Big Boi To Co-Executive Produce Hip-Hop TV Series That’s “‘Empire’ Meets ‘Get Shorty’ Hybrid”

Big Boi will be co-executive producing a series called Government Records.

Big Boi is set to co-executive produce a hip-hop crime dramedy TV series that will be set in Atlanta.

Titled Government Records, the series “is centered around two ATF agents, partnered with the Atlanta Police Department and the FBI, who pose as music moguls to infiltrate the local Hip-Hop scene in an effort to bring down a dangerous crime ring, ran by one of the world’s most prolific recording artists of the 90’s, ‘Sugar Key,'” according to a press release.

The series is created by Terron R. Parsons, and will be produced by 850 Entertainment and DCR Finance Corp. Chris DeBlasio, founder of 850 entertainment, will serve as executive producer. The forthcoming series has yet to find a home, although the press release noted that “active discussions with several major networks and streaming services” are taking place.

Parsons described Government Records as “sort of an Empire meets Get Shorty hybrid,” before adding: “…this story, although it does fit into the genres of other successful shows, is unique in the way that it brings the worlds of law enforcement, crime, and the music industry together – with the task force creating a music studio, building this undercover operation just to bring down one guy. It’s essentially a heist movie, except the federal agents are the ones pulling the job.”

The press release also noted that hip-hop figures ranging from DMX and Big Daddy Kane to Grand Master Flash and Pepa from Salt-N-Pepa are set to appear in the series’ first season.

In related news, Outkast’s DJ recently spoke on the advice Prince gave to Andre 3000 for the rap duo’s Coachella headlining performance back in 2014.