| | | | Beat Street
(1984) |
omparisons between Beat Street and Breakin’ are inevitable.
Both were released in 1984 and have break dancing as the heart and soul theme of the films. They have conflict between perceived legitimate art forms versus the credible street roots, and both have pint sized extremely cute and talented side-kick breakers (Turbo and Lee).
That’s about where the similarities end. Despite the obvious differences in location (Breakin’ is in LA and Beat Street is in New York) the most crucial difference is substance. Beat Street achieves a well crafted and consistent narrative, the script writers have created developed characters and the actors are adept at acting and dancing.
The story revolves around Kenny (Guy Davis) and his group of friends living in the Bronx. Kenny is a talented and passionate musician who records unique sounds from the street and mixes them with beats, rap and original music. His best friend Ramon (Jon Chardiet) is just as talented at graffiti art, but perhaps even more passionate in his artistic fervour and commitment which causes conflict with his Puerto Rican father, and his girlfriend’s family. Add in the third friend Chollie (Leon W Grant) who thinks of himself as an entrepreneurial businessman you have a collection of ambitious people living in realistically ghetto conditions who have a dream that their talents can lead to better things in life.
Kenny’s little brother Lee (Robert Taylor) is perhaps the coolest character in the whole film and really steals the show whenever he’s in front of the camera He is a member of the New York Breakers, who happen to break-dance-off whenever they come across the Rock Steady Crew, which occurs at their local underground party, the Roxy and the 57th Street subway - the Roxy battle being the highlight of the b-boy breakin’ scenes.
All of these great characters and we haven’t even mentioned the beautiful Tracy (Rae Dawn Chong) who is a talented composer / musician, and acts as the legitimate professional from the good side of the tracks and on her way up. After an initial conflict, the romance blossoms between Tracy and Kenny fuelled by their shared love of music.
Tragedy hits the group hard with the death of Ramon when he confronts his nemesis, the vandal tagger Spit. This is another turning point in Kenny’s already messed up life and he uses his emotion to take control of his own life and perform a tribute night for Ramon at the Roxy on New Years Eve, a coming of age for him.
The film is interested in the authenticity of hip hop culture, the city and the characters that fuelled the scene. The list of appearing artists is impressive: Magnificent Force, Rock Steady Crew, New York Breakers, The Treacherous Three, Afrika Bambaataa and the Soul Sonic Force, Grand Master Melle Mel and the Furious Five, Jazzy J – legitimate funk and hip hop activists of the day.
The combination of great music, incredible breakin’, real location shots, and believable characters make it a very satisfying film.
 Don't forget that Beat Street is now available to order on Widescreen DVD using our special 80s Retro Assistant...
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The overall structure, narrative, script, characters, acting quality and the combination of music, art and dancing all add up to a good film, not just a good hip hop film.
There are some discrepancies which let it down - icey snow one minute, gone the next. A sincere attempt at authenticity is spoilt by some leniencies - actors having to wear puma and kangol, and the set designers painting the graffiti art.
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"Beat Street" was actually based on Steven Hager's long out of print book "Hip Hop".  -Thanks to Brian
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The director Stan Latham was also the director/producer of DEF Poetry on HBO. -Thanks to James Cooper
Kenny, played by Guy Davis, is not only Ossie Davis' son, but also went on to a career in music with several Blues/Roots albums under his belt.
Kool Herc, creator of Hip-Hop, appears in the movie as the owner of the burning spear. Dougie Fresh is also in the movie as the human beat box. -Thanks to James Cooper
Just a little something that not many would notice...The female drummer in the pit orchestra conducted by Tracy (Rae Dawn Chong) is a highly revered jazz drummer named Terri Lyne Carrington who has played with many top name jazz artists including her more recent participation in Herbie Hancock's trio.
The girl that plays Ramon's girlfriend is Saundra Santiago who went on to co-star in "Miami Vice" as Don Johnson's semi-love interest Gina Calabrese. -Thanks to Rahul Kshirsagar
I have submitted a Beat Street quiz on fun trivia dot com. check it out at http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/Movies/Beat-Street--The-King-of-the-Beat-188826.html -Thanks to Rich
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Rediscover your favorites! If you like
Beat Street or 80's Dance / Musical classics, then be sure to
check out this list: ..... Dirty Dancing ..... Pink Floyd: The Wall ..... Breakin' ..... Footloose ..... Xanadu ..... Stop Making Sense ..... Times Square ..... Fame ..... Pennies From Heaven ..... Earth Girls Are Easy ..... Breakin' 2 Electric Boogaloo ..... Purple Rain ..... Girls Just Want to Have Fun ..... Best Little Wh*rehouse In Texas ..... Back To The Beach ..... One From The Heart .....[More]
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The graffiti highlighted throughout the film was actually painted by set artists not real graffiti artists. Graffiti consultants to the film were Bill 'Blast' Cordero (who worked on Studio 54's Graffiti party) and Phase II Lonny Wood. Phase II went to De Witt Clinton High School in the Bronx and was one of the first graffiti artists to gain exposure & notoriety in NYC for his work on subway trains. He was also an African American graffiti artist, whereas, like Ramon, a large number of the early graffiti artists from the Bronx were Puerto Rican. With credentials like that it begs the question why they weren't asked to do the artwork themselves.
Ramon's character was actually based on a real life graffiti artist 'Seen' who was featured in the PBS documentary on all things hip hop in the Bronx 'Style Wars'.
Most, if not all, of the empty lots shown in the South Bronx in the movie are now 1 and 2 bed family homes. The lots no longer exist. The church that was shown in Ramon's building, when his Dad screamed at him from the window...is still there. The name has changed, but the church is still there!
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|  |  |  | | Beat Street
Locations |
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Beat Street was filmed at locations in New York City, New York.
Can you help? Do you know any of the New York City, New York filming locations used for Beat Street? [Please send them in]
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The soundtrack was so huge that it was released in two parts. A rare CD of both can be found using our search feature.
Track listing (VOLUME 1):
1. Beat Street Breakdown by Grandmaster Melle Mel & The Furious Five
2. Baptize The Beat by The System
3. Strangers In A Strange World by Jenny Burton & Patrick Jude
4. Frantic Situation by Afrika Bambaata & The Soul Sonic Force + Shango
5. Beat Street Strut by Juicy
6. US Girls by Sharon Green, Lisa Counts & Debbie D.
7. This Could Be The Night by Cindy Mizelle
8. Breaker's Revenge by Arthur Baker
9. Tu Carino/Carmen's Theme by Ruben Blades.
VOLUME 2:
1. Son of Beat Street by Jazzy Jay
2. Give me All by Juicy
3. Nothin's Gonna Come easy by Tina B.
4. Santa's Rap by The Treacherous Three
5. It's Alright by Me by Jenny Burton
6. Battle Cry by Rocker's Revenge
7. Phony Four MCs by Wappin' (Bubblehead) - Ralph Rolle
8. Into the Night by La la
The Rock Steady Crew also performed in "Flashdance". However, of the various members only Crazy Legs was in both Flashdance and Beat Street.
The Rock Steady Crew performed with another 80's phenomenon Bow Wow Wow at the Ritz nightclub in 1982.
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Soundtrack Available:
Used On CD
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