Podcast Review: ‘Hip-Hop Saved my Life’ with Romesh Ranganathan

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March 2018 was a significant month for two reasons: 1) Cambridge Analytica illegally

harvested the Facebook data of more than 87 million users and 2) ‘Hip-Hop Saved my Life’

celebrated its 50th episode on air. Lamentably, it was the former story that stole the spotlight.

Allow me to reposition it.

‘Hip-Hop Saved my Life’, a term borrowed from the eponymous Lupe Fiasco song, is a

podcast show hosted by comedian Romesh Ranganathan. This may shock readers, but the

show is about Hip-Hop and to enjoy it, a degree of Hip-Hop literacy is probably required.

That is not to sound elitist, but it would be a little peculiar to listen to a podcast about Hip-Hop if the individual did not like Hip-Hop. Now that the words ‘Hip-Hop’ have been mentioned six times in four sentences, I will henceforth attempt to reduce its usage. The structure of the show is as follows: Romesh asks his guests a series of first date-style questions about what album they first bought, the first gig they went to and which artists they were currently listening to etc. While these questions may seem banal, it gives guests a broad base from which to spring from. Over the course of a single episode, it is not uncommon for discussion to begin with an appraisal of College Dropout and to end with the penis size of Busta Rhymes. Listener discretion is advised.

Tangential conversation aside, the ceaseless music in the background on the first few listens

can be distracting if not grating. Generally, songs are played as they are discussed, and this

can lead to over-stimulation (particularly if it is a good song). On this basis, listeners should

allow themselves an acclimatisation period of four to five episodes before they vote with

their thumbs and stop listening. Good things come to those who wait. Romesh is ably supported by his phlegmatic lieutenant Rupert Majendie, or ‘Ru-Maj’, who remains largely inconspicuous bar the odd quip here and there. They are both unapologetic about their love for Hip-Hop and it is one of the endearing features of the show that they rarely attempt ‘fill the listeners in’.

For readers suffering from a Hip-Hop deficit in their lives, why not pick up your phone, download a few episodes, listen to them and then let all your Hip-Hop worries float away. Sometimes Hip-Hop is the best medicine.