Zoë Ozochiawaeze, our Commerce & Digital Strategy Assistant, shares her hip hop heavy hitters and thoughts on hip hop culture. Continue to celebrate Hip Hop History Month with us year round.

Name: Zoë Ozochiawaeze

Job Title: Commerce & Digital Strategy Assistant

Instagram Handle: @zoeozochiawaeze

Preferred pronouns: She/Her/Hers

Questions/Answers:

• What do you think the industry could do better in supporting Hip Hop culture/music?
  • I think there is a LOT the industry can be doing better when it comes to supporting Hip-Hop and the culture that influences this genre we love so much– whether it’s speaking up against misogyny and homophobia or looking at the way violence is discussed. Those who work in the industry have a responsibility in speaking up about these topics, so bringing light to this is certainly a good step in the right direction.
• Top 5 Hip Hop artists of all time?
  • Right now, I’d have to say Young Thug, Nicki Minaj, The Notorious B.I.G., Kid Cudi, and Megan Thee Stallion. All of these rappers have had such a deep impact on what hip-hop sounds like today and on my life personally. You really can’t name a better group of musicians that have helped inspire an entire generation of rappers and hip-hop fans around the world.
• How has Hip Hop impacted culture?
  • Hip-hop has had an overwhelmingly clear influence on culture and our society as a whole. It shapes different music styles, fashion, dance, politics, media, the entertainment industry, and SO MUCH MORE – and continues to prove each and every day just how much of a global phenomenon this movement from the Bronx has become. Hip-hop is probably the most dominant influence on culture around the world today, and we love to see it.
• What Hip Hop song do you have on repeat right now?
  • I CANNOT stop listening to Snatched by Big Boss Vette and Tomorrow 2 by Cardi B and GloRilla– both these songs just play on loop in my head all day every day!