Hip Hop Docs and Films
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- DirectorKevin FitzgeraldStarsChali 2naMuhammad AliPlanet AsiaA documentary about freestyling--the improvised, on-the-spot rhymes that demonstrate the skills of hip-hop MCs.
- DirectorBanksyStarsBanksyMr. BrainwashSpace InvaderFollowing the style of some of the world's most prolific street artists, an amateur filmmaker makes a foray into the art world.
- DirectorDoug PrayStarsClawJoe ConnollyEarsnotA feature-length documentary about graffiti culture as told through the experiences of six well-known graffiti writers and a graffiti buffer.
- DirectorBenson LeeStarsStephane FiossanangayeMr. FreezeLuis MateoJumping continents and crossing cultures, "Planet B-Boy" looks at the history of breakdancing and its vibrant resurgence in urban cultures around the world.
- DirectorPeter SpirerStars50-GrandEasy Mo BeeTodd BoydThe greatest rapper to ever pick up a mic - with his velvety flow and unparalleled rhyme style he captivated everyone from Jay Z to Tupac. Now Notorious B.I.G. is revealed. Hear the stories from his closest friends and some of the biggest names in Hip-Hop: Diddy, Method Man, Easy Mo Bee, Matty C, E-40, Raekwon, Common and more. See raw footage of B.I.G. free-styling on the streets of New York, rare home video footage, a never-before-seen interview with Biggie shortly before his death and undisclosed video footage from the night of his murder. From the acclaimed director who brought you Rhyme & Reason, Thug Angel, Beef, Beef II and Beef III.
- DirectorThomas GibsonStarsSnoop Dogg50 CentAesop RockNarrated By Snoop Dogg- Letter To the President is a feature documentary that showcases the close-knit ties between the Hip Hop Music community and America's social and political policy in the last 30 years.
- DirectorThomas GibsonStarsWendy WilliamsKarrine SteffansJa RuleGo deep into the underworld of hip-hop groupies and video vixens where sex is the backstage pass and young ladies use their bodies as a way to promote themselves and further their own careers. Jump Off takes a provocative look at the seedy side of the music business where hip-hop groupies pay a high price to get a taste of the celebrity lifestyle. Hear the real, raw truth about the groupie lifestyle from the scene's biggest stars. Get the inside story from one of hip-hop's most notorious femmes, Karrine: Superhead Steffens. Reenactments show how Karrine sexed her way through the hip-hop world, climbing her way up the ladder before crashing to the bottom. Now a bestselling author, she's still kissing and telling, but the huge stars she allegedly bedded are telling their side of the story.
- DirectorMichel GondryStarsDave ChappelleYasiin BeyLauryn HillA mix of Dave Chappelle's sketch comedy and musical interludes, inspired in part by the 1973 documentary Wattstax.
- DirectorPatrick PaulsonMichael John WarrenStarsJay-ZRick RubinMissy ElliottFilmed during his "Black Album" era, Jay-Z looks back on his career as one of rap music's most successful emcees and entrepreneurs.
- DirectorNick BroomfieldStarsThe Notorious B.I.G.Tupac ShakurNick BroomfieldDocumentary on the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls and the East Coast/West Coast, hip-hop/rap rivalry that culminated in late 1996 and early 1997.
- DirectorVlad YudinStarsArmageddonAZB-RealBack in 98, Big Pun, a Puerto Rican from the Bronx made history by becoming the first Latino rapper to sell over a million records. His presence stunned the music world, but on 2000, his life was cut short when he suffered a heart attack.
- DirectorFat JoeLisa RiosMarcos Antonio MirandaStarsBig PunFelix DelgadoDJ PremierOfficial music video for "Still Not a Player" by Big Pun featuring Joe.
