Today, Explained
Hip-hop is 50 and it's having a midlife crisis
Sep 30, 2023
Join hip-hop scholar Jason England, who teaches at Carnegie Mellon, and journalist Kiana Fitzgerald, the author of "Ode to Hip Hop," as they dive into hip-hop's 50th anniversary. They discuss how the genre grapples with its legacy of misogyny and anti-LGBTQ sentiment while highlighting the important role women play in its evolution. England points out the crisis of authenticity hip-hop faces today, and Fitzgerald shares insights on the changing dynamics and challenges female artists encounter. Together, they inspire a call for inclusivity and meaningful change in the industry.
45:33
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Quick takeaways
- Hip-hop's midlife crisis has left it as an empty shell of its radical roots.
- The rise of female artists in hip-hop is challenging traditional norms but there is still a long way to go in terms of inclusivity and confronting the genre's historical misogyny and homophobia.
Deep dives
Hip Hop at 50: A Critical Look at its Current State
In this podcast episode, Hip Hop's 50th anniversary is explored, with a critical examination of its current state. The celebration and coverage of Hip Hop's anniversary has been largely positive and nostalgic, but the host questions whether the genre is actually in a bad place. The episode delves into the corporatization of Hip Hop, the decline in chart-topping rap, and the genre's failure to reckon with its history of misogyny and homophobia. Critics and academics discuss Hip Hop's midlife crisis, its deviation from its radical roots, and the need for the genre to confront its flaws.
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