42 reviews
Snapshot of Old School Hip-hop
The Harry Belafonte-produced "Beat Street" captured a slice of hip-hop back when it was dancing, graffiti, DJing and rapping not just rapping. The story line is hokey but the music performances and dancing are great. Afrika Bambaataa, Kool Herc, Kool Moe Dee and Melle Mel are among the artists that make an appearance. A decent way to check out hip-hop before NWA spoiled it all.
The Hip-Hop Era Begins...
I'll be perfectly honest: I watched "Beat Street" tons of times and it wasn't for the acting. I remember when this movie was still fresh and it was a must watch for all the young rap-loving, b-boying, break dancing kids. I can't give it high marks for the story, I can't give it high marks for the script, and I can't give it high marks for the acting even with the addition of Rae Dong Chong... but I sure did love the breakdance battle scenes and the music. Even to this day I watch it for the dancing and marvel at the moves the two gangs did. "Beat Street" will always be a favorite of mine even if I can't bring myself to give it a high grade.
- view_and_review
- Dec 13, 2006
- Permalink
Great hip hop flick
When released in 1984, Beat Street was one of the best hip hop themed films released at the time. The movie gets a 10 just for combining all of the elements of hip hop which are the mc,dj, graff and b-boy. The soundtrack is one of the best I've ever heard.
- DunnDeeDaGreat
- Nov 20, 2001
- Permalink
Bronx Old School
Great time-capsule of the Bronx and 'hood in the 1980s, and the b-bop culture/dress/dance. Kids walking the snowy streets, abandoned buildings (sealed with concrete, then broken into), marked-up subway cars...New York as it was then. It's a well put-together, but not "slick", movie, with a good, believable story and characters with some depth. The breakdancing is "real" and pretty thrilling. I taught at Roosevelt High in the Bronx at this time, and this movie catches the scene. Interesting to note how upbeat, pleasant it all was, too, vs. today's more sinist
- murphyguide
- Sep 25, 2002
- Permalink
cultural time capsule and cult classic
In the Bronx, a group of friends perform and enjoy the street culture. Kenny Kirkland is the MC, his brother Lee is a break-dancer in a group called Beat Street Breakers, and their friend Ramon is a graffiti artist. The boys go to popular nightclub Roxy where Beat Street battles a rival dance crew. Kenny is taken with music student Tracy Carlson (Rae Dawn Chong). Ramon's dream is a white subway car.
These are not professional actors. The amateur acting does give the movie its own authenticity which adds to the film's street value. It's of its time and presents its cultural world. It would be great to have more on Ramon's rivalry. The friends have good friendship chemistry but there is little chemistry with Tracy. It would be great to have more charismatic actors. It's the early world of hip-hop. It's a cultural time capsule. It's a cult classic.
These are not professional actors. The amateur acting does give the movie its own authenticity which adds to the film's street value. It's of its time and presents its cultural world. It would be great to have more on Ramon's rivalry. The friends have good friendship chemistry but there is little chemistry with Tracy. It would be great to have more charismatic actors. It's the early world of hip-hop. It's a cultural time capsule. It's a cult classic.
- SnoopyStyle
- May 20, 2019
- Permalink
Pretty Good Acts
This is a cliche-ridden coming-of-age story grafted onto a very good survey of current hip-hop culture in the South Bronx as of 1984, encompassing music, dance and graffiti. To my middle-class eye, it often appears chaotic, with its combination of recovered artifacts and overly pretty art design, and its Puma-brand product placement. It avoids many of the grosser issues of its compeers. The street scenes are shot on site without any effort to clean things up, which forces the viewer to confront its characters inner lives and creatitvity, their outsider status while yearning for acceptance.
the cast is headlined by Rae Dawn Chong at the beginning of a two-year run of well received performances, peaking with THE COLOR PURPLE. Surprisingly, it was co-produced by Harry Belafonte and that supports the thesis that they were taking the performers seriously. They are pretty good, but Hip-Hop moved in a different direction soon afterwards. That means this is a survey of a vanished moment in the popular arts, which gives it a sociological value.
the cast is headlined by Rae Dawn Chong at the beginning of a two-year run of well received performances, peaking with THE COLOR PURPLE. Surprisingly, it was co-produced by Harry Belafonte and that supports the thesis that they were taking the performers seriously. They are pretty good, but Hip-Hop moved in a different direction soon afterwards. That means this is a survey of a vanished moment in the popular arts, which gives it a sociological value.