- DirectorPeter SpirerStars50 CentAliBig BRespect...In hip-hop it's the name of the game. Some rappers will do anything to get it, even starting a Beef with another rapper or crew...and that can lead to raw, brutal conflict in the streets. In fact Beef has become so common that it is quickly becoming the fifth element of Hip-hop, right beside MCs, DJs, graffiti and breakdancing. "Beef 3" is about the high-profile Beefs in the hip-hop culture. Beefs are started when one rapper disses another for whatever reason, usually to get the upper hand with the fans or to show their machismo. This program features Beefs between 50 Cent and Game, Lil Flip and TI, Nelly and Chingy, Twista and Bone Thugz, Lil Scrappy and the Orlando Police and many more.
- DirectorMichael RapaportStarsQ-TipPhife DawgAli Shaheed MuhammadMichael Rapaport documents the inner workings and behind the scenes drama that follows this innovative and influential band to this day.
- DirectorPeter SpirerStarsKeith David50 CentB-RealBEEF 2 exposes the business of hip hop battles.
- DirectorPeter AltonStarsWaverly W. Alford IIR.L. AltmanJin Au-YeungBeef has expanded from its Hip Hop roots into the entire culture. Skateboarders, ball players, actors and comedians are all getting into their own beefs! Here we reveal the truth about many kinds of beefs inside and outside of Hip Hop. Beef IV takes an extensive look into what went wrong and who dissed who to cause such animosity, exposing the reasons why some unlikely people are getting caught up in their own beefs. Separating the real from the fake with a comical twist, Beef IV features interviews with The Game, Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Proof, Young Jeezy, Bow Wow, Trina, Jacki-O, Lupe Fiasco, Terry "TK" Kennedy of the Ice Cream Skateboarding Team, Bun B, Slim Thug, Beanie Sigel, Damon Dash, Daz, Kurupt, Obie Trice and much, much more!
- DirectorPeter SpirerStarsVing Rhames50 CentKevin AndersonA documentary on the evolution of MC battles from verbal one-upmanship to street warfare.
- DirectorGuy LoganStarsBill AdlerKid RockRussell SimmonsOctober 30, 2002 - Legendary hip-hop DJ Jason Mizell, aka Jam Master Jay, is gunned down in his Queens studio.
- DirectorCharlie AhearnStarsLee QuiñonesLady PinkFab 5 FreddySouth Bronx graffiti artist Zoro is commissioned to paint a backdrop for a hip-hop concert.
- DirectorS. Leigh SavidgeJeff ScheftelStarsFrank AlexanderSam Gideon AnsonWilliam J. BennettThe true story of the rise and fall of Death Row Records.
- DirectorLauren LazinStarsTupac ShakurRappin' 4-TayConrad BainHome movies, photographs, and recited poetry illustrate the life of Tupac Shakur, one of the most beloved, revolutionary, and volatile hip-hop M.Cs. of all time.
- DirectorPeter SpirerStarsAnthony 'Treach' CrissDavey DMichael Eric DysonDocumentary examining the politics, music, and life of Tupac Shakur.
- DirectorBrian RobbinsStarsCraig MackDr. DreAfrika BambaataaA documentary about the culture of hip-hop. Through interviews with some of hip-hops biggest names, the film makers attempt to find out why it has become so popular.
- DirectorFroi CuestaAnthony TurnerStars50 CentLucesseBonz MaloneThe true story of the legend who inspired the biggest name in rap.
- DirectorPeter SpirerStarsKRS-One50 CentCommon"The MC: Why We Do It" explores the art of the MC from the unique point of view of todays top rap artists.
- DirectorIsraelStarsAfrika BambaataaYasiin BeyCrazy LegsFrom the Boogie Down Bronx and beyond, the history of the B-Boy.
- DirectorPeter SpirerStarsBarry BergmanDavid DiazLoco GringoLearn from the biggest MCs exactly how they achieved success. They share their approach to live performances and how they put together a demo tape, got signed and dealt with labels as well as their knowledge about how the industry works.
- DirectorTony SilverStarsDemonKase 2Eric HazeA documentary that exposes the rich growing subculture of hip-hop that was developing in New York City in the late '70s and early '80s, specifically focusing on graffiti art and breakdancing.
