Private Project

LOST BOYZ

Growing up in the South Jamaica section of Queens amidst the chaos of the 1980s crack era, Terrance "Mr. Cheeks" Kelly and three of his best friends form a hip hop group called “The Lost Boyz.”

Under the tutelage of his uncle, singer-songwriter Gil Scott Heron, Mr. Cheeks writes songs to uplift his community, breaking with the common pro-violence themes prevalent in popular hip hop acts of the era.

As The Lost Boyz get signed and climb the music charts, their greater mission to transform their community is catching on like wildfire, creating a youth movement that provides an alternative to gangs and violence. But on March 28, 1999, their rise is abruptly halted by the very forces they set out to combat when band member Freaky Tah is gunned down outside a local venue.

The group soon disbands, and Mr. Cheeks - blaming himself for his best friend's murder - descends into years of survivor’s guilt and alcoholism. 

Twenty years later, Freaky Tah’s son, Khalil, emerges as a young rap artist under the alias "Freaky Kah." With the hope of reviving The Lost Boyz' original mission, Mr. Cheeks and Kah set out to re-form group.

During the course of filming, the confession tape of Freaky Tah’s murderer from 21 years prior is finally unsealed, offering Mr. Cheeks a chance to face his own demons over the death of his best friend.

  • Johnny Sweet
    Director
    Quiet Storm: The Ron Artest Story
  • Michael Zimbalist
    Director
    The Two Escobars, Momentum Generation, Nossa Chape, Give Us This Day
  • Michael Zimbalist
    Producer
    The Two Escobars, Momentum Generation, Nossa Chape, Give Us This Day, ReMastered
  • Colby Gottert
    Producer
    Momentum Generation, The Two Escobars, Momentum Generation, Youngstown Boys, Phenoms, Nossa Chape, Give Us This Day
  • Logan Combest-Friedman
    Producer
    Phenoms
  • Ron Beck
    Producer
  • Jeff Zimbalist
    Producer
    The Two Escobars, Momentum Generation, Nossa Chape, Give Us This Day, ReMastered
  • Johnny Sweet
    Producer
    Quiet Storm: The Ron Artest Story
  • Omar Michaud
    Producer
    Quiet Storm: The Ron Artest Story
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Genres:
    Music
  • Runtime:
    58 minutes 2 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    June 25, 2021
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Johnny Sweet, Michael Zimbalist

JOHNNY SWEET was born and raised in NYC. In 2016, Sweet directed his first feature film, VICK, which won the Associated Press Sports Editor Award for journalism. His second film, QUIET STORM, a documentary about the life of Ron Artest, was nominated for an Emmy for Best Long Sports Documentary and released in 2019 on Showtime.

MICHAEL ZIMBALIST is a Emmy and Peabody Award-winning writer, director, and producer whose past credits include THE TWO ESCOBARS, MOMENTUM GENERATION, NOSSA CHAPE, GIVE US THIS DAY, REMASTERED, PELÉ: BIRTH OF A LEGEND, and PHENOMS.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

In the late 90s, four homicides devastated us as New York City teenagers. Three of them were Tupac, The Notorious B.I.G. and Big L. The last was The Lost Boyz member Freaky Tah. Like the other murders, the reason behind Tah's death was never fully revealed.

We grew up immersed in the golden age of hip hop. Rap music was a healthy therapeutic distraction from the trials and tribulations of our youth. The Lost Boyz stood out in this regard, since their music really spoke to those who felt lost and confused. One friend once said the song "Renee" helped her get through a two-year depression in high school.

The Lost Boyz' lead lyricist, Mr. Cheeks, had prose that felt both relatable and melodic. Freaky Tah added soul to Cheeks' storytelling with his deep and iconic hype man voice. They were best friends in harmony. You felt it in their music, you saw it in their bond, and the bond they shared with the larger "LB Fam."

Ultimately, the Lost Boyz wasn't just a rap group, it was an extended family that spread across the South Jamaica section of Queens. A family with its own secret handshakes, symbols and traditions. And like most families, they experienced joy and pain together. Freaky Tah's death still reverberates through the community and Mr. Cheeks.

This film is a tribute to our childhood, to the music that shaped us, to the love and uplift of The Lost Boyz' mission... and to Mr. Cheeks, who lost his way after the tragedy, but who once again is finding his place in this world through rebuilding his family and community.