Hip Hop Movie Club

We crack open an incredible time capsule of early Hip Hop in New York City! BEDANKT to Dutch filmmaker Bram van Splunteren for this gem. Topics discussed: 🔮 Predictions about Hip Hop that came true! 👊🏾 Less acknowledged pioneers of rap get respect 🚪 A special guest none of us saw coming Also check out: "The Making of Big Fun in the Big Town" by Bram van Splunteren Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...appreciate! Check us out: Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Free tickets thanks to ArtsQuest! Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

This Wiz Khalifa documentary "Still Rolling Papers" is a 10th anniversary celebration of his multi-platinum Rolling Papers album. Topics discussed: 📄 Paper thin storytelling 🏴‍☠️ Wiz's Pittsburgh pride 👟 His signature style 🚬 A kindred connection with Snoop Dogg Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...hallucinate! Check us out: Our next live event is SET IT OFF (30th anniversary!) on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Free tickets! Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: TikTok Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

The O.G. himself assembles 47 of the greatest rappers that ever lived to talk about how they make the rhymes that move the crowds. Topics discussed: ✍🏾 the craft of writing rhymes and rapping ⭕️ two mind-blowing full-circle moments for us 🎤 the sheer number of rappers Ice-T included in this film and... 🤔 ...the fascinating insights he gets from them Also check out: Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...proliferate! Check us out: Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Free admission! Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: TikTok Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

Trugoy the Dove may have passed, but De La Soul is not dead! We'll explain why, having watched the 2016 documentary from Mass Appeal. It's a must-watch for any De La Soul fan. Topics discussed: 🥇 How De La Soul stayed relevant their entire career through innovation and integrity ✊🏾 The surprising support they received early on 🎤 Their outsized influence on the careers of many rappers 💔 The rest of the story since this documentary came out Also check out: Our episode on the "Don't Press Play" episode of Teen Titans Go! with De La Soul! Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...roller skate! Check us out: Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18 at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. FREE TICKETS Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: TikTok Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

Juice WRLD: Into the Abyss (2021) is a glimpse into his final months. Both his prodigious talent and troubling substance dependency were on display. The sixth and final part of the HBO Max documentary series Music Box. Topics discussed: 💔 why this documentary was a flawed but a deeply poignant cautionary tale 📈 how big of a star Juice WRLD was 😢 how he was the inspirational voice who helped a generation, but tragically couldn't help himself Also check out: If you need free crisis counseling, you can text LF999 to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line, or go to LiveFree999.org for more resources. Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...intermediate! Check us out: Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA. Get your free ticket now! Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: TikTok Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

In 2023, we reviewed the 2020 film version of the Broadway production of Hamilton. Lin-Manuel Miranda's revolutionary approach to edutainment delivered - for Gen X old heads and young folks alike! Topics discussed: 🎭 Why we wish all history classes were done like this 🤕 Why Hamilton was not without its flaws 🎤 The many hip hop references weaved into the lyrics (and why it was a perfect Gen X soundtrack) 🏆 Who our MVP was in this show 🏅 Why it met our expectations, after all these years Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...negotiate! Check us out: Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Save the date! Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: TikTok Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

Idlewild (2006) is a story about friendship, dreams, and survival —all set to an OutKast soundtrack in a glittering, dangerous Jazz Age world. But most people missed out on it! Topics discussed: 🤔 Why you should reconsider this bold film experiment 🎤 Where Idlewild fits in the hip hop canon 💔 Why it signaled the end of this legendary rap group 🤷🏻‍♂️ A contrary opinion about the film Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...ideate! Check us out: Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Save the date! Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: TikTok Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