- DirectorManfred KirchheimerStations of the Elevated (1981) is a 45-minute city symphony directed, produced and edited by Manfred Kirchheimer. Shot on lush 16mm color reversal stock, the film weaves together vivid images of graffiti- covered elevated subway trains crisscrossing the gritty urban landscape of 1970s New York, to a commentary-free soundtrack that combines ambient city noise with jazz and gospel by Charles Mingus and Aretha Franklin. Gliding through the South Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan - making a rural detour past a correctional facility upstate - Stations of the Elevated is an impressionistic portrait of and tribute to a New York that has long since disappeared.
- DirectorDoug PrayStarsThe AlliesA-TrakCrazeThe story of the hip-hop DJ from the birth of hip-hop to the invention of scratching and "beat-juggling" vinyl, to the more recent "turntablism" movement. Underdogs and virtuosos who have radically changed the way we hear and create music.
- DirectorRichard LoweMartin TorgoffStarsMichelle AlexanderB-RealMary BarrA look at the rise of crack cocaine in urban America in the 1980s and it's influence on popular culture, especially in hip-hop music.
- DirectorStan LathanStarsRae Dawn ChongGuy DavisJon ChardietAn aspiring DJ from the South Bronx and his best friend, a promoter, try to get into show business by exposing people to hip-hop music and the local culture.
- DirectorSam FirstenbergStarsLucinda DickeyAdolfo QuinonesMichael ChambersA developer tries to bulldoze a community recreation center. The local breakdancers try to stop it.
- DirectorJoel SilbergStarsLucinda DickeyAdolfo QuinonesMichael ChambersA struggling young jazz dancer meets up with two break-dancers. Together they become the sensation of the street crowds.
- DirectorGeorge Tillman Jr.StarsJamal WoolardAnthony MackieDerek LukeThe life and death story of The Notorious B.I.G. (a.k.a. Christopher Wallace), who came straight out of Brooklyn to take the world of rap music by storm.
- DirectorCurtis HansonStarsEminemBrittany MurphyKim BasingerFollows a young rapper in the Detroit area, struggling with every aspect of his life; he wants to make it big but his friends and foes make this odyssey of rap harder than it may seem.
- DirectorJim SheridanStars50 CentJoy BryantAdewale Akinnuoye-AgbajeA tale of an inner city drug dealer who turns away from a life of crime to pursue his passion of rap music.
- DirectorMichael SchultzStarsSheila E.Joseph SimmonsDarryl McDanielsThe story of a man who has started a new hip-hop/rap label called Krush Groove.
- DirectorMike CorberaRick UnderhillStarsMelle MelScorpioRahiemIn the tradition of "Scratch", HIP HOP LEGENDS tells the story of the genesis of hip hop through specific, in-depth exclusive interviews with legends such as DMC, DJ Skribble, and Affrika Bambaataa and the Zulu Nation.
- DirectorCraig BrewerStarsTerrence HowardLudacrisAnthony AndersonWith help from his friends, a Memphis pimp in a mid-life crisis attempts to become a successful hip-hop emcee.
- DirectorDon SikorskiStarsEric AdamsDasun AllahLloyd BanksA documentary on the secret dossiers that police, FBI, and task agencies have compiled on hip-hop performers and industry executives.
- DirectorPeter SpirerStarsIce-TBig TiggaKamau Karl FranklinIt's been whispered about for years in the Hip Hop community. Now learn the shocking truth and see the irrefutable evidence -- top Hip Hop artists are being targeted by one of the most powerful police departments in the country. Unlike performers in any other musical genre, respected Hip Hop artists such as Jay-Z, Ja Rule, 50 Cent, The Game, Cuban Link, Damon Dash, Snoop Dogg, Nas, Lil' Kim and more are constantly followed, questioned and harassed without probable cause by New York City's finest. The NYPD maintains that there's no profiling of Hip Hop artists and their crews. But in this program, retired police detective Derrick Parker reveals that he created an NYPD rap unit after the murder of Notorious B.I.G. in 1997, then saw his unit become officially sanctioned three years later. With actual law enforcement rapper surveillance footage and a rare peek at the infamous "Rap Binder" used in law enforcement training, BLACK and BLUE tells the compelling story of Detective Derrick Parker, the unit he created and the controversy it has spawned. This is one of the secret stories of Hip Hop, a culture that continues to be exploited by corporate America and condemned by mainstream society.
