The Ascendants

TV-14 | Documentary | 1 season | 4 episodes

An intimate look at four rising musicians from Chicago and the common issues that young Black women artists have to overcome both in a male-dominated music industry and a marginalizing society, from racism to physical expectations to sexual trauma.

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Episodes
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Season 1

Episode 1

J Bambii

Shortly after releasing her mixtape, “RETROGRADE,” rapper, teacher, and tarot card reader Jasmine (aka J Bambii) talks about the roots of her anxieties and how music has helped her heal and learn to accept herself.

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Episode 2

Christian JaLon

At 22, singer Christian has already won the respect of Chance the Rapper, but it hasn’t been an easy road. On the South Side, she dealt with redlining; in Freeport, she faced open racism. Now the preacher’s daughter is taking on the music industry.

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Episode 3

Akenya

Akenya, 26, is a quadruple threat: singer, pianist, composer, and arranger. After overcoming a lonely childhood, health issues, and every form of marginalization, she’s now working with Grammy-nominated artists and ready to release her own album.

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Episode 4

Jean Deaux

With a sound that’s like Erykah Badu meets Little Dragon and an eclectic style, Jean Deaux is poised for breakout success. She revisits her first open mic stages, opens up about a trauma, and reveals how she resists fear.

Details

Cast: Jean Deaux, Akenya Seymour, Christian JaLon, J Bambii
Director: Ladan Osman
Writer: Ladan Osman
Executive Producer: Ryan Chanatry, Anna Holmes, Mahalia Cohen
Producer: Ladan Osman, Joe Penney
Cinematographer: Joe Penney
Editor: Lucas Lobe
Supervising Producer: Jennie Bedusa