Rhyme & Reason Full Documentary
By the late 1990s, hip-hop was a seismic force that had gained mainstream recognition as a billion dollar industry. The culture had invalidated dozens of critics who had dismissed it as a fad over the previous two decades. Hip-hop achieved this while rewriting the rules of the music industry and redefining the American lifestyle.
 |
| Rhyme & Reason Full Documentary |
Taking a closer look at the thriving business and incredible diversity of hip-hop, Miramax released the documentary Rhyme & Reason 20 years ago. Directed by Peter Spirer (who went on to work on Beef and Tupac: Thug Angel), the film examined the hip-hop boom by covering over 80 MCs, producers, dancers, DJs and executives. Heads and the merely curious showed up, as the film grossed over $1.6 million at the box office.
Rhyme & Reason - Trailer
Looking back 20 years, Rhyme & Reason examined an amazing cross-section of '90s rap. A Tribe Called Quest, Dr. Dre , Def Squad, Tha Dogg Pound, Busta Rhymes, E-40, The Fugees, Guru, Ice-T, Lost Boyz, KRS-One, Mack 10, Master P, MC Eiht, Nas, The Pharcyde, Puff Daddy, and the Wu-Tang Clan all appear in the feature film. In addition to New York and Los Angeles, R&R covered the Bay Area, New Orleans, Atlanta and Houston. It also looked underground, beyond the graphics and videos. One vignette had radio giants Stretch Armstrong & Bobbito featuring a fresh Xzibit freestyle on the air, promoting At The Speed Of Life.
Other features of Ambrosia For Heads "Do Remember"
Rhyme & Reason Full Documentary
Watch also: Biggie I Got A Story To Tell Full Documentary
The film was released during the plate change for the tone and feel of hip-hop. Gangsta Rap exploded for much of the decade, as did beef. By early 1997, the dust was settling from the East vs. West civil war Among the most compelling interviews was The Notorious B.I.G. At a critical point in his career, Biggie explained why being an MC and a role model aren't always synonymous, and how Rap got him out of the drug business. He also talked about biters and sales, and why they existed in Hip-Hop. Unfortunately, the same year Rhyme & Reason reached the viewers, the life of Christopher Wallace was also taken.
As with one of the last discussions with B.I.G., Rhyme & Reason's focus was there for so many crucial moments. It included the release of the Oakland legend's 10th album Too Short, Gettin 'It, and a short-lived retirement. The doc' also showed Master P hard at work on the No Limit Records imprint. While much of the map was still headed to Percy Miller, this film somehow knew that the sound of Rap was heading south. Despite three successful albums, Reggie Noble rapped at the conference as he must have done before the Def Jam deal. The multi-gold-plated MC showed that status couldn't interfere with his passion for spitting rhymes. Months before the release of Moment Of Truth, Puff Daddy and Gang Starr's Guru appeared political at a party. In another memorable sequence, Westside Connection's Mack 10 bickers with cops after being arrested for recklessly driving his '59 Chevy lowrider. In its day, Rhyme & Reason was a vividly colored issue of The Source, and just as rewarding, comprehensive and informative.
Watch also: Nas: Time Is Illmatic Full Documentary
Michael Rapaport reveals that Tupac, Leo and others were part of the original cast of Higher Education (video)
Long before social media gave fans all the access they wanted and more, Rhyme & Reason showed hip-hop artists up close and personal. Families, friends and pre-MTV Cribs glimpses of life at home are featured. On its cover, the film was billed as "The Ultimate Back-Stage Pass," and it was delivered during a very pivotal season for Rap music. At a time when ages, coasts, styles and salaries seemed to divide the community, R&R highlighted the commonalities within the culture.
