ego trip, the New York-based creative collective behind the top-rated VH1 reality programs The (White) Rapper Show and Miss Rap Supreme, as well as the critically-acclaimed Book of Rap Lists and Big Book of Racism!, proudly presents the follow up to its celebrated 2010 film series, Under the Influence of ego trip - Under the
Influence of ego trip Pt. 2 - curated by ego trip with Andreas Vingaard. Under the Influence of ego trip Pt. 2 includes three more monthly programs of rarely seen, independently produced hip-hop related documentaries at the Maysles Cinema in central Harlem.
Box office open for advance ticket purchases Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 12-6 & from 1 hour before until the end of all events. During these hours, knock on the window if door is locked. Only ticket holders arriving 15 minutes before showtime can be guaranteed a seat in the theater. Overflow seating available for sold out shows.
Tickets $10 suggested donation, unless otherwise noted. Members only: Reserve your seat ahead of time at reservations@mayslesinstitute.org Become a member>
Thursday,
Jan. 28
7:30 pm
80 Blocks From Tiffany's Dir. Gary Wiess, 1979, 67 min.
Shotgun Dir. Steven Goodman, 1982, 25 min.
Egotrip and the Maysles Institute have partnered to present Egotrip’s favourite documentaries. 80 Blocks from Tiffany's is a rich film where filmmaker Gary Wiess and cinematographer Joan Churchill hang out with the South Bronx gang, the Savage Skulls. In Shotgun, this party atmosphere turns tragic. Steven Goodman, who has gone on to lead the field of video education with EVC, provides a portrait of Shotgun, an eighteen-year-old gang member living in the South Bronx, facing serious criminal charges.
In attendance: Both filmmakers, Ponce Laspina, a former 5th Division President of the notorious Savage Skulls, and NYPD Detective Robert Werner (who appears prominently in 80 Blocks)
Thursday,
Feb. 25
7:30 pm
Electric Boogie Dir. Tana Ross, 1983, 30 min.
This film intimately follows four African-American and Latino young people coming up in the early ’80s South Bronx, and their unflagging devotion to the art b-boy-ing and breaking.
Beat This!: A Hip Hop History Dick Fontaine, 1984, 60 min.
This tremendous, highly stylized BBC production features dynamic appearances by a veritable who’s who of original school luminaries: Kool Herc (in what are perhaps his most revealing and personal public interviews), Afrika Bambaataa and the Soulsonic Force, the Cold Crush Brothers, Lisa Lee, Sha-Rock, graffiti writer Brim of Tats Cru, and Officer Kevin Hickey of the NYPD’s infamous Vandal Squad. Rhymed narration provided by NYC broadcasting legend Gary Byrd.
Post-screening discussion and Q&A with hip-hop legends the Soulsonic Force and Easy AD of the Cold Crush Brothers, as well as Electric Boogie director Tana Ross.
Public Enemy and LL Cool J Live In Europe 1987, 30 min.
Hip-Hop Gods Public Enemy and LL Cool J, live in Europe, at the height of their powers. Never before screened in the U.S.
Big Fun In The Big Town Dir. Bram van Splunteren, 1986, 40 min.
Interviews and rare footage of Run-DMC with Jam Master Jay, Doug E. Fresh and the Get Fresh Crew, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shanté, Russell Simmons, the late, great Mr. Magic, Marley Marl, MC Shan, Grandmaster Flash, and the one and only Schoolly-D.
Followed by a panel discussion with Doug E. Fresh, Director Bram van Splunteren, Schoolly-D, and former Def Jam Records and Rush Productions Director of Publicity Bill Adler (who also makes a cameo in Big Fun).
Founding Fathers Dir by Ron Lawrence and Hassan Pore, 2009, 75 min. Founding Fathers is a chronicle of 70s park jam era emcees/dj/promoters in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan and their roles in the development of hip-hop and NYC sound system culture. This film delivers history of the core roots of this popular music as it plays out on the streets, parks and nightclubs in the late 60’s/early 70’s. Directors Ron Lawrence and Hassan Pore take an amazing journey through the boroughs rediscovering DJ’s with massive sound systems. Film Website>
AFTER THE SCREENING: Q&A with Director Hassan Pore, Disco Twins, DJ Lance, Fab 5 Freddy & DJ Divine of Infinity Machine
Rap City Dir. Glenn Holsten & Lisa Marie Russo, 1988, 27 min. Rap City spotlights
Philadelphia and features rare and candid footage of Illadelph legends DJ Jazzy Jeff &
the Fresh Prince and Schoolly-D, as well as then-rising female emcee Yvette Money.
Writing on the Wall Dir. Sandra King, 1986, 28 min. Writing On the Wall tells the poignant story of
a young Newark, NJ graffiti artist, MIKAH, struggling to make a name for himself.
But the film also wins big points for historical significance by presenting a snapshot
of legendary New York City cult figure, KEO—graf writer, artist and designer, and
emcee—while still a teenaged member of MIKAH's crew.
Scheduled to appear: Filmmakers Glenn Holsten and Sandra King, KEO X-MEN, Micah Kelly aka MIKAH, the subject of the film, and other guest TBA
Thursday,
Apr. 28th
7:30 pm
White Lines and the Fever: The Death of DJ Junebug Dir. Travis Gutiérrez Senger, 2010, 26 min.
This film (which won the Best Documentary Short award at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival) is the story of Junebug's double life as a DJ and drug dealer. Recalling the Bronx in the early 1980s, this documentary explores the old-school days of hip-hop and the dangerous underworld at the legendary Disco Fever. Never-before-seen footage and interviews with Kurtis Blow, DJ Hollywood, and Sal Abbatiello tell the tragic story of one of the greatest DJs ever.
SBX! Holding Down the Tradition Dir. Jun Ohki, 2005, 31 min.
A cult classic set in the heart of hip-hop and featuring unearthed battle footage from the late eighties. Part music video and part documentary, SBX! stars a powerful line-up of hip-hop figures and underground celebrities, among them Show & AG, Lord Finesse, Percee P, Party Arty, D-Flow, Edan and Dave Tompkins. This film is a uniquely joyous celebration of the D.I.T.C. crew’s contributions to BX hip-hop history that plays like Jim Jarmusch run amok in Patterson Projects.
Plus a very special bonus film live from the planet of Brooklyn…
Scheduled to appear:
Filmmakers Travis Senger and Jun Ohki, Sal Abbatiello (Disco Fever; Fever Records), legendary hip-hop pioneer DJ Hollywood and D.I.T.C. members to be announced
343 Malcolm X Boulevard / Lenox Avenue (between 127th and 128th Streets)
Suggested Admission: $10 (unless otherwise noted). The box office is open 12 - 6pm Monday - Friday and 1 hour before all showtimes till event end.
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.
343 Malcolm X Boulevard / Lenox Avenue (between 127th and 128th Streets)
