Aug. 26, 2015 By Michael Florio
Museum of the Moving Image will be screening a series of films over the next few months that will examine Hip-Hop’s evolution from the streets of 1970s New York to the present day.
The film series, Made You Look: Documenting the Art, History, Power and Politics of Hip-Hop Culture, will feature four screenings, with the first one taking place August 27th. There will be one screening each month, running until November 13th.
Viewers can attend the August 27th screening of Fresh Dressed, a 2015 documentary that contains interviews with Kanye West, Pharell Williams, Sean “Puffy” Combs and other rappers, at the Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement House (10-25 41st Ave) at 7 pm.
Following the screening, director Sacha Jenkins, style legend Dapper Dan, and Elena Romero, author of Free Stylin’: How Hip Hop Changed the Fashion Industry, will participate in a panel moderated by Martha Diaz, founder and director of the Hip-Hop Education Center.
The free screening will be in advance of the film being broadcast nationally on CNN on Sept. 3, according to a press release issued by the museum.
The series will continue on Sept. 25th, with a viewing of In My Father’s House, at the museum (36-01 35 Avenue) at 7 pm. Set in south side Chicago, the documentary focuses on the year-long journey of Grammy-winning rapper Che “Rhymefest” Smith, from homelessness and alcoholism to self-discovery and redemption, highlighted by his reunion with his homeless father.
Shake the Dust will be screened at the museum on October 23rd at 7 pm. Nasir “Nas” Jones, executive producer and rapper, chronicles break dancing and its influence on poor neighborhoods around the world.
The series will end with a screening of Rubble Kings, which focuses on New York City gangs from 1968 to 1975 and how rival gangs chose peace by giving birth to the hip-hop generation, on November 13 at 7 pm at the museum. Following the screening a discussion between director Shan Nicholson and Diaz will take place.
Tickets to the screenings at the museum cost $12.