Jump to content

Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Content deleted Content added
Mechordeus (talk | contribs)
m Undid revision 676324316 by Kennyheffna (talk). Reverting obvious vandalism.
 
(22 intermediate revisions by 16 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
film
{{Infobox film
| image = Freestyle The Art of Rhyme US release poster (low res).jpg
| alt = U.S. release poster for "Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme"
| name = Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme
| image = Freestyle The Art of Rhyme US release poster (low res).jpg
| caption = U.S. release poster
| alt = U.S. release poster for "Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme"
| director = [[Kevin Fitzgerald (director)|Kevin Fitzgerald]]
| caption = U.S. release poster
| producer = [[Henry Alex Rubin]]
| director = Kevin Fitzgerald
| writer =
| producer = [[Henry Alex Rubin]]
| screenplay =
| story =
| writer =
| screenplay =
| based on = <!-- {{based on|title of the original work|writer of the original work}} -->
| narrator =
| story =
| starring =
| based_on =
| music =
| narrator =
| starring =
| music =
| cinematography = Todd Hickey
| cinematography = Todd Hickey
| editing = Paul Devlin
| editing = Paul Devlin
| studio =
| studio =
| distributor = [[Palm Pictures]] (USA theaters / DVD) <br /> [[VH1|VH1 Television]] (USA TV)
| distributor = [[Palm Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|2000|04|14|USA}} <br/> {{Film date|2004|07|29|USA}}
| released = {{Film date|2000|04|14|US}}
| runtime = 60 mins / 90 mins (director's cut)
| runtime = 60 minutes
| country = [[United States]]
| country = United States
| language =
| language = English
| budget =
| budget =
| gross = $12,600<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0262424/|title=Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme|website=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=May 28, 2020}}</ref>
| gross = $11,255 (USA)
}}
}}
'''''Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme''''' is a 2000 American documentary film directed by Kevin Fitzgerald. The film depicts the art of [[freestyle rap]].


==Plot==
'''''Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme''''' is a 2000 documentary film directed by [[Kevin Fitzgerald (director)|Kevin Fitzgerald]] about the art of [[freestyle rap|freestyle]], improvisational hip-hop. Taking more than seven years to make, the documentary includes performances and commentary by artists such as [[Supernatural (rapper)|Supernatural]], [[Mos Def]], [[The Roots]], [[Notorious B.I.G.]], [[Jurassic 5]], and [[Pharoahe Monch]].
The history of [[freestyle rap]] is explored in the film, with a mix of performance and commentary from a number of artists. Using archive footage, the film traces the origins of improvised hip hop to sources including African-American preachers, Jamaican toasts, improvised jazz, and spoken-word poets.


== Content ==
==Cast==
{{Cast listing|<!-- adapted from the DVD cover. -->
Directed by Kevin Fitzgerald (also known as DJ Organic), the history of [[freestyle rap]] is explored in the film, with a mix of performance and commentary from a number of artists. Using archive footage, the film traces the origins of improvised hip-hop to sources including [[African-American]] [[preacher]]s, Jamaican [[Deejay (Jamaican)#Toasting|toasts]], improvised [[jazz]], and [[spoken-word]] poets such as [[The Last Poets]].
* [[Mos Def]]
* [[Black Thought]]
* [[Bahamadia]]
* [[Freestyle Fellowship]]
* [[Questlove]]
* [[Supernatural (rapper)|Supernatural]]
* [[Craig G]]
* [[Pharoahe Monch]]
* Medusa
* [[Abstract Rude]]
* Akim Funk Buddha
* [[Planet Asia]]
* Otherwize
* [[Juice (American rapper)|Juice]]
* [[Wordsworth (rapper)|Wordsworth]]
* [[Lord Finesse]]
* [[Living Legends (group)|Living Legends]]
* [[Jurassic 5]]
* [[Boots Riley]]
* Darkleaf
* [[Divine Styler]]
* [[The Last Poets]]
* Emanuel Cartagena}}


== Reception ==
==Reception==
=== Box office ===
===Critical reception===
On review aggregator website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film holds an approval rating of 89% based on 18 reviews, and an average rating of 7.8/10.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/freestyle_the_art_of_rhyme|title=Freestyle|work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=May 28, 2020}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 63 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/freestyle-the-art-of-rhyme|title=Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme|work=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=May 28, 2020}}</ref>
Following its 7 July 2004 release, the film grossed $4,842 in its opening weekend, and made $12,600 domestically in two weeks.<ref name=Mojo>{{Mojo title|id=freestyle}}</ref>


