm Kulthum, set against the backdrop of Aleppo's Aleppian Tarab tradition and Syrian music culture.
Hip Deep December 11, 2025
Luiz Gonzaga: The King of Baião
Hip Deep December 4, 2025
Hip Deep In the Niger Delta
Hip Deep August 28, 2025
Islam and Music: From Prohibition to the Science of Ecstasy
From early Baghdad to Qawwali and Iraqi maqam, Joseph Braude and Islamic scholars explore how Islam shapes music across the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.
Hip Deep August 21, 2025
The Music of Black Peru: Cultural Identity in the Black Pacific
This Hip Deep edition explores the sonically vibrant realm of Afro-Peruvian music, a young genre identification that has flourished since the 1950s and has now produced artists of international renown, such as singer Susana Baca, and the black folkloric company Peru Negro.
Hip Deep July 31, 2025
The Story of Bembeya Jazz
Hip Deep July 10, 2025
Nollywood: Nigeria's Mirror
Hip Deep May 29, 2025
Afro-Dominicana: The Other Dominican Republic
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.
Hip Deep May 15, 2025
Afro-Lisbon and the Lusophone Atlantic: Dancing Toward the Future
On this Hip Deep edition, we take you on a journey to Lisbon, a city facing both the sea and 600 years of its own history.
Hip Deep May 8, 2025
Seize the Dance: The BaAka of Central Africa
This program will initiate listeners into one of the most enchanting and mysterious musical practices in Africa, BaAka people music.
Hip Deep May 1, 2025
Hip Deep in Northern Nigeria
Afropop visits Kano in Northern Nigeria to meet local nanaye artists and meet young Hausa hip-hop artists.
Hip Deep April 17, 2025
African Sounds of the Indian Subcontinent
In this Hip Deep program, Afropop explores musical connections between Africa and India.
Hip Deep April 15, 2025
Spiritual Journeys: Traveling Spirit Masters, The Gnawa of Morocco
This program explores the Gnawa music and tradition in Morocco with author and scholar Deborah Kapchan.
Hip Deep April 10, 2025
A Hip Deep Portrait of King Sunny Ade
Hip Deep March 20, 2025
Women's History Month: Fairuz, A Woman for all Seasons
Hip Deep March 13, 2025
Reconstructing Somalia: Love Songs at the Birth of a Nation
This program offers a rare musical portrait of Somalia’s formative, pre-civil war years (1960-90). In a rising mood of patriotism and hope, Somalis sought to forge a culturally authentic, but also modern, national identity
Hip Deep February 27, 2025
Diaspora Encounters: Kriolu in New England, The Cape Verdean-American Story
In this Hip Deep edition, Marlon Bishop and Marilyn Halter explore the Cape Verdean, creole experience in New England.
Hip Deep February 25, 2025
The Rise of Afro-Venezuelan Music in the Hugo Chavez Era
This Hip Deep edition tells the history of African influences in Venezuelan music.
Hip Deep February 13, 2025
Shake It Fo Ya Hood: The History of New Orleans Bounce
For this Hip Deep edition, Afropop digs into the close-knit scene, talking to dancers, producers, MCs, and managers from over 30 years of bounce, all to explore the beat that drives New Orleans.
Hip Deep January 30, 2025
The Mighty Amazon
Hip Deep January 30, 2025
Hip Deep Ghana 1: Ebo Taylor and the Pioneers of Afro-Funk
Hip Deep January 23, 2025
Cairo - Hollywood of the Middle East
By the mid 20th century, Cairo had become the unrivaled center for music and film production in the Middle East. Producers, writers, composers, actors, musicians, star singers, and creators of every stripe flocked here to take part in the city's fervent, international, progressive artistic milieu.
Hip Deep January 9, 2025
A Tale of Two Rebellions: How Africans Helped Shape the Future of Islam
In this Hip Deep edition, Joseph Braude recounts the Zanj Rebellion and the origins of the Suni Shiite divide in Islam.
