South Coast

Dead funny and very interesting account of the hip hop music scene in Brighton (England).

I watched it after seeing a review which did not really do it justice.

It features rappers and break dancers and graffiti artists that pratise their skills in the sea side town, and charts their influences and development of their own unique styles.

Basically filmed as talking heads interspersed with music and video footage of performers in the town, explaining why their style is unique from the American gangster rap, because, simply, it has to be.

Britain is Britain and it is stupid to try to emulate the States and that is why Brighton, in particular, has its own saucy postcard type approach to its music.

There is no denying that these people know their stuff, and take it quite seriously, but there is also an element of a stoner's sensibility in their approach, which some would argue sparks their creativity. Additionally respect is given to all rappers after competitions and the level of comraderie is high. There'll be no drive bys in Brighton.

Definitely worth seeing to get a real glimpse of the individuality of UK hip hop at a grass roots level, far removed from the bling of the USA

As an antidote to the East Coast West Coast Gangsta hip hop that's so widely publicised, the characters in South Coast paint a rich and colourful image of the Brighton's underground Hip-Hop scene. The film follows the evolution of the embryonic UK hip hop scene from its earliest days, following the New York trends' through the dark days struggling for recognition, to the artists in the UK finding their own voice, style and confidence. This isn't a film riding along on the anger or bravado of its protagonists; instead it uncovers the people behind the names, the often touching anxiety behind the performances and the energy infused in the scene. The film and music are mesmerically blended and set a hypnotic beat that carries the narrative. This more than just a film about hip hop, it's a story about a way of life! If you ever find yourself strolling around Brighton, you'll recognise a few faces. Enjoy!