The Hip Hop Project (2006)

57% of critics liked it
(37 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(2,479 ratings)

Chris Rolle was born into poverty in the Bahamas and found himself forced to fend for himself as a child when he was abandoned by his mother. Rolle came to America in his teens but soon found himself homeless on the mean streets of Brooklyn, NY. Rolle had a natural talent as a rapper, and had the… More Chris Rolle was born into poverty in the Bahamas and found himself forced to fend for himself as a child when he was abandoned by his mother. Rolle came to America in his teens but soon found himself homeless on the mean streets of Brooklyn, NY. Rolle had a natural talent as a rapper, and had the good fortune of meeting Scott K. Rosenberg, who was the founder of Art Start, an organization that brings arts education to New York City's underprivileged. Encouraged by his contacts at Art Start, Rolle began developing a potent reputation as rapper Kharma Kazi, and soon he came to realize he wanted to give back to the community that helped lift him out of poverty. With the help of Art Start, Rolle helped found The Hip Hop Project, a workshop for aspiring hip-hop artists. Instead of simply teaching aspiring rappers about rhyming techniques or microphone handling, Rolle and his crew urged them to use rap as a way to speak out about the issues they face in their daily lives rather than rhyming about violence, sex, bling, and the gangsta lifestyle. In time, hip-hop powerhouse Russell Simmons partnered up with movie star Bruce Willis to donate a recording studio to the group, thus enabling the musicians to record and release their own record, HHP Vol. 1: Are You Feelin' Me?, issued in May 2007. The Hip Hop Project is a documentary about Rolle and The Hip Hop Project crew that offers a behind-the-scenes look at their work and their impact on a group of young people eager to hone their musical skills. The film received its world premiere at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 28 min.
Directed By: Matt Ruskin, Scott Rosenberg
Genres: Documentary, Musical & Performing Arts, Special Interest

In Theaters: Apr 27, 2006 Wide
On DVD: Jan 5, 2010
Studio: ThinkFilm

Critic Reviews

John Anderson, Variety
It makes the viewer uncomfortable, too -- but it's unquestionably honest, like so much of Hip-Hop.
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
The film meanders, sidetracks, and frustrates -- few of the rap songs, some of them boasting wildly inspired couplets, are shown and heard in their entirety.
Kyle Smith, New York Post
Dramatically, the movie lacks motion -- the kids don't seem a lot better off at the end -- and the point of the program escapes me. These kids badly need an education.
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
[Director] Ruskin is so awed by his subject that he never gains the distance needed to create a bigger, more powerful picture.
Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times
Will the music of The Hip Hop Project album change your life? Likely, no. Did the process of making it change the lives of those involved in its creation? Undoubtedly. And that, perhaps, is inspiration enough.
Adam Graham, Detroit News
There is some inspired camera work during some of the performance sequences, but none of the performances themselves stick. It's a shame when a film about the power of music doesn't contain one memorable song.
Kam Williams, NewsBlaze
With 100% of the profits going to non-profit charities devoted to youth, check with your accountant, but this might very well be the first totally tax-deductible DVD.
Tom Meek, Boston Phoenix
Rolle's passion and perseverance power the film, and along the way he gets a boost from rap mogul Russell Simmons and Bruce Willis.
Christopher Campbell, Cinematical
[A] powerful and, if we're lucky, influential documentary.
John P. McCarthy, Boxoffice Magazine
Based on what we hear, though, it's hard to assess whether anyone has any breakthrough potential. Likewise, there's nothing remarkable about the filmmaking.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
Even if you don't particulary care for rap, The Hip Hop Project may persuade you that there's something to be said for it, after all.
, Hollywood.com
Unfortunately, this is a Hallmark version of hip-hop-and it really hurts to knock this film.
Nathan Rabin, AV Club
A big, wet, sloppy valentine to hip-hop's power to give voice to the voiceless.
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide
The story is compelling enough that even glib phrases like 'healing through hip-hop' can't drag it down.
Ted Fry, Seattle Times
First-time director Matt Ruskin is a skilled documentarian; he releases information gradually so the narrative develops in an organic fashion that is consistently engaging.
Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Daily News
Net profits from the theatrical release of The Hip Hop Project will be donated to youth organizations, so you can feel doubly good about attending this modestly moving tribute to a small but significant kind of inner-city success.