5 Sides of a Coin (2003)

"5 Sides of a Coin" is a comprehensive overview of the worldwide cultural movement of Hip-Hop.

Director:

Paul Kell

Writer:

Paul Kell

Stars:

A-Trak, Afrika Bambaataa, The Beat Junkies

Cast

Credited cast:
A-Trak	...	Himself
Afrika Bambaataa	...	Himself
The Beat Junkies	...	Themselves
The Beatnuts	...	Themselves
Bom5	...	Himself
Common	...	Himself
The Crash Crew	...	Themselves
Craze	...	Himself
Pee Wee Dance	...	Himself
Dash167	...	Himself
De La Soul	...	Themselves
Del	...	Himself
Delta	...	Himself
Dilated Peoples	...	Themselves
Son Doobie	...	Himself

Storyline

"5 Sides of a Coin" takes its viewers on a unique voyage that shows where hip-hop originated and where it has since spread in its 30+ years of existence. Unlike other hip-hop documentaries, "5 Sides" chooses to focus on each of the 5 basic elements of hip-hop in order to outline its history and its diaspora. Emcee'ing, DeeJay'ing, Breakin,' Graffiti Writing and Beatboxing are all given their own spotlight and within each section, "5 Sides" allows the pioneers, the new school, critics and experts from around the world to define each element in their own words. In an attempt to up the ante, "5 Sides" also takes on the controversies, the many misconceptions and the setbacks surrounding hip-hop today, by comparing and contrasting the various opinions of those within the culture, as well as those on the outside looking in.

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Plot Keywords:

hip hop | social documentary | rap music | rapper | social commentary | 

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Taglines:

Think Hip-Hop is Rap Music? Think Again.

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English French Japanese

Release Date:

7 November 2003 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Canada

Box Office

Budget:

CAD 30,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Anomaly Collective

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

User Reviews

Film Threat Review

5 SIDES OF A COIN by Eric Campos (2004-03-13)

2003, Un-rated, 70 Minutes,

Paul Kell explores the five basic elements of hip-hop – rap, turntablism, break-dance, human beat-box and graffiti art – providing a much needed history lesson for those who think that hip-hop is all about what's on MTV - diamonds, fast cars, thong songs…MTV is a garbage dump.

"Five Sides of a Coin," is mostly constructed of interviews with some of hip-hop's truest artists such as Qbert, Afrika Bambaataa, the X-Ecutioners, Grandmaster Flash, Rahzel and tons more. It's inspiring listening to these people talk passionately about their art, about their culture and providing the history to each of the five elements of hip-hop.

Paul Kell cuts this interview footage with classic and recent performance footage and archival photos taken throughout the evolution of hip-hop. The images flow as smooth as the beats they're cut to, making for something like a live action magazine, or a hip as fu## video textbook on hip-hop if you will, written by the masters themselves.

"Five Sides of the Coin" contains absolutely no artificial sweeteners or preservatives – no commercial hogwash. This is the real sh##.