Mario Van Peebles creates a stunning persona in this film about a young man who serves time in prison and comes out a better person for it.
John "Rappin'" Hood heads back to his old haunts on the mean streets of Pittsburgh and tries to return to the business of living, by looking out for his mischievous little brother ("Why don't you mind your own business? You ARE my business!"), finding some kind of career path, and maybe even getting back together with his former squeeze.
I loved seeing snippets of Pittsburgh, my hometown, and this movie features some wonderful, albeit brief, rap performances by by the handsome and agile Van Peebles. The music form in its earlier days was more measured and articulated, and Van Peebles's bits, both on the sound stage for his admiring ex- and in exchanges with folks like his grandmother -- In prison, "wasn't nothin' to do but think and work out" -- are wonderful to behold.
Everyone joins in at times, including Grandma, played lovingly by Eyde Byrde, as when she admonishes the younger bro, "Now you may rap and you may rhyme, but now it is your homework time!"
Unfortunately, the movie bogs down horribly as we must wade through silly subplots involving a vicious hooligan -- "Hey is for horses" -- played by Charles Grant, greedy developers trying to exploit local residents, and a lascivious truck driver and prostitute (how inappropriate in a movie clearly targeted to teens).
I'm interested in the history of rap, so I enjoyed this little trip down a musical memory lane. Van Peebles was a wonderful discovery; I'm just surprised I haven't seen or heard more from him in more recent times.
John "Rappin'" Hood heads back to his old haunts on the mean streets of Pittsburgh and tries to return to the business of living, by looking out for his mischievous little brother ("Why don't you mind your own business? You ARE my business!"), finding some kind of career path, and maybe even getting back together with his former squeeze.
I loved seeing snippets of Pittsburgh, my hometown, and this movie features some wonderful, albeit brief, rap performances by by the handsome and agile Van Peebles. The music form in its earlier days was more measured and articulated, and Van Peebles's bits, both on the sound stage for his admiring ex- and in exchanges with folks like his grandmother -- In prison, "wasn't nothin' to do but think and work out" -- are wonderful to behold.
Everyone joins in at times, including Grandma, played lovingly by Eyde Byrde, as when she admonishes the younger bro, "Now you may rap and you may rhyme, but now it is your homework time!"
Unfortunately, the movie bogs down horribly as we must wade through silly subplots involving a vicious hooligan -- "Hey is for horses" -- played by Charles Grant, greedy developers trying to exploit local residents, and a lascivious truck driver and prostitute (how inappropriate in a movie clearly targeted to teens).
I'm interested in the history of rap, so I enjoyed this little trip down a musical memory lane. Van Peebles was a wonderful discovery; I'm just surprised I haven't seen or heard more from him in more recent times.