VH1 Makes ‘The Breaks’ a Series

According to the Hollywood Reporter, VH1 has officially picked up “The Breaks.”

The Hollywood Reporter writes:

The Viacom-owned cable network has picked up the hip-hop drama to series, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The drama, which started out as a TV movie/back-door pilot, is based on Dan Charnas’ best-selling book The Big Payback: The History of the Business of Hip-Hop. The book is considered one of the most comprehensive accounts of the history and business of hip-hop. Charnas documented the rise of the genre as a writer for The Source, the first rap magazine, and is a former record executive. His book spans 40 years of stories and was culled from more than 300 interviews with execs, entrepreneurs, hustlers and handlers.

The Breaks aired in January and currently ranks as the No. 2 cable original movie of the year among adults 18-49, 18-34 and women in both demos. The January premiere and immediate encore collected a combined 2.6 million total viewers, propelling VH1 to a 42 percent gain among adults under 50 in January.

Wood Harris (The Wire), Mack (Tristan) Wilds (90210), Afton Williamson (Banshee), David Call (Gossip Girl), Antoine Harris (Ballers) and Method Man starred in the TV movie. Most are expected to return for the series. An episode count has not yet been determined. The Breaks was written, directed and executive produced by Seith Mann (The Wire), with Mann and Charnas contributing the story; DJ Premier composed the score and served as executive music producer. Bill Flanagan exec produced and Maggie Malina oversees for VH1.