John Legend Speaks on Lack of Hip-Hop Representation on TV Talent Shows in Season One of ‘Rhythm + Flow’

Singer, John Legend, praises Netflix competition  Rhythm + Flow for representing hip-hop culture.

Rhythm + Flow is a music television series where hip hop artists Chance the Rapper, T.I. and Cardi B search for the next best rapper. Auditions were held in Atlanta, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. “D-Smoke” is Rhythm + Flow’s first-time winner. Rapper, D-Smoke, was born and raised in California and took home the $250,000 grand prize.

John Legend is one of the executive producers behind the music competition.

“I had been looking around at all these other talent shows and competitions and hip-hop did not have a talent show, a competition show that really showed off how vibrant hip-hop culture is. And I have a production company that’s all about doing projects that are interesting, that are provocative, that are fresh, and that particularly shine a light on Black culture. I felt like there was a huge gap. In all these competition shows, all these singers, all these chefs, all these other things, you just never saw hip-hop really being represented,” said John.

While speaking with D-Smoke on season one of Rhythm + Flow, he explained why the production company chose to team up with Netflix rather than a network.

“The challenge was, if we tried to do it at a network, you’d have to censor, and if you censor hip-hop, it just wouldn’t have the same flavor to it,” John added. “So when Netflix agreed to do the show with us, it was the perfect place to do it. That way, we could have it in its full rawness, and its full energy.”

Rhythm + Flow will be returning to Netflix for season two and audition tapes are being submitted through  Rhythm+Flow.com.

Listen here for Rhythm + Flow‘s champion D-Smoke’s new album, Inglewood High.