Hip-Hop 50 From the Bronx to ubiquity

Hip-Hop 50Hip-Hop 50

In his new memoir, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson describes his life in music — and how he mimicked beats at just 10 months old. Danny Clinch/Grand Central Publishing hide caption

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Danny Clinch/Grand Central Publishing

'Fresh Air' celebrates 50 years of hip-hop: Questlove; Chuck D; Diddy

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Missy Elliot performs at Lilith Fair at Jones Beach, New York, New York, July 16, 1998 Steve Eichner/Getty Images hide caption

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Missy Elliott made hip-hop 'Supa Dupa Fly'

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Lil Uzi Vert Rich Fury/Getty Images hide caption

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Rich Fury/Getty Images

The Culture Corner: Philadelphia's place in hip-hop history

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Megan Thee Stallion performs onstage during the 2023 LA Pride in the Park Festival. In the first episode of its second season, the Louder Than A Riot podcast examines the backlash Megan faced after being shot by rapper Tory Lanez. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images hide caption

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'Louder Than A Riot' reckons with hip-hop's past and looks to a more inclusive future

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3 members of the Memphis hip-hop group Three 6 Mafia. D.J. Paul (from left), Juicy J and Crunchy Black at MTV's Total Request Live on March 22, 2006, in New York City. Peter Kramer/Getty Images Entertainment hide caption

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Peter Kramer/Getty Images Entertainment

Darryl McDaniels (L) and Joseph Simmons (R) of Run-DMC, closing the Hip Hop 50 Live concert at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, N.Y. early Saturday morning. Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

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Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images

Kings and queens gathered for 'Hip Hop 50 Live' at Yankee Stadium

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Hip-Hop turns 50. NPR hide caption

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Hip-hop at 50: A history of explosive musical and cultural innovation

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Hip-hop's first 50 years have yielded expansion across the globe and domination of digital spaces. As the internet has collapsed physical gaps, major artists from outside the United States, like (clockwise from top left) Little Simz, Drake, Bad Bunny, Blackpink and Rema, have been able to communicate with American rap culture in real time. Paul Bergen / Amy Sussman / Frazer Harrison / Emma McIntyre / Torben Christensen/Getty Images hide caption

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Paul Bergen / Amy Sussman / Frazer Harrison / Emma McIntyre / Torben Christensen/Getty Images

T.I.'s 2003 album, Trap Muzik, gave a name to a specific flavor of Atlanta rap that reflected the city's street culture. Vivien Killilea hide caption

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Vivien Killilea

The birth of trap music and the rise of southern hip-hop

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Drakeo the Ruler, Kendrick Lamar, DJ Quik and N.W.A. Collage by Jackie Lay / NPR. Walik Goshorn / Bennett Raglin / Michael Loccisano / Theo Wargo/Getty Images / AP hide caption

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Walik Goshorn / Bennett Raglin / Michael Loccisano / Theo Wargo/Getty Images / AP

2 Live Crew in 1989 (Mr. Mixx, Brother Marquis, Luther Campbell & Fresh Kid Ice) Raymond Boyd / Contributor/Getty Images / Michael Ochs Archives hide caption

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Raymond Boyd / Contributor/Getty Images / Michael Ochs Archives

2 Live Crew fought the law with its album, 'As Nasty As They Wanna Be'

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Edo.G performs during the YO! MTV Raps 30th Anniversary Live Event in New York City in 2018. Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images hide caption

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Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images

How 'Yo! MTV Raps' helped mainstream hip-hop

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E-40, Lil B, Too $hort and Kamaiyah. Collage by Jackie Lay / NPR. Bennett Raglin / Randy Shropshire / Taylor Hill / Gaelle Beri/Getty Images hide caption

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Bennett Raglin / Randy Shropshire / Taylor Hill / Gaelle Beri/Getty Images
Islen Milien for NPR

Rap pioneers the Sugarhill Gang (left to right: Wonder Mike, Master G and Big Bank Hank) perform live circa 1979. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images hide caption

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Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

'Rapper's Delight': How hip-hop got its first record deal

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Sir Mix-a-Lot, Macklemore, Lil Mosey & Ishmael Butler. Collage by Jackie Lay / NPR. Sipa USA via AP / Kevork Djansezian / Bennett Raglin / Theo Wargo/Getty Images / AP hide caption

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Sipa USA via AP / Kevork Djansezian / Bennett Raglin / Theo Wargo/Getty Images / AP

Big Boi (left) and Andre 3000 of Outkast perform at the Firefly Music Festival in 2014. Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Firefly Music Festival hide caption

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Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Firefly Music Festival

The Sunday Story: Hip-Hop Verses That Changed Our Lives

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