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Latto, DJ Khaled and Ludacris serve as judges, providing advice and expertise to emerging rappers vying for a $250,000 prize on the new season of Netflix’s Rhythm + Flow. Win or lose, they keep it real in their competition.
Interview: Georgette Cline and C. Vernon Coleman II
Editor’s note: This article appears in the Winter 2024 issue of XXL magazine and will be on display at the booth in January 2025.
Hip-hop thrives on celebrating diamonds in the rough. Netflix’s reality competition series Rhythm + Flow does just that, pitting ambitious, rising rappers looking for their next big break in brutal challenges to see who can become rap’s newest superstar. TI, Cardi B and Chance The Rapper jointly served as judges for the first season of 2019, and rap newcomer D Smoke won the championship. Now, Latto, DJ Khaled and Ludacris have come together as the newest panel of judges to see 22 new rhymers compete for the $250,000 grand prize in the show’s second season.
The three veteran hip-hop artists measured the talents of rappers from across the country (East Coast, West Coast, South and Midwest) who traveled to Atlanta to compete. Contestants are put to the test by participating in rap competitions, writing new tracks and performing for Louda, Khalid and Lato. Several guest judges also brought their wisdom to the show, including Big Sean, GloRilla, Busta Rhymes and Eminem, who also competed in the “8 Mile” battle in the same vein.
Rhythm + Flow Season 2, which premiered on November 20 and concluded on December 4, celebrates the art of rap and shows what it takes to be a force within the genre and beyond its boundaries. Lato, Khalid and Louda were all looking for a versatile artist. If anyone is suitable to find that in this series, it’s Latto, who appeared as a contestant on The Rap Game in 2016 and won. Coupled with Khaled’s inspirational mantra and Luda’s aura of achievement, the trio will rise to the challenge of selecting the next generation of rap stars.
The trusty trio spoke to XXL about their different judging styles, how contestants stand out this season, and why everyone is a winner, even if they don’t take home the title.
XXL: Why did you want to participate in this experience as a judge for Rhythm + Flow?
Lato: I just watched the first season and was a fan, so when they called and asked about it, I was like, “Oh my god, yeah.” Because I’m on a rap competition show [growing up]I felt like they wanted my experience. I bring a different perspective because I was a former competitor. I have a certain level or level of experience.
DJ Khaled: First of all, I’m grateful for the opportunity to be considered for something special like this. And then there’s hip-hop. This is rap music, something I love, and working with Luda and Latto was a big blessing. It’s a rap competition show. Anything to keep the game going, keep inspired, keep evolving.
Ludacris: To me, it’s like the hungry energy that these artists are trying to express. Wanting to get closer to that goal and reminding myself of what got me here and what attracted me – in terms of the perseverance and resilience it takes to prove that you can be the best in any game.
Ludacris Photos
“As long as we pour into them as much as we can so that we can give them as much information as possible and play as much as we can with the intelligence that we have. I’m the judge of that.” – Ludacris
What talent do you see best showcased in the competition among up-and-coming rappers this season? What qualities about them impressed you?
Ludacris: The good thing is we see a variety of talent. It’s always fun to see their stories about their neighbors and what they’re going through. The most exciting thing is they take us into their personal lives, and that’s where we feel the most – what they’re going through and how they incorporate it into their music, because that’s where hip-hop comes from. It comes from struggle. Again it comes from perseverance and resilience. So, it’s always exciting to see that.
Lato: I think it’s a collaborative effort of a lot of experienced artists, a lot of people [artists]it comes down to talent, which is why they were on the show in the first place. But just looking at the overall performance of the artists, I see potential in many of them. So, it’s definitely a close game.
DJ Khaled: There are a lot of elements to it. That’s what I love about this show. Their stories, their lifestyle, being in the studio with certain producers. A lot of them went to Detroit to rock out with Eminem and had the code. What was their facial reaction? Did they fumble? Did they pick up the ball? Did they score a touchdown? All of these elements were things I had never seen in a show. Often when you have a show, all you see is the stage performance. This breaks down a lot of what represents hip-hop. I like this.
What kind of judge are you? What kind of criticism and feedback do you give?
DJ Khaled: I’m just honest and passionate and it has nothing to do with whether my opinion matters or not. I want to be able to remind people, especially on this platform, that even if you don’t win the game, or win the bag, or win the championship, you still win because you had a chance. Now you can build your fan base with everyone who watches your show.
