Hip Hop Changed Us: Joe La Puma Discusses The Tanning Of America

Joe La Puma already has accolades and trophies and sneakers… lots of sneakers… lots of sneakers you can’t get, in fact. But offering laurels is an exercise in redundancy. Everyone already knows about his cover stories on Cudi, Bieber, A$AP, Jeremy Scott, Rozay, and Katy Perry. And how he helped turn Complex Media into a big-time digital content player. And everyone already knows, we don’t f-ck with you musically.

Fueled by an appreciation for 50 Cent, La Puma constructed a grade-A career in media. In many ways, his story supports the thesis of The Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip Hop. VH1’s latest Rock Doc insists that “hip hop changed us” so we asked La Puma where he stands on the matter.

Airing February 24-27 at 11/10C each night, The Tanning of America explores how hip hop has dramatically changed American culture so that a career like La Puma’s is now possible.

To get your mind right for next week’s premiere, we asked five more media pros to break down the science behind hip hop’s impact on their life. Check back on Monday  to hear from So Let’s Talk About’s Rafi D’Angelo and Hot 97’s Miss Info.