In episode 3, we unwrap the history and rise of an American staple: Reality TV. Through Jay Dilla's Reality TV featuring Black Thought from the album Jay Stay Paid released in 2009, we explore the social context in which Reality TV grew and transformed over seven decades, seeing an explosion at the turn of the 21st century. We talk through the different genres of reality TV, some of the issues with it, and why the shows have commanded so much attention.

If you're interested in reading the episode essays that we write each week following the release of an episode as well as additional future content, please consider supporting us at www.patreon.com/UnRapdPodcast. We'd also love to hear from you on Twitter @UnRapd and Instagram @UnRapdPodcast.

Keeping It Real or Not?: A Look At Reality TV

Welcome to UnRap'd, the podcast that uses hip-hop lyrics as a way to explore history and culture.

We're you're hosts, Max and Adam, a history teacher and a lawyer who both love hip-hop. On each episode of UnRap'd, we'll focus on a few lyrics and unwrap the meaning, history, and culture behind those references. Our goal is to help develop a better understanding of what our favorite artists are talking about in our favorite songs. You might think of it as a long-form version of Genius annotations.

For updates on UnRap'd, please follow us on Twitter at @UnRapd and on Instagram at @UnRapdPodcast. You can also like and review us on your favorite podcast platform. Lastly, if you'd like to support our podcast, you can contribute at www.patreon.com/UnRapd. We'd appreciate all of your support.

UnRap'd Trailer

In our first episode, we unwrap the history of blood diamonds and conflict in West Africa through Kanye West's masterpiece: Diamonds from Sierra Leone (Remix) ft. Jay Z. 

If you're interested in continuing the conversation we have, or in visuals of the human cost of blood diamonds, please consider subscribing to us at www.patreon.com/UnRapdPodcast. We'd also love to hear from you on Twitter @UnRapd and Instagram @UnRapdPodcast.

Diamonds Are Forever, But At What Cost?

In episode 2, we unwrap obscure but influential criminal legislation: the Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, more commonly known as RICO. Through Meek Mill's RICO featuring Drake from Dreams Worth More than Money released in 2015, we explore the historical context in which RICO arose as an outgrowth of gangster-era failures to prosecute crime bosses, its delayed use in taking down well-known but elusive mafia bosses, and how its application has shifted in a late 20th and early 21st-century context when mafia influence has largely subsided.

If you're interested in continuing the conversation we have, or in visuals of the Prohibition era and of gangster and mafia culture, please consider supporting us at www.patreon.com/UnRapdPodcast. We'd also love to hear from you on Twitter @UnRapd and Instagram @UnRapdPodcast.

Mafia to Meek: You Might Just Get Hit With The RICO

The podcast that unwraps historical and pop culture references in rap and hip-hop.

UnRap'd Podcast