After the "LudaDay Weekend Annual
Celebrity Basketball Game" concluded, the premiere of the 90 minute documentary ATL: The
Untold Story of Atlanta’s Rise in the Rap Game began at the Rialto Center for
the Arts. As a new intern at FARRINHEIT 411, it was quite a thrill and an honor to cover my first event. At the beginning of the star-studded premiere, the evening began with
food and the red carpet. The delicious light refreshments included spinach dip filled
cucumbers, mini cupcakes, ‘Luda Mix’ popcorn, and wide array of beverages. As
the event progressed, the likes of Ludacris, Letoya Luckett, DJ Toomb, Larenz Tate, Dice, and many other notable
people graced the red carpet for the film's premiere.
Before the movie began, everyone was greeted with an exclusive performance by Pastor Troy and his classic tune "We Ready" along with a gracious opening by Kasim Reed. The film served as an excellent medium to telling the background of Atlanta's rise to prominence in hip hop. The documentary included interviews from 'Mojo', which was the first rapper in Atlanta, to current stars such as, Rich Homie Quan . The documentary also featured interviews from individuals who played pivotal roles in Atlanta's hip hop scene such as Raheem the Dream, T.I. , Andrew Young, Jermaine Dupri, Kawan Prather, DJ Toomp, Rico Wade, and many more.
It was very refreshing to see the progression of hip hop told through individuals who lived through it’s most intimate moments. I really enjoyed how the film dualed as an analysis and a way of paying homage to the South as it struggled and soon conquered the hip hop music scene. After seeing this documentary, it not only made me proud to be an Atlanta native but I also grew a deeper appreciation for Southern hip hop. It truly hightlighted Atlanta’s culture and art. Moreover, It was a quite impressive on how the film's producers fit all of information into a 90 minute segment while still covering social aspects in the black community that influenced some of Atlanta's greatest hits.
At the end of this fantastic evening, Kilo Ali’s performance along with the producer's closing remarks put the icing on the cake. In the words of Andre 3000 , "the South got some to say” and I have faith that in the future Atlanta will continue to use it's voice to break barriers and make strides in the music industry. Be sure to tune into the documentary on VH1 Tuesday September 2, 2014 at 10 P.M. ET. Check out the pictures from the event below.
(Photos: Guyesha Blackshear, FARRINHEIT 411)
CONVERSATION