| A hip hop DVD can take many forms: a mixtape | | | | director John Singleton turned in his best effort with this |
| collection, freestyle battles, abdominal workouts, etc. | | | | hard edge, gritty urban drama about getting out of a |
| Here, we're taking a look at the best movies based on | | | | bad situation with the gifts you were given. While not |
| hip hop; from gritty street dramas to stories of making | | | | my favorite on this list, it is perhaps the best film overall, |
| it in the music business, here's the best hip hop DVD | | | | in terms of writing, acting and directing. |
| releases ever: | | | | 8 Mile - Freestyle battles used to draw dozens of |
| Wild Style - A great reflection of hip hop when it was | | | | people in most places. After this movie came out, |
| still growing up and a must see for any aspiring rapper. | | | | those same battles drew hundreds and brought a new |
| You get to see what freestyles in the park were like | | | | level of respect for freestyle MCs. The story of B. |
| and how rappers used to perform (e.g. more call and | | | | Rabbit (Eminem) fighting for his dream of rap success |
| response, crowd rocking, etc.). | | | | is a lot better than most critics give it credit for. Sure, |
| Breakin' - This movie did for breakdancing what 8 Mile | | | | the final battle scene seemed a bit contrived, but |
| did for freestyle battles; it really brought dancing into | | | | overall, you cannot deny the positive impact this had |
| the mainstream, resulting in countless new kids trying to | | | | on hip hop in general. |
| learn breaking, popping and locking. | | | | Juice - Tupac's best acting performance, hands down. |
| Beat Street - The best all around hip movie, period. | | | | His character Bishop was scarier than any guy in |
| Unlike other DVD releases in this list, Beat Street | | | | Boyz In The Hood (which is saying a lot). Many would |
| successfully displayed the four elements: Rappers, | | | | argue that Poetic Justice was his best film, but Juice |
| DJs, B-Boys and Graffiti. This is the Holy Grail of | | | | really hit home with me as a solid, well crafted story of |
| movies, and one of my favorites. | | | | growing up in the ghetto. |
| Boyz In The Hood - OK, so technically this isn't a true | | | | These hip hop DVD releases are among the best I've |
| hip hop DVD release, but with Ice CUbe as a leading | | | | seen for their portrayal of hip hop in its purest form. |
| man, it counts. Cuba Gooding Jr's role is dead on, and | | | | |