Beat Street

I'll be perfectly honest: I watched "Beat Street" tons of times and it wasn't for the acting. I remember when this movie was still fresh and it was a must watch for all the young rap-loving, b-boying, break dancing kids. I can't give it high marks for the story, I can't give it high marks for the script, and I can't give it high marks for the acting even with the addition of Rae Dong Chong... but I sure did love the breakdance battle scenes and the music. Even to this day I watch it for the dancing and marvel at the moves the two gangs did. "Beat Street" will always be a favorite of mine even if I can't bring myself to give it a high grade.

When released in 1984, Beat Street was one of the best hip hop themed films released at the time. The movie gets a 10 just for combining all of the elements of hip hop which are the mc,dj, graff and b-boy. The soundtrack is one of the best I've ever heard.

The Harry Belafonte-produced "Beat Street" captured a slice of hip-hop back when it was dancing, graffiti, DJing and rapping not just rapping. The story line is hokey but the music performances and dancing are great. Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc, Kool Moe Dee and Melle Mel are among the artists that make an appearance. A decent way to check out hip-hop before NWA spoiled it all.

In the Bronx, a group of friends perform and enjoy the street culture. Kenny Kirkland is the MC, his brother Lee is a break-dancer in a group called Beat Street Breakers, and their friend Ramon is a graffiti artist. The boys go to popular nightclub Roxy where Beat Street battles a rival dance crew. Kenny is taken with music student Tracy Carlson (Rae Dawn Chong). Ramon's dream is a white subway car.

These are not professional actors. The amateur acting does give the movie its own authenticity which adds to the film's street value. It's of its time and presents its cultural world. It would be great to have more on Ramon's rivalry. The friends have good friendship chemistry but there is little chemistry with Tracy. It would be great to have more charismatic actors. It's the early world of hip-hop. It's a cultural time capsule. It's a cult classic.

Of all the breakdancing / hip-hop films released between 1983 and 1986, the 1984 film Beat Street is unquestionably the best one. The story follows a DJ, his younger breakdancing brother, a graffiti artist and a wanna-be showbiz promoter through one winter in which they try to break out of the ghetto using their "street" talent. The acting isn't always up to par and the characters aren't fully drawn out, but they are more than compensated for by down-to-earth dialogue, a plausible story, fantastic dancing sequences and a timeless hip-hop sound track. It should be noted this film was shot in the birthplace of breakdancing ("This ain't New York, this is the Bronx!"), and features appearances by the fathers of breakdancing, dance troupe Rock Steady Crew and rapper Afrika Bambaata. Rock Steady Crew provide the best scene in the film when they dominate a dance battle at the premiere breakdancing club of the early 80's, the Roxy. A must see for hip-hop lovers.