VH1 has shown a deep commitment to Atlanta with multiple reality programs: top-rated "Love and Hip Hop Atlanta," the family friendly "T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle," and the upcoming "Atlanta Exes."

Now the network is taking a more serious direction about our city's legacy as the hip-hop capital of the south with a 90-minute documentary Sept. 2 called “ATL: The Untold Story of Atlanta’s Rise in the Rap Game."

According to the press release:

The film chronicles the decisions of the city's forefathers in post-civil rights Atlanta as they created an environment for African-American arts and culture to thrive, which set the scene for a local hip-hop scene to emerge.

Among those interviewed are many key subjects such as  Ludacris,  Usher T.I.,   Jeezy Lil Jon Future and Jermaine Dupri . Others include Kilo AliRaheem the DreamMoJoMC Shy D and the producers of Organized Noize, who discovered two 17-year old kids who went by the name "Outkast."  (The members of Outkast, though, are not listed.)

Non-rap contributors include former Atlanta mayor and civil rights icon Andrew Young, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins.

Ludacris is one of the executive producers.

I will pre-screen the episode soon and talk to an executive producer and write a more comprehensive preview later this month.

About the Author

Keep Reading

"If You Love It, Let It Kill You" by Hannah Pittard

Credit: Handout

Featured

The city of Brookhaven's mayor and City Council last week decided to remove the colored panes of glass from the dome of Brookhaven's new City Centre after residents objected to the brightness of the colors, seen here Friday, June 27, 2025. (Reed Williams/AJC)

Credit: Reed Williams/AJC