"Something from Nothing! The Art of Rap"

In last week's class we watched the film "Something from Nothing! The Art of Rap". Its like the professor, Nirit, read my mind! It was a super cold and rainy day, and all I wanted to do was snuggle up in bed and watch a good film! Granted, i was sitting in a chair in a lecture hall and there was no comfy blanket and a bowl of popcorn to keep me warm, i still enjoyed the film!

Something from Nothing! The Art of Rap  relives the genre’s inception and takes the viewer though its evolution over the last couple decades. With a very simple premise, rapper Ice T – this film's narrator and presenter– has created a very enjoyable and fascinating movie. His purpose is to discuss rap and hip hop  by interviewing the likes of KRS-One, Melle Mel, Dr Dre, Eminem, Grandmaster Caz and damn near all of rap’s godfathers. As he makes his way through time, visionaries both old and new make appearances within the film.
Ice T isn't  interested in the bling or the gangsta-ism, or even much in its actual history: simply the business of rap itself. Essentially, what results is a series of impromptu performances – by the pool, on street corners, in the studio. Some might feel that there is too much mutual male admiration. But the performances can be mesmerizing: aggressive, defiant, lingeringly incorrect, brutally offensive and brilliant: some stunning displays of linguistic talent and a little bit of substance abuse. What is extraordinary is that the rapper is the last breed of professional writer who composes longhand, pen on paper – or maybe, when inspiration strikes, on the back of the hand. There are no laptops. We see them write out verses in neat handwriting on yellow pads.
For the younger generation, The Art Of Rap’s an engaging, accurate Hip-Hop History crash course. And to the wizened readers, here’s something nostalgic that’ll take you back to your come-up days.