DJ Greg Mack, Who Helped Launch N.W.A., Will Get His Own Biopic
With Straight Outta Compton blowing up in theaters right now, I'm sure Hollywood is going to start being flooded with films and biopics about rap culture, which is fine as long as they're good! Deadline is reporting that influential radio DJ Greg Mack, who helped in the process of launching N.W.A., is now getting his own biopic.
The film will revolve around Mack’s time with LA’s legendary 1580 KDAY-AM, which was the first radio station in the U.S. to play rap and hip-hop 24 hours a day. DJ Greg Mack was portrayed in Straight Outta Compton by its director, F. Gary Gray.
The film will be produced by Goddard Film Group, and it will be based on his upcoming autobiography. Here is some addition information about the DJ Greg Mack and what the story will entail:
"Mack became Assistant Program Director/Music Director at KDAY in 1983 and was instrumental in the station’s decision to switch to an all rap/hip-hop format. It was a risky move, as at the time rap was considered — at best — a passing fad, and aside from the odd hit, it was ignored by mainstream radio and the music industry. But KDAY became a sensation almost overnight and Mack a powerful tastemaker. Hosting his own afternoon show under the name Greg “Mack Attack” Mack, he also recruited young talent to DJ on KDAY, but also to keep an eye out for new music. The most notable member of Mack’s street team? Pioneering DJ Andre Young of World Class Wreckin’ Cru, otherwise known as Dr. Dre.
"KDAY would go on to help kickstart the careers of some of the most influential and successful rappers of all time, including MC Hammer, LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Tone Loc, Queen Latifah and N.W.A, all of which received their first-ever radio airplay on KDAY. Later, the station would become the home of gangsta rap in Los Angeles, and KDAY’s success helped establish rap’s commercial and artistic viability in the decades that followed. The station’s influence locally was so wide that despite being shuttered in the early ’90s, the KDAY brand would be revived as an FM station in 2004. Today, it operates as a rap oldies station."
Mack will serve as an executive producer on the film, which is currently in development. Having grown up during the rise of rap culture, of course I'm looking forward to this movie!