T.I., Chance The Rapper and Cardi B. are teaming up to give unsigned hip-hop artists a chance at stardom. The three are serving as the core judges in Netflix’s first-ever music competition show, Rhythm + Flow. Produced by Emmy Award winner John Legend, the ten-part talent search series will arrive on the streaming platform in 2019.
In a video he posted for his 9.3 million followers on Instagram, T.I. spoke about how committed he and his cohosts are to finding the best of the best: “We gon’ travel the country, man—and all of the hoods, all of the studios, all of the nightclubs, even the barbershops if necessary—to find the next unreleased underground hip-hop superstar.”
Cardi B. posted a video for her 35.5 million followers letting them know what she wanted to see from contestants. “I’m looking for the diamond in the rough. I’m looking for somebody who’s gonna stick,” she said.
Both Cardi B. and T.I. are familiar with what it’s like to appear on reality television, having both spent time on a hit VH1 series. Cardi B. was the breakout star of Love & Hip Hop New York’s sixth season, while T. I. and his family made America fall in love with them on T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle.
Chance The Rapper is new to the small screen, but throughout the years he’s become known just as much for his charismatic personality and grassroots political activism as for his buoyant music.
Reportedly the three will be joined in the judging process by a revolving stream of special guests including fellow artists and industry personalities.
Rhythm + Flow is just one of the reality shows Netflix is investing in as it makes an effort to diversify its original programming. The service recently welcomed a reboot of Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, and the cooking competition The Final Table premiered on the platform earlier in the year.
Auditions are open to everyone, so tell your mixtape-slinging cousins it’s time to shoot their shot at rhythmandflowauditions.com.
