Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

Spotify Head of Urban Music Carl Chery Invites Fans To Look Into the Stories of Hip-Hop's Top Artists With RapCaviar Presents'

24/03/2023

Mark March 30 on your calendars. That's when RapCaviar Presents arrives on Hulu. Based on Spotify's flagship hip-hop playlist, RapCaviar, the compelling new documentary series tackles today's most provocative issues through the lens of hip-hop. Centered around the visionaries and emerging stars who rule the charts and influence our culture, fans will get an up-close look into the lives of City Girls, Tyler, The Creator, Polo G, Roddy Ricch, Coi Leray, and more.

Featuring commentary from cultural tastemakers, media experts, and hip-hop historians, each of RapCaviar Presents' six episodes examines a specific deep-rooted issue that affects hip-hop artists, their fans, and society at large. This includes explorations of mental health, women's sexuality, the criminalization of rap, social media criticism, and the ultimate cost of viral fame.

In addition to honest commentary on cultural topics, the show also gets personal, homing in on the artists' tales of triumph, disruption, empowerment, and redemption.

To celebrate its upcoming release, we threw a party in LA with Hulu, where Coi Leray, Saweetie, Freddie Gibbs, Mustard, Blxst and Ty Dolla $ign were all in attendance. Guests were invited to toast the series, enjoy a hip-hop-focused set from DJ Domo, and hop in our RapCaviar-themed photo booth.

Saweetie (Credit: JC Olivera/Picture Group)

Coi Leray (Credit: JC Olivera/Picture Group)

DJ Domo (Credit: JC Olivera/Picture Group)

Ty Dolla $ign (Credit: JC Olivera/Picture Group)

Coco Jones (Credit: JC Olivera/Picture Group)

(Credit: JC Olivera/Picture Group)

(Credit: JC Olivera/Picture Group)

Mustard and Carl Chery (Credit: JC Olivera/Picture Group)

NEXT

Ahead of the series premiere, For the Record caught up with Carl Chery, Spotify's Head of Urban Music and Creative Director, who also serves as an executive producer on the show. As a driving force behind the creation of RapCaviar Presents, Carl gave us the scoop on RapCaviar's evolution from playlist to TV show, unique ways they were able to tell stories, and what fans can expect when it premieres.

What's the inspiration behind RapCaviar Presents? This started almost five years ago. The RapCaviar playlist had launched in 2015 and was showing the potential to become more than a playlist. So as we made plans to expand RapCaviar's influence with social channels and a podcast, we also started thinking about a docuseries. That started as far back as 2018, and we started pitching it in the summer of 2019.

Hulu bought the pilot in 2019, but then the pandemic happened, which delayed production for almost a year. We finally submitted the pilot in 2021, the series was picked up later that year, and then we began production on the actual series in February of 2022.

What makes Spotify and RapCaviar uniquely positioned to tell these stories? We're very much in the thick of the streaming era, and I think Spotify emerged as arguably the most important editorial outlet across mediums. I think that the work that we're doing across our playlist ecosystem is something that's really resonated with audiences for the past eight years.

In hip-hop, there's a timeline of the mediums that all these cultural authorities express themselves through. Once upon a time, it was radio stations, and then it was magazines, and then it was blogs. But now, it's playlists. So it felt like we were in the right place to be the next iteration of that hip-hop authority.

Does this series shed any light on the future of hip-hop? Yes, it does. It was very important for me that the show is centered around the current generation of rap stars. But as we tackle topics that pertain to things like the Tyler, The Creator apology, we still have to give historical context. So I like that in almost every story we start in the present, go back, and then go forward. But you'll have to tune in to find out where we end up.

Were there stories shared during filming that surprised you? Polo G's story, which I believe is part of Episode 4 (titled Through the Storm ), was very unexpected because it speaks of things that haven't been reported much. But the director, Mandon Lovett, did an incredible job of getting Polo to open up.

Spotify Head of Urban Music Carl Chery (Credit: JC Olivera/Picture Group)

Polo G is someone who is really reserved, and I don't think that many people are aware that he overdosed a few years ago. But he was willing to talk about generational trauma, and for viewers, seeing his vulnerability and experiencing that side of his personality will be revealing.

And then even with someone like Tyler, The Creator, who people have been familiar with for a longer period of time. If you remember, Tyler started his career as someone who was a shock-value type of rapper. But in more recent years, he's resurfaced as someone who is more thoughtful and polished. I noticed that as a fan, but I never knew what was behind it.

And on RapCaviar Presents, he talks about how he used to go on TV and just goof off. And one day, someone saw him at the airport and told him, Hey, you're that guy from Ridiculousness! For Tyler, it was an eye-opening moment because he was like, Oh, wow, I'm not known for my music. And that was one of the things that shifted Tyler's approach.

And then we have incredible journalists and artists who gave us amazing context that will be educational and informative to even the most rap-obsessed music lovers. In the episode featuring City Girls, Jamilah Lemieux gave us amazing historical context into the arc of women in hip-hop.

