What do you get when you combine Chance the Rapper, Cardi B, T.I., with a bit of John Legend thrown into the mix? A reality show, apparently.
Netflix is set to release the series “Rhythm + Flow,” dubbed rap’s “American Idol,” as they take the streets of the U.S. to search for the next hip-hop sensation. Co-produced by John Legend’s Get Lifted Film Co, the show will zero in on the hotbeds of hip-hop: Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and Chicago. Safe to say, we’re expecting some major turf wars on the horizon.
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Cardi, Chance, and T.I. aren’t the only ones who’ll be making the rounds. Expect some cameos from hip-hop greats as the series rolls out on Oct. 9, with new episodes every Wednesday till the finale on Oct 23. The first four episodes will center on the auditions across the cities, then moving on to cyphers, rap battles, samples, and collabs.
After the show’s announcement, Cardi B shared more details on Instagram. “I’m looking for somebody that when I’m going to my car I’m gonna remember their music, I’m gonna remember their face, I’m gonna remember their personality,” she says. “We wanna find you, we wanna discover you.”
T.I. chimed in on Twitter, revealing they’ll be searching “all of the hoods, all the studios, all the nightclubs. Even the barbershops, if necessary.” True to the spirit of hip-hop, they’re all about keepin’ it real. “You’ve never seen a show like this, and with us as judges, the authenticity is gonna be through the roof.”
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In the recently dropped teaser, Chance echoed the same sentiment, saying, “This is hip-hop’s first legit TV competition.” We’re hyped and all, but this ain’t that new—South Korea has “Show Me the Money” since 2012, and the Philippines had its own with Andrew E’s 1997 reality show, “Rap 13.” But for Netflix’s large audience, this could be a big deal for hip-hop as a genre. Rap has long been a subject of ridicule when it comes to counting it as legitimate art, and a platform like this may boost its reputation. With that and new talent to see, we might keep this show on our radar.
Check out the teaser trailer for “Rhythm + Flow” below.
Still from “Rhythm + Flow”
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