Some of the biggest names in hip-hop will look back at their careers and the challenges they faced on the road to success in the new A&E docuseries, Origins of Hip-Hop.
The eight-episode series explores the origins of Busta Rhymes, Eve, Grandmaster Flash, Ice-T, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Fat Joe and Uncle Luke.
Each artist reflects on the moments that shaped them, the obstacles they overcame, and the lessons they learned along the way. The series also includes interviews with their family members, friends and collaborators.
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In a preview clip released by A&E on Monday, 46-year-old Ja Rule reflects on his early years in Queens, New York, and doing what it took to get by as his mother struggled to pay the bills.
“She couldn’t really lean on any family for financial help,” Ja Rule says about his mom. “At that moment, I knew that I was willing to do whatever I had to do to help. What I seen at first as a success was drug dealers… and I was like ‘alright, I’m in.'”
Still, he said he wanted a career in the music business and was inspired by Run-D.M.C.
The series is produced by Mass Appeal and will kick off on May 30 with the story of Fat Joe, who discusses getting signed and how he helped his mom pay for her cancer treatments with the money from his advance.
“I went to tell my mother that I had the deal and she told me she was diagnosed with cancer, same day,” he says.
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He shares how he got a $50K advance and ended up spending $35-$40K on a registered nurse while his mother was recovering from cancer.
“We don’t give up on our family, we fight the fight,” the rapper says.
Narrated by Nas, Origins of Hip-Hop premieres Monday, May 30 at 10pm ET/PT, and will move to its regular night on Tuesdays starting June 7th at 10pm ET/PT on A&E.
As previously reported, the two-night event Biography: Bobby Brown will also premiere May 30 on A&E. The documentary will look at the personal journey and struggles of the R&B legend. Part two will air on Tuesday, May 31 at 8pm ET/PT.
It will be followed by the docuseries Bobby Brown: Every Little Step, with new episodes airing Tuesdays at 9pm ET/PT starting June 7. This will follow the Browns as they embark on a new chapter of life.
Watch a clip from Far Joe’s episode of Origins of Hip-Hop below.
