A host of hip hop’s biggest stars and other musicians are set to be sent out into the wilderness in a new HBO series produced by Uncut Gems director Josh Safdie, titled Chillin Island.
The unscripted series is based on the eponymous radio show hosted by Alec Reinstein (AKA Despot), Aleksey Weintraub (AKA Lakutis), and Ashok Kondabolu (AKA Dap of Das Racist). “Tuning into an episode of Alec, Dap and Lakutis’ internet radio show was like hanging out with rappers and Howard Stern if he was on K,” says Elara Pictures in a press release.
“It was so easy and yet so deep. When Alec approached us to create a TV show with the vibe of their radio show, it only made sense to put them and their guests in the middle of nowhere and ask Steven Wright to be the voice of God.”
The first episode of Chillin Island — set to premiere December 17 — features Young Thug, as seen in a trailer aired earlier this week (watch below). Rosalía, Gunna, Killer Mike, Coi Leray, Ski Mask the Slump God, Lil Yachty, and Vampire Weekend frontman Ezra Koenig will also feature.
Chillin Island is executive produced by Safdie, alongside Despot, Elara Pictures’ Sebastian Bear-McClard, and DreamCrew, the entertainment group set up by Drake and Adel Future Nur (and known for producing the likes of Euphoria and Top Boy).
“Nothing can prepare you for Chillin Island,” says Nina Rosenstein, Executive Vice President at HBO Entertainment (via Deadline). “It’s a brilliant mix of offbeat observations and weirdly funny revelations built around three unconventional hosts, some well-known rappers, and exotic locations. It’s quirky, irreverent, and at times, profound.”
Watch the trailer for Chillin Island below, ahead of its premiere on HBO Max December 17.
