One Song

How did a personal tragedy influence one of the most essential party anthems in the new wave canon? This week on One Song, Diallo & LUXXURY break down the B-52’s “Love Shack” with legendary Grammy award-winning...

This week, we're taking you back to another of our favorite episodes... so get ready to share the spice of life and glide like a 747 to a classic cookout jam from one of the best selling bands of all time! On this...

This episode is made in partnership with Spotify. SongDNA beta is available on Spotify Premium. Check out This Is How We Do It on mobile here: This week, we’re bringing the old school back and diving deep into Montell...

This week on One Song, we're re-sharing another favorite from our archives. This time, Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY are joined by singer, Durand Bernarr. The trio explore Mariah Carey’s Fantasy, and talk through every...

Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerald Casale join Diallo & LUXXURY to break down their classic new-wave hit “Whip It.” They discuss the band’s origins at Kent State, share the surprising influences on the song from Roy...

Fab 5 Freddy says One Song’s fly, stems are playing, you’ll say “my my!” This week, Fab 5 Freddy returns to help Diallo and LUXXURY breakdown the first Billboard #1 song to feature rapping, Blondie’s “Rapture”. They...

Have you ever wondered where the name hip-hop came from? This week, Diallo and LUXXURY sit down with artist, television host and cultural steward of the early New York hip-hop scene, Fab 5 Freddy, to discuss his new...

Hey One Song Nation! We're bringing you a special episode pulled from Diallo & LUXXURY's new Patreon. In this episode, the guys talk about Coachella, break down the viral KEXP performance from Angine De Poitrine and...

We’re taking you back to one of our very first episodes, talking mosquitos and libidos. That’s right, Diallo and LUXXURY are off on a sonic adventure with Nirvana’s 1991 grunge rock juggernaut, Smells Like Teen Spirit...

We're revisiting one of our favorite episodes of One Song this week featuring award-winning journalist, author, and podcaster Danyel Smith (Shine Bright: A Very Personal History of Black Women in Pop). Danyel joins...

How do you end one of the greatest albums of all time? Maybe you need to bring in a 40 person orchestra. This week on One Song, Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY continue their two-part exploration of the Beatles with one of...

A flaming ashtray. A saxophone mouthpiece. Blistered fingers. How did one of the Beatles’ most chaotic recording sessions lead to a raucous masterpiece that paved the way for metal? On the first part of this Beatles...

This week on One Song, we're re-sharing one of our favorite episodes, possibly the greatest ever apology song ever recorded: It’s OutKast’s multi-platinum ode to a complicated relationship and “baby’s drama mama”, Ms...

How did a 21-year-old unknown transform a deeply personal breakup into one of the defining hits of the ’90s? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dive into “You Oughta Know” by Alanis Morissette, unpacking the raw vocal...

Is “Just Like Heaven” The Cure’s pop masterpiece? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dive into the 1987 crossover hit, unpacking what makes it the purest distillation of The Cure’s sound while tracing the band’s blend of goth...

Why does “N.Y. State of Mind” still feel like the gold standard for hip-hop lyricism three decades later? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dig into Nas’ landmark track, tracing its origins from Queensbridge to Columbia...

How did one of rock’s most successful bands of all time accidentally create one of the darkest hits in pop history? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dig into The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black,” unpacking the band’s...

How did “Crazy in Love” announce Beyoncé’s arrival as a solo superstar? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dig into this career-defining moment, breaking down the iconic Chi-Lites horn sample, Beyoncé’s commanding vocal...

How does a song with no bass and no chorus become a global anthem with the most recognizable riff of the 21st century? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY break down The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” exploring the cultural...

What song connects 1960s soul, Irish new age, and ’90s hip-hop? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY go deep on Fugees’ classic “Ready or Not” with special guest Wyclef Jean. Together, they deconstruct the track’s haunting beat...

How did Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards flip disco on its head with Diana Ross’ chart-topping solo hit “Upside Down”? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY explore the Chic production, groove-driven arrangement, and rare outtakes...

What makes “Billie Jean” one of the most timeless pop songs ever? Diallo Riddle and LUXXURY dive into Michael Jackson’s masterpiece, unpacking its iconic (and borrowed) bassline, the innovative engineering that shaped...

How did “California Love” crystallize Tupac Shakur at his peak? LUXXURY and Diallo dive into the West Coast anthem, untangle its stacked list of collaborators, and examine how Pac’s charisma and contradictions collide...

What makes a holiday song so timeless that it can top the charts decades after it’s released? On this episode, Diallo, LUXXURY, and One Song Executive Producer Lesley Gwam break down Mariah Carey’s 1994 hit “All I Want...

Is “Motownphilly” one of the most doo-wop-influenced R&B tracks of all time? In part two of their Boyz II Men deep dive, Diallo and LUXXURY explore the group’s iconic vocals for “Motownphilly”, the slow-jam legacy of...