In the intersection of Hip-Hop and social justice, there are a lot of “performers,” but there are very few prophets.
Back in 2017, when the country was grappling with a new political reality, I sat down with Mysonne for Scoop B Radio. At the time, the “NY General” was drawing a line in the sand. He didn’t stutter when he told me, “In Hip-Hop, if you’re not socially aware, then you’re really not of the culture.” He was calling for a return to the essence—the “CNN of the Ghetto” that Chuck D once preached about.
Fast forward to 2025, and Mysonne hasn’t just kept that same energy; he’s multiplied it. While some rappers used activism as a 2020 trend, Mysonne has turned it into a lifetime mission.
“More Than Just a Verse”
In our original 2017 conversation, Mysonne was critical of the “microwave era” of rap that ignored the struggles of the people. He told me then, “The music is a reflection of the environment, and if you’re not speaking to the environment, you’re just making noise.” Today, as a co-founder of Until Freedom, Mysonne is the one the culture calls when the sirens go off. Whether he’s on the front lines in Louisville or advocating for prison reform in Albany, he’s living out his 2017 decree. He recently noted in a 2025 summit that “activism isn’t a hobby, it’s a responsibility,”echoing his words from our interview years ago: “We have to be the voice for the voiceless.”
The Business of Being Woke
One thing about Mysonne? He knows how to bridge the gap between the block and the boardroom. In 2017, he spoke to me about the importance of independence. By 2025, he’s mastered the art of the “Cultural Architect.” He’s not just dropping bars; he’s dropping knowledge on platforms like The Breakfast Club and his own The “Work” Podcast, holding the industry’s feet to the fire.
He told me back then, “I don’t care about being the hottest, I care about being the most impactful.” That impact is now seen in the way younger artists like Lil Baby and others have leaned into social commentary—a path Mysonne helped pave when it wasn’t “profitable.”
The 2025 Verdict: The General’s Legacy
In 2017, Mysonne was a lone wolf in many ways, screaming for accountability. In 2025, he is the elder statesman of the resistance. He recently reflected on the state of the game, saying, “If your platform doesn’t liberate your people, your platform is a prison.” It’s a direct evolution of what he told me in our piece: “Hip-Hop was birthed out of a need to be heard.”
As we look at the landscape today, Mysonne stands as proof that you don’t have to sell your soul to move the needle. You just have to be “of the culture.”
