Hip-hop is in a weird place right now. Research says that the genre, in both streaming and chart performance, has declined over the last decade. And while rap artists can still get number one songs on the Hot 100, it’s a far cry from the peak of trap circa 2017, when Nielsen data named hip-hop as the most popular genre in the U.S.

So what does that mean for the future of rap? To find out, producer Reanna Cruz spent all weekend reporting from Inglewood, CA, at the California edition of the world’s largest hip-hop festival: Rolling Loud. Through talking to attendees and catching the weekend’s hottest sets, they learned about the current state of hip-hop – the good and the bad – as well as what the future may hold.

To read Reanna’s highs and lows from the festival, check out their Vulture article here. 

Special thanks to Antonio Cruz for his production help on this episode.

Songs Discussed:

• OsamaSon – Pop


• Nicki Minaj – BARBIE DANGEROUS


• ¥$, Kanye West, & Ty Dolla $ign – EVERYBODY (live)


• ¥$, Kanye West, & Ty Dolla $ign – BACK TO ME (live)


• Junior H – Y LLORO


• Natanael Cano – Pacas de Billetes


• Fuerza Regida – Enculado


• That Mexican OT, Lefty SM – Barrio (with Lefty SM)


• That Mexican OT – Cowboy Killer (live)


• KenTheMan – Not My N**** – Extended


• KenTheMan – Poppin Sh!t


• KenTheMan – Keep Going (live)


• Kaliii – Area Codes


• Action Bronson & Statik Selektah – Respect the Moustache


• Drake, SZA, & Sexyy Red – Rich Baby Daddy (live)


• Sexyy Red, Sukihana – Born By the River (feat. Sukihana)


• Sexyy Red, Chief Keef – Skee Yee (live)


• Nettspend – shine n peace (live)


• Nettspend – deftones snippet (live)


• Matt Ox – Overwhelming


• Nettspend – What they say


• SOPHIE – BIPP

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