FX's "Hip Hop Uncovered" Reveals the Truth About the Rap Industry

Directed by Rashidi Natara Harper, Hip Hop Uncovered focuses on five of hip hop's most integral behind-the-scenes benefactors: Eugene "Big U" Henley, Deb Antney, Jacques "Haitian Jack" Agnant, Christian Anthony Mathis a.k.a. "Trick-Trick," and Deb's brother, James "Bimmy" Antney. It also follows the growth of the culture and its many stages as it transforms "from street-parks to the board room" as rapper Xzibit put it -- all corroborated by legends in the game like Ice T, T.I., Snoop Dogg, Run DMC's Darryl McDaniels and Xzibit himself, among many, many others.

This journey is one that feels intimate, as if the information is privileged. T.I. basically says as much in the first 30 seconds of the very first episode. "Well, God bless you guys for trying to explain the intricacies of this thing of ours, because for us, it was always something that was on a need-to-know basis," he declares. "So, you know, forgive me if I dare not share all of our trade secrets."

More than just the story of hip hop's main contributors, Uncovered shows the connection between the government, drug dealers and the people whose lives changed because of hip hop just as much as they changed it themselves.

Now a street legend and community activist, Big U -- who's also an executive producer on this series -- started as an O.G. member of the Rollin 60s Crips, an L.A.-based gang that began back when gangs were about fist fighting to protect one's neighborhood, rather than resorting to gun violence. The introduction of crack changed all that, especially when combined with the widespread poverty that now existed in Black neighborhoods due to the "white flight" that occurred after the Vietnam War ended.

See, after the war, scores of veterans came home to unemployment, and all kinds of problems ensued. This only accelerated the ongoing exodus of white Americans from what would become the 'hood to the 'burbs, and with them went some black businesses. The void of taxable incomes created a level of poverty that these already tough neighborhoods had never before seen. Then 1980 hit, and with it "Rapper's Delight" hit the streets. The people loved this new rap thing, but there was still no money in it.

By 1983, Black neighborhoods were getting their first taste of crack (shout out to the C.I.A.), which changed everything, not only in neighborhoods like Big U's, but also on the East Coast. Suddenly, thanks to the same rock that was obliterating the very neighborhoods they came from, people with no formal education or training could now make six-figure salaries. Hence the birth of drug dealers. Speaking of which …

After a rough upbringing, "Bimmy," a.k.a. New York's hip hop "godfather," led the kind of life the rappers looked up to. The pushers were the shiniest folks on the block, so the rappers looked up to them. Meanwhile, the dealers loved having them around. This led to scenarios where "Bimmy," who at the time was running the Supreme Team (think the dealers in New Jack City), would end up on tour, and on stage, with Run DMC. The tide started to shift for "Bimmy" once he realized the difference between these two worlds. He could live a good life (monetarily) via either one, but the drug game was a life of fear.

And the music biz? Well, that was all love.

"Bimmy" goes on to focus on how he can impact the music industry. That same mentality also guided his older sister Deb Antney, also known as "Aunt Deb." Besides being the mother of rapper Waka Flacka Flame, Deb not only discovered Gucci Mane but also established a gang of highly bankable rap stars which includes, but isn't limited to, French Montana, OJ Da Juiceman and Nicki Minaj. Truth be told, "Aunt Deb" has done so much to empower females in the industry she truly deserves a whole column to herself during Women's History Month, which is coming right up.

All of this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. As of this writing I've only seen the first two episodes, and they are both straight packed with legit knowledge that comes right from the horses' mouths -- no bullshit. (I haven't even gotten to Trick Trick and Haitian Jack.) Like, this is actual history being taught, and it's treated as such. The format is clean, camera resolutions high, and the final edit really gives the impression that the people who put this together care about hip hop as much as the people in it or watching it.

I personally plan on copping a hard copy of the season if it's ever made available, but if nothing else, I'm excited for the next four episodes. I just want to keep learning.

Two new episodes of Hip Hop Uncovered are telecast Fridays beginning at 9 p.m. on FX. They stream the following day on FX on Hulu.

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