We had the gift of Hip Hop which collectively described the DJs, MCs, Break dancers and Graffiti artists thrust into our lives in the mid 70's by a bunch of creative and inspired adults and kids from the inner cities of New York City. Now three and a half decades into Hip Hop's existence there have been many DJs and MCs come and go, so many styles born and stories told from not just the east coast of America but worldwide.
Ice-T, a founding member of the Hip Hop movement now turned actor, takes the directorial seat in what can be referred to as a homage to the pioneers of a cultural ideology and past time that grew and became commercially the biggest music genre of modern times.
Scenes of MC greats such as Rakim, KRS-1, Nas and Eminem, to mention just a few, reminiscing on what made them start writing their rhymes plus their views on the cultures progression are what this film manages to convey pretty well.
There are also moments of genius that occur when the artists are asked questions about their favourite reciteable rhymes, from other MCs who have influenced them. These are met with nostalgic laughs and gesture heavy raps, often done in the original MC's voice tone, emphasising the passion for a well written verse that these classic raps can still stir up. Narration over the movie's interwoven scenic shots and locations is provided by Ice-T himself who also conducts all of the interviews the film.
The shortcoming of this experiment in trying to bring a deserved attention to the humble beginnings of Hip Hop culture and the art of rap is that at times it comes off looking and sounding a little bit like an old boys club reunion; backward looking and, harshly, irrelevant to a newer generation to whom these icons are simply music their parents liked. Patronage from and acquiescence to our favourite rapper is as evident as there are differences in the regional rap styles present in Hip Hop today. While I can't deny the importance of this documentary it's relevance to those who are carrying the torch for the art might be hindered in that it almost wags a disparaging finger at them.
The newer generation of Hip Hop tend to be referred to by rap elders as dull, materialistic and lacking in the ethics that made the Hip Hop songs of their era so memorable to this day. While there are many relevant points made about the corrupting effects of commercialism on what started out as a joyously simply sound track to a party, mixing turntable skills and slick poetry, there is no real evidence presented to show that todays artists place in the evolution of rapping has contributed to the legacy. This indifference to the future of the music will certainly be a divisive point to younger viewers and may dam the documentary to simply being seen as an exercise in cosy and narrow minded nostalgia.
While there are so many ways to express oneself with poetry over rhythms there are only so many ways that a documentary of this nature can concisely convey the diversity present in this form of expression that accurately represents all manner of rap artist. Constraints of time mean we are missing some popular names from the role of honour interviewed. All you have to do is wonder what happened to the opinions and experiences of the likes of The Sugar Hill Gang, Stetsasonic, Kid N Play, Mr. Scarface, Queen Latifah, Busta Rhymes, Black Thought (The Roots) and the list can go on forever. Also certain MC s featured only provide reminiscences without a rap and vice versa. Hopefully there are some extra interviews and raps as DVD extras!
To sum up you are certainly left with an appreciation of the featured living rap legends and their legacies by the time you get to the final words which bring the show to a close from our beloved Cop Killer. We are simply reminded of the love that we'd forgotten we had for what seemed like a handful of MCs and DJs on a couple of now world renowned record labels. Ultimately it is a subjective personal tribute from Ice-T on our behalf to these 1st and 2nd generation Hip Hop men and women. Something from Nothing; is precise and there is probably a more poetic phrase tucked away somewhere that better sums up the phenomenon now known to the world as rapping. The chosen one will do as it is seeks to make a point without pretence and it does so, it could also do some more on the subject and it won't surprise if another installment follows soon and a franchise is born!
"Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap" > read the full post
