Nas Brings Classic Hip-Hop Film ‘Beat Street’ to Broadway
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Nas is set to bring a musical adaptation of the 1984 cult classic film “Beat Street” to Broadway. The announcement was made at the Tribeca Film Festival during the 40th-anniversary screening of the movie, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Nas, whose real name is Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, will be involved in enhancing the film’s original soundtrack and will also write new songs for the Broadway production.
He joins producers Arthur Baker, who worked on the original film, Michael Holman, and Richard Fearn, with Nathan Gehan and Jamison Scott of ShowTown Productions serving as executive producers.
“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 honour to breathe new life into this iconic work and celebrate its enduring legacy.”
The project marks Nas’s first major theatre venture, following his contributions to film and television, including Showtime’s “The Supreme Team” and Netflix’s “The Get Down.”
Nas expressed his excitement about the project, noting the significant impact of “Beat Street” on spreading hip-hop culture globally.
He aims to infuse the musical with the authentic energy of hip-hop, celebrating the legacy of a movie that showcased the early days of the hip-hop scene in the South Bronx.
The original “Beat Street” film depicted the lives of a graffiti artist, a DJ, and a break-dancer amid the burgeoning hip-hop movement in New York City.
It starred Rae Dawn Chong, Gus Davis, and Jon Chardiet, and featured music by notable figures like Harry Belafonte, Doug E. Fresh, DJ Kool Herc, and Afrika Bambaataa.