VIEWS ON FILM review of Beat Street
- burlesonjesse5
- Dec 12, 2022
- Permalink
Great dancin' ain't enough
The best of all the breakdancing films.
Of all the breakdancing / hip-hop films released between 1983 and 1986, the 1984 film Beat Street is unquestionably the best one. The story follows a DJ, his younger breakdancing brother, a graffiti artist and a wanna-be showbiz promoter through one winter in which they try to break out of the ghetto using their "street" talent. The acting isn't always up to par and the characters aren't fully drawn out, but they are more than compensated for by down-to-earth dialogue, a plausible story, fantastic dancing sequences and a timeless hip-hop sound track. It should be noted this film was shot in the birthplace of breakdancing ("This ain't New York, this is the Bronx!"), and features appearances by the fathers of breakdancing, dance troupe Rock Steady Crew and rapper Afrika Bambaata. Rock Steady Crew provide the best scene in the film when they dominate a dance battle at the premiere breakdancing club of the early 80's, the Roxy. A must see for hip-hop lovers.
- JawsOfJosh
- Jun 20, 1999
- Permalink
Hippa-Dee-Hop
- kirbylee70-599-526179
- Apr 28, 2016
- Permalink
"That's not a G.I. Joe, that's a G.I. Jerk.."
"...with a kung-fu grip that don't even work!"
Wheeeeeeeeeeeee! Here we go...
Kenny is an aspiring mixmaster/deejay. He mans the wheels-of-steel at Kool Herc's happening hangout, The Burning Spear. Kenny's brother is Lee. Lee participates in subway platform breakdance battles. Lee befriends serious dance student Tracy. Tracy falls for a guy from the wrong side of the split-open cardboard box, Lee's brother Kenny. They have snowball fights, roam subway passages together, and have arguments about what it really means to be "down".
Oh, and Kenny has a friend named Ramo' who bombs (spray-paints graffiti on) the endless number of clear, white, subway trains that were seemingly in circulation during the filming of this movie. Only, there's some jagoff named "Spit" that keeps painting over Ramo's mobile masterpieces. "Why does he do it", asks Ramo's homey. "'Cuz he can't do no better" comes the response. Yup. Intense stuff.
But "Beat Street" was never about plot, or acting, or even breakdancing (there are but a few short scenes featuring any at-length dancing at all).
It's all about rap songs with lyrics like: --"My name is Brenda Starr, and I, move to the beat/I go to the Roxy just to move my feet"... or: "Jingle, and Jangle, a Jingle-Jangle for the poor/and when you get your welfare check, you can buy reindeer by the score!"
It's all about juicylishus wet dripping Jerri-curls and goose down coats. It's about Fila suits and sneakers with the tongues hanging out. It's about girls named Sha-Rock and guys named Cosmic Pop, Crazy Legs or Powerful Pexster. It's about manly-man rapper Grandmaster Mel E. Mel, wearing zebra-print scarves, thigh-high black leather boots, dreadlocks with Christmas ornaments on the ends, and a wrap shawl that looks like a mutant-sized tarantula crawled onto his shoulders, threw-up, and then died.
Stay tuned for the film's "Showtime At The Apollo/Welcome To Your Own Personal Hell" grand finale. It's true-- white men can't jump and not all black guys can rap either. Word.
Wheeeeeeeeeeeee! Here we go...
Kenny is an aspiring mixmaster/deejay. He mans the wheels-of-steel at Kool Herc's happening hangout, The Burning Spear. Kenny's brother is Lee. Lee participates in subway platform breakdance battles. Lee befriends serious dance student Tracy. Tracy falls for a guy from the wrong side of the split-open cardboard box, Lee's brother Kenny. They have snowball fights, roam subway passages together, and have arguments about what it really means to be "down".