Looking at '90s hip-hop, which featured women like Lil' Kim, Foxy Brown, and Trina, Jamilah pointed out that those women were aspiring to be mafia wives, but this new generation is a completely different thing and they&
LINK: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2023-03-24/spotify-head-of-urban-music-ca...
See more stories from spotify

Europe Stories

21/12/2025

Rory McIlroy caps stellar year by winning the RT Sport Sportsperson of the Year 2025

John Shortt named Young Sportsperson of the Year Kerry are the Team of the Year ...

19/12/2025

With Playout Release 2025.4, ToolsOnAir continues to push professional playout workflows forward on macOS.

With Playout Release 2025.4, ToolsOnAir continues to push professional playout w...

19/12/2025

VEON's Mobilink Microfinance Bank Launches Islamic Banking Operations in Pakistan

19 Dec 2025 VEON's Mobilink Microfinance Bank Launches Islamic Banking Oper...

19/12/2025

Kelly Reilly and Rafe Spall lead Sky Original Under Salt Marsh as the full trailer is unveiled

The six-part drama, set in a close-knit Welsh town fractured by an unspeakable c...

19/12/2025

Rohde & Schwarz drives the future of mobility at CES 2026

Rohde & Schwarz drives the future of mobility at CES 2026 At the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Rohde & Schwarz will present a powerful lineup o...

19/12/2025

RT is turning up the volume at the 2026 Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition

RT is proud to return to the RDS to support the 2026 Stripe Young Scientist & T...

18/12/2025

Montreal's Bell Centre elevates fan experience with Argo S

Canada's largest indoor arena has transformed its live production capabilities with a full ST 2110 infrastructure and Calrec's compact Argo S console. S...

18/12/2025

PGA TOUR Studios Teams up with SES for Hybrid Content Distribution

Long-term agreement includes the SES SCORE platform and hybrid distribution worldwide to deliver more than 5,000 hours of golf tournaments annually featuring th...

18/12/2025

VEON Upgraded to Nasdaq Global Select Market, Enhancing Investor Visibility

18 Dec 2025 VEON Upgraded to Nasdaq Global Select Market, Enhancing Investor Visibility Dubai, December 18, 2025 - VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital o...

18/12/2025

Sky Sports remains the exclusive home of the Masters Tournament, with more live coverage than ever before

Thursday 18 December 2025 Sky Sports remains the exclusive home of the Masters ...

18/12/2025

2025-11-18

Using the additive process of 3D printing, layer after layer gets printed until an object is as close to the final shape needed as possible. Historically, machi...

18/12/2025

RT Supporting the Arts 2025 Review | January 2026 Events

In 2025, RT proudly supported 185 arts and cultural events across the island of Ireland, reflecting significant growth since the scheme was re-launched in 2014...

18/12/2025

The RT Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year Nominees 2025 Revealed

RT Sports Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier t...

18/12/2025

RT lyric fm celebrates the Winter Solstice with a special Ambient Orbit live broadcast

RT lyric fm presents a very special Winter Solstice edition of Ambient Orbit, l...

18/12/2025

Celebrating 100 Years of Public Broadcasting in Ireland in 2026

At 7.45pm on 1st January 1926, the precursor to RT , then 2RN, delivered the fledgling new Irish state's first public radio transmission. From those first c...

18/12/2025

The Movie Experience SLO Becomes First U.S. Exhibitor to Adopt Dolby Vision+Atmos Theatrical Solution

December 18 2025, 05:30 (PST) The Movie Experience SLO Becomes First U.S. Exhib...

17/12/2025

The EU Investigative Journalism Award 2025: bold reporting, regional impact, and rise in public-interest journalism

Investigative journalists across the Western Balkans and T rkiye continue to con...

17/12/2025

Ring In the New Year With New Playlists Mixed by Artists, and More Spotify Hacks

The right playlist is essential on New Year's Eve, building the energy as you get ready and keeping it high as you count down to midnight. This year, Spotif...

17/12/2025

Clear-Com's Arcadia Central Station Links Toledo Walleye and Mud Hens Venues with...

eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({...

17/12/2025

Riedel Builds Global Communication and Commentary Network for 15th National Games of China

Wuppertal December 17, 2025 Riedel Builds Global Communication and Commentary ...

17/12/2025

Dolby and LG Unveil a New Era of Home Audio With the World's First Soundbar Audio System Powered by Dolby Atmos FlexC...

December 17 2025, 17:00 (PST) Dolby and LG Unveil a New Era of Home Audio With ...

17/12/2025

Heated Rivalry will be coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on 10 January

Wednesday 17 December 2025 Heated Rivalry will be coming to Sky and streaming service NOW on 10 JanuaryTurn on cookies to view this content. Go to Privacy opti...

17/12/2025

RT announces appointment of Kathy Fox to role of Commissioning Editor, Documentaries and Features

RT has announced that Kathy Fox has been appointed Commissioning Editor with re...

17/12/2025

The Glitterball awaits: Dancing with the Stars unveils dance pairings for 2026

With the new season of Dancing with the Stars shimmering in the not-too-distant future this New Year, the celebrity and dancer pairings of the twelve couples ha...

