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Hip-hop was born in the Bronx in the early 1970s. Graffiti, rap music and break dancing were assembled
from spare parts and ingeniously turned into art forms that became the cultural backbone of an entire
generation. The music, the art, the fashion, the language and overall swagger has changed pop culture
forever. The cultural impact of hip hop no less hit Hollywood as well and has provided cinematic
inspiration. The hip-hop lifestyle has produced several movie classics and influenced many filmmakers
who have incorporated elements of the culture into their films.
Hip-hop movies can be defined as movies featuring hip hop music, hip hop artists or elements of the hip
hop culture. Or they can be movies that have been embraced by the hip-hop culture. Hip-hop movies cover
a wide range of genres and themes -- everytihng from features to documentaries to concert films. The
following are the 25 best movies that have been beloved by the hip hop generation and best represent
the culture.
from spare parts and ingeniously turned into art forms that became the cultural backbone of an entire
generation. The music, the art, the fashion, the language and overall swagger has changed pop culture
forever. The cultural impact of hip hop no less hit Hollywood as well and has provided cinematic
inspiration. The hip-hop lifestyle has produced several movie classics and influenced many filmmakers
who have incorporated elements of the culture into their films.
Hip-hop movies can be defined as movies featuring hip hop music, hip hop artists or elements of the hip
hop culture. Or they can be movies that have been embraced by the hip-hop culture. Hip-hop movies cover
a wide range of genres and themes -- everytihng from features to documentaries to concert films. The
following are the 25 best movies that have been beloved by the hip hop generation and best represent
the culture.
1. City of God (2002)
Based on true events, "City of God"
is the depiction of the brutal rivalry
between two gangs of young
hoodlums for control of the drug
trade in a Brazilian ghetto. Super
gully, hardcore and the most
gangsta movie you'll ever see.
100 Best Ranking: 23
5 out 5 Popcorn Bags
Based on true events, "City of God"
is the depiction of the brutal rivalry
between two gangs of young
hoodlums for control of the drug
trade in a Brazilian ghetto. Super
gully, hardcore and the most
gangsta movie you'll ever see.
100 Best Ranking: 23
5 out 5 Popcorn Bags
2. Juice (1992)
Four teenagers living in a tough
Harlem neighborhood stage a
robbery that goes seriously wrong.
"Juice" is fueled mostly by Tupac
Shakur's insanely edgy and realistic
performance.
100 Best Ranking: 78
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
Four teenagers living in a tough
Harlem neighborhood stage a
robbery that goes seriously wrong.
"Juice" is fueled mostly by Tupac
Shakur's insanely edgy and realistic
performance.
100 Best Ranking: 78
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
3. Scarface (1983)
A Cuban refugee (Al Pacino) with a
violent streak is unstoppable in his
quest for what he sees as the
American dream as he works his
way from chauffeur to drug lord.
Written by Oliver Stone and directed
been the model of the American
dream for many in the urban sprawls
of America. Sadly the movie has
raised more black men than their
own fathers.
100 Best Ranking: NR
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
A Cuban refugee (Al Pacino) with a
violent streak is unstoppable in his
quest for what he sees as the
American dream as he works his
way from chauffeur to drug lord.
Written by Oliver Stone and directed
been the model of the American
dream for many in the urban sprawls
of America. Sadly the movie has
raised more black men than their
own fathers.
100 Best Ranking: NR
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
4. Menace II Society (1993)
Things spiral out of control after
Caine (Tyrin Turner) and O-Dog
(Larenz Tate) breeze into a Korean
grocery store where trigger-happy
O-Dog shoots the grocers.
100 Best Ranking: 25
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
Things spiral out of control after
Caine (Tyrin Turner) and O-Dog
(Larenz Tate) breeze into a Korean
grocery store where trigger-happy
O-Dog shoots the grocers.
100 Best Ranking: 25
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
5. Friday (1995)
Chris Tucker star in this hilarious day-in-the-life
"hood" classic directed by Gary F. Gray. "Friday"
may be the funniest movie ever made. Craig is
having a particularly bad day -- he's lost his job,
is fighting with his girlfriend, and is about to have
a run-in with the neighborhood tough guy. --But at
least he gets to hang out with his weed lovin'
buddy, Smokey, on the best day of the week.
