Grammy-award winning rapper Nas is set to adapt the popular 1984 hip hop movie, Beat Street, into a Broadway musical. In collaboration with the film’s original co-producer and composer, Arthur Baker, Nas will be working on crafting the musical elements of the upcoming show, using inspiration from the film’s iconic score.
Directed by Stan Lathan, Beat Street follows the journey of two brothers and their friends as they try to establish themselves in the world of hip hop through DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti in South Bronx, New York. The film’s star, Guy Davis, played the role of DJ Kenny Kirkland, whilst Robert Taylor played Lee, John Chardiet portrayed graffiti artist Ramon, and actress Rae Dawn Chong featured as Tracy Carlson, a composer and choreographer.
Nas announced the new project at the Tribeca Film Festival, where the original film was screened for its 30-year anniversary celebration. He stated, “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.”
Nas will also be marking the 30th anniversary of his seminal album, Illmatic, with a world tour. The tour will begin in the UK and Europe, with more dates to be announced soon.
The trailer for the original Beat Street movie can be viewed below.
Becky Buckle is the Multimedia Editor at Mixmag. Follow her on Twitter
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