A fantastic documentary about gang wars and gang culture in New York in the early 1970s, and how the eventual peace that settled over the streets saw the subsequent rise of hip-hop. Dance battles and rap battles replaced armed warfare (at least for the most part) as the gangs chose peace over war. Directed by Shan Nicholson, it really gets under the skin of the socio-economic conditions of the time and pulls together the story of how their circumstances shaped the lives of the kids in the gangs ad how they overcame the struggle. If you're a fan of hip-hop or 'The Warriors', or want to understand how modern-day New York was formed then this is a movie you'll want to see.
As well as the movie there's a brilliant mixtape that's been put together evoking the different musical styles and tribes of the time. It's brilliantly put together in 4 parts, include some dialogue from the film (as well as a snatch of 'The Warriors') - just click on the cover below to download it.
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