Hip-hop’s television takeover "Atlanta's" Donald Glover, center; Lakeith Stanfield, left; and Brian Tyree Henry. Consider hip-hop’s television takeover. Today, rappers are not only backing films about the black experience, but they are creating, producing and starring in top-rated cable and network series and breaking out of music categories at film and television award shows. Ice Cube (aka O’Shea Jackson) alone launched an entire genre of black comedies for the post-Run DMC generation in his “Friday” and “Barbershop” film series. Reality TV on those Viacom-owned networks has served as a major stepping stone for hip-hop stars transitioning from music to TV — and beyond.

Source: Los Angeles Times January 13, 2018 11:15 UTC