EPISODE · May 7, 2026 · 1H 34M
Being Dope, Staying Unruly: Why We Need Hip-Hop to Understand Power, to Build Power and to Fight the Power
from Unruly Subjects · host Rowhome Productions
Before he was a scholar, journalist, and podcast host, Chenjerai was a rapper. And this week’s show is all about how hip-hop is connected to our larger political struggles. 📝 Got a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself? Take the Unruly Subjects Audience Survey.🙏 We make Unruly Subjects 100% independently! Support the show on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/UnrulySubjects First, Chenjerai interviews his friend, the scholar, rapper, and UVA professor A.D. Carson. He's the author of Being Dope: Hip Hop and Theory through Mixtape Memoir. In their conversation, they talk about what it means to take rap seriously on its own terms and why it's worthy of scholarly analysis, and how A.D’s work applies to the Afroman case. Second, Chenjerai talks with RodStarz, ½ of the political rap duo Rebel Diaz. They discuss the group's history, their political education, the Rebel Diaz Arts Collective, and how they understood hip hop not just as music, but as actual infrastructure. Also, P-Dawg calls in, News Fiend, & more… Follow Chenjerai on Instagram @chenjerai and Bluesky @chenjerai.bsky.social and follow Unruly Subjects @unrulysubjectspod. Get in touch [email protected] Subjects is also now on YouTube! Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/@UnrulySubjectsAdditional Music by Blue Dot Sessions and Grizzly BeatzUnruly Subjects is created in partnership with Rowhome ProductionsFurther reading & sources from this episodeBuy A.D’s book: Being Dope: Hip Hop and Theory through Mixtape Memoir https://academic.oup.com/book/61518?login=falseA.D. Carson’s hot off the presses article on the use of James Broadnax lyris to sentence him to death. https://theconversation.com/after-the-execution-of-james-g-broadnax-in-texas-questions-persist-over-use-of-rap-lyrics-as-evidence-280901Some of A.D. Carson’s other writing https://aydeethegreat.com/printed-words/Rebel Diaz “Chicago Teacher”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yN7cRZP58kRebel Diaz on a legacy of activism through musichttp://bronxink.org/2011/10/12/17578-rebel-diaz-passing-on-a-legacy-of-activism-through-music/ Support the show
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Before he was a scholar, journalist, and podcast host, Chenjerai was a rapper. And this week’s show is all about how hip-hop is connected to our larger political struggles. 📝 Got a minute to tell us a little bit about yourself? Take the Unruly Subjects Audience Survey. 🙏 We make Unruly Subjects 100% independently! Support the show on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/UnrulySubjects First, Chenjerai interviews his friend, the scholar, rapper, and UVA professor A.D. Carson...
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Being Dope, Staying Unruly: Why We Need Hip-Hop to Understand Power, to Build Power and to Fight the Power
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