Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme (2000)

Director:

Kevin Fitzgerald

Genre:

Documentary | Music

Plot:

A documentary about freestyling--the improvised, on-the-spot rhymes that demonstrate the skills of hip-hop MCs.

Plot Keywords:

Hip Hop | Underground | Battle | Competition | Rap

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

Muhammad Ali	...	Himself (archive footage)
Planet Asia	...	Himself
Bahamadia	...	Herself
The Notorious B.I.G.	...	Himself (archive footage)
Boots	...	Himself (as Boots Riley)
Akim Funk Buddah	...	Himself
Eluard Burt	...	Himself
Myo Campbell	...	Himself
John Coltrane	...	Himself (archive footage)
Darkleaf	...	Himself
Mos Def	...	Himself
Kirby Dominant	...	Himself
Eminem	...	Himself (archive footage)
Freestyle Fellowship	...	Themselves
Lord Finesse	...	Himself
Kevin Fitzgerald	...	Himself (voice)
Richard Fox
Robert Garcia	...	Himself (as Bobbito)
Craig G	...	Himself
Kool Herc	...	Himself (archive footage)
Juice	...	Himself
Jurassic 5	...	Themselves (archive footage)
Ghostface Killah	...	Himself
Talib Kweli	...	Himself
The Last Poets	...	Themselves
Crazy Legs	...	Himself
Living Legends	...	Themselves
The Lyricist Lounge	...	Themselves
Lucas MacFadden	...	Himself (as Cut Chemist)
Debi Mazar	...	Herself (archive footage)
Darryl McDaniels	...	Himself (archive footage)
Medusa	...	Herself
Kool Moe Dee	...	Himself (archive footage)
Pharoahe Monch	...	Himself
Otherwize	...	Himself
Tupac Shakur	...	Himself (archive footage)
Joseph Simmons	...	Himself (archive footage)
Charles Stewart	...	Himself (as Chali 2na)
Divine Styler	...	Himself
Tragedy Styles	...	Background Music
Supernatural	...	Himself
Sway	...	Himself
Ahmir-Khalib Thompson	...	Himself (as ?uestlove)
Tariq Trotter	...	Himself (as Black Thought)
Wordsworth	...	Himself

Also Known As:

Freestyle (USA) (short title)
VH1 News Presents: Freestyle - The Story of Underground Hip Hop (USA) (TV title)

Runtime:

60 min | 74 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Certification:

Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bowery Films

Movie Connections:

Features Graffiti Rock (1984) (TV)

refined and raw

as a person fairly new to the world of hip hop, i found "freestyle" to be informative, entertaining and enlightening. the cinematography was captive and gave the viewer a sense of being present and intimate in settings we might not otherwise have had access to. it was quick paced and varied enough to keep us interested, but also did not gloss over moments or personalities - rather it led us into the world of free styling with a set of characters who were both charming and disconcerting; refined and raw. the film succeeded in giving its audience a chance to experience free styling in a way we otherwise may not be able to.