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One of the first salutes in honor of the year-long celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary will take place at the PBS premiere on Tuesday night (January 31). Fight the Power: How Hip-Hop Changed the WorldProduced in partnership with BBC Music, the four-part documentary series was developed and executive produced by Public Enemy co-founder/activist/rap icon Chuck D and his production partner Rory Boulah. .
“The most important word in a series title is the last word,” says Chuck D. billboard In a recent phone interview, he explains how far the genre has traveled. “I’ve always wanted to be at the gates of hip-hop and see it compete alongside rock. [and other genres]A small genre that can be played in the same arena. Say it loud and loud and convey our point of view.But rap didn’t have a core of structural beliefs at the time [in the industry]It was treated like a novelty without any care.
“Hip-hop was speaking up and telling the truth long before companies realized it was time to wake up,” continues Chuck D. “Working with PBS and the BBC was an opportunity to convey these messages in new ways and help explain hip-hop’s place in history.”
Boula adds: Yes, it has become this commercial industry…pop music for some. But I didn’t want to make something one-dimensional. I wanted to show the real and various layers of hip-hop. I also knew that the BBC had a very extensive news archive of him and that he was trying to roll up his sleeves differently as a partner with PBS. They understood the vision. “
That vision began to take shape three years before the project went ahead. Due to delays due to the pandemic, last year until this past Thanksgiving he was in fact working 18 hours a day. is ready. The result is an insightful and provocative look at how and why hip-hop has become a cultural phenomenon.
Contextualized against the backdrop of pivotal moments in American history, the documentary series spans four decades of hip-hop in four chapters: The Foundation, Under Siege, Culture Wars, and Still Fighting. follows the revolutionary journey of Setting the tone for each episode’s introduction is the group’s groundbreaking 1989 cohesive and socially conscious anthem, Public Enemy’s impassioned “Fight!” The Power”.
But what really struck me were the frank and enlightening first-hand accounts from various rap pioneers. In addition to Chuck D, Grandmaster Kaz, Ice T, Abiodun Oywal of The Last Poets, Roxanne Shante, Ran DMC, Jon Forte, Will.i.am, MC Light, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Mele Meru and Phat・Joe, Lupe Fiasco, etc.
“I think people are surprised by some of the things artists say,” says Bourra. “But they talk about real issues in a way that none of us, visitors to the space, can. Communicating is just as important as who’s dating who or going crazy on Instagram.”
courtesy photo
“And that’s one of the reasons I’m convinced that the BBC will help narrate the story, navigate it, and guide the story that Rory builds upon,” says Chuck D. In the US, we look to someone peering in from outside. That’s one thing I’ve always tried to do. “
whole, Fight the Power: How Hip-Hop Changed the World, is an important living history lesson not found in any school history book. In fact, according to Boula, several universities have already reached out to her on how to add her series of documentaries to their curricula.
Chuck D and Boula are gearing up for the release of the former’s first fine art book, with additional TV and film projects currently in conception. Livin’ NoisyThe book, which arrived February 7 from Genesis Publications, features more than 250 paintings, sketches and drawings of the icon, accompanied by more than 13,000 words of commentary on his life and work. .
“That’s my life,” says Chuck D., who went to art school and designed Public Enemy’s iconic logo, which is on display at the Smithsonian Institution when the group was founded in 1986. “This book is a true expression of myself.”
PBS premieres the first episode of . Fight the Power: How Hip-Hop Changed the World January 31 (9:00pm/10:00pm ET/PT). The series is also available for streaming on PBS.org, YouTube and the PBS Video App. For his next three episodes, check your local listing for airtime dates on PBS or visit PBS.org. For more information on Chuck D’s upcoming book, visit Livin’ Loudvisit ChuckDBook.com.
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