Our new favourite …
Podcast
What’s it called?
Hip Hop Saved My Life With Romesh Ranganathan
What’s it about?
Theoretically it’s about hip-hop, though in practice there are regular stops along the way to discuss virtually everything else under the sun – such as why the Liverpool FC dressing room was so daunting for young recruit Jamie Redknapp (it involved Reds legend Jan Molby’s dislike for Redknapp’s taste in music) and what happened when Frankie Boyle received death threats. From an actual murderer.
Who’s in it?
Comedian Romesh Ranganathan, an omni-present figure on our TV screens these days thanks to his Sky One sitcom and panel show and his BBC series The Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan. Each episode features a different guest and as well as Boyle and Redknapp, Ranganathan has shared studio time with fellow comedians such as Sara Pascoe and Adam Buxton, acclaimed rappers like Afrika Baby Bam from Jungle Brothers (he now lives near Ramsgate in Kent: who knew?) and even Ranganathan’s mum, Shanthi.
Best bits so far?
Boyle is unrelentingly funny, as always, but there’s something about hearing him and Ranganathan delve deep into a discussion about Wu Tang Clan’s 2001 album Iron Flag or the spat between Wu Tang’s Ghostface Killah and New York rapper Action Bronson which raises the banter to the sublime. And, at points, the surreal. Jamie Redknapp's story about going shopping for rap CDs with John Barnes in Widnes is worth hearing too.
Where can I find it?
It’s available to download for free from iTunes.
Fun fact …
Liverpool FC never used to have music in their dressing room until Wimbledon FC’s Crazy Gang introduced a boom box into the away dressing room.
For fans of ...
Old school hip-hop, aimless banter, sitting in the pub talking rubbish about music.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here