All roads lead to Pharrell: Tyler, Clipse, and Cardi

All roads lead to Pharrell: Tyler, Clipse, and Cardi

Author: Vulture August 19, 2025 Duration: 52:36
The conversation around the new music this summer has been a dour one. Some of the biggest songs in the country right now are downtempo stomp-clap anthems and wistful Cranberries pastiche. Even on this very show, Nate and Charlie have asked: where's the fun? As it turns out, the party (as always) is happening in hip-hop, led by a formidable influence: Pharrell.. On this episode of Switched On Pop, producer Reanna and engineer Brandon join Charlie for a tour through rap music's latest sweaty offerings, including the new album by Tyler, the Creator, Clipse's return to music, and catchphrase worthy singles by Cardi B, PLUTO, and Drake. Songs discussed: Tyler, The Creator, Pharrell Williams – Big Poe Nelly – Hot in Herre Noreaga – Superthug Kelis – Milkshake Tyler, The Creator, Cole Alexander – Deathcamp N.E.R.D. – Rockstar Tyler, The Creator – Ring Ring Ring Tyler, The Creator, Frank Ocean, Steve Lacy – 911 / Mr. Lonely Tyler, The Creator – I THINK Mr. Fingers – Mystery of Love Michael Jackson – Off the Wall N.E.R.D., Nelly Furtado – Hot-n-Fun N.E.R.D. – Things Are Getting Better Pharrell, Nelly – Baby Clipse – So Be It Clipse – Virginia Clipse – Intro Talal Madah – Maza Akoulou Beastie Boys – Paul Revere Clipse – Ace Trumpets Clipse, John Legend, Voices of Fire – The Birds Don't Sing Cardi B – Outside Cardi B – Bodak Yellow Cardi B, Bad Bunny, J Balvin – I Like It Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion – WAP Cardi B – Up PLUTO, YK Niece – WHIM WHAMIEE OJ Da Juiceman, Gucci Mane – Make tha Trap Say Aye Roxanne Shante – Roxanne's Revenge Drake, Central Cee – Which One? Drake, Rihanna – Too Good Rihanna, Drake – Work Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever wonder why a certain pop song gets stuck in your head for days, or how a simple chord change can make you feel a specific way? Switched on Pop digs into those questions with a unique blend of expert analysis and genuine curiosity. Hosts Nate Sloan, a musicologist, and Charlie Harding, a songwriter, act as friendly guides through the intricate world of popular music. They don't just review hits; they dissect them, exploring the craft behind the catchiness. In each episode, you'll hear them break down a track's structure, its historical context, and the production techniques that give it its emotional punch. This isn't a dry academic lecture, though. It's a conversation between two people who love music, unpacking everything from timeless classics to today's viral trends to reveal why pop works the way it does. The Switched on Pop podcast, from Vulture, makes the familiar strange again, encouraging you to listen more deeply. You'll start to hear the clever harmonies hidden in a chart-topper, the rhythmic patterns borrowed from decades past, and the lyrical choices that resonate with millions. It's for anyone who has ever tapped a foot to a radio song and then wondered about the mechanics of that reaction. Tune in and you might just find that your favorite songs have layers you've never noticed before.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Switched on Pop
Podcast Episodes
The hick hop renaissance (BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:39
One of the biggest country hits of the year has been "All The Way," by Texas rapper BigXthaPlug and country rocker Bailey Zimmerman, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is a perfectly mixed cocktail of…
Is Morgan Wallen the problem with country music? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:50
Country music stands at a crossroads between tradition and evolution, and no artist embodies this tension better than Morgan Wallen. His song "I'm the Problem" opens with beautiful bluegrass guitar before hitting you wit…
"Manchild" and other songs about male incompetence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:44
Looking for relationship advice? Skip the self-help books and turn to Sabrina Carpenter's latest single "Manchild" instead. This deep dive into the art of musical insults reveals how pop's newest sensation joins a legend…
Frankly, Sinatra still matters (with Seth MacFarlane) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:26
What if the Chairman of the Board's biggest contribution to music wasn't his voice, but the blueprint he created for modern pop stardom? Frank Sinatra didn't just sing songs: he invented the concept album, injected his f…
Is the future of pop...heavy metal?! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:59
The UK outfit Sleep Token has done what we once thought impossible: Found commercial success playing heavy metal music in 2025 AD. Their fourth studio album, Even in Arcadia, went to number one on the Billboard 200 upon…
Charli XCX threw this party 4 us [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:38
Five years ago, Charli XCX released the track "party 4 u," a melancholic ode to throwing a function for that one specific person. Now, in 2025, the song has gotten a renewed life – motivated by a foolproof cocktail of Ti…
‘Sinners’ summons the demons of American music [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:53
We rarely cover movies here at Switched On Pop. But after seeing Ryan Coogler's new vampire musical Sinners, we knew we had to make an exception. The movie is an ode to Black music. Throughout its over two hour runtime,…