P. Frank Williams On What Inspired 50 Cent’s ”Hip Hop Homicides” Series
Former executive editor of The Source magazine and now a versatile executive producer, P. Frank Williams, explained what inspired 50 Cent to put together Hip Hop Homicides series.
“This show started because 50, obviously himself got shot and he was very close to Pop. And when Pop got shot he was very suspicious on how it happened,” said Williams. “He was still suspicious about Chris Lighty. So he went to Mona, Mona Scott-Young who’s a producer on the show as was like, ‘Yo we got to do a show on dead rapper.’”
Set to premiere on WE tv, November 3rd at 9 PM ET/PT, Hip Hop homicides aims to provide an added layer to consider by taking a ‘big picture’ look at the epidemic of violence in hip hop. Hosted by TV personality and producer, Van Lathan, the series will kick off with Pop Smoke on its first episode.
The 20-year-old New York rapper lost his life back in 2020 during a home invasion. The series will also cover the tragic deaths of XXXTentacion, King Von and more. French Montana, Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, Vic Mensa and many more, share valuable insights throughout the season.
Unfortunately for hip hop, it appears the genre and the streets are forever married. “You can’t take the streets from the music. The streets is what fueled it. The anger, the poverty, the violence,” explained Williams on The Outlaw Show. “Real life is in the music and you can’t separate it.”
Host of The Outlaw Show, E.D.I. Mean can relate. The Outlawz member lost his childhood friend, Tupac Shakur in the mid nineties. From his beef with Biggie Smalls to his association with Death Row records, the streets poured into the music which many believe led to Tupac being shot on multiple occasions and ultimately losing his life.
It appears there is no end in sight, as social media and the internet provides a platform for a constant and rapid disrespect between rival artists. “It’s daily. You can get on social media everyday. In the nineties there’s only so many records you can put out at a time. But with social media you can antagonize your Op all day everyday,” said E.D.I.