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This Month's Featured Equipment Reviews |
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Past DVD Hardware / Software News |
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Battle for L.A., The
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DVD Music-Concert
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Written by Jessica Amen
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Tuesday, 20 January 2004
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title:
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The Battle For L.A. |
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studio:
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Xdrnex Films |
| MPAA rating: |
Not Rated |
| starring: |
In-Q, Propaganda, Ralphi, Macho, Dert, Jurny Big |
| release year: |
2003 |
| film rating: |
Two-and-a-Half Stars |
| sound/picture: |
Two Stars |
| reviewed by: |
Jessica Amen |
“The Battle for L.A.” is an approximately one-hour documentary on
freestyle rapping in Los Angeles. It focuses on six main freestyle
rappers, but also includes footage and coverage of other rappers, DJs
and break dancers. One of the first lines in the movie caught my
attention right off the bat: “It’s a way to get out your feelings
against someone without having to resort to violence.” This was not
what I expected from a bunch of tough LA streetwise MCs.
The documentary follows these MCs, talking with them, asking questions
and filming them freestyle on camera. Dispersed throughout is footage
of actual rap battles taking place at both the Green Club in Venice and
the Poetry Lounge in Hollywood. Even after living in LA for over five
years, these venues were new to my ears. This is some real underground
shit.
The documentary quality is home movie-style, no effects and basically
not professional-looking at all, but I think this was the point of the
film, to show the rawness of this “underground society.” The editing is
decent, with a good amount of interviews flashing to rap battles, DJs
and break dancers thrown in between.
Among the rap battles and free-styling are features on a couple of DJs,
which are not particularly entertaining, and break dancers, which are
so entertaining, you wish there were more of them. It’s fascinating
watching the dancers and seeing how they’ve been influenced by hip-hop,
jazz, ballet and more. Unfortunately, there is very little footage of
the dancing included on this DVD.
I was very entertained through the first half of the DVD, watching the
rappers talk about the underground rap battle scene and watching the
battles themselves, lips moving a million miles a minute, throwing
insult after insult toward each other. But I soon came to realize,
that’s all it was: insults. I’m better then you, you suck, I can rap
better, you’re a pu**y, etc. And while the quickness of the rappers’
rhyming lyrics boggled my mind, the content of their rap began to bore
me. Where is the political content, world issues or anything other then
F*** this and F*** you?
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was a scary realization that the youth of, at least the streets of LA
if not the entire state of California or even the nation, has little to
no knowledge of anything but “frontin’,” or if they do know what’s
going on in the world that exists outside of their raps, they choose to
not use it within their rhymes.
Perhaps this is the
point of a rap battle, to tear your opponent down with insults, but I
refuse to believe that there isn’t a more creative, more insightful way
of doing it.
Now, not every rapper is like this. The only two girls featured on the
DVD were by far the best rappers, one throwing in the line “paper cuts
on tongues from literary experiments.” Wow, a metaphor, things are
looking up.
I found it difficult to resist the temptation to fast-forward at
certain points of the film because it never got any more interesting.
I took on this review with excitement and anticipation, having been a
huge hip hop/rap fan since I was 14. But I was sorely disappointed
halfway through the film due its sameness of content. There are
definitely interesting and intriguing sections and the talent these
kids have is undeniable. I just question the relevance of this film,
because the rappers don’t seem to do it for the entertainment of
others, but rather their own reputation and pride, which is fine, but
it doesn’t provide for a good DVD for the average consumer.
Director Darren Doane is planning to continue making these
documentaries, moving on next to New York. All I have to say is that,
for Doane’s sake, I hope the N.Y. battle rappers have more insight then
their West Coast counterparts.
| more details |
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sound format:
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2.0 Digital Stereo |
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aspect ratio(s):
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16:9 |
| special features: |
One Rap Battle, Three Freestyles |
| comments: |
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| reference system |
| DVD player: |
Sony DAV S300 DVD Player (Sony Dream System) |
| receiver: |
Sony DAV S300 DVD Player/Receiver |
| main speakers: |
Sony DAV S300 Satellite Speakers |
| center speaker: |
Sony DAV S300 Satellite Speakers |
| rear speakers: |
Sony DAV S300 Satellite Speakers |
| monitor: |
27" Daewoo Flat Screen |
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