Four decades in, hip-hop is not just a music genre, but a microcosm of the nation. At its core, the genre embodies the concept of the American dream — to transcend one’s environment in search of a better life — and with that comes its own challenges. FX’s latest documentary series, “Hip Hop Uncovered” (also streaming on Hulu), explores the origins of rap and how its maturation has affected the communities that birthed it, as well as the country at large.
Produced by Malcolm Spellman and directed by Rashidi Natara Harper, the two pull back the curtain on some of hip-hop’s unsung heroes and shine a line on those who have been working behind the scenes since its inception. Following rap originators Deb, Big U, Trick Trick, Haitian Jack, and Bimmy among others, it offers a unique perspective at how hip-hop and its relation to the streets has changed through the years. As “Hip Hop Uncovered” comes to a close, here are five takeaways from the fascinating series.
Mike Tyson is a legitimate character in hip-hop history.
While the series featured a handful of impressive cameos aside from its five main narrators — Dr. Dre, T.I., and Snoop Dogg, to name a few — among the more memorable guests was boxing champ Mike Tyson. Growing up in Brownsville, Brooklyn, and being around characters like Haitian Jack from an early age, Tyson encountered street violence in his backyard and saw hip-hop reflect his own life. Being the youngest heavyweight champion at 20-years-old, Tyson was still a kid when rap began to blossom, but would end up playing witness to significant moments in hip-hop history, like the murder of Tupac. The rapper-actor-poet was shot and killed mere hours after watching Tyson fight Bruce Seldon in Las Vegas in 1996. Tyson’s commentary proved meaningful, expanding the lens of hip-hop’s story beyond the scope of only artists and music media executives.
Haitian Jack is your new favorite OG.
While many might recognize Haitian Jack’s name from Tupac’s infamous posthumous track “Against All Odds,” where Pac notoriously called him a snitch, the docuseries reveals that there was much more to their relationship than that diss record. Telling all his stories from the sanctity of his fortress in the Dominican Republic, Haitian Jack reveals that he was a pivotal figure in inspiring how Tupac operated in the street-run rap scene early on. Not only that, but Jack also asserts that Pac modeled his role as Birdie in “Above the Rim” after him because he wanted the character to feel more authentic. They ended up falling out before Pac’s murder. Some 25 years later, Haitian Jack endures as one of the genre’s most interesting characters, and maybe your new favorite OG.
Street credibility does not equate to industry loyalty.
In a culture where honor on the street was once held in the highest regard, it has become increasingly apparent that rap has lost some of those tenets. Blame the money: as rap became more profitable, it distanced itself from the code of integrity and authenticity. And with the arrival of social media, it’s now a case of the “OG vs. IG,” said Deb in the series “The only difference between street code and industry code is the level of consequences,” T.I. added. When street code was paramount in the ’80s and ’90s, haphazard accusations of snitching could cost someone their life. In the hip-hop industry now, bad behavior equates to more clicks and views.
Nipsey Hussle’s impact is everlasting.
We already knew this, but it felt even more impactful coming from people who had helped Nipsey Hussle grow from the very beginning. Big U was an influential figure in Nipsey’s life and who instilled in him some of his values like investing in your community, generational wealth, and the importance of leaving a legacy. These were all things the Rollin’ 60s OG had learned while spending 13-years in prison. Once Big U was released at the age of 37, he dedicated his life to giving back to his local and rap communities. A throughline to the series was the importance of artists having elder statesmen by their side early to help guide them through the pitfalls of the music industry, and Big U was that for Nipsey, as well as other artists like west coast legend Kurupt. It was just powerful to be reminded of how bright Nipsey Hussle’s light shined, and how it was extinguished far too soon.
Violence comes with the territory.
“Hip Hop Uncovered” serves up constant reminders that rap has always been surrounded by violence. When the communities that make the music see pressure and oppression from all sides, it will inevitably seep into the emerging art. As Death Row reached meteoric heights and went mainstream with Snoop Dogg, N.W.A, and other iconic groups, they brought L.A. gang culture with them. “If it’s real, why are you publicizing it?” Ice T said of gang-banging making its way to the music. Diss records led to actual murders because the street culture was still so deeply intertwined with the genre. Tragically, we still see that today, with young artists being murdered at an alarming rate.
