Subgenre Sampler
R&B/Hip-hop: 81 Films to Buy & Rent
- Ray Charles - The Genius of Soul (1991)
- A quality TV documentary on the blind soul pianist, featuring live clips, interviews and conversations with friends like Willie Nelson, Billy Joel…
- Moonwalker (1988)
- Dir. Colin Chilvers, Jerry Kramer
Feat. Michael Jackson
- Feature–length fantasy from the imagination of pop–prince Michael Jackson that combines sci–fi, adventure and plenty of…
- George Clinton with Parliament Funkadelic: The Mothership Connection (1985)
- One of the few readily available records of the influential US funk pioneers playing live in Houston, Texas in 1976. Despite the poor–quality…
- Sounds of Motown (1985)
- A special edition of British TV show 'Ready Steady Go', which presented an extravaganza of Motown artists such as The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, The…
- Beat Street (1984)
- Dir. Stan Lathan
Feat. Rae Dawn Chong, Guy Davis
- Key film in the history of hip–hop culture, this urban musical may show its age and derivation (SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER), but still comprises an…
- Breakdance - The Movie (Breakin’) (1984)
- Dir. Joel Silberg
Feat. Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo Quinones, Michael Chambers
- The excellent, highly athletic breakdance performances will be the prime value to hiphop enthusiasts in this FLASHDANCE–clone, which now has a…
- Breakdance 2 - Electric Boogaloo (Breakin' 2) (1984)
- Dir. Sam Firstenberg
Feat. Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo Quinones, Michael Chambers
- Less–hokey sequel to BREAKDANCE, with a storyline centred on a group of teens and dancers who try to save a community rec–centre from a…
- Style Wars (1983)
- Dir. Tony Silver
- Landmark PBS documentary on the explosion of graffiti art in New York in the late 70s/early 80s, which became an important foundation stone in the…
- Black Wax - Gil Scott-Heron (1982)
- Dir. Robert Mugge
- Fusing interviews, poetry recitations and live concert footage, this is a compelling portrait of black American musician/activist Gil…
- Wild Style (1982)
- Dir. Charles Ahearn
- The Hip–hop movement had it first wide impact via this documentary–drama shot on the streets of The Bronx in 1982.
With its close…