Hip Hop: The Songs That Shook America

A thoughtful, music-rich sit-down that unpacks one landmark track at a time, rewarding close listening with cultural context and candid artist reflection.

Created by

Alex Gibney, Questlove

Genres

Documentary

Starring

Queen Latifah, Kendrick Lamar, Ye

Overview

From executive producers Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, Shawn Gee and Alex Gibney, each episode of this series focuses on a groundbreaking song pivotal to the evolution of American music and culture. From the early hip-hop battles to verses that sparked hope and inspired change, watch artists deconstruct their composition, revisit the impact the song had on them personally, and dissect the socio-economic and cultural conditions that inspired the landmark work and gave voice to a generation.

How it feels

Measured and needs your attention.

About

Music, art, race, identity

Content

Strong language. Mild violence and sexual content. No gore.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

Your rating is saved. See your suggestions, or find titles like this one below.

Rate it, and Mesmero finds titles that feel like it. You do not need an account.

Search YouTube for a trailer (opens in a new tab)