The hairstyles, fashion, and culture of Freaknik are being examined in a new Hulu documentary.
The iconic Atlanta festival that ran between the mid-1980s to the 1990s was a congregation of HBCU college students during the spring break season. Originally beginning as a picnic, the gathering grew each year before becoming a full-out festival that ballooned to thousands of visitors. Eventually, it would evolve into a days-long event filled with concerts, dance contests, parties, and even job fairs aimed at young Black professionals. Every element of this cultural phenomenon will be explored in the doc titled “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told.”
Hulu does a great job of tapping those who adored Freaknik to participate in this doc. Alanta producer Jermaine Dupri and Miami bass pioneer Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell will serve as executive producers on the film. Luke was a frequent staple at Freaknik, so often aligned with the festival that many people believed he had a hand in starting it. However, his music became the soundtrack for this lively yearly party. Sadly, by 1998 the Atlanta Committee for Black College Spring Break moved to end the festival due to safety concerns, particularly sex assault claims and violence caused by a handful of troublemakers that ruined the festivities for everyone. Since its demise, many have attempted to recreate the magic, another factor the film will cover.
Dupri told All Hip-Hop that the documentary is premiering soon, but only after it touches on every layer of this HBCU celebration.
“It’s trying to make sure we can make those that didn’t attend Freaknik feel the energy through the screen,” he explained.
Alongside Campbell and Dupri, Peter Bittenbender, Melissa Cooper for Mass Appeal, Eric Tomosunas with Swirl Films, Terry Ross, and Alex Avant will also executive produce. P Frank Williams will serve as director, while Geraldine L. Porras will take on the role of showrunner. Nikki Byles and Jay Allen are the designated producers.
As of now, the film does not have a premiere date.
