Subgenre Sampler

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Hitsville: The Making of Motown (2019): Dir. Benjamin Turner, Gabe Turner
Feat. Diana Ross; The story of Motown Records told through interviews with the label's visionary founder, Berry Gordy, and many of its superstar artists and creative…
Matangi/Maya/M.I.A. (2018): Dir. Stephen Loveridge; A uniquely textured portrait of innovative Sri Lankan–English pop star and activist Maya Arulpragasm, drawn from a cache of personal tapes shot…
All Eyez on Me (2017): Dir. Benny Boom
Feat. Demetrius Shipp Jr.; Sprawling biopic chronicling the life and legacy of prolific rapper, actor, poet and activist Tupac Shakur.
Patti Cakes (Patti Cake$) (2017): Dir. Geremy Jasper
Feat. Danielle Macdonald, Bridget Everett; Charming indie film telling the rags–to–riches story of an aspiring rapper from a downtrodden area of New Jersey who refuses to let…
Born to Dance (2015): Dir. Tammy Davis
Feat. Parris Goebel, Stan Walker, Kherington Payne…; Dance phenomenon Parris Goebel and Stan Walker stars in this coming of age tale told through the eyes of 'Tu', an ambitious young man from Auckland…
Mavis! (2015): Dir. Jessica Edwards; Rousing chronicle of the life and music of singer and civil rights activist Mavis Staples.
Straight Outta Compton (2015): Dir. F. Gary Gray
Feat. O’Shea Jackson, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell…; Invigorating drama charts the rise of rap legends N.W.A. as they emerge from the mean streets of Compton in Los Angeles, and their profound impact…
Get On Up (2014): Dir. Tate Taylor
Feat. Chadwick Boseman, Nelsan Ellis, Dan Aykroyd…; Chadwick Boseman is mesmerizing in this formatted yet dynamic chronicle of pioneering music frontman James Brown's rise from extreme poverty to his…
Mr. Dynamite: The Rise of James Brown (2014): Dir. Alex Gibney; Alex Gibney's extensive portrait of the "Godfather of Soul" was made with cooperation of the Brown Estate and expertly contextualises a wealth of…
Nas: Time is Illmatic (2014): Dir. One9; Spirited doco that delves deep into the making of Nas' benchmark album, Illmatic, and the social conditions that influenced its creation.
Filly Brown (2012): Dir. Youssef Delara, Michael D. Olmos
Feat. Gina Rodriguez, Lou Diamond Phillips, Edward James Olmos; A vividly performed and evoked L.A. story of a talented Latina hip–hop artist hoping to crack the big time.
Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap (2012): Feat. Ice-T; Ice–T rounds up a who's who of the hip–hop world for this expansive documentary on the trends, influences, and philosophies to emerge in…
Adele - Live at the Royal Albert Hall (2011): A live concert performance of Grammy–winning pop/soul sensation Adele Adkins at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest (2011): Dir. Michael Rapaport; Actor Michael Rapaport directs this compelling documentary on maverick the American hip hop group revered for their innovative fusion of hip hop and…
B-Girl (2009): Dir. Emily Dell
Feat. Jules Urich, Missy Yager, Wesley Jonathan…; Female breakdancing is the focus of this underdog 'story', where a down–on–her–luck dancer strives to 'break' her way into the…
Beyonce: I Am Yours (2009): Feat. Beyonce Knowles; An intimate performace of Beyonce live at the Wynn Las Vegas filmed over four nights in July and August 2009. Setlist: "Hello", "Halo",…
Le Donk & Scor-zay-zee (2009): Dir. Shane Meadows
Feat. Paddy Considine, Dean Palinczuk; Rock roadie Paddy Considine and a would–be hip hop sensation seek out their musical breakthrough at an Arctic Monkeys gig in this improvised…
Notorious (2009): Dir. George Tillman Jr.
