Unsung

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Season 1711 of 19 Episodes
  • Portraits of pioneering figures in film, from Lena Horne and Sidney Poitier to Spike Lee and Ava DuVernay, who helped change the game -- and the world.
  • Stories of groundbreaking films, from "In the Heat of the Night" and "Shaft" to "The Color Purple" and "Get Out," that helped change the game -- and the world.
  • Featuring portraits of trailblazing comedians, from Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor to Bernie Mac and Mo'Nique, who helped change the game -- and change the world.
  • Unsung Presents Best In Black: Television features stories of pioneering TV shows, from "The Jeffersons" and "A Different World" to "Insecure" and "In Living Color," that helped change the game, and change the world.
  • Portraits of pioneering political figures who helped change the game and change the world, from Barbara Jordan and Shirley Chisholm to John Lewis and Barack Obama.
  • In the late 1990s, Blaque rocked the music industry with a wave of hits, led by their platinum-certified single, "808"; their journey includes setbacks, including the losses of mentor Left Eye and fellow group member Natina Reed.
  • Stetsasonic rose to stardom as "Hip-Hop's First Band"; the seven-member band chronicles their musical journey.
  • Under the wings of Atlanta's premier hip-hop label, Disturbing tha Peace, Chingy's single "Right Thurr" catapulted his career; in 2010, a rumor put it on ice for more than a decade.
  • From the turntable to production, mixtapes, and radio, for the past 50 years the DJ has remained the cornerstone of hip-hop; uncovering their journey, from shaping music and culture to adapting in an evolving landscape.
  • Featuring portraits of successful figures in business, from Berry Gordy and Magic Johnson to Oprah Winfrey and Rihanna, who helped change the game, and change the world.
  • Featuring portraits of influential TV pioneers from Diahann Carroll and Nat King Cole to Arsenio Hall and RuPaul, who helped change the game, and change the world.

Record to Watch Later

28 episodes will be broadcast over the next two weeks

    Angela Winbush
    Cheryl Pepsii Riley
    Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam
    Angela Bofill
    The Decades 90's
    The Decades 80's
    Syleena Johnson
    Leela James
    Silk
    Midnight Star
  • Angela Winbush

    R&B diva Angela Winbush.
    Upcoming
  • Cheryl Pepsii Riley

    In 1988, R&B singer Cheryl "Pepsi" Riley made her mark with "Thanks for My Child," a tribute to single mothers, then her willingness to address provocative subjects helped derail her career.
    Upcoming
  • Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam

    Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam's scene in the mid-80's.
    Upcoming
  • Angela Bofill

    R&B singer, Angela Bofill: "This Time I'll Be Sweeter."
    Upcoming
  • The Decades 90's

    The '90s is a decade of triumph and turbulence, as R&B and hip-hop go well beyond crossover to dominate the charts and define mainstream American music, while artists find ways to impact society in ways both serious and playful.
    Upcoming
  • The Decades 80's

    The '80s were a decade of innovation and breakthroughs -- musically, politically and culturally -- by any means necessary, as the grittier sounds of early hip-hop were rising from the streets.
    Upcoming
Unsung

More about Unsung

This documentary series takes a look at some of the top R&B and soul artists of the last several decades, many of whom are not household names. Narrated by actor Gary Anthony Williams, the NAACP Image Award-winning program features interviews with people who know the musicians well enough to tell the ups and downs of their careers. Episodes usually start with the story of an artist's upbringing before moving into the trials and tribulations faced as the subject searched for the big break early in his or her music career. The pinnacle of the performer's career plays out next, before a turning point that led to each one's career beginning a downward trend.

Starring

Gary Williams

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