Fear of a Black Hat (1994)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Rusty Cundieff

Writer (WGA):

Rusty Cundieff (written by)

Release Date:

3 June 1994 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Music

Plot:

A mockumentary chronicling the rise and fall of a not particularly talented--or particularly bright but always controversial--1990s hip-hop group, NWH (Niggaz with Hats). |

Plot Keywords:

Hip Hop | Satire | Reference To Paula Abdul | Fake Documentary | Fictional Band

Cast

Mark Christopher Lawrence	...	Tone Def
Larry B. Scott	...	Tasty Taste
Rusty Cundieff	...	Ice Cold
Kasi Lemmons	...	Nina Blackburn
Howie Gold	...	Guy Friesch
G. Smokey Campbell	...	Backstage Manager #1
Bobby Mardis	...	Promoter #1
Brad Sanders	...	Promoter #2
Moon Jones	...	Jam Boy
Tim Hutchinson	...	Reggie Clay
Faizon Love	...	Jam Boy (as Faizon)
Deezer D	...	Jam Boy
Darin Scott	...	Security Head
Devin Kamin	...	Vanilla Sherbet (as Devin Kamienny)
Jeff Burr	...	Chicago Cop

Also Known As:

The Trial of N.W.H. (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Certification:

Iceland:12 | UK:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Ontario) | USA:R

Company:

Incorporated Television Company (ITC)

Trivia:

Rusty Cundieff shot a version of the project on 3/4" video with a budget of only $600, which helped to sell it to investors.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: An ITC logo sign is clearly visible to the left in the record company's office.

Quotes:

Tasty Taste: I got a bottle of syrup that looks like you.

Movie Connections:

References Scarface (1983)

Soundtrack:

My Peanuts

Finally, a rap comedy for opera lovers

I'm too old to know (or care) exactly what the difference between rap and hip-hop is. And, being Canadian, it's likely that I've never actually seen MTV, but I'm not certain.

But I thought this film was very funny when I saw it, a bright little satire. Hip-hop culture is so pervasive these days that it's difficult not to keep hearing about it over and over. (If only we could say the same about bagpipe music.) I got most of the jokes (at least I think I did). Sure, it's derived from Spinal Tap, but there are lots of targets that could stand a Tap treatment. Just not the Carpenters, they're sacred.