Advertise on podcast: The Message with Ebro Darden

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★★★★☆

3.7

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103 reviews

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Welcome to The Message, an interview series about music, culture, mental health, and politics, brought to you by Apple Music. The summer of 2020 was marked by an unprecedented awareness for--and anger about--the continued injustices Black people and people of color in America and worldwide face. The ensuing protests, activations, and social media fury inspired musicians around the world to speak out about their own experiences, with some going on to record music that speaks directly to the moment. Hosted by Apple Music's Ebro Darden, The Message is a series that aims to further the dialogue about the unrest and inequalities in the United States and abroad via intimate conversations with some of the most prominent voices in the culture today, who also create exclusive playlists of the songs inspiring them to keep pushing forward. Guests include Jon Batiste, Erykah Badu, Jon Stewart, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Common, Vince Staples, and many more. Follow to get the uncut and uncensored interviews delivered to you every two weeks, and subscribe to Apple Music to listen to the guests' playlists and add them to your library.

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Check latest episodes from The Message with Ebro Darden podcast

Eve

2025/09/01

Rapper, actress, and author Eve joins Ebro for a new installment of the Message to share her current mantra: breathe, and believe. Their wide-ranging conversation touches on faith, motherhood, domestic violence, and of course, music. Listen to Eve's Message playlist only on Apple Music.

David Oyelowo

2025/05/12

On this brand new conversation for The Message, Ebro sits down with two-time NAACP Image Award-winner David Oyelowo from the new Apple TV+ series Government Cheese. David shares his message of love, what he's learned since becoming a father, and the importance of Black-owned pipelines for creative content in the modern media landscape. Listen to David Oyelowo's Message playlist exclusively on Apple Music.

Mannie Fresh and Trombone Shorty

2025/03/03

This year Apple Music celebrated Black History Month across the service by spotlighting the rhythms of New Orleans, home of Super Bowl LIX. After the big game festivities wrapped, two local legends found time to call up Ebro and share their own Messages straight from the heart of NOLA: Mannie Fresh and Trombone Shorty. In this Black History Month wrap-up special, Ebro compiles both interviews into one episode celebrating the heart of the Big Easy. Listen to Mannie Fresh and Trombone Shorty's Message playlists, exclusively on Apple Music.

Ebonie Smith

2024/08/19

In this brand new Message conversation, Ebro sits down with audio engineer, producer, and songwriter Ebonie Smith to talk about her new spoken word poetry album On Imagination and her Message that music is a ministry. Together, they dive deep on her journey as a Black woman in the male-dominated space of music production, and her organization Gender Amplified, which helps young women break into the industry. Listen to Ebonie's Message playlist only on Apple Music.

Thandiswa

2024/08/05

Her name is Thandiswa, but if you're from her native country of South Africa, you might know her better as King Tha. She's a singer and songwriter with a new album called Sankofa, a Ghanaian word that means "to go back and fetch what has been left behind." In this brand new conversation, she joins Ebro Darden to talk about Sankofa, and what it means to her in the context of post-apartheid South Africa. Listen to Thandiswa's Message playlist only on Apple Music

will.i.am

2024/07/22

While most hip-hop fans know will.i.am from his chart-topping work with The Black Eyed Peas, he's got another major passion: philanthropy. In this conversation from 2021, he stops by the Message to talk about his "edu-tainment" anthem "American Dream," as well as the success that his i.am Angel Foundation has had with promoting STEAM education programs, robotics clubs, and getting underprivileged kids into college. Ebro and Will also take a trip down memory lane, reflecting on the hip-hop that inspired them as kids, and discussing what artists the current generation has to look up to. Listen to will.i.am's Message playlist only on Apple Music.

Conway the Machine

2024/07/08

Conway the Machine has been through a lot. The rapper, best known for his work with his Griselda brothers Westside Gunn and Benny the Butcher, helped build the Buffalo music scene from the ground up, and all in the wake of multiple jail stints and a shooting that left him partially paralyzed. In 2022, to honor the release of his second studio album God Don't Make Mistakes, he sat down with Ebro for The Message to talk about the meaning behind the album and how to survive your circumstances and come out on top. Listen to Conway the Machine's Message playlist exclusively on Apple Music.

