6.2/10
8,169
24 user 21 critic

CB4 (1993)

R | | Comedy, Music | 12 March 1993 (USA)
Trailer
2:31 | Trailer

On Disc

at Amazon

A "rapumentary", covering the rise to fame of MC Gusto, Stab Master Arson, and Dead Mike: members of the rap group "CB4". We soon learn that these three are not what they seem and don't ... See full summary »

Director:

Tamra Davis

Writers:

Chris Rock (story), Nelson George (story) | 3 more credits »

Videos

Photos

Learn more

More Like This 

Comedy | Music
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.2/10 X  

A mockumentary chronicling the rise and fall of NWH, a not particularly talented--or particularly bright but always controversial--hip-hop group.

Director: Rusty Cundieff
Stars: Larry B. Scott, Mark Christopher Lawrence, Rusty Cundieff
Action | Comedy | Crime
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.6/10 X  

In this parody of blaxploitation movies, a black hero wannabe reunites former black heroes from the 70s to help him get revenge on Mr. Big.

Director: Keenen Ivory Wayans
Stars: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Bernie Casey, Antonio Fargas
Sugar Hill (1993)
Drama | Thriller
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5.9/10 X  

A drug dealer tries to get out of the life and start anew with his girlfriend, but the transition is tragically difficult.

Director: Leon Ichaso
Stars: Wesley Snipes, Michael Wright, Khandi Alexander
New Jack City (1991)
Action | Crime | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.6/10 X  

A crime lord ascends to power and becomes megalomaniacal while a maverick police detective vows to stop him.

Director: Mario Van Peebles
Stars: Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Allen Payne
Mo' Money (1992)
Action | Comedy | Crime
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 5.5/10 X  

Trying to get his act together, a con artist gets a job in a credit card company. He falls in love with a fellow employee, he steals a couple of cards, everything is going great. But soon, ... See full summary »

Director: Peter MacDonald
Stars: Damon Wayans, Stacey Dash, Marlon Wayans
South Central (1992)
Crime | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.8/10 X  

A former gangster fresh out of prison wants to change his life for the better and must save his 10 year old son whose already chosen a gang life.

Director: Stephen Milburn Anderson
Stars: Glenn Plummer, Byron Minns, Lexie Bigham
House Party (1990)
Comedy | Music | Romance
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.4/10 X  

Kid decides to go to his friend Play's house party, but neither of them can predict what's in store for them on what could be the wildest night of their lives.

Director: Reginald Hudlin
Stars: Christopher Reid, Robin Harris, Christopher Martin
Juice (1992)
Action | Crime | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.1/10 X  

Four inner-city teenagers get caught up in the pursuit of power and happiness, which they refer to as "the juice".

Director: Ernest R. Dickerson
Stars: Omar Epps, Tupac Shakur, Jermaine 'Huggy' Hopkins
Above the Rim (1994)
Crime | Drama | Sport
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.6/10 X  

Story of a promising high school basketball star and his relationships with two brothers, one a drug dealer and the other a former basketball star fallen on hard times and now employed as a security guard.

Director: Jeff Pollack
Stars: Duane Martin, Tupac Shakur, Leon
Crime | Drama
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6.6/10 X  

A child of a middle class home with solid moral values is lured into a world of crime and corruption.

Director: Craig Ross Jr.
Stars: Allen Payne, Angelle Brooks, Michael Taliferro
Drama | Music
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 7.6/10 X  

The story of the rise and fall of an African American vocal group.

