After writing and co-producing the 2008 BET Hip Hop Awards [click to view], which aired last Thursday, Emmy award winning producer P. Frank Williams is celebrating the airing of his latest American Gangster episode, which delves into the story of Los Angeles gang member turned best-selling author Sanyika “Monster Kody” Shakur.
“Back when I was a reporter at the LA Times in the mid ’90’s, I was mesmerized and shocked after reading Sanyika Shakur‘s [nee ‘Monster’ Kody Scott] autobiography about his life as a gang member in South Central Los Angeles,” says Williams. “So after I started producing BET‘s hit show American Gangster, he was at the top of my list of subjects. And as a California native, I thought it even more important for me to tell this complicated story of how gangs in South Central could produce this beautifully tragic man, especially because gang violence had become worse in LA the last few years.”
Williams‘ episode of American Gangster will explore the tragic story of Sanyika Shakur, who joined Los Angeles’ Eight Tray Crips at the age of 11, and spent 16 years of his life dedicated to the gang. After years in and out of jail, including a 28 month stint in San Quentin State Prison and four years at Pelican Bay, Shakur eventually became a black nationalist. Imprisoned in solitary confinement, he wrote the best-selling book Monster, which chronicled his life as a gangbanger, and attempted to sway LA youth from the nefarious lifestyle he once lived.
P. Frank Williams admitted he had conflicted feelings after producing the show.
“Even as he spoke to youth about avoiding the streets and made a huge transformation from gangster to black freedom fighter, ‘Monster’ remains in jail until this day and couldn’t avoid drugs and the lure of kicking it with his gang and staying involved in street life. But I remain hopeful that one day soon he will get out and fly right.”
This will be the second episode of American Gangster produced by Williams, whose countless credits have rewarded him with a 2008 NAACP Image Award and an Emmy. He is well known for his work at The Source magazine, where he interviewed artists Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube [click to read], and Lauryn Hill, and conducted an infamous jailhouse interview with controversial record executive Suge Knight. Williams also recently produced a mixtape that will feature Lil Wayne, Scarface [click to read], Beanie Sigel, and many more.
The Sanyika Shakur episode of American Gangster aired October 30, and will air again tonight at 10 pm ET.
Reported by Salima Koroma.