Oh, and Kenny has a friend named Ramo' who bombs (spray-paints graffiti on) the endless number of clear, white, subway trains that were seemingly in circulation during the filming of this movie. Only, there's some jagoff named "Spit" that keeps painting over Ramo's mobile masterpieces. "Why does he do it", asks Ramo's homey. "'Cuz he can't do no better" comes the response. Yup. Intense stuff.
But "Beat Street" was never about plot, or acting, or even breakdancing (there are but a few short scenes featuring any at-length dancing at all).
It's all about rap songs with lyrics like: --"My name is Brenda Starr, and I, move to the beat/I go to the Roxy just to move my feet"... or: "Jingle, and Jangle, a Jingle-Jangle for the poor/and when you get your welfare check, you can buy reindeer by the score!"
It's all about juicylishus wet dripping Jerri-curls and goose down coats. It's about Fila suits and sneakers with the tongues hanging out. It's about girls named Sha-Rock and guys named Cosmic Pop, Crazy Legs or Powerful Pexster. It's about manly-man rapper Grandmaster Mel E. Mel, wearing zebra-print scarves, thigh-high black leather boots, dreadlocks with Christmas ornaments on the ends, and a wrap shawl that looks like a mutant-sized tarantula crawled onto his shoulders, threw-up, and then died.
Stay tuned for the film's "Showtime At The Apollo/Welcome To Your Own Personal Hell" grand finale. It's true-- white men can't jump and not all black guys can rap either. Word.
Masterpiece of 80's nostalgia
Cinematically, this film stinks. So does a lot of the acting. But I
don't care. If there is a strong representation of what the 80's were
like(For a lot of us in the innercity anyways) and what hip-hop, Zulu
nation, and break dancing were really like.Great music, great
dancing! It almost seems like a documentary of a time now past
when hip-hop was a way of life. It's also interesting to see New
York looking like ground zero from a nuclear attack. Some viewers
may be too young to remember that It was a poor, run down city
during the 70's and 80's. This is the best of all the hip-hop/break
dancing movies that came out around that period. Of course the
80's are considered a joke now with all the bad tv shows and
movies, but those of us who lived through it will always remember
it fondly for a time when music, dancing, and graffiti were fresh, yo!
don't care. If there is a strong representation of what the 80's were
like(For a lot of us in the innercity anyways) and what hip-hop, Zulu
nation, and break dancing were really like.Great music, great
dancing! It almost seems like a documentary of a time now past
when hip-hop was a way of life. It's also interesting to see New
York looking like ground zero from a nuclear attack. Some viewers
may be too young to remember that It was a poor, run down city
during the 70's and 80's. This is the best of all the hip-hop/break
dancing movies that came out around that period. Of course the
80's are considered a joke now with all the bad tv shows and
movies, but those of us who lived through it will always remember
it fondly for a time when music, dancing, and graffiti were fresh, yo!
OK, but not Great
I had not seen this movie since the late '80s and decided to pick up the VHS version of it. The plot is very slow, and the actors almost seem robotic in this breakdance flick. The music, hip hop/freestyle artists and the breakdancing scenes are what make this movie special. The breakdancing is actually better in this movie than in "Breakin'", but I have to say that "Breakin' 1&2" carry the energy & excitement to the screen a lot better. It's a movie I will keep in my library, but it's not a movie that I can watch over & over again, just once in a blue moon.
Too bloody commercial
Maybe you shouldn't compare, but Wild Style and Style Wars are original Hip Hop. Beat Street does have a lot of the original artists of early Hip Hop, but they've been obviously made clear that this could be their big break, of course for some it was and that's nice. But if you view this as original Hip Hop Culture you're wrong. It's overproduced and has a Hollywood sauce. Rather look for the first two movies i mentioned. They have convey the grittiness that comes with life in the ghetto. Yes, the rating for this movie is low, but the reviews are mostly positive or even raving. This is probably because although the story, the acting, the dialogues and the direction all are dreadful, the music and dancing is what the people love about it. Me, i do love the dancing but at the time thought that electro was the death of Hip Hop (i was so glad when round '86 a new generation of now classic Hip Hop artists appeared, like Krs One, Public Enemy, Ultramagnetic Mc's, Jungle Brothers, Bizmarkie to name a few), and i still don't like most of the beats in this movie and that is why it doesn't work for me. I mean, Wild Style has not much of a story but the music there is great and authentic. Of course tastes differ and that's alright. But as far as i'm concerned, this movie is trash except for the break dancing and some of the music and so i can't rate it higher than a 4 out of ten.
