Watch ‘The Field,’ WorldStarHipHop’s Documentary About Violence and Hip-Hop in Chicago
The city of Chicago is a war zone. In 2013, Chicago police recorded 412 homicides in the city. While the murder rate was down somewhat from 2012 (497 murders were tabulated), it’s still too high. The issue of youth violence against the backdrop of Chicago's conversely vibrant hip-hop scene is explored in a new documentary executive produced by WorldStarHipHop.
The 40-minute film, titled 'The Field: Violence, Hip-Hop and Hope in Chicago,' focuses on the youth and street violence in the Windy City, which has been dubbed "Chiraq."
Directed by Mandon Lovett, the documentary features interviews with Chicago’s hottest new rhyme-spitters including King Louie, Lil Bibby, Lil Durk, Katie Got Bandz and producer Young Chop.
Rather than just focusing on how violent the city has become, the rappers discuss ways they are trying to escape the violence through drill music.
Elsewhere, Rhymefest, a Chicago native himself, is doing his part to help bring change in his community. In an effort to establish preventive measures to stop the violence in Chiraq, the Grammy Award-winning rapper created a program called Got Bars.
Backed by his good friend and fellow Chicagoan Kanye West, the program aims to teach at-risk youth the fundamentals of songwriting in hip-hop.
"We are dealing with a new generation. These kids are growing up without mamas or daddies," said Rhymefest. "When your mama is gone and your daddy doesn’t care about you, you know what that makes? A killer."
The entire film is inspiring to watch and, hopefully, these up-and-coming rappers can rise above the violence and become successful artists.