The Get Down chronicles the lives of aspiring Bronx teenagers during the dawn of Hip Hop. Starring Justice Smith as Zeke and Shameik Moore as Shaolin Fantastic, this two part series captures the tension between street art and violence in the 1970s.
Zeke is a talented black and Puerto Rican poet who is struggling to break away from the violence and decay of his neighborhood. Shaolin, an orphan and budding DJ, discovers Zeke and helps him turn his socially-conscience poetry into rap music. Zeke is also mentored by a school teacher and a politician who see in him the talent and passion needed to escape the Bronx.
So much of my story mirrors Zeke's life. Like him, I spent years as a young teenager in the 1970s struggling to find my place in the world. Academics during that time took a back seat as street art became my creative outlet. Between ages 11 and 15, I was "ILL" tagging up with Tue (also known as "Mitch 77"), the King of the 4 Train. I was "Casablanca" leading the B-Boys of C Crew at our junior high school in the South Bronx. I morphed into "M.C. Rockwell" as part of Double Action with my friend John, Charlie "Rock," and Patrice. Like Zeke, I never knew the full names of the guys who were my boys.
The Get Down presents its protagonists as true artists who seek a pure form of expression. Most of the graffiti artists, break dancers, and rappers I knew, however, were motivated by a desire to belong at a time when street art was the trend. As an Albanian immigrant in a predominantly black and Hispanic neighborhood, belonging was critical to me. For many, being in one of these groups meant you had friends who had your back in neighborhoods where violence was ever present. Many of us were also motivated by the desire to be known, to have a reputation as being "cool." Having a reputation meant you earned respect. And with respect came a certain degree of safety because people were less likely to mess with you.
By high school, hip hop seemed to be fading. So, I moved on. As with Zeke, teachers at my high school, discovered and guided me. While Zeke was accepted by Yale, my journey led me to Cornell. Although I have not rapped since the late '70s, my experience with Hip Hop remains just under the surface as I have pursued a career in public policy. Instead of rapping, I have since "rocked the mic" by advocating for democracy in the Balkans, congressional representation for DC, and international exchange programs. I channeled the creativity that led me to write rhymes into an advocacy strategy book, Winning the Inside Game. My eye for graffiti informed the marketing and advocacy campaigns I have led over 18 years as a non-profit executive.
Toward the end of Episode 9, Zeke, Shaolin and the Get Down Brothers are energetically jumping up and down as the crowd grooves to a pulsating beat. The Brothers are shouting defiantly, repeatedly into the mic: "We're here forever!" Watching The Get Down was an emotional journey for me, transporting me back to that magical time when the street kids of the Boogie Down Bronx created what has become a world-wide cultural phenomenon. Hip Hop -- here forever, indeed.