This 1993 comedy, written and starring Chris Rock is i think his funniest work, this movie is an hilarious parody of N.W.A's 'Straight Outta Compton' biopic, yes thats right, even though it came twenty-two year before, making it even more genius and innovative, plus Ice Cube and Eazy E of N.W.A make a cameo appearance as themselves. The movie is also a kind of rockumentery that follows the rise of CB4 (cell block 4) which is Chris Rocks characters group in this comedy that basically made fun of N.W.A through out the whole movie, CB4 even had their own version of the song 'Straight Outta Compton' and called it 'Straight Outta Locash', Locash being the city Albert (Chris Rock) and his group members/friends are from.
Gusto and Albert go head to head
This movie also stars Charlie Murphy (Eddie Murphy's older brother), as the bad guy, Gusto, who's identity got taken by Albert (Chris Rock), so he can live out his gangtsta rap super star fantasy, which proves costly when the real Gusto gets out of jail.
CB4
CB4 consists of three member Albert as M.C Gusto (Chris Rock), Euripedes as Dead Mike (Allen Payne) and Otis as Stab Master Arson (Deezer D).
Parody of 'Straight Outta Compton' from the movie.
Synopsis and trailer
After many failed attempts to establish themselves as rappers, Albert (Chris Rock), Euripedes (Allen Payne) and Otis (Deezer D) get their big break when nightclub owner Gusto (Charlie Murphy) is arrested. Albert assumes his name and criminal past, becoming MC Gusto, and the trio rises to fame by pretending to be recently released felons. As their fame increases, so do tensions within the group. When Gusto escapes from prison, he is furious at having his identity stolen and vows revenge.
Chris Rock talks about a possible CB4 sequel.
Directed by: Tamra Davis
Produced by: Nelson George Written by: Chris Rock, Nelson George, Robert LoCash Starring: Chris Rock, Allen Payne, Deezer D, Khandi Alexander, Phil Hartman, Chris Elliott, Charlie Murphy Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Released in the year 1999, this movie was well directed, edited and also inventive in its way of telling a story of a documentary within a movie which explores the growing facination that white kids have with the hip-hop culture scene, starring an array of talented and famous actors, actresses, musicians and sports personalities, the story follows a rapper called Rich, who's big on the hip-hop scene, other characters include a couple, Sam and Terry who are the documentary filmmakers, filming the teens as they share their fascination with black culture, Sam and Terry's life seamlesly interchanges well with the other characters in the movie, such as the character of Raven, one of the fascinated and rebelious teens being documented who is always ready to voice her opinion through out the movie. When i heard that 'Wu Tang Clan' was involved with this project i had to watch it since i'm a fan, and rightly so because it did not disappoint, the story line was captivating enough to keep me interested in the characters and whats going to happen with them. There was a scene in which Mike Tyson who plays himself as an altercation with the character Terry, played by Robert Downey, Jr., which i found rather funny, Ben stiller is also in this movie playing the role of a sleazy cop, even Brett Ratner, a great director of hip-hop music video's and blockbuster movies such as 'Xmen: The Last Stand', makes an appearance as himself. Apparantly whiles filming, most of the scenes were improvised, which works well for this type of movie, all the cast members did a great job but the character that really stood out for me was that of Raven, played by Gaby Hoffmann, she nailed it. i would definitely recommend this movie if you're a hip-hop fan or just someone who likes watching a good movie.
Synopsis and trailer
Rich Bower (Power) is an up-and-coming star in the hip-hop world. Everyone wants to be around him, including Raven (Gaby Hoffman) and her fellow upper-class white high school friends. The growing appeal of black culture among white teens fascinates documentary filmmaker Sam Donager (Brooke Shields), who sets out to chronicle it with her husband, Terry (Robert Downey Jr.). But before Bower was a rapper, he was a gangster, and his criminal past comes back to haunt him and all those around him.
Plot
(Spoiler alert)
Sam (Brooke Shields) and her husband Terry (Robert Downey, Jr.), make a documentary in which they follow a group of white teens, Raven (Gaby Hoffmann), Charlie (Bijou Phillips), Will (William Lee Scott), Marty (Eddie Kaye Thomas) and Wren (Elijah Wood), who are fascinated with the culture and so go out to mingle with the black hip-hop crowd. A rapper by the named of Rich ( Oli "Power" Grant) who is a mover and shaker in the hip-hop scene is the guy to be seen with and who's apartment is a favored hang out spot for the in-crowd, including the group of white teens. When Rich's friend Dean (Allan Houston, of the New York Knicks) who is a talented college basketball player, takes a bait to throw some games, he is left with a proposal from detective Mark Clear (Ben Stiller) to either give up his friend rich or go jail, Rich learns of this and in fear of Dean ratting him out for his criminal past, he asks one of the white kids that hang with him to do away with Dean.
Here's a music video from the all hip-hop soundtrack
Genre: Drama, Music, Crime Directed by: James Toback Produced by: Daniel Bigel, Michael Mailer, Ron Rotholz Written by: James Toback Starring: Robert Downey, Jr., Gaby Hoffmann, Allan Houston, Jared Leto, Method Man, Joe Pantoliano Bijou Phillips, Oli "Power" Grant, Raekwon Claudia Schiffer, Brooke Shields, Scott Caan, Mike Tyson, Elijah Wood, Ben Stiller Music by: American Cream Team Cinematography: David Ferrara Edited by: Myron Kerstein Production company: Palm Pictures Distributed by: Screen Gem Initial release dates: September 4, 1999 (1999-09-04) Running time: 1hr 38mins
Dubbed as 'the worlds most dangerous group', N.W.A was one of the first rap groups i listened to growing up, when i
heard them, it was like the best thing ever, their music and lyrics were so street, raw and uncensored, that it demanded attention, and thats exactly what they got, after a few listens, i personally felt like the song 'Fuck tha
police', (from their first album with the same name as the movie) was going to be my favourite song of
all time, forever, 'Fuck tha police' is even on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. I was glad, to say the least, when i heard the news of N.W.A's biography movie was being made, and even more happy that this movie is produced by two of the
original members and even stars one of their sons, in a tale of how they
came Straight Outta Compton. In this biopic it was the role of Eazy-E played by Jason Mitchell that stole the show, he gave a really good performance, also O'Shea Jackson Jr. who played his father Ice Cube was impressive in his role but then he is his fathers son so i expected nothing less. This was an enjoyable watch for me and that's not simply because i'm a fan of N.W.A and Hip-hop but because it told a great story.
