Hip-hop's progressiveness has always been hindered by its deep-rooted homophobia and misogyny. Despite the presence of more women in the genre today, the flaws remain. The 50th anniversary celebration of hip-hop has failed to address these issues, with instances of artists collaborating with law enforcement raising eyebrows. Artists like Dr. Dre, who has been honored for his impact on hip-hop, have not been held accountable for the harm they have caused. The genre's early pioneers, such as Tribe Called Quest and KRS1, had songs that were demeaning to women. Despite attempts to distance themselves from such material, the music and videos still exist. The need for the industry to confront its problematic past remains.
So much of the coverage of hip-hop’s 50th birthday has been congratulatory, in spite of its record of misogyny and anti-LGBTQ sentiment. In this episode of Into It, host Sam Sanders talks to journalist Kiana Fitzgerald about how the women of hip-hop are leading the way today, and he catches up with hip-hop scholar Jason England, who argues hip-hop's midlife crisis has left an empty shell of what the genre once was.
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