Rapper Nas has announced that he will be part of the creative team adapting the film, Beat Street for Broadway.
Nas made the announcement last June 14, at a 40th anniversary screening of the film at the Tribeca Film Festival. He said: "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."
Premiered in 1984, Beat Street is set in the South Bronx and spotlights a group of young talents, including a DJ, a graffiti artist, and a breakdancer, as they pursue their dreams and navigate the challenges of urban life. The film featured appearances by some of the major stars of the time, including Doug E. Fresh, DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambataa & The Sonic Force, Us Girls, Magnificent Force, The New York City Breakers, and Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five. It has also been cited as an influence by, among others, Ice-T, Ice Cube, LL Cool J and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Its soundtrack was released in two volumes, with Volume One becoming one of the first rap albums certified gold.
The Beat Street adaptation is being produced by Richard Fearn, Arthur Baker-who was also the film's co-producer, composer and music producer-and Michael Holman-the film's associate producer. The musical will expand on the film, and create new material to complement the original's numbers.
Besides producing multiplatinum albums and earning 16 Grammy nominees, Nas has also worked on television projects, such as The Supreme Team. The Beat Street musical will be his first foray into theater.