Director: Robert Townsend
Stars: Robert Townsend, Michael Wright, Leon
Edit

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chris Rock ... Albert / MC Gusto
Allen Payne ... Euripides / Dead Mike
Deezer D ... Otis / Stab Master Arson
Chris Elliott ... A. White
Phil Hartman ... Virgil Robinson
Charlie Murphy ... Gusto (as Charles Q. Murphy)
Khandi Alexander ... Sissy
Art Evans ... Albert Sr.
Theresa Randle ... Eve
Willard E. Pugh ... Trustus
Ty Granderson Jones ... 40 Dog (as Tyrone Granderson Jones)
Rachel True ... Daliha
Victor Wilson Victor Wilson ... Lt. Davenport
Richard Gant ... Baa Baa Ack
J.D. Daniels ... Ben
Edit

Storyline

A "rapumentary", covering the rise to fame of MC Gusto, Stab Master Arson, and Dead Mike: members of the rap group "CB4". We soon learn that these three are not what they seem and don't apear to know as much about rap music as they claim... but a lack of musical ability in an artist never hurts sales, does it? You've just got to play the part of a rap star... Written by Murray Chapman <muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Sex, rap and family values? See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Music

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language, and for sexuality and drug content | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
Edit

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 March 1993 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

CB4 - The Movie See more »

Edit

Box Office

Gross USA:

$17,953,778
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia

The ragtime piano melody heard in the nursing home sequence is actually the Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight." See more »

Goofs

When Ben sees the tour bus coming, he puts his cap on twice. See more »

Quotes

Albert Sr.: You ain't tough. There are real some kids out there that are going to kick your narrow ass. You ain't from the street, I'm from the street. And only somebody who wasn't would think it was something to glorify.
See more »

Crazy Credits

After the credits Chris Rock is shown playing Cheap Pete who asks a newspaper vendor how much a newspaper costs. When he finds out it's too expensive he asks to pay 15 cents and for the vendor to read him the good news. See more »

Alternate Versions

FX Network TV version includes one additional scene showing the real M.C. Gusto breaking out of jail; in this scene you see M.C. Gusto and a white inmate in a golf course and the white guy says dumb comments and subsequently gets knocked out. See more »

Connections

References Colors (1988) See more »

Soundtracks

Steady Mobbin'
Written by Ice Cube, Alan Gorrie (as Allen Gorrie) and Roger Ball
Performed by Ice Cube
Courtesy of Priority Records
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.

User Reviews

 
Rapumentary gone horribly wrong... produced by A. White
14 August 2002 | by atriumelphSee all my reviews

This is by far one of Chris Rock's best works to date, and it's his first starring role! This movie has tons of talent, a tight plot (okay - you need a good ability to suspend your disbelief), and a palpable message.

It quickly became something of an underground classic as the early 90s launched the careers of many gangster rap artists. This movie does a great job of parodying the rise and fall of a gangster rap group.

It's got a unique urban flavor and is loaded with perhaps more race-driven humor than others may think necessary (many many MANY racial stereotypes are exploited in this movie, such as a local restaurant called "Big Ass Biscuit" where the young rappers frequented). However, it's done in a very tongue-in-cheek manner and the overall effect is hilarious, not heinous.

The addition to the cast of Chris Elliot playing the role of "A. White", the rapumentary's director, is brilliant. Elliot is great at playing a white fanboy who lands the job of working for his new favorite rap group, and he fumbles through the movie as only Chris Elliot can.

Phil Hartman is equally funny as Virgil Robinson, a local politician who tries to use CB4's profanity as his new platform for re-election (meanwhile, his son is addicted to CB4's music and image). The interaction between Virgil and his son in this manner represents how many parents viewed rap music as their children began to listen to it.

This movie is laden with parodies too numerous to list. The soundtrack is also quite good (if you like rap music at all) and includes the song "Sweat of my Balls" - a song featured in the movie (also hysterical, complete with a stage show of large testicles being dropped from the ceiling onto the crowd).

If you aren't easily offended, this movie is VERY entertaining. If you are able to look beyond the veneer of racial overtones and profanity, it also has a few points to make about the origins of "fake" gangster rap groups and their image.

Look for underrated performances by Tyrone Granderson Jones as "40 Dog", Richard Gant as "Baa Baa Ack" and Charles Q. Murphy as "Gusto".

I CAN'T WAIT for this to be released on DVD - if it ever will be...


9 of 11 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you? | Report this
Review this title | See all 24 user reviews »

Contribute to This Page



Recently Viewed