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While the Sugar Hill Gang was hitting the charts, hip-hop was jammin’ in the urban streets of New York. Wild Style, the brainchild of Fred “Fab 5 Freddy” Braithwaite, an Andy Warhol inspired graffiti artist, offers us a window through which to view the hip-hop subculture of the Bronx in the early 1980s. Experimental art and music—namely graffiti, early rap, and break dancing—is the focus of this 1983 docudrama.
The film moves from Zorro (played by legendary graffiti artist Lee Quinones) secretly painting trains straight to the breakers dancing to the MCs scratch-mixing in the clubs. A blonde reporter played by underground film star Patti Astor seeks to interview the participants. Not only is Zorro apprehensive about being exposed by the reporter, but the real Lee Quinones fears that the actual film would intrude on the sacred nature of the graffiti culture on the trains—as well as reveal his identity to the police. A graffiti artist “love triangle” also ensues.
At the clubs you’ll catch Bronx music legends such as Busy Bee, Fantastic Romantic Five, Rock Steady Crew, Cold Crush Brothers, DJ Grand Wizard Theodore, and Grandmaster Flash.
Initially, I was disappointed with this film. The storyline is weak, and the music scenes are long. I also felt that the sociological impact of this subculture was sacrificed. We notice massive urban blight—but where are all the guns and drugs? Or course, I’d also never heard of these rappers, though I was quite familiar with this style of music.
I subsequently viewed the director’s commentary on the DVD and realized that I had been looking at the film through the wrong lenses. Director Charlie Ahearn, along with Braithwaite, who actually co-produced and co-starred in this movie, hit me over the head as they revealed the true essence and significance of the film. I then re-watched it with a new appreciation. It’s not about the poverty and crime—it’s about the art and music and how it played out in the Bronx. I discovered that Grand Wizard Theodore actually invented scratching, and Grandmaster Flash originated cutting and back spinning. Yes, it plays like a home movie, but that’s the beauty of it. As Fab 5 Freddy says 25 years later, no one at the time had any idea that hip-hop would be the “most dominant youth culture in history.”
Those interested in music history and culture will find this film fascinating. Wild Style provides viewers with an opportunity to peek into a slice of music history rarely seen, as well as the beginnings of a strong and vibrant pop culture.
