Featuring firsthand accounts from some of rap’s most integral players, the series recounts the origins of this revolutionary art form through the voices of those who were there at the beginning, creating an anthology of how hip hop became a cultural phenomenon against the backdrop of American history. Weaving together interconnected moments via intimate interviews and archival footage, the docuseries explores how hip hop quickly created a provocative narrative of America.

subtractor was commissioned by BBC Studios to create an animated title sequence. Stitching together a fluid and frenetic piece using its story beats, we committed ourselves to creating a positivity that celebrates the spirit of hip hop, and offset some of the more sombre socio-political stories. This, in turn, informed the full pack of in-film visual and textual graphics created to ensure a grammar that helped guide viewers through the four parts.