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Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap (15)

Documentary, Music

A documentary on rap music and its rise to global prominence.


The critical consensus

Freestyle, funny but finally just too repetitive, Ice’s affectionate home-movie needed someone to structure it into a deeper documentary.

***(*)(*)Jonathan Crocker, Total Film, 09/07/2012

It’s likely to be fascinating if you are a hip hop fan, but almost wilfully unilluminating if you aren’t.

Siobhan Synnot, The Scotsman, 15/07/2012

A very enjoyable and often fascinating movie.

****(*)Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian, 18/07/2012

An extremely interesting insight, proving that rap music is an art form in its own right.

****(*)David Hughes, Empire Online, 17/07/2012

The film is educative, entertaining, in almost all senses a blast.

****(*)Nigel Andrews, Financial Times, 19/07/2012

Rapper Ice-T's documentary leaves us none the wiser, ignoring the demands of critical inquiry in favour of a long, long procession of interviews with other famous rappers and MCs.

*(*)(*)(*)(*)Anthony Quinn, The Independent, 20/07/2012

All fascinating stuff if a little repetitive and rambling but definitely one for fans.

****(*)Allan Hunter, Daily Express, 20/07/2012

What they don't talk about, on Ice-T's specific instructions, are the moral, social and psychological aspects of the art, and there's little on how rap relates to other forms of black music such as jazz, gospel or the blues.

Philip French, The Observer, 22/07/2012


Features about Something From Nothing: The Art of Rap (15)

It's a rap: hip-hop and Hollywood

Steve Rose, The Guardian, 19/07/2012

Where and when?

General release. Check local listings for show times.

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