Rapsploitation Soundtracks feat Wyatt Cenac
Remember when movie soundtracks were amazing rap compilations?
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Rapsploitation is a genre of film that highlights and exploits hip hop culture. As the culture becomes more ubiquitous, the definitions surrounding what a rap's exploitation film is become even looser. But there are still a few constants that firmly cement a film to the genre.
For instance: the lead actors are rappers.There is a soundtrack by said, rapper/actor that coincides with the movie. The film is low budget and is sometimes included with the purchase of an album.
These are hard and fast rules that I just made up, so of course there are probably exceptions.
Two fairly recent examples of Rapsploitation films are Mac and Devin Go to High School and Gang of Roses. Here's a plot summary of Mac and Devon. Go to high school from Vudu. Snoop Dog's character Mac is a 15 year senior whose weed obsession keeps him from graduating until he meets a hot new substitute teacher who won't put out until he gets outta high school. Fate causes Mac and Devin's worlds to collide, resulting in the ultimate stoner comedy. They forgot to mention that Devon is played by Wiz Khalifa. (Yep, That Wiz Khalifa.) And it goes without saying that Snoop and Wiz used this opportunity to make a collab album that served as the film soundtrack. The lead single even got a Grammy nom for best rap song of the year.
While Mac and Devin has a few cool cameos, it leans heavily on the star power of its leads. Gang of Roses on the other hand, spreads out that spotlight and serves as a repository for some of black entertainment's more notable stars. Here's a plot summary. A gang of gold hunting outlaws led by left eye Watkins, not Lisa left Eye Lopez, but a character played by Bobby Brown. (Yep, that Bobby Brown) tries to take over a sleepy outpost only to end up awakening a retired lady gang of Old West Bank robbers. They come outta retirement to help rescue a sister in peril. The film also stars. Lil Kim, Lisa Ray and Stacy Dash. The Sequel Gang of Roses Two Next Generation (whose plot will not try to summarize) stars Amber Rose, Wiz Khalifa, Teyana Taylor and Charlie Baltimore. (Oh my bad. I forgot to mention, Gang of Roses is a film franchise). Sadly, that first film didn't spawn a soundtrack, but Lil Kim did contribute a custom song to the film score.
Ironically enough, there hasn't been a successful Rapsploitation musical. You'd think that an art form that hinges upon rhythmic spoken word would be perfectly fit for the genre. But no, Prior to Hamilton becoming the face of the hiphop musical, one of the biggest swing and misses of the genre was Carmen the Hip Hopera. A film with a name so goofy that not even Beyonce knows Carter could save it. (Yep. That Beyonce), THe film starred Mekkhi Phiffer. Beyonce Knowles Mos Def, Rah Digga. Da Brat, Lil Bow. Wow, Wyclef Jean and Jermaine Dupri Carmen. (Damn, Was everybody in that movie?) The plot is basically just a Beyonce, Mekkhi and Mos Def love triangle. The rapping as dialogue is as jarring as a person busting out in song mid-conversation always is. (Fun fact, this soundtrack included Boom by Royce to five nine and DJ Premier.)
And with rap being one of the greatest marketing tools of all time, it was inevitable that we'd end up with white rap exploitation films like Save The Last Dance, a movie that finds Julia Styles doing her own stunts and dancing.I used that term very loosely, as stiff as you can possibly imagine.
Rapsploitation also made its way to the small screen, and there are so many great TV shows that had rappers as league characters or rap theme songs that it honestly needs to be its own episode. So when you fast forward to today getting to watch Queen Latifah, Ice T and LL Cool J solve crimes on their respective TV shows or even watching Brandy portray a 40 year old rapper coming out of retirement on the now cancelled TV show Queens the amount of rap that has found its way into filming TV is truly astounding, especially when you think about the fact that it was once considered a fad.
So what does the future of Rapsploitation look like? Well, to be quite honest, it seems that things are even more seamless now than ever. The surge of black creators telling their authentic stories and reaching out to the artists that have inspired them along the way has made for some exciting musical moments in film and tv.
Issa Rae is probably the best example of this as her new venture Raedio (an artist forward music licensing agency) and her new show Rap Shit, (a stellar TV show about two girls from Miami starting their rap career) has created a pipeline through which she is able to nurture new artists and help them shine in a time of content saturation.
In summation, it is safe to say that Rapsploitation ain't going nowhere. Furthermore, with the sheer volume of content being made we'll be unearthing gems for years to come.
BONUS:
Common’s short lived TV show Framework - Trailer
TRACKLIST:
Fire In The Sky - Anderson Paak (Shang Chi)
Bring Back Ya Love -Christian (Streets Is Watching)
Me and My Bitch - Biggie (The Show)
Come Back In One Piece - Aaliyah (Romeo Must Die)
Name Calling - Queen Latifah (Set It Off)
Gotta Get Over (Taking Loot) - Gangstarr (Trespass)
Streiht Up Menace - MC EIHT (Menace To Society)
Growing Up In The Hood - Compton’s Most Wanted (Boyz N The Hood)
Hollywood Divorce - Outkast (Idlewild)
What You Want - The Roots (The Best Man)
Best Friend - 50 Cent (Get Rich Or Die Trying)
Keep It Real - Jon B & Koko (Hav Plenty)
Who You Wit. - Jay Z (Sprung)
We Don’t Need It - Junior Mafia (Sunset Park)
One on One - Nas (Street Fighter)
Glamour & Glitz - A Tribe Called Quest (The Show)
Anything - SWV (Above The Rim)
Revolution -Arrested Development (Malcolm X)
In Due Time - Outkast - (Soul Food)
Brown Sugar (Fine) - Mom Def (Brown Sugar)
Boom - Royce Da 5’9” - (Carmen)
On The Blvd - Snoop & Dre - (The Wash)
Straight Outta Locash- CB4 (CB4)
Uptown Anthem - Naughty By Nature (Juice)
Kid Vs Play - Kid N Play (House Party)
New Jack Hustler - Ice T (New Jack City)
Party & Bullshit - Biggie (Who’s The Man)