Hip-hop emerged from the voices of the unheard. But freedom doesn't ring the same for everyone. Inside all corners of the culture, Black women and queer folk have dealt with the same oppression the music was built to escape. Season 2 of Louder Than A Riot examines who hip-hop marginalizes, and how misogynoir — the specific racist misogyny against Black women — is embedded into the fabric of the culture that we love.
From Rico Nasty facing harassment from toxic fans, to Saucy Santana's unapologetically femme aesthetics in a queerphobic industry, to the assault case that put Megan Thee Stallion's image on trial, each episode of Louder Than A Riot unpacks the unspoken rules of rap that discriminate against a select few and have held the entire culture back.
Hosted by NPR Music's Sidney Madden and Rodney Carmichael, Louder Than A Riot confronts power from every angle – from the power the genre wields over its artists, to the power plays that its rulebreakers take in order to get heard. In the midst of a so-called Renaissance for women in rap, these stories reveal a rot at the core of the culture that reflects how voices, bodies, and rights are still policed in America.
24 Available Episodes (24 Total)Average duration: 00:42:37
Apr 20, 2023
Introducing: 'Broken Record' from Pushkin Industries
00:54:59
We don't have a new episode of Louder Than A Riot this week. Instead, we are using our mid-season break to introduce you to a podcast we love: Broken Record from Pushkin Industries. Hosted by Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond Broken Record explores the craft and legacy of musicians. Today we're sharing Rick Rubin's conversation with one of the most innovative artists in music, Missy Elliot. This year Missy was recognized as having more platinum albums than any other female rapper and she is also the first female MC to be inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. We hope you enjoy hearing more about her life and career on Broken Record.
Apr 13, 2023
An update on Episode 5: if you see something, say nothing
00:01:40
Louder was planning to drop a new episode this morning about a lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and workplace discrimination at The Source magazine in the early 2000s. But, because of circumstances beyond our control, we need to delay it. Our next episode drops on April 27. Listen for our full statement on the status of Rule No. 5.
Apr 06, 2023
It ain't trickin' if you got it: Trina, Trick Daddy and Latto
00:57:23
How did the "bad bitch" replace the "ride or die chick" in hip-hop? In this episode we talk to the original baddest herself, Trina, about how her career flipped the script on dusty old stereotypes of Black women in rap, and left men down bad. We also sit down with Trick Daddy, the man that put her on, to hear how he feels to see her shining; and check in with Latto, a rapper carrying the torch that Trina set aflame 25 years ago.
Apr 04, 2023
Introducing: 'Back Issue' from Pineapple Street Studios
00:04:56
We're sharing something special with you from a friend of the show. Back Issue is a show that reminisces on moments in pop culture's past that have shaped our present. Each episode brings personal reflection, incredible guests and plenty of deep belly laughs. Our homie, Josh Gwynn, is a fire host, and has invited some very special guest co-hosts to share their perspective on some of the most formative stories in pop culture.
Mar 30, 2023
Beauty is in the eye of the male gaze: DreamDoll, Doechii and Baby Tate
00:52:30
The male gaze looms over everything, but hip-hop is its favorite entertainment. Those under its watchful eye feel objectified or shamed if they don't give it what it wants to see. In this episode, we share the stories of three artists who are pushing back on the male gaze in their personal relationships, social interactions and even industry-wide.
Mar 23, 2023
Baby girl, you're only funky as your last cut: MC Sha-Rock
00:47:46
Decades before hip-hop's current renaissance of women rappers, there was MC Sha-Rock. Despite her influence on future generations, her contribution to the craft of hip-hop is not widely known. In this episode, we break down legacy: who gets to leave one in hip-hop and who gets left out.
Mar 16, 2023
Megan's Rule: Being exceptional doesn't make you the exception
00:37:31
It felt like the December 2022 trial of Tory Lanez sparked a divide in hip-hop, but it just stoked the flames of a 50-year-long battle for Black women to be heard. In the first episode of our new season, we take you into Megan Thee Stallion's testimony to unpack the impact of misogynoir on rap.
Mar 09, 2023
Louder Than A Riot Returns Thursday, March 16
00:03:36
Inside all corners of hip-hop, Black women and queer folk have dealt with the same oppression the music was built to escape. Season 2 of Louder Than A Riot examines who hip-hop marginalizes, and how misogynoir — the specific racist misogyny against Black women — is embedded into the fabric of the culture that we love.
May 20, 2022
Lyrics Still On Trial: Young Thug and Gunna
00:14:42
Last week, two of Atlanta's biggest rappers Young Thug and Gunna were arrested under the RICO Act. The DA charged their crew YSL as a gang and the indictment read more like a lyrical analysis than a police report. If this sounds familiar, it's because these same tactics were used in cases we explored with DJ Drama, Bobby Shmurda, and Mac Phipps. In this bonus episode, we speak with NPR's Ayesha Rascoe about the impact of YSL, and how RICO is being used against rap crews.
Jun 01, 2021
Presenting: On Our Watch
00:48:35
What happens to police officers who use excessive force, tamper with evidence or sexually harass someone? In California, internal affairs investigations were kept secret from the public — until a recent transparency law unsealed thousands of files. On Our Watch is a limited-run podcast from NPR and KQED that brings you into the rooms where officers are interrogated and witnesses are questioned to find out who the system of police accountability really serves, and who it protects.
Apr 20 | 00:54:59
Introducing: 'Broken Record' from Pushkin Industries
Apr 13 | 00:01:40
An update on Episode 5: if you see something, say nothing
Apr 06 | 00:57:23
It ain't trickin' if you got it: Trina, Trick Daddy and Latto
Apr 04 | 00:04:56
Introducing: 'Back Issue' from Pineapple Street Studios
Mar 30 | 00:52:30
Beauty is in the eye of the male gaze: DreamDoll, Doechii and Baby Tate
Mar 23 | 00:47:46
Baby girl, you're only funky as your last cut: MC Sha-Rock
Mar 16 | 00:37:31
Megan's Rule: Being exceptional doesn't make you the exception
Mar 09 | 00:03:36
Louder Than A Riot Returns Thursday, March 16
May 20 | 00:14:42
Lyrics Still On Trial: Young Thug and Gunna
Jun 01 | 00:48:35
Presenting: On Our Watch
This podcast could use a review!
This podcast could use a review! Have anything to say about it? Share your thoughts using the button below.