Wild Style
| Wild Style | |
|---|---|
| Produced by | Charlie Ahearn |
| Written by | Charlie Ahearn |
| Starring | Lee Quinones Sandra Fabara Patti Astor Fab 5 Freddy Cold Crush Brothers Rock Steady Crew Grandmaster Flash Busy Bee Grandmixer DST |
| Distributed by | Submarine Entertainment |
| Release date(s) | March 18, 1983, (initial release in 1982) |
| Running time | 82 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Wild Style is a 1983 hip hop film produced by Charlie Ahearn. Released theatrically in 1983 by First Run Features and later re-released for home video by Rhino Home Video, it is regarded as the first hip hop motion picture. The film featured seminal figures within the given period, such as Fab Five Freddy, Lee Quinones, Lady Pink, the Rock Steady Crew, The Cold Crush Brothers, Queen Lisa Lee of Zulu Nation, and Grandmaster Flash.[1][2] The protagonist "Zoro" is played by New York graffiti artist "Lee" George Quinones. 2013, marks the 30th Anniversary of the film and a Blu Ray edition is slated for release to include various interviews and additional features.
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Background[edit]
An early version of the 'Wild Style' logo appeared in 1981 when Charlie Ahearn hired graffiti writer Dondi to paint the 'window down' subway car piece that appears in the film.[3] The Dondi piece was the inspiration for the animated title sequence designed by the artist Zephyr in 1982.[4] The final 'Wild Style' logo was designed by Zephyr and painted as a mural by Zephyr, Revolt, and Sharp in 1983.
Plot[edit]
The film depicts several prominent figures from the early hip hop culture, engaging in activities such as MCing, turntablism, graffiti and B-boying.
Reception[edit]
Review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 88% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 17 reviews.[5] A review from The Guardian noted that despite the low production values, 'nothing else comes close to capturing the atmosphere of the early days of hip-hop and spraycan art...'[6]
Impact[edit]
The film has received a large cult following over the years after its initial release. Highly regarded hip-hop albums such as Illmatic by Nas, Midnight Marauders by A Tribe Called Quest, Black Sunday by Cypress Hill, Resurrection by Common, Big Shots by Charizma, Operation: Doomsday by MF Doom, Check Your Head by Beastie Boys and Quality Control by Jurassic 5 have featured samples from the film. In 2007, the VH1 Hip Hop Honors paid tribute to Wild Style in recognition of its influence upon the culture. The film was also voted as one of the top ten rock and roll films of all time by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[1] The film has been exhibited as part of a 1980s art retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago and the Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston.[7][8]
Soundtrack[edit]
The original soundtrack consists of 17 tracks recorded by various artists featured within the film. The album has been described by Allmusic as 'one of the key records of early '80s hip-hop'[9]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Krotov, Mark. "Wild Style celebrates anniversary". Paste Magazine. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ Mc Call, Tris. "Rock Steady Crew to throw 34th Anniversary party in Newark's Lincoln Park". NJ.com. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
- ^ Witten, Andrew (2001). Dondi White, Style Master General. Regan Books. pp. 94–95.
- ^ Cooper, Martha (2004). Hip Hop Files Photographs 1979-1984. Here To Fame. p. 188.
- ^ "Wild Style (1983)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ O'Neill, Phelim. "Wild Style". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ^ http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-04-25/entertainment/ct-ent-0426-mca-80s-review-waxman-20120425_1_helen-molesworth-honest-art-contemporary-art
- ^ http://dailyfreepress.com/2012/11/15/art-love-and-politics-in-the-80s-an-exhibition-at-the-ica/
- ^ Stanley, Leo. "Wild Style Original Soundtrack". Allmusic. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
External links[edit]
- Wild Style at the Internet Movie Database
- Wild Style
- Wild Style: Times Online movie review
- New York Times Review
- Soundtrack
- The Hip Hop History of Wild Style
