Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes
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| Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster for Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes |
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| Directed by | Byron Hurt |
| Produced by | Byron Hurt |
| Written by | Byron Hurt |
| Starring | Busta Rhymes, Chuck D, Clipse, Doug E. Fresh, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Mos Def, Talib Kweli |
| Release date(s) | October 10, 2006 |
| Running time | 56 min. |
| Language | English |
| All Movie Guide profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes is a documentary written and produced by Byron Hurt, which aired on the PBS Emmy-winning series, "Independent Lens."[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] The documentary explored the issues of masculinity, violence, homophobia and sexism in hip-hop music, through interviews with artists, academics and fans.[7][6][3] The premiere of the film took place at the Sundance Film Festival, being welcomed by a standing ovation.[6][5] It has also won Best Documentary at the San Francisco Black Film Festival and screened at the Roxbury Film Festival.[8]
Byron Hurt attended Northeastern University as a quarterback, and later graduated with a degree in Journalism in 1993. Upon graduation he was one of the original members of the Center for the Study of Sport in Society's Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) program, as well as the former associate director of the United States Marine Corps domestic violence prevention program. It was due to his work and love of hip-hop, that caused him to feel what he described as a sense of hypocrisy, and began working on the film.[5][3][7][9] In September of 2006, Byron Hurt married Kenya Felice Crumel.[10]
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[edit] Interviews
The film featured many hip-hop artists from a variety of genre's. Those giving interviews in the film are:[5][6][7][1][2][6]
Beyond Beats and Rhymes also featured academics such as Dr. James Peterson of Pennsylvania State University,[3] Professor William Jelani Cobb of Atlanta Spelman College and Michael Eric Dyson of the University of Pennsylvania.[7] Activists, journalists and poets such as Kevin Powell and Sarah Jones.[9]
[edit] Noted Moments
Of the one hour documentary, media outlets largely focused on three specific interviews:
Interviews with students of Spelman College regarding a protest against the appearance of rapper Nelly. Nelly originally contacted the school to have a bone marrow drive take place on campus with corporate sponsor Pimp Juice. The student body asked the rapper to hold a forum to discuss the rapper's video Tip Drill, in which he is seen sliding a credit card down the back side of a woman. In response the rapper canceled plans to hold the bone marrow drive at the school.[1][2][3][5][7]
An interview with rapper Busta Rhymes in which the rapper walked out when confronted with question involving homophobia in the rap community. Rhymes is quoted as saying; "I can't partake in that conversation," follow by, "With all due respect, I ain't trying to offend nobody. . . . What I represent culturally doesn't condone [homosexuality] whatsoever." When asked if the hip-hop culture would ever accept a homosexual rapper, Busta Rhymes exited the interview.[6][3]
Many media outlets focused on the interview with activist and rapper, Chuck D of rap group Public Enemy. The rapper was quoted as stating: "BET is the cancer of black manhood in the world, because they have one-dimensionalized and commodified us into being a one-trick image. We're [shown] throwing money at the camera and flashing jewelry at the camera that could give a town in Africa water for a year." The rapper also stated a link existed between the sales of hip-hop music to young white Americans, and the amount of pressure on black artists to create more of that content, sex and violence.[4][5][6]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "take back the beat: Filmmaker Byron Hurt pushes hip-hop to face its violent messages", Boston Herald, February 18, 2007.
- ^ a b c "US hip-hop film sparks debate on masculinity", Reuters, February 21, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f "Rhyme with reason", New York Newsday, February 20, 2007.
- ^ a b "Academic view of violence and sexism in hip-hop", San Francisco Chronicle, February 20, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f "A daring look at hip-hop", Baltimore Sun, February 20, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g "A Hip-Hop Fan Hunts the Reason Behind the Rhyme", Washington Post, February 19, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f "Crimes behind the 'Rhymes'", New York Daily News, February 19, 2007.
- ^ Northeastern University alumnus'd Hip-Hop film to be screened at Roxbury Film Festival. Northeastern University.
- ^ a b A Film Screening and Discussion with Filmmaker Byron Hurt. Scripps Womens College (August 17, 2006).
- ^ "Kenya Crumel and Byron Hurt", New York Times, October 10, 2006.
