This is why delineation is vital. If you know you know.
Nore made contributions to the culture but lacks historical knowledge and humility to understand that he is not the first. The official timeline on hip hop podcasting:
Combat Jack (Reggie Ossé): Often hailed as the "Godfather of Hip-Hop Podcasting," the late Reggie Ossé (who was a high-profile hip-hop attorney and managing editor of The Source rather than a primary rapper) launched The Combat Jack Show in 2010. He is credited with creating the "blueprint" of long-form, deep-dive hip-hop interviews that most rappers use today.
Joe Budden: If you define the category as a "rapper-turned-podcaster," Joe Budden is frequently cited as the first major artist to successfully pivot. He launched "I'll Name This Podcast Later" (now The Joe Budden Podcast) in February 2015. He is widely credited with making podcasting a lucrative and "cool" secondary career for retired or active rappers.
Taxstone: Born Daryl Campbell in East New York, Brooklyn, Taxstone is of Afro-Honduran descent and initially rose to prominence through a blunt, brazen Twitter presence that captivated the hip-hop community. His digital influence caught the attention of The Loud Speakers Network after high-profile recommendations from Kid Fury and appearances on The Brilliant Idiots with Charlamagne tha God. This rapid momentum led to the launch of his own wildly successful podcast, Tax Season, on March 18, 2015—marking a meteoric four-month transition from social media personality to a leading voice in the podcasting landscape.
N.O.R.E.: The Queens rapper launched Drink Champs with DJ EFN in 2016. N.O.R.E. has explicitly claimed in interviews (as recently as February 2026) that he helped "open the podcasting door" and made the format cool for rappers who previously viewed it as "nerdy".
