White Dudes Can't Rap

I'll share my thoughts, but the thoughts of an individual can be jaded. People looking for a broad perspective of all who attended White Men Can't Rap at the Philadelphia Film festival should consider the rating given by the Audience Ballot Results. The festival web site reports the 600 attendees rated it 3.9 out of 5, with a score of 4 representing Very Good. I think the judges at the Philly Fest who awarded the film Best Feature in the FestIndies Division were looking beyond the technical flaws (audio) and acknowledging the filmmaker's evolving creative vision.

Personally, even with the clear need for additional post-production work, it was a high-risk, adventurous indie comedy that managed to deliver the laughs even in its unrefined state. Good to see John Canada Terrell back on the big screen and Clifton Powell again showing his range by doing whacked out comedy after his serious role in Ray. Assuming the producers straighten out the technical glitches, keep this on your radar screen as the surprise Indie comedy of 2005 or 2006.

Naked Gun set in a 1990's hip hop setting, this entertaining romp has cult classic written all over it. Just saw White Dudes Can't Rap on Amazon Prime and the slapstick and absurdity won me over. Clifton Powell tears it up as Chef Da'Ron, a tipster in the investigation who has an interesting take on US history. The guy from The Five Heartbeats also delivers cinema's greatest Heimlich Maneuver. And the film has an authentic old school hip hop soundtrack from MC Breeze, formerly on Hammer's label. Shawn Michelle Cosby provides a fine turn as the femme fatale, Felina Touche', but deadpan detective KO (John Lumia) carries the investigation and the movie. Enjoy!

White Dudes Can't Rap is a 2025 indie comedy sleeper. For those who miss the Naked Gun franchise, this low-budget period piece detective story delivers the laughs. Set in a 1990's Philadelphia hip hop club, Philly rap legend MC Breeze creates an authentic soundtrack that takes us back in time while constantly driving the film forward. But detective KO, John Lumia, is the deadpan investigator who masterfully leads us on a surprising journey as he searches for a missing bass player.

I'd forgotten how funny Clifton Powell can be when he's given a comic role to sink his teeth into. His stellar work as Chef Da'Ron rivals his work as Pinky when it comes to playing off-the-wall whacky characters. Kudos!

Film clearly still in development, but even with technical flaws the jokes clearly connected with the sold out house - and the judges as film won Best Feature in its category in the Philadelphia Film Festival. Extremely innovative Scary Movie style approach to telling the story of a white detective who enters the unwelcoming black N. Philly hip hop community to find a missing musician.

The MC Breeze created soundtrack uses a diverse collection of musical styles which reflect the current direction of hip hop (sorry myopic thug lovers, but Outkast goes from rap to doo wop and everywhere else).

Contrary to previous posts questioning the title's relevance, White Men Can't Rap plays very tightly into the turning point in the movie. A couple scathing posts both made clear those reviewers expected a movie either about a white rapper trying to make it big or a satire of 8 mile. One sentence of all the pre-screening marketing material would have made clear you were setting yourself up for disappointment. And as Brabara Streissand said, "Prince of Tides is neither about a Prince or tides."

Lead actor John Lumia was excellent as Detective KO and Clifton Powell makes a side-splitting cameo as a chef having a backyard cookout. Surprisingly strong effort from the rookie actor from the Atlanta Falcons, Bryan Scott, who plays a drummer. NFL actors union can survive without OJ.

Look forward to seeing a polished version when editing is complete and sound is sweetened.

White Dudes Can't Rap is a quirky slapstick comedy suitable for teens to adults.

When a suburban private detective takes on the case of a missing musician, he finds himself smack dab in the Philadelphia hood. Detective KO's search gets him into some hilarious situations, better seen than described. The original soundtrack written and produced by Philadelphia Rap pioneer MC Breeze provides just the right note for every scene.

If you like word play and physical comedy, you will love White Dudes Can't Rap. Winner of the Best Comedy Feature in both the Springfield Independent Film Festival and the New York Tri-State International Film Festival, and a selected feature at the Harlem New York Hip Hop Festival, White Dudes Can't Rap is now streaming on Amazon and Tubi.