Soul Patrol 2026

J.M. Harper is a Brooklyn-based director and father of two. His debut documentary AS WE SPEAK premiered in U.S. Documentary Competition at Sundance 2024. A multi-hyphenate documentarian, he’s edited four features including the Emmy-nominated JEEN-YUHS: A KANYE TRILOGY. His contributions to the industry were acknowledged when he was named to DOC NYC’s “40 Under 40” list in 2024. In 2025, he was awarded the prestigious Concordia Fellowship and Film Independent Amplifier Fellowship for his sophomore documentary, SOUL PATROL (Sundance 2026)

Sam Bisbee is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning, Independent Spirit and BAFTA-nominated producer and founding partner of Park Pictures Features, the feature film division of acclaimed commercial production company Park Pictures. The films Sam has produced have won an Oscar, BAFTA, Independent Spirit Award, Emmy and Peabody. In 2009, Sam produced THE NEW TENANTS which won the Academy Award in 2010 for best Live Action Short. For over a decade Bisbee and Park Pictures have brought 17 films to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival including 2012’s Sloan Award-winner ROBOT AND FRANK (Sony), 2013’s Golden Globe nominated INFINITELY POLAR BEAR (Sony Pictures Classics), 2016’s Independent Spirit Award-winner (Molly Shannon) and four-time nominee OTHER PEOPLE (Netflix), 2018’s Sundance Audience Award-winner THE SENTENCE (HBO) which went on to win the 2019 Primetime Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking, 2020’s Criterion Collection film FAREWELL AMOR (IFC) and DGA award-winner THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS (Sony Pictures Classics), 2023’s BAFTA and BIFA-winner Earth Mama (A24), 2024’s Sundance Festival Favorite Award-winner, Peabody winner and Bafta and Emmy nominated DAUGHTERS (Netflix) and Emmy Nominee AS WE SPEAK (Paramount/MTV), and 2025’s winner of the Sundance Documentary Directing award THE PERFECT NEIGHBOR which has been acquired by Netflix for release in 2025. Other notable films include 2021’s  Peabody and Emmy nominated documentary STORM LAKE (Independent Lens), SXSW Audience Award-winning and Emmy nominated documentary NOT GOING QUIETLY (P.O.V), SXSW Jury Prize-winner and BAFTA-shortlisted GRAND THEFT HAMLET (MUBI).

Sam is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, BAFTA and the Television Academy.

Danielle Massie is a News & Documentary Emmy-nominated, New York-based producer and the Head of Development and Production for the Film & Television Division of Park Pictures. She began her career in production, freelancing for Funny or Die and Saturday Night Live before joining Park Pictures. Danielle served as Co-Producer on the BAFTA-winning film Earth Mama (A24, Film4), for which she was also a recipient of the SFFILM Rainin Grant. She has served on the producing team of four Sundance premiering films, including the News & Documentary Emmy nominee As We Speak. In 2025, she served as Associate Producer on the Sundance award-winning film The Perfect Neighbor, acquired by Netflix. That same year, she made her debut as a lead producer with the Tribeca premiering narrative feature Bird in Hand.

Nas (Nasir Jones) first reached an international audience when his track “Halftime” was tapped by producer MC Serch as the opening cut on 1992’s Zebrahead movie soundtrack. Signed to Columbia Records, the first full-length album by poet and rhyme-master Nas arrived in 1994, Illmatic. The RIAA platinum hip-hop landmark featured “It Ain’t Hard To Tell,” “The World Is Yours,” and “One.” 1996 brought the breakthrough double-platinum It Was Written (#1 R&B for 7 weeks, #1 pop for 4 weeks), with his first major crossover singles “Street Dreams” and “If I Ruled the World (Imagine That).” Success continued with the double-platinum I Am in 1999 (again #1 pop and #1 R&B), with the chart singles “Nas Is Like,” “Hate Me Now” (featuring Puff Daddy), and “You Won’t See Me Tonight” (featuring Aaliyah).

Subsequent albums by Nas included: the RIAA platinum Nastradamus (1999, #2 R&B, #7 pop, with “Nastradamus” and “You Owe Me,” featuring Ginuwine); the platinum Stillmatic (2001, #1 R&B, #5 pop, with “Got Ur Self A…,” “One Mic,” and “Rule”); the platinum God’s Son (2002, #1 R&B, with huge R&B/pop crossover hits “Made You Look” and “I Can”); and the platinum double-CD Street’s Disciple (2004, #2 R&B, #5 pop, with “Bridging the Gap” and “Just a Moment”). And his 2012 album, Life Is Good earned him 4 Grammy nominations including Rap Album of the Year and is certified RIAA gold. Over the years, Nas has also been the featured guest on a number of crossover hits by other artists, among them: Allure (“Head Over Heels,” 1997); Missy Elliott (the #1 “Hot Boyz,” 1999); fellow Queensbridge rapper Mobb Deep (“It’s Mine,” 1999); Jagged Edge (“I Got It 2,” 2002); J-Lo (“I’m Gonna Be Alright,” 2002); Kanye West (“Classic (Better Than I’ve Ever Been),” 2006); DJ Khaled (“Nas Album Done,” 2016); Swizz Beats (“Echo,” 2018); Jhene Aiko (“10K Hours,” 2020) and others.

