A documentary highlighting Verzuz battles is headed to the big screen.
Verzuz co-founders Swizz Beatz and Timbaland are teaming up with Lena Waithe to create a Verzuz-inspired documentary called ‘Gifted & Black.’ The documentary will detail the rise of the music-battle series and explore “the traditions of Black music to connect, going from the plantation to the Pulitzer Prize.”
‘Gifted & Black’ will feature interviews and archival footage of how Verzuz used black music to uplift and unite during a time of uncertainty.
The music phenomenon launched in March 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Swizz and Timbaland created the franchise as a fun outlet for people while the nation was under quarantine.
“When we first started this mission, the entire world had hit rock bottom,” Swizz Beatz said. “People were going through so much, and Tim and I felt we should do something to help folks escape. The rest is history. We made the magical call to Hillman Grad because we only wanted people to see the best of the best.”
Waithe’s Hillman Grad Productions will produce the film alongside Amazon Studios and Good Trouble Studios. In addition, Timbaland and Swizz have recruited Emmy and Peabody Award-winning James Adolphus to direct the documentary.
“I’m grateful to Swizz and Tim for trusting us with something so historic,” Waithe adds. “Verzuz is more than just two artists going song-for-song. It’s a testament to the power of Black people. It’s the joyful celebration of the legacy that we all need. With this documentary, we’re excited to take audiences behind the scenes of this global phenomenon while also paying tribute to the artists that shaped us. We can’t wait for the world to see how this whole thing comes together.”
The film’s premiere date hasn’t been released yet but it will be available on Amazon Prime.