CONTENT WARNING: SA, self-harm We weigh in on the hot Netflix documentary SEAN COMBS: THE RECKONING, executive produced by 50 Cent. Is this hip hop's #MeToo moment? Can hip hop hold its icons to the standards it holds the world around it? Listen and find out! Puffy is Poison by Maronzio Vance: https://youtu.be/2Z3bLRPOlrw?si=qUE1UT3wqeBX1IPD Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...debate! Next live event: SET IT OFF at SteelStacks, March 18, 2026. Save the date! Hip Hop Movie Club on: Facebook: https://facebook.com/hiphopmovieclub Instagram: https://instagram.com/hiphopmovieclub Threads: https://www.threads.net/@hiphopmovieclub Bluesky: https://hiphopmovieclub.bsky.social Substack: https://hiphopmovieclub.substack.com/ Website: https://hiphopmovieclub.com/

It's the holiday season, so we are unwrapping what makes the music video and the song "Christmas in Hollis" by Run-DMC so great! Topics discussed: Also check out: Our episode on the Run-DMC documentary Kings from Queens. More on Christmas in Hollis at Defector, AV Club, Vice, and BET. Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...ice skate! Check us out: Save the date: March 18, 2026 for SET IT OFF at SteelStacks! Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

Devon (Nick Cannon) has raw talent, New York City swag, and a scholarship, but can this drumming prodigy make it in the prestigious Atlanta A&T Panthers Marching Band? Stick around for our review of Drumline (2002) and see just how impactful this film was. Topics discussed: 📸 A quick snapshot of this Nick Cannon tour-de-force 🎤 Where this fits in the hip hop canon 🎞️ Fun facts about this cult classic 💥 The impact this film had on both HBCUs and marching bands 😱 Fan reaction then and now Also check out: Our episode on You Got Served Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...originate! Check us out: Next live event: SET IT OFF at SteelStacks, March 18, 2026. Save the date! Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

Here is a rebroadcast of our original episode on Last Holiday, starring Queen Latifah and LL Cool J. Enjoy this feel-good story about living boldly and savoring every moment! Topics discussed: 👑 All hail the Queen, again 🙌🏾 Live your best life 💡 Know what you want 🐶 Underdog energy 1️⃣ A real one, on screen Also check out: Our episodes on 🏀 Just Wright 💵 Set It Off 🚔 In Too Deep 🦘 The film and TV career of LL Cool J Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...decorate! Live Events: SET IT OFF: March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks. Save the date! Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Our website We got merch! Get yours at the MeteorWright shop

Prof. Andrew "DJ ARM 18" McIntosh drops some serious knowledge about N.W.A., West Coast Hip Hop, and more before our 10th anniversary screening of "Straight Outta Compton" at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at SteelStacks. Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. Check us out: Next live event: SET IT OFF, March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks. Save the date! Tickets will be available at artsquest.org. Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

We discuss "Straight Outta L.A.', the 2010 ESPN 30 For 30 documentary directed by Ice Cube, which explores the tight bond between the NFL's Raiders and gangster rap, especially by N.W.A. Also check out: "No Mas Presents: Dock Ellis and The LSD No-No" by James Blagden Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...on the Golden State! Check us out: Our next live event is SET IT OFF on March 18, 2026 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA. Save the date! Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

Can hip hop tell stories about everyday Black life — not just struggle, but community, responsibility, growth and maturity — and still stay authentic? Ice Cube's Barbershop (2002) film sets out to do this. Did it work? HHMC takes a cut at it! Topics discussed: 📸 A quick snapshot of this pivotal shift for Ice Cube 🎤 Where this fits in the hip hop canon 🎞️ Fun facts about this Chicago classic 💥 The impact this film had on both Ice Cube and Eve's careers 😱 Fan reaction then and now Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...double date! Check us out: Our next live event is STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON on Thursday 11/13 7pm ET at the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Come early for a throwback set AND opening remarks by our man DJ ARM 18! Buy tickets Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

Ahead of our 10th anniversary screening of Straight Outta Compton, we examine The World's Most Dangerous Group's family tree, perhaps the most powerful one in hip hop, going from Snoop Dogg all the way to Kendrick Lamar. Topics discussed: 🌳 N.W.A.'s family tree 😱 N.W.A.'s controversies 📽️ Their biopic, Straight Outta Compton Also check out: Our episode on Straight Outta Compton and our deep dive on Ice Cube Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...checkmate! Check us out: Hang with us on November 13 at 7pm for our 10th anniversary screening of Straight Outta Compton! Come early for a throwback DJ set and opening remarks by Prof. Andrew "DJ ARM 18" McIntosh of Northampton Community College. Buy tickets Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

