Hybrid African American music holds significant cultural influence, yet the connections between its musical forms, audience reception, and social impact remain underexamined. This review examines how audiences engage with hybrid African American music and the social outcomes it produces. A systematic search across multiple interdisciplinary databases yielded 106 records, of which 35 met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were qualitative, focused on North America and Europe, and increasingly examined the role of digital platforms. Thematic analysis identified five interconnected themes: hybridization and musical form, audience reception and meaning-making, identity and diaspora, social impact and community, and digital mediation. Findings suggest that audiences actively interact with hybrid music to shape identity, strengthen community ties, and navigate cultural expression. However, research is constrained by the lack of longitudinal, comparative, and cross-regional studies. Future research should incorporate mixed methods, longitudinal designs, and cross-regional analyses to better link musical structure, audience reception, and social outcomes, addressing these gaps.