Saw "Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap" last Friday with my girlfriend. It was slightly disappointing but overall enjoyable. Ice-T spends the film going from MC to MC; first in NYC and its boroughs, then Detroit, then LA. The interviews with each MC open with a freestyle, then a few quick questions, then sometimes more freestyle. Technique, style, voice projection/timbre are all discussed but lyrics and beats, much less so. It really focuses exclusively on the rapping element. It was interesting to see so many freestyles back to back of so many Golden Era MCs, most of which totally out-classed the newer rappers interviewed. And I lover hear classic 80's hip hop in the interludes. Not for everyone but worth watching once if you're into hip-hop, especially classic NYC hip-hop.
