HipHop Movies
NOT a random list of movies HipHop artists happened to star in, or movies that have nothing to do with Hiphop beyond their soundtrack. Specifically, these are movies where HipHop culture (4 elements) plays a major part of the plot or prominent subplot, though sometimes it's a judgement call. Good bad and ugly I also included HipHop musicals.
NOTE: not saying all these movies are good, or even a good representation of the culture necessarily. Some are downright terrible and exploit the culture to be honest, but they all fit the subject matter to qualify.
I left out documentaries, that's a whole other list, found richtchere - http://www.imdb.1eye.us/list/ls075334111/
NOTE: not saying all these movies are good, or even a good representation of the culture necessarily. Some are downright terrible and exploit the culture to be honest, but they all fit the subject matter to qualify.
I left out documentaries, that's a whole other list, found richtchere - http://www.imdb.1eye.us/list/ls075334111/
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- DirectorCharlie AhearnStarsLee QuiñonesLady PinkFab 5 FreddySouth Bronx graffiti artist Zoro is commissioned to paint a backdrop for a hip-hop concert.The HipHop movie that started it all. This is NOT a documentary despite what it says on IMDB, although it does document HipHop at the time quite lovely.
- 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.Sort of a glamorized version of Wild Style in how it was produced, I've heard at least a few 'purists' denounce it. Still a classic though, with many great cameos and HipHop moments. Melle Mel title track comes to mind, as does the Treacherous 3 featuring Doug E Fresh Santa's Rap.
- DirectorJoel SilbergStarsLucinda DickeyAdolfo QuinonesMichael ChambersA struggling young jazz dancer meets up with two break-dancers. Together they become the sensation of the street crowds.Pretty terrible movie really, but it does have a few cool BBoy moments with Shabba-Doo and Boogaloo Shrimp. Early document of West Coast HipHop, lots of popping and locking, plus a young Ice-T thrown in there for good measure.
- DirectorSam FirstenbergStarsLucinda DickeyAdolfo QuinonesMichael ChambersA developer tries to bulldoze a community recreation center. The local breakdancers try to stop it.Worse than the first one, but I will always give it credit for the 'electric boogaloo' title, that still pleases me to this day.
- DirectorMarcelo EpsteinStarsLorenzo LamasVicki FrederickCameron DyeChilly is just a guy from the streets with a talent for break-dancing. When his wicked moves catch the eye of an industry pro, Chilly finds his dreams of fame and fortune coming true, for better or for worse.Another old school BBoy movie, though lesser known, along the lines of Breakin' and Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo, not good or noteworthy beyond the mid 80's era release. Pretty sure I caught it on TV once way the hell back, but not positive to be honest.
- DirectorMichael SchultzStarsSheila E.Joseph SimmonsDarryl McDanielsThe story of a man who has started a new hip-hop/rap label called Krush Groove.Loosely based on Russell Simmons and the rise of Def Jam records. Part comedy part drama with some musical elements. Has a strong hint of cheese factor, but with all the HipHop artists in there it's still a classic.
- DirectorJoel SilbergStarsMario Van PeeblesEriq La SalleMelvin PlowdenAn ex-con and break-dancer helps save a neighborhood from a greedy developer while trying to win a rap contest.Still haven't seen it to this day, not sure how it passed me by to be honest. While I prefer to form my own opinion I have heard nothing but negative things about this one on all sides.
- DirectorDominic OrlandoStarsLeon Isaac KennedyNicholas CampbellJohn MengattiA street gang that is also a rap group tries to get a record contract.Starring the Fat Boys and Kurtis Blow, this sounds like a cross between the Warriors and Krush Groove and that's all I need to say.
- 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!Half action comedy, though I'm not so sure the comedy was intentional, sort of HipHop version of Blues Brothers. Run DMC play a fictional version of themselves and Rick Ruben plays the music executive villain and it has some great cameos from other HipHop artists, most notably the Beastie Boys.
- DirectorMelvin Van PeeblesStarsMario Van PeeblesGlenn AthaideRick AvilesA rapper finds himself possessed by the soul of a dead fashion designer; frequently switching personalities.Another Mario Van Peebles HipHop movie from the 80's that I haven't seen. Now, I think Mario is a great filmmaker, but this, and Rappin' just look downright smelly. Maybe I'm wrong though. Luckily he came back hard with New Jack City.
- DirectorReginald HudlinStarsChristopher ReidRobin HarrisChristopher MartinKid decides to go to his friend Play's house party, but neither of them can predict what's in store for them on what could be the wildest night of their lives.This came out when I was 12 and I loved it. Probably seen it 20 or 30 times. While it was a watered down slightly more radio friendly version of the culture, it's still a classic for its time period, and went a long way to introduce HipHop to new demographics. Fun fact, before casting Kid N Play, it was originally written for DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince.
- DirectorGeorge JacksonDoug McHenryStarsChristopher ReidChristopher MartinMartin LawrenceWhen Kid's college money is stolen by a crooked music promoter, Play's solution is to stage the 'mutha' of all pajama parties. Starring Kid 'n Play and Martin Lawrence.Not as good as the first one, but not bad either. In addition to Kid N Play they got Queen Latifah in this one, plus an unusual and unexpected minor role from Kamron of Young Black Teenagers fame. Decent sequel.
- DirectorDavid KelloggStarsVanilla IceKristin MinterNaomi CampbellA rapper gets stuck in a small town and falls for a local girl whose family is in witness protection.Terrible, I don't even want to include this on the list to be honest, but technically it fits the bill, exploitative as it may be. I always hated 'best-movie-ever' and 'worst-movie-ever' comic book guy extremist types, but this truly was one of the worst movies I ever seen, easy, bottom 10 for sure. It also destroyed, or at least put a damper on, the career of Steven 'Michael Gross' Keaton.
