Nas to adapt ‘Beat Street’ into Broadway musical
Nas will be helping to adapt the 1984 movie Beat Street into a Broadway show as it’s announced he’s joined the creative team as a producer.
At a screening of the cult classic hip-hop film at the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival on June 14th, the rapper announced the project. He’ll be working as a producer alongside several key names and filmmakers from the original movie.
Arthur Baker, the composer and music producer from the film, is on board to help with the sound of the show. So is Michael Holman, who was an associate producer of the original film.
The 1984 film was a dance drama focussed on a graffiti artist, a DJ, and a breaker in the South Bronx as a look at the area’s new underground culture.It featured musical performances from some of the earliest established hip-hop groups. Grandmaster Melle Mel & the Furious Five, Doug E. Fresh, Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force, and the Treacherous Three are amongst the most notable, as well as many other musical moments from other MCs.
While the film captured the hip-hop movement in America, specifically in The Bronx and New York, it helped introduce the music further afield as the film was screened worldwide. It became especially popular in Berlin during a period when East and West Berlin were still separated. The film’s connection to hip-hop’s visual art forms, like graffiti, was hugely inspiring and influential.
Nas recognises the major impact of the film as he gets involved with the adaptation. “Beat Street wasn’t just a film – it spread the revolution of hip-hop culture throughout the country and the world. It left an indelible mark, inspiring generations of young artists and creating new hip-hop fans alike,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.
“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,” he continued. “It’s an honor to breathe new life into this iconic work and celebrate its enduring legacy.”
The film is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year as the Broadway adaptation was announced. Nas will reportedly be helping write new music to expand upon the original movie soundtrack for the stage show. There is no note yet of when the show might open or whether the plot of the film will be adapted or altered at all, but it already has a strong cast of creatives on board to help.