March 7th, 2009
Wild Style was the first hip hop motion picture. Released independently in 1982 by First Run Features and later re-released for home video by Rhino Home Video, the movie featured actors like Fab Five Freddy, Lee Quinones, the Rock Steady Crew, The Cold Crush Brothers, Patti Astor, Sandra Fabara and Grandmaster Flash. The protagonist is the legendary New York graffiti artist “Lee” George Quinones as “Zoro”. The “Wild Style” logo originally designed by TRACY168 on the film’s cover was copied and applied by scenic painters Zephyr, Revolt and Sharp.
The film itself is very unique in that the actors play roles that were designed to show exactly how they were in real life. The movie was given a loose storyline as a means of commercializing it, but the story is not the reason it is so highly regarded. It’s the culmination of legendary hip hop icons being filmed in their emergence along with a profound documentation of a new budding sub-culture that draws people to this film.
Soundtrack
- Military Cut – Grand Wizard Theodore/Kevie Kev Rockwell (Scratch Mix)
- MC Battle – Busy Bee/Lil Rodney Cee/DJ Grand Wizard Theodore
- Basketball Throwdown – Cold Crush Brothers/Fantastic Freaks
- Fantastic Freaks At The Dixie – Fantastic Freaks/ DJ Kevie Kev Rockwell
- Subway Theme – DJ Grand Wizard Theodore (Previously Unreleased)
- Cold Crush Brothers At The Dixie – Cold Crush Brothers
- Cuckoo Clocking – (previously unreleased)
- Stoop Rap – Double Trouble
- Double Trouble At The Amphitheatre – Double Trouble (KK Rockwell & Rodney C)/DJ Stevie Steve
- South Bronx Subway Rap – Grandmaster Caz (Original Mix)
- Street Rap – Busy Bee (Previously Unreleased)
- Chief Rocker Busy Bee, DJ AJ At The Amphitheatre – Busy Bee/ DJ A.J.
- Gangbusters – Grand Wizard Theodore/Kevie Kev Rockwell (Scratch Mix)
- Rammellzee and Shock Dell At The Amphitheatre – Rammellzee & Shock Dell/The Grand Mixer D.St
- Down By Law – Fab 5 Freddy (Previously Unreleased)
- Wild Style Theme Rap 1 – Grand Master Caz/Chris Stein (Charlie Chase Scratch Mix, Bonus Track)
- Wild Style Subway Rap 2 – Grand Master Caz/Chris Stein (Charlie Chase Scratch Mix, Bonus Track)
Tags: rap, Wild Style
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March 7th, 2009
Krush Groove is a 1985 Warner Bros. film, written by Ralph Farquhar and directed by Michael Schultz (who also produced the movie, along with Doug McHenry). This film is based on the early days of Def Jam Recordings and up-and-coming record producer Russell Simmons (re-named Russell Walker in the film), portrayed by Blair Underwood in his feature film debut. Russell Simmons was the film’s co-producer and story consultant; he also has a cameo role in the film as a club owner named Crocket.
Music from the Original Motion Picture Krush Groove (also called just Krush Groove Soundtrack) is a soundtrack album by various hip-hop artists, released on Warner Brothers Records in 1985. The album peaked at #79 on the Pop chart and #14 on the R&B chart. The Krush Groove soundtrack was released on Warner Bros. Records in 1985 and featured songs from the movie. Only 1,000 copies of the album were ever pressed[citation needed] on compact disc.
