Will Smith Launches New Hip-Hop Podcast 'Class of 88'

West Philadelphia’s finest has launched a new podcast.

In late October, Will Smith released Class of ’88, which is a new limited series podcast from Wondery and Audible, according to SteroGum.com.

Made to coincide with September’s 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the show has the Fresh Prince interviewing his peers from the late ‘80s hip-hop world, which include superstars Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Rakim, Chuck D and Smith’s own musical partner DJ Jazzy Jeff.

But the series centers on 1988, a year in which rap was transitioning from a subculture to a global sensation. This podcast has a myriad of stories about those days from the folks at the center of the action.

“Hip-hop has been a central part of my life for over four decades,” Smith told Billboard. “I’m hyped to share my firsthand experiences and those of some of hip-hop’s greatest legends as we delve into the origins of one of the most influential genres of music in history.”

In one of the episodes, Smith reveals that he got the itch to act on the set of the Parents Just Don’t Understand video, which was the second single off their 1988 sophomore studio album He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper, according to People.

Smith admittedly said he was nervous about releasing the song as a single because he wanted to be respected as a rapper. But it all worked out for Smith.

“To help promote the song, Jive (Records) decided to make a video,” Smith said on the podcast. “(Producer) Ann Carli brought in a director, Scott Kalvert, who had a cool visual style, and that ultimately became the Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince signature style, bright and colorful with the stylized set covered with graffiti. I rapped straight into camera while an actress playing my mom chased me around with a rolling pin.”

All episodes are already out. One can preview the show by watching the clip below, which shows Smith and Jazzy Jeff looking back on their touring years, when, according to Smith, “You wouldn’t know if your record was a hit or not until you dropped it in the venue.”