08.14.2025
Netflix Hosts L.A. Premiere For Award-Winning Documentary-Visual Album
SONGS FROM THE HOLE
Directed by Contessa Gayles, With Songs Written and Performed by JJ’88
SONGS FROM THE HOLE is Out Now, Only On Netflix
Watch HERE
Stream Songs From the Hole EP HERE
Last night, Wednesday, August 13, 2025, Netflix hosted the World Premiere of Songs From The Hole, an innovative new documentary-visual album at the Tudum Theater, with rapper and documentary writer/protagonist JJ’88, writer/director Contessa Gayles, and producers richie reseda and David Felix Sutcliff.
The crew of the film, along with JJ’88 and his family, welcomed an array of high-profile special guests, including D Smoke, Bas, and Vic Mensa, who moderated a Q&A following the film, among others.
Images from the screening can be downloaded HERE (pw: songs). Please credit Jerritt Clark for the photos.
Find the photos at Getty Images HERE
“Visually fluid and emotionally complex” – The New York Times
“Netflix is about to drop one of the year’s most anticipated documentaries. The new trailer just landed and sets the tone for a culture-shifting film.” – Complex
“Songs From the Hole may have started as a spotlight for art created in an unlikely place, and born from unimaginable circumstances. But like any great song — or album, visual or otherwise — it establishes a connection that makes an audience feel like they’re getting a window into the unique worldview of the artist that ultimately doubles as a mirror forcing them to reflect upon their own.” – Variety
“…a deeply moving and unconventional documentary” – The Guardian
“It’s eye-opening in a way you may have forgotten your eyes could still be opened.” – The Hollywood Reporter
WINNER — Cinema Eye Honors: Heterodox Award, 2025
WINNER — BlackStar Film Festival, Jury Prize: Best Feature Documentary, 2024
WINNER — Newark Black Film Festival, Jury Prize: Spirit of Paul Robeson Award, 2024
WINNER — Indie Street Film Festival, Jury Prize: Best Feature Documentary, 2024
WINNER — Fist Up Film Festival, Jury Prize: Best Feature Documentary, 2024
WINNER — Sing Sing Film Festival, Jury Prize: Excellence in Criminal Justice Storytelling, 2024
WINNER — Buffalo International Film Festival, Audience Award: Best Feature Documentary, 2024
WINNER — Urbanworld Film Festival, Audience Award: Best Feature, 2024
WINNER — St. Louis Film Festival, Audience Award: Best Feature Documentary, 2024
WINNER — New Orleans Film Festival, Audience Award: Best Feature Documentary, 2024
NOMINEE — IDA Award: Best Music Documentary, 2024
Netflix has debuted the trailer for the upcoming visual album documentary to be released on August 13, 2025
Watch The Trailer HERE
Synopsis:
At 15, he took a life. Three days later, his brother’s life was taken. A moving chronicle of forgiveness, family, and the transformative power of art, SONGS FROM THE HOLE weaves music and mixed-media storytelling into an innovative documentary visual album.
Through clear-eyed narration and lyrical journal entries, incarcerated musician James “JJ’88” Jacobs reveals his innermost struggles as a person who has both committed and experienced violent harm. While serving a double-life prison sentence, he searches for healing and peace as he comes of age in this documentary-musical odyssey composed behind bars.
In a unique creative process director Contessa Gayles (The Feminist on Cellblock Y, Founder Girls, The Debutantes) collaborated with protagonist/writer JJ’88 and producer/music producer richie reseda to interweave the collective storytelling of the film’s non-fiction participants, with imagined memories, dreams and spiritual dialogues set to JJ’88’s original music. The result is a powerful mix of truth-telling and dreaming that reveal the potential for healing and liberation within us all.
Director: Contessa Gayles
Songs Written and Performed by: JJ’88
Writers: JJ’88, Contessa Gayles
Producers: Contessa Gayles, richie reseda, David Felix Sutcliffe
Co-Producer: JJ’88
Executive Producers: Jenny Raskin, Lauren Haber, Geralyn White Dreyfous, Regina K. Scully, Meadow Fund, dream hampton
Production Companies: Cocomotion Pictures and Question Culture
Download Stills HERE
Read more at TUDUM
Visit the official Songs From The Hole website HERE
Follow Songs From The Hole on Instagram
ABOUT SONGS FROM THE HOLE EP
Songs From The Hole EP artwork
Along with the documentary, JJ’88 released his debut EP, titled Songs From The Hole, originally written and recorded while in prison. Home to the smooth and introspective single “Here Now,” is a 13 track melodic testament to survival and transformation, executive produced by richie reseda, JJ’88 and Rahael Asfaw for Question Culture.
Originally written and recorded by JJ’88, with producer richie reseda in prison, it was later reproduced by richie reseda, Dylan Wiggins and Tairiq Bright & Garfield Bright III of Twiin Towers, keeping the original prison vocals. Gritty and vulnerable, the EP is a real-life hood-healing story—one that can only be told by someone who lived it.
Stream Songs from the Hole EP here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/jj88
Follow JJ’88 on Instagram
Buy Songs from the Hole EP Deluxe digital download on EVEN.
Buy Songs from the Hole EP Deluxe double disc vinyl HERE
** Deluxe version includes 6 additional tracks, 4 of the original versions from prison.
Songs From The Hole EP tracklist:
- Letter To The Homies
- MostHunted
- Betrayal
- The Haunting
- Steel Grave
- Overwhelmed
- SeaFloor
- WakeUp
- Rise and Shine
- N8tive Psalms
- ROOT
- NoTimeToW8ste
- Here Now
Press Contacts:
Alex Drapac, Netflix
Cheyenne Beam, Audible Treats
Kevin Grossi, Audible Treats
Michelle McDevitt, Audible Treats