'Don't Be A Foreigner to Pop Culture': Russell Simmons Wants to Bring Hip-Hop to Broadway with 'The Scenario'

Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons recently announced his plans of incorporating hip-hop into Broadway as production for ‘The Scenario’ was set to begin.

According to the official announcement for the musical, the upcoming project can be expected to be a combination of “the greatest hits from a two-decade span of hip-hop — from the ‘golden age’ of the mid-80s to mid-90s to the chart-topping artists at the turn of the millennium.”

With the new musical bringing together some of the greatest hip-hop hits from the past thirty years, Simmons already called for hip-hop historian and writer Dan Charnas to work on the script.

Simmons will be producing the musical through his production company Def Pictures, which is based in Los Angeles. He already partnered with award-winning Broadway producer Big Block (Scott Prisand/Jamie Bendell of ‘Rock of Ages’ and ‘A Gentleman’s Guide to Love And Murder’).

The Def Jam co-founder shared his plans of setting the musical’s debut in late 2016, showcasing a mix of rap songs and new versions of classic tracks that are to be made more suitable for a musical.

Hip-hop in Broadway has brought on mixed reviews over the recent years. ‘Holler If Ya Hear Me’, a musical based on rapper Tupac Shakur’s life, closed last year following mostly negative reviews.

On the other hand, the new Lin-Manuel Miranda musical titled ‘Hamilton’ focuses on hip-hop history in the U.S., smashing records off-Broadway and selling over $6 million worth of tickets. The musical has already been expected to make huge headlines in the music industry, four months before it debuts in Broadway on July 13.

When asked about his concept behind ‘The Scenario’, Simmons shared that the musical will be “half-concert, half-storytelling.” The business magnate is also looking forward to the project combining the “rebelliousness” of rap with pop culture and traditional Broadway theater.

"I don't think we're going to face any resistance. Anyone who resists this is just a foreigner to pop culture," the Tony award-winning producer said in an interview with the Rolling Stone.

Referring to ‘The Scenario’ as a celebration of hip-hop, Simmons remains confident that infusing hip-hop onto musicals will not be a challenge.

“It's going to scale because it's going to suit pop culture,” he said, further stating: “We just have to make the art the way it's supposed to be and there's a huge audience for it. I'm not worried."