The Chuck D-produced PBS docuseries “Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World” will premiere Jan. 31, 2023, the channel announced Wednesday.

Developed by the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and leader of Public Enemy, the series will feature testimonials from fellow rap legends such as Ice-T, Fat Joe, Run DMC, MC Lyte, will.i.am., Lupe Fiasco and more as it seeks to delve into how hip-hop has created a provocative narrative of America, PBS said during the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour.

“The hip hop community has, from the start, done what the rest of the media is only catching up with now,” said Chuck D, who produced the series alongside producer partner Lorrie Boula and in partnership with BBC Music. “Long before any conglomerate realized it was time to wake up, hip hop was speaking out and telling truths. Working with PBS and the BBC is an opportunity to deliver those messages in new ways and help explain hip hop’s place in history and hopefully inspire us all to go further.

Boula added: “We brought the project to PBS and BBC Music because they are unparalleled in creating great documentaries. Chuck D and I look forward to working with them to report on such an important movement to the world. People are finally open to hearing and learning the story of everything Americans, and we want to tell them authentic, compelling and truthful stories. »

The four-part docuseries aims to tell the origins of the art form through the voices that were there at the start, creating an anthology of how the genre became a cultural phenomenon within the context of the history of the United States through intimate interviews and archival footage.

“PBS is delighted to join Chuck D, Lorrie Boula and BBC Music in bringing this enlightening project to audiences across all of our platforms,” ​​said Bill Gardner, Vice President of Cross-Platform Programming and Head of Development at PBS. “Hip hop is one of the most influential art genres and cultural movements of our time, and we’re thrilled to tell a deep and unwavering story with one of its creators and most powerful voices.”

“Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed The World” is produced by BBC Studios for PBS and BBC Music. Gardner is the executive in charge of PBS with Chuck D and Boula serving as executive producers. Max Gogarty is the BBC’s editor, with Anna Sadowy as executive producer, Helen Bart as series producer, Yemi Bamiro as series director and Todd Williams as director.