P-Star Rising Premiering Tonight on Independent Lens on PBS

“It’s a good one, and a different sort of film for this consistently rewarding series. The film, by Gabriel Noble, chronicles the aspirations of one of the most self-assured kids you’ll ever see.”
- The New York Times

What did you want to be when you grew up? Nine-year-old Priscilla wants to become the youngest female rap star ever. With her single father turned manager, Priscilla travels from Harlem street corners to sold out shows around the world — eventually landing a record deal and starring role on PBS’s The Electric Company. But the road to stardom means figuring out whom to trust while hanging around people twice her size and four times her age. For Priscilla, otherwise known as P-Star, the ride has just begun.

This is the final film of Independent Lens‘s Music Month celebration.

Learn more and get local broadcast listings >>

We also recently caught up with P-Star to talk about tonight’s Independent Lens broadcast and what it was like being the subject of a documentary.  Check out this exclusive interview with her below.

Check out P-Star’s latest music video where she performs Daddy’s Little Girl with Tony Sunshine and features footage from tonight’s broadcast on Independent Lens.

Tags: family, music, music month, rap, The Electric Company

Exclusive Video: Rapper P-Star Gives Advice to Young Musical Artists

Next Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 10:00 PM the documentary P-Star Rising will have its national television premiere on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings). This film is the final installment of Independent Lens’s Music Month celebration.

Nine-year-old Priscilla wants to become the youngest female rap star ever. With her single father turned manager, Priscilla travels from Harlem street corners to sold out shows around the world –– eventually landing a record deal and starring role on PBS’s The Electric Company. But the road to stardom means figuring out who to trust while hanging around people twice her size and four times her age.

In the video below, P-Star gives some advice on what she learned about the music industry and what it takes to make it in this highly competitive field.

Also, check out this video where P-Star raps freestyle about her rise to fame.

Learn more about P-Star Rising and other Music Month programming >>

Tags: family, music, music month, rap, The Electric Company

Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats &Rhymes Premiering Tonight on Independent Lens on PBS

“… a broad and eye-opening portrait of hip-hop masculinity.”
- The Washington Post

Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes takes an in-depth look at machismo in rap music and hip-hop culture — where creative genius, poetic beauty, and mad beats collide with misogyny, violence, and homophobia.

Get broadcast listings and discover other films featured now during Independent Lens’s Music Month. Learn more >>

Hip-Hop premieres tonight, January 26, at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings).

Tags: African American, hip hop, music, music month, rap

Recent Talkback About Independent Lens

From Stephen Walker’s critical and box office smash Young@Heart to an in-depth look behind the creative and commercial value of musical sampling, this season Independent Lens is rolling out a powerful selection of films that cover a wide range of issues related to the music industry. Check out some of the recent Talkback from viewers about films airing this month.

Young@Heart

“I watched the documentary, Young@Heart, last week and was quite moved. The director has given a great gift to the people of North Hampton and around the world.”
Posted by: Roger Millnitz on January 17, 2010

“I am 51 and hope I have the vitality that these individuals do when I get up there in years. The one song that gets me every time is Fred’s tribute to Bob, ‘Fix You.’ It moves me every time.”
Posted by: Gail on January 17, 2010

“I am in my 70s and I loved this film. The segment where the group did a concert for the jail inmates young enough to be their grandchildren was just so touching to me that it brought tears to my eyes…”
Posted by: Christina on January 18, 2010

View more Talkback and submit your own for Young@Heart >>

Interested in music programs? Learn more about our month-long celebration of music >>

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Tags: hip hop, music, music month, sampling, senior citizens

Copyright Criminals Premiering Tonight on Independent Lens on PBS

“What’s the difference between creative ‘borrowing’ and outright theft? The Independent Lens documentary Copyright Criminals offers a thought-provoking discussion of the subject filtered through a history of hip-hop ‘sampling’ culture.”
- United Features Syndicate

Can you own a sound? As hip-hop rose from the streets of New York to become a multibillion-dollar industry, artists such as Public Enemy and De La Soul began reusing parts of previously recorded music for their songs. But when record company lawyers got involved everything changed. Years before people started downloading and remixing music, hip-hop sampling sparked a debate about copyright, creativity and technological change that still rages today.

Copyright Criminals premieres tonight, January 19, at 10:00 PM on Independent Lens on PBS (check local listings).

Learn more about Copyright Criminals and other special Music Month programs >>

Tags: hip hop, music, music month, sampling