You don’t become the longest-running animated program and American sitcom by coincidence. It has been 28 years since The Simpsons’ 1989 primetime debut, and although we have grown up and evolved, Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, Maggie and all the residents of the fictional town of Springfield remain virtually unchanged. So how is it that the same show that raised your favorite auntie also raised you and is still your little cousin’s fav? Because, relevance.
Through satirical parody, the working-class yellow animated family has poked fun at the media, tackled controversial issues, and made caricatures of your favorite celebs from Michael Jackson to Fantasia Barrino. In continuing with this formula The Simpsons will air an hour-long hip-hop-themed episode with cameos from Snoop Dogg, RZA, Common, Keegan-Michael Key and Taraji P. Henson as a character resembling Cookie Lyon from Empire on January 15th. Jim Beanz, who produces music for Empire, is contributing the hip-hop music for thisThe Great Gatsby-inspired episode.
Check out the clip above for a behind-the-scenes preview of the episode.
For all my milleni-xer's out here riding the cusp between genX and millennial, click here for a little throwback to Bart's days as an actual chart-topping MTV video award-nominated rap artist.
Never miss a headline! Sign up for Blavity's daily newsletter.
