Film Forum

BEAT THIS! A HIP HOP HISTORY
(1984, Dick Fontaine) The history of hip hop… made in 1984? It would take a Brit to do such a thing. With a voice-over in rhyme by radio DJ Gary Byrd and vocoderized by Afrika Bambaataa, this is afrofuturism, sci-fi and non-fiction at its weirdest, Made for British television, the film also stars punk impresario turned double dutch promoter Malcolm McLaren in all (supposedly director Fontaine was forced to slip in McLaren against his will but he couldn’t do anything about it!) Kool Herc and the Cold Crush Brothers make more than memorable appearances. “An untouched time capsule of an exciting time in the genre and in the city.” – Complex magazine

ALL CITY
(1984, Henry Chalfant) “A videotape by Henry Chalfant”, states the super low budget video nugget All City, with weird electro 12" edits, and young yet weathered b-boys already claiming that “hip hop culture is everywhere.” With trains, murals, and the electric boogie in front of the Coney Island Wonder Wheel. With a cameo by DONDI.

RAMMELLZEE TOXIC RHYTHM LOUNGE
(1983, Salomon Emquies) Artist/photographer Emquies documented the visionary “gothic futurist” graffiti artist and rapper Rammellzee MCing in an LA club with DJ Toxic on the 1s and 2s. An extremely rare early hip hop video with titles by Jean-Michel Basquiat, RTRL showcases the kinetic energy of Rammellzee and his inimitable “gangster duck” MC style.

Program of 3 films, all Digital. Approx. 85 min.