As a film, awful-- as a document, outstanding.
It's fine to appreciate this film through the sieve of nostalgia. Even I have a hard time viewing this film without reciting all the words- I've seen it many many times. But the important thing to note here is that while Harry Belafonte made a noble effort to shape a story out of the Bronx's greatest cultural export, it's only successful half of the time. The result is a film that garners lots of groaning through scenes while waiting for the 'good parts'. Rae Dawn Chong is flimsy and ineffective as usual, in the role of the dance school instructor who 'discovers' Lee and KK. The ensuing romance that KK and Tracy have is terribly trite and makes for sleepy viewing. Likewise the sopping wet story of Ramon and his girlfriend, who have a child and disapproving parents. Heavy handed and poorly acted to boot- even for the time period. All the graffiti was designed by stage painters, and looks like it- distant and plastic. This is a depiction of a corny world indeed.
What Beat Street is notable for, is managing to compile many notable music artists and b-boys/b-girls in performance. The Rock Steady and NY Breakers footage, the Us Girls group assembled for this film, Busy Bee, Melle Mel and the Furious Five, Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force, Tina B., Brenda Starr, Treacherous Three and Doug E. Fresh- there's loads of it which greatly outweighs the mindless fluff of the so-called plot. The soundtrack (co-produced by Arthur Baker of "Planet Rock" fame) is extremely notable as well. It was originally sold in 2 volumes, and while each record has several watery ballads, the classic songs like "Frantic Situation", "Son of Beat Street", "Santa's Rap" and "Battle Cry" are very much worth the purchase.
If you're like me and miss 'old New York' (it was only 20 or so years ago but NY is totally different) it's really great to see painted trains, old street scenes and the Roxy. Beat Street has been contrasted to Wild Style many times, especially with the scorn of Beat Street being the Hollywood retread of Wild Style's gritty budgeted reality. This might be the case, but it would seem that Beat Street has a better focus on b-boying (breakdance) whereas Wild Style's actual graffiti by famed writers remains the strong point of that film. There's a hokey wholesomeness present in Beat Street that just isn't realistic. Regardless, Beat Street is certainly worth viewing- particularly when it pops up on TV- but be prepared for some stale, hackneyed drama strewn into the great music and killer scenes.
"Beat Street Breakdown--- RUAHHH!!!"
What Beat Street is notable for, is managing to compile many notable music artists and b-boys/b-girls in performance. The Rock Steady and NY Breakers footage, the Us Girls group assembled for this film, Busy Bee, Melle Mel and the Furious Five, Bambaataa & Soul Sonic Force, Tina B., Brenda Starr, Treacherous Three and Doug E. Fresh- there's loads of it which greatly outweighs the mindless fluff of the so-called plot. The soundtrack (co-produced by Arthur Baker of "Planet Rock" fame) is extremely notable as well. It was originally sold in 2 volumes, and while each record has several watery ballads, the classic songs like "Frantic Situation", "Son of Beat Street", "Santa's Rap" and "Battle Cry" are very much worth the purchase.
If you're like me and miss 'old New York' (it was only 20 or so years ago but NY is totally different) it's really great to see painted trains, old street scenes and the Roxy. Beat Street has been contrasted to Wild Style many times, especially with the scorn of Beat Street being the Hollywood retread of Wild Style's gritty budgeted reality. This might be the case, but it would seem that Beat Street has a better focus on b-boying (breakdance) whereas Wild Style's actual graffiti by famed writers remains the strong point of that film. There's a hokey wholesomeness present in Beat Street that just isn't realistic. Regardless, Beat Street is certainly worth viewing- particularly when it pops up on TV- but be prepared for some stale, hackneyed drama strewn into the great music and killer scenes.
"Beat Street Breakdown--- RUAHHH!!!"
So this is what pops used to do!
- mark.waltz
- Feb 14, 2024
- Permalink
Watch for that 3rd rail ...
