Stan Lathan Movies

This documentary profiles urban poet Lemon Andersen, whose phenomenal writing ability came only after a rough childhood spent amidst a drug and poverty epidemic a Puerto Rican neighborhood of Brooklyn. The film features music by artists like "Kanye West", "Talib Kweli", and others. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

This documentary examines the hip-hop record industry through the eyes of contemporary hip-hop artists such as Big Boi, Andre 3000, Kanye West and many more. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

Season four of the improvisational, uninhibited HBO series Def Poetry Jam offers a full ten half hours -- three more than any previous season. Accordingly, this batch of episodes features the series' biggest and most stellar talent lineup, performing their own angry, outrageous, profane, profound, and occasionally uproarious verse compositions. Among those introduced at New York's The Supper Club by host Mos Def are Oscar Brown Jr., Kim Fields, Ruby Dee, Doug E. Fresh, and Mike Epps, not to mention such Def Poetry Jam "regulars" as Bassey Ikpi, Lemon, Georgia Me, Mayda Del Valle, muMs, Ishle Park, and Flowmentalz. Oh, and did we mention Rives, MC Lyte, KRS-One, Floetry, Flaco Navaja, Laura "Piece" Kelly, Triple Black, Jus Cus, Faraji Salim, Dead Prez, Kendra Urdang, Red Storm, Beau Sia, Speech, and on into the night.... ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Produced in association with the publishers of F.E.D.S. Magazine, a streetwise journal that prints the bitter truth about crime and gang life in urban America, this documentary examines how the magazine came to be, as well as presenting onscreen versions of some of the most powerful stories from F.E.D.S. F.E.D.S. features segments on the origins of Los Angeles' most feared street gangs, the Bloods and the Crips; a visit with notorious hustler and street basketball legend Pee Wee Kirkland; the truth about pit bulls, in which we see how the animals are bred, raised, and trained to fight in underground competitions; and a trip to Kingston, Jamaica, to investigate the island's most feared criminal gang, the Jamaican Shottas. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Russell Simmons' HBO series Def Comedy Jam was one of the first nationwide showcases for African-American comedians, who could perform raw, streetwise material without censorship or interference; many of the show's guests have gone on to become some of the best known comic talents in America today, and this home video collects more highlights from the show's history. Def Comedy Jam: More All Stars, Vol. 2 features side-splitting material from Martin Lawrence, Steve Harvey, Don "D.C." Curry, Mo'Nique, Tommy Chunn, and more. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Roly-poly comedian Cedric the Entertainer was host and principal instigator of this weekly, half-hour variety series. Combining the best elements of The Jackie Gleason Show and In Living Color, the series offered brash, cutting-edge comedy sketches with a full complement of recurring characters, among them the Love Doctor, Mrs. Cafeteria Lady, and heat-sensitive golf commentator Raj. One of the series' early highlights was the Mexican soap-opera spoof "Que Hora Es?," designed for people who never got past third-year Spanish (in one sketch, two Latino lovers pitched woo at one another by counting to ten in their native tongue). Joining in the general hilarity were regulars Amy Brassette, Shaun Majumber, and Wendy Raquel Robinson. Telecast in tandem with the Fox Network sitcom The Bernie Mac Show, Cedric the Entertainer Presents debuted September 18, 2002. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

The inaugural season of Russell Simmons' raw and uninhibited Def Poetry Jam consisted of four half-hour telecasts, originally presented live at The Supper Club in New York. With rapper Mos Def serving as host, the series offers an impressive array of improvisational ethnic poetry, running a gamut from tense and poignant to loud, obscene, and hilarious. Artists represented in this quartet of episodes include singer Jewel, comedians Cedric the Entertainer and Dave Chappelle, and such brilliant performance artists (individually or in groups) as Last Poets, Suheir Hammad, Sarah Jones, Yellow Rage, Danny Hoch, Black Ice, Sarah Jones, Beau Sia, muMs, Poetri, Nikki Giovanni, Steve Colman, and Amiri Baraka. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Some of the hottest young comics got their first big break on the stage of Def Comedy Jam. Freed from the shackles of prime time TV, these comedians used the late night forum to strut their stuff and make the jump from comedy clubs to television and movies. Two of the names featured here are Joe Torry and DJ Robo. ~ Rob Ferrier, Rovi

Martin Lawrence is your host for this collection of highlights from HBO's high-rated urban comedy showcase Def Comedy Jam. Former Saturday Night Live regular Ellen Cleghorne highlights this program of outrageous, uncensored standup comedy. Other guests include William Stevenson, Aries Spears, and Arnez J. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Host Vanessa Williams takes audiences on a tour through decades of African-American music and dance -- and explores their influences on the film industry. This made-for-TV special, which includes a historical retrospective of a number of American movies, features interviews with such luminaries as Quincy Jones, Ice-T, Spike Lee, and Russell Simmons. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi

HBO's series Def Comedy Jam provided a showcase for some of the best and brightest new performers on the urban comedy scene, and this home video presents highlights from the show, with Tracy Morgan, Bill Bellamy, and host Martin Lawrence presenting cutting edge comedy that's definitely too rough for prime time. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi