The legendary Chuck D, hip hop historian and founder of Public Enemy, has always been able to command attention with his voice. For the past four decades, he has taken listeners and hip hop purists on an innovative ride through story and sound. The rhythm and the rebel presented in the flesh as one of the culture’s most iconic voices and lyricists, Chuck D presents Songs That Shook the Planet, an Audible Original that premieres today, Feb. 3.

“Part history lesson and part memoir, ‘Songs That Shook the Planet’ spans genres and decades to call out the brave artists who continue to inspire necessary change in the world,” the podcast’s promotional material reads. Women through the young days of the Long Island, New Yorkers’ childhood, the performance was co-created, written, and produced alongside Lorrie Boula, with additional writing by Arthur Turnbull and Gia’na M. Garel.

Listeners will hear sonic tales featuring Stevie Wonder, Billie Holiday, Too $hort, and more — engaging them in an audio experience that’s both empowering and edutaining.

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Chuck not only produced, wrote and performed Songs That Shook the Planet, he introduced newbies to indelible songs that provided a soundtrack of civil uprising — many played by his mother on their home record player — that is, regrettably, still relevant for today.

Executive produced alongside Grammy Award-winning producer T Bone Burnett, Chuck D sat down with BET.com for a quick chat about the lasting impression of Songs That Shook the Planet and why hip hop’s 50th anniversary needs more curators.

BET.com: Congratulations on Songs That Shook the Planet, sir. How do you feel listeners will react to how you weave your life into this Audible Original that also showcases the music of Curtis Mayfield, Billie Holiday, and more?

Chuck D: We stand on the shoulders of giants, but also, we have to recognize the time we’re in where people now listen with their eyes. This new generation especially, [knows] that technology leads people into [discovering new projects.] When it came down to developing Songs That Shook the Planet, I gained access to a million songs, and I felt like the shortest distance between two points — engaging the listener and chronicling a time in my and music history — was to pick 10 songs.

I could’ve made my job difficult and craft this show from 100 songs, but choosing 10 made things easier — how to write about its impact on the culture and how it hit me. In combining things the older people [in my life] would tell me about the artists and the moments behind these songs, I reached into myself and what was going on in society to come up with a narrative that I feel people are going to listen to. Telling this story in audible form is a chance to be a great curator and create things that will engage the listener and still appeal to those “screen agents” out there [that] exist.

BET.com: The written word is still maintained throughout Songs That Shook the Planet, despite the love and growth of visual mediums. While recording this series, were there any moments that reminded you of your first radio show, Super Spectrum Mix Hour?

Chuck D: [Laughs] Super Spectrum Mix Hour back in the day was about not just playing a song, but talking about the story within the song. I would be on beat and then slide out [of the pocket] to let the music do its thing, so people could follow the music. The same thing can be said about Songs That Shook the Planet. I’m going to set up the story for you to look at this song from a different angle, and build on what’s important out there — especially in this visual-audio age we’re in — the moments you processed it in your imagination and were able to see it.

This generation is the other way around than how audio-visual used to be back in the day. Now, you have to see it before you really hear it. And so, Songs That Shook the Planet requires a different skill set where I was able to tell a story as best as possible, using the music from my childhood and maturity to create an imagery that the listeners can piece together themselves.

BET.com: On Songs That Shook the Planet, you bring listeners directly into your childhood and pivotal moments through Black history, which have these soundtracks that align with it. As this year marks a countdown to hip hop’s 50th anniversary, what are any memorable moments that you feel should be celebrated next year when the party begins?

Chuck D: [Laughs] What I think should be celebrated is too long for this [interview.] I have a weekly radio show called, And You Don’t Stop!, and it’s been running for 13 years now. On it, we talk about everything from the birth of hip hop on Sedgwick [Ave. in the Bronx], down to what Kurtis Blow is doing right now with the Hip Hop Alliance, which is the first hip hop union that’s going to make a major impact in the culture.

And while there are a whole bunch of things to be celebrated or new things that are happening, there are direct needs that should be observed and paid attention to right now. But like I said, though, it is probably too long to put into any concise statement and means we need more curators. It’s a lot of ugly work demanded of us to protect the stories, to make sure that nurturing these stories is not lost in the mix, and what helps is to know that discovery will always beat out releasing [an album.]

When you’re releasing a project, that just means you’re looking to move the new in and the old out. That was always dictated by retail, but that was eliminated a decade ago with streaming, subscription services, and downloading before that. So now, with unlimited choices and streaming subscriptions at your fingertips, there needs to be more guides to help listeners know where to go and how to start. With Songs That Shook the Planet, I said, at least with this project, I can offer 10 joints, and from there you can go into a wider musical world if you feel like it.

BET: In many hip hop fans' opinion, you are our George Clinton, our voice of a generation that not only told it like it is, but like how it should be. Now with Songs That Shook the Planet out today, what sort of lasting impression do you feel like this Audible Original will have in your opinion?

Chuck D: I think that this lasting impression should be more of a lasting introduction. Not just to me and doing more projects like this, but I think it is important that people, the listeners, be engaged and choose to participate in stuff like this. I feel like this opportunity is for those that take the time, dive into what’s being presented, and want to join in on building these roads for others to ride on and learn from.

Songs That Shook the Planet is an Audible Original, written and produced by Chuck D, released Feb. 3 and can be listened to exclusively here.

Kevin L. Clark is a screenwriter and entertainment director for BET Digital, who covers the intersection of music, film, pop culture, and social justice. Follow him on @KevitoClark.