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As the godfather of a breakbeat that birthed hip-hop, James Brown's life serves as a crucial call for respect and dignity for Blackness and Black music in America.

James Brown: Say It Loud

Big as Big Can Be

Amidst financial pressures, record company politics, substance abuse, and personal struggles, James Brown found himself on a perilous path, colliding with the law and confronting the threat of revisiting prison.

Life in the Raw

Aligning with the civil rights movement, James Brown becomes a cultural force by articulating community pride and political influence, ultimately hailed as the most important Black man in America.

The Most Powerful Black Man in America

Rising from poverty and overcoming abuse in the Jim Crow South, James Brown secures a record deal, electrifies audiences, and breaks down racial barriers; propelling himself into stardom.

Making a Life for Myself

Interviews with friends, family, collaborators and proteges explore the legacy of the Godfather of Soul.

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S1 E2 | The Most Powerful Black Man in America