VH1 will air a four-part, four-hour documentary series on the history of hip-hop starting this February, just in time for Black History Month. The Tanning Of America: One Nation Under Hip Hop will examine the genesis of the genre, as well as its influence on music, film, TV, fashion, business, race relations, and politics. For example, according to the press release, the series follows Tommy Hilfiger as he cruises the streets of Harlem looking for people wearing baggy jeans, takes a look inside the collaboration between Mariah Carey and Ol Dirty Bastard, and examines the presidential run of Barack Obama. The series will also include never-before-seen footage and interviews with Carey, Diddy, Dr. Dre, Pharrell, Russell Simmons, Nas, Reverend Run, Fab 5 Freddy, Al Sharpton, Cory Booker, and more.
Based on Steve Stoute’s book of the same name, The Tanning Of America is being helmed by Cocaine Cowboys filmmakers Billy Corben and Alfred Spellman.