TANNING OF AMERICA, THE: ONE NATION UNDER HIP-HOP: ALL AROUND THE WORLD (2000-2014) {EPISODE 4} (TV)
Summary
The final installment in this four-part miniseries, airing as part of Vh1's Rock Doc series, focusing on the evolution and cultural impact of hip-hop and rap music, based on Steve Stoute's nonfiction book of the same title. In this episode, which examines 2000-2014, Wendy Day explains that Eminem's 1999 demo "The Slim Shady LP" went largely ignored despite his skill because white rappers were not taken seriously, but after an impressive performance at the 1997 Rap Olympics and a fateful meeting with Dr. Dre, his 2000 album "The Marshall Mathers LP" sold in record numbers and led to many accolades, leading Stoute to dub him "the embodiment of tanning" for his rap skills and mass appeal. Enimem then appeared in the semi-autobiographical film "8 Mile" (2002), which won an Academy Award for Best Original Song. At the same time, many hip-hop artists became fashion entrepreneurs, most notably Sean "Puffy"/"P. Diddy" Combs, whose label Sean John was displayed on prestigious Paris runways and in Vogue magazine, and for which he won the Menswear Designer of the Year Award in 2004.
Jay-Z's song "Change Clothes" prompted a decrease in sales of sports jerseys with its mere mention of more formal attire, and hip-hop artists began to promote other products as well, with Combs becoming a partner in the Ciroc vodka company and 50 Cent making the odd but successful choice of promoting vitamin water. Dr. Dre, who notes that he is uninterested in fashion, took Jimmy Iovine's advice and released a line of speakers and headphones, with which he ultimately had greater financial success than with his music. Simmons and Combs' "Gatsby-like" parties in the Hamptons became highly-desirable social events, and notable artists soon moved into more mainstream careers in movies and television. Venture capitalist Ben Horowitz discusses his use of hip-hop lyrics and ideas in his business efforts, noting the similar ideas of "railing against the system," and the cultural ideas even spread into politics, with Russell Simmons being the first to use his fame for activism. Combs created the Citizen Change "Vote or Die!" campaign in 2004 to inspire young first-time voters, and he chatted with Illinois Senator Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, telling the young politician that he should consider a Presidential bid.
Hurricane Katrina devastated the Louisiana coast in 2005, destroying many largely-black neighborhoods and prompting Kanye West's infamous "George Bush doesn't care about black people" statement on television when the government failed to respond adequately to the disaster. The event "galvanized" many Americans' feelings about race, and will.i.am used Obama's "Yes We Can" speech from the New Hampshire Primary in a song. The idea of a black American president had been discussed and parodied by comedians like Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock for many years, and as Obama's political star rose he openly commented on his own love of hip-hop and black culture, including a memorable moment in which he referenced Jay-Z's "Dirt Off Your Shoulders" with regard to criticism from his opponents, and his reveal that he and wife Michelle Obama saw Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" on their first date in 1989. Record numbers of young voters, as well as people of color and other minorities, went to the polls in 2008 – and then 2012 – and elected Obama twice, and Stoute notes that it is a "step in the right direction" towards true equality. Combs explains that hip-hop culture seeks to "level the playing field" and appeal to a wide variety of fans with its themes of aspiration and personal struggles and celebration, and has had a strong influence on many areas of life as a result. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: VH1
- DATE: November 30, 1999 11:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:41:21
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 122153
- GENRE: Documentary
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Music; Documentary
- SERIES RUN: Vh1 - TV series, 2014
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Brad Abramson … Executive Producer
- Stephen Mintz … Executive Producer
- Susan Levison … Executive Producer
- Shelly Tatro … Executive Producer
- Ben Zurier … Executive Producer
- Steve Stoute … Executive Producer, Based on the book by
- Alfred Spellman … Producer
- Billy Corben … Producer, Director
- Sophie Duensing … Associate Producer
- Hollann Joli Sobers … Line Producer
- Carline Balan … Talent Producer
- Brian Robertson … Music by
- Wendy Day … Interviewee
- Dr. Dre … Interviewee
- Sean "Diddy" Combs … Interviewee
- Jimmy Iovine … Interviewee
- Ben Horowitz … Interviewee
- Eminem
- Jay-Z
- Spike Lee
- Eddie Murphy
- Barack Obama
- Richard Pryor
- Chris Rock
- Russell Simmons
- Kanye West
- will.i.am