Episodes four and five of The Get Down intersect with the reading in a few interesting ways. The first thing I noticed was the focus on working together rather than trying to be ruggedly individualistic. This theme arises in episode five, when Zeke, Shao, and the two brothers practice for their DJ battle against The Notorious Three. The Get Down Brothers realize that they all bring different skills to the table and that they’re better collectively than they are individually. This same idea is present all throughout the reading in reference to how Project Hip-Hop (PHH) promotes a collectivist, community mindset. PHH manages this, in part, through their adoption of a theatre style of performance, placing every performer as a part of a whole performance.

Another connection between the show and the reading comes in the references to a systemic, or group, struggle felt by all members of the Hip-Hop community. PHH makes a concerted effort to educate their members on the history of Hip-Hop and how it developed in response to an oppressive system. They also aim to provide their members with the vocabulary necessary to view and vocalize their collective struggle, as opposed to an individual struggle. The Get Down does a fantastic job of depicting the collective struggle on an individual level. The aftermath of the blackout showed how certain communities, specifically communities of color, were disproportionally impacted by fires, lootings, and general violence. This fact comes about as a result of systemic issues that effect the individual, but the scale shows that it is a collective problem as well. Another example in The Get Down comes when Ed Koch offers Fuerte money, but only on the condition that he denounce graffiti. The problem is directly between two people but the results will impact a whole community who had no say in the matter.