Here's a picture of N.W.A's first album cover with the same name as their movie, 'Straight outta compton'.
N.W.A's first Album, released in 1988
History
It all began in 1980s California, Eric Wright (Eazy E),
O'Shea Jackson (Ice Cube), Andre Romelle Young (Dr Dre), Lorenzo
Jerald Patterson (M.C Ren) and Antoine Carraby (DJ Yella), formed the group in Compton City
and revolutionized music and pop culture with brutally honest songs about
life in the hood. The groups first album (Straight Outta Compton) which came out in 1988, and went multi-platinum, was released on Ruthless Records, a label owned by group member Eazy E, who unfortunately died due to aids in 1995.
Cast
The cast members in the movie look very similar to the real members of N.W.A, Ice Cube's son also plays his father in the movie.
O'Shea Jackson Jr. Corey Hawkins Jason Mitchell Aldis Hodge Neil Brown,
Here's a music video from 1988 of N.W.A performing the Song “Straight Outta Compton”
Synopsis and trailer
In 1987, five young men, using brutally honest rhymes and hardcore beats, put their frustration and anger about life in the most dangerous place in America into the most powerful weapon they had: their music. Taking us back to where it all began, Straight Outta Compton tells the true story of how these cultural rebels-armed only with their lyrics, swagger, bravado and raw talent-stood up to the authorities that meant to keep them down and formed the world's most dangerous group, N.W.A. And as they spoke the truth that no one had before and exposed life in the hood, their voice ignited a social revolution that is still reverberating today. - Universal Pictures
Inspired by the N.W.A. biopic Straight Outta Compton, Dr. Dre released his first album in 16 years on August 7th 2015, exclusively on iTunes. The album features old and new artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Ice Cube, Eminem, Snoop Dogg and The Game, amongst others. All proceeds of the record will be donated to help fund a new performing arts facility in Compton California.
Compton: A Soundtrack by Dr. Dre (Album Cover)
Me
To promote the new Straight Outta Compton movie... There's a website to show where you're from by personalising the logo with your own text.
USA as done it many times, India does it all the time, now its South Africa's turn! thats right, a dance movie. Screened at both the Cannes and London Film Festivals, Hear me Move is a landmark movie that follows the story of a young man named Muzi, played by new actor Nyaniso Dzedze, set in Johannesburg, and directed by Scotness L. Smith, here is a brief outline of the story, “The son of a famous street dancer tries to discover the truth about his father's tragic death 12 years prior. When he joins forces with his father's dance partner, he finds himself embroiled in a bitter rivalry that pushes him to his limit”.
Remarks Smith: “Was I going for the poverty grade in movies such as Tsotsi and Yesterday? No, I wanted vibrant colour, sweat, glistening skin and we were actually shooting during the bloom of graffiti in Jo’burg”.
Urban theme from set
Here's the full synopsis (spoiler alert) and trailer
Born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, Muzi is a street dance prodigy struggling to keep a promise he made to his mother to never dance again after his equally gifted father was murdered at a street party twelve years earlier. Little does he know that his father's death was not as everyone believed it to be. When his father's ex-dance partner, Shoes, approaches Muzi to join his dance crew, "Sbujwa Nation", Muzi has to choose between finding out the truth about his father's death or disappointing his mother. What he does not realize is that by joining Shoes's crew, he will make himself mortal enemies with Prince, the former leader of Shoes's crew and head of a new dance crew that's taking the city by storm. As Muzi struggles to adapt to his new crew, Prince garthers support throughout the dance community by upstaging Sbujwa Nation whenever he can and gaining popularity ahead of the big dance competition that everyone is working towards, titled Hear ME Move. Muzi has to dig deep and come up with something that the crowds have never seen before, while at the same time fighting to keep the crew together in the face of backstabbing, jealousy and his budding romance with Khanyi, the stunningly beautiful girl in Sbujwa Nation and Muzis school mate in college. Eventually he finds an old VHS tape that his father left him before he died, and that proves to be the game changer.
Producer Wandile Molebatsi, who also plays the part of Thami Skhulu, says it’s a film maker’s dream come true, The director Scotness L. Smith also had this to say about the landmark movie, 'It may not look like it, but this is a political film. Because it's the first film which lets us talk in a language that is our language. The language of our dance'.
The dance form in the movie is called, Sbujwa, which originated from Pantsula, the South African dance form from the 50s and 60s
Dance scene from Hear Me Move
Hear Me Move features energetic "sbujwa" and "pantsula" dance sequences, choreographed by the award-winning Paul Modjadji, that play out against the backdrop of a gritty urban Johannesburg seldom seen on the silver screen. Smith says, "We opted to focus on sbujwa and pantsula, our home grown urban street dances, because we wanted South Africans to see themselves and be proud of their contemporary culture."
Here is an interview with Bontle Modiselle who plays the female lead role
