EPISODE · Mar 5, 2026 · 25 MIN
How 'Rap Essentials' changed Canadian hip hop, and why we can't stop watching Friends Keep Secrets
from Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud
Rap Essentials was a series of Canadian compilation albums released in the late '90s and early 2000s. The series gave fans access to new music, and inspired so many artists. Rap Essentials 2001 was particularly influential. To mark the 25th anniversary of that album, Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by Canadian music industry insider Craig "Big C" Mannix and journalist/publicist Dalton Higgins, to dig into the Rap Essentials series, and how it shaped culture. And Vulture’s Fran Hoepfner talks about what’s drawing people to the Benny Blanco and Lil Dicky’s talk show Friends Keep Secrets.
What this episode covers
Rap Essentials was a series of Canadian compilation albums released in the late '90s and early 2000s. The series gave fans access to new music, and inspired so many artists. Rap Essentials 2001 was particularly influential. To mark the 25th anniversary of that album, Elamin Abdelmahmoud is joined by Canadian music industry insider Craig "Big C" Mannix and journalist/publicist Dalton Higgins, to dig into the Rap Essentials series, and how it shaped culture. And Vulture’s Fran Hoepfner talks about what’s drawing people to the Benny Blanco and Lil Dicky’s talk show Friends Keep Secrets.
NOW PLAYING
How 'Rap Essentials' changed Canadian hip hop, and why we can't stop watching Friends Keep Secrets
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Jan 2, 2026 ·47m
Dec 21, 2025 ·46m