X
  • 2007
  • PG-13
  • SundanceTV
  • 1 h 28 m
  • 2007
  • PG-13
  • SundanceTV
  • 1 h 28 m
The Hip Hop Project

Summary From Executive Producers Bruce Willis and Queen Latifah, The Hip Hop Project is the compelling story of Kazi a formerly homeless teenager who inspired a group of New York City teens to transform their life stories into powerful works of art, using hip hop as a vehicle for self-development and personal discovery. (ThinkFilm)

Directed By: Matt Ruskin

  • 2007
  • PG-13
  • SundanceTV
  • 1 h 28 m
  • 2007
  • PG-13
  • SundanceTV
  • 1 h 28 m

The Hip Hop Project

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 17 Critic Reviews
66
User Score Available after 4 ratings
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Summary From Executive Producers Bruce Willis and Queen Latifah, The Hip Hop Project is the compelling story of Kazi a formerly homeless teenager who inspired a group of New York City teens to transform their life stories into powerful works of art, using hip hop as a vehicle for self-development and personal discovery. (ThinkFilm)

Directed By: Matt Ruskin

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 17 Critic Reviews
66
71% Positive
12 Reviews
29% Mixed
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
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Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 17 Critic Reviews
66
71% Positive
12 Reviews
29% Mixed
5 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
83
Kazi is a bundle of energy, and the film touches on an important and often-overlooked issue: The commercial pressure that is often brought to bear on rappers to be scurrilous and offensive. This project, which was produced by Bruce Willis and Queen Latifah, shows that there is another way.
By Peter Rainer FULL REVIEW
75
Project provides an unmistakably one-sided view of rap as God's gift to the poor, angry, black, and young, but given the beating rap has taken in the press lately (please Oprah, don't hurt 'em!), the film's pro-rap cheerleading couldn't be more timely or necessary.
By Nathan Rabin FULL REVIEW
75
The film works best when it pays specific attention to how hard it is to write a rhyme worth hearing.
By Michael Phillips FULL REVIEW
70
From domestic strife to studio triumph, the most impressive accomplishment of Project is not the student-made album, but that when Kazi says cheesy things like "This is healing through hip-hop," you actually believe him.
FULL REVIEW
63
Although it often feels more like a promotional tool than an objective documentary, there is no denying the emotional resonance propelling Matt Ruskin's first feature.
By Elizabeth Weitzman FULL REVIEW
58
While their stories are well worth telling, first-time director Ruskin fails to shape his material into the dynamic film it might have been.
By Bill White FULL REVIEW
50
Ultimately, The Hip Hop Project is all raggedy rhythm and long-winded discourse, a tuneless song in search of a hook.
By Teresa Wiltz FULL REVIEW

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Details

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Production Company Pressure Point Films
Release Date May 11, 2007
Duration 1 h 28 m
Rating PG-13
Genres
Tagline If you had the whole world listening, what would you have to say?
Website http://www.pressurepointfilms.com/
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Awards

Heartland International Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Zurich Film Festival
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Washington DC Independent Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination

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