BBC Unveils Explosive New Hip Hop Docuseries
Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World is set to drop on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on January 21st. Created by Hip Hop legend Chuck D alongside producer Lorrie Boula, the series is a hard-hitting look at how Hip Hop shook up culture and politics in America. Co-produced with PBS, it promises raw, first-hand stories tracing the genre’s rise from underground sound to global powerhouse.
Politics Meets The Beat
The series dives deep into Hip Hop’s roots as a revolutionary art form. It explores the gritty relationship between politics and the music, revealing how the beats became a mouthpiece for social justice amidst America’s turbulent history. With intimate interviews and never-before-seen archive footage, viewers get the full picture of a movement that challenged the status quo.
Hip Hop Hall of Famers and Icons Speak Out
Featuring a star-studded lineup of pioneers and culture shapers, the series includes interviews from legends like Eminem, Ice-T, LL COOL J, Fat Joe, and MC Lyte. Other influencers such as Rev Al Sharpton and graffiti legend Lee Quiñones also share their perspectives. Each sheds light on Hip Hop’s immense cultural impact and its power as a platform for change.
Chuck D: The Voice of Resistance
Grammy winner and Public Enemy co-founder Chuck D, a key figure in political Hip Hop, guides the story. Public Enemy’s anthem “Fight The Power” (1989) is celebrated as one of the most important tracks ever, honored in the Library of Congress, and ranked #2 Greatest Song of All Time by Rolling Stone in 2021.
“Hip Hop has been speaking out and telling truths long before the rest of media woke up,” says Chuck D. “Working with PBS and BBC lets us deliver those messages in new ways and show Hip Hop’s vital place in history.”
BBC’s Max Gogarty adds: “Hip Hop is one of the most influential cultural movements ever. We’re proud to bring this story to a wide audience with Chuck D and PBS, celebrating its legacy and power.”
