Some movies you watch because they are classics. Some movies
you watch because they mean something to you in particular. Some movies you
watch to be enlightened. But a huge number of movies you watch you watch for
fun and nothing more or maybe to remember a time when things were different.
Such is the case with BEAT STREET.
In 1984 when the movie came out hip hop music was on the
rise as was hip hop dancing. The jerky movements, the spins, the flips, the
musically influenced dance style was the rage. Hollywood, never one to let a
fad go by untapped, made the choice to bring out several films involving the
hip hop scene, almost always by a low budget studio. That year Cannon popped
out BREAKIN’ and its sequel BREAKIN’ 2: ELECTRIC BOOGALOO. KRUSH GROOVE gave
Shelia E. a chance to hit the movie screen. WILD STYLE featured the music of
Fab Five Freddy and Grandmaster Flash.
BEAT STREET came out in 1984 and was one of the first to hit
the screens. All of them seemed to play off of the same things, the music, the
New York locale and the graffiti art. BEAT STREET takes on all of those themes.
Kenny is a young DJ living in the Bronx with dreams of being a star one day.
Along with his brother Lee who wants to be a professional hip hop dancer and
his friends they hit the clubs and private parties held in abandoned buildings.
The possibility of success arrives in the form of Tracy (Rae
Dawn Chong), a grad student who invites Lee to show off his moves for her
classmates. With no pay and no chance to use it as a stepping stone, Kenny gets
upset since Lee had told him Tracy promised him a chance at both. This leads to
a parting of the ways until Tracy finds a way to make things right with Kenny.
Later he gets that chance at stardom and an opportunity to show his skills at a
major nightclub. He just has to show them what he can do.
In addition to this story we have that of Kenny’s friend
Ramon, a gifted graffiti artists who also dreams of making it big. Ramon also
has a young child with his girlfriend and he’s trying his best to make things
right with her and her family. He works as well as doing his art and finds
himself in a battle of wills with another spray paint artist who keeps ruining
his works. A face off is inevitable.
But story isn’t the main reason for these movies. Much like
the musicals of the past it was the song and dance portions of the films that
made fans go to them. The movie offers plenty of that for hip hop fans who
craved seeing that as often as possible. The film is filled with dance offs and
party sequences that are filled with hip hop dancing. Not only that but songs
are provided by some of the best performers on the scene at the time including
Doug E. Fresh, Grandmaster Mel and the Furious Five and Africa Bambata among
others.
The movie fits into the drama category because it’s about
hope and dreams, some achieved and others that crash to the ground before they
can even begin. Yes there is tragedy as well as joy in this film. In the end it
is a movie that for those who grew up in the 80s when the music and dancing was
just taking off will bring back fond memories. For those young enough to like
the music they can now see what their parents were up to at the time. And for
movie fans it’s another one to just sit and enjoy. Those interested in adding
it to their collections will be the die-hard fans. All others will just have a
bit of fun and move on.
Click here to order.
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