Movies: Chuck D

SLAMMIN!... Rap's #1 video magazine. Here are the acts you're going to be meetin' in the premiere episode of this 1990 Video VHS Magazine produced by Night Flight creator Stuart S. Shapiro. Waking up in the morning with Big Daddy Kane...KANE style, a...

Copyright Criminals examines the creative and commercial value of musical sampling, including the related debates over artistic expression, copyright law, and (of course) money. This documentary traces the rise of hip-hop from the urban streets of Ne...

In 1982, the Raiders and owner Al Davis captivated black and Latino fans with swagger and charisma that matched the rapidly changing city....

Featuring Kanye West, Chuck D., Gnarls Barkley and many other red-hot hip-hoppers, director Walter Bell's documentary takes you behind the scenes of the illegal mixtape industry. From the music itself to the battles with major record labels, this exp...

Swing Lowe Sweet Chariote is an emotionally charged urban drama about a good girl whose best friend is murdered just before graduation. She gets caught up with Ace, a local drug dealer that takes her deeper into the violent futility of the streets....

Ava DuVernay focuses on the history of female MCs in the hip hop industry in this short documentary that features Missy Elliott, Salt-N-Pepa, Eve, Jean Grae, Roxanne Shante, Trina, The Lady of Rage, and many more....

He was known as The Overweight Lover, The Heavster, and Most Affectionately, Heavy D. Penned as one of the most likable people in Hip-Hop, he lived a life that was not only positive and enlightening as a performer, but also as a father and a friend. ...

James Brown's legacy has influenced rap, soul, funk and R&B. But along with his huge talent, there's a dark side to Brown's success that includes stints in prison and unceasing tabloid speculation. This in-depth documentary takes a look at the meteor...

Sign The Show: Deaf Culture, Access and Entertainment is a feature-length documentary providing insight into Deaf culture and the quest for access to entertainment. It brings together entertainers, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HOH) community, and Am...

Part of BBC Four's Black Music Legends of the 1980s, this documentary explores how Prince - showman, artist, enigma - revolutionized the perception of black music in the 1980s with worldwide hits such as "1999," "Kiss," "Raspberry Beret" and "Alphabe...

An NBA original documentary following Julius Erving throughout his ABA and NBA career, as well as his (sometimes heartbreaking) personal life. Narrated by Chuck D....

When does art become obscenity? Cover Your Ears takes a close look at this question through the lens of the past 100 years of music and the ever-evolving discussion of legal and moral lines in the industry...

An inside look at what it took to bring the Wu-Tang Clan together for their final performance at the Rock the Bells Hip-Hop festival....

Music icons including Chuck D, Orianthi, and Chaka Khan recount never-before-told stories of Prince the performer and Prince the man, and how his unique creativity, in turn, inspired them to do their best work....

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Rap music has articulated a black aesthetic that is influencing pop culture around the world. But does it also promote violence, misogyny, and crime? This program featuring rap master Melle Mel describes the history of rap and hip-hop from its roots ...

A new scene of troubled, lo-fi young rappers have emerged from Trump’s America, utilizing the SoundCloud streaming platform to quickly become the most culturally disruptive force in hip hop, shocking the world with their rambunctious antics, prescrip...

Comedian/filmmaker Camille Solari spends the last year interviewing the legendary musical icon James Brown before his untimely death on Christmas 2006. The documentary includes interviews with his band members and many celebrity musicians who have be...

The Godfather of Soul tells his life story and features his greatest live performances....

Fascinating documentary about the history and legacy of the rap group "Public Enemy"....