Common Sense Media Review
By Emily Ashby
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Friendship and diversity mark hip-hop-inspired series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Da Jammies
What's the Story?
When five middle school students bond over their shared love of music and performance, the result is DA JAMMIES, a one-of-a-kind hip-hop group looking to hit the big time. For now, though, the quintet -- Dolla (voiced by William "Dolla" Chapman II), Novelist (Aulsondro "Novelist" Hamilton), Momo (Alisa Reyes), Lala (Dani Nicolet), and Seven (Anderson Johnson Jr.) -- will have to make it through their tween years and all the ups and downs they bring.
Is It Any Good?
Inspired by a need for diversity in kids' entertainment, cocreators Hamilton and Chapman envisioned this series as an introduction to the oft-overlooked wholesome values of the hip-hop industry. They've succeeded on both counts, with a cast that reflects the ethnic make-up of its setting and music that's easy on the ears (if hip-hop is your thing, that is) and has decent themes about identity and empowerment.
Because Da Jammies touches on sensitive issues such as bullying and self-esteem, it can start conversations between you and your tweens about topics that might otherwise be tough to raise. In other cases, the issues might be ones your tweens have no experience with (such as a secondary character's homelessness), so you'll have to fill in the gaps for better context.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about diversity on TV. Does this series do a better job than others you watch of representing America's cultural diversity? How does diversity strengthen a community? What challenges does it pose?
Do your kids like hip-hop music? Had they heard it before watching Da Jammies? How do different styles of music suit different moods?
Kids: Is your self-image affected by who and what you see on TV? Why is it important to embrace what makes you unique?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 1, 2015
- Cast : Alisa Reyes , William "Dolla" Chapman II , Aulsondro "Novelist" Hamilton
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Kids' Animation
- Topics : Arts ( Music and Sing-Along ) , Friendship
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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