5 Sides of a Coin (2004)
I really don't know why this is
called "5 Sides of a Coin." This is a documentary,
a fairly decent one at that, about Hip Hop music and
culture but the title remains a mystery. Some guy
uses the phrase in a rap on screen but I'm not sure
if he was rapping the phrase because that was the
proposed title of the film or if it has some references
that I am unaware of (which is quite possible) or
if it is meant to simply throw off an outsider like
myself.
"5 Sides of a Coin" covers a lot
about Hip Hop music and culture in its short 70 minute
run time. The origins of the genre/lifestyle are explored
and even though I consider "Rap" music to be separate
from Hip Hop, the filmmakers here apparently do not.
As exposed in last year's "Scratch," the beginnings
of the genre seem to be traced to the Sugarhill Gang's
seminal song "Rapper's Delight." (Oddly, Herbie Hancock's
"Rock It" is never once mentioned here).
At first, the documentary seems
to be going way off course when a small segment on
Gil Scott Heron begins to unfold. The modern day concert
footage of Heron is almost laughable as this "master
of poetry set to music" is shown in a noisy club setting
where numerous people are talking in the background.
The sound is so bad, you can't even understand what
Heron is singing. In a short interview segment after
this (obviously taped backstage the same night) Heron
is pretty much incoherent.
But after this useless aside, the
film spends about ten minutes each of its principle
segments with spotlights on graffiti artists, emcees,
dj's and turntablism, b-boys and break dancers, and
human beatbox artists. Several important people in
the history of the genre are interviewed and several
important moments in its history are covered. Seminal
clubs like the Roxy and the Peppermint lounge are
discussed. Artists like DJ Qbert and Jazzy Jay are
interviewed. And while the film has a decidedly New
York spin, it is nonetheless an interesting document
about a modern phenomenon with many historical implications
within its boundaries.
What is most likeable about "5 Sides
of a Coin" is it's final "epilogue" which discusses
the importance this music has in the lives of young
people, particularly inner city youth and African
American children, and how some social responsibility
needs to be exercised by the musicians and performers.
While unable to truly capture a deep understanding
of why Rap and Hip Hop music have captured the youth
of today, this sequence nonetheless serves as a documented
history of the phenomenon and an engrossing introduction
to its ideas, themes and background.
Notes:
With Afrika Bambaataa (the film
is produced with "Assistance from The Universal Zulu
Nation"), DJ Kool Herc, graffiti artist Phase Too,
Grandmaster Flash, The Crash Crew, Run-DMC, Mercedes
Ladies, Rock Steady Crew, Jurassic 5, De La Soul,
Dilated Peoples, Miho Hatari (of Cibo Matto and Gorillaz)
and anti-rap activist Dr. C. Delores Tucker among
others.
The film played at SXSW
in 2004.
Viewed on a VHS tape provided by
the filmmakers in March 2004.
