Product Description

Street Credentials is a pass to an up-front and personal perspective into the underground Hip Hop scene directly from some of the most unique and diverse personalities in the industry today. From Hip Hop's most outrageous icon, Kool Keith; to the multifaceted and introspective recording artist, spoken word poet, and movie actor, Saul Williams (SLAM, K-PAX); to underground superstar Aesop Rock, they're here. Street Credentials pulls no punches while delivering hard insight into the industry, culture and the careers of some of the most interesting people within the genre.

Enter the world of Harlem's Immortal Technique, Hip Hop's most dangerous Emcee. Get insight into the history of New York City's Mixtape game with veteran DJ Silva Sir-Fa. Check out the inside track on running an independent record label from KutMasta Kurt (producer of remixes for Linkin Park and The Beastie Boys). O.G., street basketball legend, and former MTV reality host, Pee Wee Kirkland breaks down his take on the state of the rap industry. While on the streets of Brooklyn, freestyle champ Poison Pen reveals the life of a battle emcee.

This is a look at Hip Hop from a purist, independent and entrepreneurial angle. This DVD release continues the decade-long Insomniac tradition of revealing the true and many times unheard ideologies about success, obstacles, and life within the Hip Hop music industry directly from personalities that have all earned their Hip Hop Street Credentials.

Loaded with over 3 1/2 hours of footage including the Street Credentials documentary, feature-length artist interview featurettes, a visit to youth detention center with director Iz-Real, a Kool Keith trailer for Nogatco Rd. mini-movie/album and more.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #122599 in DVD
• Brand: Ryko Distribution
• Released on: 2006-04-25
• Rating: Unrated
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
• Running time: 53 minutes

Customer Reviews

Street Credentials Hits the Hip Hop Spot
Hip Hop Street Credentials covers hip hop from the perspective of innovative within the subversive and progressive world of the genre. It gives their take on what's wrong with hip hop music today, and what they are doing to take it back to what it's supposed to be.

What makes this so interesting is how different all of these artists are. Today, rap is shown mainly from the BLING angle, here we see an acclaimed poet (Saul Williams), a underground star (Aesop Rock), an eccentric icon (Kool Keith), an ex-hustler-turned role model (Pee Wee Kirkland), a battle rapper (Poison Pen), a street mix-tape DJ (Silva Sirfa) and a revolutionary (Immortal Technique). All of these subjects have different attitudes about their roles within the artform, yet all seem to find similar problems in the genre.

Besides the documentary, the DVD also contains over 2 hours of unedited interviews and a few other intriguing features such as the director's (Israel " IZ-REAL " Vasquetelle) visit to a juvenile detention center. In this gritty segment, he speaks to youths about, ironically, the dangers and perils in buying into the hip hop depicted in video games, videos and on mainstream radio.

A worthy choice for anyone wanting to learn more about this fascinating culture, or for anyone who's fed up with the misogynistic, excessive, and misguiding turn hip hop has take since it's golden era. Give it an A+

Good Documentary About Hip Hop Culture and Industry
Great look into hip hop today. It's smart, but still very provacative and still has a true street edge. A lot of material to digest, but worth the time because it peers so deeply into both the culture and business aspect of hip hop.

Street Credentials is real Hip Hop
I love this movie and all of the bonus features...A Hip Hop Masterpiece for sure...Tony Samuel and Israel Vasquetelle did a great job. I loved the camera work and the editing. If you want to learn about the business of Hip Hop, Street Credentials will take you up close and personal. Two thumbs up...way up...