Lato: I try not to be overtly friendly. It’s hard for me to be mean. I’ve been there before, I get it. I feel like I’m still learning a lot every day to this day. I remember being in their shoes at 16 years old, so I was very compassionate and I tried to give realistic and relevant opinions and give them more insight. I’m honest, but also compassionate.
Ludacris: Just pouring as much into them as possible so that we can give them as much information as possible and make as many plays with the intelligence that we have. That’s the kind of judge I am. I know a lot of what we’re talking about was removed simply because Netflix had to adhere to a certain time frame. So, I’m sure a lot of the best things we said probably got cut. But that’s what we’re there for, just to give them as much game as possible without being rude. We want to make sure they understand that whether you win or lose, you do win.
“I remember being 16 years old and being in their shoes, so I was very compassionate and I tried to give realistic and relevant opinions and give them more perspective.” – Latto
Latto, in the show trailer, you said you were looking for the rapper’s full package. Those who can survive this new generation. What do you think an artist needs to survive like this?
Latto: Everyone has access to the studio and everyone makes music, so you have to be able to stand out. Originality is very important. Social media is at its peak, so I think you have to have tough skin as well. I’ve been looking for someone who can really be an artist and handle these things in today’s temperatures.
Talent obviously comes first, but your willingness to collaborate, accept feedback, constructive criticism, your ability to perform. You have to be able to sell tickets and rock the show. You have to want to book a show. For things like clothes, you can find out when you have money. That will come.
Ludacris, you said you were looking for someone who has what it takes to be the next superstar in the trailer. What does it take to be an artist?
Ludacris: A lot of times, it’s beyond words. You just know it when you see it, you know it when you hear it. We call it the intangible, or the unforeseen, and once you notice it, it exists because we haven’t seen it before. This is the essence of a star, a unique individual. Stevie Wonder is Stevie Wonder. Marvin Gaye is Marvin Gaye.
Khalid, what do you think it takes to become the next rap star?
DJ Khaled: You have to do something that hasn’t been done before or absorb every element of rap and it has to flow through your veins to become a superstar. I think that’s what we’re all looking for. That’s why it’s so great to be on this show and hopefully see that and hopefully after the show is over we’ll get to see one. But damn, man, you know it when you see it and hear it. This is nothing to argue with.
Eminem, Big Sean, Gloria, Remi Mah and Busta Rhymes are guest judges. Who do you think has given the best advice or inspired the contestants the most and why?
Lato: I’m not going to lie, I really said Eminem just because someone of his stature came down and showed up to them. This is a rap battle. So, the place he came to, we were sitting in Detroit, we were sitting where they used to have rap battles. That’s inspiring to me, so I know it must be inspiring to them too. And I don’t think he sugarcoated it. This is an up-close and personal encounter with a real-life legend.
Ludacris: I would say all of them because they all bring something different to the table in terms of giving back and wisdom. I don’t even want to get political. They all really bring something different to the table. We need to hear what they have to say. So, we were all inspired.
In what ways does Rhythm + Flow highlight the talents of rappers in the competition?
Lato: They had some good challenges. They have to create their own artwork behind the scenes, such as the on-screen content they perform on. They direct the photo shoot themselves. We made the password. We did battle rap. The audition was fun. They just performed their original stuff, and then when we got deeper into it, they were making songs and stuff live. So, it gets crazy.
DJ Khaled: In addition to rapping and crafting, you also have the opportunity to do art direction. You work with a creative director. You know, when you achieve so much and get a chance to perform at an award show, you usually get something.
DJ Khaled Photos
“I hope to be able to remind people, especially on this platform, that even if you don’t win the game, or win the bag, or win the championship, you still win because you have a chance.” – DJ Khaled
What was the most memorable moment from the show?
Latto: Detroit Diamond is one of the best actors in season two. Her brother passed away and she wrote a song and performance dedicated to him that almost brought me to tears. I was trying to hold back the tears, like I wouldn’t cry on TV, but it made me so emotional. It’s a lot of enthusiasm.
DJ Khaled: Probably the ending. Just the walk from backstage to the chairs, the enthusiasm and the care and effort from everyone to make sure we made the right decision. But I keep telling everyone, you know, everyone wins. So whatever happens, it’s a blessing.
Ludacris: Man, I have a lot of favorite moments, but I would say when they got to be together and show something. It’s very difficult to pick someone to compete with and you’re all on a team and you have to work together because the whole team works to make [dream] Work.
You can see people who don’t want to be involved and don’t work together, and there’s no cohesion in the team. You see people who are able to adjust from working alone to working as a team.
