While individual interviews, pop-video parodies and album titles hit the mark, the film as a whole is insufficiently clear-cut in its satire of the bands' dubious antics and attitudes.
Comment
01/26/06
Fear of a Black Hat (1994)
85 %
Reviews Counted: 20 Fresh: 17 Rotten:3 Average Rating: 7/10
Runtime: 88 mins
Synopsis: Filmmaker Nina Blackburn takes her camera and follows popular rap group, NWH (Niggaz with Hats). The band's 3 members explain their philosophy and reminisce about their many experiences -- which include run-ins with right-wing zealots, battles with rival rappers and the manipulations of... [More]
Genre: Comedies
Starring: Kasi Lemmons, Rusty Cundieff, Larry B. Scott, Mark Christopher Lawrence
Reviews
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Top Critic
Borrowing intelligently from This is Spinal Tap, writer-director-actor Rusty Cundieff has crafted a mock music documentary that is as irreverent, hilarious, and tough-minded as its model.
12/17/07
Top Critic Top Critic
Inspired by This Is Spinal Tap, this mockumentary exposes the trials of a hardcore rap band, N.W.H. (Niggas With Hats) with wild, irreverent humor and exuberant music.
06/30/06
The rap scene has always had its share of colourful characters that are already caricatures. Why is there a need to spoof it?
10/25/03
If Mr. Cundieff doesn't match the satirical genius of Mr. Reiner's film, he does understand the rules of the game.
05/20/03
Top Critic
It's sad that this film has been relegated to cult oddity status. If you like rap music, biting satire, or are just looking for something different, check this out.
02/27/01
There's no plot to speak of, just gag after gag. Rap fans will likely love most of it; all others, flip a coin.
01/01/00
This movie is not tightly-scripted or elegantly produced, but it is (for the most part) highly entertaining. For those who have been waiting for a sequel to Spinal Tap, this may be the best alternative.
01/01/00
As it recounts the history of N.W.H., the film also manages to lampoon rap music and its archetypes, as well as poking fun at the venal, self-serving music-business types looking to grab easy money from the scene.
01/01/00
Not as fearless and sharp-edged as it could be -- but it provides a lot of laughs, and barbecues a few sacred cows.
01/01/00
Top Critic
Cundieff is perhaps most adept at skewering rap's self-important politics through Ice Cold's wonderfully improbable explanations of how songs such as 'Booty Juice' actually contain an important social message.
01/01/00
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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• Fear of a Black Hat at Rotten Tomatoes
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