Beat Street is a 1984 American dance/drama film featuring the New York City hip hop culture of the early 1980s, highlighting breakdancing, DJing, and graffiti. Set in the South Bronx, the film follows the lives of two brothers and their group of friends, all of whom are devoted to various elements of early hip hop culture. The lead character, Kenny played by Guy Davis, is an up-and-coming MC (Master of Ceremonies), and his younger brother, Lee played by Robert Taylor, is a hardcore b-boy who dances with Beat Street Breakers aka the New York City Breakers. Kenny’s best friend Ramon played by Jon Chardiet is a graffiti artist known by his tag, “Ramo”, and Chollie (played by Leon W. Grant), his self-styled manager/promoter. 

The film featured a bunch of talent that was found on the NYC scene during that time. The nightclub, the Roxy was popping at that time as it featured a mashup of all musical styles from early hip hop. The New York City Breakers were a breaking crew from the Kingsbridge section of the Bronx originally known as the Floor Masters. The crew they frequently battled against in the movie, rival troupe the Bronx Rockers was played by the Rock Steady Crew, who’s member Crazy Legs is someone we read about during the semester.  In the opening scenes, female hip hop artists Debbie D, Sha-Rock and Lisa Lee (which was my tag name in the early 90s) appeared in a party scene where they sang/rapped. Their performance was cool but did not do justice to the significance of women in the early hip hop scene. The movie also sported appearances by DJ Kool Herc, special Christmas-themed skit performed by the Treacherous Three which included Doug E. Fresh and Kool Moe Dee. Also appearing was Afrika Bambaataa & Soulsonic Force and Brenda K. Starr, who was known as the Queen of freestyle who later became a Latin artist.

While the movie is a bit dated, I think it an amazing job of encapsulating the Hip Hop scene of the early 80s. For me, it was a walk down memory lane as I grew up in the Bronx during that timeframe.