Listen to our Staff Writer Discussing Inclusivity in Hip-Hop on Radio 702

Revered South African talk radio host Eusebius McKaiser hosts the morning show on the talks station 702, The Eusebius McKaiser Show. This morning, he discussed inclusivity in hip-hop, particularly in terms of gender and sexual orientation. Joining him were the rapper Mx Blouse and OkayAfrica staff writer, Sabelo Mkhabela, who covers a lot of hip-hop for this website.

With the success of queer artists like Lil Nas X, it's clear that hip-hop is changing, but is it really?

Mx Blouse, who's a gender non-confirming artist, has the first-hand experience and shared their insights and experiences in the game. "Hip-hop tends to look more misogynistic and more homophobic than the rest of society when it is actually just a reflection of society," says Mx Blouse.

Adding on, Sabelo Mkhabela suggested that the conversation extends further than hip-hop and music, saying, "This is a conversation about society and not necessarily about hip hop because the genre is made up of ordinary people in society. It always holds a mirror on who we are."

The conversation touched on a few points, including the treatment male queer rappers face as opposed to female queer rappers. It was discussed if hip-hop in its current form will survive in a world where inclusivity and political correctness are part of the zeitgeist, given that a lot of misogyny and homophobia exist in hip-hop.

Callers on the show added their takes, with Lee Kasumba, a highly respected hip-hop media icon, calling in too. She agreed with the guests that hip-hop only holds the mirror to society, and that profanity can be used to drive a point home.

Listen to the segment below and revisit our interview with Mx Blouse here.