- DirectorIce-TAndy BaybuttStarsIce-TDr. DreChuck DA documentary on rap music and its rise to global prominence.
- DirectorDenis Henry HennellyCasey SuchanStarsChali 2naD.J. AbilitiesBabuAn inside look at what it took to bring the Wu-Tang Clan together for their final performance at the Rock the Bells Hip-Hop festival.
- DirectorAbdul Malik AbbottStarsJay-ZDamon DashPain in da AssA musical film in which Jay-Z compiles many of his unreleased music videos into a continuous film. The film takes place in Jay-Z's old neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York.
- DirectorDr. DreFab 5 FreddyF. Gary GrayStarsSnoop DoggCharlie MurphyGregory Scott CumminsFollows the exploits of Snoop Doggy Dogg as he gets shot, and makes a deal with the devil to survive.
- DirectorPhilip G. AtwellStarsIce CubeEminemDr. DreThis is it! Your front row seat to the greatest hip hop experience ever captured on film. This is the ultimate back stage pass for your total pleasure. "Up In Smoke" is it and now you've got it all. Fire it up.
- DirectorCary StuartStarsPam AfricaChuck DDJ Green LanternImmortal Technique emerged from prison a changed man. As his inner journey continues he travels the world promoting a revolution of consciousness through hip-hop. His path from a troubled youth to a fearless revolutionary is an inspirational must-see.
- DirectorBlyth KempThis documentary charts the careers of three men, Russell Simmons, Sean Combs, and Damon Dash, who built themselves into some of the most powerful figures in hip-hop.
- DirectorAdam Bhala LoughStarsMark WebberJade Scott YorkerJaclyn DeSantisA tribute to graffiti art and the city where it all began. Blest, a 19-year-old graffiti writer, has just graduated from high school. With no ambition toward mainstream goals of work and family, he spends his time bombing the city with graffiti messages until he and his crew become the most wanted bombers by the corrupt NYPD Vandal Squad. He even attracts major media and gallery attention for his tags. Also part of Blest's crew are Buk 50 and his younger brother Lune, whose arrest and beating by the NYPD causes the crew to wage a full-on graffiti war against the city. As they fight with their spray cans and their tags, Blest meets a political activist, Alexandra. Soon after, Blest's relationship with Buk 50 and the crew fragments as Blest ponders his position in life.
- DirectorSyd GaronEric HenryStarsDJ Q-BertD-StylesFlareA crew of heroes, cleverly disguised as a team of oral hygenists, is determined to save the lost arts of Hip Hop (B-boying, Graffiti, MCing, and of course, Skratching) from total extinction. The lost arts are being oppressed throughout inner-space by lord Ook and his evil minions the Chinheads. The dental commander and his team, armed with the ancient relic known as the Wave Twister (the only weapon powerful enough to defeat the enemies), travel to the far ends of inner-space for a final confrontation with the sinister army of oppressors.
- DirectorByron HurtStarsCarmen Ashurst-WatsonYasiin BeyChuck DHip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes provides a riveting examination of manhood, sexism, and homophobia in hip-hop culture.
- DirectorPatrick HeaphyKen PetersFeaturing an uncut and never-before-seen interview at the Clinton Correctional Facility, TUPAC SHAKUR UNCENSORED AND UNCUT-THE LOST PRISON TAPES presents a raw look into Tupac's world, as the rapper riffs on topics ranging from his involvement with gangs.
- DirectorJames TobackStarsBen StillerAllan HoustonClaudia SchifferA group of white high school teens become involved with Harlem's black hip-hop crowd.
- DirectorTamra DavisStarsChris RockAllen PayneDeezer DA guy makes a documentary of the rap band CB4 by following them. CB4 got popular by stealing Gusto's name, background and image. He wants them dead.
