The Show
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DIRECTOR: Brian Robbins
PRODUCER: Robert A Johnson, Mike Tollin, Brian Robbins
WRITER: N/A
COMPANY: Columbia/Tri Star
YEAR: 1996
Synopsis
This is a documentary type film that features many rappers from the 1990’s and interlaces commentary from a round table of old school personalities. Run DMC is highlighted.
HIGHLIGHTS
As far as old school talent involved, most of it is seated around a table talking rather than showing and proving their abilities. The group included Kid Creole, Melle Mel, Rahiem, Whodini, Afrika Bambaataa, and Kurtis Blow. Kid Creole defines hip hop as “writing and rhyming,” and “taking the mic in your hand, and crushing whoever’s in front of you.” He also accepts credit for coining the phrase “Yes, Yes, Ya’ll.”
This group also pays respects to DJ Hollywood as a pioneer that is all to often overlooked in rap history. This leads to a discussion of how many of today’s rappers have no idea about the true ideas of hip hop and most have never even attempted rocking a live crowd. They discuss how old schools put on shows and went for entertainment, whereas today, groups just strut and bounce around the stage.
Def Jam CEO, Russell Simmons visits Slick Rick in prison. Rick warns against the violent attitudes the plague today’s rappers. There are also some clips of Rick in his early days when he was draped inn gold.
Run DMC is undoubtedly the highlighted group. Here are a few comments others made about them:
“Pioneers” -Method Man (Wu-Tang Clan)
“If you dissin Run, you dissin hip hop” -Treach (Naughty By Nature)
Russell Simmons talks about the invention of the Run DMC sound. DMC remembers how the group thought Russell was trying to ruin them by naming the group Run DMC and putting guitars in their records.
They perform “Together Forever” and “My Adidas.”
Best line from the film: Run standing on stage says, “We don’t even know what we’re gonna do next. We got so many hits.”
My favorite moment of the film comes at the very end when Run DMC break into their signature intro:
RUN: Now DJ Run’s my name…
DMC: Jam Master Jay is his….
RUN: He’s DMC…
RUN/DMC: It’s like that, and that’s the way it is….
Which of course leads up to the song “It’s Like That.”
