The hip-hop mogul has traded in his mic for a camera.
Jay Z has been making his way into the filmmaking world – funding and producing two documentaries about young people of color the criminal justice system. Known for speaking on Reaganomics and the War on Drugs, the rapper is solidifying his spot amongst some of hip-hop’s social reformers. Z’s music is filled with a reminiscence of his past on the corner, which the rapper feels is an important part of his journey to the top.
The rapper is working closely with the Weinstein Company – the studio behind Fruitvale Station – putting together a series of documentaries about the life and death of Kalief Browder. The young man committed suicide after three years of imprisonment on Rikers Island. Directed by Jenner Furst, the six-part miniseries, Time: The Kalief Browder Story, will provide insight on the tragedy that was Browder’s death and the impact of his incarceration on his mental health. The series aims to explore his time on Rikers Island and go in depth on his life before and after serving his time on Rikers. Addressing the mass incarceration of people of color, especially young men, and the American Prison-industrial Complex highlights the consequences of the War on Drugs. The documentary series is available for viewing on Spike TV. Watch the trailer below.
