Todd Boyd facts for kids

Todd Boyd, who also goes by the nickname "Notorious Ph.D.", is a professor, author, and expert on American culture. He holds a special position at the USC School of Cinematic Arts called the Katherine and Frank Price Endowed Chair, where he teaches about race and popular culture.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1964, Dr. Boyd is a well-known media commentator, which means he often shares his expert opinions on TV and in documentaries. He is famous for being one of the first scholars to seriously study hip hop culture, movies, fashion, and sports. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in 1991 and started teaching at USC in 1992.

Expert on Pop Culture

Dr. Boyd is often asked to share his knowledge in documentaries because he knows so much about movies, music, and sports. He helps explain why these things are important to our culture.

Appearing in Documentaries

You might have seen Dr. Boyd in popular TV series and films. He appeared in the award-winning series The Last Dance, which is about basketball star Michael Jordan. He was also in the movie 20 Feet From Stardom, which won an Academy Award for telling the story of backup singers for famous musicians.

Some other major documentaries he has been in include:

• Ken Burns' Muhammad Ali, a series about the legendary boxer.
• Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali, a film about the friendship between two important historical figures.
• ...: The Sound and Fury of Rick James, a documentary about the funk musician.
• CNN series like The Nineties and The 2000s, which look back at the culture of those decades.

Writing Books and Essays

Dr. Boyd has written or edited eight books and more than 100 articles and essays. His writing explores how hip hop, sports, and Black culture have shaped the world.

Some of his books include:

• Rapper’s Deluxe: How Hip Hop Made the World
• The Notorious Ph.D’s Guide to the Super Fly 70s
• Young Black Rich and Famous: The Rise of the NBA, the Hip Hop Invasion, and the Transformation of American Culture
• Am I Black Enough for You? Public Culture from the ‘Hood and Beyond

He has also written for major newspapers and websites like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and ESPN.

Work in Movies

Besides talking about movies, Dr. Boyd has also helped make them. He was a writer and producer for the popular 1999 film The Wood. He was also an executive producer for the Netflix documentary At All Costs, which is about youth basketball.

He has also recorded voice-over commentary for the DVD versions of classic films. This means you can listen to him explain the history and importance of movies like Super Fly and Stormy Weather while you watch them.

Selected Film and TV Appearances

Dr. Boyd has appeared in dozens of documentaries and TV shows. Here is a small selection of his work:

• The Crossover: 50 Years of Sports and Hip Hop (2023)
• Say Hey, Willie Mays! (2022)
• Legacy: The True Story of the LA Lakers (2022)
• Watch the Sound with Mark Ronson (2021)
• The Last Dance (2020)
• Dennis Rodman: For Better or Worse (2019)
• I Am Richard Pryor (2019)
• Shut Up and Dribble (2018)
• Fresh Dressed (2015)
• 20 Feet From Stardom (2013)
• Straight Outta L.A. (2010)
• Why We Laugh: Black Comedians on Black Comedy (2009)
• Crips and Bloods: Made in America (2008)
• O.J. Simpson: A Study in Black and White (2002)
• Bill Russell: My Life, My Way (2000)