16/12/2025

Stranger Things' Playlist Takeover Challenges Fans to Decode Clues and Unlock Exclusive Volume 2' Content

Hawkins has landed on Spotify, just in time for Stranger Things Season 5, Volume...

16/12/2025

Spotify and NAVER Bring Music Integrations and Premium Benefits to Korea

Wherever you are, your favorite music and audio content should go seamlessly with you. That's why Spotify has partnered with NAVER Corp, Korea's leading...

16/12/2025

Around the World With Spotify Wrapped: 2025 Fan Destinations You Had to See

2025 Wrapped arrived bigger and bolder than ever. This year's experience is designed to be ultra personal and shareable, with new features like Wrapped Part...

16/12/2025

VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 Results of Both VEON and Kyivstar

16 Dec 2025 VEON Announces Release Date for Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2025 R...

16/12/2025

VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acquisition of Solar Power Company

16 Dec 2025 VEON's Kyivstar Invests in Renewable Energy in Ukraine with Acq...

16/12/2025

Czech TV Elevates Video Streaming with Harmonic

Harmonic's XOS Advanced Media Processor Improves Streaming Video Quality and Boosts Viewer Engagement SAN JOSE, Calif. - Dec. 16, 2025 - Harmonic (NASDAQ: ...

16/12/2025

RT Sport Manager of the Year Nominees 2025 Revealed

RT Sport Awards 2025 live on RT One and RT Player at 8:05pm on Saturday 20 December. On Saturday 20 December live on RT One and RT Player at the earlier t...

16/12/2025

Music legend Brian Kennedy revealed as the twelfth and final contestant for Dancing with the Stars 2026

Singer -songwriter Brian Kennedy has been announced as the final celebrity dance...

15/12/2025

SES and WPDI Win Changing Lives Award, Connecting Youth to Digital Education in South Sudan and Uganda

Cape Town, November 13, 2025 - SES and International artist and humanitarian, Fo...

15/12/2025

SES, Abra Group Launch Multi-Orbit Inflight Connectivity

Luxembourg, December 15, 2025 - SES, a leading space solutions company, and Abra Group launched fast and reliable multi-orbit inflight connectivity service on t...

15/12/2025

VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan Delivers First Starlink Direct to Cell Call in Central Asia

15 Dec 2025 VEON's Beeline Kazakhstan Delivers First Starlink Direct to Cel...

15/12/2025

U&GOLD Reveals Top 10 Topical Christmas Cracker Jokes for 2025!

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor finds himself the topic of year's cracker jokes Oasis, David Harbour, Celebrity Traitors and Angela Rayner all feature in this y...

15/12/2025

Comscore Expands Cross-Platform Campaign Measurement to Include Audio and Social

Comscore Expands Cross-Platform Campaign Measurement to Include Audio and Social New capabilities strengthen cross-platform campaign reporting suite; CCR rebran...

15/12/2025

RT.ie Achieves Major Milestone: One Billion Page Views in 2025

RT .ie has reached one billion page views this year and is on track to finish 2025 2% ahead of last year. Average time spent on the site is up 3% on 2024, with ...

12/12/2025

Spotify and ATP Tour Launch First Episode of New Video Series

Last month, Spotify announced a new collaboration with the ATP Tour, the global governing body of men's professional tennis, aimed at bringing the next gene...

12/12/2025

President of Ireland Catherine Connolly visit to RT Raidi na Gaeltachta in Casla, Connemara

Uachtar n na h ireann, Catherine Connolly visited RT Raidi na Gaeltachta's...

12/12/2025

TV Host and social media sensation Eric Roberts revealed as sixth contestant for Dancing with the Stars 2026

Ireland AM host Eric Roberts has been revealed as the sixth contestant taking to...

11/12/2025

AI for Sustainability: Lessons from Sarajevo

Thomson and the Center for News, Technology and Innovation (CNTI) convened a two-day workshop in Sarajevo bringing together more than 35 journalists, editors, p...

11/12/2025

Spotify and The Game Awards Debut Gaming-Inspired Spotify Singles From Labrinth, Evanescence x GUNSHIP, and Bilmuri

Having the right song soundtrack your moves can make all the difference when gam...

11/12/2025

Celebrate Taylor Swift's Record-Breaking Year and New Docuseries with Exclusive Playlist Cover Art Stickers

It's been a big year for Taylor Swift. Her highly anticipated album The Life...

11/12/2025

VEON's Banglalink Receives Regulatory Approval to Launch Digital Payment Services to Advance Financial Inclusion in Bangladesh

11 Dec 2025 VEON's Banglalink Receives Regulatory Approval to Launch Digita...

11/12/2025

Sky Arts paints a picture of Britains beauty as Landscape Artist of the Year returns on 14 January

Thursday 11 December 2025 Sky Arts paints a picture of Britain's beauty as ...

11/12/2025

Website launch for pianist Georgina

It's not every day we're asked to create a website for a classical musician! So, we were delighted to help pianist Georgina Duncan as she embarks on he...

11/12/2025

Shane Lowry, Oti Mabuse and Brendan Fraser among the guests on this week's Late Late Show Christmas Special!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Irish golfing hero Shane Lowry...