Beats. Rhymes & Life The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest
Distributor: Sony Pictures Classic
Presented in: MPEG-4 AVC, 33.4Mbps, 1080P @ 1.78 AR
Audio in: DTS-MA 5.1
Street Date: October 18
Life Comes First
It's hard to make a documentary about a group who disbanded 13 years ago, when the time of them being considered "Hot and Trendy" may have passed. MIchael Rapaport, the director finds something truly unique in a documentary that should be seen by people who know absolutely nothing about "A Tribe Called Quest". "Beats, Rhymes & Life, The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest" accomplishes something that is rare, a powerful personal drama about life, love, loss, fear and hope.
When I first popped the disc in, I was aware of "A Tribe Called Quest" from my youth, but I wasn't really sure what to expect. Would I run into a lot of concert footage from their reunion tour? Would this be a lot of videos and a sugar sweet look at life behind the stage?
Q-Tip remembers coming up with the hook for "Can I Kick It"
But what "Beats, Rhymes & Life" presents is something that instead is a truthful look about the rise and collapse of a band. The hurt feelings, the anger, the fury along with the love, the passion and the friendship that exist in a longtime band.
The movie focuses on how young youth found a chance to come together, make money and music that they love - and how adult challenges, health, ego and life drove them apart. There are tales of real hardship here, as Phife recounts his battle with Kidney failure and diabetes. Phife shares his hurt feelings and fears.
Phife talks about illness, diabetes, the road and the hurt feelings over the loss of ATCQ "I'm not Tito, Q-Tip is not Diana Ross.."
It's hard to get inside the head of a group the way that "Beats, Rhymes & Life" does. It's a candid, compelling film that really cuts to the heart of what makes a band tick. Michael Rapaport obviously loves the group and the members, but he allows them to expose it all, the good and the bad and for that the film is far better off.
Even if A Tribe Called Quest isn't a bad you think of as one of your favorites, this documentary enters a special category for me; if more effort was put into a real hard look at the music industry and groups, the entire genre would be better.
Video Quality 5 / 5
Beats, Rhymes & Life is presented in MPEG4-AVC, with an AWBR of 33.4Mbps. The film rotates between several media types - from digital video, to 16mm to animation. The bitrate provides a fluid cohesive look to it that I found incredibly impressive. There are no artifacts to be seen and the mix of media provides a really unique look to this film.
From outdoors to livingrooms, the high bitrate breathes real life into this films look
Audio Quality 4.5 / 5
If you're expecting a lot of music to fill your room, you're looking for the wrong film. As a documentary, this is 95% dialog that stays focused on the center channel. It's crisp, clear and presented in DTS-MA 5.1. What helps make this audio track work though is that when they do go into a scene that music is present it suddenly fills up your fronts, and you get the feeling of being with a band. It's not as impressive on it's own, but it's the adept transition from one to the other.
Extras 5/5
Can you say: Full of extras? Yes, they could have went with a standard EPK. But Rapaport's 19 minute long "Journey" add on is far more then that, it is a refreshing and honest view of financing a project you love out of your own pocket.
"Bringing Beats to Life" is 10 minute overview on the unique animation style used to help tie the film together.
"On the Red Carpet" is 5 minutes of.. well, red carpet footage. This is a let down in the extras..
But from there, you have 20 minutes of great cut scenes, interviews, outtakes. Talk from other rappers and DJs about the impact of ATCQ. But they also dish about beefs, what went wrong who knew who, and so on. There are some fantastic moments here.
Rapaport provides an audio commentary that has lag here and there, but is also obviously a director talking about a project he deeply loves.
Summary: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
It's easy to bypass a title and say "Rap isn't my thing". "I'm not into Hip Hop". Well, when I first watched "Hoop Dreams" I thought: I dont' care that much about basketball tournaments. But it wasn't the basketball that made hoop dreams compelling. And it isn't the music that makes Beats, Rhymes & Life compelling it's the personal drama, the memories and the feelings. Beats, Rhymes & Life is a film with a compelling story that tells it well. It's one of the best music documentaries I've viewed - and I've seen quite a few. Its an honest and hard look at the strain on friendships and the love they have for each other. STRONG recommend.
"I want my friend to be OK" Awaiting news of Phife's kidney transplant.
