Upcoming Louis Theroux documentary to spotlight US rap and hip-hop

British-American filmmaker Louis Theroux has announced three new BBC documentaries in the works under the Forbidden America title, with one to focus on US rap and hip-hop.

Exploring the "new world" of the genres, with an emphasis on Florida and nearby southern states, the hour-long film on rap will take place as part of Theroux's forthcoming series.

The 51-year-old journalist, broadcaster and author will meet rappers at various stages of their careers for the documentary, questioning the impact of social media on their music following. The 24-hour connectedness of apps like Instagram, SoundCloud, TikTok and YouTube raises the stakes for many artists who can utilise the force of a generation to make hits.

Many musicians have found success by using social media to promote themselves and find new methods to interact with audiences, such as feuding online, opening up about their anxieties and phobias, and live-streaming their sometimes chaotic lives. From those who have risen quickly to others who have fallen severely, Louis will meet people at various phases of their ambition to become successful.

"The world has gone through massive changes in the last few years, in particular from the effects of social media," the documentary filmmaker said in a statement.

"This new series looks at the way those changes have affected people in America who are in different ways involved in dangerous, extreme, or morally questionable lifestyles.

“Far-right groups that have found new influence through gaming and streaming services. Porn performers who have seen power shift to them as they’ve embraced creator-controlled apps and called out alleged predators in the industry. And in the rap world young men with big dreams caught up in feuds and high-risk behaviour in the click-driven world of social media.”

As part of Theroux's Weird Weekends series back in 2000, he also explored the southern hip-hop industry as it eclipsed those of the east and west coasts.

Born in Singapore to an English mother and American father (writer Paul Theroux), Theroux moved with his family to London when he was a child. After graduating from Oxford, he moved to the US and worked as a journalist for Metro Silicon Valley and Spy. He moved into television as the presenter of offbeat segments on Michael Moore's TV Nation series and later began to host his own documentaries, including Louis Theroux's Weird Weekends, When Louis Met..., and several BBC Two specials.

📹 @louistheroux is back - with a powerful trilogy of films for @BBCTwo

In Forbidden America, Louis explores how online has collided with the real world, helping the far-right build solidarity, creating power shifts in the porn industry & seeing rap artists live-streaming feuds.

— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) September 27, 2021