Press Releases

US President Barack Obama has made it into the top 20 of a BBC Radio 1 and BBC 1Xtra poll of the 30 Most Hip Hop people of all time, amongst celebrated artists such as Eminen, Kanye West, Jay Z, Tupac, The Notorious BIG and Dr Dre.

The President is number 19 in the Most Hip Hop list, which is the climax of a weekend full of programming marking the 30th anniversary since the release of Sugarhill Gang's Rapper's Delight.

The poll – which makes up a five-hour simulcast on Radio 1 and 1Xtra today (Monday 6 April) from 7.00pm to midnight – will be presented by DJs Zane Lowe and Tim Westwood.

The pair will be counting down the definitive list of the 30 Most Hip Hop people – those who, over the past three decades, have most embodied the spirit of the genre.

Tim Westwood said: "To be most hip hop... to me that is the ultimate honour that you can achieve in life... it's going to be an exciting show."

The poll was compiled from submissions by leading industry figures including Radio 1 and 1Xtra DJs; UK and US hip hop artists including Dizzee Rascal and Rick Ross; journalists; and industry representatives.

Most Hip Hop, Monday 6 April 2009, 7.00pm to midnight, BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra.

Radio 1 Publicity