Hip Hop Cinema

Born in the ghetto and expanded upon on every main stage that the world has to offer. Hip Hop has done a great job at being versatile since it was first conceived 50 years ago. Hip Hop’s versatility has been so impactful that it has managed to conquer the main stage of cinema just as much as it has music. Hip Hop’s presence in film has been undeniably remarkable. Since the 80’s rappers have made huge splashes in the world of film as actors, writers, directors and even producers. As entrepreneurs who have conquered the film world, Hip Hop artist have also been able to start their own film production companies and garner award recognition given by even the Oscars. Here are some of the biggest films inspired by Hip Hop:

Krush Groove (1985).

In 1985 Ralph Farquhar and Michael Shultz came up with an idea to craft a Hip Hop inspired film that was loosely based on the rise to prominence of one of Hip Hop’s earliest and most impactful record labels to date, Def Jam Records. The film stars Blair Underwood in the title role as Russell Walker who is based on Def Jam Records founding father, Russell Simmons. In the film’s plot Walker works to build up his record label titled Krush Groove, which is of course based off Def Jam Records. The film features many of Hip Hop’s greatest acts who were starting off at the time including: Run-DMC, Kurtis Blow, LL-Cool J, The Beastie Boys and The Fat Boys. The film was a success and is highly regarded for its light of notoriety that it shined on the then growing new world of Hip Hop.

Boys N The Hood (1991).

In 1990 an aspiring filmmaker from Los Angeles, California named John Singleton came up with an idea to craft a film that chronicled life living in turbulent backdrop of inner city Los Angeles titled Boyz N The Hood. The very title of the film was inspired by the song of the same name written by one of the film’s main stars, Ice Cube. The film is influenced by all the issues that Ice Cube rapped about when he was in the notorious Hip Hop powerhouse group N.W.A. John Singleton actually wanted all the members of NWA to be part of the fil, but Ice Cube was the only one who took the idea seriously and he and his former band mates were at odds with each other at the time as well. Boyz N The Hood was released in 1991 and became a landmark film of cinema due to its real life messaging and strike of emotion. The film was so successful that it garnered two Oscar nominations for Best Director, which made John Singleton the youngest director in history to be nominated for the award and Best Original Screenplay.

New Jack City (1991).

Along with Boyz N The Hood, New Jack City is one of Hip Hop’s most important films when talking about films with a relevant message. Starring gangster rap pioneer Ice-T, Wesley Snipes and Judd Nelson, New Jack City tells the story of two cops, Scotty Appleton and Nick Perretti on their quest to take down the crack-fueled drug empire of crime kingpin, Nino Brown. The film was directed by Mario Van Peebles, who also co-stars in the film and the movie is inspired by a true story. The film is set in the backdrop of the real life crack-epidemic of the 80’s and the 90’s and features Hip Hop artist who commentated on the conditions of the inner city caused by the epidemic including Ice-T and Flavor Flav of the social political powerhouse Hip Hop group Public Enemy.

Who’s The Man (1993).

Who would’ve guessed in 1993 that Hip Hop was capable of creating a buddy cop comedy? Apparently Hip Hop media personalities Ed Lover and Doctor Dre did. Who’s The Man tells the lovable and comedic story of Yo Mtv Raps host Ed Lover and Doctor Dre playing fictional versions of themselves as barbers who later become police officers on a quest to solve the murder of their former boss and best friend. The film features countless cameos from so many Hip Hop artist including: Ice-T, KRS-One, Kool-G Rap, B-Real of Cypress Hill, Salt N Pepa, Flavor Flav, Heavy-D, Run-DMC, Kris’s Kross, Busta Rhymes and Queen Latifah among many others. In a way the film parallels the very real lives of Ed Lover and Doctor Dre as the host of Yo MTV Raps because just like in the film, Ed and Dre sat down with these countless artist on a regular basis every week at the frontline of Hip Hop’s earliest media.

So many great Hip Hop inspired films have made an impressionable impact on film. Part 2 of the examination of this impact coming soon.