Two young men grow up just blocks apart, each with aspirations to make it big. But while Bobby Shmurda sees his dreams come true, Bryan Antoine is killed by members of Bobby's crew. This is the story that lingers between the lyrics of Bobby's viral hit, "Hot N****." We talk to the family grieving Bryan's loss and review hours of incriminating GS9 phone calls ... Show More
Nov 2020
My Brother's Keeper: Bobby Shmurda (Pt 3)
Six years after his arrest, Bobby Shmurda's fans are still anxiously awaiting his return. The rapper ultimately stayed loyal to his crew in court, but the chokehold of conspiracy law also left him with few other options. In our final chapter of Bobby's story, we follow his legal ... Show More
59m 31s
Dec 2020
Captured By The Game: Nipsey Hussle
After LA rapper Nipsey Hussle was murdered in 2019, city officials praised him for his community advocacy. But NPR has learned that behind the scenes, some law enforcement officers branded Nipsey as a gang member, and that label meant another man from Nipsey's neighborhood would ... Show More
1h 5m
May 2024
Episode 571: Criminal Dean Thornton releases rap song about Drogheda feud
A Drogheda feud member, convicted of a brutal abduction and torture, has launched his rap career with a highly produced music video about crime and carnage on the streets of his home town.
Criminal Dean Thornton is hoping to find fame with his song about feuding, guns and gangste ... Show More
17m 53s
Mar 2021
BONUS: Rapper Mac Phipps, After 20 Years In Prison, Is One Step Closer To Freedom
In this episode from NPR's Louder Than A Riot, New Orleans rapper Mac Phipps speaks exclusively to NPR about the power dynamics at play throughout his clemency hearing, and hosts Sidney Madden and Rodney Carmichael examine how his hip-hop career continues to affect his image in t ... Show More
47m 56s
Jun 2019
Bryan McCann, "The Mark of Criminality: Rhetoric, Race, and Gangsta Rap in the War-on-Crime Era" (U Alabama Press, 2017)
On this episode, Dr. Lee Pierce (she/they)--Asst. Prof. of Communication at SUNY Geneseo--interviews Bryan McCann (he/his)--Associate Professor of Communication at Louisiana State University--on a dope new work of cultural criticism The Mark of Criminality: Rhetoric, Race, and Ga ... Show More
1h 2m
Jun 2023
Episode 300 - Tupac & Biggie: ‘2 Of Amerikaz Most Wanted’ - Part 1
Stories of death, drugs, and gang violence were inextricably linked, in the 90s media, to the nation’s biggest rap stars.
Tupac Shakur was one of the decade’s biggest and most admired music icons – until his life was cut tragically short in 1996. By the time he died, he’d been i ... Show More
1h 3m