Fear of a Black Hat (1994)

Director:

Rusty Cundieff

Writer (WGA):

Rusty Cundieff (written by)

Release Date:

3 June 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Plot:

A mockumentary chronicling the rise and fall of a not particularly talented--or particularly bright but always controversial--1990s hip-hop group, NWH (Niggaz with Hats). |

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Rock And Roll | Music Industry | Satire | South Central Los Angeles

Cast

Mark Christopher Lawrence	...	Tone Def
Larry B. Scott	...	Tasty Taste
Rusty Cundieff	...	Ice Cold
Kasi Lemmons	...	Nina Blackburn
Howie Gold	...	Guy Friesch
G. Smokey Campbell	...	Backstage Manager #1
Bobby Mardis	...	Promoter #1
Brad Sanders	...	Promoter #2
Moon Jones	...	Jam Boy
Tim Hutchinson	...	Reggie Clay
Faizon Love	...	Jam Boy
Deezer D	...	Jam Boy
Darin Scott	...	Security Head
Devin Kamin	...	Vanilla Sherbet (as Devin Kamienny)
Jeff Burr	...	Chicago Cop

Also Known As:

The Trial of N.W.H. (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

UK:15 | Iceland:12 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Ontario) | USA:R

Company:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Trivia:

Rusty Cundieff shot a version of the project on 3/4" video with a budget of only $600, which helped to sell it to investors.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: An ITC logo sign is clearly visible to the left in the record company's office.

Quotes:

Nina Blackburn: Are all these weapons registered with the state?
Tasty Taste: The state of siege, heh heh.

Movie Connections:

References Scarface (1983)

Soundtrack:

Mayo N' Pierre's

Dead-on cheaply produced rapumentary

If you like rap or hip-hop, watch this movie, although it's funny if you don't get the references, as a straight comedy.

Haven't seen much of the much hyped CB4, but what I did see didn't have the heart that this little stormer has.

Haven't heard from the people involved since, which is a surprise. The film is very similar to Spinal Tap, which is no bad thing, and I think a lot of the dialogue, while priceless in Tap is funnier here, probably because I'm more into rap than rock theses days, so my own judgment does cloud that point.

The rap songs are funny as hell, and it's basically spot the reference for most of the film, not all of them are in-your-face, which means the physical comedy and the one-liners get priority over the take-offs.

Great fun, one to watch twice if there ever was a movie.