In his short lifetime, J Dilla was a musician, producer and visionary who profoundly influenced rap and hip-hop. Given how prolific he was in his 32 years, why didn't his accolades come sooner?
Hip Hop: A Tale from the Hood (2003)
A documentary about the two New York rap artists I.G. Off & Hazadus and their struggle from street to studio to fame. Shot in the years 2000 and 2001
The Concert for Bangladesh (1972)
A film about the first benefit rock concert when major musicians performed to raise relief funds for the poor of Bangladesh. The Concert for Bangladesh was a pair of benefit concerts organised by former Beatles guitarist George Harrison and Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar. The shows were held at 2:30 and 8:00 pm on Sunday, 1 August 1971, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, to raise international awareness of, and fund relief for refugees from East Pakistan, following the Bangladesh Liberation War-related genocide.
Beastie Boys Story (2020)
Here's a little story they're about to tell... Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz share the story of their band and 40 years of friendship in a live documentary experience directed by friend, collaborator, and their former grandfather, Spike Jonze.
Asia Rising: The Next Generation of Hip-Hop (2019)
With the help of record label 88rising, we look through the eyes six different artist from six different backgrounds, all within Asia, as they share their thoughts on the recent rise of hip-hop throughout the region.
Cypress Hill: Smoke Out (2002)
Celebrating music and marijuana, the all-day Smoke Out Festival features blazing performances from a wide range of bands and musicians -- from punk rock to hip-hop -- as captured in this 2002 fifth annual concert. Circle Jerks, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Everlast and concert organizers Cypress Hill are just some of the eclectic artists included in this event's lineup. Snoop Dogg performs several of his hits, including "Murder Was the Case."
Heartworn Highways Revisited (2015)
On the 38th anniversary of the seminal music documentary, Heartworn Highways - a film that explored and captured the nascent roots of the Outlaw Country movement in the mid-70s - this followup documentary celebrates the authenticity and expresses the feelings of the legendary original, via a community of contemporary "outlaws" living and creating music in Nashville, Tennessee.
What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
The film chronicles Nina Simone's journey from child piano prodigy to iconic musician and passionate activist, told in her own words.
Live (2014)
A montage that is reproduced as a series of vignettes. Showing the life of any guy, since the first day he becomes independent, to the day he succeeds with his family.
Pass The Mic! (2003)
This ambitious documentary turns up the volume on long-silent voices lurking beneath the surface of the Latin hip-hop underground, revealing the origins of a genre that still has to fight to be heard. Highlights include a behind-the-scenes look at the artists' creative process, plus candid interviews with stars who share stories about making it in the business -- from Mellow Man Ace and Capone to Delinquent Habits and Psycho Realm.
El Gallo (2022)
El Gallo, a young musician who seeks to find his place in this world through Mexican melodies, finds an old love on a party night but realizes that he, like the city where he grew up, has changed.
United in Grief (2023)
Suffering debilitating grief from the passing of his best friend who introduced him to the world of dance, Derrick must confront a monster that seeks to separate him from everything he loves.
Sabotage: Maestro do Canão (2015)
Mauro Mateus dos Santos was known by another name: Sabotage. Growing up amidst poverty in São Paulo, the musician, who became a legend after his death, is one of the most important names in national rap.
Heartsong (2022)
While serenading a wedding that quickly implodes, a nomadic musician falls for the bride, who runs afoul of her family. Now he has to save her life.
Lincoln The Musical (2023)
When NYC’s Broadway theater season opens, Katie Sarasola is looking for her big break and producer Kenny Schumacher needs to have a surefire hit. Secretly hoping to cash in on the success of Hamilton, Kenny decides to mount an all Hip Hop version of Abraham Lincoln’s life. An egotistical Hollywood director, clueless trap rapper, washed up choreographer, and an unknown lead actress are hired to bring Kenny's vision to life. "Lincoln The Musical" is a parody of the entertainment industry as seen through the lens of a Broadway show. Peek behind the curtain as Katie deals with egos and her own raw emotions as she prepares for the biggest night of her life. After Opening night, will Lincoln be known as the biggest show of all time or Broadway’s biggest bomb?
Method Sampling: How to Build the Future Together (2023)
Method Sampling is explored through the works of a hip-hop orchestra, a disabled choreographer, a self-taught Black mycologist, a tiny house builder and a critical theorist.
Biggie & Tupac (2002)
In 1997, rap superstars Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace (aka Biggie Smalls, The Notorious B.I.G.) were gunned down in separate incidents, the apparent victims of hip hop's infamous east-west rivalry. Nick Broomfield's film introduces Russell Poole, an ex-cop with damning evidence that suggests the LAPD deliberately fumbled the case to conceal connections between the police, LA gangs and Death Row Records, the label run by feared rap mogul Marion "Suge" Knight.
Feel The Noise (2007)
After a run-in with local thugs, aspiring Harlem rapper Rob flees to a place and father he never knew, and finds his salvation in Reggaeton, a spicy blend of hip-hop, reggae and Latin beats. Puerto Rico, the spiritual home of Reggaeton, inspires Rob and his step-brother Javi to pursue their dream of becoming Reggaeton stars. Together with a dancer named C.C., they learn what it means to stay true to themselves and each other, while overcoming obstacles in love, greed and pride, all culminating in an explosive performance at New York’s Puerto Rican Day Parade.
Hip Hop Family Christmas Wedding (2022)
Christmas wedding bells are ringing for Jessica and Jayson, as their mothers Tina and Nancy fight it out for wedding planning supremacy.
I'm Still Here (2010)
I'm Still Here is a portrayal of a tumultuous year in the life of actor Joaquin Phoenix. With remarkable access, the film follows the Oscar-nominee as he announces his retirement from a successful film career in the fall of 2008 and sets off to reinvent himself as a hip-hop musician. The film is a portrait of an artist at a crossroads and explores notions of courage and creative reinvention, as well as the ramifications of a life spent in the public eye.