In this episode, we talk with Dr. Regina Bradley about her new book, "Chronicling Stankonia: The Rise of the Hip Hop South." She explores the famed hip hop group, Outkast, and how they fueled a new kind of rap music in America. Atlanta was not always an international city, and Outkast rose just as the city was taking the world stage. She describes how black artists used to be stripped of their cultural identities by pop music promoters, and how Outkast avoided that trap. She and I explore Outkast's relationship with the Civil Rights Era, with segregation and with the current, complicated moment. We also examine how this uniquely-American genre allows for a special kind of expression for black artists.

Dr. Bradley is on Twitter @redclayscholar

"Axelbank Reports History and Today" is on Twitter and Instagram @axelbankhistory