Based On the Best-Selling Book, "The Tanning of
America: How Hip-Hop Created A Culture That Rewrote The Rules Of The New
Economy" By Steve Stoute
The 4-Part Documentary From VH1's Emmy Award
Winning Rock Doc Franchise Is Set To Premiere Monday, February
24-Thursday, February 27 At 11PM*
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
VH1 is teaming up with acclaimed filmmakers Billy Corben and
Alfred Spellman ("Cocaine Cowboys," "Broke," "The U") and famed author,
award-winning entrepreneur, advertising executive, and record executive
Steve Stoute for a 4-part documentary series based on Stoute's
best-selling book, "The Tanning of America: How Hip-Hop Created a
Culture That Rewrote the Rules of the New Economy." VH1's "The
Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip Hop" is a thorough
examination of hip-hop as a cultural movement, whose profound influence
in music, film, television, fashion, business, race relations and
politics eventually paved the way for the election of Barack Obama.
Stoute notes, "Since its birth, hip-hop has been a reflection of black
America, but never before have we seen it cast as such a far-reaching
agent of political change. This film paints an entirely new picture of
the impact hip-hop culture over the last 30 years." The 4-part 4-hour
series will premiere Monday, February 24-Thursday, February 27 at 11pm*
on VH1.
VH1's "The Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip Hop" provides
a visual history of the hip-hopification of America - what Stoute calls
"tanning" -- from "The Jeffersons" to the Fresh Prince; from "Do the
Right Thing" to "8 Mile;" from the streets of Compton to Madison Ave;
and rappers turned into entrepreneurs and icons. The series unfolds in 4
one-hour episodes that together explore history's pivotal "tanning"
moments from the 1970s to present day, and how deep hip-hop is woven
into the American cultural fabric. It's the history of hip-hop remixed:
an epic journey that begins in the Bronx and travels all the way to 1600
Pennsylvania Avenue.
VH1's "The Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip Hop"
features never-seen-before footage and interviews from numerous pop
culture icons and entertainment personalities in America: Sean "Diddy"
Combs, Dr. Dre, Mariah Carey, Will.i.am, Russell Simmons, Pharrell, Nas,
Reverend Run, Rick Rubin, Fab 5 Freddy, Jimmy Iovine, Al Sharpton, Cory
Booker, Brett Ratner, Brian Grazer, Tommy Hilfiger, Ron Howard, Steve
Stoute and many more.
Episode 1: Word is Bond
1970s - 1986: From Blaxploitation films through groundbreaking
television like "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons;" racial strife
in New York City and the birth of hip-hop; the rise of Def Jam and Run
DMC breaking thru on MTV; the 80s success of Eddie Murphy and the Cosby
Show.
Episode 2: Fight the Power
1987 - 1992: From the dawn of political and gangsta rap through the
debut of hip-hop movies to the election of Bill Clinton; Arsenio Hall;
the Fresh Prince; hip-hop's influence on fashion and Madison Ave; the
Beastie Boys; The Source magazine; Yo! MTV Raps; MC Hammer and Vanilla
Ice; the LA riots and racial strife in America.
Episode 3: Gimme the Loot
1993 - 1999: The rise of Snoop and Dr. Dre, hip-hop hits the suburbs;
Tommy Hilfiger turns hip-hop fashion into millions; Biggie and Puffy,
Jay and Nas, Ghetto Fabulous and Bling; the influence of music videos;
Vibe magazine; the rise of FUBU and Jacob the Jeweler; Will Smith saving
the world in Independence Day and Time Magazine proclaiming America as a
"hip-hop nation."
Episode 4: All Around the World
2000 - present: From Eminem to hip-hop empires; Sean John and Rocawear;
Vitamin Water and Beats by Dre; hip-hop slang pervades the culture; Ice
Cube, Ice T and Queen Latifah become lovable TV and film stars; the dawn
of a new political movement in hip-hop; Vote or Die; Hurricane Katrina
and the election of the first African American president.
"The Tanning of America: One Nation Under Hip Hop" is produced by
Rakontur, with Billy Corben directing and Alfred Spellman producing.
Steve Stoute is executive producer on the project. Executive producing
for VH1 are Susan Levison, Ben Zurier, Shelly Tatro, Brad Abramson and
Stephen Mintz.
Social Media: In celebration of "The Tanning of America"
and the impact hip hop has had on the nation, fans everywhere are
encourage to share how they've experienced hip hop's influence with
#HipHopChangedUs via Twitter, Vine, Instagram and Facebook then VH1 will
select their favorites to highlight each week. Follow @VH1Music on
Facebook and Twitter to see exclusive #HipHopChangedUs clips featuring
Diddy, Dr. Dre, and other celebrities from "The Tanning of America."
Starting February 20th, VH1.com will present a 7 day series of
#HipHopChangedUs segments featuring cross-cultural notables in music,
fashion, news and more. Then during each premier fans are invited to
live tweet with VH1, Steve Stoute, and surprise talent featured in "The
Tanning of America" documentary.
VH1's Emmy Award winning Rock Docs are feature-length
documentaries that tell unique stories of artists and music from a wide
range of genres, styles and musical perspectives.
VH1 delivers the ultimate mash-up of music, pop culture and nostalgia
for adults who still want to have fun. VH1 is available in 99 million
households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and
services including VH1 Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile and VH1.com and
@VH1, the hub for all things music and pop culture. VH1 is a unit of
Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world's leading creators of
programming and content across all media platforms. For more
information, go to www.vh1press.com,
VH1.com,
or the VH1
Facebook page. Follow us on Twitter @VH1PR.
* All Times ET/PT
VH1
Scott Acord, 310-752-8075
Scott.Acord@VH1.com
or
Toni
Herron Savage, 212-846-7528
Toni.Herron@VH1.com
Source: VH1
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