Origin Stories

Apple Music’s flagship for French hip-hop brings a radio show to the world’s second-biggest market for the genre. It’s hosted by Mehdi Maïzi, a hip-hop encyclopaedia whose connections to French rap’s A-listers buttresses his vast knowledge. Each episode of LE CODE will feature the top rap releases of that week, interviews with the most sought-after figures on the scene and discussions with reputable voices who live the culture. Listen to LE CODE with Mehdi on Apple Music.

As host of her namesake Apple Music 1 show, broadcaster Dotty has a big self-proclaimed goal: to bring Black music culture from around the world to life. And she’s remarkably suited for the task: She grew up in global music mecca London as a second-generation immigrant—“all of my grandparents came to the UK from the Caribbean during the Windrush generation,” she explains—and surrounded herself with soul from the US, dancehall from Jamaica, and much more. “I love all branches of the Black music tree, from reggae to R&B,” she says. The Dotty Show finds her interviewing the artists lighting up Apple Music with the biggest tracks across hip-hop, dancehall, Afrobeats, and everything in between, from the UK and beyond. “It’s wall-to-wall Black music from all across the globe,” she says. “A guided tour of the very best.” Tune in to The Dotty Show every Monday through Thursday on Apple Music 1 at 7 am LA/10 am NYC/3 pm LDN.

Welcome to 100 Best Albums Radio, where we reveal our definitive list of the greatest albums ever made. Assembled with the help of artists and experts, it’s a love letter to the records that have shaped the world we live and listen in. Below you’ll find the official countdown, daily radio episodes with our hosts’ reactions, and stories behind each of the albums. Dive in, (re)discover some classics, and see if your favorite albums made our list.

Dans À l’écoute, notre équipe invite les artistes qui font l’actu musicale du moment. Face au micro, ils évoquent leur album à venir et partagent les titres qu’ils ont écoutés récemment.

A defining character of New York’s music scene and a trusted voice in hip-hop, Apple Music 1 host Ebro Darden brings the city's urgent mix of music and culture to the world. “When I hear something with real heart and energy,” he says, “I want everyone to hear it.” Ebro splits his time at Apple Music as host of his namesake show and Rap Life Radio and global editorial head of hip-hop and R&B, genres in which Apple Music has proved dominant. A longtime fixture in New York radio, he brings a five-boroughs outlook to Apple Music 1’s global audience, but in a way that incorporates both music from all over the African diaspora and Black culture’s worldwide impact. Shot in Apple Music’s studio near Manhattan’s Union Square, The Ebro Show “has a New York City lens, but because New York City is an international city, we embrace a lot of different cultures,” Ebro—who grew up in the Bay Area but has called New York home for decades—explains. “We lean heavily on rap, but hip-hop is a very international music, so through there comes what's going on in Africa, what's going on in the UK, what's going on in Latin America, what's going on in Australia, what's going on in Asia. I don't know of any show that plays as much Caribbean music as we play.” But the show doesn’t only touch on music. “I don’t shy away from talking about social issues as it pertains to the community, specifically Black and brown people,” Ebro adds. “I try to find records that speak to that, music that speaks to that.” Tune in to hear Ebro on The Ebro Show every Monday through Thursday at 12 pm LA/3 pm NY/8 pm LDN and on Rap Life Radio every Friday at 10 am LA/1 pm NY/6 pm LDN.

Nadeska Alexis has been a longtime ambassador of all things NYC hip-hop and beyond. Here, on R&B NOW, she's bringing that same level of knowledge and expertise to her weekly show. Based on the Apple Music playlist of the same name, this show brings a mix of in-depth interviews with established and rising stars, must-hear exclusive tracks, and songs featured on other popular Apple Music R&B playlists. Whether you’re in the mood for the latest slow burners or looking to discover the artists who are pushing the genre’s boundaries, Nadeska has you covered.