About
Traces the incredible trajectory of Brown’s life and career from a 7th grade drop-out arrested and jailed at the age of 16 for breaking into a car in the Jim Crow-era South, to an entertainment legend whose groundbreaking talent and unique perspective catapulted him to become a cultural force.
Cast
James Brown
as Self (archive footage)
Deanna Brown
as Self - James Brown's Wife
Yamma Brown
as Self - James Brown's Daughter
Bootsy Collins
as Self
Chuck D
as Self
Al Sharpton
as Self
Questlove
as Self
Mick Jagger
as Self
LL Cool J
as Self
Alan Leeds
as Self
Jason King
as Self
Christian McBride
as Self
Jeffrey Harleston
as Self
Ras Baraka
as Self
Jimmy Jam
as Self
Terry Lewis
as Self
Danny Ray
as Self (archive footage)
Seasons
Episodes
Season 1
Making a Life for Myself
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.
The Most Powerful Black Man in America
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.
Life in the Raw
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.
Big As Big Can Be
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.
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