Pitchfork and other sources report that The Criterion Channel has announced a film series celebrating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop.
The celebration is set to begin on August 1, 2023, the streaming service will highlight films “showcasing raw early documents of the scene’s key players, intimate and informative portraits of musical expertise and technical wizardry, and definitive, star-studded evocations of the culture’s impact.” There will be more additions throughout the year.
The lineup includes 1983’s Style Wars and Wild Style, the Spike Lee classic Do the Right Thing, Jim Jarmusch’s RZA-scored samurai film Ghost Dog, Michael Rapaport’s documentary on A Tribe Called Quest, Hype Williams’ Belly, and the John Singleton films Boyz n the Hood and Poetic Justice.
“We’re extremely excited to present this wide-ranging series that highlights the incredibly varied ways that hip-hop has shown up in film since the culture’s birth 50 years ago,” Ashley Clark, the curatorial director for Criterion, said in a statement. “From raw, pivotal early documents like Wild Style and Style Wars onward, there’s something for everyone here, whether you’re an expert or a beginner.”
