'Hip Hop Uncovered': Release date, plot, cast, trailer and all you need to know about FX's docuseries on rap music's leading icons
FX has a knack for keeping its viewers engaged with mouth-watering content and they are in no mood to stop. The network is coming up with a new docuseries that will enthrall all music lovers out there, especially hip-hop fans. Titled ‘Hip Hop Uncovered’, the docu-series is set to take fans on a roller-coaster ride by turning its lens on several iconic figures who have been key figures to put the rap community on the global level.
The six-part series will revolve around five of the most influential members of the community, including James “Bimmy” Antney, who has worked with LL Cool J and is a former member of the Supreme Team; Deb Antney, a music executive who has worked with Gucci Mane and Nicki Minaj; Big U, a gang leader-turned-community activist; Jacques “Haitian Jack” Agnant, known for having good relationships with Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.; and Trick Trick, founder of the Good Sqwad who has collaborated with Eminem.
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Apart from them, the series will also feature interviews from Snoop Dogg and Dr Dre. Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn will executive produce the show for Lightbox while Eugene “Big U” Henley, Jimmy Chriss, Malcolm Spellman, Douglas Banker and Rashidi Natara Harper will also serve as executive producers on the show.
Release date
Viewers will get a chance to watch the first episode of 'Hip Hop: Uncovered' on FX on February 12. It will be available on Hulu in the “FX on Hulu” section of the streaming service the very next day.
Plot
Set against the 40 years of music history, the docu-series revolves around the hip-hop culture and how it became such an integral part of the industry. The show will also help in understanding how American street culture helped in shaping the hip-hop culture and turn it into music’s most dominant genre.
The series will explore various themes such as the culture within the industry, racial oppression and the act of stubbornly continuing street art even when it was thought to be dead by many.
Cast
Deb Antney
Known for breaking the careers of numerous high-profile artistes such as Nicki Minaj, French Montana and Gucci Mane, Deb Antney is considered to be one of the top music executives in the industry right now and runs a company named Mizay Entertainment. Apart from being a part of the music community for so long, Antney has also produced a couple of TV series, titled ‘Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta’ and ‘Waka & Tammy: What The Flocka’.
Big U
Big U, whose real name is Eugene Henley, is the founder and Executive Director of Developing Options. He has the first-hand experience of being a real gang-member and has been shot at least seven times.
The former gangster did not have a good past and was arrested in a sting operation and sentenced to 23 years in prison. However, he was released after serving 12 of his 23-year sentence. Now, he works as a motivational speaker and a life coach to tell all the previous gang members how to lead their lives with dignity and happiness.
Jacques “Haitian Jack” Agnant
Probably one of the most infamous names in the hip hop genre, Jacques “Haitian Jack” Agnant worked as a promoter in the rap industry and made a name for him by working with various iconic musicians such as Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. Agnant met Tupac in 1993 and got close to each other in a short period.
However, Tupac started to distance himself from Agnant after knowing his motives. On November 30, at approximately 12.25 am, Tupac was shot five times during a robbery in the lobby of Manhattan’s Quad Recording Studios by two armed perpetrators. Many believe that Agnant was involved in the robbery at Quad Recording Studios in 1994, in which Shakur was shot.
Trick Trick
Rapper Christian Anthony Mathis, better known by his stage name Trick Trick, has been a member of the hip-hop group Goon Sqwad since the late '90s. Born in 1973, Trick Trick has produced three studio albums and made appearances in various other songs from artists like Paradime, Snoop Dogg, DJ Kay Slay, Young Buck, and Royce Da 5’9”.
Creators
Directed by Rashidi Natara Harper, 'Hip Hop Uncovered' chronicles the journey of five influential people in the hip hop industry and the dying breed of power brokers who operate from the shadows of hip hop. A director-turned-producer, Harper started his professional career in 1996 by directing a short video titled “Montell Jordan: Falling.”
In 2015, he also directed two episodes of the series 'Born Again Virgin' and received a lot of praise for his unique storytelling. He also the story for a short-movie called 'Date From Hell' which starred the Academy Award-winning actor Jamie Foxx and actress LisaRaye McCoy.
One of the executive producers on the show is Malcolm Spellman, who has penned the script for big projects such as 'Empire' and the upcoming Disney+ series 'The Falcon and the Winter Soldier'.
Trailer
“Set against 40 years of music history, the series takes a deep dive into the paradox of America’s criminalization of the genre and its fascination with the street culture that created it and still exists within it. Instead of telling the story of hip-hop from the top-down, ‘Hip Hop Uncovered’ tells it from the streets up, as it reveals the untold story of how America’s streets helped shape hip-hop culture from an expression of survival and defiance into music’s most dominant genre.
Where to Watch
The six-part series will premiere on FX on February 12 and will be available for streaming in Hulu’s FX on Hulu section.
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