Drop The Needle [FILM]

I bought tickets so many events here. I sold tickets for event through here. I bought music here. Drake and I bought a DJ starter kit from here because we had to have DJ equipment to launch a career in Hip Hop. Play De Record was ground zero for Toronto vinyl lovers and the documentary Drop the Needle recounts Eugene Tam’s role in developing Canada’s hip-hop and dance music scene through his Toronto store Play De Record.

Helmed by first-time director Rob Freeman and conceived by freelance sportswriter Neil Acharya, the film provides a fascinating look at the evolution of the underground urban music scene that was all but ignored by the vanilla Canadian music industry, and Tam’s role as a catalyst in its development through Play De Record.

Now screening. Get your tickets HERE.

Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell [TRAILER]

Every legend has an origin story. Christopher Wallace, AKA The Notorious B.I.G., remains one of Hip-Hop’s icons, renowned for his distinctive flow and autobiographical lyrics. This documentary celebrates his life via rare behind-the-scenes footage and the testimonies of his closest friends and family.

A documentary on the life and career of The Notorious B.I.G. is officially coming to Netflix, and the streaming service unveiled the first trailer.
Biggie: I Got a Story to Tell is executive produced by the late legend's mother Voletta Wallace and his friend and collaborator Diddy, both contributing candid interviews to the film.

Watch it March 1st on Netflix.

Give Us The Money - Why Poverty? [SCREENING]

An inside look at the politics of poverty and cult of celebrity. November 21st at the Bloor Hot Docs Theatre TVO DocStudio will premiere Give Us The Money - Why Poverty?

From Live Aid to Make Poverty History, celebrities have become activists against poverty. Bob Geldof and Bono have been the most prominent voices advocating on behalf of the poor. But have their concerts and campaigns really lifted millions out of poverty? Geldof, Bono and Bill Gates speak candidly about how to lobby effectively and how to play to politicians' weaknesses for glitz and popularity.
                                                       
                                                                             SPECIAL OFFER              
             
                                     Purchase tickets to the TVO North American Premiere Screening HERE

The Sprint Factory [JOURNALISM]

Just why do Jamaicans run so fast? A excellent question to ask as we "run up" the 2012 Olympics in London. Adrienne Arsenault from CBC travels to the island nation to find out why exactly the nation the population of average city excels in track and field by "leaps and bounds". Too many puns? Me nuh bizniz!

via CBC

Brooklyn Boheme [DOCUMENTARY]

Brooklyn Boheme is a love letter to a vibrant African American artistic community who resided in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill Brooklyn during the 80's and 90's that included the great Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Branford Marsalis, Rosie Perez, Saul Williams, Lorna Simpson, Talib Kweli just to name a few. Narrated and written by Fort Greene resident Nelson George, this feature length documentary celebrates "Brooklyn's equivalent of the Harlem Renaissance" and follows the rise of a new kind of African American artist, the Brooklyn Boheme.

Canadian premiere Friday, December 9, 2011


WHERE: Toronto Underground Cinema (186 Spadina Ave)

DOORS: 8pm

SHOWTIME: 8:45

ADMISSION: $10

RSVP: http://bit.ly/BKboTO

Love, Props and the T.Dot [DOCUMENTARY]

This is truly a gem following the timeline of Hip-Hop in Toronto. Starting with the evolution of the Hip-Hop scene with Mishee Me, Maestro, Dream Warriors, Ghetto Concepts, Choclair, Kardinal and ending off with Drake, K'Naan, K-OS....

To coincide with the CBC’s Hip Hop Summit, CBC News Toronto documents the history of Hip Hop in Toronto with the documentary “Love, Props and the T.Dot”.

9th Wonder "The Wonder Year" [TRAILER]

Grammy Award Winning Producer & former member of acclaimed Hip-Hop group "Little Brother", Brings an observational documentary following the life and times of Patrick Douthit better known as "9th Wonder" throughout 365 days. Expect the visual piece to focus on personal matters, studio life and imperative commentary from cameo appearances. Directed by Kenneth Price.

Release Date: TBD

Freakonomics Trailer [MOVIES]

Loved the book ...now love the movie.

Alex Gibney (Enron:The Smartest Guys in the Room, Casino Jack and the United States of Money) delivers a visually arresting look at the crumbling façade of Sumo wrestling and exposes searing and violent truths about this ancient and revered sport. Morgan Spurlock (Super Size Me) offers up a buoyant and revealing angle on the repercussions of baby names. Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing (Jesus Camp) balance levity and candor with their eye-opening profile of underachieving kids incentivized to learn with cold hard cash. Finally, Eugene Jarecki, who brought us the unforgettably powerful Why We Fight, investigates an unsettling theory to explain why crime rates dramatically dropped in the early '90s. Seth Gordon (The King of Kong) weaves the pieces together with brisk interludes, providing context and commentary from the authors. Freakonomics exposes the hidden side of everything, debunking conventional wisdom, and revealing what answers may come if one just asks the right questions.

Babies [MOVIES]

Using the momentum from the previous post, it reminded of a trailer I seen last week that I wanted to post. A documentary entitled "Babies". It is a story that simultaneously follows from birth, four babies around the world, from Mongolia to Namibia to San Francisco to Tokyo. You your along for a ride that is their first year of life, and journey into humanity. Watching the trailer you can't help but smile at what is unique yet so universal.

"Good Hair " Official Trailer [MOVIES]

Recipient of A Special Jury Prize: U.S. Documentary. In theatres October 9th, 2009.

When Chris Rocks daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, Daddy, how come I dont have good hair? the bewildered comic committed himself to search the ends of the earth and the depths of black culture to find out who had put that question into his little girl's head! Director Jeff Stilsons camera followed the funnyman, and the result is Good Hair, a wonderfully insightful and entertaining, yet remarkably serious, documentary about African American hair culture.An exposé of comic proportions that only Chris Rock could pull off, Good Hair visits hair salons and styling battles, scientific laboratories, and Indian temples to explore the way black hairstyles impact the activities, pocketbooks, sexual relationships, and self-esteem of black people. Celebrities such as Ice-T, Kerry Washington, Nia Long, Paul Mooney, Raven Symoné, Maya Angelou, and Reverend Al Sharpton all candidly offer their stories and observations to Rock while he struggles with the task of figuring out how to respond to his daughters question. What he discovers is that black hair is a big business that doesnt always benefit the black community and little Lolas question might well be bigger than his ability to convince her that the stuff on top of her head is nowhere near as important as what is inside.

via Sundance Film Festival