In August 2020, Nas released King’s Disease. King’s Disease marked Nas’ first new album in 2 years. The album was entirely produced by Hit-Boy, and Gabriel “G Code” Zardes serves as the albums co-executive producer. The album won “Best Rap Album” at the 2021 GRAMMYs, marking Nas’ first ever GRAMMY win.

In August of 2021, Nas released King’s Disease II, a sequel to the GRAMMY Award winning album. King’s Disease II was executive produced by Nas and Hit-Boy and features collaborations with Eminem, EPMD, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, YG, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Hit-Boy & more. The album earned a nomination for “Best Rap Album” at the upcoming 64th GRAMMY Awards. Most recently, Nas released a surprise album titled Magic featuring A$AP Rocky and DJ Premier. In addition to his successful career in music, Nas has pursued a career in motion pictures that began with his co-starring role (alongside DMX) in 1998’s cult classic crime drama Belly, a film by director Hype Williams (with whom Nas has done several music videos). Most recently, he was the executive producer of the 2016 Netflix series The Get Down.

Nas is also the co-founder of Mass Appeal Records.

New York native Peter Bittenbender, with a small 8 year stint in Santa Fe, produced a critically acclaimed documentary while completing his last year at New York University (note, Peter was studying Hospitality & Tourism management at NYU not film). This first entry into the entertainment space would ultimately prove to be the launching pad for Decon—a creative studio that offered content, music and advertising services in 2001. Since Decon’s formation, Peter’s vision has been applied to the needs of a myriad of influential clients such as Red Bull, Nissan, Sprite, Under Armour, EA Sports & Netflix amongst more. He worked on the launch of a #1 selling video game, dozens of music videos and a variety of broadcast commercials. In addition to this, he has executed many high-profile music licensing deals–including the theme music for the Emmy Award Winning television program, Mad Men.

Peter subsequently went onto revitalizing New York-based entertainment company Mass Appeal alongside the late Sacha Jenkins and Nasir “Nas” Jones. Mass Appeal’s mission is to tell diverse stories from the perspective of those who shape and shift culture. Under Peter’s leadership the Mass Appeal umbrella has expanded globally and is renowned for its work across content, music and creative services. Notable projects from Mass Appeal include, Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James, You’re Watching Video Music Box, Wu-Tang’s Of Mics and Men, Rapture for Netflix, Google’s Hip Hop Doodle project, marketing for multiple seasons for HBO’s Game Of Thrones, City Girls first documentary and many others. Mass Appeal Records, the label division was co-founded by Peter along with Hip Hop icon Nasir “Nas” Jones in 2014. Peter has spearheaded numerous projects that have earned accolades including Nas’s Grammy Award winning album King’s Disease and Grammy nominated King’s Disease II, Run The Jewels’ Run The Jewels 2 – named best album of 2014 by Pitchfork, Complex & Stereogum, & DJ Shadow’s “Nobody Speak” video – nominated at the 2017 MTV VMAs to mention a few. In 2019, Mass Appeal India was launched – a label focused on bringing the burgeoning Indian Hip Hop scene to the world. Last year, Mass Appeal Records inked a strategic partnership deal with Sony Music’s The Orchard.

Utilizing his hospitality background, Peter took his first steps into the restaurant business alongside Nas when they joined Gracious Hospitality as partners. GHM owns and operates the Michelin starred Korean Steakhouse Cote, which currently has 4 locations, and the Korean Fried Chicken restaurant Coqodaq.

Peter recently led the charge on Hip Hop 50, a massive program to help ensure Hip Hop received the highest tribute possible when the genre reached its iconic 50th Anniversary milestone in 2023. As part of Hip Hop 50’s content partnership with Showtime, Peter executive produced the critically acclaimed documentary You’re Watching Video Music Box. Additionally, Peter launched the Spotify-exclusive podcast ‘The Bridge” – hosted by Nas and Minya “Miss Info” Oh.

When not working, Peter can be found running wild with his wife and 2 young daughters across the globe.