Speaker: 00:00:00

On this episode of Hip Hop Movie Club, we explore the 2010 documentary, Louder Than a

Bomb, which chronicles the poetry slam competition of the same name, an inspiring event

2

: 00:00:09

held every year for high schoolers in Chicago.

3

: 00:00:12

This was really enjoyable to watch.

4

: 00:00:13

And I like stories like this.

5

: 00:00:14

like stories where you see, the youth striving to do something better than the stereotypical BS that you see on social media with them going crazy.

6

: 00:00:24

These guys really had their heads together.

7

: 00:00:26

They were on a path to do something great.

8

: 00:00:28

And I commend the organizers for putting this together and just giving these young people a platform to do something positive and strive for something better because statistics

9

: 00:00:39

show when you give students extracurricular activities, something positive, team building activities like this, they tend to do better in society.

10

: 00:00:48

(record scratch sound)

11

: 00:00:49

I wrote this down: the most hip-hop thing you could do is to not be afraid about being unhip-hop. That said it all for me

12

: 00:00:57

And that's kind of like why we're drawn to like the Native Tongues like De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest, right?

13

: 00:01:03

It's kind of like have your own unique style and flair.

14

: 00:01:05

Almost be more intelligent about the way you do things, right?

15

: 00:01:09

Mm-hmm.

16

: 00:01:10

Yep.

17

: 00:01:10

Thoughtful.

18

: 00:01:11

Yeah, because there's expressing yourself, but then there's expressing yourself in rhyme

in front of hundreds of people at that age.

19

: 00:01:20

It's more than impressive.

20

: 00:01:23

And one of the big turning points, Kevin and Big C from Steinmetz were like about to get kicked off the team for disrespecting teachers.

21

: 00:01:31

It was touching to see how much has meant to the Big C.

22

: 00:01:34

He was literally crying in his apology

23

: 00:01:37

to his teacher.

24

: 00:01:38

I guess their heads got big and they were talking back to the teachers and I give them credit for

25

: 00:01:43

disciplining the kids but also giving them the second chance because they really need this

in their life like you were saying Boogie like they don't have as much going for them as a

26

: 00:01:51

lot of other kids.

27

: 00:01:52

Yeah, self accountability. We know you're good, but don't be cocky and arrogant about it.

28

: 00:01:57

You still have to work.

29

: 00:01:59

You still have to be respectful.

30

: 00:02:01

You know, these coaches, I’m pretty sure they're not getting paid.

31

: 00:02:04

If they are getting paid anything, it'll be very minimum, a lot of time and dedication out of their lives to help.

32

: 00:02:09

Give them that respect that you want

33

: 00:02:11

in return.

34

: 00:02:12

I found that like, lot of the young people, they're like, you're disrespecting me, but you're disrespecting me.

35

: 00:02:16

yeah, you're you're there.

36

: 00:02:18

They're not disrespecting you.

37

: 00:02:20

They're they're trying to teach you the ways of the world and how life goes.

38

: 00:02:24

You're taking it as disrespect by being disrespectful to them.

39

: 00:02:28

That's not how it goes.

40

: 00:02:29

You know, I say it all the time, discipline your children or someone else will.

41

: 00:02:35

And they were lucky that the coaches disciplined them, but they weren't harsh on them.

42

: 00:02:39

They gave them grace.

43

: 00:02:41

Saw that they realized their mistakes and gave them a second chance.

44

: 00:02:44

There was one part that Coach Sloan said something that really resonated with me.

45

: 00:02:48

I'm just paraphrasing real quick.

46

: 00:02:49

He said, the greatest and most aggravating thing about being a teacher is seeing the

potential in the kid and seeing that they can do great things and trying to convince them

47

: 00:02:58

that you're not crazy.

48

: 00:03:00

He said, it's very difficult.

49

: 00:03:01

I'm like, yeah, I definitely remember that when I worked in the school system, I had some

kids and I can clearly see the potential in them.

50

: 00:03:08

and said this kid has something, but they're so used to getting told

they're not going to amount to anything, so that when you tell them that, they think

51

: 00:03:16

you're giving them lip service.

52

: 00:03:17

And I think now, I have one of my former students, he's actually he's an actor and a producer.

53

: 00:03:23

He does teaching.

54

: 00:03:24

He coaches and stuff like that.

55

: 00:03:25

He's got credentials.

56

: 00:03:26

He's got an IMDB profile with

57

: 00:03:28

actual show and movie credits was under his name.

58

: 00:03:30

I'm like, wow, I remember him when he first got to the school and he was such a problem

kid.

59

: 00:03:35

And I remember they had a competition at the main high school.

60

: 00:03:40

He was at, he was like Leonardo da Vinci and he was doing the mannerisms and acting.

61

: 00:03:45

Everybody was like, wow, this is amazing.

62

: 00:03:46

And it's kind of, that's kind of what it is.

63

: 00:03:48

It's like all of them have something, just got to get them to realize it and bring it out

of them.

64

: 00:03:56

Boogie, for Louder Than A Bomb.

65

: 00:03:58

Would you bring this funky flick back or leave it in the vault?

66

: 00:04:01

Bring this funky flick back, no hesitation.

67

: 00:04:04

DynoWright, Louder than a Bomb. Bring this funky flick back or leave it in the vault?

68

: 00:04:09

I'm definitely bringing this funky flick back.

69

: 00:04:12

It’s such an integral part of hip hop, the spoken word part of it at least.

70

: 00:04:17

You don't get rapping without spoken word and this is such a great display of it.

71

: 00:04:22

Yeah, it's unanimous.

72

: 00:04:23

I will also bring this funky flick back.

73

: 00:04:26

Super well done documentary, very enjoyable, very inspiring.

74

: 00:04:39

Thank you for tuning into the Hip Hop Movie Club, the show for serious hip hop fans who

want to deepen their cultural knowledge.

75

: 00:04:46

I'm Dyno Wright, filmmaker, designer, longtime hip hop fan, and I once stayed at an Airbnb

across the street from Oak Park and River Forest High School.

76

: 00:04:57

Nice.

77

: 00:05:00

I'm JB eighties and nineties, nostalgia junkie, longtime hip hop fan.

78

: 00:05:05

And did you know that Whitney Young Magnet High School not only produced Nate Marshall, but also Michelle Obama, Jennifer Hudson and Craig Robinson among others.

79

: 00:05:15

Hey, those are the magnet schools, man.

80

: 00:05:18

Gotta love it.

81

: 00:05:20

I'm a magnet school kid.

82

: 00:05:22

uh And I'm Boogie, a DJ, long time hip hop fan.

83

: 00:05:27

And this documentary took me way back to the days of Def Poetry Jam, the spin off of Def

Comedy Jam.

84

: 00:05:34

If you know, you know.

85

: 00:05:35

Check them out.

86

: 00:05:36

Mm-hmm.

87

: 00:05:37

Yeah.

88

: 00:05:39

And remember, don't hate orate.

89

: 00:05:42

Of course, like these kids.

90

: 00:05:45

But of course.

91

: 00:05:49

Definitely come to our screening of Louder Than a Bomb on April 22nd with a special

performance by Baby the Poet of Tribes and Vibes.

92

: 00:05:59

So come out and be inspired.