Iconic rapper and business extraordinaire, Jay Z, is taking his talents to National Geographic. The 47-year-old is teaming up with the famous magazine network to produce a series of documentaries focused on systemic injustices in America. Titled Race, the show will be split into six episodes and tackle issues using various forms of media including animation and archival footage. Hollywood juggernaut, Harvey Weinstein, is also on board with the project and will lend his own production chops.
Speaking with Variety earlier today, Weinstein elaborated on the series in a bit more detail. “National Geographic and Jay Z are the world’s foremost storytellers in their own right, and we’re thrilled to be working with them on such an evocative and meaningful project,” the executive stated. “By using highly cinematic storytelling techniques along with Jay Z’s singular point of view, the series will tell a dramatic, thought-provoking story on race in America.”
The new docuseries will arrive sometime in the near future, and marks yet another time Jay Z has invested in a visual medium. Aside from his involvement in 2007’s American Gangster, the rapper also helmed the 2014 reboot of the children’s classic Annie. Most recently, Jay cemented his Hollywood status by signing a development deal with his aforementioned collaborator, Harvey Weinstein. Along with the National Geographic project, the two have expressed interest in bringing the tragic story of Trayvon Martin to audiences worldwide. With these heavy productions in the works, it seems as though Jay isn’t shying away from delivering powerful and meaningful stories.
