' want to convert so many people that I start a movement'

Romesh Ranganathan is to host a new Radio 2 series offering a  beginners’ guide to hip hop.

The comic is a former battle rapper and already shares his love of the genre in his hit podcast Hip Hop Saved My Life.

Now he will explore its history and current state in the four-part series For The Love Of Hip Hop, set to air in August.

The BBC says: ‘Romesh has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the genre and a killer track selection to match.

‘He will explore the music he loves, from its infancy in the 1970s, and, with his usual humorous take, he’ll make you love it too.’

Producers say he will also be looking at the relationship between comedy and hip-hop and showcase the household names that have dabbled in the genre that you might not know about.

Ranganthan said: ‘I’m incredibly excited about doing a hip hop show on BBC Radio 2.

‘I feel like there’s a big group of people that feel like hip hop isn’t for them, but it absolutely is. It’s such an expansive genre, it has something for everyone.

‘I genuinely believe there is a whole raft of Radio 2 listeners who don’t know how great hip hop is, and I want to change that. I want to convert so many people that I start some sort of movement.’

Artists featured in the series will include  Wee Papa Girl Rappers, Grandmaster Flash, De La Soul, Snoop Dogg, Lauryn Hill, Roots Manuva, LL Cool J, A Tribe Called Quest, Missy Elliot, Jay-Z, Lizzo and Kanye West.

Published: 22 Jun 2021