Idris Elba’s Docuseries Will Focus On Mistreatment Of Black Artists

Idris Elba's latest venture will document Black artists' experience in the music industry. Per Variety, Paid in Full: The Battle for Payback (w/t) is set to “examine the exploitation of Black artists by the music industry and explores what it would look like for Black artists to receive reparations.” It will also unveil the "historic injustice suffered by the music industry’s Black artists, including the disparity of profits received by them, despite having created the records that have driven the fabric and culture of popular music. The series will also look at racial inequality in the music industry both today and in the past."

He will be producing this docuseries alongside his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba, whom he married in 2019. The actor explained the importance of the docuseries. "This is a story that touches all of us. It’s about the people who created the soundtracks of our lives in popular music and the pain of their exploitation. It’s also about bringing the music industry to account for the injustice inflicted on generations of musical talents who have been deprived of their rightful rewards both financially and in terms of status and respect. At the heart of it is the need to make amends–granting acknowledgment and paying back what is due."

While Idris is known for his acting, he also is a musical artist. The Luther star is a popular DJ known as "Big Driis" and performed a set at Coachella last month. The series is commissioned by CBC and the BBC. It is also funded and co-produced by a partnership between Abacus Media Rights (AMR) and Media Musketeers Studios. AMR will be distributing internationally.

Tanya Shaw, managing director, Zinc Television who partnered with Idris' Green Door, said: "Far from being a straight music documentary, this series will explore the music industry within a racial context and reflect the history of exploitation within the industry. It will also major in on conversations of structural racism and those who have worked so hard to expose them."

A premiere date has not been set.