- DirectorErnest R. DickersonStarsOmar EppsTupac ShakurJermaine HopkinsFour inner-city teenagers get caught up in the pursuit of power and happiness, which they refer to as "the juice".Aside from the DJ subplot, the story had very little to do with HipHop per se. However, the debut of Tupac as an actor, tons of cameos from other respected HipHoppers, a classic soundtrack including a BombSquad score, the NY location, and the DJ battle footage makes this a HipHop movie to its core.
- DirectorAnthony DrazanStarsMichael RapaportDeShonn CastleKevin CorriganA white, hip-hop loving teen falls in love with a black girl.Solid movie, underrated I'd say. More of a romance drama action type movie about interracial relationships than about HipHop. That said, it covers some early taboos about white people being into HipHop. Michael Rappaport has always tried to show his real life love for the culture, most notably with his ATCQ documentary, and his character here is a mixtape DJ. Also, I believe Half Time by Nas made its debut in this movie.
- 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.Loved this when it was new. It came out at a time when I was 15 and HipHop was the only thing I cared about. In retrospect, it was never a great movie, however still funny, still has its moments, was a clever commentary on the culture at the time and the soundtrack is still noteworthy. The parodies in particular.
- DirectorRusty CundieffStarsLarry B. ScottMark Christopher LawrenceRusty CundieffA mockumentary chronicling the rise and fall of NWH, a not particularly talented--or particularly bright but always controversial--hip-hop group.Was made around the same time as CB4 and has a similar concept. It's sort of like 'Spinal Tap meets a better version of CB4' but sadly never got the same credit due to its lower budget and mostly unknown cast. The soundtrack was all parodies and it was hilarious. Highly recommended.
- DirectorJohn SingletonStarsJanet JacksonTupac ShakurRegina KingGrieving hairdresser Justice goes on a road trip from South Central L.A. to Oakland on a mail truck alongside her friend and an obnoxious postal worker.More of a romance movie than anything else. Still, Tupac plays an aspiring HipHop artist in the subplot and it has noteworthy appearances from Q-Tip and Tone Loc.
- DirectorTed DemmeStarsEd LoverDoctor DréBadja DjolaThe two worst barbers in Harlem become cops while a real estate developer forces people out of Harlem.Story wise, this has very little to do with HipHop culture, it's a cop comedy. However, it has a who's who cast of HipHop cameos of the time unlike anything we seen on film before or since, even many of the extras with no dialog were played by HipHop legends, and the soundtrack speaks for itself.
- DirectorEric MezaStarsChristopher ReidChristopher MartinDavid EdwardsKid, after a lifetime 'playing the field', is about to get married. 'Play' plans to throw the best bachelor party ever - until 'Kid's' three wise-crackin' nephews come to town, intent on showing them what parties are all about.I know they kept making these after the 3rd one, but this will be the last House Party I include on this list. They just keep getting worse like the American Pie straight-to-DVD movies and I feel the need to draw a line somewhere. That said, even this third installment is a HUGE drop in quality from the first two on every level.
- DirectorMarc LevinStarsSaul WilliamsSonja SohnBonz MaloneGrand Jury Prize, 1998 Sundance Film Festival. A talented youth (Saul Williams) copes with urban crime and despair by competing in poetry slams. Sonja Sohn of "The Wire" costars.Loved this movie, highly underrated. Saul Williams is one of the greatest Slam poets of all time and really gets to display that here, some very memorable performances from him. Plus Bonz Malone is in it as well.
- DirectorWarren BeattyStarsWarren BeattyHalle BerryKimberly Deauna AdamsA suicidally disillusioned liberal politician puts a contract out on himself and takes the opportunity to be bluntly honest with his voters by affecting the rhythms and speech of hip-hop music and culture.While I think they meant well, this was a poorly done political comedy and a poor representation of HipHop. I kinda felt bad for Warren Beatty by the end of it to be honest, but again, I think his heart was probably in the right place. just misguided. It also introduced the world to that Ghetto Superstar song everybody hates so much.
- DirectorMarc LevinStarsDanny HochDash MihokMark WebberIn Flip's path towards "keeping it real" by becoming hip-hop star, harsh realities surface to shake up his world.If you're unfamiliar with Danny Hoch, he has a book, CD and one-man show all titled 'Jails, Hospitals & Hip Hop' I recommend all of it. One of the characters from his show - a white suburbanite wanna be gangsta rapper - is the basis for this movie, and it translates well into a film. As you can see from the poster art, it also features a solid cast of cameos from respected Hiphop artists.
- DirectorJames TobackStarsBen StillerAllan HoustonClaudia SchifferA group of white high school teens become involved with Harlem's black hip-hop crowd.Truth be told, I saw this in theaters when it first came out, but I can't remember a damn thing from it. I do remember it had a solid cast, but turned out to be a disappointing jumbled up mess of a movie. It did have some Wu-Tang members in it spitting rhymes, perhaps its one saving grace.
- DirectorSpike LeeStarsDamon WayansSavion GloverJada Pinkett SmithA frustrated African-American TV writer proposes a blackface minstrel show in protest, but to his chagrin, it becomes a hit.More a commentary on pop culture stereotypes on a TV platform than a music one, but with The Roots as the TV band, plus the Mau Maus HipHop crew, consisting of Mos Def, Canibus, MC Serch, etc, fits this movie on the list.