The Hip Hop African

In this episode of Let Her Cook called Unapologetic, two of our students dive into the world of African women in hip-hop. They discuss artists from West, East, and Southern Africa: Eno Barony (Ghana), Keko (Uganda), Gigi Lamayne (South Africa), and Reespect (Nigeria), women who aren’t waiting for permission to speak; they’re taking the mic and making space for themselves. From Keko’s fearless visibility as a queer rapper in Uganda ...

Tracks

• “Becky” by Amine
• “Hello Africa” by Blitz The Ambassador
• “Never Fight an African” by Styles P
• “Sue Me” by Wale

“Sue me, I’m rootin’ for everybody that’s Black.” This lyric embodies more than a mindset as it reflects a movement rooted in solidarity. The African diaspora refers to the global dispersion of people o...

This episode is from a 2024 interview with Malal Talla—better known as Fou Malade—a legendary figure in Senegalese hip hop and co-founder of the activist collective Y’en a Marre. A key voice in Senegal's social and political landscape, Fou Malade shares his journey from early musical influences and socially conscious lyricism to organizing protests and grassroots mobilization through music.

In the interview, we explore:

We are back after a 1-year hiatus. It was difficult to maintain the production schedule as it was, so we will be scaling down a lot. We will continue to release conversations about Hip Hop in Africa and the African diaspora.

Our first episode back will be an interview with Senegalese hip hop artist and co-founder of the activist collective Y’en a Marre, Malal, aka Fou Malade. He is a major voice in Senegal's social and polit...

ZuluMecca, also known as Mandisa Nduna, has made a name for herself as a rapper and actress. With a unique style and powerful lyrics, ZuluMecca is a versatile artist who transitions between music and acting. A talented lyricist and actor, ZuluMecca's presence in the entertainment industry has continued to grow. She most recently released the EP Seams. This conversation with the podcast and our students took place in April, about 2 ...

Go to the announcements page for information on events and albums discussed in the episode.

In this episode, I break down the road to breakdancing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. I also have a solo debate about the topic of appropriation, referencing Ada Enechi's 2023 article: Are Black People Being Pushed out of Hip Hop?

I also discuss the online hubbub about South African artist Tyla's racial identification, referencing Marti ...

I'm doing a PhD in Streetology, in the University of Life

Breeze Yoko is an internationally known South African graffiti artist. Breeze Yoko grew up in Cape Town, in Gugulethu and Nyanga East. He is known for his vibrant and thought-provoking street art, and for bringing a unique perspective to the urban art scene. His w...

Political protests, breakdance competitions, U.S. artists and Africa, new book on London hip hop, call for papers, events on women & hip hop, The Grammys recognizes African hip hop, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducts hip hop, and...

There are also upcoming Hip-Hop events happening in Accra, Johannesburg, Jinja/Kamp...

In this conversation, Kat and I had the pleasure of speaking with Cameroonian international student and hip-hop artist Astrid Mafogang about her experience in the music industry today as a part of the African diaspora. We dove into the complexities of identity and representation, gaining insight into Astrid’s music-making process and how she views and incorporates her Cameroonian identity into her music, despite living outside the ...

"All of these different cultures are a part of me. I didn't want to limit myself to one sound."

SixSaidIt is a multifaceted artist who seamlessly flows across the borders between hip-hop’s hottest subgenres to create a sound that is uniquely her own. In this wide-ranging conversation, I had the opportunity to speak to Six about the cultural influences that compelled her to rap, her experiences navigating the music industry ...

This year, our Spring Series covers South Africa. In this episode, we have a conversation with South African Hip-Hop pioneer Emile YX?. Emile is part of the pioneering Hip Hop group Black Noise, one of the earliest Hip Hop groups in South Africa. He later co-founded the Hip Hop NGO Heal the Hood, which is based in the Cape Flats community of Cape Town, South Africa. A Hip Hop elder statesman, scholar, and educator, Emile visited th...

This episode is a sit-down conversation with Toni Blackman. Toni is an artist, hip-hop activist, writer, and cultural ambassador. She holds the distinction of being the first hip-hop ambassador to the U.S. State Department, and her work has had a significant impact on the global perception of hip-hop.

She ...

Apple Music's Hip Hop DNA | The Sound of Freedom: The Evolution of SA Hip-Hop

Apple Music is celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop with the “Hip Hop DNA” series. One episode is focused on South Africa. The Hip Hop DNA series shows the diversity of hip-hop sounds, histories, and communities worldwide through radio episodes, playlists, and album selections. This episode on South Africa s...

Links and information discussed in the episode

A Huis Clos, a play by French rapper Kerry James.

15 November - 3 December at Théâtre du Rond-Point in Paris France

A new play by French rap legend, Kery James and French director and writer Marc Lainé. In À huis clos, Kery ...

The 2023 WDSF Africa Breaking Championship took place in Rabat, Morocco, May 6-7. 58 Breakers took part in the Championships, which was officiated by nine international judges, including Kaweesi Mark from Uganda and Vee from South Africa. Moroccan b-girl Elmamouny and b-boy Billy become the first athletes to qualify in the Olympics for breaking.

Moroccan b-girl Elmamouny defeated South Africa's Midian Leah to take the women's ti...

Alfdaniels Mabingo (2022) Re-Contextualising Breakdance Aesthetics: Performance, Performativity, and Re-Enaction of Breakdancing in Uganda, Journal of African Cultural Studies, 34:4, 404-421, DOI: 10.1080/13696815.2022.2132473

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Alfdaniels Mabingo who wrote a fascinating ...