[[A. O. Scott]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' commented that "The skills on display in ''Freestyle'' are too varied and idiosyncratic for one movie to contain, but this one at least offers a heady, rousing education in an art form that is too often misunderstood."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/16/movies/film-review-tryin-to-seize-the-joys-of-hip-hop-s-mc-s.html|title=FILM REVIEW; Tryin' to Seize the Joys Of Hip-Hop's M.C.'s|work=[[The New York Times]]|first=A. O.|last=Scott|author-link=A. O. Scott|date=July 16, 2004|access-date=May 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528040933/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/16/movies/film-review-tryin-to-seize-the-joys-of-hip-hop-s-mc-s.html|archive-date=May 28, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Nathan Rabin of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' wrote, "With a running time just over an hour, ''Freestyle'' doesn't have the time or space to offer an exhaustive or definitive history of freestyling, but it exuberantly captures its spirit, and like any good rapper, it's savvy enough to leave audiences hungry for more."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/freestyle-the-art-of-rhyme-1798200749|title=Freestyle: The Art Of Rhyme|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|first=Nathan|last=Rabin|date=May 31, 2005|access-date=May 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191122231204/https://film.avclub.com/freestyle-the-art-of-rhyme-1798200749|archive-date=November 22, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Fred Camper of ''[[Chicago Reader]]'' called it "[a]n engaged and knowing look at the underground world of improvised rap, concentrating on artists less interested in commercial success and cutting records than in the 'spontaneous right now' of 'nonconceptual rhyme.'"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/freestyle-the-art-of-rhyme/Film?oid=1052149|title=Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme|work=[[Chicago Reader]]|first=Fred|last=Camper|date=|access-date=May 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129051101/https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/freestyle-the-art-of-rhyme/Film?oid=1052149|archive-date=November 29, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Critical reception ===
''Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme'' was well-received, with an [[weighted mean|average]] score of 63 from 11 reviews on [[MetaCritic]], and an average score of 89% from 18 reviews on [[Rotten Tomatoes]].<ref name=MetaCritic>{{cite web|title=Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/freestyle-the-art-of-rhyme|work=[[MetaCritic]]|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref><ref name=RottenTomatoes>{{cite web|title=Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme (2000)|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/freestyle_the_art_of_rhyme/|work=RottenTomatoes.com|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref> [[A. O. Scott]] of the [[New York Times]] described it as "a heady, rousing education in an art form that is too often misunderstood", <ref name=Scott-NYTimes>{{cite news|last=Scott|first=A.O.|title=Freestyle (2000) FILM REVIEW; Tryin' to Seize the Joys Of Hip-Hop's M.C.'s|url=http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=940CE2DD143AF935A25754C0A9629C8B63&partner=Rotten%2520Tomatoes|accessdate=24 May 2014|date=16 July 2004}}</ref> and Fred Camper of the [[Chicago Reader]] called it "[a]n engaged and knowing look at the underground world of improvised rap, concentrating on artists less interested in commercial success and cutting records than in the 'spontaneous right now' of 'nonconceptual rhyme.'"<ref name="chicago reader">{{cite news|last=Camper|first=Fred|title=Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme|url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/freestyle-the-art-of-rhyme/Film?oid=1052149|accessdate=24 May 2014|newspaper=Chicago Reader}}</ref>


In 2012, ''[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]'' placed the film at number 17 on the "25 Best Hip-Hop Documentaries" list.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/06/the-25-best-hip-hop-documentaries/freestyle-the-art-of-rhyme|title=The 25 Best Hip-Hop Documentaries: 17. Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme (2000)|work=[[Complex (magazine)|Complex]]|first=Shanté|last=Cosme|date=June 18, 2012|access-date=May 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624232655/http://www.complex.com/pop-culture/2012/06/the-25-best-hip-hop-documentaries/freestyle-the-art-of-rhyme|archive-date=June 24, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Awards ===
The film performed well at festivals, receiving awards for both the soundtrack and the documentary overall.<ref name = "IMDB">{{cite web | title = Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme (2000) - Awards | url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0262424/awards | publisher = IMDB | accessdate = 24 May 2014 }}</ref><ref name=Woodstock>{{cite web|title=Woodstock Film Festival Scores Rave Reviews from Filmmakers and Audiences (press release)|url=http://www.woodstockfilmfestival.com/press/releases/september26.htm|publisher=Woodstock Film Festival|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref>