Soundtrack
Track listing
- Chaka Khan – “(Krush Groove) Can’t Stop The Street” (5:10)
- LL Cool J – “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” (4:25)
- Kurtis Blow – “If I Ruled The World” (6:19)
- Fat Boys – “All You Can Eat” (3:27)
- Debbie Harry – “Feel The Spin” (4:01)
- Sheila E. – “Holly Rock” (4:57)
- Beastie Boys – “She’s on It” (3:32)
- Gap Band – “Love Triangle” (4:47)
- Force MD’s – “Tender Love” (3:55)
- Krush Groove All-Stars – “Krush Groovin’” (5:05)
Other songs appeared in the film but were not on the album soundtrack:
- Autumn – “Kold Krush”
- Run DMC – “King of Rock,” “It’s Like That”, “Can You Rock it Like This,” “You’re Blind”
- Fat Boys – “Don’t You Dog Me,” “Fat Boys,” “Pump it Up (Let’s Get Funky)”
- Sheila E. & Prince- “A Love Bizarre”
- UTFO – “Pick up the Pace” (released as a b-side of “All You Can Eat” on Warner Bros. Records)
- Nayobe – “Please Don’t Go”
- New Edition – “My Secret”
- Chad – “I Want You to be My Girl”
Tags: Krush Groove, rap
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March 7th, 2009
Hustle & Flow is a 2005 independent film written and directed by Craig Brewer about a Memphis hustler called DJay, played by Terrence Howard, who experiences a midlife crisis and is compelled to face his aspiration to become a rapper. DJay, a petty drug dealer and equally petty pimp, and his original and primary charge, prostitute Nola, troll the streets and under bridges and overpasses of Memphis, looking for clients. From the start, it is clear that Nola is more DJay’s business partner and fellow hustler (DJay refers to her as his “primary investor”), rather than his subordinate, and that neither of them is satisfied with their lives or with the ins and outs of prostitution; however, each is also in a crisis about exactly what to do instead. While DJay quickly turns to music once he re-discovers the keyboard, Nola remains indecisive and crisis-ridden throughout much of the movie. Despite this, however, the two always remain close, and “in charge” of everything around them, and Nola eventually finds her purpose alongside DJay as his manager.
The film, like its own plot, has had a hard life. It experienced many years of near-misses and outright rejection from major studios and potential financiers before finally being backed by an exasperated John Singleton. Once it got made, it was nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Actor for Howard and won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, for Three 6 Mafia’s “It’s Hard out Here for a Pimp”.
Trivia
- Terrence Howard initially turned down the role of DJay. He reportedly was attempting to avoid being typecast as a “pimp” archtype. However, after recognizing the complexity and depth of the character, he reversed his earlier decision and took on the role.
- As concepts of both hustle and flow are unique to African American culture, it turned out to be nearly impossible to find proper translations for international release of the film. For example, the Russian translation of the title means “The fuss and the torrent”.
Tags: Hustle & Flow, rap
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March 7th, 2009
Get Rich or Die Tryin’ is a 2005 crime drama film starring Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. It was released on November 9, 2005. Similar to the 2002 Eminem film 8 Mile and the 1983 film Flashdance, Get Rich or Die Tryin’ is a semi-autobiographical film account of 50 Cent’s own life. It was directed by 6-time Academy Award-nominee Jim Sheridan.
Controversies
On October 27, 2005, movie posters for the film featuring 50 Cent with a handgun in one hand and a mic in the other were removed from billboards in Los Angeles school areas after complaints that they promote gun violence and gang activity. 50 Cent later responded that the controversy only further increased the publicity for his film. The two objects in the controversial poster were intended as symbols to represent the transition of the main character from drug dealer to rapper.
A 30-year-old man, Sheldon Flowers, was shot three times and killed in a cinema near Pittsburgh on November 9, 2005, after watching the film. The cinema stopped showing the film as a result. Also, a cinema chain in Toledo, Ohio, stopped after-midnight screenings of the film because of fears the violence depicted may prompt further civil unrest as seen during the 2005 Toledo Riot. Another problem occurred in Champaign, Illinois. A group of gangsters shot at the screen while the show was filmed, causing the show to stop being shown there.
Samuel L. Jackson publicly turned down an offer to co-star in the film, citing that he did not want to lend credence to what he believed was an inexperienced and unproven actor. Film critic Roger Ebert wrote of Jackson’s decision: “Like Bill Cosby, Jackson is arguing against the anti-intellectual message that success for young black males is better sought in the worlds of rap and sports than in the classroom”. Jackson reportedly still thinks that rappers should not be in films, but has spoken with 50 Cent several times about it and has made amends with him. The two later co-starred in the 2006 film Home of the Brave.
Tags: Get Rich or Die Tryin', rap
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March 7th, 2009
Fear of a Black Hat is a film satire on the evolution and state of American hip hop music. The film’s title is derived from the 1990 Public Enemy album Fear of a Black Planet. Released on June 3, 1994, Fear of a Black Hat was written and produced by, and co-stars, Rusty Cundieff.
