Beef | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Directed by | Peter Spirer |
Written by | Peter Alton Peter Spirer |
Produced by | Denis Hennelly Casey Suchan and Peter Spirer |
Narrated by | Ving Rhames |
Cinematography | Sean Adair Peter Alton Jeff Bollman Dean Raimondo |
Edited by | Peter Alton |
Music by | J-Force Quincy Jones III Femi Ojetunde |
Distributed by | Image Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes 184 minutes (Extended) |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Beef is a 2003 American documentary film directed by Peter Spirer about the history of hip-hop feuds. Produced by Peter Spirer, Casey Suchan, and Denis Henry Hennelly and executive produced by Quincy Jones III (QD3), the film was written by Peter Alton and Spirer and narrated by actor Ving Rhames. [1]
Beef takes a chronological look at battles (some friendly, but many personal) dating back to rap music's infancy in the early 1980s. The notable rivalries discussed include KRS-One vs. MC Shan, Kool Moe Dee vs. Busy Bee, 50 Cent vs. Murder Inc Records, Tru Life vs. Mobb Deep, Common vs. Ice Cube & Westside Connection, the break-up of legendary group N.W.A, which includes Ice Cube's abrupt departure, and the later animosity between Dr. Dre and Eazy-E, the highly publicized Jay-Z vs. Nas rivalry and the most infamous feud of all, 2Pac vs. The Notorious B.I.G. It was partly born out of producer Jones's belief that "Beefs are killing hip-hop". [2]
Many prominent hip-hop personalities such as Russell Simmons, Snoop Dogg, Kool Moe Dee, Jay-Z, KRS-One, Mack 10, DMX and Ice-T also participate through interviews (some produced for the film, as well as archived interviews from other sources, such as MTV and BET clips). Beef also features newly released performances by many musical artists.
The film also contains never-before-seen performances by many of the participants and many others, plus extended portions of interviews that did not make final cut. One portion of the extended interviews features part of an interview with Nate Dogg talking about an incident that occurred around 1995 at a Dogg Pound video shoot, in which entourage members representing Ruthless Records showed up and started a big brawl with members of then-rival Death Row Records. Although he did not mention them by name (he however subtlety mentioned the duo's less-than-successful 1995 album Real Brothaz), rappers B.G. Knocc Out and Dresta (who participated in Eazy-E's hit diss recording, Real Muthaphuckkin G's) were among the alleged participants in the fight.
The Los Angeles Times called it "engrossing" and "a moving lament for the way hip-hop once was". [3]
Complex rated it number 10 in its 25 best hiphop documentaries, calling it a "classic hip hop doc". [4]
Music From And Inspired By The Film Beef: The Soundtrack | |
---|---|
Soundtrack album by various artists | |
Released | October 7, 2003 |
Genre | Rap |
Length | 1:16:42 |
Label |
|
Producer |
|
Singles from Beef: The Soundtrack | |
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "No Vaseline" (performed by Ice Cube) | 5:09 | |
2. | "Beef" (performed by Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko) | Tekneko Bros. | 5:01 |
3. | "You Don't Really Want It" (performed by KRS-One) | Jim Bean | 3:31 |
4. | "Westside Slaughterhouse" (performed by Westside Connection) | Madness 4 Real | 4:57 |
5. | "Murder by #'s" (performed by Skatterman & Snug Brim and Ricky Scarfo) |
| 4:20 |
6. | "Drama" (performed by Prodigy and Twin Gambino) | Alchemist | 4:15 |
7. | "Real Muthaphuckkin G's" (performed by Eazy-E, B.G. Knocc Out and Dresta) | Rhythm D | 5:32 |
8. | "Caution" (performed by Black Child) | A. Parker | 4:35 |
9. | "When the Rain Drops" (performed by Kutt Calhoun and Snug Brim) | Sean Raspberry | 5:57 |
10. | "That's It" (performed by KRS-One and Mad Lion) | Jim Bean | 3:37 |
11. | "Postman" (performed by Poverty) | Briss | 3:35 |
12. | "Now I See" (performed by MC Shan) | Shannibal Lector | 4:27 |
13. | "Snake Ya" (performed by Tech N9ne and Krizz Kaliko) | Tekneko Bros. | 3:53 |
14. | "Let's Go (It's a Movement)" (performed by Warren G, KRS-One and Lil' Al) | Wron G | 4:12 |
15. | "Witness Protection" (performed by Jayo Felony) | DJ Silk | 3:56 |
16. | "Day I Die" (performed by Tru Life) | Paul Pistachio | 4:01 |
17. | "Fuck tha Police" (performed by N.W.A) | 5:44 | |
Total length: | 1:16:42 |
Subsequent releases in this series include Beef II (2004, also produced by Suchan and Hennelly, and narrated by actor Keith David), Beef 3 (2005, narrated by DJ Kay Slay) and a BET series titled Beef: The Series , which premiered in 2006. These sequels are a continuation of the original film, but cover lesser-known confrontations and developing beefs just prior to the release of each respective installment. They include LL Cool J vs. Canibus, Ja Rule vs. DMX, 50 Cent vs. The Game, Lil' Flip vs. T.I., Nelly vs. Chingy, and Erick Sermon vs. EPMD partner Parrish Smith. In 2011, Spirer speculated on the possibility of a fourth film, suggesting he was a little tired of the "he said/she said" drama but he might produce further specials in future.
Beef 4 was released in 2007. Charlie Murphy narrated the fourth film of the series, replacing Keith David. [7]
N.W.A was an American hip hop group formed in Compton, California. They were among the earliest and most significant popularizers and controversial figures of the gangsta rap subgenre, and the group is widely considered one of the greatest and most influential groups in the history of hip hop music.