Feat. Jamal Woolard, Angela Bassett, Derek Luke…; Surprisingly credible biopic of Christopher 'Notorious B.I.G.' Wallace, whose rise to the throne of East Coast rap – and inexplicable murder via…
Soul Men (2008): Dir. Malcolm D Lee
Feat. Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac, Sean Hayes…; Fitfully amusing musical comedy with Jackson and Mac starring as two estranged soul singers traveling cross–country together to sing at a…
Soul Power (2008): Dir. Jeffrey Levy-Hinte; This "Rumble in the Jungle" prequel joyfully relives the legendary three–day concert that preceded the Ali–Foreman bout in…
Classic Albums - Jay-Z (Reasonable Doubt) (2007): Jay–Z's Reasonable Doubt deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the artist himself and…
Kickin' It Old School (2007): Dir. Harvey Glazer
Feat. Jamie Kennedy, Maria Menounos, Michael Rosenbaum…; Daft retro–comedy concerning a break dancer from 1986 (Kennedy) falling into a coma, only to wake up 20 years later into a world that has…
Planet B-Boy (2007): Dir. Benson Lee; Energetic doco follows five B–Boy crews from around the world vying to be top dog at the 2005 Battle of the Year break–dance competition…
Awesome; I...Shot That! (Awesome; I F****** Shot That!) (2006): Innovative concert film in which hiphop group The Beastie Boys distributed 50 cameras to audience members at New York’s Madison Square Garden,…
Marvin Gaye - The Real Thing (2006): A gratifyingly generous collection of archival US and European television performances by soul–singer supreme Marvin Gaye dating between 1964…
Rock the Bells (2006): Dir. Denis Hennelly, Casey Suchan; Fly–on–the–wall document of the magic of the ‘Rock The Bells’ hip–hop festival, and the panic that ensues when…
Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2005): Dir. Michel Gondry
Feat. Dave Chappelle; Dynamite concert film follows comedian Chappelle, in cahoots with an all–star roll–call of R&B and hip–hop acts, during the leadup…
Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005): Dir. Jim Sheridan
Feat. 50 Cent, Terrence Howard; Gangster–rap star "Fiddy" Cent (a.k.a. Curtis Jackson) tells the rags–to–riches tale of his Queens, NYC upbringing and how he saved…
Hustle and Flow (2005): Dir. Craig Brewer
Feat. Terrence Howard, Isaac Hayes, DJ Qualls…; A Memphis pimp (Terrence Howard) tries to break out from his scuzzy, middle–aged existence by persuading an old friend (DJ Qualls) to help…
Make It Funky (2005): Dir. Michael Murphy; A worthy documentary about the teeming musical traditions of New Orleans (made before Hurricane Katrina), which displays a firm understanding of the…
Rize (2005): Dir. David LaChapelle; An infectious documentary about a growing dance phenomenon in the United States, dubbed Krumping, which has emerged from the hip–hop movement…
Diary of Alicia Keys, The (2004): Feat. Alicia Keys; None too enlightening doco follows the Nu–soul Diva into the recording studio and to sundry other places. Strangely little music is featured…
It's All Gone Pete Tong (2004): Dir. Michael Dowse
Feat. Paul Kaye, Kate Magowan; Documentary–mockumentary comedy about the notoriously hedonistic dance DJ Frankie Wilde (Kaye), who rode the wave of 1990s Ibiza club culture…
Ray: Genius - A Night for Ray Charles (2004): Dir. Bruce Gowers
Feat. Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Morgan Freeman…; An extended concert tribute to soulman Ray Charles, combining new and vintage entertainers and memories from the likes of Quincy Jones, B.B. King and…
You Got Served (2004): Dir. Christopher B. Stokes
Feat. Marques Houston, Omari Granberry; Hiphop melodrama in which rival 'crews' battle it out for supremacy in the arena of break–dancing. Renowned for the exceptional dance…
Five Sides of a Coin (2003): Dir. Paul Kell; A thorough exploration of the five sides of hip–hop culture: rap, turntablism, break–dancing, human beat–boxing and…
Later... with Jools Holland - Party (2003): More live tracks from Jools Hollands' excellent late night TV show, in which he jams with various legends of popular music. Tracklisting: 1…
Nature's Best (2003): Essential selection of 60 music videos of the "greatest NZ songs of all time", as judged by APRA. Tracklist: Dave Dobbyn – Loyal, The…
