The Message with Ebro Darden

Today on The Message, Ebro is joined by Grammy-nominated Detroit rapper Royce da 5'9" for a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from racism in the music industry to therapy to family trauma. Royce's Message is all about accountability, and he's got some thoughts about how everyone can better open up to the world around them through personal responsibility.

Listen to Royce's exclusive Message playlist on Apple Music.

In today's episode of The Message, originally taped in 2021, Ebro sits down with rapper Lecrae to talk about his Christian faith, the work he's doing in his community, and watching Kanye West figure out his own faith in the public eye.

Ebro continues to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop by flashing back to his 2020 conversation with Georgia trap legend Jeezy, to discuss his Message that true success is all about mindset.

Listen to Jeezy's exclusive Message playlist, only on Apple Music.

On August 11, 1973, hip-hop was born. It all went down in the Bronx, at the Back To School Jam hosted by DJ Kool Herc. Today on the Message, Ebro celebrates the 50th anniversary of the genre that changed the world by sitting down with one of its originators, Grandmaster Flash.

Flash's contributions to hip-hop cannot be overstated. He was the first person to play the turntables like an instrument, and developed a new way of spinning called the Quick Mix Theory. Today he joins Ebro to share his Message and reminisce on the early days of hip-hop.

Listen to Grandmaster Flash's Message playlist only on Apple Music.

In 2020, while the U.S. was dealing with the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, Nigeria erupted in a nationwide protest movement of its own. The hashtag #EndSARS swept social media worldwide, calling for the disbanding of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a division of the Nigerian police force known for its brutality. The youth-led movement was buoyed by support from celebrities both abroad and at home, including today's guest, Nigerian singer, actress and activist Tiwa Savage.

In this conversation, taped at the end of 2020, Tiwa and Ebro look back on the summer of demonstrations, what they learned from the state's reaction, and what the future looks like for the youth of Nigeria.

Listen to Tiwa Savage's Message playlist only on Apple Music.

This week on The Message, Ebro is joined by Atlanta rapper T.I. to discuss his message of Black liberation. Together, they dive deep on the American police state, Black Lives Matter, and dealing with family conflict.

Listen to T.I.'s Message playlist exclusively on Apple Music.

Ebro welcomes Emmy award-winning journalist Ari Melber to the Message to talk about the fallout from the January 6 insurrection, his viral dissection of JAY-Z's "God Did" verse, and to walk through his heavy hitting Message playlist that he calls "The Facts and What Slaps."

"My message would be that education is liberation."

On this special Juneteenth episode of the Message, Ebro throws it back to his 2021 conversation with journalist and educator Nikole Hannah-Jones. They discuss her work on the 1619 Project, Critical Race Theory, her arduous journey through the education system that led her to getting tenured at Howard University, and the music that continues to inspire her.

Listen to Nikole Hannah-Jones' Message playlist, only on Apple Music.

In honor of Pride Month, Ebro flashes back to his 2021 conversation with songwriter-producer Syd (Odd Future, The Internet) and singer/songwriter Durand Bernarr to explore the concept of "chosen family," and how important it is for young queer artists to find the people that will embrace and support them on their journey.

Listen to Syd and Durand's Message playlist only on Apple Music.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Ebro sits down with podcaster and influencer Wallo267 to talk about the mindset that kept him motivated through his 20-year prison sentence, taking care of his mental health in the wake of that trauma, and how he turned his life into a success story in the few short years he’s been out.

Listen to Wallo's Message playlist, exclusively on Apple Music.