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 (as Robert 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 convict | hip hop music | one word title | song contest | punctuation in title | 

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Taglines:

Catch the rhythm... Feel the heat... It's the hottest film comin' to the street.

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Musical

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 May 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

House rap

Filming Locations:

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,802,204, 12 May 1985

Gross USA:

$2,864,844

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cannon Pictures,Golan-Globus Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

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

FU12
Performed by LaJuan Carter
Written by Peter Link
Produced by Larry K. Smith (as Larry Smith)
Co-Produced by Steve Loeb

User Reviews

Song & dance number...dog & pony show

I have copy of this on VHS, I think they (The television networks) should play this every year for the next twenty years. So that we don't forget what was and that we remember not to do the same mistakes again. Like putting some people in the director's chair, where they don't belong. This movie Rappin' is like a vaudevillian musical, for those who can't sing, or act. This movie is as much fun as trying to teach the 'blind' to drive a city bus.

John Hood, (Peebles) has just got out of prison and he's headed back to the old neighborhood. In serving time for an all-to-nice crime of necessity, of course. John heads back onto the old street and is greeted by kids dogs old ladies and his peer homeys as they dance and sing all along the way.

I would recommend this if I was sentimental, or if in truth someone was smoking medicinal pot prescribed by a doctor for glaucoma. Either way this is a poorly directed, scripted, acted and even produced (I never thought I'd say that) satire of ghetto life with the 'Hood'. Although, I think the redeeming part of the story, thru the wannabe gang fight sequences and the dance numbers, his friends care about their neighbors and want to save the ghetto from being torn down and cleaned up and built new. This is a great depiction of Ice-T though. His worst performance yet? Maybe. From Heart break Ridge with Clint Eastwood to this tale of the rappin' life-sentence. Oh well, he wasn't that good as stitch jones playing electric guitar either.

Forget Sonny spoon, Mario could have won an Oscar for that in comparison to this Rap. Oh well if you find yourself wanting to laugh yourself silly and three-quarters embarrassed, be sure to drink first.

And please, watch responsibly. (No stars, better luck next time!)