Hip hop musicals

Cafe Society
1

I’m doing research before I write a script for a student film that, if I make it, will be somewhat of a 40-minute hip-hop musical. Let’s make a list of all the hip hop (or similar?) themed musicals, film or stage, that have been made.

I’ve seen Breakdance: The Movie, and I know of the sequel, Breakin’ 2: Electric Bugaloo (best sequel ever?:D). Then there’s Beat Street, one of many? rip offs of the Breakdance craze, correct? Were any of them good?

Then there were the House Party movies with Kid and Play. They did some freestyling. But let’s not list anything like this; just b/c You Got Served has hip hop and dance in it doesn’t make it a musical!

8 Mile is decent.

I know of a BET tv movie with Q TIP called 'Prison Song ’ that sounds like a musical w/ short bursts of lyricism in it.

And on the stage, I know of these productions:

Flow (see link)
Bring in the Noise,… doesn’t count, does it, b/c there’s no rapping, is there? Let me know.
There have been hip hop versions of classics like The Bomb-Itty of Errors and Da Boyz, both based on the same Shakespearean play, and even the Bible!
According to filmview.com in 2003, “There are several hip-hop musicals in the works, including the first-time director Jon Chu’s remake of “Bye-Bye Birdie” for Columbia Pictures. The 14-year-old singer Lil’ Romeo is set to star in “Lil’ Romeo and Lil’ Juliet,” a hip-hop retelling of Shakespeare’s tragedy for MGM.”

I also should catch Def Comedy Jam Sunday nights.

Let’s add to this list.

2

If you’ve ever seen Kid Notorious on Comedy Central, they had a mini hip hop version of the Godfather.

3

Carmen: A Hip Hopera is a modern version of Bizet’s classical story. It stars Beyonce and she sang aria beautifully. It’s no wonder she sang four times for the Oscars.

4

I saw that episode of Kid Notorious.

5

There’s !HERO, a rock opera that sets the story of the life of Jesus Christ in modern times.

I’ve not seen it, but the music is pretty good and was written by some of the top contemporary Christian artists today.

6

I mean Def Poetry Jam. :smiley:

7

Keep your eyes peeled for the musical that Outkast is making for HBO. It’ll include some previous Outkast songs, and some new ones. Last I heard it’s supposed to come out some time in 2005.

8

Russell Simmons produced Def Poetry Jam on Broadway in 2003 and won the Tony for Best Special Theatrical Event.

I’d suggest you look up Brantley’s review of it in the Times and get the book published in conjunction with the show to get a feel for what it was. The production was truly something special, and on a whole different level from the HBO show.

W

9

Top of the page to ya! :cool:

10

Get Prince Paul’s A Prince Among Thieves. It’s a CD, but this original “hip hopera” should get you going in the right direction.

11

I deeply believe the neologism ‘hip-hopera’ should be stripped naked and buggered by horny squirrels.

12

You must watch the HBO sketch comedy Mr. Show’s “Rap: The Musical” (found in episode two of season two).

Trust me. Of course it’s not serious, but you should see it anyway.

13

Everybody should check out CB4.

14

Well, if you’re gonna watch CB4, you need to see Fear Of A Black Hat. Song parodies include A Gangster’s Life Ain’t Fun, I’m Black Y’All, and I’m Only Human.

15

I’m desparate for top-of-the-page spots, aren’t I? :wink:

16

I thought I told you that we won’t stop
I thought I told you that we won’t stop

17

School Daze, directed by Spike Lee, is a musical that has song and dance reminiscent of West Side Story. Its a social commentary on divisions among blacks in a historically black college.

18

:d

19

Just popping in to say that Bombitty of Errors was fantastic when I saw it some years ago.

20

Well, the whole thing’s not a musical – it’s got plenty of R&B with Tischa Campbell and Tichina Arnold (“I Don’t Wanna Be Alone Tonight”) and musical fantasy sequences in it, like “Good And Bad Hair.” Not a lot I’d describe as hip-hop, though, except maybe EU’s “Doin’ The Butt.” Spike is a jazz man.