100 Best Ranking: 18
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
Chris Tucker star in this hilarious day-in-the-life
"hood" classic directed by Gary F. Gray. "Friday"
may be the funniest movie ever made. Craig is
having a particularly bad day -- he's lost his job,
is fighting with his girlfriend, and is about to have
a run-in with the neighborhood tough guy. --But at
least he gets to hang out with his weed lovin'
buddy, Smokey, on the best day of the week.
100 Best Ranking: 18
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
6. New Jack City (1991)
A police detective hires two ex-cops
to face off with a drug lord (Wesley
Snipes as Ni no Brown) who's
become extremely rich from his
crack operation. The soundtrack
was totally crunk.
100 Best Ranking: 63
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
A police detective hires two ex-cops
to face off with a drug lord (Wesley
Snipes as Ni no Brown) who's
become extremely rich from his
crack operation. The soundtrack
was totally crunk.
100 Best Ranking: 63
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
7. Baby Boy (2001)
An unemployed African-American man (Tyrese
Gibson) living with his mother struggles to
break out on his own and support himself and
his baby's mama (Taraji P. Henson). Not an
easy pill to swallow. The realism of the
movie's subject matter rubbed a lot of people
the wrong way.
100 Best Ranking: 19
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
An unemployed African-American man (Tyrese
Gibson) living with his mother struggles to
break out on his own and support himself and
his baby's mama (Taraji P. Henson). Not an
easy pill to swallow. The realism of the
movie's subject matter rubbed a lot of people
the wrong way.
100 Best Ranking: 19
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
8. Boyz N The Hood (1991)
A look at four friends (including Ice Cube,
Cuba Gooding Jr. and Morris Chestnut) with
differing backgrounds in South Central Los
Angeles. "Boyz N the Hood" emphasizes the
struggle between family values and the
aimlessness and ignorance that has led to
senseless urban violence. Directed by John
Singleton who received Oscar nominations
for directing and the film's screenplay. Best
known as the movie that kicked off the era of
the gangsta flick.
100 Best Ranking: 32
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
A look at four friends (including Ice Cube,
Cuba Gooding Jr. and Morris Chestnut) with
differing backgrounds in South Central Los
Angeles. "Boyz N the Hood" emphasizes the
struggle between family values and the
aimlessness and ignorance that has led to
senseless urban violence. Directed by John
Singleton who received Oscar nominations
for directing and the film's screenplay. Best
known as the movie that kicked off the era of
the gangsta flick.
100 Best Ranking: 32
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
11. Paid In Full (2002)
This underrated classic is about an
enterprising Harlem hustler (Wood Harris)
who becomes a wildly successful drug
dealer in a single year only to realize that
crime really doesn't pay.
100 Best Ranking: NR
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
This underrated classic is about an
enterprising Harlem hustler (Wood Harris)
who becomes a wildly successful drug
dealer in a single year only to realize that
crime really doesn't pay.
100 Best Ranking: NR
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
12. Goodfellas (1990)
A boy grows up in an Italian section of
Brooklyn and is determined to become part
of the Mafia. After joining the organization, he
runs afoul of the law and ends up testifying
against his friends.
100 Best Ranking: NR
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
A boy grows up in an Italian section of
Brooklyn and is determined to become part
of the Mafia. After joining the organization, he
runs afoul of the law and ends up testifying
against his friends.
100 Best Ranking: NR
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
13. Notorious (2009)
The life-and-death story of Notorious B.I.G.
(a.k.a. Christopher Wallace), who came
straight out of Brooklyn to take the world of
rap music by storm and become one of
the greatest rappers ever. Jamal Woolard
as Biggie is sick. He's just as good as
Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles and Angela
Bassett as Tina Turner.
100 Best Ranking: NR
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
The life-and-death story of Notorious B.I.G.
(a.k.a. Christopher Wallace), who came
straight out of Brooklyn to take the world of
rap music by storm and become one of
the greatest rappers ever. Jamal Woolard
as Biggie is sick. He's just as good as
Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles and Angela
Bassett as Tina Turner.
