Life of Rhyme explores British MC culture and its unique contribution to spoken word and poetry, be it via rap, jungle, drum and bass, garage or grime.
Presented by rap and hip hop artist Akala, the documentary celebrates the incredible flourishing of lyricism and poetry amongst British youth, as evidenced by the success and popularity of artists from Roots Manuva, Wiley and Dizzee Rascal to Tinie Tempah, Wretch 32 and Devlin.
Featuring a mixture of performance, interview and actuality, the film explores the history of how this scene has developed, evolved and exploded into the mainstream; and the power of words to motivate and inspire.
From an underground 'battle' to a teacher in Folkestone using grime lyrics to teach an English lesson, Life of Rhyme illustrates that at heart and at its best, the art of UK MC culture is a poetic representation of modern British life, and not a pale home-grown imitation of an American import.
-
-
Life of Rhyme Sun 14 Aug 2011
Life of Rhyme explores British MC culture and its unique contribution to spoken word and poetry, be it via rap, jungle…
- Strong language
- This episode has subtitles available.
-
MORE:
-
Sticks and Stones
1 Episode
Favourite ShowEx-So Solid Crew rapper Asher D (AKA Ashley Walters) explores how and why racially offensive language has become such an ingrained part of our lives
-
Inside SBTV: From Bedroom to Boardroom
5 Episodes
Favourite ShowDocumentary that follows the young team behind the online music and lifestyle phenomenon SBTV
-
Giving Up the Weed
1 Episode
Favourite ShowActor and rapper J Rock of Big Brovas has been smoking marijuana for 14 years and is desperate to give up. This observational documentary charts his struggle to give up and witnesses how he copes.
-
Fallout
1 Episode
Favourite ShowA policeman returns to the estate where he grew up to investigate the murder of a young boy. Lennie James stars in this powerful drama about race and law and order.
-
Teen Trouble
1 Episode
Favourite ShowDespite the negative treatment they receive at the hands of the media, it seems that all Britain's teens want to do is settle down in a lifestyle that's comfortable and secure. So why the bad press?
-
Ghetto Britain: 30 Years of Race
1 Episode
Favourite ShowDr Robert Beckford embarks on a polemical quest exploring the legacy of the Race Relations Act. Has it succeeded in creating a multicultural dream, or has the plan spectacularly backfired?
-
Biggie and Tupac
1 Episode
Favourite ShowNick Broomfield uncovers the conspiracy theories surrounding the murders of rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls
-
Buried
8 Episodes
Favourite ShowLennie James starts in this hard-hitting drama about the daily struggle for survival in HMP Mandrake, a men's prison
-
The Murder Workers
1 Episode
Favourite ShowA powerful Cutting Edge film following members of Victim Support's National Homicide Team as they work closely with families who've been bereaved by murder or manslaughter
-
16 Kids and Counting
7 Episodes
Favourite ShowWhat's life like when you have enough children to field your own football team?
-
24 Hours in A&E
4 Episodes
Favourite ShowWith 91 cameras filming round the clock, 24 Hours in A&E offers unprecedented access to one of Britain's busiest A&E departments, at King's College Hospital
-
12 Year Old Lifer
1 Episode
Favourite ShowAn extraordinary insight into a murder that gripped and baffled America and that led to a 12-year-old boy being sentenced to 30 years in jail
-
Dogging Tales
1 Episode
Favourite ShowMeet the people who have sex in front of strangers in public in a compelling documentary that looks at how and why they do it
-
A WI Lady's Guide to Brothels
1 Episode
Favourite ShowMiddle England meets the sex trade head-on when the Hampshire WI emerges as an unlikely champion of the reform of prostitution laws
-
The Aristocrats
3 Episodes
Favourite ShowWith unique access to names of note and noteriety, this series opens a window into a world of privilege, as aristocrats reveal what they think about their place in a changing society
-
The Repo Man
2 Episodes
Favourite ShowAn action-packed, touching and occasionally funny series following the life and work of no-nonsense repo man Sean James and his team