Rock the Bells (2006)

An inside look at what it took to bring the Wu-Tang Clan together for their final performance at the Rock the Bells Hip-Hop festival.

Directors:

Denis Hennelly, Casey Suchan

Stars:

D.J. Abilities, Babu, Jerome Baldwin

1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
D.J. Abilities	...	Himself (as Abilities)
Babu	...	Himself - Dilated Peoples (as D.J. Babu)
Jerome Baldwin	...	Himself
Banger	...	Himself - Manager
Ol' Dirty Bastard	...	Himself - Wu-Tang Clan (as O.D.B.)
Cappadonna	...	Himself
D.J. Choc	...	Himself - D.J. (as Mr. Choc)
Wu Tang Clan	...	Themselves (as Wu-Tang Clan)
Davey D	...	Himself - Journalist
Chuck D.	...	Himself - Public Enemy (as Chuck D)
Inspectah Deck	...	Himself - Wu-Tang Clan
DJ Dice	...	Himself
Dilated Peoples	...	Themselves
Nader Elwan	...	Himself - Brian's Assistant
Eyedea	...	Himself

Storyline

Rock the Bells is a documentary on the preparation and realization of the original Wu-Tang Clan's final live performance. The film focuses on hip-hop concert promoter Chang Weisberg, whose Guerrilla Union production company showcases live hip-hop of a noncommercial bent. Weisberg comes across as a mixture of fanboy and snake-oil salesman, but it is his attention to detail that allows him to undertake what no other promoter had managed to accomplish in a long time: the presentation of the complete original lineup of the Wu-Tang Clan in live performance. Using a small, cohesive team of immensely likable, pleasant people, Weisberg navigates all the pitfalls of his endeavor with composure, even when the concert is in full-throttle. Hours before the concert is supposed to begin, the Guerrilla Union crew is forced to contend with an incompetent security team, an overanxious crowd on the verge of rioting, and the singular mania of the now deceased Ol' Dirty Bastard, in what amounts to a ...

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Plot Keywords:

hip hop | wu tang clan | wu tang | rap concert | rapper | 

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Taglines:

A tribute to the spirit of Hip-Hop.

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 2007 (USA)

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gather Films, Civilian Pictures, Mayfly Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"When Worst Comes to Worst"
Written by William Bell, Prodigy (as Albert J. Johnson), Booker T. Jones,
Havoc (as Kejuan Waliek Muchita)
Published by Irving Music Corp., Careers-BMG Music Publishing Inc.
Performed by Dilated Peoples
Courtesy of Capitol Records

User Reviews

Most Exciting Documentary I've Ever Seen

I was not familiar with the Wu-Tang Clan prior to this screening, and I'm only tangentially interested in hip hop culture, but after seeing this I have respect and awe at how strange and powerful the rap world can be. People love this, and now I see why. More important than turning me onto the music, though, was the film's impression to me of the humanness of rappers. I usually notice only how scary or self-aggrandizing they're trying to be, but we get to see their relationships with their children and friends in Rock the Bells. If you have a chance to see this in a theater, TAKE IT. I laughed harder and longer about this than any comedy flick in recent memory. And I was literally on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happens next. A great movie.