The culture-defining powerhouse medium of storytelling that we call Hip-Hop runs so much deeper than many people realize. Culture, activism, revolutions-- all have been started, built, and ended by the words spat into microphones. To express our love for some influential Hip-Hop artists, here are a few choice episodes about the vast world of Hip-Hop.
Complex Subject: Pop Smoke - Episode 1: The Flossy
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0YYzrFytAa0L6dWorWYIm8?si=hwMizGGtSYSIPKXq5WlaRA&dl_branch=1
Complex Subject is a new show that examines the untold stories of the defining artists of our time. In their premiere series, the Complex team examines the story of Bashar Jackson, better known as Pop Smoke. From his beginnings as a church kid with aspirations to play professional basketball to an overnight rap sensation, it all kicks off in this episode.
Louder Than a Riot - Making Revolution Irresistible
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4sV2r6gk7UrLtk8GPJlYk3?si=KqOOmHHKSgW6Bu8p8vtrcQ&dl_branch=1
The Mississippi State Penitentiary is notorious for being one of the most inhospitable and violent prisons around, and it represents many of the challenges in reforming America's prison industrial complex. Hearing of this, rapper Yo Gotti recruited Jay-Z and his entertainment company Roc Nation to sue the department of corrections. In this episode of Louder Than a Riot, the NPR team investigates what the impact of celebrity Hip-Hop and Rap can have on activism; as well as culture at large.
Heat Rocks - Syreeta Gates on Cardi B's "Invasion of Privacy" (2018)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3nZj0l36Ae6rALcczHwzPm?si=HHVFwz2KQQeWVqYOCI_YRQ&dl_branch=1
What does it mean for music to be from somewhere? In this episode of Heat Rocks, a show that examines bangers from around the world, scholar and archivist Syreeta Gates joins hosts Oliver Wang and Morgan Rhodes to examine what Cardi B's legacy and hit singles mean for the culture of New York, as well as for the idea of empowering women.
What Had Happened Was - Buhloon Mindstate
https://open.spotify.com/episode/3HETteXwLAJBGlhSwW1U0C?si=MH8SixGxRuGypQRkbsGy-g&dl_branch=1
In 1993, De La Soul released a funky, jazzy collaboration with the band that originally backed James Brown, creating an album that hasn't been imitated to this day. In this episode of What Had Happened Was, explore the union of Hip-Hop and jazz, the career of De La Soul, and how guest Prince Paul, the group's producer, feels about the whole experience.
Who's your favorite in the Hip-Hop world? Looking for shows based on certain artists that you don't see listed here? Let us know down below.
Staff / Moderator/ 3 years ago in Social & Random