Explosively tracing the story of a group
of underground hip hop MCs and DJs from the early 1980s to the present day, Freestyle:
The Art of Rhyme is a work-in-progress documentary film that explores the
world of improvisational rap—the rarely recorded art form of rhyming spontaneously,
or "off the top of the head."
Made over the course of more than seven years—mostly with borrowed cameras
from a non-profit co-operative of B-Boys, DJs, and MCs known as The Center for Hip Hop Education—Freestyle takes the viewer on a journey through
the previously unexamined dimensions of hip hop as a spiritual and community-based
art form.
Following some of the best MCs ever to bless the mic, Freestyle features
legendary battles including those of the film's hero, Supernatural, pitted against
his arch nemesis, Craig G. As these artists improvise poetry out of the mix of
language, politics and culture that make up their lives, we discover revolutionary
worlds where the English language is subverted and re-appropriated as a tool of
economic and social empowerment.
Freestyle is experimental in its nature as improvisational cinema. No
showing of the film is ever the same experience. By combining the best of independent documentary filmmaking
with the hip hop mix tape format, director Kevin Fitzgerald offers us a context in which to view living
art as a social critique through story and rhyme.
Awards:
Florida Film Festival
Special Jury Prize for Documentary Filmmaking
Adelaide International Film Festival
Best of The Fest
Woodstock Film Festival
Best Documentary Award & Maverick Award
Urban World Film Festival
HBO Best Documentary Award
Pan African Film Festival
Best Documentary & Audience Award
Los Angeles Independent Film Festival
Best Soundtrack
Official Selection:
Slamdance Film Festival
Valencia Film Festival
Brisbane International
Maryland Film Festival
SXSW Film Festival
Leeds International Film Festival
Reviews:
"The energy is contagious, the poetry inspired...The
most lively and informative movie about hip-hop since Wildstyle."
-
Amy Taubin, The Village Voice
"...Takes on the culture and history of hip-hop,
an awesome high-octane art form to behold, Will literally leave you speechless."
-
Indiewire
"...Inspiring, mesmerizing, creative Revolutionary
street poetry... Eloquent social knowledge... The Best of Rap!"
-
Variety
"The audience was wildly cheering and clapping
throughout..."
-
SF Examiner
Director: Kevin Fitzgerald Producer: The Center
for Hip Hop Education Cast: Supernatural,
Mos Def, Black Thought & ?uestlove of the Roots, Freestyle Fellowship, Lord
Finesse, Cut Chemist, Craig G, Juice, DJ Kool Herc, Boots of the Coup, Medusa,
Planet Asia, Sway, Crazy Legs, Jurassic-5, Wordsworth, Bobitto Garcia, The Last
Poets Run Time:72 minutes www.organicfilms.com
