Beyond Beats and Rhymes
- Director: Byron Hurt
- Writer: Byron Hurt
- Producer: Byron Hurt; Stanley Nelson
CGiii Comment
This is all about hatred - the homophobia is almost negated by the drag queens proclaiming it to be sexy. Worrying - to say the least.
The lack of education and/or intelligence demonstrated by all - that includes the middle-class, white kids - is truly disturbing.
Hurt has been brave. He has made an insightful, cheap little film.
With some money, he may even go on to make something that could make a difference.
Well done.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes provides a riveting examination of manhood, sexism, and homophobia in hip-hop culture. Director Byron Hurt, former star college quarterback, longtime hip-hop fan, and gender violence prevention educator, conceived the documentary as a "loving critique" of a number of disturbing trends in the world of rap music. He pays tribute to hip-hop while challenging the rap music industry to take responsibility for glamorizing destructive, deeply conservative stereotypes of manhood. The documentary features revealing interviews about masculinity and sexism with rappers such as Mos Def, Fat Joe, Chuck D, Jadakiss, and Busta Rhymes, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, and cultural commentators such as Michael Eric Dyson and Beverly Guy-Shetfall. Critically acclaimed for its fearless engagement with issues of race, gender violence, and the corporate exploitation of youth culture.
Cast & Characters
Carmen Ashurst-Watson as Herself;
William Jelani Cobb as Himself;
Chuck Creekmur as Himself;
Chuck D. as Himself;
Mos Def as Himself;
De La Soul as Themselves;
Michael Eric Dyson as Himself;
Beverly Guy-Sheftall as Herself;
Stephen Hill as Himself;
Byron Hurt as Himself;
Jadakiss as Himself;
Sut Jhally as Himself;
Fat Joe as Himself;
Sarah Jones as Herself;
Jackson Katz as Himself