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8.13.2025

Netflix Releases SONGS FROM THE HOLE, a New Documentary-Visual Album About the Life and Music of JJ’88, Directed by Contessa Gayles

JJ’88 Releases Songs From The Hole EP, Written While Incarcerated and Brought to Life by JJ’88 and a Team of Producers Led by richie reseda

Listen to the EP HERE

Watch the Film HERE

Songs From The Hole EP artwork

Netflix officially releases SONGS FROM THE HOLE, a music film about the life of JJ’88, who began a life sentence at 15 and processed his experience through rap and soul music. Along with the documentary, JJ’88 releases 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:

  1. Letter To The Homies
  2. MostHunted
  3. Betrayal
  4. The Haunting
  5. Steel Grave
  6. Overwhelmed
  7. SeaFloor
  8. WakeUp
  9. Rise and Shine
  10. N8tive Psalms
  11. ROOT
  12. NoTimeToW8ste
  13. Here Now

WINNER — SXSW, Audience Award: Visions, 2024
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

SONGS FROM THE HOLE
Watch the film HERE
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 Key Art HERE
Download Stills HERE
Read more at TUDUM
Visit the official Songs From The Hole website HERE
Follow Songs From The Hole on Instagram

Press Contacts:
Alex Drapac, Netflix
Cheyenne Beam, Audible Treats
Kevin Grossi, Audible Treats
Michelle McDevitt, Audible Treats