Old-school hip hop is the earliest commercially recorded hip hop music and the original style of the genre. It typically refers to the music created around 1979 to 1983, as well as any hip hop that does not adhere to contemporary styles.
Lorenzo Jerald Patterson, known professionally as MC Ren, is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer from Compton, California. He is the founder and owner of the independent record label Villain Entertainment.
O'Shea Jackson Sr., known professionally as Ice Cube, is an American rapper, songwriter, actor, and film producer. His lyrics on N.W.A's 1988 album Straight Outta Compton contributed to gangsta rap's widespread popularity, and his political rap solo albums AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (1990), Death Certificate (1991), and The Predator (1992) were all critically and commercially successful. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of N.W.A in 2016.
Nathaniel Thomas Wilson, better known by his stage name Kool G Rap, is an American rapper. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MCs of all time, and a pioneer of mafioso rap/street/hardcore content and multisyllabic rhyming. On his album The Giancana Story, he stated that the "G" in his name stands for "Giancana", but on other occasions he has stated that it stands for "Genius".
100 Miles and Runnin' is an EP from the American gangsta rap group N.W.A. Released on August 14, 1990, this EP of five tracks reflects an evolution of N.W.A's sound and centers on the single "100 Miles and Runnin'." Two tracks, "100 Miles" and "Real Niggaz," incidentally incited N.W.A's feud with Ice Cube, who had left to start a solo rap career. The porno rap track "Just Don't Bite It," also drew notice. Pushing lyrical boundaries in its day, the EP went gold in November 1990 and platinum in September 1992.
Mohandas Dewese, better known by his stage name Kool Moe Dee, is an American rapper, songwriter and actor. Considered one of the forerunners of the new jack swing sound in hip hop, he gained fame in the 1980s as a member of one of the pioneering groups in hip hop music, the Treacherous Three, and for his later solo career. During his career he released a total of seven studio albums, with 1994's Interlude being the last to date.
Antonio Hardy, better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper, producer and actor who began his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled MCs in hip hop. Rolling Stone ranked his song "Ain't No Half-Steppin'" number 25 on its list of The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time, calling him "a master wordsmith of rap's late-golden age and a huge influence on a generation of MCs".
How Ya Like Me Now is the second solo studio album by American rapper Kool Moe Dee from the Treacherous Three. It was recorded at Battery Studios in London, England and released on November 3, 1987, via Jive Records.
The Hip Hop Honors is an annual event that airs on VH1. The television special honors old school and golden age hip hop rappers and contributors for their long-term influence and importance in the history of hip hop culture. It features live performances by most of the honorees along with new artists who have been influenced by them in tribute. The show is taped at the Hammerstein Ballroom in Manhattan, New York City.
The Juice Crew was an American hip hop collective made up largely of Queensbridge, New York–based artists in the mid-to-late 1980s. Founded by radio DJ Mr. Magic, and housed by Tyrone Williams' record label Cold Chillin' Records, the Juice Crew helped introduce New School artists MC Shan, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shante, Masta Ace, Tragedy, Craig G and Kool G Rap. The crew produced many answer records and engaged with numerous "beefs" – primarily with rival radio jock Kool DJ Red Alert and the South Bronx's Boogie Down Productions, as well as the "posse cut", "The Symphony".
Beef II is a 2004 American documentary film and the sequel to the 2003 documentary Beef, which continued to document the history of rivalries in hip-hop and rap music. Like its prequel, the film was executive produced by Quincy Jones III (QD3), written by Peter Alton and Peter Spirer, and was this time narrated by actor Keith David.
Ricardo Emmanuel Brown, better known by his stage name Kurupt, is an American rapper and record producer. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he formed Tha Dogg Pound in 1992 along with Daz Dillinger; the rap duo has released eight albums. He also formed the hip hop group The Hrsmn in 1996, with whom he has released two albums. His debut solo album, Kuruption! (1998) was released by A&M Records and peaked at number eight on the Billboard 200.
Kool & Deadly (Justicizms) is the second album by old school/hardcore rapper Just-Ice, it was released in 1987, and was produced by KRS-One and Just-Ice. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums. The song "Moshitup" was the origin of the hip hop meme "Suicide, it's a suicide".
A diss track, diss record or diss song is a song whose primary purpose is to verbally attack someone else, usually another artist. Diss tracks are often the result of an existing, escalating feud between the two people; for example, the artists involved may be former members of a group, or artists on rival labels.
This is the discography of American rapper KRS-One.
This article summarizes the events, album releases, and album release dates in hip hop music for the year 2008.
There's a God on the Mic: The True 50 Greatest MCs is a 2003 book by the old school hip hop MC Kool Moe Dee, where he ranks what he believes to be the Top 50 greatest MCs of all time, giving a breakdown of each artist. The book also features a foreword from Chuck D and includes full color photos from hip hop photographer Ernie Paniccioli.
Battle rap is a type of rapping performed between two or more performers that incorporates boasts, insults, wordplay and disses originating in the African-American community. Battle rap is often performed, or freestyled, spontaneously in live battles known as Rap battles, where participants will compete on the same stage to see who has the better verses.
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap is a 2012 American documentary film directed and executive produced by Ice-T and co-directed by Andy Baybutt. It focuses on the craft of writing and performing rap verses, and all the interviewees are musicians of the genre and friends of Ice-T. Producer Paul Toogood states on the DVD release that the genesis of the project stemmed from a conversation he had with Ice-T in which he asked him how he wrote "seminal tracks" such as "6 in the Mornin'" and "Colors".