Advertisement

Review

A star rating of 4 out of 5.

Hip-hop has become one of the dominant currents in global pop music, but this feature-length music documentary argues that the pioneers of the form have received too little recognition. Here we see its roots in the late 1960s era of Black Power, and the ferociously political declamations of The Last Poets over simple hand-drum accompaniments. Indeed, the film's title comes from a legendary "lost" album by one of their members - Jalal Nuruddin - who recorded the vivid spoken-word street-life saga Hustlers Convention over a blaxploitation funk groove in 1973. Subsequent rights issues were to restrict its commercial availability, but it has seeped through the underground to influence later generations from Melle Mel to Public Enemy's Chuck D, who appear among an impressive array of key rap artist interviewees. The film does a major service in highlighting Nuruddin's achievements, and hearteningly shows him still performing today, greyer, somewhat embittered, but continuing to preach a relevant message of self-empowerment.

How to watch

Loading

Credits

Cast

rolename
Jalal NuriddinJalal Nuriddin
Amiri BarakaAmiri Baraka
Ice-TIce-T
Melle MelMelle Mel
KRS-OneKRS-One
MC LyteMC Lyte
Chuck DChuck D

Crew

rolename
DirectorMike Todd

Details

Theatrical distributor
Kaleidoscope Entertainment
Released on
2015-06-26
Languages
English
Guidance
Swearing, drug abuse.
Formats
Colour
Advertisement
Advertisement

RadioTimes.com is getting better.

Fresh new look, redesigned programme hub, richer content…

FIND OUT MORE
Advertisement