Characters
Along with the film’s title and its central characters, there are other characters seen briefly who are parodies of real-life prominent figures in hip-hop:
- Jike Spingleton: filmmakers John Singleton and Spike Lee (the character criticizes both filmmakers)
- M.C. Slammer: M.C. Hammer
- Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme: Salt ‘n’ Pepa
- Vanilla Sherbet: Vanilla Ice
- Yo Highness: Queen Latifah
- Ice Tray, Ice Box, Ice Coffee, Ice Berg, etc.: variations of the name “Ice” and the overuse of it in general in the rap industry.
- The Jam Boys: N.W.H.’s main rivals; though there is no direct comparison to a single contemporary hip-hop act, they may parodize hip-hop groups in general.
- Marty Rabinow: N.W.H.’s manager; his name is similar to Rainbow, which is a joke on Jewish names containing colors (e.g. Goldman, Goldberg, Greenberg, Silverberg); he’s also a parody of stereotypical Jewish managers of African-American performers, such as N.W.A.’s Jerry Heller.
Tags: Fear of a Black Hat, rap
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March 7th, 2009
8 Mile is a 2002 American hip-hop drama film, directed by Curtis Hanson and starring Eminem, Kim Basinger, Brittany Murphy, and Mekhi Phifer. Set in the Detroit hip hop scene in 1995, the film depicts white rapper Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith Jr. (Eminem) as he struggles for respect among his black peers. The film won an Academy Award for the Best Original Song for Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” On November 18, 2008, Universal Studios Home Entertainment released 8 Mile on Blu-ray. It contains bonus material and extra features.
Cast
- Eminem as Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith, Jr.
- Kim Basinger as Stephanie Smith (Jimmy’s Mom)
- Mekhi Phifer as David “Future” Porter (Jimmy’s best friend)
- Chloe Greenfield as Lily Smith (Jimmy’s little sister)
- Brittany Murphy as Alexandra “Alex” Latourno (Jimmy’s love interest)
- De’Angelo Wilson as DJ Iz
- Evan Jones as Cheddar Bob
- Omar Benson Miller as Sol George
- Eugene Byrd as Wink
- Anthony Mackie as Papa Doc
- Xzibit as Male Lunch Truck Rapper
- Proof as Lil Tic (cameo)
- Michael Shannon as Greg Buehl
- Taryn Manning as Janeane
Tags: 8 Mile, rap
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March 7th, 2009
Carmen: A Hip Hopera is a 2001 musical film produced for television by MTV and directed by Robert Townsend. The film stars Beyoncé Knowles, Mos Def, Rah Digga, Wyclef Jean, Mekhi Phifer, Da Brat, Joy Bryant, Jermaine Dupri and Lil’ Bow Wow. It is based upon Georges Bizet’s opera, Carmen, set in Philadelphia and Los Angeles in modern times, and features a mostly original hip-hop/R&B score in place of Bizet’s opera.
The movie received mainly negative reviews. To date, it is the second major attempt at an African-American adaptation of the opera, the first being the 1943 Broadway musical Carmen Jones and its 1954 Academy Award nominated and box office hit film adaptation.
Cast
- Carmen Brown: Beyoncé Knowles
- Derek Hill: Mekhi Phifer
- Caela: Reagan Gomez-Preston
- Lieutenant Miller: Mos Def
- Cellmate 1: Bow Wow
- Cellmate 2: Jermaine Dupri
- Blaze: Casey Lee
- Rasheeda: Rashia “Rah Digga” Battle
- Nikki: Joy Bryant
- Fortune Teller: Wyclef Jean
Tags: Carmen: A Hip Hopera, rap
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March 7th, 2009
Bulworth is a 1998 Academy Award-nominated American film which was co-written, co-produced and directed by the film’s star, Warren Beatty. The film co-stars Halle Berry, Oliver Platt, Don Cheadle, Paul Sorvino, Jack Warden, and Isaiah Washington. The film follows the title character, California Senator Jay Billington Bulworth (Beatty), as he runs for re-election.
