''Rappin is a 1985 film directed by

Joel Silberg Joel Silberg ( he, יואל זילברג; March 30, 1927 – February 18, 2013) was a film, television and stage director and screenwriter in Israel and the United States. He made films in Israel including so-called Bourekas films. He then directed ...

, written by Adam Friedman and Robert J. Litz, produced by Menahem Golan and

Yoram Globus Yoram Globus ( he, יורם גלובוס; born 7 September 1943) is an Israeli–American film producer, cinema owner, and distributor. He has been involved in over 300 full-length motion pictures and he is most known for his association with T ...

and starring

Mario Van Peebles Mario Van Peebles (born January 15, 1957) is an American film director and actor best known for directing and starring in ''New Jack City'' in 1991 and '' USS Indianapolis: Men of Courage'' in 2016. He is the son of actor and filmmaker Melvin Va ...

. The film is a sequel to '' Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo'', and is also known as ''Breakdance 3''. Although it features Ice-T (who featured in ''

Breakin' ''Breakin (also known as ''Breakdance'' in the United Kingdom and ''Break Street '84'' in other regions) is a 1984 American breakdancing-themed musical film directed by Joel Silberg and written by Charles Parker and Allen DeBevoise based on a ...

'' and ''Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo''), ''Rappin''' has a plot unconnected to the previous two films and features different lead characters and locations.

Plot

Rappin' John Hood (Van Peebles), an ex-convict, attempts to save his neighborhood from developers and hoodlums. Around the same time, one of the hoodlums' girlfriend, Dixie, persuades him to audition for a rap recording contract. Their interactions develop into a relationship.

Cast

as John Hood *

Rutanya Alda Rutanya Alda (born Rūta Skrastiņa; October 13, 1942) is a Latvian-American actress. She began her career in the late 1960s, and went on to have supporting parts in '' The Deer Hunter'' (1978), '' Rocky II'' (1979), and ''Mommie Dearest'' (1981). ...

as Cecilia * Eyde Byrde as Grandma * Rony Clanton as Cedric * Charles Grant as Duane * Melvin Plowden as "Fats" * Jessie Daniels, Antoine Lundy, Stevie D. Lundy, Charles Nelson, Trisco Pearson as The Force M.D.s *

Richie Abanes Richard Abanes (; born October 13, 1961) is an American writer and actor. As an author/journalist, Abanes specializes in the area of socio-religious issues, cults, the occult, world religions, the entertainment industry, and pop culture. Since ...

as Richie *

Harry Goz Harry Goz (February 16, 1932 – September 6, 2003) was an American musical theater actor and voice actor. Career Goz debuted in the 1956 Broadway production of ''Bajour'', co-starring Chita Rivera and Nancy Dussault. Goz played Tevye in th ...

as Thorndike *

Kadeem Hardison Kadeem Hardison (born July 24, 1965) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Dwayne Wayne on ''A Different World'', a spin-off of the long-running NBC sitcom ''The Cosby Show''. He starred in the Disney Channel series ''K.C. Under ...

as "Moon" *

Eriq La Salle Erik Ki La Salle (born July 23, 1962), professionally known as Eriq La Salle, is an American actor, director, writer and producer. La Salle is best known for his performance in the film ''Coming to America'' (1988) and especially as Dr. Pete ...

as "Ice" * Leo O'Brien as Allan * Thomas Ross as Thomas * Joe Schad as Burton *

Tasia Valenza Tasia Valenza (born April 5, 1967) is an American actress. Personal life Tasia Valenza is the daughter of former actor and restaurant consultant Frank Valenza and Gloria Valenza. Her twin brother is a former television writer and now solar mark ...

as Dixie *

Eugene Wilde Eugene Wilde (born Ronald Eugene Broomfield, December 6, 1961) is an American R&B singer who had two No. 1 hits on the US ''Billboard'' R&B charts in the 1980s. Career Broomfield was born in North Miami Beach, Florida and raised in Miami. He g ...

as Himself * Richy Givens as Gangster

Production

Mario Van Peebles' raps were overdubbed by Master Gee of the

Sugarhill Gang Sugar Hill may refer to: Places In the United States: * Sugar Hill, Georgia, a city * Sugar Hill, New Hampshire, a town * Sugar Hill, Manhattan, New York, a section of Harlem * Sugar Hill (New York), a mountain in Schuyler County * Sugar Hi ...

, who also wrote one part. The film was filmed in and around

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

. Ice-T's small role is uncredited and he reportedly provided the rhymes, including the hero's climactic lines, "Can't stop / Won't stop / Climbing that mountain 'till we reach the top!"

Featured songs

* Born to love - Claudja Barry * Rappin' – Lovebug Starski * Snack Attack – Melvin Plowden, Mario Van Peebles, Eriq La Salle, Kadeem Hardison, Richie Abanes * The Fight Rap – Lovebug Starski * Neighborhood Walk – Mario Van Peebles * Itchin' For A Scratch – The Force M.D.'s * Flame In The Fire – Warren Mills * Call Me – D. Terrell * If You Want To (FU12) – Lajuan Carter * Golly Gee – Tuff, Inc. * First Love Never Dies – Eugene Wilde, Joanna Gardner

Reception

The film earned $2.9 million at the US box office.Andrew Yule, ''Hollywood a Go-Go: The True Story of the Cannon Film Empire'', Sphere Books, 1987 p111

References

External links

*
New York Times review

The AV Club review
* {{Rotten Tomatoes, rappin 1985 films 1980s hip hop films Hood films American crime thriller films American sequel films 1985 thriller films 1980s musical films Golan-Globus films Films shot in Pittsburgh Films set in Pennsylvania Films set in Pittsburgh Fictional portrayals of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Films produced by Menahem Golan Films produced by Yoram Globus 1980s English-language films Films directed by Joel Silberg 1980s American films