Paramount is planning multiple programming initiatives across multiple platforms surrounding the 50th anniversary of hip hop music and culture to debut in 2023.

Paramount-owned services Showtime, BET, CBS and Paramount Plus will offer original content celebrating the milestone, while MTV Entertainment Studios will develop a slate of hip hop documentaries as well as new episodes of the classic music series Behind the Music. 

Showtime, which has already aired several documentaries as part of the anniversary slate, including Supreme Team; Cypress Hill: Insane in the Brain; You’re Watching Video Music Box and Ricky Powell: The Individualist, will develop a documentary feature around late hip hop legend Biz Markie. Also on the docket is a series on the power of women in hip hop and one on the rise and fall of the SoundCloud scene.

BET will celebrate the anniversary through its signature shows the BET Awards and BET Hip Hop Awards, as well as with a documentary on its iconic series Rap City.

CBS will recognize hip hop’s milestone during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards and will culminate with a historic commemoration later in 2023 with a special music event in partnership with the Recording Academy.  

On the streaming front, Paramount Plus will offer 50 of the most iconic episodes of MTV Entertainment’s original series Yo! MTV Raps alongside the rebooted series, as well as episodes from home-makeover series Hip Hop My House, according to Paramount. ■

A&E will develop a documentary on late hit hop icon Ol’ Dirty Bastard in collaboration with the artist’s estate. 

The two-hour documentary, Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard, will chronicle the life of the musician and founding member of hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. Featuring never-before-seen personal archive content shot by his wife, Icelene Jones, along with access to his closest friends and family, this documentary showcases ODB as a man, a father, and a husband, said the network. 

The documentary, co-directed by Sam and Jason Pollard, will center on ODB’s solo career, from his first album release in 1995 until his untimely passing from a drug overdose in 2004.

“A&E continues to be an industry leader in definitive documentary storytelling,” said Elaine Frontain Bryant, Executive Vice President and Head of Programming for A&E in a statement. "Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard will present viewers with the untold story of the man and the musician who made an immense cultural impact across just a few short years.”

Pulse Films and Four Screens will produce Biography: Ol’ Dirty Bastard, with Sam Bridger, Diene Pettrle, Louis Mole, Messiah Jacobs, Nicole Beckett and Icelene Jones serving as executive producers, said A&E.

TV One will look at the evolution of music and social consciousness of the 1970s  through the 2000s as part of a four-part series debuting February 27.

The series, Unsung Presents: The Decades, tells the chronological story of music, from Motown and disco in the 1970s and 1980s to the revolutionary sound and style of hip-hop in the 1990s and 2000s, said the network. Decades will also look at the role music played in influencing social and cultural events such as the Vietnam War, the crack cocaine & AIDS epidemic, and police brutality in American society. 

Artists featured in the documentary include Edwin Starr, The Floaters, Brick, Carl Carlton, Dazz Band, Teddy Riley, Public Enemy, Digital Underground and Tweet, said the network.

TV One will air the first two episodes of Decades on February 27, with episode three debuting April 17 and episode four premiering April 24. ■ 

Nickelodeon will bring back its live-action comedy series Tyler Perry's Young Dylan for a third season, the network said Thursday.

The Perry-produced series, which stars Dylan Gilmer as Dylan — a young hip-hop mogul-in-training — will continue to follow Dylan as he continues his pursuit of stardom while getting his family into hilarious hijinks along the way, according to the network.

The series also stars Carl Anthony Payne II, Mieko Hillman, Aloma Lesley Wright, Celina Smith, Hero Hunter and Jet Miller. 

Production on season three of Tyler Perry's Young Dylan will begin next year at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

Revolt has promoted network executive Detavio Samuels to chief executive officer, part of several senior management appointments announced by Revolt founder Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Samuels, formerly Revolt’s chief operating officer, will oversee the hip hop-themed cable network and digital service as it strives to create fresh and exciting content that produces long-lasting impact, according to the network. 

Read also: Five Spot: Detavio Samuels

Other senior management appointments include Colin McIntosh to chief operating officer and chief finance officer; and Deon Graham to chief brand officer of Combs Enterprises. 

Graham, Samuels and McIntosh will work alongside Cherisse McKenzie (Head of Content and Production), Angela Bundrant Turner (Head of Marketing and Public Relations), Mike Roche (Executive Vice President of Ad Sales), and James 'JB' Brown (Executive Vice President of Content Distribution), to shape the company's future, according to network officials. 

"My vision for Revolt was always to build the world's largest Black-owned media company powered by the smartest young executives from the culture," Combs said in a statement. "As we reimagine the future of the brand, it's important that we stay true to that mission and position real game-changers to lead the way."

Revolt TV CEO Roma Khanna is stepping down after three years of heading up the Sean "Diddy" Combs-founded network. 

Khanna, who took over as CEO in 2017, will now serve as advisor to the senior team and shareholders of the network, according to Combs.

Revolt TV EVP and Head of Finance and Operations Colin McIntosh and the network's COO and head of content Detavio Samuels will now also serve as co-heads of Revolt, according to network officials. 

