The AlgoRhythm

Everybody's scrolling. Is anybody actually listening? In the first episode of Poets and Prophets, I break down how algorithmic models — not DJs, not gatekeepers, not people — are now deciding what gets seen, heard, and remembered in hip hop culture. Drawing on Cathy O'Neil's "Weapons of Math Destruction," my own dissertation research on hip hop and algorithmic suppression, and bars from Jay-Z and Mos Def, this episode makes the case that the algorithm isn't neutral — it's an opinion, embedded in math, with the power to reshape a culture's memory. IN THIS EPISODE 00:00 – Video Music Box vs. the algorithm: what actually changed 00:00 – What you SEE: algorithmic suppression and the Digital Griot Framework 00:00 – What you HEAR: the 3-second hook and the death of the album 00:00 – What you REMEMBER: Joshua 4, griots as memorial-keepers, and algorithmic erasure 00:00 – The turn: why this is a justice issue, not a tech issue 00:00 – The charge: one thing to do about it this week [drop in real timestamps once it's edited] REFERENCED IN THIS EPISODE – Cathy O'Neil, "Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy" – Safiya Noble, "Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism" – Jay-Z, "Renegade" (The Blueprint, 2001) – Mos Def, "Mathematics" (Black on Both Sides, 1999) – Joshua 4 (the memorial stones) – Ephesians 6:12 ("principalities and powers") Poets and Prophets is where the cipher meets the pulpit — hip hop, faith, and the culture that raised us. New episodes mix solo breakdowns like this one with conversations with artists, organizers, clergy, and scholars living at the intersection of these worlds. 🔔 Subscribe for new episodes 🎙️ Hosted by Dr. Jaime Kowlessar — Assistant Pastor of Community Engagement & Social Justice, Revision Church Atlanta | Founder & Executive Director, Raise Your Voice, Inc. #PoetsAndProphets #HipHop #HipHopHistory #FaithAndJustice #DigitalGriot #SocialJustice #CommunityOrganizing