Wild Style (25th Anniversary Edition) [Import]

This is a warning for all those who expect this DVD to include the original version of the "Wild Style" film.

Like the previous Rhino release, this "25th Anniversay Edition" still contains the altered footage of Grandmaster Flash cutting and scratching in his kitchen.

In the original version of the film, Grandmaster Flash starts cutting up the Headhunters' "God Make Me Funky" and then switches to Bob James' "Take Me To The Mardi Gras".

In both Rhino releases the Bob James track is replaced by some very different sounding beats which are assembled, to give the impression that Flash is cutting up these beats which in fact he doesn't.

This is of course not mentioned on the cover, so if anyone who owns the old Rhino edition is now expecting that Rhino has cleared the rights to use the original Bob James track, at least for this "25th Anniversary Edition", will be very dissapointed as this footage is also one, if not the highlight of this movie.

Even in the audio commentary Fab 5 Freddy really gets excited and alerts the viewer to especially pay attention to this particular scene and he describes the intercutting between Flash mixing, Zoro bombing and the Rock Steady Crew breaking as THE moment in this movie, where the elements of the original Hip Hop scene (except for the Rap part in this case) really come together.

But with this false music, Fab 5 Freddy's excitement in the commentary becomes a rather strange experience since it is not clear if Fred's listening to the original or the replacement when recording the commentary.

So this replacement of the original sound is really like altering a historical document, like changing the colors of a painting or the words of a speech. This scene as almost the whole movie is more of a documental nature rather than a staged musical number and it was (at least in parts) intended to be like that according to Fab 5 Freddy and Charlie Ahearn speaking in the commentary about intentions to do this film.

Some years ago I have read an interview with Charlie Ahearn where he spoke about the first Rhino DVD edition and that Rhino wasn't willing to pay the licensing fees for that Bob James track, so they decided to replace the music. But then to release a "25th Anniversary" edition and still not include the original music to me is outrageous. Companies should be forced to reveal such informations clearly visible on the cover (I know that's naive).

So the only DVD that I know to contain the original version of this movie is a japanese release (Bar code 4571157540177) that came out a few years ago and is still available as of April 2011. Only this japanese issue doesn't include the audio commentary from the U.S. releases which is very informative and entertaining.

Wild Style is not a documentary, despite what it may look like from packaging or even camerawork. It's a pretty slow-moving story of a man who writes on walls and his girlfriend's alleged infidelity with another man who writes on walls. While this love triangle is being played out, there is a journalist woman who wants to find out about a new sub-culture that is happening in the Bronx. There is also a musical event being planned in the amphitheatre in the park to showcase the local musical talent.

If you were reading the synopsis to this film anywhere, it would probably read something like that. But Wild Style isn't about the story. It's not about the acting, the direction or even the camerawork or sound recording (although the soundtrack is important).

It is a film that has shaped a generation, purely with the members of the cast and the records used in the soundtrack. Wild Style is a historical document. It perfectly captures a time and place - the Bronx, New York 1982 - and most of the figures that made that time and place so special. The plot is merely a device with which to string along a series of scenes of rappers, DJs, B-boys and spraycan artists. Some of these people were the roots of the hip hop movement. To see the impact that this film has had, look at how many times the soundtrack has been sampled - not only the dialogue (Tommy Tee, Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill, DJ Premier) but the backing loops. 'Tracks' such as Down By Law have become standards - no, classics - in battle cyphers and old school hip hop nights all over the world.

It's basically a visual dictionary of Old School hip hop royalty -

* GrandMaster Flash in what looks suspiciously like his bedroom cutting up the Headhunters' "God Made Me Funky" and then Bob James' "Take Me To The Mardi Gras" (although on the UK video re-release it has been replaced on the soundtrack with a Chris Stein co-produced track from the OST).

* The Rock Steady Crew intercut with Flash, walking up the hill in the park with a roll of lino on their shoulders.

* Fab 5 Freddy as the svengali of the film, leading others into the realms of the hip hop landscape (and hustling other members of the cast for money with card tricks).

* The Cold Crush Brothers and the Fantastic (Romantic) MCs in the basketball court.

* Double Trouble on the stoop ("Here's a little story that must be told...").

* 'Lee' Quinones and Lady Pink doing their thang on the walls of NYC - Lee's 'hands' piece being done at the same time as the RSC break and GM Flash cuts.

But enough of my salivating. This film is a slice of history for hip hop fans as much as footage of the 1966 World Cup Final is for British football fans. It should really be watched along with two other essential old school hip hop films - Beat Street (1984) and Beat This - A Hip Hop History (a BBC-TV film, 1985). Watching all three of those in one is an absolute education for anyone out there who has even a passing interest in hip hop (or even just rap) music. As a film, OK, it's limited and trite. The plot is pretty much non-existent and the acting is pretty variable. But no-one should watch it for that. Its whole reason d'etre is to provide an overview of a time and a place, when hip hop was innocent and a way of life, instead of a calculated business venture.

Beat Street was a bigger budget version of Wild Style, even down to the big name guest stars, the graffiti-artist-being-thwarted theme and the big show at the end of the film. It's easier to watch, but doesn't have that raw, cinema-verite style that Wild Style has.

Some trivia on the film. Chris Stein from Blondie co-produced he backing soundtracks that the MCs rap over. The records that the DJs use were pressed in very VERY limited quantities, and were not the result of crate digging. They were made for the film... According to popular legend, the opening scene of the (graffiti) bombing of the train was the only scene that Charlie Ahearne - director - could get the money together to do 'properly' (ie legally). If the rumours are to believed, the rest of the film was done 'on the run' - without permission.

If you like hip hop, are interested in it or even if you have never really thought about it, then watch Wild Style. It sums up a place and time and a FEELING quite unlike anything else. Now hip hop is the world's biggest selling music, watch this film to see where it came from. It'll probably make you reach for the nearest tracksuit, Kangol and lino and have you down the park in a fit of nostalgia.

Wild Style is considered to be the first hip-hop film. Rhino has released a special 25th anniversary edition of the film. "Wild Style" was before "Breakin'" and "Beat Streat." This 1982 film was about the hip-hop culture of early 1980's New York. The movie filmed in the South Bronx captures that gritty graffiti era that birthed rap music. The filmed starred Fab Five Freddy, The Cold Crush Brothers, Grand Master Flash and The Chief Rocker Busy Bee. The film really captures the graffiti culture of that era.

The 25th anniversary edition includes new bonus features and interviews. If you are a fan of the annual VH-1 Awards Show, "Hip-Hop Honors," pick up "Wild Style" and school yourself on old school hip-hop.