Ngatahi - Know the Links (2003): Dir. Dean Hapeta
Feat. Dean Hapeta; An extended voyage by Upper Hutt Posse–founder Dean Hapeta through the self–determining cultures of many of the world’s indigenous…
8 Mile (Eight Mile) (2002): Dir. Curtis Hanson
Feat. Eminem, Kim Basinger, Mekhi Phifer…; Mainstream feature film vehicle for white rap star Eminem has a narrative typical of the “youth craze” genre – young working class wannabe…
Biggie and Tupac (2002): Dir. Nick Broomfield; Plucky British journalist and one–man controversy machine Nick Broomfield embarks on his most dangerous documentary enquiry yet – the…
Dance Hits (The Greatest DVD Music Collection) (2002): Original music video compilation of "Dance Hits" from the 1980's: 1. Monie Love vs. Adeva – Ring My Bell, 2. Innocence – Natural…
Slim Shady Show, The (2002): Dir. Peter Gilstrap, Mark Brooks
Feat. Eminem; An animated fantasy based around rapper Eminem's alter–ego 'Slim Shady'. Characterised by its various movies parodies and celebrity bashing…
Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002): Dir. Paul Justman; A treat for soul–music lovers, this uncovers the hidden history of Motown's seminal, wildly successful and yet almost completely unknown…
Earth, Wind and Fire - Shining Stars (2001): Pretty comprehensive look at the long career of US funksters 'Earth, Wind and Fire', including interviews with band members, music clips and live…
Hip-Hop Nation: Notes from the Underground (TV Series) (2001): A comprehensive, but suitably casual tour of the contemporary hip–hop movement and all its various facets: the history, the luminaries, the…
Michael Jackson - History (2001): Feat. Michael Jackson; Ten of pop–prince Michael Jackson's classic music videos: Billie Jean, The Way You Make Me Feel, Black or White, Rock with You, Bad, Thriller,…
Scratch (2001): Dir. Doug Pray; Comprehensive coverage of the evolution of DJing as an artform, from its formative years in the early 80s to its establishment as a movement known as…
Welcome to Death Row (2001): Dir. Leigh Savidge; Fairly impartial and mostly enlightening account of the notorious ‘gangsta–rap’ record label Death Row, who in the 1990s released…
Beastie Boys Video Anthology (2000): Dir. Various; Collection of music–vids by the mega–star hiphop group from New York, whose videos are renowned for their ground–breaking…
Bobby Womack - Jazz Channel (2000): The legendary composer/singer/guitarist performs live in Washington D.C. such classics as “Across 110th Street”, “Looking for a Love” and…
Freestyle - The Art of Rhyme (2000): Dir. Kevin Fitzgerald
Feat. Eminem, Tupac Shakur; An acclaimed history of rap performance from the early 1980s up till recent years, with emphasis on the art of improvisation. Includes a plethora…
Rapmania (2000): A transcontinental coming–together of US rappers and hiphoppers with twin concerts at New York’s Apollo Theatre and L.A.’s Palace…
Up in Smoke Tour, The (2000): Dir. Philip G Atwell; A front row seat on tour with a great combination of hip hop giants – Ice Cube, Eminem, Snoop Dog and Dr Dre. Includes backstage…
Family Values - Fall Tour '98 (1999): Dir. Joe Friday; Rock tour features the following tracks: Limp Bizkit – Jump Around, Ice Cube – F**K Dying, Orgy – Revival, Korn – Blind, Korn…
Temptations, The (TV Mini-Series) (1998): Dir. Allan Arkush
Feat. Charles Malik Whitfield, D.B. Woodside, Terron Brooks…; Stirring biography of the singers who formed the hit Motown musical act, The Temptations.
Classic Albums - Stevie Wonder (Songs in the Key of Life) (1997): Dir. David Heffernan; Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life album deconstructed track–by–track and placed in both personal and creative context by the…
Show, The (1995): Dir. Brian Robbins; Well–made document of a 90s hiphop roadshow featuring Run DMC, Naughty BY Nature, Warren G and Wu–Tang Clan. Combines live and backstage…
James Brown - Live at Chastain Park (1993): Feat. James Brown; A classic concert by the 'Godfather of Soul' from Atlanta, Georgia in 1985. 13 tracks including "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag", "Get on the Good Foot"…
Prince - The Collection (1993): Feat. Prince; 15 classics from the diminutive pop–genius.