Under Khanna’s tutelage, the music-themed network launched such initiatives and projects as State of the Culture and Revolt Black News as well as the multi-city and the multi-platform Revolt Summit x AT&T. On the distribution side, Revolt has launched across the AT&T platforms as well as on Mediacom and on streaming outlets such as Philo and Sling TV, said Revolt. 

“I am grateful for Roma’s relentless work over the last three years getting Revolt ready for the revolution,” said Combs in a statement. “She has been an ally to the culture and the company. Roma will always be a part of the Combs family and I am happy to have her as an Advisor to Revolt going forward.”

Added Khanna: “Revolt’s time is now and I am very proud to pass the reins to our next generation of amazing leaders as they rise and guide the future. I am grateful to our Chairman, Sean “Diddy” Combs, for his unwavering support and guidance along the way. Revolt is forever in my heart and I look forward to continuing to support the team, our audience and Sean Combs as an ally and Advisor.”

WE tv in March will follow the lives of hip hop stars Waka Flocka and his wife Tammy Rivera in a new reality series Waka & Tammy: What The Flocka.

The six-art series, debuting March 12, follows Waka Flocka Flame and Tammy as they navigate their renewed commitment to their relationship after their emotional roller-coaster on WE tv’s Marriage Boot Camp: Hip Hop Edition, according to network officials. 

The series will chronicle the couple's challenges of married life, from home renovation, juggling Tammy’s music career and  parenting their teenage daughter Charlie, said WE tv.  

Nickelodeon will work with prolific writer/producer Tyler Perry on a new live-action series, the network said Wednesday.

The series will star 10-year old rapper Young Dylan and tells the story of a family whose world is turned upside down when their nephew, an aspiring hip-hop star, moves in unannounced, according to the kids-targeted network.

The series is part of Perry’s long-term agreement with Viacom, which includes several new series already announced for BET and its new streaming service BET+.

“It’s a thrill to bring this new series to Nickelodeon from the incredibly talented and prolific Tyler Perry, whose track record speaks for itself,” said Nickelodeon President Brian Robbins. “Dylan is an incredibly talented 10-year-old who at heart is a relatable kid making his dreams happen. We know kids are going to love watching Dylan and we can’t wait to introduce him and his new show to our audience.”

Disney Channel will work with Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass to create an original short for series that will stream on the network’s YouTube channel.

The series, Shook, stars Sofia Wylie (Andy Mack), and centers around a teen girl who yearns to dance professionally but is hindered by daily obligations to her little sister and their single mom. She ultimately expresses herself through the vibrant world of street dance, according to Disney.

"Disney Channel's YouTube channel already has 3 million subscribers and 1.4 billion views,” said Vincent Aricco, vice president, multiplatform content development, Disney Channels Worldwide in a statement. “Adding Shook as our foray into original scripted content is a great step in continuing to connect with our viewers on a platform they already use." 

TV networks are giving classic music fans a chance to bust out their platform shoes, parachute pants, leg warmers and bandanas.

AXS TV tonight (Aug. 11) will debut AXS TV Concerts Hosted by Mark Cuban, a new weekly concert series featuring live performances from such popular 60s, 70s and 80s bands as The Village People, The Monkees, Bret Michaels and KC and the Sunshine Band.

Tomorrow (Aug. 12), Netflix will premiere its drama The Get Down, its ode to the late 1970s hip hop, punk and disco scene in the Bronx. Hopefully the Baz Luhmann-produced series will dance to a more successful beat than HBO’s series Vinyl, an homage to 70s pop/rock music that missed a note with viewers earlier this year. HBO canceled it after initially renewing the series for a second season following the premiere.

Related:Trailer for Netfix's 'The Get Down'

Even MTV has returned to its classic music roots, having relauched the VH1 Classic network into MTV circa 1980-2000. The new MTV Classic channel debuted Aug. 1 by offering the same programming MTV aired during its first hour on air -- 35 years ago.

Among reruns from classic MTV scripted and reality shows like Beavis and Butthead, MTV Classic will also feature vintage MTV Unplugged performances featuring such performers as Bob Dylan, Alice in Chains, Erykah Badu, Oasis, Neil Young and Nirvana.

Viewers have already boogied this summer to ABC’s limited series Greatest Hits, which brought back artists like Boyz II Men, The Backstreet Boy, Wilson Phillips, New Edition, En Vogue, Nelly and Rick Springfield to perform their biggest hits from the 1980s-early 2000s. The series drew a respectable average of nearly 4 million viewers during its six-week run that began in June.

With the country still struggling through a turbulent summer, and an uncertain and potentially unstable few months ahead, a dose of nostalgic, comfort music on TV may serve as a welcome respite for viewers.

WE tv said it ordered the six-episode docu-series Growing Up Hip Hop from Entertainment One (eOne), to premiere in late 2015. It concerns "the next generation of hip hop royalty as they attempt to step outside the shadow of their famous families:"  Damon Dash, Rev. Run, Russell Simmons, Master P, El DeBarge and Pepa. 

