Nas is putting together a docuseries about the first Black International Chess Grandmaster.
According to Deadline, the Queensbridge rapper has teamed up with Power executive producer Mark Canton to tell the story of Maurice Ashley.
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Set in New York City, the first season will consist of eight episodes and depict Ashley’s life and victories.
“I’m grateful to be part of bringing Maurice Ashley’s incredible life to the screen,” Nas said in a statement. “His story is one of greatness and his perseverance will continue to inspire the next generation of thinkers.”
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Canton added: “We cannot be more excited to move forward on this one.”
Maurice Ashley was born in Jamaica and raised in Brooklyn, rising up through the ranks to be become a Grandmaster in 1999.
He’s also the founder of the Harlem Chess Center and coached national champions such as the Raging Rooks and Dark Knights.
Ashley was named the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame in 2016. He’s the author of Chess for Success, and the upcoming Move by Move and The Life Changing Magic of Chess.
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“I’m so humbled to have my story told and so grateful that Nas has embraced this project,” he said.
“It is not just a story about me; it’s about the community of people who have influenced and enriched my life too. I love the idea of shining a light on the greatness of so many people and what they have done to contribute to my success and success in their own right.”
He added: “It’s a happy story about doing something that no one expected and taking the road less traveled, which is always exciting for me. I think this is a story that will resonate with a broad audience as it speaks to living your dreams and shocking the world.”
Nas has had success as a filmmaker in the past. In 2011, the Illmatic legend won a Sports Emmy for his ESPN documentary, Survival 1, about two young men navigating war-torn Liberia.
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“After all these years of making music, I am honored to have this be the first award I ever won of this magnitude,” he said at the time. “An Emmy before a Grammy. Crazy shit!”
Nas did go on to pop his Grammys cherry more exactly a decade later when King’s Disease won Best Rap Album at the 2021 awards show.
