Why the People Who Built Hip-Hop Ended Up With Nothing
About this episode
From the show’s notesBen Horowitz and Erik Torenberg sit down with Nas, Grandmaster Caz, and Steve Stoute for a conversation about the Paid in Full Foundation and its mission to recognize and support the pioneers who built hip-hop.
Ben, Nas, and Steve share how the foundation began, why simply giving artists money wasn’t enough, and how the Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards became a way to pair financial support with the recognition many foundational artists never received. Caz brings the perspective of one of those pioneers, reflecting on his role in hip-hop’s earliest history and what receiving the award has meant for his life and legacy.
Read the show’s notes in full
They also discuss the enormous cultural and commercial impact of hip-hop beyond music, from language and fashion to some of the world’s biggest brands, why so many of its pioneers captured so little of that value, and what happens when generations of hip-hop finally come together in the same room.
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Resources:
Learn more about the Paid in Full Foundation: paidinfullfoundation.org
Follow Nas on X:
x.com/Nas
Follow Steve Stoute:
linkedin.com/in/stevestoute
Follow Ben Horowitz on X:
x.com/bhorowitz
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