The 13 best TV shows about hip-hop
From fictional stories like Atlanta and Rap Sh!t to docuseries like Hip-Hop Evolution and Dear Mama, here are TV's finest takes on the genre
Music Features Lil Dicky
Clockwise from bottom left: Atlanta (FX), Wu-Tang: An American Saga (Hulu), Dave (FXX), The Get Down (Netflix), and Rap Sh!t (Max) Graphic: Karl Gustafson
This story is part of our Hip-Hop: ’73 Till Infinity series, a celebration of the genre’s 50th anniversary.
The experimental, myth-making ethos that drives hip-hop has powered some of the strongest, most innovative TV shows of the past 30 years, with both real-life rappers and enthusiasts creating series that show how success in the rap game is one of the remaining miracles that can transform underdogs into moguls. As rap fans this year mark half a century of the movement, which has come to dominate the entertainment industry and pop culture at large, here are 13 TV series, in chronological order, that include the real-life histories, fictional come-ups, and storytelling influences of hip-hop.
7 Comments
This is the third goddamn slideshow so far today. Everyone still involved with this site should feel deeply ashamed.
What’s wrong with slideshows?
With the strike shutting Hollywood down, and nothing for access media to actually access, slideshows are going to be the best way to get by. So you ain’t seen nothin’ yet!
I just watched Dear Mama this past weekend and I’m still thinking about it. It was outstanding.
chozen always gets over looked. its about a gay rapper fresh out of prison trying to make it big. it fun, funny and oh so gay.
I wouldn’t change anything about Atlanta, but a guest star spot for Danny Pudi would have made me overjoyed.
Fell in love with Empire immediately, and I’ve been wanting to revisit it, but the Smollett thing is going to make a rewatch very awkward.
If there’s one episode of The Get Down I recommend, it’s “Darkness is My Candle”. That’s the show (and music) firing on all cylinders.
Wu-Tang: An American Saga’s slow burn was an approach I wasn’t expecting, and I do wish they picked it up a bit.
There was a 2pac/Biggie show on USA called “Unsolved” that was partially about them, but also a sort of cop show. It should have just been bout them.
The scene in Dave that won me over:
Empire starts off as a ridiculous over the top fun show, and quickly gets bogged down in it’s own bullshit, none of which it does particularly well. Taraji was by far the best thing on it.