Political and social commentary
This film presents a great deal of controversial political and social commentary—often, but not always, through Bulworth’s open, honest, and unusual campaign speeches. These speeches are often especially (and comically) controversial due to the demographic of Bulworth’s audience, and many of the beliefs espoused by Bulworth closely mirror Beatty’s actual political beliefs. Memorable scenes include his comments to the African American church near the beginning; his comments to the supposedly Jewish movie producers (which may also be a tongue-in-cheek comment on behalf of the writers); Bulworth’s comments about corporations controlling the American political system, and the ongoing comments depicting Democrats and Republicans as being just as bad as the other. Nina also makes some insightful comments as to why there are no black leaders anymore, as does L.D. in justifying using children in his drug-dealing business, which Bulworth later repeats verbatim on CNN. The assassination of Bulworth is iconic in that the imagery of the scene is similar to the photo record of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. in which the people present pointed to where the shot came from in the picture. This further illustrates the movie’s theme that the black leaders are dying. It can be inferred that Bulworth was destined to be the next great leader of the African American community. This can also be inferred by Nina’s family referring to themselves as Bulworth Democrats. However, the overall theme of the film is espoused by an anonymous vagrant (played by poet Amiri Baraka) who encourages Bulworth to, “Sing, be a spirit, Don’t be no ghost!”, an exhortation to be outspoken.
Tags: Bulworth, rap
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March 7th, 2009
Black and White is a 1999 film directed by James Toback, starring Scott Caan, Claudia Schiffer, Brooke Shields, Robert Downey Jr., Jared Leto, Allan Houston and a number of rap musicians, namely members of the Wu-Tang Clan (Raekwon, Method Man, Ghostface Killah, Power, Masta Killa and Inspectah Deck), American Cream Team (Chip Banks and Lord Superb) and Onyx (Fredro Starr and Sticky Fingaz).
The movie also notably features Ben Stiller in a rare dramatic role as a sleazy police detective, as well as Mike Tyson playing himself.
It had its first showing at the Telluride Film Festival on September 4, 1999, followed by a second screening at the Toronto Film Festival on September 15, 1999. It had its widespread theatrical release in the USA on April 5, 2000.
Cast
- Scott Caan – Scotty
- Robert Downey Jr. – Terry Donager
- Stacy Edwards – Sheila King
- Allan Houston – Dean Carter
- Gaby Hoffmann – Raven
- Kidada Jones – Jesse
- Jared Leto – Casey
- Marla Maples – Muffy
- Joe Pantoliano – Bill King
- Bijou Phillips – Charlie
- Power – Rich Bower
- Raekwon – Cigar
- Claudia Schiffer – Greta
- William Lee Scott – Will King
- Brooke Shields – Sam Donager
- Ben Stiller – Det. Mark Clear
- Eddie Kaye Thomas – Marty King
- Elijah Wood – Wren
Tags: Black and White, rap
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March 7th, 2009
Beat Street is a 1984 mainstream hip hop dramatic feature film, and the third following Wild Style and Breakin’. It is set in New York City during the rise of hip hop culture in the early 1980s.
The movie was the East Coast answer to the Los Angeles-set Breakin’, displaying break dancing, DJing, and graffiti with a mild social undertone. Some of the plot line was based on the graffiti documentary Style Wars. Most visibly, the antagonist Spit in Beat Street was lifted from the real-life graffiti artist CAP MPC, who was portrayed in Style Wars.
Notable performances include a song by Grandmaster Melle Mel & the Furious Five, breakdancing battles between the New York City Breakers and the Rock Steady Crew, and cameos by Doug E. Fresh, Richard Lee Sisco, and the Treacherous Three. As a member of the Treacherous Three, emcee Kool Moe Dee also appeared in the film. It stands as one of the few media appearances he has ever made without his trademark sunglasses (a style he had not yet adopted at the time).
Cast
- Mary Alice – Cora
- Afrika Bambaataa
- Jon Chardiet – Ramo/Ramon
- Rae Dawn Chong – Tracy
- Doug E. Fresh
- Crazy Legs
- Guy Davis – Kenny
- Leon W. Grant – Chollie
- DJ Jazzy Jay
- Kool Herc
- Kool Moe Dee
Tags: Beat Street, rap
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