Arts·Commotion

What Tory Lanez's prison sentence says about misogynoir in hip-hop

A U.S. judge sentenced Canadian rapper Tory Lanez to 10 years in prison for shooting fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion in 2020. The Guardian columnist Tayo Bero joins host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to explain the significance of the case.

Culture critic Tayo Bero explains the impact of the Canadian rapper’s sentence

A rapper performs onstage.
Rapper Tory Lanez performs at HOT 97 Summer Jam 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Three years have passed since hip-hop superstar Megan Thee Stallion was shot multiple times by rapper Lanez in Los Angeles following a summer pool party at the home of Kylie Jenner. (Scott Roth/Invision/The Associated Press)

The District Attorney of Los Angeles has sentenced Brampton-born rapper Tory Lanez to 10 years in prison for a shooting that injured fellow rapper Megan Thee Stallion.

The Canadian rapper shot Megan Thee Stallion in the foot after they left a party in LA in 2020. Ever since Megan Thee Stallion came forward, she has faced an onslaught of attacks directed at her.   

Tayo Bero is a culture critic and columnist for The Guardian. She joins Commotion host Elamin Abdelmahmoud to talk about the magnitude of Lanez's sentence, gender politics in hip-hop and the ramifications of misogynoir — a particular brand of misogyny that Black women experience.

The 31-year-old rapper was found guilty on all three gun-related charges: firearm assault, having a loaded unregistered firearm and negligent firearm discharge.

WATCH | Canadian rapper Tory Lanez sentenced to 10 years for shooting Megan Thee Stallion:

Canadian rapper Tory Lanez sentenced to 10 years for shooting Megan Thee Stallion

1 year ago
Duration 4:17
A U.S. judge sentenced Canadian rapper Tory Lanez to 10 years in prison on Tuesday for shooting and wounding hip-hop superstar Megan Thee Stallion.

You can listen to the full discussion from today's show on CBC Listen or on our podcast, Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud, available wherever you get your podcasts.


Interview with Tayo Bero produced by Glory Omotayo.