- DirectorRick RubinStarsDarryl McDanielsDaniel SimmonsJam Master JayLegendary hip-hop group Run-D.M.C. stars in this cross between a blaxploitation film and a spaghetti western. They must find and punish the evil drug lord-record company executive who murdered their friend. Along the way, they encounter racist bikers, blonde bimbos, and the Beastie Boys!
- DirectorChris FioreStarsJay-ZDMXMethod ManIf you ever wanted to know what really goes on backstage, this is the definitive inside look - uncut and uncensored. Complete with on-stage performances you'll see an intimate view of what life is like at one of the biggest Rap Concert tours of all time. It shows life on the road, in hotels and off stage in a way you've never seen before.
- DirectorJon ReissStarsKhaled AjamiaMuhnned AlazzhAntckJon Reiss and his crew travel to Asia, Australia, the Middle East and beyond, exploring the local graffiti scenes and artists. Follow-up to the groundbreaking street art documentary "Bomb It".
- DirectorJoey GarfieldStarsDread Archie Jr.Marie DaulneEmanon
- DirectorReggie Rock BythewoodStarsEric AdamsMaya AngelouChris ConnellyOn the evening of Sept. 7, 1996, Mike Tyson, the WBC heavyweight champion, attempted to take Bruce Seldon's WBA title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. At this point in his career, Tyson's fights had become somewhat of a cultural phenomenon, where the ever present hype of the professional boxing scene would come face to face with the worlds of big business, Hollywood, and hip hop. Sitting ringside was controversial rapper Tupac Shakur. Shakur and Tyson were friends, a feeling of kinship linked them as each rose to stardom from poverty only to be thrown in prison. Following Tyson's victory, Shakur and "Iron Mike" were to celebrate at an after party, but the rap star never arrived. Shakur was brutally gunned down later that night, and the scene in Las Vegas quickly turned from would-be celebratory revelry to ill fated and inopportune tragedy. Director Reggie Bythewood, with the full cooperation of Mike Tyson, will tell not only the story of that infamous night but of the remarkable friendship between Tyson and Tupac. .
- DirectorSam BridgerStarsM.K. AsanteChipNoel Clarke
- DirectorDale ResteghiniStarsStacii Jae JohnsonDale ResteghiniMia Tyler5 white kids get lost in the hood looking for da hip hop witch, a year later their footage was found.
- DirectorMark BenjaminDanny HochStarsDanny HochLynn Schlansky HochGina BrookeFrom the mind of Brooklyn actor, performance artist and hip-hop activist Danny Hoch, this film spins out the stories of ten lives shocked by globalization, the prison industry and life in general.
- DirectorDon SikorskiStarsLewis MatheneyTHE BLACK MAFIA FAMILY explores the story of the 15-year investigation that resulted in 41 defendants across the country being charged in one of the largest drug conspiracy cases ever.
- DirectorMatt RuskinStarsChris 'Kazi' RolleRussell SimmonsBruce WillisThe Hip Hop Project is the dynamic and inspirational story of a group of New York City teenagers who transform their life stories into powerful works of art, using hip hop as a vehicle for self-development and personal discovery. The film traces the evolution of this award-winning outreach program developed by Kazi, a formerly homeless teenager turned youth mentor. After four years of collaboration, the group produced a powerful and thought-provoking album that provides a revealing look at their lives. In contrast to all the negative attention focused on hip hop and rap music, this is a story of hope, healing and the realization of dreams.
- StarsBill AdlerWill SmithIce-TA five-part documentary series released by VH1 in 2004. The series recounts the development of hip hop culture from its birth in New York City in the 1970s through its flowering into a global phenomenon in the 21st Century.
- DirectorGaël CabouatStars50 CentDan CharnasSean 'Diddy' CombsWho of the icons Jay-Z, Diddy, 50 Cent and Dr. Dre becomes the first dollar billionaire?
- DirectorJeff DillardFrank PinnockStarsJaleel Abdul-AdilJude AngeliniBobby Brown"Business as Usual" is a feature length documentary that asks thequestions: Has Hip-Hop been exploited for economic gain, to the detrimentof the masses of urban youth who embrace it? Who's really making themoney, controlling the systems and influencing the youth?
