Wild Style (1983) – Directed by Charlie Ahearn

So the movie Wild Style, the film that is widely accepted as the first hip hop motion picture ever produced, was released in the year of my birth, 1983. So in a way, I have grown up alongside hip hop on film. In reality, it wasn’t until the age of about 14 or 15 that I first saw Wild Style, but even then many years after its initial release the movie still seemed so fresh and exciting to me. The film really introduced me to the concept of hip hop as a culture with different elements making it up rather than hip hop as simply another genre of popular music. This concept was so completely intriguing and attractive to me and a result it would go on to become a hugely influential factor in my life and remain so to this day.

Through Wild Style, Charlie Ahearn and Fab 5 Freddy introduced a worldwide audience to a culture born in the ghetto streets of New York city in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. The film showcases all of the four elements that make up hip hop culture; emceeing, DJing, breakdancing, and graffiti. It presents to its audience a transparent representation of the type of social environment that this cultural revolution took place in, whilst stressing the level of importance it held and the level of pleasure it provided for those who lived it. Wild Style also comments on the growing ‘outside’ interest of the mainstream media in this new cultural movement.

Wild Style follows the exploits of young Graffiti writer Ray, who is alienated and misunderstood by many but lauded and admired by others as a result of his lifestyle and his belief in the importance of his art. Ray talks passionately about the pleasure he gets through overcoming negative comments and taking the risks involved in painting on walls and subway trains in order to express himself and make his mark on the world. He likens his lifestyle to that of an outlaw. When a reporter arrives in the neighborhood to do a story on the emergence of the hip hop culture Ray is confronted with a dilemna. Does he stay in the shadows, painting on trains and getting chased by police but protecting his identity? Or does he move into the limelight to get paid at the expense of his outlaw status. Lee Quinones, the real life graffiti writer who plays Ray in the movie, talked in a recent interview about confronting a similar dilemna in making his mind up on whether or not to be involved in the movie. Lee’s then girlfriend and fellow graffiti artist Lady Pink was also involved in the film. again effectively playing herself.

Quite literally playing themselves in the film are a number of seminal emcees, dj’s and breakdancers of the time. Emcees featured include; Busy Bee, Double Trouble, Lisa Lee of Zulu Nation, The Cold Crush Brothers and The Fantastic Freaks.

DJ Grandmaster Flash also makes a brief guest appearance as he plays a set in a small kitchen for Fab 5 Freddy.

Breakdancing is displayed on a number of occasions through the film, whether in the clubs, on the stage, or just in the park with Crazy Legs and the rest of the Rocksteady Crew one of a few breaking crews involved.

An emcee battle sequence on a basketball court between Cold Crush and Fantastic is a real highlight of the film for me, as is the performance given by Double Trouble whilst sitting on a tenament stoop in which they rap about leaving the Fanastic Four Plus One More. Performances from the Chief Rocker Busy Bee also bring some added humour and really highlight the fun loving party feel of hip hop music during this era.

The setting of the film in the South Bronx section of New York and Charlie Ahearn’s decision to shoot the film on location mean that Wild Style provides a snapshot of the environment into which hip hop was born. An environment of crumbling and burnt out blocks, dusty streets, and rubble strewn wasteland. An environment overwhelmed by poverty, unemployment, crime, and a lack of opportunity.

Hip hop is presented as a beacon of hope in this desolate environment. Graffiti provides colour and beauty to the surroundings whilst hip hop music and dancing bring another type of joy to the community, along with a sense of unity and pride. This is one of the reasons I love this movie so much and why I would recommend it to any fan of hip hop music.