Get ready for an explosive fusion of hip-hop and history, tailor-made for music-loving kids and families. From executive producers Questlove and the Story Pirates comes Historical Records, the show that proves that in order to make history, you have to make some noise. Each week, host Nimene, her in-house crew of hilarious historians, and a team of beat-making raccoons broadcast from a top-secret underground bunker where they learn about the unsung heroes of the past by turning their history into hip-hop.
Listen to a playlist of all the songs from season 1 of Historical Records. For lyric sheets and extension activities, visit storypirates.com/historicalrecords (http://storypirates.com/historicalrecords)
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7 Feb 2025
Mitsuye Endo (feat. Anna Suzuki)
Season Finale. Nimene makes a brand new hip-hop track with special guest Anna Suzuki about Mitsuye Endo, a Japanese American who took her fight against racism all the way to the Supreme Court, helping to bring about the end of Japanese American internment during World War II.
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31 Jan 2025
Samuel Rodney Browne (feat. Kamasi Washington)
Great musicians aren’t just born knowing how to play their instruments. On today’s episode, Nimene learns about one of the greatest music teachers of all time, jazz musician Samuel Rodney Browne, who broke the color barrier for Black teachers in the secondary schools of Los Angeles. Featuring an interview between modern-day jazz legend Kamasi Washington and a saxophonist in the 6th grade named Elijah.
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24 Jan 2025
Emma Tenayuca (feat. Mandy Gonzalez)
Strike! Nimene travels to Texas to witness Emma Tenayuca fight for workers’ rights, and Broadway star Mandy Gonzalez performs a brand new hip-hop track about the pioneering labor activist.
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17 Jan 2025
Judy Heumann (feat. Ali Stroker and Jenna Bainbridge)
Judy Heumann shares her courageous fight for disability rights with Tony Award-winning actor Ali Stroker, as Broadway star Jenna Bainbridge pays tribute with a powerful hip-hop track.
20 Dec 2024
Just the Songs: Kati Kariko and Mary Golda Ross
Story Pirates' Lee Overtree shares close-listening tips for appreciating two songs about pioneering women in STEM, illuminating the power of storytelling in historical records.
13 Dec 2024
Just the Songs: Keith Haring and Willi Smith
Lee Overtree shares close-listening tips for interpreting songs about 80’s NYC icons Keith Haring and Willi Smith.
6 Dec 2024
Just the Songs: Josh Gibson and Bill Russell
Lee Overtree of Story Pirates shares close-listening tips for two sports-themed songs, revealing the storytelling power of lyrical details and emotional resonance.
22 Nov 2024
Just the Songs: Ida Tarbell and Claudette Colvin
Lee Overtree of the Story Pirates shares close-listening tips for the first two songs of the season, unlocking deeper understanding and appreciation of Ida Tarbell and Claudette Colvin's stories.
15 Nov 2024
Bill Russell (feat. Jalen Rose)
What does it take to win 11 NBA championships AND to play a meaningful role in the civil rights movement? Nimene finds out with a brand new hip-hop track about Bill Russell, the legendary player/coach of the Boston Celtics. Featuring an interview between former NBA star Jalen Rose and a 14 year old basketball fan from Detroit named Messiah.
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8 Nov 2024
Mary Golda Ross (feat. Crystle Lightning and Kristina Halona)
Nimene heads to outer space to make a brand new hip-hop track about Mary Golda Ross, the very first Native American female aerospace engineer. Featuring an interview between aerospace engineer Kristina Halona, a proud member of the Navajo Nation, and Vivian, an Odawa and Haudenosaunee 8 year old from Ohio.
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1 Nov 2024
Willi Smith (feat. Humberto Leon)
Nimene learns how ‘street couture’ fashion came to be with a brand new hip-hop track about fashion pioneer Willi Smith. Featuring an interview between fashion designer Humberto Leon and an 8 year old fashion lover from New York named Olivia.
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25 Oct 2024
Keith Haring (feat. Shepard Fairey, Jessica McKenna and Zach Reino)
Nimene shares a brand new, Beastie Boys-inspired track about legendary street artist Keith Haring. Featuring an interview between contemporary artist/activist Shepard Fairey and a 10 year old artist named Eva.
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18 Oct 2024
Kati Kariko (feat. Dr. Sanjay Gupta)
Ever wondered how vaccines work? Nimene finds out by creating a new hip-hop track about Nobel Prize-winning biochemist Kati Kariko. Featuring an interview between neurosurgeon and CNN correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta and an 11 year old named Ilyana.
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11 Oct 2024
Josh Gibson (feat. Fergie L. Philippe and Bob Kendrick)
Nimene learns about Josh Gibson, the greatest power hitter baseball has ever seen and Broadway star Fergie L. Philippe breaks it down in a brand new hip-hop track. Featuring an interview between Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and a 10 year old baseball enthusiast named Payton.
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4 Oct 2024
Claudette Colvin (feat. Roxane Gay)
Nimene creates a stirring hip-hop track about the civil rights activist Claudette Colvin, who, as a teenager, refused to give up her seat on an Alabama city bus months before Rosa Parks’ famous protest. Featuring an interview between New York Times bestselling author Roxane Gay and a 6 year old named Stella.
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27 Sept 2024
Ida Tarbell (feat. Susan Orlean, MOZIAH and Carly Ciarrocchi)
Welcome to Historical Records, a brand new family podcast where host Nimene turns history into hip-hop with the help of rappers, researchers and raccoons. In our very first episode, we learn all about the trailblazing, muckraking journalist Ida Tarbell, who took down one of the most powerful monopolies in history with the power of her pen. Featuring an interview between author/journalist Susan Orlean and a 12 year old writer from Colorado named Sophia and a brand new hip-hop track featuring MOZIAH and Carly Ciarrocchi.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
19 Sept 2024
Introducing: Historical Records
Listen to a sneak preview of Historical Records, an explosive fusion of history and hip-hop from executive producers Questlove and the Story Pirates. Featuring brand new hip-hop tracks about unsung and under-celebrated historical icons like Claudette Colvin, Keith Haring, Willi Smith and Josh Gibson, Historical Records proves that in order to make history, you have to make some noise.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
Who has been a guest on Historical Records
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Judy Heumann
Jenna Bainbridge
Ali Stroker
Elizabeth
Lee Overtree
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
419,108,275
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.7 / 5
139 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 71 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
78
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
67
Contact Historical Records
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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