WORD IS BOND Airs On Showtime On 2/16

In honor of Black History Month, Showtime will premiere the documentary WORD IS BOND on Friday, February 16 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on-air, on demand and over the internet. Directed by Sacha Jenkins (Burn Motherf*cker, Burn!; Fresh Dressed) the film explores the transformative power of lyrics in the world of hip-hop. What was born on the streets of the South Bronx has now taken root globally, and the young poets of New York have helped to spawn regional dialects everywhere.

Through dynamic archival footage, in-depth interviews and verité excursions with artists like Nas, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Jadakiss, Tech N9ne, Rapsody, and Anderson .Paak (among others), the film illustrates the many dimensions that hip-hop poetics occupy, examining the writing process, inspirations BEHIND THE MUSIC and why lyrics are so important to the artists as well as the hip-hop masses. WORD IS BOND takes us on a trip - from the parks of the South Bronx to the top of the pop charts.

WORD IS BOND is executive produced by Peter Bittenbender and Alma Lacour on behalf of Mass Appeal. Bobby Oliver, James Cuthbert and Jiah Choi also serve as executive producers.