Fight the Power: How Hip-Hop changed the world premiers on PBS on January 31st, 2023 but there will be a discussion on Saturday, January 28th at 4pm at the Tallgrass Film Center, 120 E. 1 st St. N. This event is FREE, but seating is limited. Please reserve your seat: Click HERE
A New Four-Part Series:
- Where Rap Icon Chuck D Explores Four Decadesof Hip Hop History Featuring Interviews with Legendary Artists Ice-T, Fat Joe, Run DMC, MC Lyte and More
This event is presented by: PBS Kansas Chanel 8, in partnership with the Tallgrass Film Association and The Kansas African American Museum.
DISCUSSION and Q & A
Following the screening, there will be a presentation by Dr. Cameron Leader-Picone, Professor and
Director of Graduate Studies at Kansas State University. His research and teaching focuses on
contemporary African American literature and culture. He received a Ph.D. in African and African
American Studies from Harvard University. He published his first book, Black and More Than Black
in 2019 and is working a second book right now. He has also published numerous articles and
essays. Learn more at: Click HERE
After the discussion, there will be Q & A moderated by Denise Sherman, MSOD, SHRM-CP and PHR. She has served as the Executive Director for The Kansas African American Museum(TKAAM) since 2018. During her tenure at the museum, she has strategically focused on the African American story, experiences and contributions through the WE ARE CULTURE branding position. TKAAM offers a variety of programs, events and cultural experiences through African American art, history and education.
WATCH FIGHT THE POWER: HOW HIP HOP CHANGED THE WORLD
Watch the entire four-part documentary. It premieres on Jan. 31 at 8 p.m. on PBS Kansas, PBS.org
and the PBS Video app. Here’s information about each of the four parts.
- Episode 1 | The Foundation – Tuesday, Jan. 31st at 8 p.m.
Discover the factors that led to the birth of Hip Hop and its first socially conscious hit “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five in 1982. - Episode 2 | Under Siege – Tuesday, February 14 at 9 p.m.
Explore the 1980s and the birth of Hip Hop as social commentary in the Reagan Era with the
the emergence of artists like Public Enemy, KRS-One, Ice-T, and NWA.
- Episode 3 | Culture Wars – Tuesday, February 21 at 9 p.m.
Experience the 1990s during the Clinton years and the unstoppable rise in popularity of Hip Hop,
which becomes a force that is attacked by all sides of the political establishment. - Episode 4 | Still Fighting – Tuesday, February 21 at 10 p.m.
Follow the evolution of Hip Hop as its artists turn into multimillionaires and successful entrepreneurs. As a cultural phenomenon, Hip Hop continues to change history and is adopted as the voice of protest around the world.
ABOUT THE FILM
Developed by Chuck D and his producing partner, Lorrie Boula, the series tells the story of hip hop as
an organic expression of experience that was unapologetic, fierce and empowering as it spoke truth to
power and informed a nation through a different lens. Featuring firsthand accounts from some of rap’s most integral players, FIGHT THE POWER: HOW HOP CHANGED THE WORLD recounts the origins of this bold and revolutionary art form through the voices of those who were there at the beginning, creating an anthology of how hip hop became a cultural phenomenon against the backdrop of American history. Weaving together interconnected moments via intimate interviews and archival footage, the docuseries will explore how hip-hop quickly created a provocative narrative of America. “The hip hop community has, from the start, been doing what the rest of media is only now catching up to,” said Chuck D. “Long before any conglomerate realized it was time to wake up, hip hop had been speaking out and telling truths. Working with PBS and BBC is an opportunity to deliver these messages through new ways and help explain hip hop’s place in history and hopefully inspire us all to take it further.”
“We brought the project to PBS and BBC Music because they are unparalleled at creating great
documentaries. Chuck D and I look forward to working with them to take this account of such an
important movement to the world,” said Lorrie Boula. “People are finally open to hearing and learning
about the history of all Americans, and we want to deliver authentic, compelling and truthful stories to
them.”
The series features insightful interviews with hip-hop luminaries including, Chuck D, Grandmaster
Caz, Ice-T, Abiodun Oyewole (The Last Poets), Roxanne Shanté, Run DMC, John Forté, will.i.am,
MC Lyte, B-Real (Cypress Hill), Melle Mel, Fat Joe, Lupe Fiasco and more.
GRAMMY winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chuck D was at the vanguard of how this
art form became a platform for political expression and a vessel toward social justice. As co-founder
of Public Enemy, his music dispatched lessons in Black history and consciousness while striving to
dismantle racial constructs. “Fight the Power,” Public Enemy’s groundbreaking single released in
1989, became an anthem that called for unity against oppression and continues to resonate to this
day. It is often called the most important hip hop song of all time, is in the Library of Congress and
was named the #2 Greatest Song of All Time in 2021 by Rolling Stone.
FIGHT THE POWER: HOW HIP HOP CHANGED THE WORLD is produced by BBC Studios for PBS
and BBC Music. Bill Gardner is the Executive in Charge for PBS with Chuck D and Lorrie Boula as
executive producers. Max Gogarty is the commissioning editor for the BBC, with Anna Sadowy as
executive producer, Helen Bart as series producer, Yemi Bamiro as series director and Todd Williams
as director.
FIGHT THE POWER: HOW HIP HOP CHANGED THE WORLD will be available for streaming
concurrent with broadcast on all station-branded PBS platforms, including PBS.org and the PBS
Video app, available on iOS, Android, Roku streaming devices, Apple TV, Android TV, Amazon Fire
TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO. For more information about PBS Passport, visit the
PBS Passport FAQ website.
