CB4 - Uma História Sem Rap End

I've heard various stories about CB4, so finally I had the conclusion that I just have to see this piece. CB4 covers all my funny prejudices about the gangsterrap culture, and starts out with a small crew who wants to end up like rap stars - it's all about the beat and the attitude! Chris Rock just plays his role like a mad man, so good and so real! I just laughed the whole time this piece rolled in the VCR, and these scenes who are shooting parody of the gangsterculture just takes home the first prize award - it's too much of the good stuff! It has a good point after all, and when the ending credits roll I felt that this was a true piece of acting - funny and creative as it does not follow any other film formula I've yet seen so far. 7/10!

What Spinal Tap did to heavy rock, CB4 does to rap in the 1990s and it was about time.

Chris Rock is Albert, a decent guy who along with his friends want to hit the big time as rappers. They try every gimmick to break into showbiz. Albert inadvertently gets mixed up with a local hoodlum, Gusto getting arrested and decides to adopt his hard core gangster identity, MC Gusto and the group becomes CB4. They eventually raise the ire of conservative politicians but the record buying public love them but Gusto breaks out of prison and wants to get even.

The film succeeds because it makes pointed and prescient digs at gangsta rap and some of the songs they parody are actually very good and reflective of the music of the early 1990s.

The story is not the strongest, the satire always not sharp or even hits the target but the Rock and the rest of the cast seem to be enjoying the ride and real rappers turn up as to be in on the joke.

I grew up with hip hop. And I don't mean that as some sort of white guy who got introduced to the culture through Eminem. I was 10 years old when I got into graffiti and thereby the whole hip-hop culture. This was mid 90s. Tupac and Biggie still had another year on this Earth. I, however, was more about the traditional ideas of hip hop as a movement against drugs, violence and racism. I was into Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow, Run DMC, Sugar Hill Gang, Beastie Boys, Afrika Bambaataa and stuff like that. So, having spent the late 90s watching all the "gangster movies" like Boyz & The Hood, A Menace To Society, Dead Presidents, Colors, Blood In Blood Out, etc. Etc. I hade an honest and profound love for the genre and I had the necessary references for this movie. So, let's cut to the chase.

If you are into those movies and do have a love for hip hop then this movie is a blast and an absolute must, in the same way as the Wayans brothers classic "Don't be a menace to society while..." But if you have no love for NWA and know nothing about the culture then most likely you won't know the necessary references to really enjoy this.

I laughed my mass off the first time I saw it. I have not rewatched it since perhaps early 2000. But my rating is based on the experience I had back then. Hell, I liked CB4 so much that I even started a new graffiti crew called WL4 just because I found it so cool to have a letter in an acronym. Where their's is Cell Block 4, ours was "Writing on Line 4" as we were graffiti writers and the line that we ruled was number 4.

Enjoy!

CB4 (1993) is a childhood favorite that's in the DVD collection and I recently watched for the first time in a long time on Tubi. The storyline follows a group of friends that are trying to find their way in the rap world and find their lane in gangster rap. Their history and lifestyle doesn't fit their lyrics, but that doesn't stop them from hitting their grove and having success. However, they don't expect success to expose their flaws and challenge their friendships...but it does.

This movie is directed by Tamra Davis (Half Baked) and stars Chris Rock (Boomerang), Allen Payne (New Jack City), Chris Elliot (Groundhog Day), Charlie Murphy (Norbit), Khandi Alexander (Scandal), Theresa Randle (Bad Boys), Isaac Hayes (Escape from New York) and Rachel True (The Craft).

This is an elite hip hop comedy parody and I adored how they tied in the real life hip hop artists from the era and the perceived lifestyle. The acting in this is top notch and this is one of Chris Rock's all time greatest performances. Charlie Murphy, Phil Hartman (Jingle all the Way) and Khandi Alexander deliver tremendous supporting performances. The writing is clever with fun scenarios, great dialogue, one liners and wild circumstances. The ladies in this are gorgeous, especially Alexander, and Wackee Dee was a hilarious character (played by Stoney Jackson, Trespass). The evolution of the friendship is well depicted and the ending is rewarding.

Overall, this is a classic that's an absolute must see. I would score this a 7/10 and strongly recommend it.

When CB4 lampoons the rap industry (and its image in white society), this movie really rolls. When it goes back to the 'plot' of the film (involving some jailed gangster and his revenge on CB4), you might have to fight to stay awake. Thankfully, the first hour of the movie is content to be a satire, and takes many well-aimed shots at 'gangsta rap' and the stereotypes it perpetrates. However, as soon as CB4 begin to wonder what they've become, you might want to hit the ol' fast-forward button. (Melodrama and cliched plot are murder for satires.) Chris Rock is funny as always, and the rest of the cast is surprisingly solid.