Filmmaker Byron Hurt talks to aspiring rap artists and hip-hop fans outside a hip-hip convention in New York City.

Independent Lens "Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes" is a personal and heartfelt documentary that explores gender roles in hip-hop and rap music. In this "loving critique" from a self-proclaimed "hip-hop head," filmmaker Byron Hurt tackles issues of masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia in today's hip-hop culture by talking with rappers, moguls and fans. The documentary, which premiered at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, airs Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 10/9 p.m. CT on KET2. Actor Terrence Howard hosts the program.

"Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes" features revealing interviews with rappers, including Mos Def, Chuck D and Busta Rhymes, and hip-hop moguls Russell Simmons and Chris Lighty. Also featured are interviews with young women at Spelman College, a historically black college and one of the nation's leading liberal arts institutions. "Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes" also reveals the complex intersection of culture, commerce and gender through interviews with aspiring rappers and fans at hip-hop events throughout the country.

The result is an engaging inside look at one of the most influential art forms of our time.

Independent Lens "Hip Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes" is a co-production of God Bless the Child Productions, Inc. and the Independent Television Service in association with National Black Programming Consortium.