Wild Style: 30th Anniversary Edition

This 1983 indie, shot on the streets of New York by Charlie Ahearn with real-life personalities from the world of art and music in the leading roles, serves up a time capsule look at the urban subculture of the South Bronx. A scruffy narrative about a graffiti artist named Raymond “Zoro” (“Lee” George Quinones), who is on the verge of a mainstream breakthrough, is interwoven amidst scenes of club performances, playground rap battles (while the competitors are playing basketball, no less!), outbursts of breakdancing, and a finale featuring an outdoor concert. Among the pre-fame hip-hop icons featured here are Fab 5 Freddy, Grandmaster Flash, the Cold Crush Brothers, Chief Rocker Busy Bee, and the Rock Steady Crew, as well as graffiti artist Sandra “Pink” Fabara and 1980s underground personality Patti Astor as a Village Voice reporter. While not particularly well acted, the film nonetheless boasts an authenticity that keeps it buoyant and engaging. Viewers will see early performances by some of the most influential artists of what was then a culture in its infancy, and while it's technically not a documentary, the historical record it preserves makes it an important visual document—and invaluable addition to any collection of urban American and hip-hop history. This new 30th-anniversary edition DVD features audio commentary by Ahearn, an anniversary reunion, various artist interviews, an expanded photo gallery, and a booklet. Recommended. (S. Axmaker)