The Track Star Podcast

This week on the Track Star Podcast, we’re joined by hip-hop ambassador, Fab 5 Freddy. Freddy reflects on the relationships and experiences that shaped his creative journey—starting with his early love of graffiti and expanding into music, dance, film, and beyond.

He shares stories about the artists who left a lasting mark on him, including Blondie, N.W.A., Nas, Talking Heads and Q-Tip, while also exploring the influence of genres like punk and jazz on his upbringing. From listening to his own godfather Max Roach, to hosting one of the largest shows on MTV, Freddy guides us through his unparalleled life, and the people that made it happen.

In asking Freddy about the creation of his film Wild Style (1983), the discussion also surrounds the energy of New York City in the 1970s and ’80s, unpacking how the roots of hip-hop’s identity culminated in the Bronx and eventually spread across the country, especially to the West Coast.

Freddy is truly one of the most culture defining guests we’ve had on the podcast so far, and the stories he tells are packed with unmatched first-hand perspective. We can’t wait for you to hear it!

On today’s episode we have two legends facing off in a battle to name some classic rock icons. Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks of the eponymously named Tedeschi Trucks Band were naming each artist in a matter of seconds, a true testament to their encyclopedia like knowledge of music. Sharing stories about Jimmy Hendrix, Bonnie Raitt, Carlos Santana, The Allman Brother's Band, John Coltrane, and even Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, Susan and Derek take us on a journey through music history. They talk about the musicians who inspired them, share anecdotes about past concerts and experiences on tour, and even spill the secret on how to achieve a guitar tone that sounds like the legend Elmore James. This episode is a can’t miss for classic rock fans young and old. Enjoy!

On this episode of Track Star* we have a competitive battle between fashion designer, Marc Jacobs and filmmaker, Sofia Coppola. The duo met up with Jack on a sunny spring day in New York to talk about their film "Marc by Sofia." During their conversation, Jack got to know more about their friendship and creative collaboration, and he put their music knowledge to the test. Naming hits from Pharrell Williams and Diana Ross, iconic showtunes from Cabaret and Funny Girl, and New York City classics from The Strokes and Sonic Youth, Marc and Sofia show their music chops and compete in a gripping head to head competition.

LeBron James is one of the defining figures in modern sport, with a career that has shaped not just basketball but music, fashion, business, and popular culture more broadly. Across more than twenty years at the top, he’s become as recognizable for his longevity and influence off the court as for everything he’s achieved on it.

On this episode of Track Star, LeBron talks through the songs that shaped his world - from Jay-Z, Nelly, Dr. Dre, and Nas to Whitney Houston and Outkast. He shares stories about being referenced in rap lyrics, appearing in a Tyler, The Creator video, helping bring Beats into locker rooms in its earliest days, and why music has always been part of his everyday life.

We also get into family music taste, draft-day fashion, the soundtrack of his high school years, and the one song he instantly adds to his playlist after being stumped.

Can he guess them all? Let’s find out.

On this week’s episode of The Track Star Podcast we have rock writer, NPR critic, and journalism professor Tim Riley who will help answer the deceptively complex question: is there any artist truly better than the Beatles?

We’ll discuss the musicians that inspired the Beatles themselves, and who left a historical and cultural mark similar to the legendary four. From the Rolling Stones to Miles Davis and Dolly Parton, we touch a wide range of musical talent that coincide with one another in lyricism, rock n’ roll ethics, and performance capabilities. 

The conversation also prompts more pointed topics such as Keith Richard’s vs. John Lennon’s guitar playing, Bob Dylan’s lyrical curiosity, and whether covers by icons like Aretha Franklin might actually surpass the original Beatles version.

New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday.

[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]