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Award-Winning Documentary

Bad Things Happen In Philadelphia Highlights Resilience & Hope in Philadelphia Despite Gun Violence with Inspirational Hip-Hop Soundtrack

Film Executive-Produced By

NBA Legend Allen Iverson; Featured Artists Include Jill Scott, Beam, Da' T.R.U.T.H & More!

Click To Listen To & Share 'LEGACY' feat.

Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Jill Scott, Greg Cox &

Adam Blackstone

    Despite the challenges of gun violence, Philadelphia is a city of resilience and hope. The upcoming film, Bad Things Happen In Philadelphia by Kyra Knox tells the stories of those affected by gun violence, especially young people, as well as the grassroots efforts that are fighting back. With NBA legend Allen Iverson along with his childhood friends Cleon Lockett and Paul Taylor, Knox's film is a testament to the power of community and the human spirit. Advance showings of the film at several film festivals have resulted in multiple awards. The film will have its Philadelphia premiere at the Philadelphia Film Festival October 28, 2023 and national broadcast premiere on Fox Soul and Prime Video December 2, 2023. The soundtrack album featuring such artists as Da’T.R.U.T.H., Jill Scott, Beam, YungDave67, will be released by Shanachie Entertainment on December 1, 2023 as well. The first single, “Legacy,” featuring Da’ T.R.U.T.H., Jill Scott, Greg Cox and Adam Blackstone will be released October 13, 2023. The album is executive produced by Stellar Award-Winning Producer Gabe Johnson, Cleon Lockett, Jerry Cox, Mark Mims and Naquis Brabham of Home Studios who also mixed and mastered the album. 

    The impetus for the film came from witnessing the impact of violence on friends, family, and neighbors by director Knox, as well as the inspiring work her cousin Garry Mills was doing through his non-profit, Shoot Baskets Not People.

    “Whenever we hear people talk about gun violence, you never hear it from a teen’s perspective,” notes Knox. "It was important for me to get their thoughts.”

     When Knox put up a trailer for the film for crowd-sourcing, it was seen by Grammy-nominated producer Mark Mims of Home Studios.

    “Mark said to trust him and don’t crowd-source; he would get me funding,” Knox explains.



  That’s when NBA legend Allen Iverson, thanks to his childhood friends Cleon Lockett and Paul Taylor signed on as an executive producer.

   “When I saw the opportunity to make a difference, being part of this project with friends and a city I love, I wanted in,” Iverson says, “to make a real change in our communities.”

  Over the course of year, the film was completed and shown at multiple film festivals, winning an “Outstanding Documentary Feature” award at the prestigious Micheaux Film Festival, “Best Feature Documentary Award” at the Hip Hop Film Festival and a nomination for “Best Documentary” at the Richmond film Festival. As a result, Fox Soul has concluded a deal to broadcast the film nationally beginning December 2, 2023.

      Emanuel Lambert (Da' T.R.U.T.H), co-executive producer began assembling music for the film and soundtrack album, drawing on his relationships with artists from his many years as a producer. The result is an album, Bag Things Happen In Philadelphia, to be released by Shanachie Entertainment on December 1, 2023, that is evocative, impactful, and inspirational. Among the artists, Philadelphia rapper/producer Da’ T.R.U.T.H. has been one of the most prominent artists in inspirational hip-hop circles. Rising rapper/producer/singer Beam, who is featured on Beyoncé’s current “Energy” hit, contributes two tracks, including the haunting opener “In This House.” On “Legacy,” three Philadelphia artists—Da’T.R.U.T.H, Jill Scott and Adam Blackstone, Scott’s musical director and producer of hits by Rihanna and Nicki Minaj—are featured on a track produced by Greg Cox, who also fashioned the music for several other tracks on the album. Philadelphia rapper Yung Dave67, who himself has lost family members to gun violence, closes the album with two moving tracks: “Angels,” and “Still Trying.”

    Bad Things Happen In Philadelphia, flips the script on Donald Trump’s disparaging characterization of the city, by showcasing the people and artists who are positive forces in the face of challenging violence. Garry Mills, who for several years has been mentoring young people in the community through the programs of Shoot Basketballs Not People, based in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, puts it very directly:

    “Less Excuses. More Adjustments. This film is a reflection of the commitment to making dark inner-city communities bright again and displays my GOD-given gift to uplift and be a guardian angel to the youth.”