Meaning In Music: Episodes 1-5
From sampling sounds in hip-hop to the intersection of hip-hop and fashion, scroll below for every single Meaning In Music episode.
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Ladies First: Black Women & Sex in Hip-Hop
Male performers have released sexually charged songs for decades–so why criticize female artists? The answer involves a journey through music history, packed with misogyny and double standards, and ends up in a present that sees female artists challenging male artists for dominance on the hip-hop charts.
It's The Remix: Sampling Sounds in Hip-Hop
Sampling and remixing are fundamental aspects of hip-hop, crucial ingredients in the art form. Artists have always borrowed from each other–but it’s the unique way hip-hop creators borrow from the music they admire that stands out: everyone from Luther Vandross to Rihanna, Megan Thee Stallion to the legendary James Brown have had their work featured in hip-hop records. Enter the DJ’s booth as we track down the history and influence of this signature sound–and how it transformed hip-hop into the generational force it is today.
The Art Supreme: Hip-Hop & Fashion
Today, the influence of hip-hop seems intertwined with the fashion industry, to the point where we can barely imagine one without the other. But, in the early 1980s, fashion brands faced a dilemma: embrace hip-hop, an exciting, raw sound, or shun it for fear of offending mass audiences. Along came Run DMC, who proved it was possible for high fashion and hip-hop to work together. Today, luxury brands clamor to collaborate with hip-hop stars, hoping to tap into their trendsetting gifts and global reach. Join us as we recount the history of hip-hop’s journey from the fringes of fashion to becoming its favored collaborator and muse.
We Rock the Mic: The Many Sounds of Hip-Hop
Is it country or is it hip-hop? The burning question confronted critics when the breakout hit ‘Old Town Road’ by Lil Nas X hit the airwaves. And as new artists willing to blend sounds and blur genres emerge, not everyone is happy. From labels to award shows to a handful of purists, change is jarring. But in this “genre-less” era of social media and tech, the power to innovate and create now lies with the artist, not the institution. And even a genre as established as hip-hop may not be resistant to the forces of change.
The Message: Activism in Hip-Hop
While Public Enemy’s ‘Fight the Power’ started out as an anthem for racial affirmation, its influence soon expanded to become a symbol of resistance for other disenfranchised groups globally. Join host Dometi Pongo and artists like Vic Mensa, Fat Joe, and Big Freedia as we explore hip-hop’s unique ability to tackle thorny social and political issues, and channel people’s anger into action, influencing new generations of both artists and citizens.