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SOMETHING FROM NOTHING: THE ART OF RAPMovie Reviews
Documentary about Ice-T's exploration of the roots of rap music, with interviews and performances by masters of the genre. Cast:Bun B, B-Real, Afrika Bambaataa, Busy Bee, Joe Budden, Grandmaster Caz, Common, Anthony 'Treach' Criss, Ice Cube, Chuck D, Royce Da 59, Dana Dane, Mos Def, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Eminem, Kanye West, Mos DefDirector:Ice-T, Andy BaybuttRelease Date:June 15, 2012DVD Release:September 18, 2012From:Indomina MediaRating:RLength:1 hr 47 min
SEPTEMBER 18, 2012
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap, Good Reviews (Doc) Limited
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap played in limited release to good reviews. • Kevin Johnson wrote in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, "It's for those who take the music seriously.... a nice companion piece to 'Wild Style,' 'Style Wars' and other key hip-hop documentaries." • And Sara Stewart wrote in the New York Post, "...a vibrant portrait of how and why rap came to be." More Reviews Below...
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap Positive Reviews (13 Reviews, reviews below)
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap has not been reviewed by Broad National Press
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (6 Reviews)
Nicolas Rapold, New York Times: GOOD "...when the theory and practice come out in equally full force, the film gets closer to the heart of the matter than you might expect from its famous roster."(See all of Nicolas Rapold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 265 words, 06/15/12
Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...fun, informative... it's clear how the form's clichéd self-aggrandizement camouflages the deep respect its artists have for those who came before."(See all of Joe Neumaier's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 104 words, 06/15/12
Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times/Chicago Tribune: GOOD "...often revealing and funny. And much of the music is tremendous.... though Ice-T's film is more infomercial than inquiry, it makes for a helluva soundtrack."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 386 words, 06/15/12
Sara Stewart, New York Post: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...yields smart, funny and surprising insights into the artistic process... a vibrant portrait of how and why rap came to be."(See all of Sara Stewart's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 153 words, 06/15/12
Michelle Orange, Village Voice: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...enjoyably clannish, idiosyncratic... the film's thesis -- that rap lacks the respect given to jazz and the blues -- feels thinly argued."(See all of Michelle Orange's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 198 words, 06/13/12
KEY CITIES (3 Reviews)
Cary Darling, Philadelphia Inquirer: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...bracing... As the Cold Crush Brothers' Grandmaster Caz says here, 'Hip-hop didn't invent anything, but hip-hop reinvented everything.' "(See all of Cary Darling's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 470 words, 06/15/12
Chris Vognar, San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "...if novices can make it through the barrage of interviews with artists they don't know, they'll learn plenty about a craft still grossly misrepresented by the mass media."(See all of Chris Vognar's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 260 words, 06/15/12
Kevin C. Johnson, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: VERY GOOD(cg) "It's for those who take the music seriously.... a nice companion piece to 'Wild Style,' 'Style Wars' and other key hip-hop documentaries."(See all of Kevin C. Johnson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 396 words, 06/15/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (2 Reviews)
Michelle Orange, Village Voice: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...enjoyably clannish, idiosyncratic... the film's thesis -- that rap lacks the respect given to jazz and the blues -- feels thinly argued."(See all of Michelle Orange's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 198 words, 06/13/12
Nathan Rabin, AV Club: EXCELLENT(cg) "...a wonderfully casual, conversational exploration of the craft of hip hop, graced by its host/producer/director's innate affability."(See all of Nathan Rabin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 348 words, 01/23/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (3 Reviews)
Nicolas Rapold, New York Times: GOOD "...when the theory and practice come out in equally full force, the film gets closer to the heart of the matter than you might expect from its famous roster."(See all of Nicolas Rapold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 265 words, 06/15/12
Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...often revealing and funny. And much of the music is tremendous.... though Ice-T's film is more infomercial than inquiry, it makes for a helluva soundtrack."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 386 words, 06/15/12
John Swansburg, Slate: GOOD "Ice-T visits with an impressive array of artists and asks them why their music doesn't get the respect... produces some moments of genuine enjoyment for a rap fan..."(See all of John Swansburg's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 490 words, 06/14/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (4 Reviews)
Rob Nelson, Daily Variety: MODERATE "...delivers a freestyle overview... high-volume, low-intellect pic samples a handful of classic beats and rhymes while lacking so much as a single historical date..."(See all of Rob Nelson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 185 words, 02/05/12
Justin Lowe, Hollywood Reporter: VERY GOOD "...an insightful film about the creative talents that have made hip-hop... Loaded with a cappella on-camera performances and a soundtrack of killer beats..."(See all of Justin Lowe's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 637 words, 01/21/12
Michael Phillips, Los Angeles Times: GOOD "...often revealing and funny. And much of the music is tremendous.... though Ice-T's film is more infomercial than inquiry, it makes for a helluva soundtrack."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 386 words, 06/15/12
Nicolas Rapold, New York Times: GOOD "...when the theory and practice come out in equally full force, the film gets closer to the heart of the matter than you might expect from its famous roster."(See all of Nicolas Rapold's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 265 words, 06/15/12
12.0 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap's reviews are separated by an average 12.0 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap (13 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap's reviews cover 14.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 4,336 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 334 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap Coverage, Volume & Length (13 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 16 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap's reviews on average broke 16 days before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap (13 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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