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Downtown Calling (2009)
Character: Self
In the late 1970s, the "greatest city in the world" was teetering on the edge of total chaos. A failed economy, crime and en mass housing corruption gave way to a city in crisis. Yet out of the economic and social strife that held the "Big Apple" hostage, a family of homegrown cultures that would forever change the world began to emerge. Downtown Calling not only documents, in detail, the evolution of New York City's fertile music and art subculture during this period, but how its collective output continues to play a prominent, driving role in the international fashion, art and music industries today.
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Yo! The Story of ‘Yo! MTV Raps’ (2012)
Character: Self (archive footage)
A provocative look into the seven-year history of the series that gave hip hop a voice and broke color barriers, integrating MTV with rap. "Yo! MTV Raps" premiered on August 6, 1988 with hosts Fab 5 Freddy, Ed Lover and Doctor Dré, and shaped the careers of many of today’s hip hop superstars, while simultaneously making groundbreaking strides in introducing hip hop to the mainstream.
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The Philly Sound... Heard 'Round the World (2023)
Character: Self
In the 1960s, while America was in the throes of race riots, five people from diverse backgrounds came together in Philadelphia to create a new sound: Philly Soul. Its home, Sigma Sound Studio, was a place that drew Chubby Checker, The O'Jays, Stevie Wonder and many more. This film tells its amazing story.
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The Legacy of J Dilla (2023)
Character: Self - Producer; Friend
In his short lifetime, J Dilla was a musician, producer and visionary who profoundly influenced rap and hip-hop. Given how prolific he was in his 32 years, why didn't his accolades come sooner?
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The Crossover: 50 Years of Hip Hop and Sports (2023)
Character: Self
Fifty years ago in the Bronx, a new genre of music was born, the product of a people searching for their voice and the opportunity to be heard. For decades, the community was bound by the words of leaders like Martin Luther King and Malcolm X before their assassinations attempted to thwart the messaging. While their lives ended, the impact of their words never would, instead paving the way for others. Soon, athletes and entertainers would step to the microphone and boldly become the sound of a new generation and an inspiration to their people. When the world looked to silence them, the culture found a way to speak louder than ever before. From Muhammad Ali to Public Enemy, Jay-Z to Lebron James and beyond, the impact on sports has been indelible.
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NB80s (2011)
Character: Self
A look at the NBA and its players during the 1980s, including the introduction of the 3-point shot, the transformation of the Los Angeles Lakers into "Showtime," and the rivalry between Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Narrated by Fab 5 Freddy.
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Mixtape (2022)
Character: Self
Mixtapes have an out-sized role in the emergence of hip hop around the world. Before radio play, the internet, and social media, there were mixtapes. No matter where you lived, you could pop a cassette into a tape deck, and be transported to a party halfway around the world. DJs were taste makers, trendsetters and creators of the sound that became the biggest musical genre on the planet. A meteoric rise for an art form not yet 50 years old. The importance of mixtapes goes well beyond the tapes themselves. Mixtapes were a form of currency. A signifier that you were In-The-Know and had your ear to the streets. A skeleton key to the underground. The culture was too strong to be stopped, and the artists were too talented to be ignored - so they turned the sub-culture into the mainstream, and made hip hop what it is today.
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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion (2020)
Character: Self
Join Will Smith, Tatyana Ali, Karyn Parsons, Joseph Marcell, Daphne Maxwell Reid, Alfonso Ribeiro and DJ Jazzy Jeff, for a funny and heartfelt night full of music and dancing in honor of the show that ran for six seasons and 148 episodes.
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A GRAMMY Salute to 50 Years of Hip-Hop (2023)
Character: Self
A once-in-a-lifetime live concert special celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, the two-hour tribute special features exclusive performances from hip-hop legends and GRAMMY-winning artists, including Black Thought, Bun B, Common, De La Soul, Jermaine Dupri, J.J. Fad, Talib Kweli, The Lady of Rage, LL COOL J, MC Sha-Rock, Monie Love, The Pharcyde, Queen Latifah, Questlove, Rakim, Remy Ma, Uncle Luke, and Yo-Yo.
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Aries Spears: Hollywood, Look I'm Smiling (2011)
Character: N/A
Hollywood, Look I m Smiling is a laugh-out-loud and insightful comedy concert starring Mad TV s break-out star Aries Spears. Spears is in rare form as he tackles controversial topics such as political correctness , the Hollywood establishment and race relations in America.
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