''Rappin is a 1985 American film directed by

Joel Silberg Joel Silberg (; 30 March 1927 – 18 February 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 films in the U.S. during th ...

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

Menahem Golan Menahem Golan (; May 31, 1929 – August 8, 2014, originally Menachem Globus) was an Israelis, Israeli film producer, screenwriter, and director. He co-owned The Cannon Group with his cousin Yoram Globus. Cannon specialized in producing low-to-mid ...

and

Yoram Globus Yoram Globus (; 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 The Cannon Group, Inc., an ...

and starring

Mario Van Peebles Mario Van Peebles (born January 15, 1957) is a Mexican-born American director and actor. He is best known for appearing in ''Heartbreak Ridge'' in 1986, and known for directing and starring in ''New Jack City'' in 1991, and ''USS Indianapolis: ...

. The film is a sequel to '' Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo'', and is also known as ''Breakdance 3''. Although it features

Ice-T Tracy Lauren Marrow (born February 16, 1958), known professionally as Ice-T (or Ice T), is an American rapper and actor. He is active in both hip hop music, hip hop and heavy metal music, heavy metal. Ice-T began his career as an underground r ...

(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, musical film directed by Joel Silberg and written by Charles Parker and Allen DeBev ...

'' and ''Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo''), ''Rappin''' has a plot unconnected to the previous two films and features different lead characters and locations. It is also considered to be a companion piece to the documentary Breakin' 'n' Enterin'.

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 Charles or Charlie Grant may refer to: Arts and entertainment * C.J. Grant (Charles Jameson Grant, ), American editorial cartoonist * Charles L. Grant (1942–2006), American novelist * Charles Grant (actor) (born 1957), American actor * Charles G ...

as Duane * Melvin Plowden as "Fats" *

Jessie Daniels Jessica Lynn Danilczyk (known professionally as Jessie Daniels; born August 2, 1987) is an American former singer. She has appeared in independent films and commercials for Lifetime Television and MTV. She has also appeared in musical theater and ...

, Antoine Lundy, Stevie D. Lundy, Charles Nelson, Trisco Pearson as The Force M.D.s * Richie Abanes as Richie *

Harry Goz Harry Goz (February 16, 1932 – September 6, 2003) was an American musical theatre and voice actor. Career Goz debuted in the 1964 Broadway production of '' Bajour'', co-starring Chita Rivera and Nancy Dussault. Goz played Tevye in the Bro ...

as Thorndike *

Kadeem Hardison Kadeem Hardison (born July 24, 1965) is an American actor. The son of fashion model Bethann Hardison, he rose to prominence after landing the role of Dwayne Wayne on the television series ''A Different World'', a spin-off of the NBC sitcom ''T ...

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 known for his performance as Dr. Peter Benton in the NBC medical drama '' ER'' (1994–2002; 2008 ...

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

Tasia Valenza Tasia Valenza is an American actress. She is most known for being the voice of Poison Ivy in the '' Arkham series'' from 2009 to 2015 as well as in a number of other video games, such as Sniper Wolf in '' Metal Gear Solid'' and her various roles ...

as Dixie *

Claudja Barry Claudja Barry (born in 1952) is a Jamaican-born Canadian singer. Her successful songs were " Down and Counting", "Boogie Woogie Dancin' Shoes" (which peaked at No. 56 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 on 9 June 1979), "Dancing Fever", and others. A ...

as herself * Eugene Wilde 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, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * Sugar Hil ...

, who also wrote one part, and whose brother

Leo Leo is the Latin word for lion. It most often refers to: * Leo (constellation), a constellation of stars in the night sky * Leo (astrology), an astrological sign of the zodiac * Leo (given name), a given name in several languages, usually mas ...

plays the role of Allan. The film was filmed in and around

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

. 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!" Two verses of his 1985 single, ''Killers'', feature mid-way through the film. Brothers Evil E and Hen-Gee, both of whom would go on to work with Ice-T, feature in the film.

Featured songs

* Born to Love -

* 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 1980s hood films American crime thriller films American sequel films 1985 thriller 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 English-language crime films English-language musical films English-language thriller films 1985 musical films