Ray Charles - The Genius of Soul (1991): A quality TV documentary on the blind soul pianist, featuring live clips, interviews and conversations with friends like Willie Nelson, Billy Joel…
Moonwalker (1988): Dir. Colin Chilvers, Jerry Kramer
Feat. Michael Jackson; Feature–length fantasy from the imagination of pop–prince Michael Jackson that combines sci–fi, adventure and plenty of…
George Clinton with Parliament Funkadelic: The Mothership Connection (1985): One of the few readily available records of the influential US funk pioneers playing live in Houston, Texas in 1976. Despite the poor–quality…
Sounds of Motown (1985): A special edition of British TV show 'Ready Steady Go', which presented an extravaganza of Motown artists such as The Supremes, Smokey Robinson, The…
Beat Street (1984): Dir. Stan Lathan
Feat. Rae Dawn Chong, Guy Davis; Key film in the history of hip–hop culture, this urban musical may show its age and derivation (SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER), but still comprises an…
Breakdance - The Movie (Breakin’) (1984): Dir. Joel Silberg
Feat. Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo Quinones, Michael Chambers; The excellent, highly athletic breakdance performances will be the prime value to hiphop enthusiasts in this FLASHDANCE–clone, which now has a…
Breakdance 2 - Electric Boogaloo (Breakin' 2) (1984): Dir. Sam Firstenberg
Feat. Lucinda Dickey, Adolfo Quinones, Michael Chambers; Less–hokey sequel to BREAKDANCE, with a storyline centred on a group of teens and dancers who try to save a community rec–centre from a…
Style Wars (1983): Dir. Tony Silver; Landmark PBS documentary on the explosion of graffiti art in New York in the late 70s/early 80s, which became an important foundation stone in the…
Black Wax - Gil Scott-Heron (1982): Dir. Robert Mugge; Fusing interviews, poetry recitations and live concert footage, this is a compelling portrait of black American musician/activist Gil…
Wild Style (1982): Dir. Charles Ahearn; The Hip–hop movement had it first wide impact via this documentary–drama shot on the streets of The Bronx in 1982. With its close…
James Brown - The Lost Tapes (Body Heat) (1979): Feat. James Brown; James Brown is a funkadelic soul force in this 1979 concert performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. Track List:, Get Up Offa That Thing, Body…
Disco Dance Classics of the 70s and 80s (1977-1992): A great compilation of 18 music clips from the heyday of disc and dance music of the decades of the 1970s and 80s. Tracklist: Two Tribes (Frankie…
Wattstax (1973): Dir. Mel Stuart; A little–seen yet significant concert film of the 'Wattstax' festival in Los Angeles in 1972, organised to commemorate the 7th anniversary of…
Four Tops, The - Joinville Studios, Paris (1970): A rare treat for Four Tops and soul fans alike, with original members Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Abdul " Duke" Fakir, Lawrence Payton and the great Levi…
Remembering Otis (1967): Dir. D.A. Pennebaker
Feat. Otis Redding; Soul lovers will rejoice in Otis Redding's live performance at the Monterey pop festival accompanied by Booker T & the MGs and Sam and Dave.
Temptations, The - Get Ready: Definitive Performances (1965-1972): Comprehensive music doco featuring 16 full–length archival performances from influential Motown singing clan "The Temptations". Concert clips…
Aretha Franklin - Greatest Hits: Compiles recent material from the Queen of Soul, from 1980 to 1994, including collabs. with Eurythmics and George Michael.
Endless Summer - Donna Summer: Feat. Donna Summer; The curvaceous Queen of Disco flaunts all her hits.
Michael Jackson - Dangerous: Feat. Michael Jackson; Video version of the pale one's album includes behind the scenes sneaks, TV commercials and Michael at the Grammys.
Public Enemy Strikes Live: Rap's pre–eminent spokespeople captured live at the birthplace of rap, the legendary Apollo theatre.
Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle: Feat. Snoop Dogg; Various music videos by the LA rapper Snoop Dogg, with X–rated home footage and other bonuses. Tracklist: Let's Roll; Dogghouse; One More…

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