Directed by Ice-T (with Andy Baybutt)
Expectations: High.
During Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap, the point is made that rap is not given the same respect as other American musical genres such as jazz and blues, one of the reasons being that people just aren’t listening to it the right way. This is a simple point, but it is a profound one. Something from Nothing isn’t about beats or bling, it’s strictly focused on the art of the rhyme. Rap is perhaps the most misunderstood of musical genres, but as time goes on, its effects and staying power will be undeniable. Like parents who told their children in the early part of the 20th century that jazz was the devil’s music, hip hop has been similarly derided. It’s an inherently more violent and vitriolic music, yes, but it’s a reflection of the streets that it originates from, and this power and honesty is what people respond to. Rap is a musical language like any other genre, and if you’re coming from a place where that type of music doesn’t immediately hit you viscerally, it requires a certain warm-up period to acclimate to it, just like jazz and blues before it.
And like rap itself, this film must also be approached from a specific vantage point. Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap doesn’t seek to chart the genre’s progress from street corners to Madison Square Garden, nor does it seek to illuminate newcomers on key tracks or albums they should pick up. Instead, the film focuses on what makes rap unique and intoxicating: the lyrics. And not just the lyrics, but the craft of writing those lyrics and the power they can possess. This is a movie seeking not only to paint rap as an art, but as a skill, and as such it’s going to play best to people inclined to write songs of their own.
The structure of Something from Nothing is somewhat repetitive, but it never gets old (as long as you harbor some interest in the craft of lyrics). Ice-T meets up with rappers old and new to get their opinions on the art of rap, and their approach to songwriting. To me, this is where the directorial influence of Ice-T shows itself the most, as only a true songwriter would think to ask questions of this nature. Most people don’t give a shit about syllables and line structure, but these are exactly the answers Ice’s questions elicit, and they are exactly the answers he wants to get.
Anyone who’s ever tried to crack into a new musical genre knows that — in most cases — you need a guide, a shepherd to lead you to the green pastures the genre can offer. In order to understand this new thing, you have to learn the intricacies of the music; you need to find your keystone to unlock this magical new world for you. For some, the art of rap is immediately apparent, as it speaks directly to them. But for someone coming from a different background, it always helps to have someone opening your eyes a bit. I’ve been a fan of hip hop since my days in elementary school, but I can honestly say that I never thought much about the skill and craft that went into the lyrics. Ice-T and the grandmasters of hip hop just schooled me, and it was dope.
