Watch Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap

Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap tells the improbable tale of rap and hip hop music's rise to prominence in the world through an intimate and interesting documentary. Director Ice-T, aided by director Andy Baybutt, takes viewers back to the beginnings of rap music to discuss how it arose from poetry and how it is bringing poetry to a new generation. Ice-T covers everything from older rap and hip hop legends to several newer, but well established artists. Ice-T, a legendary rapper himself, is able to talk with other well-known artists in a comfortable and friendly environment resulting in some unexpected responses. This film is not about the bling or fancy cars or anything else that many people associate with rap and hip hop music. It is strictly about the music and the history behind the music. Ice -T discusses composition with many of his fellow rappers. The film shows the artists writing lyrics on legal pads in studios and at home. In his interviews Ice-T discusses the rise of rap and hip hop, the positive and negative impact that it has had on the world and in several interviews, how to make rap and hip hop music better. Rap and hip hop music gets compared to Jazz and Blues throughout the film. There are several discussions about whether or not rap and hip hop music will ever gain the same amount of respect that these and several other forms of music have received in history. The film is concerned with the overall image of rap and hip hop music. Through the interviews conducted by Ice-T, the image of rap and hip hop music is analyzed and discussed. Artist look at the problems that rap and hip hop face and how to combat those problems.