“Rap to me is a modern blues – a statement of how and where people are at.
[…] I think art is a reflection of our society,
and people don’t like to confront the realities in society.”
–
Stevie Wonder
Throughout its history, hip-hop has represented a radical form of self-expression that has not only served as a creative outlet and popular form of entertainment for millions of people around the world, but has also played a unique role in bringing social issues to the forefront of public consciousness and debate.
In some cases, it has been the artists’ personal stories and activism that have forced mainstream society to confront political, economic and social realities that have otherwise often been ignored, neglected or overlooked. In other cases, it has been the actions and attitudes of the artists themselves that have reflected pervasive social issues and which have led to increased public debate.
One way or another, hip-hop has consistently managed to draw people’s attention, which together with its profound impact on music, fashion, language, politics and more has made it one of the most significant cultural movements of our time.
1) Hip-Hop Evolution (2016)
Hip-Hop Evolution explores the history of hip-hop music and culture from its early beginnings in New York to its eventual expansion across the United States. Over the course of 16 episodes, the award-winning series introduces the most important names and events in the history of hip-hop and covers the emergence of different regional scenes and musical subgenres, using extensive archival footage and exclusive interviews with some of hip-hop’s most influential artists, producers and record executives.
2) Style Wars (1983)
Released in 1983, Style Wars is a classic documentary that captures the early years of the New York graffiti scene in the 1970s and 80s and the controversy caused by the young graffiti writers who ventured out to cover New York in spray paint and marker pen in an attempt to make a name for themselves. Featuring extensive footage of New York’s streets, trains and underground as well as interviews with artists, parents, politicians and art critics, Style Wars is a portrait of a bygone era that left behind an iconic legacy.
3) The Freshest Kids (2002)
The Freshest Kids tells the story of breakdancing and its cultural relevance as a competitive and positive form of self-expression. Through interviews with some of the scene’s most influential b-boys, the film explores the origin of breakdancing, the different terms and definitions used to describe it and some of the most important moves that have shaped its style over the years. In addition, the film covers how breakers went from performing on cardboard and concrete to battling in nightclubs and art centers and how films, TV shows and news media turned a local fad of 70s youth culture into a global phenomenon.
4) Just for Kicks (2005)
Hip-hop music as a genre is inseparable from its fashion culture. While early hip-hop acts still tried to match the glamorous style of popular 70s funk bands like Parliament-Funkadelic, groups like Run-DMC chose to embrace a more authentic and relatable look of casual streetwear that soon turned into a common staple of global youth culture and made hip-hop fashion a billion dollar industry. Among the various elements of this look, none has achieved greater importance than the sneaker, which, under hip-hop’s influence, has gone from simple sports footwear to a status symbol, designer product and collectible.
5) Scratch (2001)
DJs are not only responsible for the creation of hip-hop, but also invented one of its signature acoustic elements: scratching. In Scratch, some of hip-hop’s greatest and most influential DJs talk about the history and changing role of the DJ, the techniques used by turntablists to experiment with music and create new sounds, and the development of these techniques over time. The documentary also explores the world of DJ competitions and how competitive turntablism continues to spur constant innovation among DJs in an attempt to improve their skill sets and routines.
6) Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme (2000)
While many of hip-hop’s greatest artists are renowned and celebrated for their ability to write meaningful or complex lyrics, the ability to freestyle and to invent intricate lyrics on the spot is an art unto itself. In Freestyle – The Art of Rhyme, the filmmakers explore the cultural influences and origins of freestyle rap and interview experienced freestyle artists about its creative appeal and the mindset and practice required in order to be able to improvise lyrics that connect with listeners and sometimes sound as sophisticated and polished as if they were written.
7) Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap (2012)
In Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap, hip-hop pioneer Ice-T interviews some of hip-hop’s greatest and most prolific lyricists about their writing process and the songs and emcees that first inspired them to pick up the pen. Featuring interviews with hip-hop legends such as KRS-One, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Chuck D, Q-Tip, Ice Cube, Nas, Eminem, Mos Def, and more, the film provides an in-depth look into the various layers of lyrical construction and delivery and the work required to become one of hip-hop’s greatest wordsmiths.
8) My Mic Sounds Nice: A Truth About Women and Hip Hop (2010)
Directed by Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Ava DuVernay, My Mic Sounds Nice: A Truth About Women and Hip Hop examines the role of female artists in hip-hop, from the more egalitarian circumstances of the first community events, to the more restrictive environment of the hip-hop industry and the heydays of the 90s era. Featuring interviews with rappers like MC Lyte, Roxanne Shante, Salt-N-Pepa, Jean Grae, Trina, Eve and many more, the film explores the motivations and struggles of female emcees, their different styles and personalities, and the iconic legacies of artists such as Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill.
9) Beef (2003)
In addition to self-expression and entertainment, competition has always been a central element of hip-hop culture, whether in the form of breakdance contests, rap battles or the question of who can win over the crowd at a show. In some cases, however, rivalries between hip-hop artists have turned into all-out feuds which, at their worst, have led to violence and claimed the lives of those involved. Beef chronicles some of hip-hop’s most significant feuds and examines their origins, outcomes and aftermath.
10) Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes (2006)
For all of hip-hop’s artistic merits and cultural impact, it’s undeniable that some of its artists and their music have been notorious for their association with violence, misogyny and homophobia. In Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, activist and filmmaker Byron Hurt examines the social, political and economic roots of these issues and their particular relation to harmful, unhealthy and limiting conceptions of masculinity in both hip-hop culture and society at large. Through interviews with scholars, artists, activists and community leaders, the documentary explores the effects of these issues on people’s lives and the changes required to overcome them.