Hip Hop is a genre that has been built on beats and rhymes but also aggression and power. Unsurprisingly, this has led to an out-pouring of movies based off of stereotypical representations of the goings-on in the lives of hip hop artists. There are some films however that have risen above those stereotypes, and that have given the world a more accurate view of the genre and those whose lives mirror it. Here are the top 7 hip hop movies that depict accuracy and that represent the genre better than others.
#7 Step Up (2006)
Along with the swift hip hop beats comes fancy footwork and head spins. Step Up combined the classic art of ballet with the new age speed of hip hop. As it follows the lives of two individuals from drastically different upbringings and are both ‘stuck’, dancing becomes the mutual connection they share.
#6 Fear of a Black Hat (1993)
This film is unique in that it takes the form of a mockumentary. Studying the progression of hip hop in American culture, this movie able to uniquely analyze the hip hop genre yet describe with accuracy as to some of the struggles artists face.
#5 Hustle & Flow (2006)
A lot of what goes into hip hop music is the significance of the lyrics. Artists will write songs about the struggles of life and how they are difficult to process at times. Hustle & Flow is based around a pimp who turns to rapping as a way to express his thoughts and feelings toward the circumstances he finds himself in.
#4 Breakin’ (1984)
Combining music styles is a difficult task, but when mastered, it becomes a sensational performance. Three individuals discover this as they mesh jazz and break dancing together, and become a highlight for others to witness.
#3 Krush Groove (1985)
Record labels work to sign the best acts to attract the most attention. This movie follows a record label through the ups and downs of the economy. The two main characters in this film get caught up in a rough situation when they borrow money from a street hustler.
#2 Wild Style (1983)
This film showcases what hip hop culture was in its early days. Art, dancing, and music are woven together, how the game got started. A graffiti artist meets a journalist and together, the two find beats, rhymes, jazz, blues, and the streets, melting them into one genre.
#1 8 Mile (2002)
This movie, though said to be fictional, holds a lot of truth according to what is known about the life led by its main star, Eminem. Through it all, music binds and holds it together, becoming a sacred escape for those who treasure it. This gets the top spot due to the emotional depth of the story, showing the influence that hip hop has and how it can be used to create through artists.
Within the past few years, the list of great hip hop films has continued to grow with Straight Outta Compton an easy inclusion on any list discussing the subject. As hip hop continues to become established in the mainstream, the next generation of films are bound to take on a different tone but for now, it’s always important to remember the roots of where the genre
has come.
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