===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable center"
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|-
|-
! scope="col"| Award
! Year
! scope="col"| Year
! Festival
! Category
! scope="col"| Category
! scope="col"| Recipient(s)
! Award
! Result
! scope="col"| Result
! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}
! Notes
|-
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2000
| [[Woodstock Film Festival]]
| [[Woodstock Film Festival]]
| 2000
| rowspan="2"| Best Documentary
| Best Documentary
| rowspan="2"| Jury Prize
| ''Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme''
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.woodstockfilmfestival.com/press/releases/september26.htm|title=Woodstock Film Festival Scores Rave Reviews from Filmmakers and Audiences|work=[[Woodstock Film Festival]]|date=September 24, 2000|access-date=May 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045900/http://www.woodstockfilmfestival.com/press/releases/september26.htm|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
|
|-
|-
| [[Urbanworld Film Festival]]
| [[Kara Film Festival]]
| 2006
| Special Mention for Best Documentary
| ''Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme''
| {{won}}
| {{won}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.karafilmfest.com/KaraFilm2006/awards.htm|title=6th KaraFilm Festival - Karachi International Film festival 2006: Awards|work=[[Kara Film Festival]]|date=|access-date=May 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207043231/http://www.karafilmfest.com/KaraFilm2006/awards.htm|archive-date=February 7, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>
| Tied with ''[[Scottsboro: An American Tragedy]]''.
|-
| [[Los Angeles Independent Film Festival]]
| Best Soundtrack
| Audience Award
| {{won}}
|
|-
| 2002
| [[Florida Film Festival]]
| colspan="2" | Special Jury Award
| {{won}}
| For documentary filmmaking.
|-
| 2006
| [[Karachi Film Festival]]
| Best Documentary
| colspan="2" | Special mention
| "[F]or its innovative camerawork and editing technique."<ref name=Karachi>{{cite web|title=6th KaraFilm Festival - Karachi International Film festival 2006|url=http://www.karafilmfest.com/KaraFilm2006/awards.htm|publisher=KaraFilm Society|accessdate=24 May 2014}}</ref>
|}
|}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{official website|http://www.freestylethefilm.com/}}
* {{Official website|http://www.freestylethefilm.com}}
* {{IMDb title|id=tt0262424}}
* {{IMDb title|tt0262424|Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme}}
* {{Metacritic film|id=freestyle-the-art-of-rhyme}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|freestyle_the_art_of_rhyme}}


[[Category:2000 films]]
[[Category:2000s hip-hop films]]
[[Category:American documentary films]]
[[Category:American documentary films]]
[[Category:2000 films]]
[[Category:Documentary films about hip-hop music and musicians]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:Documentary films about hip hop music and musicians]]
[[Category:English-language documentary films]]
[[Category:English-language musical films]]
[[Category:2000 musical films]]

Latest revision as of 12:41, 13 December 2024

Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme
U.S. release poster for "Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme"
U.S. release poster
Directed byKevin Fitzgerald
Produced byHenry Alex Rubin
CinematographyTodd Hickey
Edited byPaul Devlin
Distributed byPalm Pictures
Release date
  • April 14, 2000 (2000-04-14) (US)
Running time
60 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$12,600[1]

Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme is a 2000 American documentary film directed by Kevin Fitzgerald. The film depicts the art of freestyle rap.

Plot

[edit]

The history of freestyle rap is explored in the film, with a mix of performance and commentary from a number of artists. Using archive footage, the film traces the origins of improvised hip hop to sources including African-American preachers, Jamaican toasts, improvised jazz, and spoken-word poets.

Cast

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

Critical reception

[edit]

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 89% based on 18 reviews, and an average rating of 7.8/10.[2] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 63 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[3]

A. O. Scott of The New York Times commented that "The skills on display in Freestyle are too varied and idiosyncratic for one movie to contain, but this one at least offers a heady, rousing education in an art form that is too often misunderstood."[4] Nathan Rabin of The A.V. Club wrote, "With a running time just over an hour, Freestyle doesn't have the time or space to offer an exhaustive or definitive history of freestyling, but it exuberantly captures its spirit, and like any good rapper, it's savvy enough to leave audiences hungry for more."[5] Fred Camper of Chicago Reader called it "[a]n engaged and knowing look at the underground world of improvised rap, concentrating on artists less interested in commercial success and cutting records than in the 'spontaneous right now' of 'nonconceptual rhyme.'"[6]

In 2012, Complex placed the film at number 17 on the "25 Best Hip-Hop Documentaries" list.[7]

Accolades

[edit]
Award Year Category Recipient(s) Result Ref(s)
Woodstock Film Festival 2000 Best Documentary Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme Won [8]
Kara Film Festival 2006 Special Mention for Best Documentary Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme Won [9]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  2. ^ "Freestyle". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  3. ^ "Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme". Metacritic. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  4. ^ Scott, A. O. (July 16, 2004). "FILM REVIEW; Tryin' to Seize the Joys Of Hip-Hop's M.C.'s". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  5. ^ Rabin, Nathan (May 31, 2005). "Freestyle: The Art Of Rhyme". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on November 22, 2019. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  6. ^ Camper, Fred. "Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme". Chicago Reader. Archived from the original on November 29, 2017. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  7. ^ Cosme, Shanté (June 18, 2012). "The 25 Best Hip-Hop Documentaries: 17. Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme (2000)". Complex. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  8. ^ "Woodstock Film Festival Scores Rave Reviews from Filmmakers and Audiences". Woodstock Film Festival. September 24, 2000. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
  9. ^ "6th KaraFilm Festival - Karachi International Film festival 2006: Awards". Kara Film Festival. Archived from the original on February 7, 2007. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
[edit]