Does Idlewild got that swing, or ain't got that swing? Set in Prohibition-era Georgia, 1930s, Idlewild portrays the story of two childhood friends going in completely different directions. Percival—played by André 3000—is a quiet, introverted church pianist who dreams of playing bigger stages, and then there's Rooster, Big Boi's character, running the hottest speakeasy in town, the Idlewild club, dealing with gangsters and all the chaos that comes with it. It's a story about friendship, dreams, and survival —all set to an OutKast soundtrack in a glittering, dangerous Jazz Age world. Topics discussed: 📸 A quick snapshot of this bold musical experiment 🎤 Where this fits in the hip hop canon 🎞️ Fun facts about this cult classic 💥 The impact this film had on hip hop cinema 😱 Fan reaction then and now Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...ideate! Check us out: Our next live event is STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON, on Thursday November 13 at SteelStacks. Buy tickets Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

We have spoken about our Mount Rushmore of rappers turned actors: Will Smith, Queen Latifah, Tupac Shakur, and Ice Cube. Who is in the next tier? Listen and find out! Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...marinate! Check us out: Our next live event is STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON on Thursday Nov. 13 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Buy tickets Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

Warren Beatty's 1998 political satire Bulworth gave us an audacious experiment: a white politician who ditches his teleprompter for freestyle flows and brutal honesty about America's political machine. Topics discussed: 📸 A quick snapshot of this political satire 🎤 Where this fits in the hip hop canon 🎞️ Fun facts about this cult classic 💥 The impact this film had on politics 😱 Fan reaction then and now Also check out: Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...pomegranate? Check us out: Our next live event is STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON on Thursday November 13 at SteelStacks in Bethlehem PA. Buy tickets Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

A documentary film crew ventures into the Amazon rainforest and gets hoodwinked into helping a mysterious snake hunter. A deadly encounter with The Predator ensues, with a Death Certificate waiting for AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted and Jenny from the Block. Topics discussed: 📸 A quick snapshot of this polarizing movie 🎤 Where this fits in the hip hop canon 🎞️ Fun facts about this creature feature 💥 The impact this film had on the trope of Black people dying in horror films 😂 Fan reaction then and now Also check out: A new Anaconda film is coming out this year! Anaconda 2: The Wrath of Conda Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...interrogate! Check us out: Our next live event is TALES FROM THE HOOD, October 4 at SteelStacks with the First Saturday Horror Series/How Could You?! Podcast. Tickets at steelstacks.org. Buy tickets Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website

Don't be scuuuurrrred, the Halloween season is near! We dove into the 1995 horror anthology movie Tales from the Hood. Tales from the Hood is a horror anthology about three young men who visit a mysterious funeral home, where the eccentric mortician tells them four supernatural stories that blend scares with social commentary on issues like police brutality, racism, and domestic violence. Think "The Twilight Zone" meets urban horror, with each tale exploring how supernatural justice comes for those who commit very human evils. Topics discussed: Also check out: We are screening Tales from the Hood in celebration of its 30th anniversary, in conjunction with the First Saturday Horror Series and the How Could You?! podcast at SteelStacks in Bethlehem on October 4th. Tap in and come through! Get tickets. Director Rusty Cundieff also helmed Fear of a Black Hat, which we reviewed in 2024. Listen now. Credits Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. And remember: Don't hate...period. Check us out: Our final screening of the year at SteelStacks is Straight Outta Compton. We're celebrating its 10th anniversary on November 13! Buy tickets Check out our live event schedule and more at our Linktree. Hip Hop Movie Club on: Facebook Instagram Threads Bluesky Substack (newsletter) Website