Rappin'
{{short description|1985 film directed by Joel Silberg}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Rappin'
| image = Rappin film poster.jpg
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Joel Silberg
| producer = Menahem Golan
Yoram Globus
| writer = Adam Friedman
Robert J. Litz
| starring = {{Plainlist|
- Mario Van Peebles
- Tasia Valenza
- Charles Flohe
- Melvin Plowden
}}
| music = Michael Linn
| cinematography = David Gurfinkel
| editing = Marcus Manton
| distributor = Cannon Films
| released = {{Film date|1985|05|10}}
| runtime = 92 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| gross = $2,864,844{{Mojo title|rappin}}
}}
Rappin is a 1985 American film directed by Joel Silberg, written by Adam Friedman and Robert J. Litz, produced by Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus and starring Mario Van Peebles. The film is a sequel to Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo, and is also known as Breakdance 3'. Although it features Ice-T (who featured in Breakin' and Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo), Rappin
Plot
Rappin' John Hood (Van Peebles), an ex-convict, attempts to save his neighborhood from developers and hoodlums. Around the same time, one of the hoodlums' girlfriend, Dixie, persuades him to audition for a rap recording contract. Their interactions develop into a relationship.
Cast
- Mario Van Peebles as John Hood
- Rutanya Alda as Cecilia
- Eyde Byrde as Grandma
- Rony Clanton as Cedric
- Charles Grant as Duane
- Melvin Plowden as "Fats"
- Jessie Daniels, Antoine Lundy, Stevie D. Lundy, Charles Nelson, Trisco Pearson as The Force M.D.s
- Richie Abanes as Richie
- Harry Goz as Thorndike
- Kadeem Hardison as "Moon"
- Eriq La Salle as "Ice"
- Leo O'Brien as Allan
- Thomas Ross as Thomas
- Joe Schad as Burton
- Tasia Valenza as Dixie
- Claudja Barry as herself
- Eugene Wilde as himself
- Richy Givens as Gangster
Production
Mario Van Peebles' raps were overdubbed by Master Gee of the Sugarhill Gang, who also wrote one part,{{cite web|title=Accept No Substitutes – The Original Master Gee|url=http://www.thafoundation.com/mastergee.htm|work=www.thafoundation.com|accessdate=6 February 2014|author=JayQuan|year=2005}} and whose brother Leo plays the role of Allan. The film was filmed in and around Pittsburgh.
Ice-T's small role is uncredited and he reportedly provided the rhymes, including the hero's climactic lines, "Can't stop / Won't stop / Climbing that mountain 'till we reach the top!"{{Citation needed|date=October 2013}} Two verses of his 1985 single, Killers, feature mid-way through the film. Brothers Evil E and Hen-Gee, both of whom would go on to work with Ice-T, feature in the film.
Featured songs
- Born to Love - Claudja Barry
- Rappin' – Lovebug Starski
- Snack Attack – Melvin Plowden, Mario Van Peebles, Eriq La Salle, Kadeem Hardison, Richie Abanes
- The Fight Rap – Lovebug Starski
- Neighborhood Walk – Mario Van Peebles
- Itchin' for a Scratch – The Force M.D.'s
- Flame in the Fire – Warren Mills
- Call Me – D. Terrell
- If You Want To (FU12) – Lajuan Carter
- Golly Gee – Tuff, Inc.
- First Love Never Dies – Eugene Wilde, Joanna Gardner
Reception
The film earned $2.9 million at the US box office.Andrew Yule, Hollywood a Go-Go: The True Story of the Cannon Film Empire, Sphere Books, 1987 p111
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|0089883}}
- [https://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9C04EFDE153BF932A25756C0A963948260 New York Times review]
- [http://www.avclub.com/content/node/24016 The AV Club review]
- {{Rotten Tomatoes|rappin}}
Category:American crime thriller films
Category:American sequel films
Category:Films shot in Pittsburgh
Category:Films set in Pennsylvania
Category:Films set in Pittsburgh
Category:Fictional portrayals of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
Category:Films produced by Menahem Golan
Category:Films produced by Yoram Globus
Category:1980s English-language films
Category:Films directed by Joel Silberg
Category:English-language crime films
Category:English-language musical films