Fri 14 Sep 2012
Watch: Ice-T’s ‘Something From Nothing: The Art Of Rap’ Documentary
Posted by Tanya TC under videos[9] Comments
While Ice-T‘s premiere documentary Something From Nothing: The Art Of Rap hit theaters three months ago, it had only grossed 150K in its opening weekend. The film then took an alternative approach, and turned to cable TV to broadcast the production. Last night, VH1 re-debuted the documentary that was an official selection for this year’s Sundance Film Festival.
“The film is about the craft [of rap],” says Ice-T in the opening seconds of The Art Of Rap. Narrating the artistic phenomenon through a series of interviews, the veteran rapper probes at exactly “what it takes to write a rap, what goes on inside the head of the masters.” Collecting cameos from Afrika Bambaata and Big Daddy Kane to Eminem and Kanye, the film features the biggest influencers of hip hop.
Watch the VH1-premiered documentary in its entirety after the jump…
Props to Yardie
Related:
Nas & Eminem Freestyle in ‘Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap’
September 15th, 2012 at 1:14 am
After about half way through. It’s clear there is some great content here. But the way its put together, feels disjointed. Sure there’s a broad attempt to go from the beginning to now. But it isn’t laid out in a connected fashion, we meet people for 2 minutes and its unclear why (if you dont already know) why we are meeting these people and seeing them rhyme. I mean yeah, the interviews are great as a fan, but I think the movie (at least half way through) has failed to deliver on it’s core premise. Which is, in my opinion, to make a strong argument that it is an artform, to show how its done and who its done by through showing its development from then to now..
Ultimately, I think the people are there, even the words are on tape, its just not linked together, in away that makes sense, it doesnt tell a story in the way it needs. It’s not something I could show my parents, or a girlfriend who doesn’t understand this music and have them come out with a greater understanding. As a fan though, its still pretty cool.
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September 15th, 2012 at 8:55 am
Thanks for posting this doc, I enjoyed every minute of it.
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September 15th, 2012 at 11:10 am
This was a very good documentary. Indie movies are hard to get cash for theaters, I dont know why it didn’t just go to DVD
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Jrmcuboulder Reply:
September 15th, 2012 at 9:40 pm
TRUE
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September 15th, 2012 at 11:10 pm
Dope shit… I like it, I wont say its perfect… the message is awesome but its a bit rough around the edges but everybody who loves hip hop should take a closer look at this.
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September 16th, 2012 at 12:45 am
Im in 40 mins in..i just feel like theres a lack of cohesiveness in this film..
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September 17th, 2012 at 7:23 am
i really enjoyed this, however i think it tries to do too much. to really do justice and cover all bases attempted by this movie we would need a series of documentaries like this one but this was really good and props to ice T for putting in the time effort and money to produce this.
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September 17th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
For those CRYING because it wasn’t cinematically perfect, I’m sorry the Coen brothers, John Singleton, and the Nolan brothers didn’t direct this HIP-HOP documentary! (in my best superbad voice)
For those of us that aren’t on the Oscars judging panel, I loved it! Rakim allah is a GOD! NAS! KRS-ONE! This movie has me ready to go back and listen to all the music that brought me to this site today!
To ICE-T I can only say THANK YOU and keep hustling!
H.U.S.T.L.E.R…… HUSTLER!
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September 24th, 2012 at 3:46 am
OK, I made a vlog about this documentary. After thinking about it and its flaws I have to say that this should be a trilogy to be complete. Further details here….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NKi5-Z492E&feature=plcp
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