hip-hop evolution

a.k.a the sequel to Monday's post :)

happy Friday!

today, i’m gonna get right into it and discuss the show Hip-Hop Evolution, a Netflix docuseries. hosted by Canadian rapper Shad K, the series takes us from the origins of hip-hop in 1970s New York to its current stance as a worldwide phenomenon. it features interviews and archival footage with many prominent rappers, DJs, producers, and label execs. the first four seasons have been profound in highlighting the regional contributions to rap and hip-hop across decades.

for this, i am personally grateful — as a child in Chicago, i was innately aware of how the regional house music culture tied into the overall urban sound and i feel a sense of pride about that history. but after moving South at 8 years old, it was really Atlanta’s crunk era and the pervasiveness of snap rap that raised me. by highlighting musicians who rose to prominence from these cities, Hip-Hop Evolution taps into both of these narratives and more.

to be quite fair, i’ve experienced many musical phases during my coming of age — and it’s why i listen to everything now. honestly, i’m most grateful to Hip-Hop Evolution for exposing me to just how much music i need to go back and listen to. but for now, i’d like to bring you back to a very specific time in my life: middle school.

this was when i had my 80s hip-hop and pop phase, where i would have discovered Roxanne Shanté. i even had “Have a Nice Day” on my Bebo/MySpace, because duh, the intro says “I’m Shanté” — and i now have this single on vinyl. sn: why did i just found out they relaunched Bebo earlier this year? wow major throwback!

anyway, this was also the time where i grew to understand more of Queen Latifah’s musical influence. (i always knew she was a rapper, but by this point she had fully transitioned into her actor bag with the occasional verse on VH1 or BET awards shows). years later, the series Hip-Hop Evolution really brings her career into full scope by featuring one of her most prominent singles, “Ladies First” with Monie Love.

speaking of, i also recently collected this Stüssy x Hellz Bellz top that has “Ladies First” embroidered on the back. this collection originally came out in 2009, twenty years after the Queen Latifah song was released — which speaks to the transcendence of hip-hop throughout other aspects of culture, especially streetwear. here is a photoset of me in the aforementioned garment.

to tie it altogether, i’m sharing some of my thoughts about gender and how i feel about the word “lady” as a gender-expansive femme over on my Instagram today.

i’ll leave you with Roxanne Shanté, because it’s only fitting.