- DirectorOz ScottStarsRashaan NallToni BraxtonFaizon LoveAn up and coming rap artist struggling to find his own voice winds up in the middle of a dangerous turf war when egos violently collide within the music industry.
- 200358mTV-MA7.3 (21)VideoDirectorStephen BelafonteStarsM.O.P.B-RealBilly DanzeRap group M.O.P. gives a tour through Brownsville in Brooklyn to show where they grew up, and what inspires their music.
- DirectorStephen BelafonteStarsC-MurderIce-TTurkC-Murder's music is all about where he grew up in Calliope 3rd Ward (CP3), one of the toughest projects in New Orleans, where poverty, drug abuse and violence are epidemic. For the first time, see his neighborhood uncensored: gunfire breaking out... children toting guns in their waistbands... the young men who died too early... as well as the warmth and camaraderie so vital to the neighborhood's survival. Also see dirty dancing at the Rhythm City nightclub and the music videos that the club inspired. Getting to know where C-Murder's from and his lifestyle is the only way to really get inside his music.
- DirectorLaron AustinStarsConrad CliftonOnira TaresChris BurnsWhen thieves steal the tracks that Rippa was using for a crucial beat battle, the up-and-coming music producer struggles to prove his talent by cooking up an even hotter mix with the help of some talented friends.
- DirectorPeter SpirerStarsKRS-OneBeanie SigelProdigyThe gritty elements of urban crime and violence have always had an influence on hip hop culture and rap music. More and more, the trappings of street life have landed popular rap artists behind bars - and not just for a music video shoot. What happens when a rapper who has everything suddenly has his freedom stripped away and is forced to deal with the harsh realities of prison? "Rhyme and Punishment" takes an in-depth look at the role of prison in hip hop culture, and reveals the side of the story that is not being covered by the news and popular media. The true and personal stories of hip hop artists who are, have been, or are soon to be incarcerated, in their own words. Featuring intimate and compelling interviews with convicted rappers Beanie Sigel, Prodigy, Cassidy, Project Pat, Immortal Technique, Slick Rick and many more. These artists who were at the top of their game when they got locked up explain the details of the crimes that led to their arrests, and document their struggles to deal with the shocking brutality of incarcerated life. What happens to the music when the expensive bling and celebrity status get traded for an orange jumpsuit and an inmate identification number? "Jailhouse Rap" explores the bitter journey from the streets to the studio to the cell block.
- DirectorAndy CapperStarsSnoop DoggDiploDr. DreHip-Hop artist Snoop Dogg changes his name to Snoop Lion, travels to Jamaica, immerses himself in Rastafarian culture, and produces his first reggae record.
- DirectorSonali AggarwalStarsPugs AtomzJared BallAfrika BambaataaThis documentary presents views from hip hop founders, contributors, and artists in an attempt to return its audience to the four principles: Peace, Love, Unity, and Having Fun.
- DirectorGerald BarclayStarsRalph McDanielsRemedy RollGano GrillsIn the summer of 1993, the Wu-Tang Clan emerged from the burroughs of New York City and took the hip-hop world by storm. Their legacy spanned over a decade, garnering fans worldwide and generating sales in excess of $50 million. This is their story.
- DirectorChristoffer SalzgeberStarsCappadonnaGhostface KillahThe GZAThe Wu-Tang Clan reunites with all 9 original members to perform and headline Chapter 11 of the Rock The Bells Festival in San Bernardino, CA on July 17, 2004, which featured Redman, Dilated Peoples, and more on the same bill.
- DirectorEckhart SchmidtStarsWu-Tang Clan
- DirectorPeter TorresStarsGameJadakissJeezyA behind the scenes look at the 'STOP SNITCHING' movement from the perspective of the hip hop community.
