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Hip-Hop Evolution

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Hip-Hop Evolution
GenreDocumentary
Developed byBanger Films
Directed byDarby Wheeler, Rodrigo Bascunan
Presented byShad
Country of originCanada
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes16
Production
ProducersDarby Wheeler, Rodrigo Bascunan, Russell Peters, Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn, Nelson George
Original release
NetworkHBO Canada
ReleaseApril 29, 2016 (2016-04-29) –
25 September 2016 (2016-09-25)
NetworkNetflix
Release19 October 2018 (2018-10-19) –
present

Hip-Hop Evolution is a Canadian music documentary television series that originally aired on HBO Canada in 2016.[1] Hosted by Juno Award-winning artist Shad, the series profiles the history of hip-hop music through interviews with many of the genre's leading cultural figures.[2] The series is produced by Darby Wheeler, Rodrigo Bascuñán, Russell Peters, Scot McFadyen, Sam Dunn and Nelson George. It won the 2016 Peabody Award,[3] and the 2017 International Emmy Award for Best Arts Programming.[4]

The series was screened at the 2016 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival[5] before being picked up for broadcast by HBO.[1] In December 2016, it was added to Netflix for international distribution.[2]

Content

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Hip-Hop Evolution features in-depth, personal interviews with the progenitors of DJing, rapping, and production, culminating in what is now taken to be hip hop music and rap, adding to the existing understanding of hip-hop's earliest decades. Such original artists, producers, DJs, and promoters include: DJ Kool Herc, Coke La Rock, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, Fab Five Freddy, Marley Marl, Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Moe Dee, Kurtis Blow, Doug E. Fresh, Whodini, Warp 9, DJ Hollywood, Spoonie Gee, The Sugarhill Gang, Russell Simmons, Slick Rick, LL Cool J, Rick Rubin, Dana Dane, Vanilla Ice, Public Enemy, Michael Jackson, Perri "Pebbles" Reid, Jermaine Dupri & The Fat Boys.

The first episode documents the history of the inceptive hip-hop party at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in The Bronx where DJ Kool Herc, who thus emerged as a godfather of the tradition, DJed his sister's birthday party.[6]

The series went on to feature some of the most influential artists of the genre, without whom its current form would not exist, such as Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, N.W.A, Ice-T, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and LL Cool J, as well as documenting Schoolly D, from Philadelphia, as the influence for gangsta rap on the West Coast, as told by the words of Ice T. It limits its telling of the history at that point, as it documents that was the turning point in which Hip Hop had turned from an underground movement within music to a mainstream genre, that ripples its influence throughout contemporary culture.

Awards

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In 2016 the series was awarded a Peabody Award.[7] The series garnered four Canadian Screen Award nominations at the 5th Canadian Screen Awards in 2017, for Best Biography or Arts Documentary Program or Series, Best Editing in a Documentary Program or Series (Steve Taylor and Mark Staunton) Best Writing in a Documentary Program or Series (Rodrigo Bascunan) and Best Direction in a Documentary or Factual Series (Darby Wheeler). It won the awards for Best Biography or Arts Documentary and Best Editing. The series was also awarded with a 2017 International Emmy for Best Arts Programming.[8]

Episodes

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SeriesEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
144 September 2016 (2016-09-04)25 September 2016 (2016-09-25)HBO Canada
2419 October 2018 (2018-10-19)Netflix
346 September 2019 (2019-09-06)
4417 January 2020 (2020-01-17)

Season 1 (2016)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byOriginal air date
11"The Foundation"Darby Wheeler4 September 2016 (2016-09-04)
In the 1970s, DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash and the first rhythmic rappers lay the foundations of hip-hop in the South Bronx
22"The Underground to the Mainstream"Darby Wheeler11 September 2016 (2016-09-11)
Bootleg tapes capture the energy of live battles, the Sugarhill Gang releases a Top 40 hit, and hip-hop meets art punk in downtown New York
33"The New Guard"Darby Wheeler18 September 2016 (2016-09-18)
Run-DMC and Def Jam bridge the rap-rock divide. Innovators like Marley Marl and Rakim usher in a new sound, and Public Enemy raises consciousness
44"The Birth of Gangsta Rap"Darby Wheeler25 September 2016 (2016-09-25)
Ice-T and N.W.A put West Coast rap on the map, documenting the reality of life in South Central L.A. Dr. Dre tops the charts with "The Chronic"