“Hip hop is a hugely popular music genre, but beyond the songs it has become a lifestyle and has influenced a generation of young people,” Marc Juris, WE tv’s president, said in a release. "Growing Up Hip Hop profiles what it’s like to be raised by hip hop legends, living in their shadow while trying to balance success and independence. This series will be right at home in our growing line-up focused on the authenticity and the challenges of real people and real relationships, and we can’t wait to share these distinctive original stories with WE tv viewers.”

The principals: 

Romeo Miller is a musician, actor (formerly known as Lil’ Romeo) and the son of Master P. He’s on track to take over the music empire his father built, but is that really his path or will he veer off course? He consistently leans on close friend Angela for guidance and support;

Angela Simmons, the daughter of rap pioneer Rev. Run and niece of Russell Simmons, is a hip hop socialite, model and fashion designer of her own line, Foofi. She is a social media powerhouse who’s hoping to translate her fashion success into dollars away from the comfort of her father’s fortunes;

Damon “Boogie” Dash is the namesake of his father, Roc-A-Fella co-founder and media mogul, Damon Dash. Like father like son, “Boogie” is also an entrepreneur having co-founded Chipz Cookies as well as a record label and NYC art gallery;

Kristinia DeBarge is the daughter of James DeBarge from the legendary yet troubled group DeBarge, and a singer/songwriter in her own right. With her father currently in prison, Kristinia leans on her uncle, hip hop legend El DeBarge, as she struggles to choose between family and fame, all while considered the outsider of this tight-knit group;

Egypt Criss, the daughter of Sandra “Pepa” Denton from Salt-N-Pepa and rap icon Treach from Naughty By Nature, is actively pursuing a solo music career. Her overprotective mother, however, has yet to bless her career choice based on her own experiences in the hip hop industry which she helped establish;

TJ Mizell, the son of the late Run D.M.C. DJ, Jam Master Jay, has stepped into his father’s shoes as a DJ, spinning at the hottest events and venues around the world, yet always on his mind is his father’s mysterious and still unsolved murder.

Growing Up Hip Hop is executive produced by John Morayniss and Tara Long for eOne along with Romeo Miller, Angela Simmons, Percy Robert Miller (Master P) and Datari Turner. Turner’s Datari Turner Productions is co-producing the series. Lauren Gellert, executive vice president, development and original programming, Suzanne Murch, vice president, original programming, and Mark Powell are the executive producers for WE tv.

Netflix has tapped actor/musician Jaden Smith for its new music-driven drama The Get Down, said network officials.

Smith, the son of actor Will Smith, joins the cast for the 1970s Bronx series in the role of Marcus "Dizzee" Kipling, 18, a psychedelically talented and enigmatic graffiti writer raised in the South Bronx, said Netflix. The Baz Luhrmann-produced series will debut on the OTT service in 2016.

"We as an audience have known Jaden since he was very young," said Luhrmann in a statement. "We’re all very happy with the casting of Jaden in the role of 'Dizzee' Kipling, and with his addition, the Kipling family cast is now complete." 

Previously announced cast members include Jimmy Smits, Herizen Guardiola, Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, Skylan Brooks, Tremaine Brown, Jr., Yahya Abdul-Mateen and Mamoudou Athie.

Netflix will develop a new drama that will focus on the 1970’s New York City music scene, the network said Thursday.

The series, The Get Down, will be produced by Baz Lurhmann (Moulin Rouge!) and will follow a group of South Bronx teenagers who turn the experiences of their difficult surroundings into music through hip-hop, punk and disco, said the streaming service.

Lurhmann will executively produce the series along with Paul Watters, Thomas Kelly, Stephen Adley Guirgis, Shawn Ryan, and Marney Hochman.

“From his very first and magnificently original steps on the world stage with Strictly Ballroom to his most recent with The Great Gatsby, Baz conjures worlds we may not recognize initially, but once there, realize they are infused with the same dreams of every person - to belong, to matter, to live life to its fullest,” said Cindy Holland, vice president of original content for Netflix in a statement. “We are thrilled to support Baz, Catherine and Paul and their team in their quest to illuminate those same dreams through the artists who came of age in the cauldron of the Bronx in the late 1970s.”

BET has cancelled its long-running daily music show 106 & Park and will offer the series online, network executives said.

The show, hosted by Keshia Chante and Bow Wow (pictured) that showcased top hip hop and R&B music videos, will officially leave the air Dec. 19 after a 14-year run on the African-American targeted channel, said Stephen Hill, president of music programming and specials in a post on BET.com. The network will air 106 & Park specials, including a New Year’s Eve telecast on Dec. 31.

“Now it’s time for 106 & Park, as a daily TV entity, to take a bow and exit,” Hill said. “It’s been a great 14-year run as America’s top music/variety show on cable. And now that very valuable brand is going to take its talents to the digital realm. It’ll be very exciting to connect with the millions of people that are already engaged with 106 & Park and other BET digital and social media entities and bring content that will further evolve the 106 & Park brand — and enhance the overall BET Networks brand.”