Hip-Hop has become a cultural phenomenon since it originated in the Bronx in the early 1970s. However, its history has always been told from a New York-centric standpoint, leaving out other important regions that made their contributions to the genre. One such region is Cleveland, Ohio. 216: Legends of The Land, a four-part documentary, chronicles the Hip-Hop scene in Cleveland from the early 1980s to the superstardom of Cleveland’s own Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. The documentary screening was held at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of The Nerve DJs.
The documentary is divided into four 30-minute episodes, highlighting the influential legends of Cleveland Hip-Hop. The first episode focuses on DJ Cochise, a legendary Hip-Hop pioneer, who made a significant contribution to the Cleveland scene during the early 1980s. He was the first DJ to introduce Hip-Hop to the city’s radio station and helped create the first Cleveland Hip-Hop compilation. The second episode focuses on Nerve DJs, founded by Johnny-O, a record pool that supported Cleveland’s emerging Hip-Hop scene in the 1990s. The third episode highlights graffiti legends Sano and Mister Soul and their contribution to Cleveland’s Hip-Hop scene. Finally, the fourth episode focuses on B-Boys Dre Live Ski and Forrest Getum Gump and their role in the Cleveland Hip-Hop culture.
Jay Kool, writer, producer, narrator, and co-director, says that he started the project seven years ago when he saw a void in the narrative of Hip-Hop history. According to Kool, Cleveland Hip-Hop history had not been adequately chronicled, and he believed that the contribution of Cleveland’s Hip-Hop pioneers to the culture was worth knowing. The documentary provides an in-depth look at Cleveland’s Hip-Hop history and an understanding of the city’s influence on the genre.
The Nerve DJs celebrated their 20th anniversary in conjunction with the documentary screening. The Nerve DJs started as a record pool founded by DJ Johnny-O that helped elevate Cleveland’s rising Hip-Hop culture. The celebration was a three-day event that brought together Hip-Hop legends and fans. Radio Legend Kool DJ Red Alert and rapper Twista were among the legends present to mark the occasion.
216: Legends of The Land is set to air again on October 25 at Silver Spot, and tickets are available on their website. Jay Kool has shown his commitment to documenting the history of Cleveland Hip-Hop and sees it as the responsibility of every region to curate their own history. In the wake of Hip-Hop culture’s 50th anniversary, it is crucial to understand the contribution of all regions that helped to create and evolve the genre.
Cleveland’s Hip-Hop history has been a neglected part of the narrative of Hip-Hop’s history. The 216: Legends of The Land documentary provides a much-needed insight into the important contribution Cleveland’s Hip-Hop pioneers made to the genre’s development. Jay Kool’s dedication to telling Cleveland’s Hip-Hop story highlights the need to curate each region’s history in the genre’s evolution. As the culture celebrates its 50th anniversary, it is vital to appreciate the contribution of all regions that helped shape it and ensure they are not left out in the overarching narrative.