Beat Street felt a little off track. It's a movie that took elements from an emerging culture and tried to fuse them with typical Hollywood fluff. As a result, it was sort of a glamorized version of Wild Style in how it was produced and presented, but it lacked the same authenticity. I've heard more than a few 'purists' denounce it over the years. Personally speaking I tend to agree with them. I will cut it a little slack for a solid effort, keeping in mind that in 84 they didn't exactly have a tried and tested template to work with when it came to HipHop cinema.
Still a classic though, in certain respects. With many great cameos and HipHop moments nobody else was giving us at the time, even the most die-hard purist might have a hard time writing it off completely. The Melle Mel title track comes to mind, as does the Treacherous 3 featuring Doug E Fresh 'Santa's Rap' performance. At six years old when this came out, HipHop was still new to my young ears. I do recall 'Santa's Rap' in particular being a playground favorite. While they may have been trying to cash in on a rising star, they did manage to introduce HipHop to a broader audience.
Still a classic though, in certain respects. With many great cameos and HipHop moments nobody else was giving us at the time, even the most die-hard purist might have a hard time writing it off completely. The Melle Mel title track comes to mind, as does the Treacherous 3 featuring Doug E Fresh 'Santa's Rap' performance. At six years old when this came out, HipHop was still new to my young ears. I do recall 'Santa's Rap' in particular being a playground favorite. While they may have been trying to cash in on a rising star, they did manage to introduce HipHop to a broader audience.
- They-Call-Me-Steve
- Apr 16, 2016
- Permalink
A black and Puerto Rican version of "Saturday Night Fever" - Chicago Tribune
From the point of view of objective cinematography quality, this film is mediocre at best. There isn't much to complain about, but it doesn't stand out either. Clichéd ghetto coming-of-age script, amateur cast, mediocre directing... Nevertheless, "Beat Street" became a classic, because it immortalized the early era of hip-hop culture in a way that was receptive to a diverse audience, hip-hop that in addition to rap includes break dancing, DJ skills, as well as the art of street graffiti. Besides, for those of us who grew up in the last quarter of the previous century, the nostalgic value of this film outweighs its objective values. If you look at it as a long '80s music video, it deserves at least
7/10.
7/10.
- Bored_Dragon
- Aug 10, 2024
- Permalink
Couple of nice production numbers
This almost plotless movie meanders from one dance sequence to the next, some of which are great, some not so much. It tries to be positive, but just isn't as much fun as Breakin'
A time capsule for some, but not really corny enough to hold up for most.
"Tomorrow we're loose, and I got a rocket in my pocket - comp's to the Roxy..."
Being that I am a true product of the hip-hop and electronic dance music generation, this is without a doubt one of my favorite movies of all time. Beat Street, although not as "authentic" in some respects as Wild Style, is a film that is guaranteed to tug the heart strings of anyone who takes pride in the culture of urban sample/DJ-based music and electro-club culture.
Although I will admit that at times the dialogue is somewhat cheesy, you can't help but feel for the characters, and ultimately "wish you were there" for the beginnings of hip-hop culture in New York City in the early eighties. The b-boy battle scene at the Roxy nightclub (a real-life, real-time competition between the legendary Rock Steady Crew and the NYC Breakers) is just as essential to a hip-hop fan's archives as any classic album. Watch some of the breakers' moves in slow-motion if possible to truly appreciate the athletic and stylistic expertise of a seasoned B-boy/B-girl. All praises due to the Zulu Nation!!!
Although I will admit that at times the dialogue is somewhat cheesy, you can't help but feel for the characters, and ultimately "wish you were there" for the beginnings of hip-hop culture in New York City in the early eighties. The b-boy battle scene at the Roxy nightclub (a real-life, real-time competition between the legendary Rock Steady Crew and the NYC Breakers) is just as essential to a hip-hop fan's archives as any classic album. Watch some of the breakers' moves in slow-motion if possible to truly appreciate the athletic and stylistic expertise of a seasoned B-boy/B-girl. All praises due to the Zulu Nation!!!
