New doc chronicles rise and fall of Freaknik. What it is and how to watch
A highly-anticipated documentary about the Freaknik, the Atlanta cultural phenom street party that reached its zenith in the1990s, debuted on Hulu today.
The doc, “Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told,” features interviews from producers 21 Savage, Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell and Jermaine Dupri as well as entertainers Killer Mike, CeeLo Green, Too Short, academic Marc Lamont Hill and former Indiana Pacer Jalen Rose.
What is Freaknik?
The documentary chronicles the rise and end of Freaknik, which in the 1990s drew hundreds of thousands of college-age Black spring breakers each April to party in the streets of Atlanta.
The festival is credited with helping to make Atlanta a focal point of hip-hop and the expansion of the city overall.
How did Freaknik start?
Freaknik began in 1983 as a picnic in a park for students at Atlanta’s historically Black colleges who couldn’t make it home for spring break, and grew as a spring break destination for Black students across the country.
How did Freaknik get its name?
The name was inspired by Chic’s 1978 disco hit “Le Freak” and the dance The Freak.
When did Freaknik get shut down?
With related arrests and rape reports rising, along with the frustration of business leaders, the city cut off streets ad interstate exits to corral the partying. A larger police presence resulted in the party moving east to DeKalb County where it petered out in 1999.
Where is Freaknik 2024?
Since its demise, party promoters across the country have used the name Freaknik for their events.
The name was acquired by an Atlanta event promotion company, After 9 Partners, which has produced the FreakNik ticketed music festival since 2019.
The event returns to play on nostalgia in the form of FreakNik Reunion 2024, April 20 with its 420 Edition hosted by Killer Mike at an undisclosed location in Atlanta.
How to watch the Freaknik documentary
“Freaknik: The Wildest Party Never Told,” at 82 minutes, is streaming on Hulu.
Contact IndyStar reporter Cheryl V. Jackson at cheryl.jackson@indystar.com or 317-444-6264. Follow her on X.com:@cherylvjackson.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Freaknik documentary drops. What to know and how to watch