Angelique Kidjo

2024/06/24

There are many artists who could stake a claim for the title of Queen of Black Music, but it'd be hard to argue against a legend like Angelique Kidjo. Ebro spoke to her back in 2021 for Black Music Month about finding her identity through Black music and the importance of learning the stories of Black people all around the world. Listen to Angelique Kidjo's Message playlist, exclusively on Apple Music.

Fire In Little Africa

2024/06/10

2021 marked a dark anniversary for America: It was the centennial of the Tulsa race massacre, a two-day long white supremacist reign of terror that destroyed Tulsa, Oklahoma's thriving Black Wall Street. To honor the 100th anniversary, a group of Tulsa rappers came together as Fire In Little Africa to produce a mixtape that told the story of that terrible event. In this episode, originally taped in 2021, Ebro sits down with Tulsa artists Steph Simon, Dr. View, and Saint Domonick to talk about the legacy of the massacre, and what the Black community can do to support the Tulsa community. Stream the Fire In Little Africa mixtape and their Message playlist only on Apple Music.

Big Sean

2024/05/27

May is Mental Health Awareness Month in the United States, and few rappers have been as open about their mental health throughout their career as Big Sean. Ebro called him up in 2021 to talk about his IGTV series he made on the subject with his mom, and the growth he's made throughout his career. Listen to Big Sean's Message playlist exclusively on Apple Music.

Audrey Nuna

2024/05/13

In honor of Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Ebro plays back his conversation with Korean-American artist Audrey Nuna. They discuss her childhood growing up as the lone Asian-American in a non-diverse community, and the music that has influenced her artistry, from Korean classics to underground hip-hop. Listen to Audrey Nuna's Message playlist only on Apple Music.

Residente

2024/04/29

Puerto Rican artist Residente has never been one to mince words in his songs, which may make the title of his latest album, LAS LETRAS YA NO IMPORTAN ("The lyrics don't matter"), surprising to fans. But despite the seemingly dismissive name, Residente still has a lot of big topics on his mind, and in this brand new conversation, he sits down with Ebro to discuss them. In this wide-ranging interview, they talk about his mental health struggles while writing his single "René," his desire to push himself out of his comfort zone, and speaking out against the Israeli siege on Gaza. Listen to Residente's The Message playlist, only on Apple Music,

Van Jones

2024/04/15

Back in 2021, the Black Lives Matter movement scored a definitive victory: Derek Chauvin, the police officer who murdered George Floyd, was found guilty on all three counts. In this conversation, originally taped in the wake of the trial, Ebro speaks to Emmy-award winning political analyst, author, and activist Van Jones about the conviction, as well as his ongoing work to reform the carceral state and get Black people out of prison. Stream Van Jones' exclusive Message playlist only on Apple Music.

Bianca Belair

2024/04/01

In this special Wrestlemania episode of The Message, Ebro talks to WWE superstar Bianca Belair about her work with her husband, fellow wrestler Montez Ford, to connect Black people with their culture. They also discuss mental health and Bianca's goal of changing the world's perception of what a female wrestler looks like. Listen to Bianca Belair's Message playlist only on Apple Music.

Vince Staples

2024/03/18

In celebration of The Vince Staples Show premiering on Netflix, Ebro throws it back to his 2021 conversation with the Long Beach rapper about mental health, his path to being a full-time rapper, and hip-hop's sudden inclusion in the Super Bowl. Listen to Vince Staples' Message playlist only on Apple Music

Podcast reviews

Read The Message with Ebro Darden podcast reviews

3.7 out of 5

103 reviews

★★★☆☆

lebrownjames1 2024/04/17

confused

if youre gonna do this at least have them on time and organized chronologically, otherwise whats the point

★☆☆☆☆

obedofficial 2025/02/03

MBDTF

The song is “Power” and if you know the chorus then you should understand where i’m going with this. But if not, as great as Ebro is, I’m tired of see...

★☆☆☆☆

Yeshaiya 2023/04/17

Nope

Terrible…

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