Rapper Nas to bring hip hop film 'Beat Street' to Broadway as a musical

Rapper Nas is set to make his Broadway debut as a producer on a musical adaptation of the classic 1984 film Beat Street. The rapper will also be involved in expanding and creating new material for the musical's soundtrack, alongside the film's original co-producer and composer, Arthur Baker.

The announcement was made by Nas after a 40th anniversary screening of Beat Street at the Tribeca Film Festival. This marks a new venture for the multi-platinum artist, who has garnered 16 Grammy nominations and has been involved in various film and television projects.

The Beat Street musical aims to capture the raw energy and spirit of the hip-hop culture that the film so vividly portrayed. It will follow the story of a graffiti artist, a DJ, and a break-dancer in the South Bronx striving to make it in the emerging hip-hop scene.

Nas expressed his excitement about bringing this iconic film to the stage, stating, "It's a thrill for me to join the creative team of Beat Street, bringing the raw energy of hip-hop into the fabric of Broadway. It's an honor to breathe new life into this iconic work and celebrate its enduring legacy."

Additional creative team members for the musical will be announced soon. Nathan Gehan and Jamison Scott of ShowTown Productions are the executive producers of the adaptation.