- DirectorMimi AdamsStarsBill AdlerKristin Grimmett
- DirectorJames BoltonStarsRuben BansiePledgure DuoshunZachary S. SmallsAdrift in a lush, nocturnal urban landscape, Nick is a post-modern urban hero asserting his anarchistic agenda on the endless maze of virgin exterior walls that comprise downtown Seattle and Portland. For writer/director Bolton's lonely "tagger" protagonist, the vast wall surfaces of deserted alleys and trainyards are at once a daunting symbol of capitalist oppression and a texturally rich, seamless tableau ripe for exploitation to amplify his artistic dialectic of anger and rebellion. His own virtually anonymous existence seemingly only secondary to the painted surfaces and "rupture the system" manifesto which more poignantly evidence his presence, Nick's prodigious solo graffiti output is interrupted by friendship with another young tagger. Their communication begins as less verbal than a kind of shared graphic tour de force; their enormous collaborative graffiti murals appear to emerge as the unmistakable offspring of their kindred spirit. But eventually their assumptions about one another are disproved as political, emotional and ethical issues arise which cause their relationship to dissolve into the background of urban detritus, and the artists themselves emerge only further atomized and alienated by the experience. Compelling themes, sensitive performances, and luscious visuals define this film which is a revealing immersion into the experiential reality of those daring to make their art in a socially condemned arena. For a film ostensibly focusing on manipulated surfaces, Bolton's cinematic artistry probes deep into the consciousness of the "tagger" and "graffiti artist" sub-culture.
- DirectorClark SanteeStarsPowerful PexsterShannonJam Master JayHip-hop based series that was intended as an ongoing series. The show only received one pilot episode. Features Run-D.M.C., Shannon, The New York City Breakers, DJ Jimmie Jazz, Kool Moe Dee and Special K of the Treacherous Three.
- DirectorDick FontaineStarsMuhammad AliAlmighty K.G.Arthur Baker
- DirectorMark FordStarsAlex AlonsoBart BartholomewCharlie BeckRevisits the riots in gripping detail and draws from a diverse collection of voices - the rappers, rioters, victims, police officers, journalists and everyday citizens of South Central Los Angeles.
- DirectorAdam Bhala LoughStarsBirdmanCortez BryantReginae CarterAn in-depth look at the artist Dwayne LIL' WAYNE Carter Jr, proclaimed by many as the "greatest rapper alive" With comprehensive and personal interviews with Lil' Wayne, this film will also feature insight from those that know him best. The world will finally get to know the history surrounding one of the most prolific artists of this generation.
- StarsChuck DFlavor FlavTerminator XCheck out and follow Public Enemy on their very first tour in the UK, 1987. PE stepped into this world with plenty to say. Featuring vintage interviews and footage, plus the live performance from the legendary concert at the Hammersmith Odeon, immortalized on the legendary album "It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back"!
- DirectorPeter SpirerStarsB-RealKurtis BlowDa BratA study in the world of hip-hop, done mostly with interviews, in order to see why it is as popular as it is today and what the future holds.
- DirectorBram van SplunterenStarsBill AdlerDennis BellVito BrunoIn 1986 a dutch television network, VPRO, aired this raw documentary about New York and its young and fresh HipHop scene. Interviewer Marcel Vanthilt went to the big apple to meet the pioneers of hip hop.
- DirectorAva DuVernayStars2MexChali 2naCut ChemistA feature-length documentary that chronicles "The Good Life" emcees, the alternative music movement they developed, and their worldwide influence on the art form.
