Rappin' (1985)

An ex-con and break-dancer helps save a neighborhood from a greedy developer while trying to win a rap contest.

Director:

Joel Silberg

Writers:

Adam Friedman, Robert Jay Litz

Stars:

Mario Van Peebles, Eriq La Salle, Melvin Plowden

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Mario Van Peebles	...	John Hood
Eriq La Salle	...	Ice
Melvin Plowden	...	Fats
Richie Abanes	...	Richie
Kadeem Hardison	...	Moon
Leo O'Brien	...	Allan
Charles Grant	...	Duane (as Charles Flohe)
Rony Clanton	...	Cedric
Ruth Jaroslow	...	Mrs. Goldberg
Michael Esihos	...	Stavros
Anthony Bishop	...	Mr. Fiorello
Fredric Mao	...	Mr. Chan
Rutanya Alda	...	Cecilia
Brandi Freund	...	Rosalita
Eyde Byrde	...	Grandma (as Edye Byrde)

Storyline

An ex-con and break-dancer helps save a neighborhood from a greedy developer while trying to win a rap contest.

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Plot Keywords:

ex con | rap | rap music | punctuation in title | breakdance | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Musical

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 May 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

House rap

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cannon Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the audition scene in the nightclub with Ice-T, the DJ and Rapper with him on stage were members of his Real Life crew, "Rhyme Syndicate". Brothers Eric Garcia and Henry Garcia are better known as "Evil E" and "Hen G".

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Connections

Referenced in Ethnic Notions (1986)

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Soundtracks

"The Game"
Written by Larry K. Smith (as Larry Smith), Mario Van Peebles
Produced by Larry K. Smith (as Larry Smith)
Co-Produced by Steve Loeb

User Reviews

Hollywood's failed attempt at accepting another "culture"

With the success of "Beat Street" and "Breakin'", Hollywood felt it was the right time to exploit the world of rap music. Keep in mind that this was 1985, and the music was still being promoted by the music. No videos, no shiny record covers, just the music and the people. With that in mind, someone felt it was pretty good to make a film about a few people struggling for a better life, and doing it by having each character rap during key moments in the movie. I don't know what they were thinking, maybe a "West Side Story" for the breakdancers? While this movie could (and should) be exposed as weak, there's a small part inside of you that you eat up like cake. Sure it's cheesy, but at the same time their hearts were in the right place, just not doing it correctly. Mario Van Peebles tries to rap, but the high/lowlight has got to be the ending of the movie, when the entire cast is given a few lines to rap, including the "cowboy" character. And you thought Eminem was the first white wonder.