Rising from poverty and overcoming abuse in the Jim Crow South, James Brown secures a record deal, electrifies audiences and breaks down racial barriers, propelling himself into stardom.

Aligning with the civil rights movement, James Brown becomes a cultural force by articulating community pride and political influence, ultimately being hailed as the most important Black man in America.

Amid financial pressures, record company politics, substance abuse and personal struggles, James Brown finds himself on a perilous path, colliding with the law and confronting the threat of revisiting prison.

As the godfather of a breakbeat that birthed hip-hop, James Brown's life serves as a crucial call for respect and dignity for Blackness and Black music in America.