Popcast Cannonball: Debating Our ‘30 Greatest Songwriters’ List
May 7, 2026
Sasha Weiss, an editor who guided the Times Magazine songwriting project, and Wesley Morris, a critic and writer who helped defend the 30-person list, debate their toughest choices. They recount room arguments, nationality and authorship puzzles, clashes over rap, pop and catalog vs. peaks, and which influential songwriters just missed the cut.
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Young Thug Represents Rap's Structural Break
- The list intentionally included different rap lineages: classicists like Kendrick and Jay‑Z and post‑structuralists like Young Thug.
- Wesley Morris argued Young Thug represents contemporary rap's rupture and melodic/structural innovations tracing to mid-2010s mixtapes.
Erykah Badu Was A Persistent Case In The Room
- Wesley Morris repeatedly argued for Erykah Badu's inclusion, describing her as singular and mischaracterized by the 'neo-soul' label.
- He emphasized her unique hooks, humor, and direct path from studio to street.
Lin Manuel Miranda And Other Late Regrets
- Joe Coscarelli admitted initially dismissing Lin-Manuel Miranda due to unfamiliarity but later reconsidered after more exposure.
- He also listed many individual regrets he raised in the room like James Murphy and Billie Eilish.