(October 16, 2023) “Legacy” is a love letter and anthem to Philadelphia written for a soundtrack to a documentary by Kyra Knox that documents the perseverance and hope that sustained the city’s youth in as they confront the gun violence that plagues the City of Brotherly Love.
The film is called Bad Things Happen in Philadelphia, and it is executive produced by basketball great Allen Iverson. Knox’s ambitious mission to use this film to show that Philadelphians, and particularly the city’s youth, are not standing idly by in the face of the violence but are actively looking for and creating alternative that they believe will transform lives. Knox was inspired to make the film after witnessing the impact that gun violence had on members of her community and the work done by Shoot Baskets Not People, a non-profit founded by her cousin, Gary Mills, to combat it. The film spent the summer on the festival circuit and will debut on Fox Soul and Prime Video on Dec. 2.
If a filmmaker like Kyra Knox wanted a soundtrack to accompany her documentary about life in Philadelphia, she’d have no shortage of talented Philly musical artists from which to choose. She found plenty. “Legacy,” a track that will appear on the soundtrack when it is released by Shanachie on Dec. 1, will be featured in this First Listen.
“Legacy” includes rapper Da’Truth, SoulTracks favorite Jill Scott, Greg Cox and Adam Blackstone is a progressive and positive fusion of rap and neo-soul that reminds listeners of many seeds that have been planted in our homes, in community institutions and in inspirational figures who touch us from near and far. Check it out here.
By Howard Dukes