The Hub’s Entertainment Watch List: Hip Hop Homicides
While we are bopping our heads to the catchy beats and choruses in hip-hop songs, the artists behind them are now having to look over their shoulders to evade death. A CNN report took a look at the alarming facts and found that at least ONE rapper has been killed by gun violence every year since 2018. The recent rise in hip-hop artists’ deaths has brought the conversation to the forefront in the form of a new television series.
WEtv debuted the 8-episode series “Hip Hop Homicides,” in November of 2022. It is an investigative series that re-examines the murders of hip-hop artists to unpack longstanding questions surrounding the various cases. This season told the stories of rappers Pop Smoke, King Von, Magnolia Shorty, Chinx, Soulja Slim, XXXtentacion, Mo3 and FBG Duck. Love and Hip Hop Creator Mona Scott Young, as well as producer and rapper 50 Cent, joined forces to executive produce the series.
Part of the reason viewers have this series is due to 50 Cent’s friendship with slain New York rapper Pop Smoke. The 20-year-old rapper was gunned down during a home invasion in Hollywood Hills, California, in 2020. Experiencing the loss of Pop Smoke sparked a sense of curiosity within 50 Cent, ultimately leading to his involvement in the creation of Hip Hop Homicides.
In addition to having a team of talented producers, Hip Hop Homicides is hosted by popular TV personality Van Lathan. Lathan melts his thought-provoking interview style with his interest in hip-hop culture to get to the bottom of important questions that surrounds the cases discussed. The investigative series includes exclusive conversations with eyewitnesses, family members and law enforcement to provide a full look at the facts. Viewers can also expect to hear from other artists such as Mia X, Vic Mensa, Master P and French Montana. Lathan noted that his goal for the series is to foster understanding and break the cycle that is triggering the loss of life.
Interested viewers can binge-watch the series via WEtv or on AMC’s streaming service, ALLBLK. However, unfortunately for fans of the series, there is currently no confirmation for season two of Hip Hop Homicides.