Season 2 (2018)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byOriginal air date
51"The Southern Way"Darby Wheeler19 October 2018 (2018-10-19)
2 Live Crew popularizes the Miami bass sound and scores a victory for free speech. The Geto Boys put Houston on the map, paving the way for UGK
62"Out The Trunk: The Bay"Darby Wheeler19 October 2018 (2018-10-19)
In the Bay Area, Too Short channels pimp culture, MC Hammer becomes rap's first pop star, and Digital Underground introduces the world to Tupac Shakur
73"Do The Knowledge"Darby Wheeler19 October 2018 (2018-10-19)
KRS-One makes his mark at New York's legendary Latin Quarter club. A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul cultivate an Afrocentric, jazzy style
84"New York State Of Mind"Darby Wheeler19 October 2018 (2018-10-19)
In the early 1990s, a new wave of East Coast artists emerges, led by Nas, Wu-Tang Clan and the Notorious B.I.G.

Season 3 (2019)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byOriginal air date
91"A Tale of Two Coasts"Darby Wheeler, Rodrigo Bascuñán6 September 2019 (2019-09-06)
With the rise of N.W.A., gangsta rap and Suge Knight, the East Coast-West Coast rivalry climaxes with a lethal beef ensnaring the great Tupac Shakur.
102"Life After Death"Darby Wheeler, Rodrigo Bascuñán6 September 2019 (2019-09-06)
In NYC, the Notorious B.I.G. fosters an empowering protégée, Lil' Kim. When the East-West feud claims Biggie, Puff Daddy and Jay-Z vie for the throne.
113"Pass the Mic"Darby Wheeler6 September 2019 (2019-09-06)
Alternative hip-hop bubbles up from the streets; Mos Def spits in NYC, the Freestyle Fellowship chops it up in LA, and Eminem battles on the circuit.
124"The Dirty South"Darby Wheeler6 September 2019 (2019-09-06)
A hot, sticky music scene is born in Atlanta as the infectious hooks of TLC and Kris Kross yield to the gritty originality of OutKast and Goodie Mob.

Season 4 (2020)

[edit]
No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byOriginal air date
131"Bounce to This"Darby Wheeler, Rodrigo Bascuñán17 January 2020 (2020-01-17)
Rooted in New Orleans's rich music culture, No Limit mogul Master P and bounce breakouts DJ Jimi and Juvenile shake rap and put twerking on the map.
142"The Southern Lab"Darby Wheeler, Rodrigo Bascuñán17 January 2020 (2020-01-17)
Innovators explode out of the South: Houston's DJ Screw slows hip-hop down, Memphis's Three 6 Mafia goes dark, and Atlanta's Lil Jon brings the crunk.
153"The Super Producers"Darby Wheeler17 January 2020 (2020-01-17)
Auteurs like the Neptunes' Pharrell and Chad expand the sonic palette. Timbaland and Missy Elliott lean forward. Kanye West and J Dilla reimagine rap.
164"Street Dreams"Darby Wheeler17 January 2020 (2020-01-17)
Mixtapes spread the hottest sounds, infringe copyright and break artists. Among them, 50 Cent polarizes, T.I. takes off with trap, and Lil Wayne clicks.

References

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  1. ^ a b HBO Canada takes Wheeler’s “Hip-Hop Evolution”. RealScreen, August 17, 2016.
  2. ^ a b ""Hip Hop Evolution" Documentary Arrives On Netflix". HipHopDX, December 7, 2016.
  3. ^ "Hip-Hop Evolution". Peabody Awards. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  4. ^ "Canadian documentary series Hip-Hop Evolution wins International Emmy Award". Toronto Star. November 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "Canadian-Produced Documentary Series Hip-Hop Evolution to Premiere in Toronto". The Fader, March 16, 2016.
  6. ^ Batey, Angus (2011-06-12). "DJ Kool Herc DJs his first block party (his sister's birthday) at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue, Bronx, New York". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-12-06.
  7. ^ "The Peabody 30: Award Winners for 2016". 27 July 2017. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  8. ^ "Canadian Screen Awards 2017: The National, CBC Olympics win top awards". CBC News, March 8, 2017.
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