Watch NG83 When We Were B Boys

NG83 When We Were B Boys is a gritty, emotional documentary that explores the emergence of hip hop culture in the United Kingdom during the 1980s. Specifically, the film focuses on the rise of breakdancing among Black and Asian youth in the Midlands town of Nottingham. At its core, NG83 When We Were B Boys is a nostalgic trip down memory lane for those who grew up in this scene. The film features interviews with several members of Nottingham's original B Boy crews, who reflect on the music, dancing, and fashion that defined their youth. These interviews are intercut with old footage of breakdance battles and street performances, and the result is a vivid, immersive portrait of a moment in time.

But the film doesn't just celebrate the good times. NG83 When We Were B Boys also examines the social and economic conditions that gave rise to hip hop culture in Nottingham. The town was hit hard by the recession of the early 1980s, and many young people felt alienated and disconnected from mainstream society. Hip hop was a way for them to express their frustrations and channel their energies into something positive.

Several interviewees describe the racism they faced growing up in Nottingham, both from the police and from the white population at large. They explain how hip hop gave them a sense of pride and identity in the face of this discrimination. At the same time, the film doesn't shy away from the misogyny and homophobia that were prevalent in the hip hop scene at the time. Several interviewees reflect on how they've grown and changed since their B Boy days, and their stories provide a compelling glimpse into the complexities of identity, community, and social change.

Director Niall O'Brien, himself a Nottingham native, takes a largely observational approach to the material. We see the B Boys in their current lives, whether that's as family men, entrepreneurs, or activists, and we get a sense of how their experiences on the dance floor have influenced their adult lives. The film is shot in a raw, intimate style, with a lot of handheld camera work and a focus on the visuals of hip hop culture - the big, baggy clothes, the Adidas sneakers, the power moves on the dance floor.

One of the strengths of NG83 When We Were B Boys is the way it balances between celebrating the creativity and athleticism of breakdancing, and acknowledging the harsh realities that shaped the scene. The film doesn't gloss over the violence that sometimes erupted between rival crews, or the drug addiction that claimed the lives of some of the B Boys. Yet neither does it succumb to a sense of despair or hopelessness. Instead, NG83 When We Were B Boys offers a nuanced, multilayered portrait of a community that proved resilient in spite of the odds against it.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the film is the way it places the Nottingham B Boy scene within the wider context of hip hop culture in the UK. We hear from several pioneers of the movement, including DJ Cheese, a legendary turntablist who lived and worked in Nottingham during the 1980s, before going on to become the first person to win a world DJ championship. We also see how the Nottingham scene fed into the larger UK hip hop scene, which was just beginning to develop in the early 1980s. There are numerous references to other cities and other crews, emphasizing the interconnectedness of this emerging subculture.

Ultimately, NG83 When We Were B Boys is a moving testimonial to a community that found ways to express itself despite the odds against it. It's a film that will appeal to anyone who remembers the golden age of hip hop, as well as younger audiences who are curious about the roots of this cultural movement. With its mix of archival footage, contemporary interviews, and stunning visuals of breakdance and graffiti, NG83 When We Were B Boys offers a compelling, immersive look at a moment in time that continues to resonate.