Common is one of the most distinctive voices to emerge from Chicago, with a journey that runs from his early days as a Bulls ball boy when Jordan arrived, to becoming a defining rapper of the ’90s and 2000s, and eventually an award-winning actor. This episode follows that path through a six-song framework that lets him reflect on the moments that shaped his life and career.

Along the way, we look at how hearing Illmatic early pushed him forward, how the Soulquarian movement at Electric Lady Studios shaped a crucial chapter of his life, and how performing “The Food” on Chappelle’s Show became a turning point in his artistic evolution.

Listen to our extended Common playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday!

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With David Lemieux, the Grateful Dead’s official archivist and legacy manager, we trace how the band evolved from the psychedelic San Francisco scene of the late ’60s to the studio mastery of American Beauty and the arena triumph of Touch of Grey.

Through 10 songs, this episode tells the story of a band that set the standard for what live rock music could be. Along the way, we look at how the Dead’s tape-trading culture, iconography, and intense fandom helped sustain their legacy for decades.

Listen to our extended Grateful Dead playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

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Pop punk was the sound that defined malls, teen movies, and high-school playlists in the 2000s. With Simple Plan, All Time Low, Good Charlotte, and Olivia Rodrigo, we trace how the genre evolved from its punk roots in bands like the Ramones to defining acts like Green Day and Blink-182, all the way to TikTok’s nostalgic revival. Along the way, we explore how skate culture and The Warped Tour built a movement, how pop punk’s emotion and humor set it apart, and why its spirit keeps finding new life in today’s music.

Listen to our extended pop punk playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday!

[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]

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More Track Star* content:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show

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This week we explore movie scores: how they are composed, how they shape emotion, and what makes a theme unforgettable. We played legendary scores for Emily Bear (Moana 2), Jerskin Fendrix (Poor Things), and RZA (Kill Bill, Ghost Dog) and had them identify the films they are from. We also include insights from Jon Batiste on Soul and Isabela Merced on The Last of Us.

You will hear how composers start from script or picture, what separates film scoring from making a traditional album, and why certain themes live on far beyond the films.

Listen to our extended movie scores playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday!

[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]

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More Track Star* content:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow

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Bruce Springsteen’s Nebraska is the haunting home-recorded album that changed his career and revealed the darkness behind his music. With Jeremy Allen White, Scott Cooper, and author Warren Zanes, we trace how it was made, what it revealed about Springsteen’s mental state, and how it inspired the upcoming film Deliver Me from Nowhere, as Jeremy opens up about transforming himself to play The Boss.

Listen to our extended Springsteen playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday!

[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]

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More Track Star* content:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@trackstarshow

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Jon Batiste, Christian McBride, and New Jazz Underground join us for a deep dive into jazz, the quintessential American art form. Through 10 essential songs, from Louis Armstrong to Kamasi Washington, we explore how this music came to capture the spirit of creativity itself.

Listen to our extended Jazz playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday!

[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]

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More Track Star* content:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show

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The Great American Songbook shaped the foundation of American popular music, from Broadway stages to jazz clubs and Hollywood soundtracks. Guided by Seth MacFarlane, with John C. Reilly and Samara Joy, we trace its legacy through 10 essential recordings, exploring the writers, performers, and timeless melodies that defined the American sound.

Listen to our extended American Songbook playlist: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music

New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday!

[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]

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More Track Star* content:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show

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Today hip-hop is the world’s most popular music, but it began as a neighborhood party in the Bronx. Guided by hip-hop historian Debra Harris, with stories from Mark Ronson, Fat Joe, and Pos and Maseo of De La Soul, we trace the genre’s rise through 10 essential songs, from “Rapper’s Delight” to A Tribe Called Quest, unpacking the DJ innovations, early recordings, and party culture that shaped hip-hop’s early years.

Listen to our extended old-school hip-hop playlist:

⁠⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠| ⁠⁠Apple Music⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠YouTube Music⁠

New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday!

[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]

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More Track Star* content:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show

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What does punk really mean, and why does it still matter? Jack talks with New Yorker writer Kelefa Sanneh to trace the genre’s history through 10 songs, from the Sex Pistols to Nirvana. NYC council-member and former punk guitarist Justin Brannan also joins to share insider stories from the city’s hardcore scene.

Listen to our extended punk playlist:

New episodes of The Track Star Podcast every Wednesday!

[Video available on Spotify and YouTube]

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More Track Star* content:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@track-star-show

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The Track Star Podcast is on its way. The internet’s favorite music show, now in podcast form! Follow here so you don’t miss the first episode, releasing Wednesday, September 24th!