The BEST episodes of Hip-Hop Evolution season 1

Every episode of Hip-Hop Evolution season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Hip-Hop Evolution season 1!

HIP-HOP EVOLUTION travels back to 1970s Bronx and Harlem, unveiling how hip-hop evolved from its beginnings as a New York house-party experiment, to the global phenomenon it is today, and more importantly, how it created a voice for the disenfranchised. Acclaimed Canadian MC and media personality Shad Kabango guides viewers through the evolution of the genre, travelling through NYC’s boroughs to speak with hip-hop’s originators and biggest stars. The power-house documentary features interviews with the musical legends and pioneers that started it all.

Last Updated: 4/10/2024Network: HBO CanadaStatus: Ended
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The Birth of Gangsta Rap
star
8.47
92 votes

#1 - The Birth of Gangsta Rap

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/25/2016

Ice-T uses Hip-Hop to reflect the violence of Los Angeles and inspires a new form of Hip-Hop: Gangsta Rap. N.W.A’s first album, Straight Outta Compton, shocks America. After the LA Rebellion, Dr. Dre makes The Chronic, and creates Hip-Hop’s first hardcore pop record.

Watch Now:Amazon
The Foundation
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8.42
117 votes

#2 - The Foundation

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/4/2016

Bronx-based DJs set Hip-Hop's sonic foundations. MCs, inspired by African American oral traditions, create the modern template for rap music, culminating with the emergence of Hip-Hop's first crew, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five.

Watch Now:Amazon
The New Guard
star
8.39
96 votes

#3 - The New Guard

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/18/2016

Run-DMC ushers in a new era of Hip-Hop. Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin build Hip-Hop's first empire, Def Jam. An unknown producer finds a new way to make beats and launches Hip-Hop's Golden Age, culminating in the epic fury of Public Enemy.

Watch Now:Amazon
From The Underground to The Mainstream
star
8.36
103 votes

#4 - From The Underground to The Mainstream

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/11/2016

Hip-Hop crews in the Bronx and Harlem begin to form around the DJs, but these pioneering groups never record any music. It would take R&B veterans to see the genre’s commercial potential and create Hip-Hop's first hit, "Rapper's Delight."