- DirectorKlaus SchneyderIt was in the late 70s that a youth culture evolved in the poorer parts of New York which combined several disciplines under the name of Hip Hop. Apart from the four classic elements of Graffiti writing, DJing, Breakdancing, and Rapping, the musical side of this culture was enhanced by a fifth element called Beatboxing. From the hardship of poverty and the lack of instruments, a pioneer was inspired to imitate drum rhythms with his mouth his brilliance creating the term Human Beatbox. Very soon other Hip Hop artists picked up his style and added this technique of music making to their own shows, but at that time beatboxing never left the realm of Hip Hop culture. At the end of the 80s the first big wave of beatboxing was over and beatboxing only existed in an underground scene. It took until the late 90s that the art of Human Beatboxing was explosively revived. At that time the Internet had emerged and offered new ways of communication for young artists. All of a sudden beatboxers from all over the world were given the opportunity to connect and share their knowledge on websites through videos and online tutorials. Since then Human Beatboxing has become a global phenomenon, which is organized and celebrated in the annual Beatbox Conventions and through Beatbox Competitions, that are being held in an increasing number of countries every year. The documentary aims at providing a full picture of this incredible art form starting with its genesis within Hip Hop Culture and continuing with its further developments and its use in various musical fields in several countries throughout the world. The documentary features artists from New York, California, Florida, Spain, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Belgium, Canada, Austria and Germany, who demonstrate their amazing techniques, which often seem impossible to audiences at first sight, but see for yourselves
- DirectorShauna GarrStarsAkonTwink CaplanShauna GarrThe filmmaker finds her friend, a once successful rap producer, living under a tree in Hollywood cleaning a crack pipe; from there the two try everything, including a reality show, to kick his habit.
- DirectorJames HaleStarsBill AdlerChuck DFlavor FlavFascinating documentary about the history and legacy of the rap group "Public Enemy".
- DirectorDamian ZellousStarsBad AzzBig Pimpin'Tray DeeeThe ups and downs experienced by the West Coast's Dogg Pound Gangstas have been legion, and this documentary seeks to set the record straight, tracing the evolution of the beefs, reunions, and lasting relationships over the years. Documentarian Damian Zellous reveals accusations that Dre stole some of his tracks, Snoop Dogg expounds on Suge Knight, his tumultuous relationship with Tupac, and Kurupt, among other things, as well as appearing in a live performance. Kurup's decision to re-join Death Row Records is a point of contention and a bone which all the members pick.
- DirectorHenry CorraStarsSal AbbatielloAfrika BambaataaWayne BarrettNew York City, 1977 - It was a time when the city had fallen into decay, with too few jobs, money, police, schools, and social services. There was a city wide blackout with major looting, a serial killer on the loose, and the Bronx was burning. And yet out of the chaos emerged one of the most creative times any city has ever encountered. Executive Produced by Academy Award Nominee Nanette Burstein ("The Kid Stays in the Picture"), "NY77: The Coolest Year In Hell" is a two-hour documentary that tells the story of one astonishing year in New York City history. Premiering Saturday, August 11 at 9PM*, the documentary is told chronologically and weaves together the stories of the emergence of hip hop, punk and disco, graffiti art, and sexual liberation. In the background are the major political events and social issues of the day -- crime, urban decay, financial woes, the infamous blackout, drugs, Son of Sam, the bitter mayoral election and the overall poverty that gripped the city. Out of chaos came creation. From the South Bronx came hip hop. From the Lower East Side, the thrashing guitars of punk. And all over the city, a disco revolution was underway. Elaborate, finely crafted graffiti art decorated the subway cars and break-dancers shimmied in the streets. The sexual revolution was in full swing. In January 1977, most of this activity existed in its own underground bubble. Yet by the end of the year this artistic expression was on its way to mainstream America, and would be with us for generations to come. The documentary uses groundbreaking animation to help tell the story, and features interviews with those who lived it, including Ed Koch, Geraldo Rivera, Jimmy Breslin, Gloria Gaynor, Afrika Bambaataa, Chris Stein (Blondie), Richard Hell, KRS-One, Grandmaster Caz, DJ Disco Wiz, Legs McNeil, Annie Sprinkle, Al Goldstein, Tommy Ramone, Jellybean Benitez, Lee Quinones, and many more. The Emmy Nominated "NY77: The Coolest Year In Hell" is the newest film in the VH1 Rock Doc franchise. VH1 Rock Docs are high-end feature-length documentaries that each reveal an untold story in the history of rock and hip-hop music, combining never-before-seen footage with a unique and unconventional narrative approach. The documentaries tell some of the most unique stories of artists and music from a wide range of genres, styles, and musical perspectives.
- DirectorGary WeisStarsLouis GiganteDepicts the daily life of gangs within the context of the South Bronx. Deals primarily with two African American and Puerto Rican gangs known as the "Savage Skulls" and the "Savage Nomads".