100 Best Ranking: NR
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
14. Krush Groove (1985)
Up-and-coming record producer Russell
Walker (Blair Underwood) decides to start
his own rap label. Allegedly based on
Russell Simmons' and Rick Rubin's creation
of Def Jam Records, this movie features
classic musical performances by Run-DMC,
LL Cool J, New Edition, and the Fat Boys.
100 Best Ranking: 73
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
Up-and-coming record producer Russell
Walker (Blair Underwood) decides to start
his own rap label. Allegedly based on
Russell Simmons' and Rick Rubin's creation
of Def Jam Records, this movie features
classic musical performances by Run-DMC,
LL Cool J, New Edition, and the Fat Boys.
100 Best Ranking: 73
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
15. House Party (1990)
A teen who has been "grounded" tries to
evade his father (Robin Harris) to get to a
party. Christopher Reid and Christopher
this hilarious comedy that also featured
Martin Lawrence.
100 Best Ranking: 64
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
A teen who has been "grounded" tries to
evade his father (Robin Harris) to get to a
party. Christopher Reid and Christopher
this hilarious comedy that also featured
Martin Lawrence.
100 Best Ranking: 64
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
16. Wild Style (1983)
"Wild Style" details the early 1980s cultural
turning point when Old School hip-hop was born
in the South Bronx, New York. This is an
authentic document of the early '80s South
Bronx rap scene with a soundtrack featuring
Grandmaster Flash, Busy Bee, and co-star Fab
5 Freddy.
100 Best Ranking: 96
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags,
"Wild Style" details the early 1980s cultural
turning point when Old School hip-hop was born
in the South Bronx, New York. This is an
authentic document of the early '80s South
Bronx rap scene with a soundtrack featuring
Grandmaster Flash, Busy Bee, and co-star Fab
5 Freddy.
100 Best Ranking: 96
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags,
17. Set It Off (1996)
Four underprivileged female friends (Jada
Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and
Kimberly Elise) try to escape poverty by robbing
banks.
100 Best Ranking: 43
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
Four underprivileged female friends (Jada
Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and
Kimberly Elise) try to escape poverty by robbing
banks.
100 Best Ranking: 43
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
18. Poetic Justice (1993)
A young woman (Janet Jackson) from the
ghetto of South Central L.A. gives up her
college plans after the murder of her boyfriend
and copes with life through poetry and the love
she finds in a postal worker (Tupac Shakur).
The poetry was written by Maya Angelou. Every
scene was totally stolen by Tupac who landed
the role after throwing a chair during his
audition.
100 Best Ranking: NR
3 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
A young woman (Janet Jackson) from the
ghetto of South Central L.A. gives up her
college plans after the murder of her boyfriend
and copes with life through poetry and the love
she finds in a postal worker (Tupac Shakur).
The poetry was written by Maya Angelou. Every
scene was totally stolen by Tupac who landed
the role after throwing a chair during his
audition.
100 Best Ranking: NR
3 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
19. Ghost Dog (1999)
Martial arts meets the hood in "Ghost Dog."
A hit man (Forrest Whitaker) for the mob
who follows a samurai "code of ethics"
becomes their next target when a witness
sees him at the scene of his last
murder.100 Best Ranking: NR
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
Martial arts meets the hood in "Ghost Dog."
A hit man (Forrest Whitaker) for the mob
who follows a samurai "code of ethics"
becomes their next target when a witness
sees him at the scene of his last
murder.100 Best Ranking: NR
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
20. Dead Presidents (1995)
Three friends from the Bronx return from the
Vietnam War to find their lives radically
altered by the experience and their
neighborhood overrun by drugs and
violence. They turn to a life of crime and plan
a big heist. It really is all about the
Benjamins.
100 Best Ranking: 53
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
Three friends from the Bronx return from the
Vietnam War to find their lives radically
altered by the experience and their
neighborhood overrun by drugs and
violence. They turn to a life of crime and plan
a big heist. It really is all about the
Benjamins.
100 Best Ranking: 53
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
21. Beat Street (1984)
An aspiring DJ from the South Bronx and his best
friend, a promoter, try to get into show business
by exposing people to hip hop music and the
culture.
