Raekwon Movies
For anyone who has dropped thousands on bling without giving so much as a second though as to where their flashy jewelry came from, the Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon, Paul Wall, and Tego Calderon take a trip to war-torn Sierra Leone to learn the true cost of materialistic excess. In the 1980s diamond jewelry became a stable of hip-hop culture, eventually evolving into a billion dollar industry. But what of the endless suffering endured by the miners, amputees, and child soldiers who have given life and limb for the "blood diamonds" that shimmer so lustrously under the brilliant lights which illuminate the stage? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2007
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Hip hop fans know just what a remarkable impact the late Notorious B.I.G. had on the world of modern music, and in this documentary filmmakers come closer to uncovering the man behind the myth than ever before. His loose, silky smooth flow and unique rhyme style made him stand well apart from the pack, yet despite his success Notorious B.I.G. would eventually become an unfortunate victim of the violent East Coast-West Coast hip-hop feud. With seldom seen home video footage, newly-released interview captured shortly before his death, footage of the crime scene, and recollections from such close friends and collaborators as Easy Mo Bee, Raekwon, Ditty, and Method Man, this comprehensive portrait of a hip hop superstar will have fans dusting off their old copies of Life After Death for another, nostalgic listen. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Two rival drug dealers are forced to forge an unlikely alliance in order to keep the streets from erupting into a deadly bloodbath. The daughter of a prominent judge has died after consuming tainted ecstasy at a New Year's Eve party, and now a political battle is sweeping through the streets. Now, in order to avoid being sent to prison or worse, two of the city's biggest dealers strike an unusual deal with the most powerful supplier around. Given the choice between scouring the streets to find the tainted batch or taking the fall to become the scapegoat, these two sworn enemies will face off against rival street gangs and cold-blooded assassins in order to clear their names and stay on top of the game. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Wright, Raekwon, (more)
- 2006
All Access DVD Magazine: Street Credibility features tips on how some of the young rappers on the rise in New York establish their street cred, and use it to build their career. Interview subjects include Raekwon and Lil E. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
The documentary Just for Kicks explains how important shoes are in hip-hop culture. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tommy Rebel, Grandmaster Caz, (more)
The Art of 16 Bars features interviews with major hip-hop stars that involve them discussing how they rose to prominence. Among the artists who offer their insights are 50 Cent, Nas, Kanye West, Russell Simmons, and The RZA. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- 2004
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The concert film Wu-Tang Clan: Disciples of the 36 Chambers features nine members of the hip-hop collective performing nearly three-dozen tracks including "C.R.E.A.M.," "Bring the Pain," "M.E.T.H.O.D. Man," and "Gravel Pit." This concert marked one of the last public appearances of controversial member O.D.B. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Bear witness to the systematic shakedown of New York City's lucrative construction business by non-union, minority laborers and see just how both sides of the law scramble to stay one step ahead of the game in director Joseph Ariola's tense look at the controversial SBM (Survival of the Black Man) coalition. Based on actual police accounts of officers who attempted to infiltrate corrupt coalition workers and co-written by retired New York City Police Detective Robert Cea, this gripping crime drama offers an unprecedented look at the mob heavies who carry-out backroom deals, the unions who struggle against impending layoffs, and the one desperate soul who is caught directly in the middle of all the dirty dealings. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Raekwon, Michael Wright, (more)
Documentary filmmaker Thomas Gibson directed this investigation into the rise of the Republican right wing in America, and how this has impacted the African-American community. Letter to the President explores the different way in which the policies Reagan and Bush administrations have damaged the lives of black youth, from the government-approved distribution of crack cocaine in inner-city neighborhoods to economic policies that have widened the divide between the rich and the poor. Gibson's film also parallels this phenomenon with the rise of rap and hip-hop music, and how these styles have provided a voice for disenfranchised youth. Letter to the President includes interviews with KRS-One, 50 Cent, Damon Dash, Ghostface Killah, Dick Gregory, Amiri Baraka, and many more; Snoop Dogg narrates. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
While star Anna Faris returns for the third film in the Scary Movie series, the power behind the camera has shifted from the Wayans brothers to one of the Zucker brothers. The Zucker in question is David Zucker, and he's brought along his partner in movie-parody crime, Leslie Nielsen. This time around, aim is taken at such horror blockbusters as Signs and The Ring, while films of other genres, including Independence Day, 8 Mile, and The Matrix, are also lampooned. The plot finds Cindy (Faris) trying to help the president (Nielsen) thwart an alien attack while also facing crop circles and a mysterious video tape. In the spirit of the two Matrix sequels, Scary Movie 3 was shot back-to-back with Scary Movie 4. Queen Latifah, Charlie Sheen, and Eddie Griffin also star. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Anna Faris, Anthony Anderson, (more)
Hip-Hop VIPs contains performances and interviews with 19 hip-hop artists. Filmed entirely in New York City, this video includes interviews with Dr. Dre, Ja Rule, Method Man, and a little-seen segment with Aaliyah. Others featured include Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, and Eve. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
The inner workings of the New York hip-hop scene, and the fascination of white observers with rap music and hip-hop culture, set the stage for this drama written and directed by James Toback. Rich Bower (Power) is a mover and shaker in the world of rap music (he's involved with a number of other licit and illicit business ventures as well), and his apartment is a favored meeting place for musicians, hangers-on, and hipsters who want to seem cool, including a clique of white kids who want to be on the inside of whey they consider the coolest scene of the day. Sam (Brooke Shields), a filmmaker, is making a documentary about Rich and his circle, with the help of her husband Terry (Robert Downey Jr.), a closeted homosexual who doesn't feel at home in this milieu. Dean (Allan Houston) is a talented college basketball player and Rich's friend since childhood who is offered a deal by a bookmaker, Mark (Ben Stiller) to throw a few games for a price. Dean takes the money against his better judgment, and he soon realizes how much of a mistake he made when Mark turns out to be a cop hoping to dig up dirt on Rich. Rich in turn discovers that Dean might be forced to tell what he knows to stay out of jail, and he decides that Dean has to be killed; however, rather than murder his friend himself, Rich asks one of the white kids who hangs out with him, who seems especially eager to prove himself, to do it for him. The kid, however, is actually the son of the District Attorney. Also contributing to Black and White's supporting cast are controversial boxing legend Mike Tyson, musician Bijou Phillips, Wu Tang Clan rapper Raekwon, model Claudia Schiffer, and Donald Trump's former spouse Marla Maples. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Scott Caan, Robert Downey, Jr., (more)
