Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap

Rarely if ever will you come across a rapper slash former drug slanger slash big screen and TV actor slash cop killa (in no specific order) that even after over 25 years in the rap game is taking the time out to make a documentary about the art of rap, which also happens to be the title of Ice T’s documentary which premiered at Hammersmith Apollo last night in London.

Even more rarely will you get Ice-T, Chuck D, Melle Mel and Raekwon answering questions from fans plus performing with special guest appearance from Ghostface Killah and UK rap pioneers Hijackers bringing the house down in a concert straight after a movie showing either!

Still rocking fresh since his first LP Rhyme Pays dropped in 1987 Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap is a tour de force of face to face interviews with almost every classic rapper from the golden era of hip hop (and a couple of newer faces like Kanye West, Eminem and Joe Budden), all researched and tracked down with the assistance of Ice T’s extensive rolodex of rappers.

Straight into the action, The Art of Rap doesn’t make any assumptions that you know each of the rappers’ back stories or anything about hip hop: This was made especially for fans and cuts to the chase with slick camera cuts and shots of local scenery.

A short sample playing as helicopter shots pan across NYC, LA and every other hip hop capital in between across the United States from each of the rapper’s best known track introduces each interview, and if you know who’s up next from the track then you can give yourself full marks in your old school exams.

Uncovering the science between Rakeem’s rhyme style of 16 dots at the end of each line marking 16 bars on a record, to how Eminem puts together rhymes within rhymes and the revelation that Dr Dre hasn’t left his studio for longer than two weeks in 27 years to perfect each hit he puts out, Ice T’s interviews each of the artists with the inside expertise you’d expect from an OG (Original Gangsta!) and gets straight to the point: "Where do you see your brush strokes on the painting of the art of rap?" This wasn’t just a documentary, but an insightful look into the art that artists put into their raps and a snap shot of how all of your favourite MCs worked. They don’t make music like this any more these days…

Melle Me at the Art of Rap launch performing The Message - photo by Paul Hampartsoumian

Rappers in The Art of Rap:
Bun B, B-Real, Afrika Bambaataa, Busy Bee, Joe Budden, Grandmaster Caz, Common, Treach, Ice Cube, Chuck D, Royce Da 5' 9", Dana Dane, Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre, Eminem, Doug E Fresh, MC Lyte, Q-Tip, Immortal Technique and so many more...

So is this is it for The Art Of Rap? Hell no, Ice T tells everyone afterwards that there’s over 70 hours of additional footage that couldn’t make the cut before opening up the show for a concert that caused waves of nostalgia for the mature hip hop fans and impatient looking girlfriends as Melle Mel recited the lyrics of The Message acapella, Chuck D dropped Public Enemy's new single, marking the first time Public Enemy had performed in the Hammersmith Apollo since the 80s and Raekwon brought out Wu Tang collaborator Ghostface to join him before Ice T re-introduced The Highjackers, UK rap pioneers...

Melle Mel, Raekwon, Chuck D and Ice T at the Art of Rap UK launch - photo by Paul Hampartsoumian