How the 'scarcity mindset' enforces the unwritten rules of rap
Over the last nine episodes, Louder Than A Riot has tackled the unwritten rules of rap that hold the whole culture back. For the show's finale, we dig into the root of all those rules: the scarcity mindset. It's the belief that access and resources are so limited for those marginalized in hip-hop that you have to fight tooth and nail for them, and that only one can make it to the top at a time. "There can only be one queen bitch. That's why the girls be arguing all the time," says rapper and actress KaMillion. "That's how we're programmed."
So, for the mother of all rules, it's the mother of all episodes, as we ask hip-hop professionals how the scarcity mindset impacts their art and their lives. First, music journalist, professor and author Kathy Iandoli and the legendary MC Lyte break down the lineage of scarcity for women in the game. Then, Aida Osman and KaMillion share how the show they co-star on, HBO's Rap Sh!t, is tackling scarcity head on, while New York rapper Quay Dash explains using her work to create abundance. And finally, the entire Louder team gathers to say goodbye, as scarcity comes for us, too.
To follow along with the music in this episode, check out the Louder Than A Riot playlists on Apple Music & Spotify. We'll update them every week.
To connect with us, follow the show on Twitter @LouderThanARiot, or send us an email at louder@npr.org.
Audio story produced by Gabby Bulgarelli, Mano Sundaresan, Sam J. Leeds and Rhaina Cohen
Audio story edited by Soraya Shockley
Audio story engineered by Josh Newell
Podcast theme and original music by Suzi Analogue and Kassa Overall
Fact-checking by Brin Winterbottom