The Aspen Institute presents an advance viewing of Director Joshua Atesh Litle’s (Ever Since the World Ended) new work-in-progress, The Furious Force of Rhymes. Traveling through four continents and six countries, The Furious Force of Rhymes is a fascinating documentary look at hip-hop as transnational protest music.

The viewer will encounter characters as diverse as Israeli Jews, marginalized French Arabs, East German skinhead punks, and West African feminists, all of whom share a common musical language. Originating from the ghettos of New York, rap music has found adherents in every country in the world.  Recognizing themselves in the oppression of American blacks, people everywhere have adapted the U.S. street music to their own causes. The Furious Force of Rhymes is produced by ARTE, the Smithsonian Channel, Link TV, and the prestigious French documentary company Les Films d'Ici, well known for Waltz with Bashir and To Be and to Have. (Film length TBA.) Director Joshua Atesh Litle will be present.