At the 40th anniversary screening of Beat Street at the Tribeca Film Festival, GRAMMY Award-winning rap icon Nas announced his involvement in the Broadway adaptation of the 1984 hip-hop film classic.
Nas will join producers Arthur Baker, Michael Holman, and Richard Fearn in bringing the story to the stage, including expanding and creating new material for the film’s iconic soundtrack. Additional creative team members will be announced in the coming weeks.
Nas, whose full name is Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, is widely regarded as one of the greatest rap artists of all time. He expressed his excitement about joining the project, stating, “Beat Street wasn’t just a film – it spread the revolution of hip-hop culture throughout the country and the world. It left an indelible mark, inspiring generations of young artists and creating new hip-hop fans alike.
It’s a thrill for me to join the creative team of Beat Street, bringing the raw energy of hip-hop into the fabric of Broadway. It’s an honor to breathe new life into this iconic work and celebrate its enduring legacy.”
Set in the early 1980s, Beat Street revolves around a group of aspiring young talents in the South Bronx, including a graffiti artist, a DJ, and a break-dancer, as they pursue their dreams in the emerging hip-hop scene while facing the challenges of urban life.
The original film, produced by Harry Belafonte and David V. Picker, directed by Stan Lathan, and starring Rae Dawn Chong, Gus Davis, and Jon Chardiet, was one of the first to depict hip-hop culture, including breakdancing, mixing, scratching, and graffiti art.
Arthur Baker, co-producer, composer, and music producer of the original film, and Michael Holman, an associate producer of the original film, will also be part of the Broadway adaptation team. Baker is known for producing international dance hits such as New Order’s “Confusion” and Soul Sonic Force’s “Planet Rock.”
Holman has been instrumental in propelling hip-hop culture onto the global stage, founding and directing the hip-hop dance crew The New York City Breakers and creating the first nationally syndicated hip-hop TV show, Graffiti Rock.
Richard Fearn, a UK-based tech investor and theater enthusiast, brings his lifelong passion for hip-hop to the project. He experienced the cultural impact of Beat Street firsthand as a child and believes the musical can introduce a new generation to the power and majesty of hip-hop culture.
ShowTown Theatricals will serve as the General Managers for the Broadway adaptation. Nathan Gehan and Jamison Scott of ShowTown Productions are the executive producers.
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