I've worked in the music industry for almost 20 years, and have spent most of the last decade dealing with urban music, and if nothing else, the filmmakers behind this movie certainly understand this world. The stories being told are very true-to-life, and many of the incidents are clearly based on reality. It is no surprise that almost everything else the director Peter Spirer has done before this has been Hip Hop documentaries. He is obviously an authority on the matter, as his films are some of the most prestigious docs out there on the subject (Rhyme and Reason, the Beef series, Tupac Thug Angel, the Biggie doc). Does this qualify him as a great feature director? Not necessarily, but it definitely gives him a lot of credibility, and a unique perspective from which he has crafted his urban feature debut. This isn't slick Michael Bay or Stephen Spielberg directing... it is raw, honest, totally indie, and has a "fly-on- the-wall" feel, like we're catching a glimpse behind the scenes. The contrast between the two main characters is also evident (albeit subtly) in the filmmaking, as the Young Eastie storyline (that of the struggling rapper) is shot with hand-held cameras and has a more frenetic editing style, while the scenes involving the established, big name rapper (A-Maze) are smoother, obviously shot with dollies, steady cams, etc, and has smoother, more polished editing. This interesting dynamic gets played with as the movie progresses and the lines between their two worlds blends. I don't know if this film will be of interest to those who are not into the music business, or urban films in general, because there aren't any big explosions, sweeping romances, slapstick comedy, or other "blockbuster" elements. But for anyone who has interest in the industry, and especially for those who understand this world, it is a fascinatingly authentic little gem. It is understated and tells a simple but harsh story of the cold cyclical nature of the Hip Hop business.
