Since hip-hop’s insurgent invasion of and prominence in global popular culture over 20 years ago, the argument has raged on questioning whether it’s impact on the wider society has been positive or negative. A nuanced battle, opposing sides have over the years failed to resolve it as the conversation takes on much more than music. Enter intelligence squared and Google +, curating the biggest ever global debate at the Barbican, London on 26th June for Hip-Hop on Trial: Hip-Hop Doesn’t Enhance Society, It Degrades It. With the widest range of great and educated voices speaking on the topic, rappers KRS-One, ?uestlove, Q-Tip and Estelle, hip-hop and Black culture scholars Toure, dream hampton and Michael Eric Dyson, activist Jesse Jackson, music editor Hattie Collins and even David Cameron’s youth and crime adviser Shaun Bailey just some of the voices lending to the discussion, it’s set to provide plenty of food for thought. Y&Y will be in attendance, but if you want to be there for yourself buy tickets now from the Barbican website.

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