Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap

“Hip hop reinvented everything”

Ice-T is a world renowned rap icon and has sold millions of copies of records. He has had huge success in the art of rap and has brought us this documentary, which he has directed and presents, that asks the one question that never gets asked to rappers, “How did you do that?”

The Art of Rap is a personal journey for Ice-T as he delves into the roots of the music that saved his life. This definitive documentary portrays how rap is all about craft and skill, as it is an art form and is unique to the place in which it is crafted. Ice-T takes us on a trip around America, starting in New York, in the Bronx where rap first started, to Detroit and then LA, showing us how rap has developed in each place to portray a different message of a different way of life. 

Along the way, this documentary features exclusive interviews and freestyle performances by some of the greatest names in rap, including; Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Caz, Nas, Mos Def, Eminem, Chuck D, KRS-One, Run-DMC, Dr.Dre, Ice Cube and Snoop Dogg. Each rapper is presented with the question of how they do their work and each individual gives a different answer to how they write their lyrics and what rap means to them. Some write their lyrics as a story, others in a systematic way. What is clear from all of their experiences is that rap is a skill, as you have to have originality. Most of these rappers write lyrics from their own experiences in life and, therefore, their raps are very personal to them.

It was made clear that rap came from the culture in which these people live in, as many of the beats that were once used to rap against were Jazz records. Rap simply gave a voice to a new generation and it even crossed the boundaries of colour, which the film beautifully represents with its multicolour scenic shots of the cities lit up at night. Hip Hop became the voice for anyone that needed it. One of the rappers, Common, stated in the film that “the joy and beauty of being a Hip Hop Artist is that you can truly express who you are and truly be who you are.” For many of the rappers interviewed in this documentary, rap helped to save them in one way or another.

This documentary tries to redefine how people think of Hip Hop, as one of the main problems with such an aggressive form of music seems to be that people do not respect it as an art form. Thus, this documentary gives the public an opportunity to see how rappers craft their lyrics and how much history this music is steeped in. However, the film does not delve very far into the social impact and context of rap which also means that the interviews, where the same questions are asked each time, do get slightly repetitive as not much context is given alongside these.

Despite this, the documentary remains informative and eye opening as it gives rap a soul. It gives people an opportunity to try and understand the art of rap and hopefully a new found respect.

Opens in cinemas nationwide on 19 July 2012.

On Thursday 19th July 2012, fans will have the chance to witness an extraordinary moment in hip hop history when Ice-T performs with rap legends Chuck D, Melle Mel and Raekwon for a one-off performance at the Hammersmith Apollo to mark the European Premier of Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap. The event will be simulcast live at cinemas across the UK.

Tickets are available for purchase via Hammersmith Apollo, HMV Tickets & Ticketmaster:

http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/event/360048C1F9496566

http://www.hmvtickets.com/events/6503