Public Television’s “Independent Lens” program is introducing the
television broadcast of Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes, a look at the
hip-hop genre’s issues of masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia. Long-time hip-hop fan and filmmaker Byron Hurt creates a film that takes a deeper look at the hip-hop industry, its reoccurring themes of aggression, and, in particular, the gender politics of rap.
With that, the film has sparked impassioned dialog at recent screenings over the past year. Hip Hop: Beyond …” premiered at last year’s Sundance Festival and has already screened at a number of college campuses – with much applause. Now the film is coming to PBS Tuesday, February 20 (check local listings for times).
In addition to studying the deeper issues and consequences of
hip-hop music, the film includes interviews with rappers such as Mos
Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D and Jadakiss as well as hip-hop mogul Russell
Simmons. It also has commentary from Michael Eric Dyson, Beverly
Guy-Sheftall, Kevin Powell and Sarah Jones along with interviews from
young women at Spelman College.Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes airs on PBS Tuesday,
February 20. Check your local listings for channel and times. For more
on the film, the filmmaker, and the PBS programming schedule, go to:
pbs.org/independentlens/hiphop/.
