Plenty of rappers say that they want to transition into movies during their career, but typically they mean acting or directing, rather than providing the soundtrack. However, that's the exact chance that Chicago drill producer Young Chop has been given for Netflix's upcoming original film: "Beats."
It's been confirmed that the film with star Blackish star Anthony Anderson, and will tell a coming of age story set in the hip-hop scene of South Side Chicago. Chris Robinson, who is best known for making music videos with pretty much every rapper in the world, will be directing the film, which is set for a release in 2019. According to Deadline, the film will be about a young musical prodigy with borderline agoraphobia, played by Khalil Everage, who runs into a disgraced former music manager, played by Anderson. The two of them will have to learn from each other to overcome their personal problems.
The music for the film will, in part, be produced by Young Chop, who will provide original production for the soundtrack. He's not the only hip-hop artist involved in the project, however, as rappers Dreezy and Dave East will also make appearances in the film.
Netflix has never shied away from making hip-hop oriented original content, from the tragically cancelled series, The Get Down, as well as their documentary series, Rapture. Hopefully this film can shine a light on a part of the hip-hop world that's most often mischaracterized in the media.