I never liked hip-hop so obviously I didn't like this
Hilariously obvious "drama" about a bunch of high school (I think) kids who enjoy non-stop hip-hop, break dancing, graffiti and trying to become a dj at the Roxy--or something. To be totally honest I was so bored I forgot! Even people who love the music agree this movie is terribly acted and--as a drama--failed dismally. We're supposed to find this kids likable and nice. I found them bland and boring. The one that I REALLY hated was Ramon. He does graffiti on subway trains and this is looked upon as great. Excuse me? He's defacing public property that isn't his to begin with. Also these "great" kids tap into the city's electricity so they can hold a big dance party at an abandoned building. Uh huh. So we're supposed to find a bunch of law breakers lovable and fun?
I could forgive all that if the music was good but I can't stand hip hop. The songs were--at best--mediocre and they were nonstop! They're ALWAYS playing! It got to the point that I was fast-forwarding through the many endless music numbers. (Cut out the music and you haver a 30 minute movie--maybe) There are a few imaginative numbers--the subway dance fight, a truly funny Santa number and the climatic Roxy show. If you love hip hop here's your movie. But it you're looking for good drama mixed in--forget it. Also HOW did this get a PG rating? There's an incredible amount of swearing in this.
I could forgive all that if the music was good but I can't stand hip hop. The songs were--at best--mediocre and they were nonstop! They're ALWAYS playing! It got to the point that I was fast-forwarding through the many endless music numbers. (Cut out the music and you haver a 30 minute movie--maybe) There are a few imaginative numbers--the subway dance fight, a truly funny Santa number and the climatic Roxy show. If you love hip hop here's your movie. But it you're looking for good drama mixed in--forget it. Also HOW did this get a PG rating? There's an incredible amount of swearing in this.
A Piece Of American History.
This started out to be a movie about the street culture of the Bronx in New York. What it accomplished was to give birth to a new culture and way of life, for American youth. What other movie has done this except Rebel Without A Cause? One of the most important movies of all time. The elements are simple yet fascinating. The story is timeless, young people try to succeed against all odds. Yet the story is always believable and never depressing. The characters are so realistic, a city dweller, would recognize them as neighbors. The story is entertaining, and comes to a satisfying ending. Buy this one for your permanent collection. It is a piece of American history.
Interesting but Hopelessly Dated Portrayal of Hip-Hop
The great Harry Belafonte was one of the producers of this "gritty streetwise musical," as it was hyped. A hopelessly dated and patronizing portrayal of hip-hop culture, the film is full of cheesy and corny dialogue, with unfortunately little music to redeem it. However, as a snapshot of hip-hop given the Hollywood treatment, it is fascinating. My personal favorite song is "Tu Cariño" (Carmen's Theme), written by Rubén Blades and Carlos Franzetti and performed by Blades.
- LeonardKniffel
- Apr 30, 2020
- Permalink
a great story of 80s hip-hop including graffiti art and break dancing
A wonderful movie showing the roots of hip-hop in graffiti art and break dancing. The break battle scene is the highlight of the movie. It shows that there was a time when gangs would fight each other with dancing, not guns.
Pure comedy in the form of 'culture exploitation'
Terrible pastiche of ideas that were whole-sale stolen from 2 films before Beat Street - the nucleus of this garbage throw away pap smear was the film Wild Style.
Wild Style was a produced / scripted copy of the original production / documentary called Style Wars.
So if you want legitimacy, watch Style Wars for the historical reflection and the real story.
Wild Style is interesting as there are some good Music and Breakdancing and a killer sound track.
If you want Disney ride to b.s. Ville, watch Beat Street.
Throwaway trash in 1984 and even worse today.
One could argue the soundtrack (vol 1 and vol 2) is better than the film. Marginally.
The guy that wrote this film, hilariously tried to make a name for him in the Marijuana culture. No one remembers him 'ironically'.
Wild Style was a produced / scripted copy of the original production / documentary called Style Wars.
So if you want legitimacy, watch Style Wars for the historical reflection and the real story.
Wild Style is interesting as there are some good Music and Breakdancing and a killer sound track.
If you want Disney ride to b.s. Ville, watch Beat Street.
Throwaway trash in 1984 and even worse today.
One could argue the soundtrack (vol 1 and vol 2) is better than the film. Marginally.
The guy that wrote this film, hilariously tried to make a name for him in the Marijuana culture. No one remembers him 'ironically'.
- HUXLEYedwards
- Oct 5, 2021
- Permalink