100 Best Ranking: NR
3 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
An aspiring DJ from the South Bronx and his best
friend, a promoter, try to get into show business
by exposing people to hip hop music and the
culture.
100 Best Ranking: NR
3 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
9. The Matrix (1999)
A young computer hacker (Keanu Reeves in
the role he was born to play) joins a group of
rebels who teach him that the world he lives
in is nothing more than an elaborate
virtual-illusion. Blue pill or red pill?
100 Best Ranking: NR
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
A young computer hacker (Keanu Reeves in
the role he was born to play) joins a group of
rebels who teach him that the world he lives
in is nothing more than an elaborate
virtual-illusion. Blue pill or red pill?
100 Best Ranking: NR
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
10. Do The Right Thing (1989)
"Do the Right Thing" is director Spike Lee's
best film. A Brooklyn pizza parlor proprietor
appears to have good relations with his black
neighbors. During a hot summer day, racial
tension rises and his neighbors riot and
trash the store.
100 Best Ranking: 1
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
"Do the Right Thing" is director Spike Lee's
best film. A Brooklyn pizza parlor proprietor
appears to have good relations with his black
neighbors. During a hot summer day, racial
tension rises and his neighbors riot and
trash the store.
100 Best Ranking: 1
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
HONERABLE MENTION
The Art of Shadow Boxing ATL Bad Boys Belly Biggie & Tupac Blade Bronx Tale Carlito's Way CB4 Clockers Colors Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon The Dark Knight Deep Cover The Empire Strikes Back Fade to Black Fear of a Black Hat The Flying Guillotine Fresh Friday the 13th Gang Related Get Rich Or Die Tryin' The Godfather Series Half Baked Heat Hoodlum Hustle & Flow Killa Season Lean On Me Love Jones New Jersey Drive Pulp Fiction Reservoir Dogs The Show Tupac Resurrection Snatch Training Day Warriors (Pre-1979)
Black Caesar Cooley High Cornbread Earl and Me Dolemite The Education of Sunny Carson Enter the Dragon The Harder They Come In the Heat of the Night The Mack Shaft Superfly Three the Hard Way Up in Smoke |
22. Gridlock'd (1997)
Tupac Shakur proves he's the James
Dean of the hip hop generation with this
killer performance. Three junkies
celebrate the new year by getting high.
When one ODs, the other two reflect on
their shared history and failed attempts to
kick the habit.
100 Best Ranking: NR
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
Tupac Shakur proves he's the James
Dean of the hip hop generation with this
killer performance. Three junkies
celebrate the new year by getting high.
When one ODs, the other two reflect on
their shared history and failed attempts to
kick the habit.
100 Best Ranking: NR
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
23. Brown Sugar (2002)
Bonded by their love of hip hop, two
life-long friends, a female music
executive, develop full-blown
romantic feelings for each other.
Unfortunately, the exec is newly
married to another woman.
100 Best Ranking: NR
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
Bonded by their love of hip hop, two
life-long friends, a female music
executive, develop full-blown
romantic feelings for each other.
Unfortunately, the exec is newly
married to another woman.
100 Best Ranking: NR
4 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
24. Breakin' (1984)
A struggling young jazz dancer (Lucinda
Dickey) meets up with two break-dancers
sensation of the street crowds. Features
Ice-T in his film debut as a club MC.
"Breakin'" is the trend-setting grandfather of
hip hop dance movies.
100 Best Ranking: NR
3 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
A struggling young jazz dancer (Lucinda
Dickey) meets up with two break-dancers
sensation of the street crowds. Features
Ice-T in his film debut as a club MC.
"Breakin'" is the trend-setting grandfather of
hip hop dance movies.
100 Best Ranking: NR
3 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
25. The Usual Suspects (1995)
Five thieves are "introduced" by the cops
when they are put into the same police
line-up. One job after another leads the
crime lord and certain death.
100 Best Ranking: NR
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
Five thieves are "introduced" by the cops
when they are put into the same police
line-up. One job after another leads the
crime lord and certain death.
100 Best Ranking: NR
5 out of 5 Popcorn Bags
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25 BEST FILMS OF THE HIP HOP GENERATION